Postby Rob » Wed Dec 13, 2017 1:09 pm
There are a lot of close calls this weeks. Just look at the ranking order; it's ridiculous.
2. The Kinks - Shangri-La vs. 3. Edith Piaf - Milord
Shangri-La is my nomination and my favorite Kinks song. Great melody development and wonderfully executed, scathing lyrics. The carnivalesque Milord is irresistible too, though.
4. The Mamas and the Papas - Dream a Little Dream of Me vs. 12. Miles Davis - All Blues
I agree that Dream a Little Dream of Me should be a great classic. Mama Cass' vocals are a really a dream here. All Blues is nice too, but perhaps I'm not into jazz enough to appreciate it fully.
15. Maxwell - Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) vs. 16. Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information
I don't want to pass on votes, but this time I almost felt I should. I've listened to these songs a couple of times now, but they just don't register. I forget their existence the second they stop. I have this problem with a lot of ultra-smooth soul, which is just not my kind of music. The vote is a bit arbitrary, but Ascension has a promising start.
1. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms vs. 7. Noir Desir - Tostaky (Le Continent)
Brothers in Arms is a longtime favorite of mine. Mark Knopfler is regarded as mostly a technical player, but people sometimes seem to forget that his playing can also be very moving, as best demonstrated in this track. This is one I would expected to be higher on the main list, if it weren't for the unexplained grudge many critics seem to hold against Knopfler. Tostaky is great, wild punk, but just faces tough competition.
14. Teena Marie - Lovergirl vs. 13. Michel Fugain - Une Belle Histoire
A bit meh on these two, even if I don't particularly dislike them. Une Belle Historie has a nice melody though. I know the song more because of a half-French/ half-Dutch cover by Alderliefde and the terrible Paul de Leeuw. But even that memory can't keep me from voting for this song.
11. Passion Pit - Take a Walk vs. 10. Wir sind Helden - Guten Tag
Two songs that don't score points on originality, but which are still a lot of fun to listen to. The lyrics to Guten Tag just about clinch the victory for me.
6. Justice - Waters of Nazareth vs. 5. Angel Olsen - White Fire
Two polar opposites, which are also top picks in their styles. Waters of Nazareth is a worldess, messy assault that is surprisingly catchy, while White Fire is almost catatonically quite and based fulle around the lyrics and vocals. I've become quite a fan of Angel Olsen the last month or so. My Woman and Phases are on frequently on repeat here. She has grown musically since Burn Your Fire for No Witness, but White Fire holds more than a hint of the greatness to come. Sorry, BluePanda, I like this Justice-song a lot, but Olsen wins by an inch.
8. Joan Jett - Bad Reputation vs. 9. Pixies - Alec Eiffel
Two rockers, one straightforward, the other more arty. I could go either way again and this vote is really dependent on the mood. Sometimes there is just something about screaming to be proud of your bad reputation, regardless if you have one or not.
Lots of tough choices, I feel sorry to have voted against Teena Marie and Passion Pit here