Acclaimed Music Forums

So we got to a 00’s final, among our two most beloved albums of last decade. Please, remember to vote for the song, not the album.
Also, like in football World Cup, we have a 3rd place match.

3rd place final:
Dummy (Sour Times) vs. Abbey Road (Here Comes the Sun)

Final:
Funeral (Rebellion (Lies)) vs. Illinois (Chicago)

Here Comes the Sun
Chicago

3rd place final:
Dummy (Sour Times) vs. Abbey Road (Here Comes the Sun)

Final:
Funeral (Rebellion (Lies)) vs. Illinois (Chicago)

Here Comes the Sun
Chicago

4. Sour Times vs. 3. Here Comes the Sun
2. Rebellion (Lies) vs. 1. Chicago

Here Comes the Sun

Rebellion (Lies)

3rd place final:
Dummy (Sour Times)

Final:
Funeral (Rebellion (Lies))

For the final, it's more like a "Eenie meenie miney mo"

Here Comes The Sun
Chicago

Here Comes the Sun
Chicago

Sour Times
Rebellion (Lies)

Here Comes the Sun
Rebellion (Lies)

Here Comes the Sun
Chicago

Dummy (Sour Times) vs. Abbey Road (Here Comes the Sun)

Funeral (Rebellion (Lies)) vs. Illinois (Chicago

1. Abbey Road (Here Comes the Sun)
2. Illinois (Chicago)

I love all 4 of these songs, but I don’t get why “Here Comes the Sun” and “Chicago” seem to be heading for clear victory in their respective matches so far. “Here Comes the Sun” is wonderful sunshine pop, but there are arguably more quentissential sunshine pop songs that came before it, like “California Dramin’” by The Mamas & The Papas or many songs by The Beach Boys (or by The Neon Philharmonic or Sagittarius or The Millennium, for that matter). Portishead’s album Dummy, on the other hand, was a groundbreaking trip hop album, and “Sour Times” was an anthem at the forefront of that genre. But I guess others on the forum simply prefer “Roads” or “Glory Box” or other songs from the album.

As for “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, the song has a soundscape that is more vast than most songs on his album Illinois. I tend to prefer the more stripped-down production on songs like “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” or "Casimir Pulaski Day". His latest acclaimed work on albums like “Carrie & Lowell” and the “Call Me by Your Name” soundtrack also suggests that maybe he himself is more inclined to that stripped-down sound. But I can see how many people wish he did more expansive material like “Chicago”. Arcade Fire’s “Rebellion (Lies)”, on the other hand, epitomizes the exuberant sound of the album it comes from and is sheer indie brilliance to my ears.

I’m digressing from the usual forum sentiment (which I mostly agree with) that tastes are so subjective that there’s no point arguing about Song X being better than Song Y and we should just respect each other’s differences. But of course there’s no harm in agreeing to disagree.

Sour Times
Chicago

3rd place final:
Dummy (Sour Times)

Final:
Illinois (Chicago)

“Here Comes The Sun”

“Rebellion (Lies)”

Sour Times
Rebellion (Lies)

Here Comes the Sun
Rebellion (Lies) (Very close, though!)

Sour Times
Rebellion (Lies)

Two of my AT top 10 songs here!

4. Dummy (Sour Times) vs. 2. Abbey Road (Here Comes the Sun) (AT #8)

1. Funeral (Rebellion (Lies)) (AT #1) vs. 3. Illinois (Chicago)

Sour Times
Chicago

Dan wrote:I love all 4 of these songs, but I don’t get why “Here Comes the Sun” and “Chicago” seem to be heading for clear victory in their respective matches so far. “Here Comes the Sun” is wonderful sunshine pop, but there are arguably more quentissential sunshine pop songs that came before it, like “California Dramin’” by The Mamas & The Papas or many songs by The Beach Boys (or by The Neon Philharmonic or Sagittarius or The Millennium, for that matter). Portishead’s album Dummy, on the other hand, was a groundbreaking trip hop album, and “Sour Times” was an anthem at the forefront of that genre. But I guess others on the forum simply prefer “Roads” or “Glory Box” or other songs from the album.

As for “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, the song has a soundscape that is more vast than most songs on his album Illinois. I tend to prefer the more stripped-down production on songs like “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” or "Casimir Pulaski Day". His latest acclaimed work on albums like “Carrie & Lowell” and the “Call Me by Your Name” soundtrack also suggests that maybe he himself is more inclined to that stripped-down sound. But I can see how many people wish he did more expansive material like “Chicago”. Arcade Fire’s “Rebellion (Lies)”, on the other hand, epitomizes the exuberant sound of the album it comes from and is sheer indie brilliance to my ears.

I’m digressing from the usual forum sentiment (which I mostly agree with) that tastes are so subjective that there’s no point arguing about Song X being better than Song Y and we should just respect each other’s differences. But of course there’s no harm in agreeing to disagree.

Loved your description of Rebellion (Lies), Dan: "epitomizes the exuberant sound of the album it comes from and is sheer indie brilliance to my ears" is exactly the way I see it. I think both songs on the final will be paired until the last day, since "Chicago" is one of the best uses of the polyphonic soundscape Sufjan used to display on Illinois (although I personally prefer "Jacksonville" and "Come on! Feel the Illinoise!").

About "Here Comes the Sun", what I consider wonderful about it is not only the sunshine feeling, but the incredible craftmanship of George, interplaying such beautiful timbers, arpeggios, compass changes, and his always tender vocal interpretation. With all the greatness present on "Abbey Road", it always amazes me how this song easily towers above the rest of the album.

Toni wrote:About "Here Comes the Sun", what I consider wonderful about it is not only the sunshine feeling, but the incredible craftmanship of George, interplaying such beautiful timbers, arpeggios, compass changes, and his always tender vocal interpretation. With all the greatness present on "Abbey Road", it always amazes me how this song easily towers above the rest of the album.

Thanks for this. I listened out for the things you mentioned, and it made me see a song I already like very much in a slightly different light.

Sour Times
Rebellion (Lies)

Last hours to vote!

Sour Times
Rebellion

RESULTS:

3rd place final:
Dummy (Sour Times) 10 vs. 13 Abbey Road (Here Comes the Sun)

Final:
Funeral (Rebellion (Lies)) 13 vs. 10 Illinois (Chicago)

Some of the most consistent albums ever, like Abbey Road, Purple Rain and OK Computer, and also some of our great favorites, like Automatic for the People and Illinois, have faced each other with their seven best tracks, and, after all, AndyD and his perfect lineup for Funeral deservedly win our cup. Congrats!

Thank you Toni for this game, it was great fun!
And congratulations andyd1010, you were an excellent coach!

Honestly, I'm super-stoked to have gotten runner-up!

Grats on the win andyd1010! I'll get you next time

Thanks for hosting Toni. It's been fun!

Thanks Toni for a great game! I regret a lot that I didn't participate from the start.

I also got an idea for a new game (somewhere in time). How about a world cup style game with artists as teams and only allowing songs not on AM? Seems to me that there would be no clear favourite.

Brilliant, thanks Toni. Really like Henrik's idea.

Henrik wrote: I also got an idea for a new game (somewhere in time). How about a world cup style game with artists as teams and only allowing songs not on AM? Seems to me that there would be no clear favourite.

I have all the time in the world for this idea!

Great game, Toni! Thanks for putting this together - I really enjoyed it.

Henrik wrote:I also got an idea for a new game (somewhere in time). How about a world cup style game with artists as teams and only allowing songs not on AM? Seems to me that there would be no clear favourite.

Yes!! This would not only be unpredictable, but it would also be another excellent way to introduce people to some lesser known favorites. It would be a combination of the World Cup and Unacclaimed game, which sounds awesome!

Mulholland wrote:

Henrik wrote: I also got an idea for a new game (somewhere in time). How about a world cup style game with artists as teams and only allowing songs not on AM? Seems to me that there would be no clear favourite.

I have all the time in the world for this idea!

You or anyone is welcome to host the game.

Toni wrote:Some of the most consistent albums ever, like Abbey Road, Purple Rain and OK Computer, and also some of our great favorites, like Automatic for the People and Illinois, have faced each other with their seven best tracks, and, after all, AndyD and his perfect lineup for Funeral deservedly win our cup. Congrats!

Honorio wrote:Thank you Toni for this game, it was great fun!
And congratulations andyd1010, you were an excellent coach!

Mulholland wrote:Honestly, I'm super-stoked to have gotten runner-up!

Grats on the win andyd1010! I'll get you next time

Thanks! That was a lot of fun. Thanks for hosting, Toni. Glad my favorite song came back and clinched it for my favorite album. And not bad for my 2nd-favorite album taking 3rd.

I agree that Henrik's game sounds interesting.

Henrik wrote:I also got an idea for a new game (somewhere in time). How about a world cup style game with artists as teams and only allowing songs not on AM? Seems to me that there would be no clear favourite.

Great idea, Henrik! I would sure participate.

Me too!

Not sure why I was thinking about this five years later but would anyone be interested in doing something like this again? I thought it was a lot of fun!

FrankLotion wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 2:13 am Not sure why I was thinking about this five years later but would anyone be interested in doing something like this again? I thought it was a lot of fun!

What are the specific rules?

Holden wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 3:30 am

FrankLotion wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 2:13 am Not sure why I was thinking about this five years later but would anyone be interested in doing something like this again? I thought it was a lot of fun!

What are the specific rules?

Here was the original pitch for it by Toni back then, I can’t remember if we altered the rules at all: viewtopic.php?p=91203#p91203

“Hello, all. Since we are close to the World Cup, I thought it would be interesting if we had a game with the same format in our forum, in which 32 (or maybe 64 albums) could compete, first in a group stage, then in playoffs.
It would work exactly like previous "AM World Cup", when artists competed using a diferent song each round. Every album could be selected, since, obviously, it contains at least 7 (or 8, depending on the chosen number of "teams") songs.
Each participant should make his/her lineup with the song that will compete on each stage, sending it to me via PM before the begining of the championship. The most interesting, then, is that we could have matches like "Like a Rolling Stone" vs "Her Majesty" or "From a Buick 6" vs "Here Comes the Sun". It would be quite an unpredictable game.”

Actually this is much better, here is where he laid out the basic structure and how it was going to play:
viewtopic.php?p=92000#p92000