Moderately Acclaimed Albums 4 - Round 1.9

[Brad]

Round 1.9

Vote for your favorite album in each match-up.
Remember, anyone can vote as long as he or she has heard both albums!
Comments are encouraged but not absolutely necessary.
Deadline = May 6th at 10am EST

Match-ups:
1. The United States Of America - The United States Of America vs. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)
2. Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud vs. Camarón - La Leyenda del Tiempo
3. Mogwai - Mr. Beast vs. Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann
4. Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer vs. The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks And Things

Time Has Come Today!

[PlasticRam]

The United States Of America - The United States Of America vs. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)

It was pretty funny when I first listened to half of the wrong Fleetwood Mac album, and thought this isn't that good. USA would have won against that, but I did find the 1975 album very good, better than USA.

[DaveC]

1, The United States Of America - The United States Of America
I never much liked this incarnation of Fleetwood Mac in spite of the huge commercial success. The USA album is a revelation.

2. Camarón de la Isla - La Leyenda del Tiempo
A great album only slightly marred by the out of place Sitar. I know little about Flamenco, but this has a compelling rootsy authenticity about it. The Miles Davis album is pleasant enough, but doesn’t really stand out in any way for me.

3. Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann
This week’s closest contest.
Some tracks on Mr Beast are Mogwai’s finest work, others sound as if the band asked the engineer and his mates to have a go while they went to the pub.

4. The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks ...
Sorry Rev, but this is a varied and interesting album.

[nicolas]

The out of place sitar? I think on the contrary that it is one of the highlights of the album. The sitar isn't out of place at all : it symbolises the road of the gypsises. The gypsies are of Indian origin.

[Jirin]

Matchup #4 is torturous. Easily my two best new discoveries of the tournament so far against each other in the first round.

[Honorio]

Thanks nicolas for your explanation about the sitar sound on "Nana del caballo grande." You're right, Camarón's intentions were aknowledging the remote origins in India of the gypsy people.

1. The United States of America - The United States of America vs. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
2. Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud vs. Camarón - La leyenda del tiempo
3. Mogwai - Mr. Beast vs. bob hund - Omslag: Martin Kann
4. Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer vs. The Loud Family - Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things

[Jirin]

The Loud Family - Plants and Birds and Rocks 96
The United States Of America - The United States Of America 94
Rev Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer 92
Camaron - La Leyenda del Tiempo 81
Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'echafaud 79
Bob hund - Omslag: Martin Kann 73
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac 67
Mogwai - Mr Beast 65

Very strong week for me, I just wish I could have voted for Rev Gary Davis.

[Henry]

1. I prefer Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac over The United States of America - The United States of America

The The United States of America appears to be a grower, but it probably has a ceiling well below the great Fleetwood Mac classic.

The dissonance and off-putting harmonies in The United States of America can also get tiresome for me, so perhaps the earlier grower potential will not be realized.

[Greg]

1. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)
2. Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
3. Mogwai - Mr. Beast
4. The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks And Things

[Michel]

1. The United States Of America - The United States Of America

[Brad]

My picks:

1. The United States Of America - The United States Of America over Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)
2. Camarón - La Leyenda del Tiempo over Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
Two beautiful albums. Tough choice.
3. Mogwai - Mr. Beast over Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann
Really enjoyed the surprising Bob Hund album.
4. The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks And Things over Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer

Thanks!

[Kingoftonga]

1. The United States Of America - The United States Of America vs. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)
2. Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud vs. Camarón - La Leyenda del Tiempo

[nicolas]

2. Camarón - La Leyenda del Tiempo over Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
by the shortest of margins

4. Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer over The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks And Things
I'm disappointed that Rev doesn't do better, but The Loud Family's album is the definition of what the majority of AMers prefer (clever indie, power pop).I'm not a huge fan of Plants and Birds although I didn't listen to it in the ideal conditions (I was in the metro with a lot of noise). But there are some good moments (especially the slower songs and the incredible guitar solos on a few tracks). The Blind Gary Davis might sound a little repetitive to some ears, but the Reverend's delivery (vocals and guitar) is incredible and "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is one of my favorite songs of all times.

[Stephan]

Very, very strong week.

1. Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer
2. The United States Of America - The United States Of America
3. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
4. Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
5. The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks ...
6. Camarón - La Leyenda del Tiempo
7. Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann
8. Mogwai - Mr. Beast

[Henrik]

1. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)
3. Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann

[jamieW]

My winners:

The United States Of America - The United States Of America

It’s hard to vote against any album with “Rhiannon,” but “The United States of America” is one of my favorite albums from the sixties. For me, it’s one of the wildest, most enjoyable psychedelic trips ever recorded.

Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud

Another strong matchup. Camarón’s flamenco music is dynamic and exciting (especially “La Tarara” and “Volando Voy”). However, I liked the smooth, moody soundtrack from Miles even more.

Mogwai - Mr. Beast

There’s so much more variety offered by Bob Hund than Mogwai that I almost feel guilty about my vote, which is definitely more representative of personal taste (since I’ve always loved Mogwai’s dark, atmospheric sound).

Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer

The Loud Family is eclectic and features impressive writing; but (for me), it still couldn’t compare to the remarkable Gospel-blues of Rev. Davis.

[Kingoftonga]

3. Mogwai - Mr. Beast vs. Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann

[Brad]

About 13 hours left to vote!

[Brad]

Results
13 total voters:
Brad
DaveC
Greg
Henrik
Henry
Honorio
jamieW
Jirin
kingoftonga
Michel
nicolas
PlasticRam
Stephan

Winners:
1. The United States Of America - The United States Of America vs. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975) TIE!!! 6-6 Next Vote Wins!!!
2. Camarón - La Leyenda del Tiempo over Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud 6-3
3. Bob Hund - Omslag: Martin Kann over -Mogwai - Mr. Beast 5-4
4. The Loud Family - Plants And Birds And Rocks And Things over Rev. Gary Davis - Harlem Street Singer

We have a tie!
Next vote in the first matchup will declare the winner!

Round 1.10 up soon!