Acclaimed Music Forums

Today a song that has over a billion streams on Spotify. Basically, we finally get a song actual people actually like. Critics ignored it though, so it is not on AM.

849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One
Year: 2014
Album: In the Lonely Hour
Biggest Fan: andy1010 (#636)

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Rob wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 8:59 am849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One

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848. Four Tet - She Moves She: 6/10
849. Sam Smith - I'm Not the Only One: 5/10

849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One: 5.8

846. IAM, featuring Bruizza & Rahzel - Dangereux - 5
847. The Stark Reality – Rocket Ship - 2
848. Four Tet – She Moves She - 7
849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One - 5
Sam has just a bit too much of what I would call "Michael Buble energy" to make me like them more.

This song is bubblin’ under on AM:

850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico
Year: 1978
Album: Siembra
Biggest Fan: panam (#66)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Rob wrote: ↑Sun May 09, 2021 8:45 am850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico

4, it's okay.

Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One: 6
Sam Smith's voice is definitely unique, but somehow I never really liked it. I can't really put my finger on why, though. As his song goes, this one isn't all that bad. Certainly not as obnoxious as the ubiquitous Stay With Me. Good melody.

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico: 7
It perhaps helped that there is a weather was warm today, but I could get into it's vibe rather well.

850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico: 6/10

851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance
Year: 2001
Album: Take Offs and Landings
Biggest Fan: StevieFan13 (#941)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

848. Four Tet – She Moves She: 6
849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One: 5.5
850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico: 5

Thanks!

849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One - 6.5
850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico - 6
851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance - 8

Rob wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 7:21 am851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance

A lot of these modern records feature guys who can't sing, but this one is a woman who can't sing.

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846. IAM, featuring Bruizza & Rahzel - Dangereux - 5
847. The Stark Reality – Rocket Ship - 4
848. Four Tet – She Moves She - 7
849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One - 5
850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico - 4
851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance - 7

849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One: 5
850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico: 6
851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance: 7

Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance: 8
Really good. I need to here me some more Rilo Kiley/ Jenny Lewis. In contrast to Hymie I love her voice. The guitar solo at the end is nice too.

851. Rilo Kiley - Science vs. Romance: 6/10

Yes, today’s band would quickly change their name to Abba. This was their first single! I’m just going to count it as Abba’s second entry here.

852. Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid – People Need Love
Year: 1972
Album: Ring Ring
Biggest Fan: prosecutorgodot (#928)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

852. ABBA – People Need Love - 8

851. Rilo Kiley - Science vs. Romance: 7

Thanks!

Rob wrote: ↑Tue May 11, 2021 7:30 am852. Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid – People Need Love

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852. Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid – People Need Love: 6.5

Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid – People Need Love: 3
Just when I thought ABBA couldn't have possibly produced anything more annoying than Super Trouper I discover this obnoxious early effort. It seems like they were still with one foot in the flower power movement and saw themselves as some folk pop group from the sixties, but they're uncanny talent for giving hooks a bad name (for me at least) is already more than present. There is also yodeling.

Science vs. Romance is a 9

852. ABBA - People Need Love: 3/10

849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One: 8

It wouldn't make my top 1000 today, but like Rob, I enjoy the melody. I love leading tones, so I like the piano motif, and also the harmonies that build later in the song. I get the complaints about the oversinging and the Buble comparisons though.

852. ABBA – People Need Love: 2

Thanks!

Four Tet - She Moves She 8
Sam Smith - I'm Not the Only One 4
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plastico 7
Rilo Kiley - Science vs. Romance 4
ABBA - People Need Love 3
Animal Collective - Chocolate Girl 6

Was the site down for anyone else yesterday? We get two songs to catch up.

In one of those strange coincidences, this is the second entry in a row that features a band not yet operating under the name they would become famous as (Animal Collective in this case).

853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl
Year: 2000
Album: Spirit They Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished
Biggest Fan: Fred (#176)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

854. Tony Christie – Avenues and Alleyways
Year: 1972
Album: With Loving Feeling (though it appeared first on the tv show The Protectors, for which it was written)
Biggest Fan: Wezzo (#285)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Good set of songs!

850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico - 7
851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance - 9
I like most of their stuff that I've heard, this was a strong track
852. Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid – People Need Love - 6
Bit of a weak first effort but it's got drive and energy, I enjoy it.
853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl - 7
Between this and Bros I'm starting to think I liked Animal Collective decollectivised.
854. Tony Christie – Avenues and Alleyways - 7
So I really like Amarillo, and this is quite similar to that. I have no idea why I like music like this and have no excuse.

Yes Rob, the site was down for me also.

853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl - 6.5
854. Tony Christie – Avenues and Alleyways - 10 [from my list] - really adore this kind of Schlager sound, though if anyone out there finds it a tad antiseptic, check out the GBH cover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jdMt5tZ0_E

Rob wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 8:06 am853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl

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Rob wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 8:06 am854. Tony Christie – Avenues and Alleyways

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853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl: 7
854. Tony Christie – Avenues and Alleyways: 6.5

853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl: 8.5 (#3747 on my AT list)

Thanks!

853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear | "Chocolate Girl": 6/10
854. Tony Christie | "Avenues and Alleyways": 4/10

Avey Tare & Panda Bear - Chocolate Girl: 4
A 4 may not seem high praise, but this song's parent album is on my nomination list as worst album I ever listened to. It appeared on Moderately Acclaimed some years ago and I have really painful memories of it, sometimes literally, as I think the opening track actually had a high pitched sound that actually hurt my ears. I'm not checking back if that memory is correct. Chocolate Girl has a nice middle piece that almost makes me like the song, but the start and the extended ending with the cymbals capture why I generally dislike Animal Collective so much: their love of having annoying sounds (and I very much include Avey Tare's voice in there) clash with one another.

Tony Christie - Avenues and Alleyways: 6
Tony Christie is not well-known everywhere, but his Is This the Way to Amarillo is something of a mainstay in Dutch carnivals and beer fests. It's the only English-language schlager song I can think of being a hit (though I'm no expert in the genre and like to keep it that way). So it was strange for me to learn that the same guy made the title song for a crime tv-series. Perhaps he wasn't into schlager back then? Well, it does sound like a rather odd fit for such a series, although I guess there is something of Tom Jones' theme for James Bond's Thunderball in there. Perhaps that is the sound they are going for? To be honest, after three songs I kind of got into it. I think a more darker or gritty voice would work better here, but it is an amusing, albeit campy piece of noir singing.

Today’s song ranks at #4520 on AM. I’m actually lightly surprised it only had one vote. It’s the second appearance by 10cc.

855. 10cc – The Things We Do for Love
Year: 1976
Album: Deceptive Bends
Biggest Fan: frezzie (#230)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

854. Tony Christie - Avenues and Alleyways: 7.25
855. 10cc – The Things We Do for Love: 8 (#7322 on my AT list)

Thanks!

Rob wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 9:00 am855. 10cc – The Things We Do for Love

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10cc – The Things We Do for Love: 7

This was the phase were the original group had split up and most of the wacky lyrics and arty elements in their music was lost. A pity, but even if this is a relatively conventional pop song, it is a good one.

855. 10cc – The Things We Do for Love: 7.5

855. 10cc | "The Things We Do for Love": 5/10

849. Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One: 5
850. Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Plástico: 5 (What does the intro have to do with the rest of the song?)
851. Rilo Kiley – Science Vs. Romance: 7
852. Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid – People Need Love: 4
853. Avey Tare & Panda Bear – Chocolate Girl: 8
854. Tony Christie – Avenues and Alleyways: 4
855. 10cc – The Things We Do for Love: 5

855. 10cc – The Things We Do for Love: 7.9

ABBA - People Need Love

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This was on an ABBA greatest hits album I used to own. It was probably my least favorite song, though now I see that it was simply an early effort.

856. The Bats – Boogey Man
Year: 1991
Album: Fear of God
Biggest Fan: spiritualized (#unranked)

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Rob wrote: ↑Sat May 15, 2021 9:17 am856. The Bats – Boogey Man

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The Bats – Boogey Man: 6

I dunno. It's about the boogey man, as the title states, but it also sounds very chill and summery. Maybe a little too much so, because although it makes for a rather pleasant song it passes by a little too easily.

856. The Bats – Boogey Man: 6