Moderately Acclaimed Albums 7 - Round 1.9

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Tue May 17, 2016 6:43 pm

Welcome to another round of Moderately Acclaimed Albums 7!

Vote for your favorite album in each match-up.
Remember, anyone can vote as long as the voter has heard both albums.

Good-spirited comments are encouraged, but not absolutely necessary.
Deadline = May 25th at 10am EST.

Match-ups:
1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World vs. Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork vs. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
3. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality vs. Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals
4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

***Please note that while Spotify U.S. houses the re-released 22-song version of "Angola Prison Spirituals," the nomination here is for the original 1959 release, which includes only the first 11 songs (through "The Old Ship Of Zion")***

Let all the children boogie!

BleuPanda · Post by **BleuPanda** » Tue May 17, 2016 6:58 pm

Here's Cowboy Bebop (there are multiple soundtracks for the show but this is the first):

Bang Jan · Post by **Bang Jan** » Tue May 17, 2016 6:59 pm

Cowboy Bebop

Super Furry Animals | Rings Around the World
The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno | Cowboy Bebop
Queens of the Stone Age | ...Like Clockwork
Paul Simon | Still Crazy after All These Years
Sébastien Tellier | Sexuality
Various Artists | Angola Prison Spirituals
Ella Fitzgerald | Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George Gershwin Songbook
Modest Mouse | Building Nothing Out of Something

Post by **Honorio** » Tue May 17, 2016 7:14 pm

1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around the World (2001) vs. Paul Simon - Still Crazy after All These Years (1975)

2. Queens of the Stone Age - …Like Clockwork (2013) vs. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)

3. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality (2008) vs. Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals (1959)

whuntva · Post by **whuntva** » Tue May 17, 2016 7:51 pm

Rings Around the World
Like Clockwork
Cowboy Bebop

DaveC · Post by **DaveC** » Tue May 17, 2016 8:10 pm

1. ~~Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World~~ vs. Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork vs. ~~Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook~~
3. ~~Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality~~ vs. Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals
4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. ~~Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something~~

Romain · Post by **Romain** » Wed May 18, 2016 3:42 pm

1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
3. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality
4. Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

Jirin · Post by **Jirin** » Wed May 18, 2016 3:55 pm

Paul Simon 81-72
Ella Fitzgerald 83-76
Sebastian Teller 85-77

No access to Cowboy Bebop.

BleuPanda · Post by **BleuPanda** » Fri May 20, 2016 10:11 pm

Match-ups:
Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop

luney6 · Post by **luney6** » Sat May 21, 2016 3:35 pm

~~Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World~~ vs. Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years

Both are fairly ambitious, and get some things right, but neither manage to bring themselves out to the next level of expression. Mostly because they suffer from a fair number of cliches. And neither album is fairly memorable, for the same reasons.

Post by **Honorio** » Sun May 22, 2016 11:35 am

I'm having problems to listen to "Les mariages chinois" by Katerine that is going to appear on week 15 (yes, I'm listening to the albums that in advance). The album is not on Spotify (at least in Spain) and there are only four songs in YouTube. I can only get to listen to 30 second samples on MusicMe and Napster. Given the fact that those 30 seconds are different on this two pages and almost every song of the album is under 1:30 minutes I almost have listened to the whole album but… is there any other way to listen to it? Could the one who nominated it provide a link or something?

Kingoftonga · Post by **Kingoftonga** » Sun May 22, 2016 2:43 pm

Winners in red.

1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World vs. Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork vs. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
3. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality vs. Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals
4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Sun May 22, 2016 6:14 pm

Honorio wrote:I'm having problems to listen to "Les mariages chinois" by Katerine that is going to appear on week 15 (yes, I'm listening to the albums that in advance). The album is not on Spotify (at least in Spain) and there are only four songs in YouTube. I can only get to listen to 30 second samples on MusicMe and Napster. Given the fact that those 30 seconds are different on this two pages and almost every song of the album is under 1:30 minutes I almost have listened to the whole album but… is there any other way to listen to it? Could the one who nominated it provide a link or something?

Hi Honorio, working on posting the whole album on YT. Will post the link as soon as it's done. I guess the listening experience wasn't that great, but kudos for the tenacity

Post by **Honorio** » Sun May 22, 2016 6:54 pm

Many thanks, spiritualized!

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:19 pm

Honorio wrote:Many thanks, spiritualized!

Your wish is my command, my liege !

I don't know how long it is going to last on YT, so take heed, folks !

Bang Jan · Post by **Bang Jan** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:20 pm

You set the video to private.

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Sun May 22, 2016 8:27 pm

>Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh excuse my French

EDIT : does it work now ?

PS : The tie in round 8 is still open, isn't it ?

DocBrown · Post by **DocBrown** » Mon May 23, 2016 5:18 pm

Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals
Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

Bang Jan · Post by **Bang Jan** » Mon May 23, 2016 5:40 pm

I think you only uploaded the last track of LMC onto YT spiritualized.

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:20 pm

Bang Jan wrote:I think you only uploaded the last track of LMC onto YT spiritualized.

??? why would you think this ? Sounds Ok to me

Bang Jan · Post by **Bang Jan** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:23 pm

According to Allmusic, the album should be 34:12 and the last track is 17:10, the length of the video.

Post by **Honorio** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:35 pm

No, Bang Jan, it's OK like this. There was a first CD edition in 1991 called "Les mariages chinois" with 13 songs and a total runnig time of 17:34 and then a second edition in 1992 called "Les mariages chinois et la relecture" that included a bonus track called "La relecture". The funny thing is that the bonus track was almost as long as the rest of the album! (17:10)

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Mon May 23, 2016 6:36 pm

Correct ! But Les Mariages Chinois was released first - and is 17 minutes long with 13 songs - I have the original CD. It was then rereleased coupled with another track "La Relecture", which I do not have.

EDIT : Honorio beat me to it

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Tue May 24, 2016 12:39 am

1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
2. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
3. Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals
4. Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Tue May 24, 2016 2:41 am

My picks:
1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World vs. Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork vs. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
3. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality vs. Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals
4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

11+ hours left to vote!

Thanks!

jamieW · Post by **jamieW** » Tue May 24, 2016 3:22 am

Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality
Very close. "Angola Prison Spirituals" is another great discovery.
The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Tue May 24, 2016 9:05 am

Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
Difficult choice with poor albums. I go against the grain in saying that Rings Around the World is one of the weakest SFA album, far behind their debut and Radiator, which are both infectious. Paul Simon had a fair chance of winning this one, but it didn't move me. So even at their worst, SFA wins.

Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
Exactly the same conclusion as the first matchup. Like Clockwork is QOTSA getting satisfied with their legacy. There is no immediacy, no punch in their latest album. But this is still QOTSA, and Ella, as much a legend she is, drags it for far too long on this songbook. Divide the length by 3 and she could have been a contender.

Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality - discovery of the week for me. Great atmosphere, Tellier has laid it out perfectly. I knew some of his other work, but I think this is his best. The compilation of oldies is also a great find, but it will require some work before getting the satisfaction which Sexuality brings

Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something - This is not so much a vote for Modest mouse as a vote against Cowboy Bebop. The collection has some good moments but I always feel, in the case of OSTs, that something is "missing". The connection doesn't happen as well as a work which is designed to be listened to rather than having visual input as well. Cowboy Bebop feels incomplete. Modest Mouse's last track is exceptional as well.

babydoll · Post by **babydoll** » Tue May 24, 2016 9:12 am

Wow, I'm seriously behind of this game. That being said:

2. ~~Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork~~ vs. Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
A masterpiece, perhaps my favorite so far in the game, versus probably the most "bleh" album so far I've heard.

4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. ~~Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something~~
Now I'm going to be watching Cowboy Bebop.

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Tue May 24, 2016 1:47 pm

Crap! Another screw-up on my part - I had listed the end date for this week's tournament as tomorrow, May 25th instead of today. If there are no objections, I'd like to keep tomorrow's date as the deadline while I post the next round elsewhere in a couple minutes. So far this week, we've only had 15 voters - easily the weakest turnout yet. So perhaps another day will help that as well.

Sorry for the mix-up... look for round 1.10 real soon!

(PS - I'll get my act together, promise!)

Nassim · Post by **Nassim** » Wed May 25, 2016 2:08 pm

4. Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something

BleuPanda · Post by **BleuPanda** » Wed May 25, 2016 2:42 pm

babydoll wrote:4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. ~~Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something~~
Now I'm going to be watching Cowboy Bebop.

Do it! It's so good.

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Wed May 25, 2016 2:54 pm

With Nassim's entry we reach 16 total voters for the week (a bit of a decline):
babydoll
Bang Jan
BleuPanda
Brad
DaveC
DocBrown
Honorio
jamieW
Jeff
Jirin
Kingoftonga
luney6
Nassim
Romain
spiritualized
whuntva

Winners:
1. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World over Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years 10-4
2. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork over Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook 8-6
3. Sébastien Tellier - Sexuality over Various Artists - Angola Prison Spirituals 6-5
4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop over Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something 7-5

Thanks!

babydoll · Post by **babydoll** » Wed May 25, 2016 5:55 pm

BleuPanda wrote:
babydoll wrote:4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. ~~Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something~~
Now I'm going to be watching Cowboy Bebop.

Do it! It's so good.

Yes, sir!

And on a side note: devastated that Ella Fitzgerald lost to Queens of the Stone Age.

BleuPanda · Post by **BleuPanda** » Wed May 25, 2016 6:04 pm

babydoll wrote:
BleuPanda wrote:
babydoll wrote:4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. ~~Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something~~
Now I'm going to be watching Cowboy Bebop.

Do it! It's so good.
Yes, sir!

And on a side note: devastated that Ella Fitzgerald lost to Queens of the Stone Age.

(Just note episodes 2-4 are kind of weak, but it becomes a classic piece of television starting with episode 5)

Kingoftonga · Post by **Kingoftonga** » Wed May 25, 2016 6:05 pm

babydoll wrote: And on a side note: devastated that Ella Fitzgerald lost to Queens of the Stone Age.

I can't speak for how others voted, but that Ella Fitzgerald album's 3 hour runtime was an impediment for me. I felt bad voting against it, because it seemed like there was a lot of good stuff in there that I just couldn't process in one or two listens. Like other three-hour albums (69 Love Songs, Einstein on the Beach are the two that immediately come to mind), I assume that I'll grow to like it more after getting more oriented to its sheer size and scope. Just one of those unfortunate cases where the tournament format didn't mesh well with the content (for me).

babydoll · Post by **babydoll** » Wed May 25, 2016 6:15 pm

Kingoftonga wrote:
babydoll wrote: And on a side note: devastated that Ella Fitzgerald lost to Queens of the Stone Age.
I can't speak for how others voted, but that Ella Fitzgerald album's 3 hour runtime was an impediment for me. I felt bad voting against it, because it seemed like there was a lot of good stuff in there that I just couldn't process in one or two listens. Like other three-hour albums (69 Love Songs, Einstein on the Beach are the two that immediately come to mind), I assume that I'll grow to like it more after getting more oriented to its sheer size and scope. Just one of those unfortunate cases where the tournament format didn't mesh well with the content (for me).

I figured it would lose from the beginning. That still doesn't change my devastation. Three hours is a long time, but I found myself still amazed by how many good shit Gershwin wrote. It probably helped that I grew up with these songs...

babydoll · Post by **babydoll** » Wed May 25, 2016 6:17 pm

BleuPanda wrote:
babydoll wrote:
BleuPanda wrote:

Do it! It's so good.
Yes, sir!

And on a side note: devastated that Ella Fitzgerald lost to Queens of the Stone Age.

(Just note episodes 2-4 are kind of weak, but it becomes a classic piece of television starting with episode 5)

I stuck around with Neon Genesis Evangelion through its comedic episodes. It's a favorite now. I'm sure I would have no problem with three weak episodes.

spiritualized · Post by **spiritualized** » Wed May 25, 2016 7:07 pm

BleuPanda wrote:
babydoll wrote:4. The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno - Cowboy Bebop vs. ~~Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something~~
Now I'm going to be watching Cowboy Bebop.

Do it! It's so good.

To be fair, I am going to as well, the background story sounds really good.

jamieW · Post by **jamieW** » Wed May 25, 2016 7:57 pm

Kingoftonga wrote:
babydoll wrote: And on a side note: devastated that Ella Fitzgerald lost to Queens of the Stone Age.
I can't speak for how others voted, but that Ella Fitzgerald album's 3 hour runtime was an impediment for me. I felt bad voting against it, because it seemed like there was a lot of good stuff in there that I just couldn't process in one or two listens. Like other three-hour albums (69 Love Songs, Einstein on the Beach are the two that immediately come to mind), I assume that I'll grow to like it more after getting more oriented to its sheer size and scope. Just one of those unfortunate cases where the tournament format didn't mesh well with the content (for me).

I felt the exact same way, Kingoftonga. I'm familiar with so many songs by Ella Fitzgerald, and I love both her and Gershwin, but I'm embarrassed to say I'd never listened to this entire album before. I've always really liked "...Like Clockwork," but, going in, I thought it wouldn't stand a chance against the legendary Ella. Unfortunately (although there are definite highlights for me), it just seemed to go on and on without much variety. And I usually don't care at all about how long an album is. If it's great, it can go on forever. (For example, one of my all-time favorite albums is "Ten Freedom Summers" by Wadada Leo Smith, and it's even longer. The difference for me is that it doesn't feel like it.)

Jirin · Post by **Jirin** » Thu May 26, 2016 7:12 pm

For me with Cowboy Bebop I love the Spike-centric episodes but I'm lukewarm on the rest. I know a lot of people love Ed but I find him a little annoying.