Acclaimed Music Forums

Note: the previous round has a couple hours left.



The rules are simple. After listening to each song, vote for your favorite in each match. The deadline to vote is Monday, December 11 at 10 am CST.

Here is the bracket:
http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=468522

Matches:
Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
Caribou - Melody Day

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
vs.
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust
vs.
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
Sinead O'Connor - Troy

Tortoise - Djed
vs.
Cerrone - Supernature

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Caribou - Melody Day

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei

The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust

Sinead O'Connor - Troy

Tortoise - Djed

David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
The Smiths - I Know It's Over
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing
The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
Cerrone - Supernature
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

The full version of "Supernature":

Caribou - Melody Day
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
The Smiths - I Know It's Over
Big Star - Holocaust
Sinead O'Connor - Troy
Cerrone - Supernature
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind
Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner 6
vs.
Caribou - Melody Day 8

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei 7
vs.
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything 5

dEUS - Suds & Soda 7
vs.
The Smiths - I Know It's Over 7

Big Star - Holocaust 8
vs.
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing 5

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town 7
vs.
Sinead O'Connor - Troy 10

Tortoise - Djed 7
vs.
Cerrone - Supernature 9

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic 5
vs.
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind 8

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly 6
vs.
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands 7

Ranked my top 8. Just relistened to I Know It's Over for the first time since 2012. At the time I didn't like it (or anything by The Smiths), but my impression now is that it's one of their best songs, and there's a good chance I'll vote for it over almost any song in this group after I give it a few more listens.

6. Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
8. Caribou - Melody Day

5. Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
vs.
3. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust
vs.
1. Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

2. The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
Sinead O'Connor - Troy

Tortoise - Djed
vs.
Cerrone - Supernature

4. Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
7. David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei

The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

Cerrone - Supernature

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic

Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

For Cerrone, yes, the longer version is far better with the daftPunkesk part and the "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" part

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

8. Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner vs. 13. Caribou - Melody Day
11. Cocteau Twins - Lorelei vs. 16. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
15. dEUS - Suds & Soda vs. 3. The Smiths - I Know It's Over
1. Big Star - Holocaust vs. 10. Frida Hyvönen - Dirty Dancing
6. The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town vs. 7. Sinéad O'Connor - Troy
14. Tortoise - Djed vs. 12. Cerrone - Supernature
9. Janelle Monáe - Dance Apocalyptic vs. 2. David Bowie - Wild is the Wind
5. Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly vs. 4. Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
dEUS - Suds & Soda
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing
Sinead O'Connor - Troy
Tortoise - Djed
Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

A big big big week in term of quality. Almost only top quality songs. Thanks to all the nominators.

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
Caribou - Melody Day

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
vs.
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust
vs.
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
Sinead O'Connor - Troy

Tortoise - Djed
vs.
Cerrone - Supernature

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

8. Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner vs. 12. Caribou - Melody Day
Never listened to Mick Jagger's solo stuff before, but it is interesting that even without Richards he gets a song with a good rock riff. I've never got into Caribou, but this song at least gives me the feeling I should try them again.

5. Cocteau Twins - Lorelei vs. 16. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
There is some good music in I'll Believe in Anything, but that voice is just grating, ruining the song for me. The dreams of Lorelei would never be easy to beat, but it gets a particularly easy victory here.

7. dEUS - Suds & Soda vs. 10. The Smiths - I Know It's Over
If you play the playlist in order you go from the weird vocals of Wolf Parade straight into the equally extreme vocalization of dEUS. Really, you'll need the calm of Morrisey's voice by then. Still, after two listens Suds & Soda somehow convinced me that it's odd singing has a lot of appeal, so I take it over a Smiths song that works, but does nothing you can't get from them anywhere else.

9. Big Star - Holocaust vs. 6. Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing
Holocaust is a rare Big Star track that works for me. Still, it is up to an even better ballad. Great phrasing there.

11. The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town vs. 1. Sinead O'Connor - Troy
I appreciate the unexpected African flavor in Life in a Northern Town (or is that usual with this band, I'm not familiar with The Dream Academy), but it's opponent is a personal favorite. The vocals of Sinead O'Connor near the end of the track send up chills through my spine even after many listens.

4. Tortoise - Djed vs. 15. Cerrone - Supernature
These two songs together last more than 30 minutes and make up one third of this week's playlist! In a game that contains 16 songs no less! I think that Djed those more with it's length, even if it is twice the size of Supernature. Tortoise album has the great title Millions Now Living Will Never Die and it's cover contains a big school of fishes. Somehow Djed evokes the feeling for me of both those features. Supernature is perhaps an achievement in it's own style, but it isn't my type of thing.

3. Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic vs. 2. David Bowie - Wild is the Wind
Ugh, my number 2 and 3 song of the week. Very hard to chose. Dance Apocalyptic is an inspired mix between dance and country from an artist who sames game for anything. Well, Bowie is up for anything to, so we get a Nina Simone cover that showcases how great his vocals can be. I'll regret my choice no matter what.

14. Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly vs. 13. Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands
Two not-quite-its. I've always been surprised by my lack of connection to Tim Buckley. He is interesting and creative, but there is something about him that seems oddly artificial. Can't really explain it better now. Grandma's Hands is not top Bill Withers for me, but it's got a nice groove.

I already know who I'm voting for in every match, but I need to find time to give my thoughts. This is a very strong week for me, though, including my second favorite song of the tournament (and the only one of my remaining nominations that I expect to have even a chance of winning its first match), unless I find something new that blows me away (since last year, I've delved a lot deeper in the acclaimed music list, so a lot of these songs are now at least somewhat familiar to me).

15. Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
12. Caribou - Melody Day

1. Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
vs.
14. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

16. dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
5. The Smiths - I Know It's Over

9. Big Star - Holocaust
vs.
13. Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

6. The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
7. Sinead O'Connor - Troy

8. Tortoise - Djed
vs.
4. Cerrone - Supernature

11. Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
10. David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

2. Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
3. Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

Caribou - Melody Day
Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
The Smiths - I Know It's Over
Big Star - Holocaust
Sinead O'Connor - Troy
Cerrone - Supernature
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

That last match killed me.

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
Caribou - Melody Day

The Mick Jagger song surprised me, I guess I expected something poppier since the only Jagger solo output I knew beforehand was Dancing in the Street...I liked Memo from Turner, but Melody Day is a long-time personal favourite.

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
vs.
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

Two great songs. Lorelei even has some festive bells

dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust
vs.
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
Sinead O'Connor - Troy

Damn, I neaver heard of The Dream Academy before, but I instantly recognised Life in a Northern Town by being sampled in the eurodance song Sunchyme (which I didn't know the name of either until a few minutes ago). Win by pleasant nostalgia, although I really liked the finale of Troy, too

Tortoise - Djed
vs.
Cerrone - Supernature

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

14. Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
6. Caribou - Melody Day

7. Cocteau Twins – Lorelei
vs.
1. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

15. dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
4. The Smiths - I Know It's Over

11. Big Star – Holocaust
vs.
5. Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

13. The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
10. Sinead O'Connor – Troy

16. Tortoise – Djed
vs.
12. Cerrone – Supernature

9. Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
2. David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

8. Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
3. Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

In defense of “I'll Believe in Anything”: Sure, the lead singer’s voice doesn’t fall easy on many people’s ears, but I think his voice compliments the off-kilter, tense music. The high-pitched synths at the start of the song sets the scene for something idiosyncratic. And what follows is an impressive build-up to a guitar-heavy climax, just when you thought rock music was dead in 2005. Also, drums usually don’t excite me, but they certainly do in this song.

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner

Cocteau Twins – Lorelei

dEUS - Suds & Soda

Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

Sinead O'Connor – Troy

Tortoise – Djed

Caribou - Melody Day
The Mick Jagger song is way better than I expected, given how often I heard that his solo carrier sucks, still gotta give it to Caribou.

Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
2 songs I discovered in the Pitchfork 500, but however talented Liz Frasier and co are, there is no competition, i just love I'll Believe in Anything way too much. There really aren't a lot of songs that bring me as much happiness every time I hear them than that, I actually doubt there is any (B.O.B., maybe, though it's a different kind of energy).
So yes, maybe the singer's voice isn't that good, maybe that synth is out of tune, but when the song enters full gear around the 2:30 mark, you'll find me standing up, clenching my chest and singing "give me your eyes, I need sunshine" from the top of my lungs.

dEUS - Suds & Soda
dEUS are indie legends in Belgium and while they are often praised for their elegant calmer songs, I like when they turn up the noise and Suds & Soda might be the best example (though my very favorite track is belgian geniuses meet belgian geniuses : Everybody's Weird (Soulwax Remix)

Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing
The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
Cerrone - Supernature
Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

Looks like I'm just not finding the time this week...

Matches:
Caribou - Melody Day
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
dEUS - Suds & Soda
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing
The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
Tortoise - Djed
Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

Melody Day
Lorelei
I Know It's Over
Dirty Dancing
Life in a Northern Town
Supernature
Dance Apocalyptic
Grandma's Hands

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic

Tim Buckley - Buzzin’ Fly

Cocteau Twins – Lorelei

dEUS - Suds & Soda

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner vs. Caribou - Melody Day

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei vs. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

dEUS - Suds & Soda vs. The Smiths - I Know It's Over
My nomination vs. The Smiths; no surprise that Belgian alt-rock's best is losing, I'm even surprised that some here even seem to like it. And I really like I Know It's Over but I have to say that I like Jeff Buckley's version just a bit better.

Big Star - Holocaust vs. Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town vs. Sinead O'Connor - Troy
It didn't know Life in a Northern Town, but I do know Dario G's Sunchyme, so this made me chuckle

Tortoise - Djed vs. Cerrone - Supernature

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic vs. David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly vs. Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands


Overall, great quality songs here, this week was a tough one

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything
The Smiths - I Know It's Over
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing
The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
Cerrone - Supernature
Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

I rushed my choices this week.

A big big big week in term of quality. Almost only top quality songs. Thanks to all the nominators.

Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner
vs.
Caribou - Melody Day

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
vs.
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

dEUS - Suds & Soda
vs.
The Smiths - I Know It's Over

Big Star - Holocaust
vs.
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
vs.
Sinead O'Connor - Troy

Tortoise - Djed
vs.
Cerrone - Supernature

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic
vs.
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly
vs.
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

Yes, a copy of Romain’s vote.
I should add that it hurt to vote against Big Star, Tortoise and Tim Buckley.

Caribou - Melody Day

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei

dEUS - Suds & Soda

Big Star - Holocaust

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

Tortoise - Djed

David Bowie - Wild is

Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

24 voters this week; spiritualized voted after the deadline but he didn't cause any ties (and broke one of them), so I went ahead and included his votes.

Results:
Mick Jagger - Memo from Turner: 8
Caribou - Melody Day: 14

Cocteau Twins - Lorelei: 15
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything: 8

dEUS - Suds & Soda: 8
The Smiths - I Know It's Over: 16

Big Star - Holocaust: 10
Frida Hyvonen - Dirty Dancing: 12

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town: 12
Sinead O'Connor - Troy: 11

Tortoise - Djed: 8
Cerrone - Supernature: 14

Janelle Monae - Dance Apocalyptic: 9
David Bowie - Wild is the Wind: 13

Tim Buckley - Buzzin' Fly: 7
Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands: 15

BleuPanda wrote:The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town: 12
Sinead O'Connor - Troy: 11

In my years on the forum, this is one of the results that has surprised me the most. I have fond memories of "Life in a Northern Town," but I never thought it would be a match for the bitter ferocity of "Troy," especially that powerhouse ending. (Then again, I might've just answered my own question, since "bitter ferocity" might not be what everyone's looking for when they listen to music.)

jamieW wrote:

BleuPanda wrote:The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town: 12
Sinead O'Connor - Troy: 11

In my years on the forum, this is one of the results that has surprised me the most. I have fond memories of "Life in a Northern Town," but I never thought it would be a match for the bitter ferocity of "Troy," especially that powerhouse ending. (Then again, I might've just answered my own question, since "bitter ferocity" might not be what everyone's looking for when they listen to music.)

Honestly, I was not expecting that matchup to be so close. I could really have gone either way with it, but The Dream Academy just felt like it was speaking to me more at that moment.