Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

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Brad
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Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Brad »

Round 2 of Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 begins today!
Vote for your favorite album in each match-up.
Remember, anyone can vote as long as the voter has heard both albums.

While certainly not required, I would strongly recommend re-listening to these albums, especially if you haven't heard them since their first round appearance. By nature, many "moderately acclaimed" releases seem to possess the characteristic of apparent improvement with multiple listens (i.e.- "growers")... can't hurt to give 'em another spin (as we used to say back in the old days).

Comments are encouraged but not absolutely necessary.
Deadline = July 13th at 10am EST.

Match-ups:
1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring


Gimme The Loot!
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Honorio
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Honorio »

Second Round? Time for my four-line comments…

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
Two albums by two root-rock bands (well, kinda, both were idiosyncratic bands within this style), that caught them in the act of making opposite moves, Waterboys going organic and stepping back into traditional folk and My Morning Jacket expanding their sound making heavy use of synths. These moves rendered their most acclaimed albums (although I prefer the immediately previous albums of both bands). My vote goes to Mike Scott's "Raggle Taggle" Celtic period.

2. Traveling Wilburys - The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Argh, nooo! A really difficult decision for me, because I'm absolutely aware of which is the best album of this pair (Marling's) but I'm voting otherwise. And I'm not sure why. I would like to think it's not a question of rock stars idolatry, I honestly like the "unserious vibe" and the "joy of camaraderie" (quoting Matthew Greenwald from AMG) of the supergroup release. But, oh, the Laura Marling album is so brilliant, so good that I won't mind at all to see her winning.

3. The Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
I know CunninLynguists is the "cool" choice here, moreover when this brand of Hip Hop that heavily relies on production (let's call it non-minimalistic) is right up my alley. But with my vote for the Doobie Brothers I would like to vindicate some West Coast 70s bands transformed overnight into dinosaurs by punk-rock and suffering since then a lot of (unfair) backlash. After all, all they were doing was good rock music, well played, not pretentious and, yes, truly enjoyable.

4. Jane Birkin - Ex fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring
This week's weakest bracket (in my opinion). Not a big fan of those albums but Birkin's album is the one I would return more often. I know that Rites of Spring's debut is groundbreaking (in fact it's a cornerstone of hardcore style) and "Ex fan des sixties" is, in Gainsbourg terms, a kinda formulaic album (his solo albums of the period were much more innovative). Anyway Gainsbourg's formula works so well (especially with female sexy voices like Birkin's) that easily got my vote.
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ordinaryperson
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by ordinaryperson »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring
There is No More Firmament.
DocBrown
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by DocBrown »

1. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties
Jirin
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Jirin »

My Morning Jacket - Z 95-78

Z is probably in my top 200 albums of all time. It's one of the few albums with both arena rock expansiveness and indie uniqueness.

Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can 84-74

Laura Marling has a special understated quirkiness and emotionality to her music. For Traveling Wilburys I love the single Handle Me With Care but I don't think the rest of their catalog stands out much.

CunninLynguists - Oneirology 84-83

Close call.

Rite Of Spring - Rite of Spring 84-74

Couldn't connect much with Birkin. Maybe there's a language barrier there but the attitude of it doesn't draw me in.
antonius
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by antonius »

My Morning Jacket - Z
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by DaveC »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring

Every match a close contest. A good start for round 2.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Nassim »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues
2. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
Might be all the video game music discussion, but half of this album feels like someone's rapping over Donkey Kong Country 2 soundtrack (which is a good thing)
4. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring
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whuntva
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by whuntva »

Laura Marling-I Speak because I Can

The reason I was so hesitant to vote is because I really don't have too much time to listen to a lot of albums, but I have heard both albums here and like Laura's better.
" Ah, yes! Our meager restitution"
Brad
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Brad »

My picks:
1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring

Thanks!
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PlasticRam
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by PlasticRam »

In honour of the second round I'm gonna begin using indian red to show my preference.

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring

I bolded it too, so everyone should be able to see my pick.

Edit: In my opinion, Roy Orbison is the star of Volume 1.
Last edited by PlasticRam on Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I feel like that
Henry
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Henry »

1. My Morning Jacket - Z is preferred compared to The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 is preferred compared to Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me is preferred compared to CunninLynguists - Oneirology
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by TimmyWing »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z

Very close call. I'll take the first two tracks off Fisherman's Blues over anything off Z, but the rest of the Waterboys album doesn't match up to them sadly ("And a Bang on the Ear" would, if it weren't overly long). Besides, Jim James is a tremendous singer, isn't he? The playful attitude of that album makes it a welcome winner.

2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

That synthetic production makes the Wilburys album sound more dated than anything its members did in the previous two decades! Point to Marling, even though she sounds quite derivative of Joni Mitchell and Joanna Newsom sometimes. George Harrison should have saved "Handle with Care" for himself - it's good, but Roy Orbison sounds oddly out of place on it... at least they had fun?

3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology

"South City Midnight Lady" is good; the guitar work all around is top-tier, but there's something insubstantial to The Captain and Me - a sort of AOR feel that's hard for me to get behind. So, this is a stylistic choice more than anything - although the production on Oneirology is very good. Maybe Michael McDonald-led Doobie is more my style? He did do the song that became "Regulate", after all.

4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring

I wasn't sure what I thought of the Jane Birkin album at first. Kitschy French disco offset by some actually touching piano ballads, hmm... Then I remembered "Exercice en forme de Z". and it made me sick to my stomach that someone could get paid for writing such self-indulgent cack. Ex-fan de Serge, more like. What better way to let off some steam than with an excellent hardcore record from golden-era Washington, D.C.?
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by jamieW »

After regretfully missing the last two weeks of round 1, I hope to be back now for the rest of the journey...

The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
CunninLynguists - Oneirology
Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties

(In keeping with many weeks in round 1, my favorite two albums of the week faced each other with CunninLynguists and the Doobies. Although this probably doesn't happen quite as often as it seems to me...)
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Romain »

1. My Morning Jacket - Z I think this one is a favorite for the final. It will be hard to beat
2. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by notbrianeno »

The Waterboys-Fisherman's Blues
Laura Marling-I Speak Because I Can
Jane Birkin-Ex-Fan Des Sixties
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Rob
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Rob »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z

I betrayed my own nomination Fisherman's Blues last time, but not now. I like Z, because it sounds very pretty, but somehow it never seems to dig as deep as I want to. It always reminds me somewhat of Fleet Foxus, but with less atmosphere and just less well executed. Definitely not finale material for. Give me the endless fun and joy of Fisherman's Blues.

2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can

Traveling Wilburys might be quite a bit of fun and it might combine five artists I love, including my all time favorite, but still Volume 1 isn't any match for I Speak Because I Can, one of my all time top 10 albums.

3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology

The toughest match-up, but that doesn't say much. The Captain and Me is a great rock album, full of great tracks. It's a bit traditional, which is actually a strength when listening to it, but sadly a weakness when going up to a very original and captivating piece of surrealistic sounding rap. Give me the dreams of CunninLynguists, please.

4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring

I didn't care for these two albums at all in the first round, but now that has changed for one of them. Ex-Fan des Sixties is really fun and seductive when in the right mood. Rites of Spring is just repetitive. After five minutes it loses it's hard driving appeal by simply being something of a indistinct mess.
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Poliuks »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues
2. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Kingoftonga »

1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues
2. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by phil »

Match-ups:
1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues vs. My Morning Jacket - Z
2. Traveling Wilburys - Volume 1 vs. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
3. Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me vs. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties vs. Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring

Thanks!
Brad
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Brad »

19 total voters this week:
antonius
Brad
DaveC
DocBrown
Henry
Honorio
jamieW
Jirin
Kingoftonga
Nassim
notbrianeno
ordinaryperson
phil
PlasticRam
Poliuks
Rob
Romain
TimmyWing
whuntva

Winners:
1. The Waterboys - Fisherman’s Blues over My Morning Jacket - Z 10-8
2. Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can over Traveling Wilburys - Volume One 15-3
3. CunninLynguists - Oneirology over Doobie Brothers - The Captain and Me 10-6
4. Jane Birkin - Ex-fan des sixties over Rites of Spring- Rites of Spring 10-5

Round 2.2 up soon!
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Honorio
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Honorio »

Hey, that's fantastic! 19 voters again. And 14 of them voting on every match-up! More than the double of 4 match-up voters than last week. Probably the fact that now you know that someone is counting the votes could have influenced this but anyway… welcome back!
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Romain
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Re: Moderately Acclaimed Albums 6 - Round 2.1

Post by Romain »

Romain wrote:1. My Morning Jacket - Z I think this one is a favorite for the final. It will be hard to beat
Romain...you are the best!








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