Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

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Brad
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Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Brad »

Welcome to Round 2.4 of Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2019!

Vote for your favorite album in each match-up.
Remember, anyone can vote as long as the voter has heard both albums.

Good-spirited comments are encouraged, but not absolutely necessary.
Deadline = August 20th at 10am EST.

Here's a link to the bracket for the entire tournament:
http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?t ... Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2019

Match-ups:
1. Blur - 13 vs. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape vs. The Millennium - Begin
3. Spinners - Spinners vs. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery vs. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]


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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Bang Jan »

3 | Blur | 13
5 | The Smiths | Meat is Murder

7 | Foo Fighters | The Colour and the Shape
1 | The Milennium | Begin

6 | Spinners | Spinners
4 | Mahmoud Ahmed | Era Mela Mela

8 | The Crocketts | The Great Brain Robbery
2 | Benjamin Britten | War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra / Benjamin Britten]
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by acroamor »

1. Blur - 13
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
3. Spinners - Spinners
4. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]
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Rob
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rob »

Since Era Mela Mela is still not on Spotify in it's original form, let me again post my playlist of the original order here:

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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by StevieFan13 »

13
The Colour and the Shape
Spinners
War Requiem
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by FrankLotion »

1. Blur - 13
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
3. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery

All super close match-ups for me this week, I feel bad for not voting for some of these :|
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rdwdbob »

BLUR - 13
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by DaveC »

1. Blur - 13 vs. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
2.Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape vs. The Millennium - Begin
3. Spinners - Spinners vs. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery vs. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by mileswide »

13 sees blur trying to ward off the casual Britpop fans, partly by trying any guitar-based style going, partly by invoking the effects of heroin and heartbreak whether in the dejected lyrics or in the strung-out atmosphere of some of the tracks. Their mission is thwarted by the chirpy misanthropy of Coffee + TV, the catchy paranoia of Battles and No Distance Left to Run, which is equally as accessible as it is throbbing in pain.

Meat Is Murder comes off as Marr and Rourke's attempt to get as close to being the Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of 80s indie without Morrissey realising. Moz, for his part, is more adept here than on the debut album at alternating between the lovelorn and the sardonic sides of his persona. And the US version comes with added How Soon Is Now!

Both versions of Meat Is Murder have a slight edge over 13.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rdwdbob »

THE MILLENIUM - BEGIN
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Romain »

1. Blur - 13
2. The Millennium - Begin
3. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by bonnielaurel »

Blur - 13
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by rumpdoll »

1. Blur - 13 vs. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape vs. The Millennium - Begin
3. Spinners - Spinners vs. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery vs. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by hectorthebat »

Blur - 13
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rdwdbob »

SPINNERS - SPINNERS
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Honorio »



3. Blur - 13 (1999) vs. 2. The Smiths - Meat is Murder (1985)
5. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape (1997) vs. 1. The Millennium - Begin (1968)
7. Spinners - Spinners (1973) vs. 6. ማሕሙድ ፡ ኣሕመድ - ማሕሙድ ፡ ኣሕመድ (1975)
8. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery (2000) vs. 4. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem (1963)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by mileswide »

The Colour and the Shape minted the Foo formula: alt-rock riffs, hardcore screaming, classic rock harmonics and, most noticeably, grunge quiet-loud dynamics. While it is to the credit of Grohl and the rest of the band that these disparate elements make such a cohesive sound on their first full album, the band's never excited me.

Just when you think you've got Begin's number, namely psych-pop that probably only started to give off creepy vibes in hindsight (I'm looking at you, The Island), out springs the refreshingly spiteful Mr. Know It All. Then comes the acid trip that turns sour over the course of Karmic Dream Sequence #1.

Begin floats over The Colour and the Shape.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Madzong »

The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by CupOfDreams »

The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
The Millennium - Begin
The Spinners - The Spinners
The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Jirin »

Meat Is Murder 83 - Blur 82
Begin 87 - The Colour and the Shape 84
Ere Mela Mela 95 - Spinners 67
War Requiem 82 - The Great Brain Robbery 74
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by mileswide »

Philly soul should be right up my alley as the missing link between Motown and disco, two of my most listened genres. For the main, Spinners (Detroit in origin, Philadelphia in sound) sums up why it's not- too much polish, not enough energy. You could picture Willie Mitchell producing I'll Be Round for Al Green, though, and there aren't many higher compliments.

Era Mela Mela sounds to a novice like me as a sort of approximation of the funk/jazz-influenced Afrobeat happening in the 70s played on Arabic instruments and sung in a wailing Arabic style. While the combination of the loose structures and unfamiliar language sometimes had a disorientating effect, the last two songs- more direct yet retaining the hypnotic appeal of the other tracks- made me feel the album was overall an entertaining experience.

Era Mela Mela leaves Spinners eating dust.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rdwdbob »

THE CROCKETTS - THE GREAT BRAIN ROBBERY
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by mileswide »

The Great Brain Robbery teems with volatility, just as prone to veer off into pretty psychedelia as post-hardcore screaming without warning. A lack of lyrical interest aside, this is an album that cult followings are made of.

However much of an uncultured pleb this might make me sound, much of classical music leaves me cold. War Requiem follows that general pattern in the main, even though the last few desolate notes feel poignant.

The Great Brain Robbery steals it from War Requiem.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Listyguy »

1. Blur - 13 vs. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape vs. The Millennium - Begin
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rob »

8. Blur - 13 vs. 6. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
7. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape vs. 1. The Millennium - Begin
3. Spinners - Spinners vs. 2. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery vs. 5. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]

Not exactly my favorite week and a rare case in which the most famous albums are the weak links. The Millenium and Mahmoud Ahmed, as well as to a lesser extent The Spinners, do the heave lifting here to keep things respectable.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Safetycat »

4. 13 < 2. Meat is Murder
13 has two of my favourite songs, but the album as a whole is lacking. Meat is a much more consistently good experience.

1. The Colour and the Shape > 3. Begin
The Foos have been a favourite of mine for a long time, and I am very into what they bring to the table. Begin is a truely great album too, however, and I look forward to listening to it in future rounds.

6. Spinners > 7. Era Mela Mela
I don't know what happened but Mela Mela just wasn't doing it for me this week. Spinners, however, was.

5. The Great Brain Robbery > 8. War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]
Great Brain is pretty good, War Requiem is fine but doesn't grab me in the same way.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by spiritualized »

1. Blur - 13 (9/10) vs. The Smiths - Meat is Murder (8/10)
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape (8/10) vs. The Millennium - Begin (9/10)
3. Spinners - Spinners (3/10) vs. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela (5/10)
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery (9/10) vs. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra] (6/10)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by andyd1010 »

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Brad »

less than 2 hours left to vote!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Brad »

My picks:
1. Blur - 13 vs. The Smiths - Meat is Murder
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape vs. The Millennium - Begin
3. Spinners - Spinners vs. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery vs. Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra]

Thanks - 1 hour left!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Brad »

21 total voters this week:
acroamor
andyd1010
Bang Jan
bonnielaurel
Brad
CupOfDreams
DaveC
FrankLotion
hectorthebat
Honorio
Jirin
Listyguy
madzong
mileswide
Rdwdbob
Rob
Romain
rumpdoll
Safetycat
spiritualized
StevieFan13

Winners:
1. Blur - 13 over The Smiths - Meat is Murder 12-8
2. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape over The Millennium - Begin 11-10
3. Mahmoud Ahmed - Era Mela Mela over Spinners - Spinners 12-6
4. The Crocketts - The Great Brain Robbery over Benjamin Britten - War Requiem [London Symphony Orchestra] 10-8

Round 2.5 up soon!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by mileswide »

Ooh that means a Blur vs. Mogwai grudge match in the next round!
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Safetycat »

Safetycat wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:39 am Begin is a truly great album too, however, and I look forward to listening to it in future rounds.
Well, colour me surprised! This shaped out much differently than expected.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by Rob »

Safetycat wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:25 pm
Safetycat wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:39 am Begin is a truly great album too, however, and I look forward to listening to it in future rounds.
Well, colour me surprised! This shaped out much differently than expected.
One of the biggest disappointments for me in this game yet. I really don't hear what is special about Foo Fighters.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 2018 - Round 2.4

Post by PlasticRam »

I prolly would've voted for Begin :angry-banghead:
I feel like that
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