can someone like ME win the tournament?
Eager voters, my sincerest apologies for tonight’s delay! I got my days mixed up. Well, we’re just getting our feet wet in the Round of 128, so let’s get to it!
Listen to the songs here, except for Adele. Vote by commenting below by 8 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 13th.
First up is Division B’s top seed Adele bearing her soul acoustically via voice & piano, after surviving a Feist-y battle in the first round. How far will she go? For starters, she must defeat not uno, but Dos Gardenias from some of Cuba’s finest musicians: #1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) vs #8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club).
Can a couple of former child actors take down “the quintessential American power pop band” (allmusic)? You decide: #4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) vs #5 Thirteen (Big Star).
Well, if The Replacements were to vote on the previous matchup, you can be assured they’d rate Big Star highly since they wrote a whole song about Big Star’s singer/songwriter Alex Chilton. Challenging is little-known band Stealer’s Wheel with a catchy tune whose popularity is primarily due to its inclusion on the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack: #2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) vs #7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements).
paradise?
Arcade Fire was 1 for 2 in the Round of 256. The band’s lyrics about suburban sprawl may bring back memories of mom’s Meat Loaf and teenage love. Both these artists have a tendency to bring out the extremes in voters: #3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) vs #6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf).
Happy voting!
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele)
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club)
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley)
#5 Thirteen (Big Star)
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel)
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements)
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire)
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf)
Living the Dream 
4=Average
5= Good
6= Really Good
7= Great
8= Fantastic
9= Exceptional
10= Perfect
Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 2.5 [made me cringe, but not in the way it’s meant to. The reason why is probably: (1) super boring and overused chord progression (2) uninspired and trite lyrics that are vaguely about “someone”, like her manager told here “this is how you write a song” & (3) honestly…I think she has a good voice but I don’t like it. One note of interest, her ex did try to sue her for rights because the songs were (although you would never know it) based on him: http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/adele/news/269593-adele-ex-boyfriend-rihanna-katy-perry-kylie-britney-spears.%5D
Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 5.0 [te quiero un poco… una mas tiempo, BVSC]
Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 7.5 [ Dear Adele- please check in with Rilo. When you title a song “Portions for Foxes” and then open with lyrics like “There’s blood in my mouth b/c I’ve been biting my tongue all week” you get away with saying trite things like “I’m bad news”).]
Thirteen (Big Star) 7.0
Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 7.8
Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 8.5 [DID NOT see this coming.]
Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 8.0
Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 6.4 [I’ve said it before, but Arcade Fire is the new Meatloaf…although you might not guess it from these two songs. i.e.: Overblown and dramatic orchestral pop that made it into the mainstream b/c of sheer musicianship.]
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 4.5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 3
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 9
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 8
If I could trade lives with one person, it would be Jenny Lewis. I want her voice. And her hair. And her closet. If this song makes it to the next round I’ll tell you guys the story of when she recorded our answering machine in college.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 5
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 4
I once missed a question at pub trivia because I have always skipped the torture scene in Reservoir Dogs so I didn’t know that SITMWY was the song that played. Re: AC– Recently I’ve been noticing a lot of songs about liking other songs, and I find them charming but not really that good.
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 8
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 3
Meat Loaf was a 6 until it was 8 minutes long and had that narration in the middle.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele)-5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club)-6
Obviously Adele can sing, but when performances are dominated by vocals with little additional instrumentation I need excellent lyrics and atmosphere. This has neither. BVSC is pretty good, but not great. Better atmosphere though.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley)- 7
#5 Thirteen (Big Star)-6
I have a huge crush on Jenny Lewis. As far as Rilo songs go this is both the most accessible and the one that I’ve heard way too many times. Luckily, I haven’t listened to it in years so it didn’t make me cringe the way it once might have.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel)-7
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements)-9.5
Alex Chilton is fast becoming one of my favorite songs right now, and I don’t believe I heard it before the tournament.
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire)-9
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf)-7
Arcade Fire lose one point because I’m not listening to this song while driving around in my car at night. Meat Loaf loses one point because I’m not listening to this song while hooking up in my car at night. And another point because it is at least two minutes too long. And another because it’s silly.
Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 6
Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 5
I really like Adele, but I don’t think this is one of her best.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 6.5
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 5
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 7
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 6.5
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 8
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) = 0. I hope all the bad things… in the world… happen to you and to nobody else.
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) = 6
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) = 3
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) = 1
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) = 9
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) = 4
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) = 7.5
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) = 5.5
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 4 I like Moonlight Sonata better without the vocals.
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 5
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 7 Great pop track.
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 7 This is a sweet song too.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 7 Thanks to Reservoir Dogs, this song makes me grateful that I have two ears.
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 7 This song has really grown on me. Kudos to the nominator.
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 7
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 4 Meatloaf is fucking annoying.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 4
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 6.8
I actually listened to the words of DG this time. It’s kinda much better than the Adele song, although it’s probably lost on those of you that chose French over Spanish for your high school foreign language (unless you are from Quebec or planned to move to francophone Africa, why would you do that)
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 6
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 5
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 5.6
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 9
Alex Chilton is seriously seriously growing on me- this song has been rocking my world since it was nominated, and will surely be in rotation for months to come. Gerry Rafferty does a good Bob Dylan impression- literally, “the song was conceived initially by the band members as a parody of Bob Dylan’s distinctive lyrical style in order to attain chart success.”
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 6.9
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 6.5
The female singer on PBTDL went on to an illustrious career as a one season regular on Night Court.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) = 6.5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) = 7.5
I know Adele isn’t everyone’s bag, but I just really enjoy her. Dos Gardenias is a super sexy song…and I like it better today than a sad song.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) = 8.5
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) = 7
How could you not have a crush on Jenny Lewis? Such a great sound, and love the lyrics.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) = 6
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) = 6.5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) = 8
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) = 7
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele): 7
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club): 10
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley): 4
#5 Thirteen (Big Star): 6
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel): 8
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements): 7
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire): 8.5
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf): 5.5
Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) ~ 4.5
Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) ~ 7.8
Dos Gardenias made me want to dance.
Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) ~ 6.6
Thirteen (Big Star) ~ 5.7
Meh.
Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) ~ 8.4
Alex Chilton (The Replacements) ~ 5.7
Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) ~ 4.1
Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) ~ 7.3
Not what I was expecting in Sprawl. Not feeling it.
Thats way more honkeytonk than I was expecting from Mr. Loaf.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 7
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 7.5
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 9.75
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 7
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 6
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 5.5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 6
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 2
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele): 4
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club): 4
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley): 6.67
#5 Thirteen (Big Star): 1.000001
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel): 7.5
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements): 5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire): 4.5
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf): 8.98
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) – 4 –
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) – 7.5
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) – 4.5
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) – 4.7
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) – 6.5
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) – 7.6
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) – 7.8
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) – 7
Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) = 7.5
vs. Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) = 7.5
I adore BVSC but this is not my favorite pick from them…
Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) = 6
vs.Thirteen (Big Star) = 6
Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) = 8
vs. Alex Chilton (The Replacements) = 5
Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) = 4.5
vs. Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) = 2
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 7.5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 2
Wow, so it looks like Adele has been killed off already judging by the votes so far. I think this song is stunning and cripplingly heartbreaking but I also think the recorded version is MUCH MUCH better than this one: the recorded version is a 10 for me. This version is way too slowed down but the lyrics are still some of the best I’ve ever heard dealing with breakups. To me, DG sounds like something I’d hear in an all-inclusive resort that I wish would go away.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 7
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 6.5
Love Rilo Kiley and could listen to Jenny Lewis all day. I’d be really happy with either of these moving forward.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 7
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 5.5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 7
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 5.5
I do love The ‘Loaf but this isn’t one of my favourites.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 6.0 Find her a turnoff. Too smooth and too polished.
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 7.0 Too my ear, this was warmer and more genuine in its emotion and delivery.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) – 6.0 OK but less pleasant and more grating than I remembered from the first round.
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) – 7.5 Better sound for me this evening. More chill material.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) – 6.5 Good oldie but not making music for me tonight.
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) – 5.0 Mediocre for its genre, what ever that may be and just not into this stuff tonight.
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) – 5.0 Not a fan of this but…………………………
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) – 4.0 would have preferred fish tonight.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) – 7.5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) – 6.0
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) – 5.0
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) – 6.0
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) – 7.0
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) – 5.5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) – 5.0
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) – 3.0
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) – 3.5
i was shocked to see her at a #1 seed. wasn’t much of a fan in the first round and nothing has changed. the voice is “good” (i mean, way better than i can sing), but it doesn’t actually appeal to me. and everything else about the song pretty much bores the hell out of me.
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) – 5
pleasant, in a background-music sort of way.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) – 6.8
it’s growing on me. a lot of good elements. but i find the lyrics a bit annoying.
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) – 6.6
it’s pretty. doesn’t quite grab me. tough call between the two.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) – 7.3
not sure if i mentioned this in the first round, but this song was on the old navy soundtrack when i used to work there, and i hated it. but i think i’m finally past that (11? years later). it’s actually a pretty sweet tune.
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) – 6.4
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) – 9
loving this right now.
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) – 3.3
i was ready to leave the room while this one was playing… and then it stopped… and i’m ok with that (except that it’s my responsibility to make sure the grooveshark playlist is functional, dammit… oh wait, now it’s working, phew).
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) [7.5]
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) [4.5]
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) [7]
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) [5.8]
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) [8.5]
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) [4]
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) [7]
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) [6]
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele): 4.5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club): 6.8
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley): 4
#5 Thirteen (Big Star): 4
Was unmoved by either of these songs. If Adele wins I’m probably going to feel the same way next round.
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel): 6
This score is without docking it for being used as a Joe Lieberman for President campaign song.
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements): 8.4 – a pleasant surprise! Though it seems most songs from the tournament I’m adding to my playlist are going down in defeat.
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire): 8.3
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf): 7
Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) v. Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) = 8 to 5
GOOD LORD this adele song is upsetting. NOT appropriate for work…
Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) v. Thirteen (Big Star) = 9 to 7.5
Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) v. Alex Chilton (The Replacements) = 6 to 9.5
Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) v. Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) = 6 to 3
Someone Like You – 5
The biggest asset here is Adele’s powerful and emotive voice, stylized after 60s and 70s soul singers. Unfortunately, the song suffers from its sparse and overly simplistic instrumental backing; the lone piano is way too simplistic and generic to be effective. That being said, this is very listenable, and the chorus is quite pretty.
Dos Gardenias – 3
Another listenable, but forgettable track. There is a decent Latin vibe from this song, as you would expect, but it seems rather perfunctory; nothing about this song really jumps out at you. I would imagine something this mellow, yet inoffensive would function perfectly as elevator music ; unfortunately, nothing I would want to listen to.
Portions for Foxes – 2
This song practically screams “formula”. The same predictable verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-verse-chorus song structure nearly every pop rock song uses nowadays. Some power chords, chugging along at around the same tempo all pop rock uses. Not that there is anything wrong with using established means of songwriting, but at least do something interesting with your song. This song is immediately forgotten once it stops playing.
Thirteen – 6
This piece is a lot better, probably because it came from a different era, before all power pop had to follow an established formula. There is a nice innocent vibe coming from this song, highlighted by decent guitar work and cute vocal harmonies. A bit too minimalistic for pop, though. Far from my favorite Big Star offering, but it works for what it is.
Stuck in the Middle with You – 7
This one is quite good. Not only does it boast the most memorable vocal melody so far, the instrumental work is superb. The interaction between the acoustic guitar, the bass, and the handclaps provides an extremely effective rhythmic backing. And then, of course, the fantastic slide guitar kicks in. Nothing groundbreaking, but very enjoyable.
Alex Chilton – 8
This is how you do power pop (hear that, Rilo Kiley?). This one has hooks, not to mention far superior instrumental work, especially in the drumming and guitar work. And wow, what a catchy refrain! Also, I like how they completely change the instrumental work on the last chorus; a nice and unexpected touch. An effective tribute to Alex Chilton; I think this would have been a song he would be proud to have written.
Sprawl II – 4
Arcade Fire is great at making songs grand, important-sounding anthem with their excellent use of wall of sound production. And this is no exception; it certainly is powerful-sounding. However, I find that this particular song lacks substance. The melody is decent, but not outstanding, and the song drags quite a bit; the run-time could definitely be cut down.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light – 6
Huh. This song is actually quite upbeat and fun, if a bit cheesy. It actually seems shorter than the Arcade Fire song, since the songs goes through several discrete sections, each bearing great hooks and strong vocal harmonies. I would actually rate this higher, but my overall impression of this song is that it is completely retarded. Haha, what is up with the baseball broadcast in the middle?
Someone Like You: 8. In reading the comments, I seem to be in the minority here but I think that song was pretty awesome. I’m always a sucker for live performances that sound that good.
Dos Gardenias: 2. I imagine this score would have been higher if I hadn’t taken 5 years of French instead of Spanish.
Portions for Foxes: 4
Thirteen: 4.5 They got the extra 0.5 because I said from the beginning I wouldn’t pick any ties.
Stuck in the Middle: 8. Classic
Alex Chilton: 5
Sprawl II: 6
Paradise by the Dashboard: 3. Unfortunately too long and sounds too much like something out of Grease.
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 6.8
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 3.5
While normally a fan of live acoustic, I like the album version of this Adele song (and other Adele songs) better. Musically Dos Gardenias this is a 5 for me, lyrically/vocally its a 2.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 8.5
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 5 pretty tune
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 5
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 6
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 7
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 5
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 7
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 5
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 3
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 6
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 7
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 3
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 9
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 9
sheesh, those of you voting down PbtDL, did you never lose your virginity to a play-by-play analysis through the lens of a baseball commentator? just me again?
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) – 8.5
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) – 4
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) – 5
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) – 6
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) – 7
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) – 3
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) – 5
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) – 6.5
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 8
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 5
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 8.5
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 5.5
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 7
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 5.5
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 7.5
#1 Someone Like You (Acoustic Live) (Adele) 4
#8 Dos Gardenias (Buena Vista Social Club) 3
I think Adele has a great voice, but for some reason, practically every extended note in this song pissed me off. BVSC is just not me.
#4 Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley) 5.1
#5 Thirteen (Big Star) 6
#2 Stuck in the Middle With You (Stealer’s Wheel) 6.8
#7 Alex Chilton (The Replacements) 6.5
#3 Sprawl II (Arcade Fire) 6.3
#6 Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf) 8.1