BRACKET #27

#1 (29) JANET JACKSON vs. #16 (996) SANTIGOLD

One of the biggest pop stars over the past 20+ years… “Nasty”, “Rhythm Nation”, “That’s The Way Love Goes”, “Together Again”…

Santigold, formally known as Santogold, has a unique blend of new wave revival… “L.E.S. Artistes”, “Creator” and “Lights Out”.

#8 (484) DONOVAN vs. #9 (541) EVERLAST

Psychedelic folk of the 60’s… “Sunshine Superman”, “Catch The Wind”, “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, “Mellow Yellow”…

Former front man for House Of Pain, who picked up a guitar and went solo… “What It’s Like”, “Ends”, “Black Jesus”, “Put Your Lights On”…

#5 (285) SEAL vs. #12 (740) DIDO

Seal bridges gaps between soul and alternative rock… “Crazy”, “Killer”, “Prayer For The Dying”, “Kiss From A Rose”…

British pop singer… “Thank You”, “White Flag”, “Life For Rent”, “Here With Me”…

#4 (228) WU-TANG CLAN vs. #13 (797) LEONARD COHEN

One of the biggest and most influential hip-hop groups ever… “Protect Ya Neck”, “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Gravel Pit”, “Triumph”…

Folk rock legend with little chart success… “Hallelujah”, “Suzanne”, “Famous Blue Raincoat”, “Everybody Knows”…

#3 (157) STING vs. #14 (868) JOHNNY MATHIS

Post-Police solo career… “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free”, “All This Time”, “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You”, “Fortress Around Your Heart”…

Traditional pop star… “Chances Are”, “It’s Not For Me To Say”, “Misty”, “Wonderful!, Wonderful!”…

#6 (356) GORILLAZ vs. #11 (669) BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE

Blend of alt/rock, Britpop, hip-hop and electronic… “Feelgood Inc.”, “Clint Eastwood”, “Stylo”, “Dare”…

80’s pop/rock… “The Way It Is”, “Mandolin Rain”, “The Valley Road”, “Every Little Kiss”…

#7 (413) THE MARVELETTES vs. #10 (612) FIONA APPLE

60’s girl group… “Please Mr. Postman”, “Playboy”, “Don’t Mess With Bill”, “The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game”…

Alternative rock, singer/songwriter popular in the 90’s… “Criminal”, “Shadowboxer”, “Fast As You Can”, “O’ sailor”

#2 (100) HALL & OATES vs. #15 (925) HANSON

Pop stars in the 70’s and 80’s… “Sara Smile”, “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)”, “Maneater”, “Kiss On My List”…

Pop band obviously known for their one big hit, “Mmmbop”. Others include “I Will Come To You”, “Penny & Me” and “Where’s The Love”…

Janet Jackson (mostly because Santigold was one of the most undeserved hype of the past years)
Donovan
Seal
Wu-Tang Clan (I would have voted for Leonard Cohen against any of this week's artists except Wu Tang and Gorillaz... such a shame that they have to meet on the 1st round)
Gorillaz
Hall & Oates

#1 Janet Jackson
#8 Donovan
#5 Seal
#13 Leonard Cohen
#3 Sting
#11 Bruce Hornsby & the Range
#10 Fiona Apple
#2 Hall & Oates

BRACKET #27
#1 (29) JANET JACKSON
#8 (484) DONOVAN
#5 (285) SEAL
#13 (797) LEONARD COHEN
#3 (157) STING
#6 (356) GORILLAZ
#10 (612) FIONA APPLE
#2 (100) HALL & OATES

#1 Miss Janet!
#8 Donovan
#5 Seal
#4 Wu-Tang Clan
#6 Gorillaz
#10 Fiona Apple
#2 Hall and Oates

#1 (29) JANET JACKSON
#8 (484) DONOVAN
#5 (285) SEAL
#13 (797) LEONARD COHEN
#14 (868) JOHNNY MATHIS
#6 (356) GORILLAZ
#10 (612) FIONA APPLE
#2 (100) HALL & OATES

Cohen got a rough draw.

#1 (29) JANET JACKSON
#9 (541) EVERLAST
#12 (740) DIDO
#13 (797) LEONARD COHEN
#3 (157) STING
#6 (356) GORILLAZ
#2 (100) HALL & OATES

Everlast
Dido
Leonard Cohen (why are the best two artists always against each other?)
Gorillaz
Hall & Oates

Wu-Tang Clan
Gorillaz
Hall and Oats

#1 Janet Jackson
#9 Everlast - but really? #9? When Hanson got a #15 for their 1 song?
#12 Dido - this was a really tough choice...I like Seal a lot, but "Here With Me" and "White Flag" are two of my favorite songs
#13 Leonard Cohen - not a Wu-Tang fan
#3 Sting - not a fan, but he has some decent songs, and I give the guy props for the dancing alien in a cowboy hat...that was out there
#6 Gorillaz - Bruce Hornsby's only decent song was "Mandolin Rain", and most of his others made me want to kick my radio
#7 The Marvelettes
#2 Hall and Oates - I'm surprised Hanson even made the UMT at all, much less as a #15. I guess that shows how influential 1 big song can be...I still don't get Everlast at #9

1. Janet Jackson
8. Donovan
5. Seal
4. Wu-Tang Clan (As many have pointed out, this is a brutal matchup…I may have to turn in my Aging Hipster Society membership card for taking the Wu over Cohen, but I have to be honest.)
3. Sting (But I’m very tempted to pick Mathis as a vote for “heavy petting in the back seat” over “weird Tantric sex that lasts up to 12 hours.” Call me a romantic...)
6. Gorillaz
10. Fiona Apple
2. Hall & Oates

****

MOST UNDERRATED
Leonard Cohen (UMT 797, AM 84).

MOST OVERRATED
Janet Jackson (UMT 29, AM 345); Hall & Oates (UMT 100, AM 1069); Seal (UMT 285, AM 1677); Sting (UMT 157, AM 668).

NOT AM RANKED
Everlast, Bruce Hornsby.

CLOSEST
Hanson (UMT 925, AM 974).

(These last two categories will, no doubt, surprise Larry.)

#1 JANET JACKSON

#8 DONOVAN

#5 SEAL

#4 WU-TANG CLAN

#3 STING

#6 GORILLAZ

#10 FIONA APPLE

#2 HALL & OATES

#1 (29) JANET JACKSON
#8 (484) DONOVAN
#5 (285) SEAL
#13 (797) LEONARD COHEN
#3 (157) STING
#6 (356) GORILLAZ
#10 (612) FIONA APPLE
#2 (100) HALL & OATES

#16 (996) SANTIGOLD

Most of Janet Jackson's singles are vapid and annoyingly repetitious.

#9 (541) EVERLAST

He's got like two songs that are really good.

#12 (740) DIDO

A few good songs. It's a shame she needed Eminem to get herself any attention.

#13 (797) LEONARD COHEN

Wu Tang are one of those gangsta poser groups.

#6 (356) GORILLAZ

#10 (612) FIONA APPLE

Fiona Apple is criminally underrated by critics because she had a few pop hits.

#2 (100) HALL & OATES

Hanson are the only boy band from the 90s who actually have the right to call themselves 'musicians'. They write their own songs, sing their own songs with their real unedited voices, and play their own instruments. Against the Backstreet Boys I'd vote Hanson in a second. But, they're too kid-marketed to get my vote against anyone I don't find physically painful to listen to.

Winners in bracket #27...

Janet Jackson 93.1% / Santigold 6.9%
Donovan 62.1% / Everlast 37.9%
Seal 72.4% / Dido 27.6%
Wu-Tang Clan 60% / Leonard Cohen 40%
Sting 92.3% / Johnny Mathis 7.7%
Gorillaz 76.7% / Bruce Hornsby & The Range 23.3%
Fiona Apple 76.9% / The Marvalettes 23.1%
Hall & Oates 100% / Hanson 0%