Bracketology 4 Albums Edition: Round 1, Week 9

[Bang Jan]

The way this game works is that you will be given four sets of four albums each. You have to rank each set from best to worst. Your #1 will be given 4 points, #2 3 points and so on. The winner of each bracket will advance into the next round. Ties will be broken by number of first place votes.

Feel free to ask any questions, deadline is next Wednesday at 16:00 UTC.

Next set of brackets:

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
117 | Eagles | Hotel California
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night

64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black
147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love

22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

[Henry]

2 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life (19)
3 | Eagles | Hotel California (25)
4 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here (50)
13 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf (has at least two decent songs: Go With the Flow and Gonna Leave You)

5 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited (95)
7 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night (132)
9 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (398)
15 | The Stooges | The Stooges (I am not a fan of this album)


6 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath (112)
10 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love (457)
12 | AC/DC | Back in Black (525)
16 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica (not a fan)

1 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks (11)
8 | R.E.M. | Murmur (204)
11 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (475)
14 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint (not a fan)

[Nick]

6. Eagles- Hotel California
9. Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here
11. Stevie Wonder- Songs in the Key of Life
14. Queens of the Stone Age- Songs for the Deaf

1. Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited
2. Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
10. The Beatles- A Hard Day's Night
15. The Stooges- The Stooges

7. AC/DC- Back in Black
12. Jimi Hendrix- Axis: Bold as Love
13. Captain Beefheart- Trout Mask Replica
16. The Rolling Stones- Aftermath

3. Bob Dylan- Blood on the Tracks
4. The Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
5. Jay-Z- The Blueprint
8. R.E.M.- Murmur

[Henrik]

2 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
4 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
12 | Eagles | Hotel California
13 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf

1 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
6 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
8 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
14 | The Stooges | The Stooges

5 | AC/DC | Back in Black
9 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
11 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
16 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica

3 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
7 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
10 | R.E.M. | Murmur
15 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[Listyguy]

Wish You Were Here
Songs in the Key of Life
Songs For the Deaf
Hotel California
Overall a good bracket, but Pink Floyd blows everyone else out of the water (in my opinion), as Wish You Were Here is a top 10 album for me. Sadly it probably won't win this week.

Highway 61
A Hard Day's Night
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Stooges
All four are 4+ stars, so ranking them was tough outside of Dylan, which is also near my top 10 albums all time.

Axis
Back in Black
Aftermath
Trout Mask Replica
Another top 10 album for me (which also won't win, probably), Axis is probably my second favorite Hendrix album. Trout Mask Replica holds the honor of being the worst album I've listened to in full.

Blood on the Tracks
Murmur
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
The Blueprint
Another 5-star album (each bracket had one this week), Dylan runs away with this one.

Based on my 2014 album rankings, my #6, 8, 15 and 20 albums were in play this week. Each one was in a different bracket, fortunately.

[whuntva]

Wish you were Here
Songs for the Deaf
Songs in the Key of Life
Hotel California

Closest group top to bottom. Aside from Pink Floyd, I like the rest almost equally.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
A Hard Day's Night
Highway 61
Stooges

YHF gets better every listen.

Back in Black
Axis
Trout Mask Replica
Aftermath

A Top 50 album and two others that are growing on me. Trout Mask certainly isn't for everyone. I don't even know if it's for me. But I am listening to it right now and find it very funny.

The Blueprint
Murmur
Blood on the Tracks
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

The Blueprint and three other albums I have very distant relationships to.

[Romain]

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
117 | Eagles | Hotel California

217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited

199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black


234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[bonnielaurel]

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
117 | Eagles | Hotel California
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges

147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love

22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

[Bang Jan]

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
117 | Eagles | Hotel California

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night

64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black

22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[Jirin]

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
117 | Eagles | Hotel California
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night

64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black

234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
67 | R.E.M. | Murmur

[Honorio]

3 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
6 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
12 | Eagles | Hotel California
14 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf

2 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
5 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
8 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
11 | The Stooges | The Stooges

4 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
10 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
13 | AC/DC | Back in Black
16 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica

1 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
7 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
9 | R.E.M. | Murmur
15 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[jamieW]

2 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
3 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
5 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
13 | Eagles | Hotel California

1 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
6 | The Stooges | The Stooges
7 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
15 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

4 | AC/DC | Back in Black
8 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
10 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
14 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love

9 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
11 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
12 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
16 | R.E.M. | Murmur

[Michel]

185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
117 | Eagles | Hotel California

159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black

67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

[Bang Jan]

There is still plenty of time to vote if you haven't already!

[sonofsamiam]

2 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
8 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
12 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
16 | Eagles | Hotel California

1 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
7 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
9 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
11 | The Stooges | The Stooges

5 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
10 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
14 | AC/DC | Back in Black
15 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath

3 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
4 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
6 | R.E.M. | Murmur
13 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

I went chalk all the way this week, though that last bracket was a tough one.

[Harold]

1. Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
2. Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
3. Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
4. Eagles | Hotel California

1. Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
2. Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
3. The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
4. The Stooges | The Stooges

1. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
2. The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
3. Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
4. AC/DC | Back in Black

1. Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
2. R.E.M. | Murmur
3. Jay-Z | The Blueprint
4. The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Once again, all easy #1 picks for me, although I dearly wish that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Murmur had been in other brackets, other weeks.

Glad to see the Captain getting other #1 votes - I was afraid I'd be the only one. TMR is so polarizing I still don't expect it to win, but at least I'm doing my part. A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast 'n' bulbous - got me?

[luney6]

Really weak group.

117 | Eagles | Hotel California
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life

Really close between the first 3. The Beatles don't stand a chance.

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night

Trout Mask Replica is a very precise album, that must be listened to very very attentitively to be gotten. Of course, it is funny and weird and has many other traits, but there are many other records that have the same qualities that TMR is much better than, because TMR is musically excellent. Also, personally, I think that it is slightly easier to understand this album while listening to it on large speakers, rather than on headphones.

Aftermath is my second favorite Stones album, while Back in Black is just fine, and I don't like Axis a lot.

64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica
147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love

R.E.M. dominates easily. The rest are rather not very good.

67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[Greg]

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
117 | Eagles | Hotel California

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night

97 | AC/DC | Back in Black
147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica

67 | R.E.M. | Murmur
22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

[Otisredding]

4 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
5 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
7 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
14 | Eagles | Hotel California

1 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
6 | The Stooges | The Stooges
8 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
13 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night

9 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
10 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
12 | AC/DC | Back in Black
15 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica

2 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
3 | R.E.M. | Murmur
11 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
16 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[Nassim]

1) Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf (#3 of all time and favorite album of the tournament)
5) Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life (#371 of all time)
7) Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here (B-)
10) Eagles | Hotel California (C)

2) Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (#71 of all time)
3) Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited (#176 of all time)
4) The Stooges | The Stooges (#356 of all time)
15) The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night (D)

6) Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love (B-)
8) The Rolling Stones | Aftermath (C+)
9) AC/DC | Back in Black (C+)
14) Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica (D)

11) Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks (C)
12) Jay-Z | The Blueprint (C-)
13) The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (C-)
16) R.E.M. | Murmur (D-)

[Bang Jan]

24 hours left! Still plenty of time for voting!

[Rocky Raccoon]

1 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life
2 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf
3 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here
4 | Eagles | Hotel California

1 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited
2 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night
3 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
4 | The Stooges | The Stooges

1 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love
2 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath
3 | AC/DC | Back in Black
4 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica

1 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
2 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks
3 | R.E.M. | Murmur
4 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint

[Bang Jan]

RESULTS:

46 | Stevie Wonder | Songs in the Key of Life | 63 | 11
185 | Pink Floyd | Wish You Were Here | 55 | 5
243 | Queens of the Stone Age | Songs for the Deaf | 41 | 1
117 | Eagles | Hotel California | 31 | 2

11 | Bob Dylan | Highway 61 Revisited | 66 | 13
72 | Wilco | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot | 48 | 3
217 | The Beatles | A Hard Day's Night | 42 | 2
159 | The Stooges | The Stooges | 34 | 1

147 | The Rolling Stones | Aftermath | 53 | 5
199 | Jimi Hendrix | Axis: Bold As Love | 51 | 4
97 | AC/DC | Back in Black | 44 | 5
64 | Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica | 42 | 5

22 | Bob Dylan | Blood on the Tracks | 62 | 9
67 | R.E.M. | Murmur | 47 | 3
234 | The Flaming Lips | Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots | 46 | 6
129 | Jay-Z | The Blueprint | 35 | 1

In Round 2, Songs in the Key of Life faces Who's Next, Highway 61 Revisited faces The Velvet Underground & Nico and Exile on Main St., Aftermath faces A Night at the Opera and Blood on the Tracks faces three unknowns.