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Only a few more weeks and Round 1 will be done! Here we go!
WEEK 27
A little breakdown of this week's songs by decade...
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 2
1960s: 7
1970s: 8
1980s: 8
1990s: 3
2000s: 4
Also of note:
Two brackets from the Rachmaninoff bloc
Two brackets from the Bach bloc
Three brackets from the Wagner bloc
Two songs by New Order
Here are this week's brackets. Remember, you can also view the brackets on this site. Voting is now open, and you have until 11:59 PM Pacific time on this upcoming Saturday to vote. Vote either in this thread or e-mail me.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
#103: "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
#410: "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
#615: "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
#922: "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
#5: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
#508: "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
#517: "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
#1020: "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
#24: "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
#489: "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
#536: "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
#1001: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
#130: "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
#383: "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
#642: "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
#895: "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
#88: "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
#425: "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
#600: "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
#937: "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
#162: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
#351: "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
#674: "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
#862: "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
#37: "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
#476: "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
#549: "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
#988: "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
#220: "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
#293: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
#732: "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
#805: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
#410: "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
#103: "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
#615: "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
#922: "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1 - Solid Bracket!
#5: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
#508: "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
#517: "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
#1020: "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
#24: "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
#489: "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
#1001: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
#536: "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3 - Not yet so keen on the last three songs in this bracket.
#130: "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
#383: "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
#642: "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
#895: "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
#88: "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
#600: "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
#425: "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
#937: "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
#862: "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
#351: "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
#162: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
#674: "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
#37: "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
#476: "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
#988: "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
#549: "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
#293: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
#805: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
#732: "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
#220: "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1: "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins: The final song written for Mellon Collie; (Flood imposed a deadline on Corgan: 24 hours to take his unfinished song and "make it happen", or it wouldn't make the album), and against the grain of anything else they ever did, "1979" is the song that SP should be remembered for. Corgan's oft-baffling, metaphor-drenched lyrics are not only interpretable here, but pretty straightforward: it's about reflection and innocence of childhood -- nostalgia -- but disguised as a surburban teen anthem. Like "Today", it's simultaneously depressing and anthemic; it somehow seems to shift to fit whatever mood you're in. And like the majority of SP's best songs (and a common denominator of my personal favorites), it sounds effortless. It's the creative apex of one of music's greatest singles-oriented bands (aside: 'Adore' is criminally underrated, imo), and among the greatest songs of my generation.
2: "She Loves You" - The Beatles
4: "Crystal" - New Order
3: "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin
2: "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers
3: "True Faith" - New Order
4: "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem: This didn't grab my attention, nor did it make me feel anything.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1: "I Will Follow" - U2: The debut of a group that would go on to become one of the best bands in the world, until that one dark day that they lost their inspiration and love for music.
2: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth
3: "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols: One of those unique bands that wouldn't have been able to take a step in the wrong direction because they were already there.
4: "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers: The most positive statement I can make about it is that at least it isn't offensive.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1: "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones: My favorite song from a band that, to this day, continues to do nothing for me. They're not a bad band per se, I'd probably like them better if they just replaced their singer, guitarists, drummer and bassist. (I kid.)
2: "Loaded" - Primal Scream
3: "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus
4: "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1: "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers
2: "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam
3: "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton
4: "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith): Proof for my working theory that Aerosmith sucks.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1: "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles: At some point last year, for about a week I was convinced it was the best thing the Beatles ever did. Just because it's so... out there. Now, it's settled back down comfortably around 4th or 5th.
2: "Longview" - Green Day: Falls somewhere within the bottom half of Dookie, but still enjoyable.
3: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
4: "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age: Josh Homme seems to have a ton of cred among musicians, but I still haven't heard anything from him that's listenable. Will we still be talking about them in 20 years time? No.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1: "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder: Incredible.
2: "Moon River" - Henry Mancini
3: "Holiday" - Madonna
4: "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane: I'd never wear an Jefferson Airplane t-shirt. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that experience would be. You’d attract all the wrong kinds of attention. It's the ultimate loser magnet.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2
2: "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono: Don't know this one, but it has to be better than these two:
3: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss: A joke without the punchline. Old man's pants!
4: "Toxic" - Britney Spears: I can't stand songs that are written by committee.
2 #4 votes for Queens Of The Stone Age with that weak competition? You gotta be joking...
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
#615: "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
#410: "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
#922: "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
#103: "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
Crystal is top 50 all time for me, clearly the best New Order song, very danceable with a great intensity, gave the pattern to most of the good 00s dance track.
I love 1979 too, especially that feeling of nostalgia, but just can not compare !
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
#5: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
#1020: "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
#517: "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
#508: "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
#5 seems a bit high, but that's what you call intense singing ! "Yeah" might not be on my LCD Soundsystem top 10 but it is still a song I like, which is not the case of the 2 others.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
#895: "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
#130: "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
#642: "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
#383: "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
Tough choice between the first 2 here, but Damaged Goods is probably my favourite song of the first punk era. Less tidy than most of the songs back then, but at least as sincere and exposed.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
#674: "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
#351: "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
#862: "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
#162: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
Plenty to love here, but QOTSA is my favourite band ever, the drums here are just stunning, Josh Homme is the coolest guy on Earth and God I love that album !
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
#220: "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
#293: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
#732: "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
#805: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
Forget that it is Britney, just consider the song itself. I think the tons of good covers has proven the sheer quality of the song, improved there by the production. Sure, her voice is a bit annoying at some moments and the video clip was just ridiculous ; still it is a very solid song in a rather weak bracket.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
2. "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
3. "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
4. "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
Not a very inspiring bracket, all the songs are good but not among my favorites by any of those artists. "1979" wins on nostalgic basis.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
2. "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
3. "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
4. "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
"Respect" is overplayed, but you know what? It really is great. As far as "I Shot the Sheriff", I've never understood it's acclaim amidst so many better Marley songs.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
2. "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
3. "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
4. "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
4 very good songs with very little separating them ("I Will Follow" at #4 is not a knee-jerk U2 thing, it just couldn't quite stack up). I'll always take that weird brand of paranoid early-'70s soul, so Undisputed Truth wins.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1. "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
2. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
3. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
4. "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
Close for #1, and I know the Stones will win this, but "Damaged Goods" is fantastic. The other 2 are fine as well, but "Loaded" is starting to get dated.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
2. "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
3. "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
4.: "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
Another group of good-not-great songs. I went with full-on pop here over "Walk This Way", although Run-D.M.C.'s refurbishing of that track is rather miraculous considering how moldy the original sounds these days.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
2. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
3. "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
"No One Knows" is one of the best full-on rock songs of the last 10 years, and that springs it ahead of "Walrus", which is of course interesting if slightly bullshit music-concrete (and which will win this bracket).
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
2. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
3. "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
4. "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
"Superstition" in a runaway, though "Moon River" really is a lovely melody that should not be easily discounted. "Somebody to Love" really, really grates on me these days.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1. "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
2. "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
3. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
4. "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
Weird group, all songs with a combination of merits and flaws. Yoko gets it, though she has better tracks.
Whoops, accidental double-post.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1: "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
2: "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
3: "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
4: "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
I love the Buzzcocks but have never liked that song that much. Anybody with me that Get Ready is New Order's best album?
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1: "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
2: "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
3: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
4: "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1: "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
2: "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
3: "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
4: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1: "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
2: "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
3: "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
4: "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
Loaded? This bracket.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1: "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
2: "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
3: "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
4: "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1: "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
2: "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
3: "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
4: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1: "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
2: "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
3: "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
4: "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
Madonna has so many great songs, but on the other side so many awful, annoying ones.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1: "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
2: "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
3: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
4: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
QOSTA aren't my favorite but First It Giveth is an awesome song.
John Lennon week…
HAYDN 16
1. SHE LOVES YOU. The ur-text, lyrically and musically, for everything John and Paul would do for the next two years. In other words, it’s Mile Zero for the overwhelming preponderance of the music on this site. (Better than “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” as well.)
2. ORGASM ADDICT. Another example of the Buzzcocks’ setting the standard for a tidal wave of dysfunctional “love” songs for a decade or more.
3. 1979. For consistency’s sake, I really should disdain manufactured, navel-gazing Gen-X nostalgia as much as I do the more venerable and widespread boomer version. Corgan, though, at least has the good sense to be more arch and musically interesting than the likes of Don McLean and Billy Joel…
4. CRYSTAL. Speaking of nostalgia, to be honest, a lot of New Order’s appeal for me now is based on high school memories; this one doesn’t have that advantage. Not bad, though.
WAGNER 1. The order here is very easy, so my comments are telegraphic:
1. RESPECT. See pauldrach’s list of acclaimed covers. Can’t add much to that.
2. TRUE FAITH. Now that’s more like it.
3. YEAH. Love me some Soundsystem, but this one isn’t a standout.
4. I SHOT THE SHERIFF. Before I re-listened this week, I made a point to remind myself that this is NOT Clapton’s version, and I should keep an open mind. Still didn’t help.
RACHMANINOFF 13
1. I WILL FOLLOW. Some primo early U2 this week; this isn’t actually as good as “Pride,” but that’s in a stronger group. Given where the group’s been these last 25 years, it’s great to hear them sounding all garage-y (and what the hell is that in the closing bars? chimes?).
2. HOLIDAYS IN THE SUN. As it was for many Americans, this was literally my introduction to the Sex Pistols—the first track on Never Mind the Bollocks—and I still think of it fondly. Interestingly, the martial, goose-stepping rhythm that introduces the song feels more Clash than Pistols.
3. YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELIN’. A song that’s been travestied so often that it’s hard to really hear it without hearing its history. Goopy, syrupy fun.
4. SMILING FACES SOMETIMES. New one on me. I like it, although it feels very much like a time capsule piece.
BACH 3
1. GIMME SHELTER. This song, the Stones’ finest hour, reached the Final Four the last time we did this. So I’ll pass until next round.
2. DAMAGED GOODS. This song is proof that you can, too, write a great pop song even if you’ve got too much book-learnin’.
3. BELA LUGOSI’S DEAD. Makeup!
4. LOADED. I missed Primal Scream the first time around, and somehow this has always felt a little stale to me. Not bad, though.
RACHMANINOFF 12
1. TOWN CALLED MALICE. Imagine you’d never heard the Jam before. Let’s see, this opens with the bass part from “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Then we get a cheery riff played on what sounds like a shitty roller-rink organ. The last lyrics you’d expect at that point are: “Stop dreamin’ of the quiet life, ‘cos it’s the one we’ll never know…” Etc. And that, in miniature, is why they were a truly great band.
2. WALK THIS WAY. If I could walk that way, I wouldn’t need aftershave. Ahem, sorry. This is in the top 100 for historic reasons as much as musical ones, but withal it’s a pretty irresistible song.
3. WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE. Tough #3, but it’s a strong group. By the way, my theory is that they actually did it.
4. ATOMIC DOG. Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay. And that’s about it.
BACH 11
1. I AM THE WALRUS. Most days, I’ll tell you that this is the Beatles’ best song. It combines the ultimate studio mastery to which the band—especially John—had driven George Martin over the previous four years, and the ultimate statement of John’s most fertile period of songwriting (no, “Glass Onion” doesn’t count). Here, John tears down EVERYTHING and leaves a surreal carnival in its place. It’s a masterpiece, it’s a tour de force, goo goo g’joob.
2. NO ONE KNOWS. In a strange way, Them Crooked Vultures have only increased my affection for the Queens, including this standout track from their best album (@Anthony: not “listenable”? really? First time I heard it, I pressed the back button a few times). In a baroque era of rock, somebody needs to be both innovative and relentless…
3. LONGVIEW …which is not the same thing as being just relentless. Green Day is not a bad band at all, and “Longview” (and the rest of Dookie) was a breath of fresh air in a very lugubrious era for hard rock. As they’ve shown, they’re capable of writing reams of songs that sound just like it. The problem is that they have.
4. WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE. Last week, I said that in the case of “I Want You Back,” I can overcome my visceral dislike of child singers. Can’t do it here.
WAGNER 9
1. SUPERSTITION. I’ll hold off on commenting extensively until Stevie makes the next round. One of the great grooves of all time.
2. SOMEBODY TO LOVE. With the mystique of late-60s San Francisco mostly dissipated now, the Airplane’s reputation basically rests on two songs. But since those two songs are “White Rabbit” and this fantastic psychedelic rocker, that reputation’s deserved. Ironically, both songs were written by Grace Slick before she even joined the band.
3. HOLIDAY. Pre-“Like a Virgin” Madonna sounds incredibly refreshing these days. I find most of her music from 1984-1995 pretty sludgy, but this one’s sweet.
4. MOON RIVER. You can go a long way on pretty, my huckleberry friend.
WAGNER 10. Something for everybody.
1. WALKING ON THIN ICE. This week’s first bracket goes to John Lennon’s first unequivocal masterpiece. A bracket in the middle goes to his ultimate song of the Beatles’ pinnacle, their psychedelic period. So it’s fitting that this last bracket should go to his last really, really good song—and, for that matter, one of the best things he’d done since Plastic Ono Band. He was killed on his way home from mixing it. He would have turned 70 in October of this year.
2. TOXIC. Britney is a 21st-century Bye Bye Birdie—a manufactured, talentless airhead for an ironic and very culturally confused age (her main difference from Birdie is that she’s a victim, not a lout). She’s both a throwback and our contemporary, both a vapid cipher and someone whose persona should be attended to. In other words, she’s pop. This is her best song.
3. PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE). One of my favorite U2 songs nevertheless ends up third in a strong bracket. Off-topic: I have a candy bar for anyone who can explain why “Bad” (my favorite U2 song, from the same album as “Pride”) isn’t even bubbling under.
4. ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE. Kiss’ (genuinely enjoyable) magnum opus is in the top 1000 for the same reason that people put J.K. Rowling or Ayn Rand on lists of best novels…I understand why it’s there, but its inclusion shouldn’t really be taken seriously.
Scheluse, just wanna say brilliant comments this week.
I didn't comment on Why Do Fools Fall in Love... how is this acclaimed? Teeny bopper crap, even though it came out during an innocent age where most hits were sugar coated. Just goes to show that every era had their own Justin Bieber and New Kids on the Block.
My finger's feeling a bit better, so I'll vote for what I can.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. New Order- "Crystal": Brilliant, cracking single, and the only song worth mentioning from the Get Ready album. An epic adventure into dance euphoria, it gets me everytime. Placed 254 in my recent song list.
2. Smashing Pumpkins- "1979": One of the very few songs of theirs I like.
3. Buzzcocks- "Orgasm Addict": Someday, maybe I'll appreciated The Buzzcocks the way I appreciate Magazine.
4. The Beatles- "She Loves You": Annoying to no end.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. LCD Soundsystem- "Yeah": WAY better than "Losing My Edge", in my book. This was the song that made me take notice of my 4th favorite artist of the 00s. Scorching synths and a deliciously funky bass are a match made in heaven. Placed 245 in my recent song list.
2. New Order- "True Faith": In all honesty, they have much better singles in the 80s. This one gets acclaimed because it became popular. It's decent, and that's definitely enough for 2nd here.
3. Bob Marley- "I Shot the Sheriff": Pass.
4. Aretha Franklin- "Respect": A rose is not a rose.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. George Clinton- "Atomic Dog": Synth funk for the win! George Clinton is a flat-out genius, and this song is a great testament to that. Innately strange and infinitely danceable. Placed 887 in my list.
2. Run DMC/Aerosmith- "Walk This Way": I prefer the version with only Aersomith, to be honest. Still pretty good.
3. The Jam- "A Town Called Malice": I've warmed up a bit to The Jam, but this isn't as good to me as several other songs of theirs.
4. The Everly Brothers- "Wake Up Little Susie": I actually like a few of their songs ("All I Have to Do Is Dream" first and foremost), but this isn't one of them.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. Stevie Wonder- "Superstition": Blistering funk for the win! Placed 366 in my list, and I'll save my comments until my finger is unimpeded.
2. Madonna- "Holiday": A great song, and it's still only my 6th favorite on the album. Placed 1616 in my list.
3. Henry Mancini- "Moon River": Pleasant enough, but out of its league against the top 2.
4. Jefferson Airplane- "Somebody to Love": Yuck.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
2. "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
3. "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
4. "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
1979 is one of the greatest songs ever. I hope it breaks into the top 100 in the all time poll.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
2. "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
3. "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
4. "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
2. "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
3. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
4. "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
2. "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
3. "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
4. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
2. "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
3. "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
4. "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
2. "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
3. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
4. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
Its pretty rare where a Beatles Song is at the bottom of a bracket.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
2. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
3. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
4. "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
2. "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
3. "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
4. "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
Many great groups this week.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995] One of the most common rock music cliches (or myths) is that the best song of the band was made in five minutes when there was left only 10 minutes studiotime. Everybody just played their instruments and singer just sang what went to mind. And voilà after 5 minutes the song was ready (and recorded). 1979 is one of those songs. It's not important is the story true or not. Somehow I've keep voting for this song in the polls the best song ever (except in our last poll when I wanted you to listen to Birdy).
2. "Crystal" - New Order [2001] One of the best come back singles of 00's.
3. "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
4. "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1 Good group
1. "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004] Crass version (which was in my spotify playlist) deserves the reward of song of the week.
2. "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
3. "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
4. "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
2. "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
3. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
4. "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979] Bauhaus is one of those bands I need to listen more. Great post punk song.
2. "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991] Screamadelica is one of the best albums of 90's (yeah I know many doesn't agree with me). I love the album as a whole but I prefer the withdrawn electro songs and the beautiful pop songs.
3. "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
4. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
2. "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
3. "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
4. "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
2. "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
3. "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9 Complex group. Could be in any order.
1. "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
2. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
3. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961] The original isn't the best version.
4. "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1. "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981] Wow, I haven't heard this before. The production of the song + the way Yoko Ono is singing sounds just like those underground indie electro girls of these days = music I love.
2. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984] How much I love to dislike the idea of U2 I can't deny that they made many amazing songs back in the 80's. Pride is definitely one of them (and it's also top 500 material). But today I want to give four points to Yoko Ono.
3. "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003] The best post Baby One More Time Britney -song.
4. "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975] Not a chance in a good group.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]: Their most instantly iconic early single, and the one that holds up the best, for its effortless pop gleam and its unique lyrical perspective.
2. "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]: Relentless, rude, and hilarious. One of the great first-wave punk records.
3. "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]: The big hit from MELLON COLLIE is actually a startlingly poppy anomaly on that sprawling opus. So fresh and accessible it makes you realize Corgan could probably turn out stuff like this in his sleep, and in a way it’s kind of a shame that he so willfully chooses not to.
4. "Crystal" - New Order [2001]: A terrific comeback single, but this is a tough bracket.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]: Not much to say. One of the greatest records ever made, and possibly the greatest cover of all time. So ingrained in our culture that it’s easy to forget just how amazing it actually is.
2. "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]: I’ve never quite been able to piece the whole story together here – why does the sheriff hate the narrator so much? Did the sheriff actually kill the deputy himself, just to frame him? It’s all a metaphor, right? It’s a classic nonetheless, even if it’s no “Get Up Stand Up.”
3. "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]: I’ll go with the consensus here – I love LCD, but this one wears out its welcome after a while.
4. "True Faith" - New Order [1987]: A very good record, by a band I admire more than enjoy.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]: River deep, schmiver deep – THIS is Phil Spector’s finest hour, with the Wall of Sound staying on just the right side of over-the-top to match the blue-eyed soul theatrics of Mssrs. Hatfield and Medley.
2. "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]: Savagely brilliant – the jackboots and the Belsen references might be there for shock value, but they work, because Lydon and company are 100% committed. They really DO mean it, maaannn, and it’s scary as hell.
3. "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]: Their sound – The Edge’s sound, anyway – was pretty fully formed and distinctive right at the beginning, and it still sounds fresh.
4. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]: One of Motown’s best early-‘70s hits, but “Back Stabbers” borrowed its paranoid vibe and improved on it.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]: Possibly the Stones’ finest track, which makes it one of the finest ever by anyone. To this day, nothing more instantly conjures up the darker side of the Sixties – or of life in general, really – than hearing those slithering opening chords.
2. "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]: Sums up everything that’s extraordinary about one of the great debuts of all time, with its white-hot art-funk music and its ice-cold lyrics (special kudos to “Open the till/Give me the change you said would do me good”).
3. "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]: Sustains itself well, but the only track on SCREAMADELICA I really love is “Come Together.”
4. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]: Never really been into this kind of thing. I get its popularity, but it’s not my cuppa.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]: A pretty uninspiring bracket, with Don and Phil’s super-catchy ode to falling asleep (yeah, right) at the drive-in winning by default.
2. "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]: The record that pretty much singlehandedly opened up hip-hop to a wider audience, in a cannily inspired way. But I like both groups better on their own.
3. "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]: Lots of fun, but I prefer his Seventies stuff.
4. "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]: A good single, now inextricably linked with BILLY ELLIOT.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]: Again, not a whole lot to say that hasn’t been said before. It’s absurdly overpacked with stuff, and Lennon’s wordplay is a bit pleased with itself, but it’s madly entertaining nonetheless.
2. "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]: Not my favorite track on SONGS FROM THE DEAF, but that’s a relative statement. The presence of Dave Grohl doing what he’s always done best made an already great band that much better.
3. "Longview" - Green Day [1994]: The song that introduced these guys to most of the world, and it holds up quite well (although I’ve always much preferred the music to the rather facile lyrics, which is usually the case with GD).
4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]: SH2B4. Great teenage doo-wop, from one of rock’s most tragic cases.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]: Another ridiculously easy #1. Stevie’s masterpiece, perfect in every way. As I’ve said before, is any record more immediately identifiable by its opening drumbeat?
2. "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]: I love this song, and in most brackets it would be my #1 pick. Very happy to see it (and the rest of SURREALISTIC PILLOW) get unexpected new life as a linchpin of the Coen Brothers’ A SERIOUS MAN (even Jorma Kaukonen gets a name-check, which is more than justified by his searing solos on this track).
3. "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]: A fun record, containing absolutely no indication that her career would have lasted this long.
4. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]: Why would anyone want to listen to this outside the context of the movie? And WTF is a huckleberry friend, anyway?
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]: An even more ridiculously easy choice. My favorite U2 track, possibly even more so than “One,” mostly for the stunning urgency and passion of the performance.
2. "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]: A state-of-the-art pop single with an insidious hook. Essentially, any singer could have been plugged in and it would have been a smash, which makes it perfect for Britney. I admit that the video probably helped a -little- bit.
3. "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]: Two-way tie for last place here. I give the slight edge to Yoko because nothing John Lennon had a hand in should get a #4 ranking, and also to give her credit for sheer persistent ballsiness.
4. "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]: Once you hear this song, it’s in your head forever – you can’t deny that. Nor can you deny Simmons and Stanley their due respect as business geniuses. Doesn’t mean you have to like the band.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
#410: "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
One of the Pumpkins' strongest achievements, setting the mood of being a teenager in a transitional period, lashing out randomly because you don't identify with anything.
#103: "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
Good song but doesn't go much beyond just 'Pop'.
#615: "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
Okay song. Not as good as their old stuff. I didn't know they even made music in the 00s.
#922: "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
One of those songs that's designed around offending the oversensitive. Some call that 'Controversial'. I call it 'Boring'.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
#5: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
Great song. It's one of the canonical soul songs, and canonical female empowerment songs.
#517: "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
The multiple vocals and raggae beat make the original stand out above all the millions of covers.
#1020: "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
LCD Soundsystem is awesome, but the whole 'Yeah yeah yeah' loop in this song kind of annoys me.
#508: "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
Good song, but I'm not all that into New Order. Blue Monday is great but a lot of their songs tend to drone.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
#489: "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
One of those early U2 songs where they were starting to be political but Bono hadn't learned to embellish his voice to sound more profound yet.
#24: "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
Good song but I'm surprised it's so high. It's a little bit forgettable.
#1001: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
Okay. Nonstandoutish.
#536: "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
No. Stop rolling your Rs. Stop pushing off your consonants in annoying 'NNNAAAH!' sounds. That's empty showmanship and doesn't make up for that fact that you're only playing like three chords with less skill than even early Green Day, and making less effort to sing than the Ramones.
One of the strongest brackets in weeks, for me. All four would probably be first or second in most other brackets.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
#130: "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
Great bluesy atmosphere that gives a feeling of being overwhelmed and desparate. Combine that with the gospelly choir for a suggestion of salvation. One of the highlights (As far as singles go) of the Stones' career.
#895: "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
More awesome post-punk.
#642: "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
Another group I'm surprised I've never heard of, since it's very similar to about ten other bands I like. Maybe another album I need to buy.
#383: "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
We wanna be free! To do what we wanna do! Loaded makes the struggle against social oppression seem like a grandiose epic quest.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
#425: "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
I like these 50's rock and roll songs about that innocent pre-hippie teenage culture where your friends thinking you got some is a bad thing.
#937: "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
Another thing blatantly plagiarized by Snoop Dogg. I've been trying to find Computer Games for like five years. Albums should never go out of print. Don't these people know obsessive nerds like us are trying to build collections?!
#600: "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
Pretty good song.
#88: "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
Another cheesy attempt to piggyback on another band's success. For both of them, actually. Run DMC capitalizing on Aerosmith's 70's success and Aerosmith capitalizing on Run DMC's 80's success. It's…okay, I guess, but it comes off super-forced.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
#351: "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
Feel the random. Love the random! I need to learn all the lyrics.
#862: "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
Green Day back when their age and the age they advertised themselves as actually matched up. Best masturbation song of all time.
#162: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
Pretty decent 50's pop. A little too cheesy.
#674: "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
I've never gotten into QotSA at all. I just find them unpleasant.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
#476: "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
Trippy 1960's profundity. Such is Jefferson Airplane.
#37: "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
One of the most memorable basslines there is. Good song but overrated in Stevie Wonder's canon.
#988: "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
Fun pop song.
#549: "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
A song that gives you the immediate impression it's intended for 60 year olds.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
#293: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
I like the song, but it's one of the songs that got Bono in the habit of oversinging.
#805: "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
Ugh, I hate having to put this as #2. One of the most overplayed songs in history from the most annoyingly gimmicky band in history. But at least it's exciting.
#220: "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
The only Spears song that isn't ostensibly terrible. But still sounds really stiched together. (And really, top 250? Come on. Come on.) Britney Spears is one of those people who really needs to get her social life out of my face.
#732: "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
Okay song. But also kind of meh. I think Yoko Ono has a persecution complex. She likes being blamed for breaking up the Beatles. That's why her stuff is so weird for the sake of weird. That's the kind of attention she likes.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1 - "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
2 - "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
3 - "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
4 - "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
Not very often I wouldn't have New Order at #1 in a bracket - it takes a classic to beat it,and '1979' is that for sure. Looks like it will do very well in the songs poll.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1 - "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
2 - "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
3 - "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
4 - "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1 - "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
2 - "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
3 - "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
4 - "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1 - "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
2 - "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
3 - "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
4 - "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1 - "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
2 - "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
3 - "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
4 - "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
Last 3 brackets - not even close
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1 - "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
2 - "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
3 - "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
4 - "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
At one point in time I thought 'I Am The Walrus' was one of the best things they did,just because it's so...out there. Now I just think it sucks - oh well,it will win anyway...
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1 - "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
2 - "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
3 - "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
4 - "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
Blowout...
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1 - "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
2 - "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
3 - "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
4 - "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
You thought I'd forget. Ha-HA! WRONG!
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "Crystal" - New Order [2001]
There are some songs that, the first time you hear them, just knock you on your ass and make you say, "How the hell did I miss this one?" That's exactly what my reaction was when I first heard "Crystal" back in '08. From the opening, gloomy synth-piano line to the closing fade-out, everything about this screams dark and moody, yet it's immediately accessible too. Fantastic stuff.
2. "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins [1995]
Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I don't look at a song's lyrics first off. When I listen to a song, I try to go with how the music of the song resonates with me. So while everyone is commenting on how this song is so full of nostalgia, to me it's always just been a great song. It doesn't have the same wallop as the sonic punch that is "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," but it's a very sweet and beautiful song.
3. "She Loves You" - The Beatles [1964]
http://mitchieville.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/she-loves-you-beatles.jpg
4. "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks [1977]
Pass.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Respect" - Aretha Franklin [1967]
In the immortal words of Richard Nixon, "Sock it to ME?"
2. "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem [2004]
I think maybe I'm the only one here who seems to "get" this song, but the fact that I "get" it probably doesn't say much for me. Quick question: is this supposed to be the "crass" version of the song or the "pretentious" version? I prefer the "crass" one, so I'm voting on that one.
3. "True Faith" - New Order [1987]
Good stuff, just not on par with the the immortality of "Respect" or the sheer fun of "Yeah".
4. "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers [1973]
If "No Woman, No Cry" isn't good enough to make it into the second round, then neither is this one.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers [1965]
Hearing that bass sing those first few words, I always have the same thought, "These are white guys?" But then, I had the same reaction the first time I saw the video for "Never Gonna Give You Up." (Don't worry, I won't Rick-roll you...) So full of emotion, this song epitomizes "blue-eyed soul." Those brothers truly were righteous.
2. "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols [1977]
I know, I know. It's punk, and therefore I should be putting it at #4, but as I said last week, I actually like the Pistols. And this is one of the best opening songs to an album ever.
3. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth [1971]
As someone else already said, the O'Jays did paranoia so much better just a couple years later with "Back Stabbers," but it gets saved from the bottom spot because of my distaste for...
4. "I Will Follow" - U2 [1980]
You will follow all the other songs in this bracket.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones [1969]
Easy pick for the top spot here, and I'll save my comments for the next round.
2. "Loaded" - Primal Scream [1991]
Oh, you have no idea how badly I want to put this song into the second round. You could have had "Loaded" up against ANY other song in this tournament (except for "Fast Car") and Primal Scream would have won. But no, it has to go up against "Gimme Shelter." Not fair.
3. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus [1979]
I shouldn't like this song. I really shouldn't. This is maybe the most goth thing I've ever heard (outside of that time I watched "Repo: The Genetic Opera"), and it's theatrical to the nth degree. But somehow it works. And I can't get enough of it. That drum beat is almost hypnotic in its simplicity. I could listen to this song over and over again.
4. "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four [1979]
SHTB4, but in this case it's an easy pick.
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam [1982]
Surprising that the Jam have gone oh-for-five so far in Bracketology. This is their last chance to move through to Round 2. Can they do it? They get my vote. And maybe I'm misremembering, but wasn't this in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"?
2. "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton [1982]
So much of rap music of the last fifteen years can be traced right back to this one song. For some people, that might be enough to eternally condemn Mr. Clinton, but I gotta say, this is one hell of a fun song. A-tom-ic daw-awg! Why must I chase the cat!
3. "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) [1986]
Here's an example of a cover that is universally more esteemed than the original, but the original is actually better. Sure, this one showed that rap and rock could co-exist. That doesn't mean it's good.
4. "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers [1958]
I remember hearing somewhere that this is one of President George W. Bush's favorite songs. Considering the song's topic (underage sex), I'm stunned. But then, I might be misremembering again.
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles [1967]
http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/funny-graphs-goo-goo-goo-joob.gif
2. "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age [2002]
Everyone's talked about Josh Homme in commenting on this song, but what really stands out for me with this track has always been Dave Grohl's drumming. His snare sounds almost like a machine gun during the verses and chorus, but the solo is where I wonder why he ever put the sticks down. The dude's got some serious talent.
3. "Longview" - Green Day [1994]
Good song, but it can't possibly stack up to the top two here.
4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers [1956]
I'd rather listen to fingernails on a chalkboard.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder [1972]
No words are necessary. Just sheer brilliance by Mr. Wonder.
2. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini [1961]
Mancini wrote this song to fit Audrey Hepburn's vocal "range", and what's amazing is that in spite of the limitations of Hepburn's singing "abilities," this somehow became his signature tune. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it won an Oscar, or that it's the lynchpin to a great movie. Sure, it's sappy trad-pop, but what's wrong with that?
3. "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane [1967]
A standard of the San Francisco music scene of the late '60s, but it doesn't really hold up anymore.
4. "Holiday" - Madonna [1983]
I prefer my holidays to either be in the sun or in Cambodia.
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1. "Toxic" - Britney Spears [2003]
It hurts me to put this at the top spot, but that just speaks to the sheer weakness of the rest of this bracket. I have nothing positive to say about Britney as a musician, but this song is sheer pop perfection. That skittery string line, the stop-start beat, this is undeniably good. And it's a total guilty pleasure.
2. "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss [1975]
"I WANNA ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT!" "...and have a wonderful... time!" I hate Family Guy, but that was pretty funny.
3. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 [1984]
It's an admirable attempt to immortalize the civil rights movement in America, but you'd think that Bono could have at least done a LITTLE bit of homework and learned that Martin Luther King, Jr. was not killed in the "early morning" of April 4.
4. "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono [1981]
Can't stand her voice. Can't stand it.
Voting for this week is now over.
HAYDN BLOC, BRACKET 16
1. "1979" - The Smashing Pumpkins (43 points, 7 first-place votes)
2. "She Loves You" - The Beatles (33, 2)
3. "Crystal" - New Order (33, 4)
4. "Orgasm Addict" - Buzzcocks (21, 0)
In the next round: Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run"; Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks"
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 1
1. "Respect" - Aretha Franklin (44, 9)
2. "True Faith" - New Order (30, 2)
3. "I Shot the Sheriff" - Bob Marley & the Wailers (29, 0)
4. "Yeah" - LCD Soundsystem (27, 2)
In the next round: Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"; Miles Davis' "So What"; Faith No More's "Epic"
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 13
1. "You've Lost That Loving Feelin'" - The Righteous Brothers (35, 5)
2. "I Will Follow" - U2 (31, 4)
3. "Holidays in the Sun" - The Sex Pistols (23, 1)
4. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth (21, 1)
In the next round: Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"; Ray Charles' "Hit the Road Jack"; Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man"
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 3
1. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones (41, 8)
2. "Damaged Goods" - Gang of Four (30, 3)
3. "Loaded" - Primal Scream (27, 0)
4. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - Bauhaus (22, 1)
In the next round: Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird"; Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll"; Guns n' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle"
RACHMANINOFF BLOC, BRACKET 12
1. "A Town Called Malice" - The Jam (35, 5)
2. "Wake Up Little Susie" - The Everly Brothers (30, 4)
3. "Walk This Way" - Run-D.M.C. (With Aerosmith) (28, 2)
4. "Atomic Dog" - George Clinton (27, 1)
In the next round: the Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"; Pearl Jam's "Alive"
BACH BLOC, BRACKET 11
1. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles (39, 7)
2. "No One Knows" - Queens of the Stone Age (34, 4)
3. "Longview" - Green Day (30, 1)
4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (17, 0)
In the next round: Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come"; Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit"; the Jesus & Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey"
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 9
1. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder (42, 8)
2. "Somebody to Love" - Jefferson Airplane (32, 3)
3. "Holiday" - Madonna (24, 1)
4. "Moon River" - Henry Mancini (22, 0)
In the next round: Patti Smith's "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria"; Pavement's "Cut Your Hair"
WAGNER BLOC, BRACKET 10
1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" - U2 (38, 6)
2. "Toxic" - Britney Spears (31, 3)
3. "Walking on Thin Ice" - Yoko Ono (30, 3)
4. "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (21, 0)
In the next round: Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"; Patti Smith's "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria"; Pavement's "Cut Your Hair"