2021 AMF Tournament of Champions: Round 2, Part 2

[Holden]

Hello! Welcome to Round 1 of the 2021 AMF Tournament of Champions! Here are the rules for this game overall, as a refresher:

Each of the 27 competitors submitted one album and ten songs. The ten songs each compete in one of ten rounds, each with a different type of competition. Meanwhile, the albums will be rated (out of ten) as time goes on. After each round, each competitor will receive points based on their performance in the round. At the end of all ten rounds, the points will be totaled from each round and the rating of the album, and a winner will be declared!

This week's rules:
The second round is going to make use of the poll creation feature. You will pick your favorite three of the nine songs in each round, and the top three from each will move onto a final round of nine. Points will be distributed based on poll performance. Here are your songs:

Grimes | Infinite Love Without Fulfillment
Les Rita Mitsouko | Singing in the Shower
Neuorsis | Purify
Nina Simone | Four Women
Portishead | Only You
Riccardo Cocciante | Quando Finisce Un Amore
Robyn | Stars 4-Ever
The Strokes | I'll Try Anything Once
Young Thug, A$AP Ferg, and Freddie Gibbs | Old English

Playlist


I couldn't find The Strokes song on Spotify, here's a Youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RDq5PKcN5g

However, to make the albums more digestible, I will be 'featuring' one album a week for those who wish to follow along this way. This week's album is:


David Bowie | Earthling (1997)



Alright, in conclusion:
Three favorite songs from the nine above, and vote using the poll feature! You have exactly seven days (February 27th) from the time of this post!

Additionally, rate albums from the list out of ten. You can do this at whatever pace you like, but post your ratings in the most recent thread! And you can always rate previously featured albums as well!

[Schüttelbirne]

David Bowie | Earthling: 5/10
Highlights: "Little Wonder", "I'm Afraid of Americans"

[bonnielaurel]

I voted Grimes, Nina Simone and Portishead.

David Bowie: 6/10

[DaveC]

David Bowie | Earthling (1997): 8/10
Well worth a revisit. This is a grower.

[Rdwdbob]

David Bowie | Earthling 6.5 / 10

[Rob]

David Bowie - Earthling: 7

I remember that somewhere in my student years I hung out with a guy every now and then who was a big indie music fanatic, singing the praises of every indie band of what were then (2010, more or less) relatively recent. When I once asked him if he had an actual favorite album he surprisingly that it would either be Earthling or 1. Outside by David Bowie. He had this whole explanation of why these two albums basically captured all musical developments before it and how all music after was going to be based on them. I didn't quite understand his argument and can't really repeat it after about 10 years later, but I thought it was a curious choice. Double curious because the guy admitted not caring for any of the classic Bowie stuff of the seventies.

On a similar note, infamous music historian Pierro Scaruffi, who is also very critical on David Bowie, likewise considers Earthling and 1. Outside Bowie's only worthwhile contributions to music (he does like the Berlin trilogy, but credits their accomplishments specifically on Brian Eno).

So, are these nineties works Bowie albums specifically made for people who don't like Bowie?

I don't know. I tried Earthling a few times before, usually with some years in between them, but never got into it. Returning to it now again it finally clicks. Behind the industrial effects and the electronics are actually rather typical Bowie songs. The music grew on me, although I still think it a bit cold compared to the best of Bowie and some songs get a bit repetitive. But who knows, at this rate I might think of Earthling as the best of Bowie within 30 years!




About the song selection, these nine are a lot weaker than last weeks. Singing in the Shower also appeared in Biggest Fan were it did well, but I find it annoying. Besides, I expected Portishead to do well from the get-go, but I think it one of their worst songs. Nina Simone deserves all the praise though! Clearly the stand-out of the week for me.

[Holden]

Riccardo Cocciante is an unexpected standout this week; the vocal performance on this track absolutely blew me away! Maybe my favorite discovery from the game so far.

[Rdwdbob]

Riccardo Cocciante is an unexpected standout this week; the vocal performance on this track absolutely blew me away! Maybe my favorite discovery from the game so far.

I’m gonna show my age a little bit here. I remember walikng into our local Warehouse record store in Santa Rosa, CA in 1976 and hearing the manager spinning Richard Cocciante’s ‘When Love Has Gone Away’. I was also blown away by the vocals and immediately bought the 45. It seems to me the English vocals version is a bit more subdued than the version presented here. A fun fact that I’m sure our friend Wisnu would appreciate is that the song peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the States just missing the Top 40 (to my chagrin).

[SL3]

David Bowie | Earthling (1997) - 7

[Holden]

David Bowie | Earthling (1997) - 5

[Holden]

Two days left for this!

[mileswide]

David Bowie - Earthling 9.3
My highlights: Battle for Britain (The Letter), Seven Years in Tibet, I'm Afraid of Americans, Little Wonder, Dead Man Walking

Songs (ranked): Only You, Old English, Purify

[Fred]

David Bowie - Earthling - 5 - Sorry David. Core songs doen't appeal to me. Outside (below, selection) is a true 8 in my book.

2 Outside 4:04
3 The Hearts Filthy Lesson 4:57
4 A Small Plot of Land 6:34
5 Segue - Baby Grace (A Horrid Cassette) 1:39
6 Hallo Spaceboy 5:14
7 The Motel 6:49
16 I'm Deranged 4:31
19 Strangers When We Meet 5:07

[Holden]

Twenty-four hours remain!

[Holden]

Alright, after the tie-breaker, looks like Nina Simone, Portishead (two shockers, I know) and Les Rita Mitsouko move on to the final section!

[spiritualized]

David Bowie : Earthling - 6
There are some tracks where Bowie's voice REALLY grates on me.