Now after that long slog through round one, this is when the game speeds up. People have heard more of the albums already, and the rounds get shorter and shorter.

To any newcomers, this is a music discovery game where any album ranked under 500 on AM was eligible. Albums were nominated by board members, and now we're just beginning the second round. Anybody can vote, but to vote in any given matchup, you must have heard both albums. Voting lasts a week, and closes 11PM board time on Sunday.

I encourage anybody who's heard the albums to vote. Remember, it doesn't matter if your favorite album wins: It matters that people listened to it.

Division 1:

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One vs
Sonic Youth - Dirty

Division 2:

Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy vs
Telephone - Un Autre Monde

Division 3:

The Cure - Bloodflowers vs
Fiona Apple - When The Pawn

Division 4:

The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F. vs
Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose

It's always a good week when I can simply bold my top 4.

1. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
2. Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy
3. Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
4. The Cure - Bloodflowers
5. Fiona Apple - When The Pawn
6. Telephone - Un Autre Monde
7. The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F.
8. Sonic Youth - Dirty

I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Countdown to Ecstasy
Bloodflowers
L.A.M.F.

I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
L.A.M.F

I haven't heard Countdown to Ecstasy or either of the division three albums, I'll at least get around to listening to Steely Dan.

I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Countdown to Ecstasy
When The Pawn
L.A.M.F.

Vote: Yo La Tengo
Vote: Telephone
I need a portal into the French rock that's coming out.
Vote: Fiona Apple
Top 100 AT.
Vote: Loretta Lynn
Also top 100 AT.

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
Telephone - Un Autre Monde
Fiona Apple - When The Pawn
Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose

Relatively easy picks all around for me; I'm not a big fan of Sonic Youth or the Cure, whereas I've been listened to Yo La Tengo more and more since I listened to that album waaay back in Round 1.1. The fourth pick was probably the hardest, but I have a soft spot for country music.

Division 1: Sonic Youth - Dirty
Both have great songs, both run too long.

Division 2: Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy
Division 3: Fiona Apple - When The Pawn
Division 4: The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F.
Chinese Rocks!

Division 1:
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One vs
WINNER Sonic Youth - Dirty
Two good albums. Sonic Youth win but Yo La Tengo is good.

Division 2:
Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy vs
WINNER Telephone - Un Autre Monde
Two good rock albums. But I want to give a chance to Téléphone.

Division 3:
WINNER.The Cure - Bloodflowers vs
Fiona Apple - When The Pawn
Once again, two albums I like a lot. I prefer The Cure.

Division 2:

Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy over
Telephone - Un Autre Monde

Division 3:

The Cure - Bloodflowers vs
Fiona Apple - When The Pawn

I like When the Pawn well enough, but BloodFlowers is in my top 20, so it gets an easy win here.

Division 1: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
Division 2: Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy
Division 3: Fiona Apple - When The Pawn
Division 4: The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F.

Thanks!

Division 1:

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One

Division 2:

pass. Steely Dan was a good surprise given what I expected but not tremendous, and as much as Telephone has done classic French rock songs, they are uneven.

Division 3:

Fiona Apple - When The Pawn

Division 4:

The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F.

Division 1: Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
Division 2: Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy
Division 3: The Cure - Bloodflowers
Division 4: The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F.

Yo La Tengo my favourite of these for sure...

Results:

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One 8 def
Sonic Youth - Dirty 2

Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy 8 def
Telephone - Un Autre Monde 3

Fiona Apple - When The Pawn 6 def
The Cure - Bloodflowers 5

The Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F. 7 def
Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose 3