Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 1.5

[Brad]

Time for another round of Moderately Acclaimed Albums!

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 = April 20th at 10am EST.

Match-ups:
1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj vs. Dan Bern - Dan Bern

Fish fingers all in a line!

[Honorio]

Grooveshark links of the albums not on Spotify (only for the people living in countries with Grooveshark still available for free):
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session (original vinyl release songs 1-2, 4-8 and 10-12)
Swans - Children of God
The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High (plus song 7)
Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj (plus song 3)

[Jirin]

Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session 85-78
Horace Silver - Blowin The Blues Away 87-86

Very close matchup between two pleasant surprises.

Depeche Mode - Songs Of Faith And Devotion 89-85

Probably my new 2nd favorite Depeche Mode album over a strong indie pop album maybe a little lacking in depth.

Still need to listen to Valentino, but Dan Bern is a 77.

[Maschine_Man]

After a busy week last week, I'm sure I'll be able to make it this week.

[whuntva]

Children of God was totally on Spotify last time I checked.

Sticking with the strategy of only ones I know, I side with both my picks (Dan Bern and Swans). but I did listen to their competitors.

Swans had it roughest. It was going to be difficult to knock off an album I ranked at #21 all-time, but the Jazz soundtrack from Horace Silver was a tough contest. Point goes to Swans, though. This is probably the pick of mine most likely to advance to the next round,

Dan Bern I discovered comparatively more recent. Lenny Valentino actually gave him a run because of interesting instrumentals. But I guess I just like Dan's sense of humor and variety more. But Lenny was certainly intersting. Give it to Dan.

[Rob]

Children of God is on Spotify, at least in this region. It's combined with World of Skin. Children of God ends after 14 tracks.



And so is The Trinity Session:



Gravity Won't Get You High is also on YouTube:

The unpronouncable Lenny Valentino album is too:

[DaveC]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj vs. Dan Bern - Dan Bern

[Honorio]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin (1958) vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session (1988)
2. Swans - Children of God (1987) vs. The Horace Silver Quintet & Trio - Blowin' the Blues Away (1959)
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993) vs. The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High (2006)
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj (2001) vs. Dan Bern - Dan Bern (1997)

Hardest decision of the week: Holiday vs. Timmins (and Holiday is my nomination)


Vocal Jazz, Alt-Country, Post-Punk, Hard Bop, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Dream Pop and Folk Rock.

[notbrianeno]

Cowboy Junkies-The Trinity Session
Horace Silver-Blowin' The Blues Away
Depeche Mode-Songs of Faith and Devotion

[Romain]

Here's my vote:

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin
2. Swans - Children of God
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion

[Kingoftonga]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away

Two easy choices in these brackets; the Cowboy Junkies are a bit too mellow in contrast to Billie Holiday's emotional vocals. And the Swans are just awesome. Children of God wasn't my pick, but it is the 80s Swans album I return to most often.

I'm out of town this weekend, but I'll try to vote on the rest, because I like the game we're playing over trying to get as many votes as possible!

[Michel]

1. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session

[jamieW]

Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin
Swans - Children of God
Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion
Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj
Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
Dan Bern - Dan Bern

Cowboy Junkies and Ms. Holiday were an absolute tie for first place this week. I went with the Junkies only because there are other works by Billie Holiday that I like better. Also, a special thanks to Maschine_Man, Honorio and Rob for making these albums so easy to find!

[DocBrown]

1. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
3. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
4. Dan Bern - Dan Bern

[Maschine_Man]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin
2. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
3. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj

Depeche Mode was my second favorite of the week, so that makes it landsliding one of my nominations not so bad.

[ordinaryperson]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj vs. Dan Bern - Dan Bern
This is probably the worst set of albums so far. The only one I enjoyed was "Uwaga!".

[Rob]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
Two slow, mellow and moody albums, great for a melancholy night. I feel somewhat guilty for not voting for Holiday as she is an deservedly an icon. Her vocal delivery is truly unique and that alone makes Lady In Satin more than worth a listen. However, I think I like Holiday more in small doses, as a singles artist. Lady In Satin sounds a bit too much the same over it's total length. It's not Holiday's fault, but more the production or just the type of songs.
The Trinity Session isn't really all that varied either, but somehow it matters less as the actual music seems richer. Sure, the voice of Margo Timmins isn't as unique as Holiday's, but still achingly beautiful. It's a great listen from start to finish and one of my favorite albums in this game up til now. And - dare I say it? - I might actually prefer the Cowboy Junkies' version of I'm So Lonesome I Could cry over the one by Hank Williams.

2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
One of the most difficult match-ups this game has given me so far, because I absolutely love both. My vote goes to the great piano work of Horace Silver, but tomorrow I might as well have voted for the unique dark spirituality and the varied album of Swans. I just notice that spirited piano playing is hard to beat for me.

3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
After two great battles comes a lesser match-up, with an easy victory for The Grates, who deliver a fun pop album with enough personality to stand out from the crowd. I should directly say that I mostly dislike Depeche Mode. This is the first time I actually listened to a full album of them and probably also the last time. The frustrating thing about them is that they actually do stuff that appeals to me. They sometimes aim for something higher, almost spiritual on this album. I also like unexpected touches like the addition of bagpiper to Judas. But I like it all more in theory than in execution, because every choice they make gets glossed over with a sheen that almost belies what is underneath it. Industrial sounds, spiritual music, folk-influences: everything is made to sound glossy and easy to swallow, completely undermining the emotional potency that is actually there. I know this band has a lot of fans on this site and elsewhere, but to me they never have been more than a vaguely interesting band ruined by eighties overproduction. I could praise them for making all these influences their own, but I guess I just don't care for "their own". Not for David Gahan's voice I should add.

4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj vs. Dan Bern - Dan Bern
I'm glad I decided to listen to each album at least twice before voting. Lenny Valentino didn't click at all with me on the first try, but the second time it revealed to be a more interesting work than immediately apparent. I don't know what the songs are about, but the music is strong enough so it doesn't bother me all that much. Sadly it is up against an album right up my alley. Bob Dylan is my favorite musical artist and Dan Bern is probably the most Dylan sounding artist outside of the man himself. This should be problematic, but isn't because Dan Bern is actually very good, with an evocative voice and great lyrics. Alright, I don't know what the deal is with the song "Marylin". Just being silly? Luckily, the rest is more than great and especially the three long songs (Estelle, Wasteland and Rome) are a treat.

[Poliuks]

1. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj

[phil]

1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High

Haven't had time to listen to Lenny Valentino, but Dan Bern was great.

[Nassim]

3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High

I've listened to both albums on the 2nd matchup but I'll still pass.
Part of Lenny Valentino album were a bit grating, but the great parts were really fantastic too... haven't listened to Dan Bern anyway, so pass too !

[Brad]

About two hours + 20 minutes left to vote (including my own!)!

[Brad]

My picks:
1. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin vs. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
2. Swans - Children of God vs. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away
I like both of these a lot - Swans "charms", however, vary according to my personal mood... Blowin' The Blues Away is the perfect album for the season - it get's my vote.
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion vs. The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj vs. Dan Bern - Dan Bern

[Brad]

17 total voters this week:
Brad
DaveC
DocBrown
Honorio
jamieW
Jirin
Kingoftonga
Maschine_Man
Michel
Nassim
notbrianeno
ordinaryperson
phil
Poliuks
Rob
Romain
whuntva

Winners:
1. Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session over Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin 9-6
2. Horace Silver - Blowin' the Blues Away over Swans - Children of God 8-6
3. Depeche Mode - Songs of Faith and Devotion over The Grates - Gravity Wont Get You High 9-4
4. Lenny Valentino - Uwaga! Jedzie tramwaj over Dan Bern - Dan Bern 7-3

Round 1.6 up soon!

[Romain]

The defeat of Billie Holiday, with one of the finest album in his category, is the biggest surprise since the beginning of this game.