Greetings, music lovers!
Another eclectic set of songs for you to listen to, dance to, cringe to, criticize, and quantify. There’s definitely some potential for good fights here. Listen to the tunes here, except for James Brown. Vote by commenting below before 8 pm Eastern on Monday, June 27.
Lucinda Williams was named “America’s best songwriter” by TIME magazine 2002, but does she stand a chance against the Godfather of Soul? In case you haven’t noticed, our voters like themselves some good soul. We’ll see them hash it out with #2 Try Me (James Brown) vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams).
Our next matchup showcases a couple bands that are a bit more under-the-radar. Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (or “SK6ERS”) bring us American rock from Western Mass, while the all-female Electrelane brings us British Rock. Oddly enough, both bands have or will play at festivals called “Field Day” this summer but they are completely unrelated. Pick your poison: #7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane).
The son of Bob Marley takes on the former member of 10,000 Maniacs: #3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant). Marley just released his first comic book, Marijuanaman, on 4/20 of this year.
The final matchup of this set features an unlikely collaboration between Kanye West & Bon Iver against 80s rockers the Violent Femmes: #6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes). The Femmes had a few entries in the Living the Dream tournament, and people seemed a bit disappointed that “Add it Up” was not included – well, here’s their chance. Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon recorded “Lost in the World” (based on Bon Iver’s “Woods” and Kanye’s current emotional state) and several other tracks with Kanye in Hawaii last February.
Happy listening!
#2 Try Me (James Brown) vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams)
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane)
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant)
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes)
Living the Dream 
Try Me (James Brown) = 7
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 5.5
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 6.5
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 1.5
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 6
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 5
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 4
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 3.5
Try Me (James Brown) = 6
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 3.5
Love James, but not for his doowop. Soulful, but not slap-yo-mamma soulful like Payback or Brand New Bag.
Like a Rose was sweet, but boring.
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 4.5
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 1.6
Ok, nothing special.
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 10
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 4
Man I love this cd by Ziggy. This song sums up my perspective on life. I listen to this track on loop sometimes…
Carnival was a letdown afterwards.
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 4.4
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 6.5
I liked parts of Lost In The World, but the aggressively pervasive autotuning overshadowed the politically charged poetry. Plus Kanye is a punk.
Add It Up is solid. Not always something I want to hear though.
#2 Try Me (James Brown) – 8
vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) – 9.8
Well I nominated this Lucinda Williams song but it’s probably in trouble. Try Me really is soulful. I think this is an interesting match-up because I actually think these songs are quite similar. They’re both soulful, simple, heartfelt, about vulnerability and and trust and asking someone else to want you. Neither of them have especially strong arcs, but they’re not flat. I do think the Lucinda songs has more layers and is musically more interesting. And her voice just makes me ache. So I’m voting for it. I mostly really wanted to see her represented in this tournament, but it’s hard to pick which song. They’re all so excellent (mostly), but there’s not one that completely captures her greatness. You really need to listen a whole album. I suggest that you do that.
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane)
I’m recusing myself from this one because I couldn’t listen to the regular version of the Stephen Kellogg song. I can’t play Grooveshark on my phone, and Rhapsody, which I’m using to listen to these, doesn’t have that song, and there are only live versions on Youtube. For (off) the record, I would give a 5 to the live version I listened to, and a 6.9 to the Electrelane song.
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) – 4.5
vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) – 3.5
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) – 8.5
vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) – 8.5
Kanye pulls together so many elements beautifully. Add it Up is a jarring juxtaposition–only in this tournament could these songs even be in the same universe. These identical scores come from very different places (and I’m just going to put it out there that Kiss Off is still my favorite Femmes song. I like counting).
#2 Try Me (James Brown) – 6 –
vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) – 5.5 –
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) – 8 – i like this musically and the lyrics resonate. strikes me as insightful and a bit morose, but it’s no pity party. i respect that.
vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane) – 4 – was gonna give this a 5 but her voice at the end repeating the most annoying tone really rubbed me the wrong way so i had to dock it a point.
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) – 5 –
vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) – 8- nostalgia may have boosted this score. i’m curious to see how the men vote and if it’s the musical equivalent of a chick flick. Is there a name for that?
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) – 6 – I’m a big fan of Bon Iver and have a lot of respect for Kanye. Maybe my expectations were too high, but the payoff wasn’t as great as I hoped.
vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) – 3 – I just can’t get past the vocals.
Try Me (James Brown) = 9.2
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 6.3
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 7
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 3
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 3.2
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 3.1
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 4
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 7
These comments are for NatalieG and Danno.
Try Me (James Brown) = 3.5/4
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 7/4
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 7/10
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 1.2/2.5
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 5.5/5
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 8/3
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 4/3
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 3.5/6
In addition to my scores above with NatalieG, I might as well throw out there that You Win is one of my nominations. SK and the 6ers are one of those bands that have cycled in and out of my favorite band spot many many times over the last decade (it is usually highly correlated with me seeing them live). This song in particular has a whole lot of memories associated with it…some good, some bad (bad at the time but now I look back on it positively). This one is a 10 every time for me.
Try Me (James Brown) 7
Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) 6
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) 7
To The East (Electrelane) 5
Yey Western Mass!
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) 5.5
Carnival (Natalie Merchant) 8
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) 4
Add It Up (Violent Femmes) 5
I would like all voters to know that I’m in an airport in Arkansas and Careless Whisper just came on PA system. I still think it’s at least a 6 🙂
Try Me – 7.2 vs Like a Rose – 6.5
You Win – 7.5 vs To The East – 2.0
Good Old Days – 4.5 vs Carnival – 6.5
Lost in the World – 2.5 vs Add It Up – 2.5
Try Me – 6.8 vs Like A Rose – 6.5 – Brown is an Oldie but Goodie but not his best. Like A Rose may have been soulful but it was delivered with a distinct lack of emotion.
You Win – 7.2 vs To The East – 2.5 Kellogg was good; not great but something new to sample. Also had no competition as the vocalist for Electrelane had possibly the worst voice I have heard yet in this tournament.
Good Old Days – 5.5 vs Carnival – 7.0 – So, so Marley vs Merchant. Remember this when it actually had air time.
Lost in the World – 1.5 vs Add It Up – 1.5 Kanye opened weak and went down hill as the lyrics got more dismal and trashy. And the duck (????) in the background didn’t quack me up. The Femmes were just plain awful.
Have the songs always been listed at the bottom for easy copy + pasting?… if so, I always miss it. If not, I like it… so thank you! Nice touch.
#2 Try Me (James Brown) – 6.7
vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) -4
In the mornings, I listen exclusively to oldies stations and Try Me came on the other day right when I had really amazing parking luck.
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) – 8.5
vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane) – 5
I’ll let You Win on this one Danno (see how I did that?)…. but we’ll see what happens in division L…. 🙂
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) – 8
vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) – 3
I have to give a high score to Ziggy Marley because listening to this reminds me of some really good times with a best friend of mine… not because I wanted to slaughter Natalie Merchant. Although that was a nice touch. I “loved” it when I had it on cassette tape but it did not age well for me. AT ALL.
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) – 7.8
vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) – 6
I really enjoyed Lost In The World.. I give credit to Bon Iver for that, not usually a huge Kanye fan.
#2 Try Me (James Brown) 6.5
About the most I can give a song based on the heart&soul progression.
#15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) 6.5
I like the title idea, but, see below.
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) 6
nice sentiment…too much twang.
#10 To The East (Electrelane) – 5
meh
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) – 6.5
getting there
#14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) – 6
I should like this song…I want to…what’s stopping me??
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) – 9
took the words right out of my mouth – love ostensibly a million different people are singing in harmony about being lost in the world, it’s vaguely hopeful, but the bridge lyrics are disturbing in the best way.
#11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) – 5
I’ve never been able to dig these guys (see above re my place in the world).
#2 Try Me (James Brown) – 5
vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) – 7
Never heard Like A Rose before but I really liked it and I think its simplicity is a good thing. Really nice voice and really sweet lyrics – thanks for the intro, Aiko. Listened to it twice and the score got upped. Wasn’t really into Try Me…it sounds horribly dated to me…I think it’s the backing singers that do it.
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) – 7
vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane) – 2.5
Holy Shit! Wow. I think this is the first song with a country-ish vibe that I actually like. I really do like it and am completely weirded out and mystified by this turn of events. Congrats to whoever nominated this – you have pulled off a miracle. Perhaps I’ve now been in American ong enough to ‘get’ it. The vocals on To The East are excruciating, although I did quite like the song itself. Inexcusably horrific vocals though.
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) – 5.5
vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) – 5
The Marley family and the Butterworth family are not meant to be hanging out. Quite liked this though, so perhaps there’s hope yet. Not as into Natalie.
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) – 5.5
vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) – 4
I really love Bon Iver but I think this is more odd than genius. Really liked parts of it but the beginning really annoyed me. Tries to be cleverer than it ends up being, I think. I want to like Add It Up but it just sounds like a watered down, weaker track by The Vines.
Try Me (James Brown) = 6
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 5 [ She meets Peter Gabriel’s lyric requirement that they be simple, but I thought all of the rhymes were cliche. However, it seems like she meant it, unlike say Bon Jovi, who suffers from the same problem. I’m going to assume that I’m the only one who makes a Bon Jovi reference here.]
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 8.0 [I’m shocked there is no Ryan Adams in this tourney. This was great but lost a little steam towards the end.]
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 7.5 [This song lost points for ripping Rebellion’s bass line. Still a great song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs%5D
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 6.0 [I’m more of a Damien Marley fan, but Ziggy is pretty fantastic too.]
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 4.0 [don’t care for this song at all but it’s got some musical basis so it gets a +2 bump]
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 9.5 [This album got 10s from almost every music critic out there. This is far from my favorite track, but it’s solid. It happened to sample my least favorite Bon Iver song, but it’s one of the few autotuned songs that actually uses autotune as an instrument making chord progressions with it– really cool.]
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 8.9 [Janos, Femmes Story? The gist of which is their lyrics may not go over well with a crowd of well-dressed derby goers.]
#2 Try Me (James Brown) 6 vs.
#15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) 6
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) 1 This song sucks.
vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane) 7
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) 5
vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) 4
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) 4
vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) 9
#2 Try Me (James Brown) 6.8
#15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) 4.5
Hadn’t heard this JB tune before – strange to hear James speaking English!
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) 8.5
#10 To The East (Electrelane) 3
I’m a big old time Sixers fan – back in my college days, but I haven’t really paid much attention to them since a little bit more of a country-ish turn 6 or 7 years ago, and I missed the EP that You Win is on – big mistake!! Really really good song, and I guess this means I need to go listen to the albums of his that have been accruing electronic dust (yeah, I own all his full length albums, even though I haven’t listened to the most recent 3… how dumb is that?). Thanks for reminding me how good SK can be Danno.
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) 7.3
#14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) 7
Oh Ziggy… what you lack of Bob’s spirit and fire, you make up for with some solid sense of fun and whimsy. Cool song – need to add it to a summer mix… just begs to be blasted at a barbecue, or on a lengthy summer drive along the coast (any coast). Still can’t believe I not only owned the Tigerlily album, but that I still know where it is it my CD binder (somehow on the same page as Powerman 5000, the L.A. Guns and the Mission: Impossible 2 Soundtrack. The opposite page has a CD put together by Danno way way way back when entitled “Plump Mix”. Don’t ask why I know this.) Still a good track.
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) 1.5
#11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) 4
Kanye was dead in the water after 10 seconds – I HATE autotune, worse than nails on a chalkboard. Also, I think I heard the lyric “the rapist known as freedom”. Somehow, I can’t get behind that lyric, even if there is an interesting point being made. Who will survive in America? Hopefully not Kanye.
Try Me (James Brown) = 7.5
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 5
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 8
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 3.5
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 4.5
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 6
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 8
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 7
I liked the Kanye/Bon Iver combo a lot more than I thought I would. I definitely thought this one would go to the Violent Femmes.
Janos and Cristina:
Me and C
Brown 8.7 / 7.5
Lucina 5.5/ 5.5
Sixers 4/ 3
Electralane 9/ 10
Ziggy 9.2/ 7.5
Natalie 6.5/ 6.5
Kanye 6.9/ 5
Femmes 8.5/ 8
Me:
#2 Try Me (James Brown) 7.8
#15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) 6.2
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) 4.5
#10 To The East (Electrelane) 6
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) 6
#14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) 5
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) 6.4
#11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) 9.2
Try Me (James Brown) = 5
vs. Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 7.4
You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) = 4.5
vs. To The East (Electrelane) = 2
Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) = 4.9
vs. Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 8
Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) = 4
vs. Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 4.2
#2 Try Me (James Brown) – 6.5
#15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) – 7
hmm.
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) – 6 (anyone else hear some toad the wet sprocket here? i don’t have anything against it, i like the instrumentation, it’s just a bit bland. i could see them being fun live.)
#10 To The East (Electrelane) – 4.5 (i liked this at first, but her voice began grating on me pretty quickly, and the instrumentals are really boring. reminds me a bit of a band called au revoir simone but less enjoyable.)
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) – 9 (loved this!! hadn’t heard it before. perfect for a summer mix!)
#14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) – 6.5
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) – 3 (had moments of potential, but i found the auto-tune to be really unpleasant & the rap part was too cheesy & the beat got really annoying)
#11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) – 6 (always a fun one, and a welcome follow-up to kanye, but musically/lyrically it’s hard to give it a higher score)
#2 Try Me (James Brown) vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) 7:5.5
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane) 6:6.5
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) 5.5:6
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) 7.5:6.5
#2 Try Me (James Brown) vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams): 5/5
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane): 6/5
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant): 5/4
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes):5/5
I’m whelmed.
#2 Try Me (James Brown) vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams) = 5 to 6.5
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane) 3.5 to 8.5
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant) = 3.5 to 4.5
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes) = 5.5 to 4.5
#2 Try Me (James Brown) vs. #15 Like A Rose (Lucinda Williams): 4 to 3
#7 You Win (Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) vs. #10 To The East (Electrelane): 3 to 5.5
#3 Good Old Days (Ziggy Marley) vs. #14 Carnival (Natalie Merchant): 5.5 to 7
#6 Lost In The World (Kanye West feat. Bon Iver) vs. #11 Add It Up (Violent Femmes): 6 to 10