BOCA & BOHSA 2018: Great albums, period.
We are thrilled to present two incredible albums that once again are leaps and bounds ahead of the previous year.
BOCA and BOHSA 2018 reflect the full assimilation of digital recording technology into collegiate a cappella artistry. As is the case with any technology, it takes a while for it to be absorbed before it becomes invisible. Early stereo recordings are very clumsy by today’s standards, with the drums in one ear and the guitars in another, but eventually experimentation dissipated and the sound of stereo became second nature.
Such is the case with modern digital recording technology and scholastic a cappella, as evidenced in this year’s BOCA and BOHSA. No longer are the artifacts of Pro Tools and Melodyne clever playthings; they’re now all in service of songs that tell stories and take the listener on a journey.
Choosing BOCA this year was easier than ever, as so many songs immediately rose to the level of professional album that the discussion was more often one of deciding between two exemplary recordings of the same song, which is a great problem to have. And the maturity of singing on BOHSA is stunning, with complex, emotionally nuanced songs the norm this year — such that the age of the singers is near impossible to discern.
These aren’t just great a cappella compilation albums; they’re great albums, period — and ones you’re going to return to time and again. BOCA and BOHSA 2018 will drop on iTunes in January. Please note that we are no longer printing physical copies of our albums.
Stay tuned to us on Facebook and Twitter, or join our mailing list for updates on the album releases on iTunes — and congratulations to the selected groups!
BOCA 2018: Best Of College A Cappella
01. 24K Magic – OPB Bruno Mars
Acasola | California State University, Northridge
02. The Way – OPB Ariana Grande
Pitch Slapped | Berklee College of Music
03. Rise Up – OPB Andra Day
Nor’easters | Northeastern University
04. Who You Are – OPB Unspoken
Chi Rho | Wake Forest University
05. Bad Blood – OPB NAO
Faux Paz | University of Maryland
06. Latch – OPB Sam Smith
Acappology |North Carolina State University
07. Ride or Die – OPB Brayton Bowman
License to Trill | Texas Christian University
08. Sledgehammer – OPB Rihanna
The Chorallaries of MIT | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
09. Until the Levee – OPB Joy Williams
The Sil’hooettes | University of Virginia
10. Castle on the Hill – OPB Ed Sheeran
The Clef Hangers | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
11. Who Do You Love – OPB Marianas Trench
The Beelzebubs | Tufts University
12. Billie Jean – OPB Michael Jackson
The Loreleis | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
13. Forgiven – OPB Kwabs
Eight Beat Measure | Rochester Institute of Technology
14. All Time Low/Guillotine – OPB Jon Bellion ft. Travis Mendes
Exit 245 | James Madison University
15. Weight in Gold – OPB Gallant
Off The Beat | University of Pennsylvania
16. She Used to Be Mine – OPB Sara Bareilles
Upper Structure | Berklee College of Music
17. Alive – OPB Sia
The Vassar Devils | Vassar College
BOHSA 2018: Best Of High School A Cappella
01. Rise Up – OPB Andra Day
Vocal Rush | Oakland School for the Arts
02. G Train – OPB Thirdstory
Legacy
03. When You Come Back Down – OPB Nickel Creek
OneVoice | Briarcrest Christian School
04. Youth – OPB Troye Sivan
Encore | Ensworth School
05. What Makes You Beautiful – OPB One Direction
Falconize | Danvers High School
06. Broken Words – OPB Sophia Rosado
Forte | Centerville High School
07. Turn the Page – OPB Bob Seger
Detroit Voice | Clarkston High School
08. Giants – OPB Matt Nathanson
Take7 & Naughty Scotty and the Octapella | Winter Park High School
09. Safe and Sound – OPB Taylor Swift
Bare Rhythm | Calabasas High School
10. Photograph – OPB Ed Sheeran
Fusion | Kettering-Fairmont High School
11. No! – OPB Meghan Trainor
Fusion | Marcus High School
12. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – OPB The Temptations
Eleventh Hour | Kettering-Fairmont High School
13. Time Machine – OPB Ingrid Michaelson
Ingrid Sound | Danvers High School
14. Love Like Woe – OPB The Ready Set
Synergy | Clarkston High School
15. Searching For a Feeling – OPB Thirdstory
Limited Edition | Port Washington High School
16. Nothing More – OPB The Alternate Routes feat. Lily Costner
The A Cappella Group | Cypress Lake Center for the Arts
17. Never Be Like You – OPB Flume feat. Kai
Unstrumental | Calabasas High School
18. River – OPB Bishop Briggs
Vega | Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School
19. Castle – OPB Halsey
Nothing But Treble | St. Mary’s High School