Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

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Honorio
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Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Honorio »

Welcome to the Round 1.7 of the 13th edition of the Moderately Acclaimed Albums poll!

Remember:
- Vote for your favourite album in each match-up.
- Anyone can vote as long as the voter has heard both albums.
- Good-spirited comments are encouraged, but not absolutely necessary.

Deadline = May 16th 20:00 GMT +1

Bracket maker link: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=475615

Match-ups:
1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)



These are the albums of the week:



Album: The Life of Pablo
Artist: Kanye West
Date of release: February 14, 2016
Country: USA
Genre: Pop Rap, Hip Hop
Label: Good
Length: 66:01, 20 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1
Spotify link




Album: Saturdays = Youth
Artist: M83
Date of release: April 11, 2008
Country: UK/France
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze
Label: Virgin
Length: 62:10, 11 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: We Own the Sky
Spotify link




Album: Magnolia Electric Co.
Artist: Songs: Ohia
Date of release: March 3, 2003
Country: USA
Genre: Alt-Country, Contemporary Folk
Label: Secretly Canadian
Length: 45:06, 8 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Farewell Transmission
Spotify link (first 8 tracks)




Album: Faith in Strangers
Artist: Andy Stott
Date of release: November 17, 2014
Country: UK
Genre: Deconstructed Club, UK Bass
Label: Modern Love
Length: 53:51, 9 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Faith in Strangers
Spotify link




Album: El Moodio
Artist: Eleventh Dream Day
Date of release: 1993
Country: USA
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
Label: Atlantic
Length: 48:23, 10 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Makin' Like a Rug
Spotify link




Album: The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera
Artist: Paul Shapera
Date of release: May 8, 2012
Country: USA
Genre: Art Rock, Rock Opera
Label: self-released
Length: 87:36, 25 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Act 1 S2 New Albion 1
Spotify link




Album: Resurrection Los Vol. 1
Artist: Orchestre Los Camaroes
Date of release: 1979
Country: Cameroon
Genre: Bikutsi, Central African Music
Label: Chic Sound
Length: 41:19, 8 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Resurrection Los
Spotify link (original order 1, 4, 5, 2, 3, 6, tracks 5 and 8 of the original album not available)




Album: The Turn of a Friendly Card
Artist: The Alan Parsons Project
Date of release: November 7, 1980
Country: UK
Genre: Art Rock, Progressive Rock
Label: Arista
Length: 39:43, 6 tracks
Song most streamed on Spotify: Games People Play
Spotify link


Mini-stats for the week:
a) Years:
- Mean 2001
- Range 1979-2016 (37 years)
- Breakdown by decades: 1970s (1), 1980s (1), 1990s (1), 2000s (2), 2010s (3)
b) Countries:
- America (4): USA (4)
- Europe (3): UK (2), France (1)
- Africa (1): Cameroon (1)
c) Genres:
- Rock (3): Art Rock (2), Indie Rock (1)
- Hip Hop (1): Pop Rap (1)
- Pop (1): Dream Pop (1)
- Country (1): Alt-Country (1)
- Electronic (1): Deconstructed Club (1)
- Regional Music (1): Bikutsi (1)

Three of these eight albums were on the first position for their nominators.


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Listyguy
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Listyguy »

1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by DaveC »

1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Rdwdbob »

1. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio
4. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn Of A Friendly Card
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Romain »

Match-ups:
1. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993)
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979)
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bonnielaurel
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by bonnielaurel »

1. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio
4. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Madzong »

M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Jirin »

Saturdays = Youth 82 - Life of Pablo 55
Faith In Strangers 75 (Winner) - Magnolia Electric Co 75

I abstain from votes with musical soundtracks unless the opponent is really good or really bad because I still just do not get the appeal of listening to music designed for a visual accompaniment without the visuals.

Still need to hear Ressurection.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by whuntva »

M83 - Saturdays = Youth
Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera

Got sidetracked, but I hope to complete the rest soon.

Song of the Week: "Annabel's Lament" by Paul Shapera, performed by Lauren Osborn (though all of Dolls could count, really)
" Ah, yes! Our meager restitution"
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Honorio
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Honorio »

My votes:



7. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. 1. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. 3. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
6. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. 8. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
5. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. 4. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)

My Top 3 songs of the week:
1. Kim & Jessie
2. Time
3. Violence
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Brad »

My picks:

1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)

Thanks!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by mileswide »

6. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo v. 7. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
4. Songs: Ohia - The Magnolia Electric Co. v. 1. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio v. 8. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion: A Steampunk Opera
2. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 v. 5. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card

Standouts: Ultralight Beam | Highway of Endess Dreams | Farewell Transmission | Violence | That's the Point | Bonfire of the Dolls | Belon Sala | May Be a Price to Pay
All I got inside is vacancy!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Nassim »

1. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
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whuntva
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by whuntva »

Final votes for Andy Stott and Alan Parsons
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by rumpdoll »

1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
Hey ... that sounds like a nice Built to Spill clone ... hmm ... 1993, ok wow
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
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Honorio
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Honorio »

24 hours left!
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Rob
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Rob »

An outstanding week! + The Life of Pablo

8. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. 3. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. 4. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
7. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs. 5. Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)
6. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. 1. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)

Some stray thoughts:
- To be fair to The Life of Pablo, it isn't all that bad as I remembered it. It is wildly uneven and happens to contain Famous, a song I truly despise, but overall it is doable. Doable doesn't cut it though with this kind of competition!
- I'm pretty sure that Magnolia Electric Co. has appeared in this game ag least twice before. I remember not connecting it at the time, but I have no idea why. A deeply beautiful album!
- I can see why a Steampunk musical (or even opera as they dub it) like The Dolls of New Albion is not a popular favorite, but I actually could get into it. In fact, this type of theatricality works surprisingly well for me. The tale it tells has the weakest ending imaginable, but otherwise it is a creative series of steampunk tales told through music. Good discovery!
- The Turn of a Friendly Card is my nomination and as such it is doomed to do badly. The Alan Parsons Project has never been that fashionable, but Parsons always had a real ear for melody and could do prog-like arrangements in an unpretentious way. This is a real producers album and this sounds fantastic. I also like its sweeping tales of gamblers, which suit such a prog light musicality better than you might think.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by spiritualized »

Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) vs. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) vs. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) vs.Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (201
Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 (1979) vs. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Safetycat »

1. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (2016) < M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) > Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers (2014)
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio (1993) > Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera (2012)

I've been on holiday, and then I've struggled to get back into the game since I got back. Managed to get through six this week though!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by BleuPanda »

Didn't have time this week but I'm at least familiar with the first match:
M83 - Saturdays = Youth (2008)
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Honorio
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Honorio »

One hour left!
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Honorio
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by Honorio »

This week we had nice signs of recovery, with 17 total voters this week, 4 more than the previous week and only 1 less than the best week (the first one):
BleuPanda
bonnielaurel
Brad
DaveC
Honorio
Jirin
Listyguy
Madzong
mileswide
Nassim
Rdwdbob
Rob
Romain
rumpdoll
Safetycat
spiritualized
whuntva


And these are the winners of Round 1.7:
1. M83 - Saturdays = Youth over Kanye West - The Life of Pablo 14-3
2. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. over Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers 11-4
3. Eleventh Dream Day - El Moodio over Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion, A Steampunk Opera 11-2
4. Orchestre Los Camaroes - Resurrection Los Vol. 1 over The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card 7-5

Round 1.8 up next!
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whuntva
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 13 - Round 1.7

Post by whuntva »

Alright, now that I am finished, time for me to wax a bit about Dolls of New Albion and why I picked it.

At the end of last year, I got immersed in Paul Shapera's discography after reading through a blog. I joined the Discord and took off from there. I ended up marathoning all of Shapera's works, but Dolls is often used as the "gateway"; the start of Paul's lore in Homeric fashion. Paul is a storycrafter and worldbuilder, who uses his composition and musical talents to write "novels" of a sort. While yes, the story can be hard to grasp at times, I fell in love with Dolls because I thought the music on its own was good enough to forgive parts of the story which seem a bit rushed. It is well performed, well produced, and fun.

Though I guess in nominating it was a hard sell. A rock opera, let alone a steampunk opera, exposes me as a bit of a nerd, and not everyone gravitated to it. I get it. And I learned quite a bit about your tastes from it. I think more than anything else, the length was the biggest turnoff. Most people may not have been willing to commit to an album twice as long as most of the others, and there are 127 more to get through.

There are a few complaints with Dolls' storytelling and inconsistent plot, particularly the ending (which I don't necessarily disagree with, Act IV being my least favorite). I think part of that is it was set up to be a tetralogy, experimenting with genres. Any one of the four could have been strong as a standalone, but Paul was just starting to find his groove. Shapera's lore runs much deeper, but I believe if you stick to the New Albion albums, you should be satisfied. I think the sequel, New Albion Radio Hour, is superior in many ways and actually sticks to one story.

All in all, it was kind of an experiment to see if it would take off on the forum in a similar way as Hadestown, but it suffered some problems with its length and more esoteric story. While Hadestown went to Broadway, Dolls I believe has made it as far as Off-Broadway, but no further. It may take some time and a budget to see it go beyond its niche.

But thank you everyone who gave it a shot, and thanks for the vote of confidence, Rob.
" Ah, yes! Our meager restitution"
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