Welcome to the weekend, everyone!
The Chords
Votes are due Sunday by 8 pm, EST. Here’s the grooveshark link. Enjoy!
For our first match-up tonight, we have (1) One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket facing (16) Sh-Boom by The Chords. The Chords only had one hit – Sh-Boom. But these guys epitomize the American Dream (at least the fame-related one). The group first formed in 1951, but were finally discovered in 1953, when they were spotted performing in the subway. By the end of the next summer, Sh-Boom was a huge hit and was one of the first R&B songs to cross over and become popular with the white audience. Sh-Boom was #215 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Hits of All Time. The Chords are one of the great Cinderella stories of the People’s Choice Tournament, but do they pack enough punch to topple My Morning Jacket?
Elvis Costello
Next up, we’ve got (8) My Thief, Elvis Costello facing (9) Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding.
Third on deck, we have (4) Someday by The Strokes against Carole King’s So Far Away (13). Both of these songs make me a bit nostalgic, so if you aren’t looking for a Trip Down Lindsay’s Memory Lane, please skip to the final match-up. I’m not sure why, but I have the most vivid memory of the first time I ever heard The Strokes. I was unpacking in my first college dorm room with the tv on and MTV aired the video for Last Nite. Along with all of the music critics at the time, I was smitten. Carole King also makes me nostalgic. I remember my Mom singing Carole King songs from time to time when I was a little girl. I know that I have gotten better with age. Has time been as kind to these artists?
And finally, (5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie and (12)
David Bowie
Going, Going, Gone, by Stars.
Votes are due by Sunday, June 26 at 8 pm EST. Vote by commenting below.
And here’s the handy, dandy paste-able:
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket v. (16) Sh-Boom, The Chords
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello v. (9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding
(4) Someday, The Strokes v. (13) So Far Away, Carole King
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie v. (12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars
Living the Dream 
Posting for NatalieG and Danno
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket 6.5/6.8
(16) Sh-Boom, The Chords 7.2/5.5
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello 7.5/6.2
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding 7.6/8
(4) Someday, The Strokes 5.3/7.2
(13) So Far Away, Carole King 6.1/5
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie 4.6/3.9
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars 6.8/3
One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket = 7
vs. Sh-Boom by The Chords = 6
My Thief by Elvis Costello = 6
vs. Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding = 7
Someday by The Strokes = 7
vs. So Far Away by Carole King = 8
Sound and Vision by David Bowie =3.5
vs. Going, Going, Gone by Stars = 3.5
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket: 6.8
(2) Sh-Boom, The Chords: 7.1
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello: 6.2
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding: 6.6
(4) Someday, The Strokes: 9.1
(13) So Far Away, Carole King: 8.5 (Really surprised by this, I usually only like Carol King songs done by other people. I’m looking at you Will You Love Me Tomorrow)
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie: 8.2
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars: 5.9
Yes! I’m glad you’re voting! You should try to get Alice to play sometime, since apparently going through her in the first place was ineffective.
(1) One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket facing (16) Sh-Boom by The Chords: 7/5
The guitar on One Big Holiday makes up for the mediocre vocals. Sh-Boom reminds me of Back to the Future. It’s not even in the movie. Still reminds me of it.
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello facing (9) Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding:5/5
I still don’t get Elvis Costello’s appeal. Otis is soulful, but that’s not my bag until the last 45 seconds of the song.
(4) Someday by The Strokes against Carole King’s So Far Away (13):6/7
So far away…wasn’t that a long distance commercial once upon a childhood?
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie and (12) Going, Going, Gone, by Stars: 6/5
David Bowie can make magic dance, so this was pretty nice. Stars songs always start off so promising, and then I’m let down. I don’t know what it is about them.
1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket 6
good song, jim jones’ voice is terrific, but not my favorite of his work. reminds me though… g-mo ( if you read this) mmj is playing at merriweather soon, you wanna go?
(16) Sh-Boom, The Chords 5
embarrasingly i had to sing this in catholic school chorus.
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello 3
this costello tune doesnt do anything for me. sounds like something you’d hear while on hold. or in a silent movie…
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding 5
gotta give it to otis in this match-up, clearly…
(4) Someday, The Strokes 8.3
finally something to liven things up. i know it’s only 11am, but this makes me want to crack open a beer. oh wait i already have… turn it up!
(13) So Far Away, Carole King 6.8
…and there goes that mood. thanks carole king. of course this a great song, but the votes got to suffer in this match up.
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie 7.7
back on track! thanks ziggy
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars 5
actually, it’s the Thin White Duke for this album.
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket : 6.5
(16) Sh-Boom, The Chords : 4
Really enjoyed One Big holiday and I hope it goes through. I half love and half hate Sh-Boom. It reminds me of awkward acapella.
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello : 3
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding : 5
I really love Allison but much of the other Elvis’ other stuff tends to pass me by a bit, including this. once Tenderness gets going it’s really nice.
(4) Someday, The Strokes : 8.5
(13) So Far Away, Carole King : 5
God damn, the Strokes still hit the spot. This or Last Nite always makes an appearance on any playlist I make or night I’ve DJ’d. Love. Sorry Carole, I would really rather you didn’t win this one.
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie : 6.5
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars : 4
Let’s be clear, I love Bowie and I love Stars. Neither of these tunes are even close to their respective bests for me though. Stars’ albums tell incredible stories played start to finish but I don’t think this song holds up too well on it’s own. I always think his voice in Sound and Vision sounds like someone parodying him. If you haven’t seen this, then you need to:
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket – 5 –
v. (16) Sh-Boom, The Chords – 5.1 –
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello – 5 –
v. (9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding – 6 –
(4) Someday, The Strokes – 6.5 –
v. (13) So Far Away, Carole King – 3 –
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie – 3 –
v. (12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars – 4 –
A pretty low scoring round. I look forward to the next.
One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket: 7.6
Sh-Boom, The Chords: 5
My Thief, Elvis Costello: 2.2 [clarinet?]
Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding: 8.0 [great composition. Slow build and changes the entire way throughout. Great use of dynamics. want it to be even longer.]
Someday, The Strokes: 6.5 [welcome to the bro bar.]
So Far Away, Carole King: 3.5 [songs like this is why I don’t like buying groceries].
Sound and Vision, David Bowie: 8.5 [and songs like this is why I participate in this tourney. Pitchfork gave Low its nod for best album of the 70s, beating out London Calling. You’ve to remember this came out in 1977 and was readily copied for the next 15 years to create the 80s. Thanks I think goes to Adrock for the nomination.]
Going, Going, Gone, Stars: 4 [Really like Stars, but that beep tone is a hell of choice to build a song around. They couldn’t have chosen an octave lower, huh? I mean, the down-ocatve comes in halfway through and is a less piercing tone. Perhaps starting with the lower rather than higher would diminish the hospital vibe they’re going for, but fuck it’s obnoxious. And takes away from the rest of what they’re doing, which is really gorgeous and subtle.]
Would love to take credit for Bowie, but it wasn’t mine. Happy someone did drop it in though!
One Big Holiday – 5.5 vs Sh-Boom – 6.0 – Sh-Boom sounded better when I was a kid………….and it was new, sort of. The recording sucked which didn’t help either. But just good enough to take out One Big Holiday which was just OK and did nothing for me.
My Thief – 8.1 vs Little Tenderness – 8.0 – Usually love Little Tenderness but this was a crappy version. Thief was beautiful. Sad, but beautiful.
Someday – 3.5 vs So Far Away – 9.0 Carole King’s talent and a great song. Someday the vocal and the music will get together in this one.
Sound & Vision -5.9 vs Going, Going, Gone – 2.5 – Never a big Bowie unless he’s “Dancing” with Jagger. Going, Going, Gone should be. Sounded like my alarm clock and I just wanted to stomp on it.
One Big Holiday – 5.0 vs Sh-Boom – 7.0
My Thief – 7.5 vs Little Tenderness – 8.0 even if it was a lousy version.
Someday – 3.0 vs So Far Away – 10.0 – Perfection!!
Sound & Vision – 6.0 vs Going, Going, Gone – 2.0 Incessant beeping in the latter track was just too much.
one big holiday – 9.5 (i love love love this song. one of my favorite song intros ever. and jim james’s voice… ahhhh.)
sh-boom – 6.5 (oy, liked this more than i wanted to. totally makes me think of the movie “clue”.)
my thief – 2
try a little tenderness – 4
someday – 8
so far away – 2.5
sound & vision – 4.5
going going gone – 4
One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket v. Sh-Boom, The Chords = 7 to 6
My Thief, Elvis Costello v. Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding = 2 to 6.5
Someday, The Strokes v. So Far Away, Carole King = 8 to 5
I’m not ‘into’ the Strokes, but it’s hard to deny there are some good memories from the era when this album came out and you heard it every day. I was at a groundhog day party towards the end of college – everyone was dancing in the living room around 2 or 3am – a real party, and it was at its peak. I remember taking a step back, standing in the corner and watching everyone being lost in the moment, being young, having fun. Things seemed to be going in slow motion and going really fast at the same time. It was one of those times where I was completely aware of where I was, who I was, and who I was with. Now, despite all that, I can’t remember if it was this song that was playing, or the other big single off this record. But regardless, I’ll never forget that night so I hope the Stroke advance.
Sound and Vision, David Bowie v. Going, Going, Gone, Stars = 5 to 3
one big holiday – 8
sh-boom – 5
my thief – 3
try a little tenderness – 4
someday – 8.5
so far away – 3
sound & vision – 3.5
going going gone – 3.5
This is my first vote from on the road! I’ve got my phone and my little wireless keyboard and I’m good to go. Except it’s hard to read along as I type so pardon the typos.
So I’m at a motel in Richland, WA, and wouldn’t you know it the Tri-Cities are packed Camp sites we full up, and I was barely able to get a room. They weren’t kidding when they said the recession hadn’t touched this place.
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket – 7
v. (16) Sh-Boom, The Chords – 5.5
My only experience with My Morning Jacket was when the singer opened for another band I was seeing and he gave me a migraine he sang so loud. I’ve never listened to them since. But this was okay, I still don’t like his voice that much even when it’s not crushing my skull.
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello – 1.8
v. (9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding – 4
God, my ex loved Elvis Costello. I never really liked him, but didn’t find it offensive. This song though… just too cheesy. Honestly so was the Otis.
(4) Someday, The Strokes – 6.5
v. (13) So Far Away, Carole King – 3
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie – 8
v. (12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars – 7
I really don’t know how to score this Stars song. I can defiinitely see how someone loves it, but it almost feels too intimate for this tournament.
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket 5.7
(16) Sh-Boom, The Chords 8.1
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello 3.8 I am wondering if the person who nominated this actually asked for the instrumental only version or the original from the Painted From Memory album. If this was a mistake, the version with lyrics gets a 6.
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding 10
(4) Someday, The Strokes 8.3
(13) So Far Away, Carole King 7.6
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie 5
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars 6
I had high hopes for this set but found a lot of these songs disappointing.
One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket 4
Sh-Boom, The Chords 6.5
My Thief, Elvis Costello 6.5
Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding 6
I liked My Thief, even though it was instrumental. I wanted to like Try a Little Tenderness more but I just didn’t.
Someday, The Strokes 6
So Far Away, Carole King 5.75
Sound and Vision, David Bowie 5
Going, Going, Gone, Stars 4
One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket = 6
vs. Sh-Boom by The Chords = 6.5
I only know Sh-Boom from being on the soundtrack to the movie Clue (which is awesome – both the movie and the soundtrack) so I was surprised to see it in the tournament, but I like it!
My Thief by Elvis Costello = 5
vs. Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding = 9
I do like Elvis Costello, but this sleepy little song wasn’t going to cut it today. And had no shot against Try a Little Tenderness.
Someday by The Strokes = 6
vs. So Far Away by Carole King = 8
Carole King, I’m totally loving you today. Thanks.
Sound and Vision by David Bowie = 7
vs. Going, Going, Gone by Stars = 4.5
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket 4
(16) Sh-Boom, The Chords 7
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello 3
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding 7
(4) Someday, The Strokes 5.5
(13) So Far Away, Carole King 6.5
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie 5
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars 6.8
Whoops, typo – Sound and Vision is an 8
I don’t know how I missed two voting rounds… but I’m back!
One Big Holiday – 4.9
Sh-Boom – 7.1
Sh-boom was a nice little addition to my nice little Sunday.
My Thief – 2.8
Try a Little Tenderness – 7.2
Here I am listening to this Elvis Costello song wondering when we are going to get into the real music and it never happened. I am NOT a hater of instrumentals, but sorry, this was just too boring for me. Also, were there some moments where it sounded like the Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme, or was that just me wishing it were true? Gotta go with my pal, Otis on this one. (Still not my fave Otis song, though).
Someday – 7
So far away – 7.3
I’m giving this one to Carol King by a few hairs because it just felt right.
Sound and Vision – 4.8
Going Going Gone – 5.7
I got into the Stars mainly because of their name (I love stars in general), but this one was too much of a downer for me today. I am in the mood to be happy, dammit.
I went crazy with the tenths of points in this one. Not sure why.
I know I’m too late, but just in case I’m not, here are my votes (I really want to get my ten in for Sound and Vision because I nominated it).
(1) One Big Holiday, My Morning Jacket 5
(16) Sh-Boom, The Chords 5
(8) My Thief, Elvis Costello 4
(9) Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding 7
(4) Someday, The Strokes 7
(13) So Far Away, Carole King 7
(5) Sound and Vision, David Bowie 10
(12) Going, Going, Gone, Stars 4