Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

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Listyguy
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Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

Once again, the college life is limiting my time on this stuff at the moment, so nothing interesting uptop. Although I will note there are four of the top 10 seeds this week. And our first Beatles' song.

So here's how the game works: You will be given four brackets with four songs each. Your job is to rank the songs in each bracket from 1-4. You #1 song will be given 4 points, #2 will be given 3, and so on. The winner of each bracket advances to the next round. In the event of tie, whichever song gets more first place votes will advance.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. This poll will close next Sunday at midnight forum time.

Here are the brackets:
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)

5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
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GucciLittlePiggy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by GucciLittlePiggy »



The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsgWfAilIEM
I just wanted to be one of those ghosts
You thought that you could forget
And then I haunt you via the rear view mirror
On a long drive from the back seat...
Henry
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Henry »

132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)

252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
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BleuPanda
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by BleuPanda »

This was a rather weak week to me. Nothing I dislike, but only 7 of these I truly love. Overall rank to left:

4. Video Games
7. One Armed Scissor
11. I Saw Her Standing There
13. The Funeral

2. Reflektor
8. Sex on Fire
9. Heartbeat
15. 54 46 (Was My Number)

3. Time to Pretend
5. One Day Like This
14. The River
16. Band on the Run

1. Idioteque
6. Love and Happiness
10. Surf's Up
12. Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Last edited by BleuPanda on Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Otisredding
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Otisredding »

2 At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
4 Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
14 The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
15 Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)

1 Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
6 Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
10 Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
12 Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

5 Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
8 Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
9 MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
16 Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

3 Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
7 Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
11 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
13 The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by jamieW »

Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011) 9
At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000) 8
Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006) 7+
The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963) 7+

Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013) 10
Annie - Heartbeat (2004) 8
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008) 8
Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969) 5

Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973) 9
MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007) 8
Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980) 8
Elbow - One Day Like This (2008) 6

Radiohead - Idioteque (2000) 9
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971) 8
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970) 8
Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972) 7
Nassim
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Nassim »

125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
Relationship of Command has been in my top 20 albums of all time for more than 10 years now, but I don't consider One Armed Scissor to be the standout track (that'd be Quarantined) or even in the top 5 (I'd have it 7 or 8 I think). Still, well, top 20 of all time, so obviously there's no song I don't like in the album !
Lots of indie bands have tried to make the ultimate tear jerker drama anthem and The Funeral is one of the most serious contender for the title (though I'd rather vote for the Wrens' She Sends Kisses).
I Saw Her Standing There is one of my fav early Beatles song, but the competition is solid (and I like the Daniel Johnston's cover even better) and I don't care for Video Games (the song, I love video games...)

123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
That's a very close bracket, 4 songs I really like but would not consider in an all time list.
Heartbeat is even more enjoyable next to a Moonbeam's comment and analysis about the song and its backstory (there's a wonderful one hidden somewhere in the AM Forum, might be on the old one actually...). Also makes the song sound much sadder though.

133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
Nothing I really care for here, though I like One Day Like This quite a bit. Might be a bit over the top, but those chords are lovely. I really like Band on the Run first 2 minutes but it loses me after that.

9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
Back when I first heard it, Idioteque completely blew my mind... it doesn't have quite the same effect anymore, but still that's far enough to deserve #1 here in the competition of "not really the 1st song you think of when you talk about those artists".
Surf's Up is my favorite Beach Boys album, but I like it much more as a whole than track by track.
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by slick »

Here are the brackets:
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)

5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

I Saw Her Standing There
One Armed Scissor
The Funeral
Video Games
How does Lana Del Rey have one of the four most acclaimed songs in recent history?

Reflektor
Sex on Fire
54 46 (Was My Number)
Heartbeat
Top two are good, but nothing's great in this set.

The River
Band on the Run
Time to Pretend
One Day Like This
The MGMT song is another one I don't really see the appeal of. "The River" is quintessential Springsteen though.

Idioteque
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Love and Happiness
Surf's Up
This is a great bracket. The top two are easily my two favorite songs of the week, and it pains me that only one of them can advance.
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Hymie »

132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
antonius
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by antonius »

4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)

123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Luke JR68 »

125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)

134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)

133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
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Stephan
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Stephan »

1. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
2. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
3. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
4. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)

1. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
2. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
3. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
4. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

1. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
2. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
3. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
4. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
2. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
3. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
4. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
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Honorio
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Honorio »

6. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
7. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
10. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
14. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

9. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
12. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
13. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
16. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

1. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
8. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
15. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

2. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
4. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
11. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)

Best bracket of the week in my opinion: #4
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by DaveC »

4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
"Reflektor" sounds better today than it did last year.

133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
"Time to Pretend" is the one song I don't like this week. There are several better tracks on 'Seldom Seen Kid", but still Elbow take this group.

9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Brad »

125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)

Thanks!
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

Don't forget to vote!
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Chilton »

4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games
6. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
14. Band of Horses - The Funeral
15. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissors

9. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
11. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
12. Annie - Heartbeat
16. Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 (Was My Number)

2. Elbow - One Day Like This
3. MGMT - Time to Pretend
5. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run
10. Bruce Springsteen - The River

1. Radiohead - Idioteque
7. Al Green - Love and Happiness
8. Beach Boys - Surf's Up
13. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
sonofsamiam
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by sonofsamiam »

10. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
12. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor
13. Lana Del Rey - Video Games
15. Band of Horses - The Funeral

A really mediocre group, The Beatles win almost by default. One Armed Scissor is good for what it is, which is something I don't like much, and Video Games and The Funeral are bland and already oddly dated.

2. Annie - Heartbeat
7. Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 (Was My Number)
14. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
16. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire

Heartbeat is the easy winner here. I'm still not an Arcade Fire fan, but they're far better than the bafflingly beloved Kings of Leon.

3. Bruce Springsteen - The River
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend
9. Elbow - One Day Like This
11. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run

A much stronger group, but Bruce easily wins. The other 3 are all very nice in their tuneful ways.

1. Beach Boys - Surf's Up
4. Al Green - Love and Happiness
6. Radiohead - Idioteque
8. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Easily the bracket of the week, though I'm hugely disappointed by so many low ratings of Surf's Up, which is IMO the best Beach Boys song of 'em all and one of the greatest things ever, basically. It destroys Idioteque (which will win this), and I'm a Radiohead fan.
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Sweepstakes Ron »

1. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
2. Lana Del Rey - Video Games
3. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor
4. Band of Horses - The Funeral

1. Annie - Heartbeat
2. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
3. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number)
4. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire

1. MGMT - Time to Pretend
2. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run
3. Bruce Springsteen - The River
4. Elbow - One Day Like This

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain
2. Al Green - Love and Happiness
3. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up
4. Radiohead - Idioteque
Splish splash, I was raking in the cash
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

Only 17 votes so far! We've been getting over 25 weekly! Get your vote in!
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Moonbeam »

Lana Del Rey - Video Games: 7
At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor: 6
Band of Horses - The Funeral: 5
The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There: 3

What an uninspiring group. Lana del Rey is the best of the bunch, and while I like it well enough, it's far from the classic it claims to be. "One Armed Scissor" is the most interesting of the bunch, but the singing drags it down somewhat. "The Funeral" was complete meh and even one of the best early Beatles songs still leaves quite the sour taste in my mouth.

Annie - Heartbeat: 10
Arcade Fire - Reflektor: 8.5
Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number): 5
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire: 2

Very easy choices here. "Hearbeat" is my favorite song of the 21st century. Annie is the absolute MASTER of happy/sad, and this song is her crowning glory. On the surface, it seems like a short-lived burst of insouciant celebration, but Annie's backstory turns the song into one of the most emotional pieces of music I've ever heard. Annie started out as a DJ and released her debut single "The Greatest Hit" as a collaboration with her boyfriend, DJ Erot. They planned to work on Annie's full-length debut together, but tragically, Erot died at age 23 in 2001 from a rare heart defect. Three years later, Anniemal finally arrived, and rather than wallow in the grief of her experience, she made it a triumphant, jubilant record overall ("Anniemal", "Come Together"). "Heartbeat", whether intentionally or not, plays like an homage to her lost beau, and rather than make it an obviously morose epithet, she chooses to make it about the time that they met, having drinks and dancing and getting caught up in the excitement of the prospect of nascent love ("don't know your name, making me ashamed to feel the way that I do"). But there is still a sad acknowledgement of the whole ephemeral nature of that time. I'm not usually one to geek out over lyrics, but they are really effective here. She opens the song with "there WAS a time" with that airy voice of hers sounding both breathlessly invigorated by the memory and sad that it has passed. The "feel my heartbeat drumming to the beat" in the chorus takes on a whole new meaning given her boyfriend's condition, with her urging toward the end "feel my heartbeat now... somehow" really takes it over the top for me. And then toward the end, her promise "I won't forget the greatest times I had when I was dancing with you" is both a bittersweet declaration and evidence of the CHOICE she made to remember the good times, rendering the song (and the whole album, really) a triumph of strength. When I first heard the album (and song), I had just lost my father and both of my grandmothers in the span of 11 months. Arcade Fire's Funeral got a LOT of play, but Annie's conquest over her grief and her choice to remain positive had a far more important impact.

Funnily enough, Arcade Fire also feature in this bracket. I was initially scared to listen to Reflektor given how bitterly disappointing I found The Suburbs, but the title track offered a breath of relief. Reggae is one of my least favorite genres, so a score of 5 for "54 46" is actually quite high. Every Kings of Leon song I've heard is quite bad, and while it is not as gut-scrapingly awful as "Use Somebody", "Sex on Fire" still makes me cringe.

MGMT - Time to Pretend: 9.5
Elbow - One Day Like This: 8.5
Bruce Springsteen - The River: 8
Paul McCartney - Band on the Run: 3

A strong bracket overall, with MGMT leading the pack with my favorite song of theirs. That synth line at the beginning is straight out of The Legend of Zelda, and makes it really hard to beat. I had never heard any Elbow songs before, but "One Day Like This" was gorgeous! "The River" is one of my very favorite songs by Bruce Springsteen, an artist about whom I'm generally ambivalent. "Band on the Run" had some parts that were not bad, but overall it added up to the dud I expected it would.

Al Green - Love and Happiness: 8
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up: 7
Radiohead - Idioteque: 7
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain: 7

Close, close bracket. Al Green's funky soul gives him an edge. "Surf's Up" is intriguing, and I actually hope it advances because I can imagine it really growing in my estimation with more listens. "Idioteque" is like most of Kid A for me - more interesting than enjoyable, while "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" brings back memories of childhood when my parents would put on CCR from time to time.
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Romain
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Romain »

For the four bracket, easy choices for the first two songs.

4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)

5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)

9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Henrik »

This was an extremely difficult week for me, with every song being really good to great, although I would have to make a longer alltime list for these songs to appear.

1. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
5. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
8. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
13. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)

I didn't become a fan of Lana Del Rey until this year and her new record. But "Video Games" is so much greater than the title first suggested me.
If I could rewrite history, one of the things I would do is switch the success of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" over to "I Saw Her Standing There".
"The Funeral" suddenly and unexpected became a huge favorite of my friends a couple of years ago. I had seen the song as a My Morning Jacket ripoff, but they switched me over. But again now, I didn't enjoy it that much.

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
9. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
10. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
16. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)

"Sex on Fire" is the only Kings of Leon song that I like. It has a great drive but I didn't dare to put it in front of Annie.
I think the acclaim of reggae is much too focused on early breakthrough singles. There are probably 50 reggae songs from 1976 better than "54 46".

3. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
7. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
14. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
15. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

Almost my two favorite McCartney songs in this week's bracketology. Possibly just behind "Eleanor Rigby". Every part of "Band on the Run" is greater than the last one.

2. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
4. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
11. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
12. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)

I have never understood why "Idioteque" is considered the masterpiece of Kid A. I actually used to mix it up with "Optimistic", which sounds more like a standout song to me. But the best song of the second half is easily "Morning Bell".
Everyone you meet fights a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
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Rob
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Rob »

You know you're having a great week for Bracketology if a song by The Beatles seems one of the weakest tracks. Outside of Al Green, almost everything here stands out for me in one way or another.

3. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
9. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
10. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
15. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)

It's weird to read someone say in this topic that Video Games is already outdated, because I remember hearing it for the first time on the radio and having a hard time pinpointing the date it came from. There was a fifties vibe, but sounded to modern for it and it could have been from any time since, if she wasn't referencing video games. It's the timelessness that makes it one of the stand-out tracks of the decade up til now for me. Although I also have to say it's one of the sexiest songs I know, even though (or perhaps because) there is something melancholic about it. It's also impossibly dreamy. Needless to say, it's been getting a lot of plays on my I-Pod for a few years now.
The rest is just happy to accompany her. One Armed Scissors is a great modern rock songs an the beauty of The Funeral is hard to deny, but doesn't somehow make the leap at my heart that I always think it will make. I Saw Her Standing There has never been a particular stand-out track of The Beatles for me, though as always it is nice enough.

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
8. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
12. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
13. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)

The only group without a true masterpiece for me, although Reflektor is getting there. It's almost the definition of a grower. The first listen I didn't get what the fuss was about, but now, even after more than 20 listens it keeps on growing. Count me among the group of people who never really got Kings of Leon, but like Henrik I make an exception for the drive of Sex on Fire. Moonbeam's description of Heartbeat's lyrics give new insight to it, but even listening again after reading it I mostly appreciated it for it's sunny pop feeling and don't really hear much sadness coming in. Perhaps it's just as well she chose to emphasize the good time partying stuff, because she does it very well. Toots and The Maytals deliver fine reggea, but they sadly are one the weekly examples of a song that's just being outclassed by the ones surrounding it.

1. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
5. - One Day Like This (2008)
7. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
14. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

Just like Moonbeam has strong memories that give him a special connection to Heartbeats I have something similar with The River. I feel less comfortable talking about such things on a forum, but I just want to say that about three years ago this song came on the radio during a particular dark moment in my life (which has passed long since, I should add) and it seemed to encompass all the emotions I was feeling, even though the lyrics didn't relate to my problems. But even before that moment, The River has always stood out to me as one of Springsteen's finest and it's strange it doesn't have quite reputation of say, Born to Run, Born in the USA, Thunder Road or Dancing in the Dark. Did anyone ever make a harmonica so much sound like a desperate cry? Did woohoos in a song ever sound that ghostly? And where Springsteens lyrics ever more haunting?
It's the strength of The River that makes me almost surprised that Time to Pretend is even a contender this week and very well threatens to win somehow. However, listening closely, it's a very fresh, original and extremely catchy indie gem. Still not something I would ever let get even close to The River, but the appeal is clear to see. One Day Like This does a good job bridging the gap between the two songs: more ambitious and emotional than Time to Pretend and magnificent indie pop.
McCartney is in bad luck today, but again Band on the Run is not my favorite track of it. I love the last part, but despite the Lyrics connecting the three part I never cared much for the first two pieces that sounded to tacked on to it, keeping it from greatness.

2. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
11. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
16. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)

Surf's Up just goes straight to the heaven's. One of the Beach Boys' finest, so much so that even the pretentious lyrics do nothing to diminish it's power of beauty. Have You Ever Seen the Rain is one of my favorites of Creedence. Count me among the ones who don't think Idioteque is really the standout of Kid A (where is The National Anthem? At 4063, dammit!), but it's great anyway. Al Green has never really done much for me outside of his masterpiece Let's Stay Together and Love and Happiness honestly sound to me as just another one of his tracks.
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Moonbeam
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Moonbeam »

Rob wrote:Moonbeam's description of Heartbeat's lyrics give new insight to it, but even listening again after reading it I mostly appreciated it for it's sunny pop feeling and don't really hear much sadness coming in.
Feel my heartbeat!
Feel my heartbeat!
FEEL my heartbeat now!

Feel my heartbeat!
Feel my heartbeat!
FEEL my heartbeat now... somehow!

There was a time, everybody was around and I was dancing with you
Don't know your name, making me ashamed to feel the way that I do

The lights went out, couldn't be without it was a place to be
I won't forget, the greatest times I had when I was dancing with you.
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Harold »

1. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
2. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
3. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)

I forget just how galvanizing “One Armed Scissor” is between listens – it’s the clear standout on a great album. But that “one-two-three-FAH!” still gets me every time, and Paul’s brilliant opening track from the (U.K.) debut gets the top spot here. #’s 3 and 4 trail far behind, although I do love the guitars on “The Funeral.”

1. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
2. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
3. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
4. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

Easiest #1 of the week, and it’s great to finally have a #1 pick with David Bowie involved. I haven’t lived with Annie’s terrific pop single or Toots’ funky reggae protest number long enough to really love them, but AF would probably come out on top regardless. As for #4, I can’t believe it’s even here.

1. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
2. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
3. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
4. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)

Aarrgghh!! Why do all four of these amazing tracks have to be in the same bracket? Forget SH2B4 (Something Has To Be #4) – we’re talking SH2B2 and 3 as well. Two classic-rock staples vs. two instant contemporary classics, and I could listen to all four all day long. (I really, really need to listen to The Seldom Seen Kid more often.) Still, the classic-classics take pride of place for me again; it pains me to put Paul’s hook-laden mini-suite at #2, but “The River” might just be the finest song Springsteen’s ever written, and that’s saying something.

1. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
2. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
3. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
4. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)

In contrast, while these are all really good selections, I don’t love any of them as much as the ones above. That’s not a knock on any of these, though (although I’ve always found “Surf’s Up” – and Van Dyke Parks in general – more than a little overrated). If Green’s magnificently in-the-pocket track was a little shorter, it might edge out one of Fogerty’s most concise hits, but Radiohead take the honors for me with a particular Kid A highlight.
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Jeff »

253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)

This is my least favorite bracket since this game started. I do not like any of these four. I'll go with "One Armed Scissor" at #1 since it has some energy to it. The Beatles are next with a boring yet harmless song. I'm putting "Funeral" at the bottom because it sounds more typical than "Video Games."

123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

The near-perfect electro-pop of Annie wins easily. I'll take first-wave ska over pompous indie and rubbish rock, so Toots and the Maytals are second by some margin, even though I find it mediocre. I'm shocked that I prefer something from Arcade Fire's last album to another song in this game, but then I wasn't expecting Kings of Leon to make an appearance.

5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

I'm leaving this one as is. "Time to Pretend" is hardly my favorite MGMT song, but it's good enough to win out over a pretty solid Springsteen track. Bottom two are both vanilla, but when all other things are equal I tend to side with youth.

120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)

Bracket of the week. The baroque majesty of "Surf's Up" tops it, though Reverend Green made the contest interesting. The CCR song is clearly outclassed by the top two in the bracket, but it edges out Radiohead. "Idioteque" sounds like '90s IDM as reimagined by a rock band, which makes sense because that exactly what it is. It's not bad, but also the worst of this bunch. I'm more of an Amnesiac guy anyway.
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GucciLittlePiggy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by GucciLittlePiggy »

5. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
9. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
14. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
15. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)

1. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
6. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
10. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
16. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)

3. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
4. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
8. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
12. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

2. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
7. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
11. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
13. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
I just wanted to be one of those ghosts
You thought that you could forget
And then I haunt you via the rear view mirror
On a long drive from the back seat...
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Maschine_Man
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Maschine_Man »

4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)

On another day The Beatles could have edged out Lana.

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)
251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)

Arcade Fire runs away with this. I'll keep the others in this order, but I'm not fussed with any of them.

5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)
124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)

Time To Pretend is a great song (to me). The Elbow song is a nice find!

9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)

Radiohead just nudging the Beach Boys in this lot.
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

The window to vote is almost closed! Get in your vote in the next four hours if you want to (possibly) change an outcome!
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Poliuks »

132. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (1963)
253. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (2000)
4. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (2011)
125. Band of Horses - The Funeral (2006)

251. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (1969)
6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (2013)
123. Annie - Heartbeat (2004)
134. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (2008)

124. Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)
5. MGMT - Time to Pretend (2007)
133. Elbow - One Day Like This (2008)
252. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (1973)

120. The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (1971)
137. Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
248. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970)
9. Radiohead - Idioteque (2000)
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

Results upcoming
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

Here are some fresh results:
1. Lana Del Rey - Video Games (75, 11)
2. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (69, 7)
3. Band of Horses - The Funeral (58, 6)
4. At the Drive-In - One Armed Scissor (58, 6)
Will face “Hallelujah” in the next round.

1. Arcade Fire - Reflektor (85, 13)
2. Annie - Heartbeat (71, 8)
3. Toots and The Maytals - 54 46 (Was My Number) (58, 4)
4. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (46, 1)

1. MGMT - Time to Pretend (76, 8)
2. Bruce Springsteen - The River (75, 10)
3. Paul McCartney - Band on the Run (56, 4)
4. Elbow - One Day Like This (53, 4)

1. Radiohead - Idioteque (71, 12)
2. Al Green - Love and Happiness (67, 4)
3. The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up (62, 7)
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (60, 3)

So yeah, no upsets this week. I was kind of disappointed.
Last edited by Listyguy on Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Honorio
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Honorio »

Hey, Listy, I suppose there is a mistake in bracket 4. But, does it mean that Al Green ended ahead "Surf's Up"? Really disappointing...
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Listyguy
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Re: Bracketology 3: Round 1, Week 5

Post by Listyguy »

Honorio wrote:Hey, Listy, I suppose there is a mistake in bracket 4. But, does it mean that Al Green ended ahead "Surf's Up"? Really disappointing...
Yes, "Love and Happiness" did in fact beat "Surf's Up". Nice catch. I should probably double check the close scores from this week though...
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