Acclaimed Music Forums

Welcome to the next group of Moderately Acclaimed Albums in round 2!
Vote for your favorite album in each match-up.
Remember, anyone can vote as long as the voter has heard both albums.

Comments are encouraged but not absolutely necessary.
Deadline = August 24th at 10am EST.

Match-ups:
1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik

Crazy Man Crazy!

Oooooh 1. is going to be tough already....

1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming

It is tough, but while On Fire is great at evoking a childlike sense of wonder and longing, The Dreaming is just a whirlwind of moods and emotional desnity. What I really love about it are all the different stories that are detailed, and their respective characters: the uncertain robber in "There Goes a Tenner"; the desperate Vietcong soldier in "Pull Out the Pin". The killing of Aborigines; Bess Houdini attempting to commune with her dead husband. Mostly, it's unsettling in a way that few pop albums are, with Kate's well-placed screaming and eerie samples highlighting the horror in some of these songs. Yet - how gorgeous are those Celtic passages on "Night of the Swallow"? Or the strings on "Houdini"... could go on and on.

2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki

Very glad I revisited the Gil Scott-Heron album. Songs that at first seemed heavyhanded or preachy become endearing over time. Tight drumming, soulful performances, and an incredibly gifted singer in Gil himself. "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" appears to be a forum favourite, and with good reason. In comparison, Souvlaki comes across as an album full of songs that wouldn't make you bat an eyelid, dressed up and arranged in a way that makes them sound extraordinary.

Galaxie 500 - On Fire 91-79
Gil Scott Heron - Pieces Of A Man 85-73
Cafe Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos 83-61

Never managed to year Malik but Pantheon Rococo gets 76.

Jirin wrote:Never managed to year Malik

Youtube link

1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
"On Fire" was the album nominated by more people in this MAA6 (4 voters) and a cornerstone of slowcore genre. I like the songs and the opiate ambiance but I admit that Dean Wareham's voice is a letdown for me. Kate Bush's voice may be an acquired taste too but for opposite reasons, while Wareham may fall short Bush may sometimes go over the top, she has a too powerful weapon there. Both dreamy albums, Bush's "Dreaming" more complex, intrincate and nightmarish.

2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
"Souvlaki" is the first of the 4over4 albums (the ones with a RYM rating over 4) I did not vote for, even if I like it a lot, especially the melodies (arguably bettered by Mojave 3, the next project of Neil Halstead). The only argument I can use is the greatness of its opponent, the debut studio album of Scott-Heron. Not only for the groundbreaking proto-rap "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," non-spoken songs like "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" are at least equally great.

3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
Post-hardcore is not my favourite style but I can't deny the sheer energy and the instrumental proficiency of Drive Like Jehu. Anyway my vote goes to Café Tacvba, while "Cuatro Caminos" is in my opinion less interesting than the eclectic "Re" or the experimental "Revés/Yo Soy" (my favourite album by the Mexican band) it was a quite bold departure from their previous Latin foundations to embrace a more international Alternative-Rock sound. Succesfully, I should say.

4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Malik
Two "genre" albums from unexpected countries, Ska from Mexico and Afro-Funk from France. The album by Panteón Rococó is truly enjoyable, combative lyrics with a festive music atmosphere, with special mention to the horn arrangements. But my vote to Lafayette Afro Rock Band, an American band releasing from France a mix of Funk, Rock, Jazz and Afrobeat as inviting as the gorgeous girl on the cover art. Again a special mention to the horn arrangements.

1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik

Swimming against the tide here with the two dream-pop classics. Sometimes it just feel better to retreat inside your comfort zone.

My picks:
1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik

Thanks!

1. Kate Bush - The Dreaming like the other, hard choice.
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos
4. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik

Good week.

1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Malik

On Fire, The Dreaming and Pieces of a Man are on my all-time list.

1. Kate Bush - The Dreaming - Much to my surprise....
2. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales

1.Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime

All tough choices.

No time for comments this week, except that match-up 4 is pretty much a tie.

1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik

Winners in red.

1. Galaxie 500 - On Fire vs. Kate Bush - The Dreaming
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man vs. Slowdive - Souvlaki
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime

Hey! Just over 13 hours left to vote!

3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos vs. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik
Yeap, I'm only voting the brackets with my own nominations. Sorry for that. This has been a busy week.

A meager 12 voters this week:
Blanco
Brad
DaveC
DocBrown
Honorio
Jirin
Kingoftonga
PlasticRam
Rob
Romain
spiritualized
TimmyWing

Winners:
1. Kate Bush - The Dreaming over Galaxie 500 - On Fire 7-4
2. Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man over Slowdive - Souvlaki 6-5
3. Café Tacvba - Cuatro Caminos over Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime 7-4
4. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik over Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales 5-3

Round 2.8 up soon!

Brad wrote:
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik 5-3

Round 2.8 up soon!

I think it's more this :

4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik 3-5

Romain wrote:

Brad wrote:
4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik 5-3

Round 2.8 up soon!

I think it's more this :

4. Panteón Rococó - Compañeros musicales vs. Lafayette Afro Rock Band - malik 3-5

Aargh... yes, Romain - I messed that up... will fix!

Edit - Fixed... hope Blanco didn't get too excited!

Brad wrote:Edit - Fixed... hope Blanco didn't get too excited!

My emotions - graphic description:

HAhahahahahaha... sorry Blanco !