Lou Reed is totally having a perfect day
Division G brings us a lot of variety: Different genres, eras, and themes. We have our various tales of the heart, but also tales of the corrupting power of religion and suburbia. You can listen to the tunes here, and vote in the comments by 8pm EST on Monday, July 18.
In our first match up, we have Steve Miller (and his band), who is many things: A joker. A Space Cowboy. A man who enjoys natural refreshment around the midnight hour. But is he a winner? Alanis Morisette may be the 8 seed, but she was only 21 when Jagged Little Pill came out, and she has been known to explode the heads of angels with the sheer power of her voice, so she is not a force to be underestimated.
Alanis Morisette works out her issues with Catholicism
Our 4 and 5 seeds come from vastly different backgrounds. Etta James was born and raised in Los Angeles in the 1940s and 50s. British new wave band New Order rose from the ashes of Joy Division that were left in the wake of Ian Curtis’s 1980 suicide, and the group would would play together, in sum, for longer than Curtis was alive. And yet these songs both speak of eyes and vision: New Order has never quite seen anyone like you before, and Etta James would rather go blind than see you with someone else.
This is why the kids aren't alright
For our third match up, we’ll find out which is stronger: Otis Redding‘s love or the Offspring‘s suburban teenage angst.
And finally, will today be Lou Reed‘s perfect day, or will the Strokes tell him his Someday isn’t today…
So copy, paste, listen, and vote by 8pm EST on Monday, July 18.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette)
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order)
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring)
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
Living the Dream 
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette): 9.5/6
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order): 6/4.5
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring): 4.67/8.5
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed): 7/5.89
Listening today while baking bread in my parents’ kitchen. Great Sunday morning.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) – 8
#8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) – 6.5
Totally feeling The Joker this morning. I am a semi-lapsed Catholic, but I don’t think I was ever than angsty about it, Alanis. But she gets an extra point for being the first CD I ever bought, and I still know all the words to every song on that album.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) – 8
# 5 Temptation (New Order) – 7
Not my fave Etta, but I still think she is fabulous and totally nailed the emotional delivery necessary for such a sad song.
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) – 9
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) – 6
Love you, Otis. Tough luck Offspring. In true love vs. angst, true love has to win in my book.
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) – 7.5
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) – 6.5
I totally thought that this was going to go to Lou Reed, but I was really digging the sound of Someday this morning, and just couldn’t get into Perfect Day. Hmm, in this case, perhaps angst over true love? Although if Lou Reed is singing about heroin, then I can stick with my previous statement.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 8.0 to 2.0
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order) 7.0 to 4.0
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 8.0 to 5.0
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 4.0 to 8.0
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 8.0 to 3.0 No joke, Alanis. Way too much angst for any day.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order) 6.5 to 5.5 This was closer than I would have thought because Etta’s song was such a downer – but her voice wins in the end.
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 6.5 to 3.5 Even with a lousy track Otis still takes this one. The Kids really aren’t alright.
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 4.0 to 6.5 Lou Reed was boring. The Strokes weren’t but they weren’t good either.
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) =10
vs. Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) = 3
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) = 7
vs. Temptation (New Order) = 4
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) = 8
vs. The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) = 4.5
Someday (The Strokes) = 7
vs. Perfect Day (Lou Reed) = 4
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette)
7.1: 5.4
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order)
6.2: 6.8
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring)
6.3 : 7.9 First time I’ve really listened to Kids’ lyrics- powerful, energetic stuff. Those guys really used to bring it. Hard to believe they are the same band that did “Pretty Fly for a White Guy”
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
9.1: 8.9
A shame that my two favorite songs in the division are pitted against each other. Perfect Day is drenched in meaning for me, and I’ll never forget watching Lou close out a concert with it at the Pepsi Island Festival on the Danube River. On the other hand, Is This It was THE summer album of 2002, and Someday got many an afternoon pong session going. A lot of love there too.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 4/4.1
I feel about The Joker like I feel about Fritos. You really enjoy consuming them, even though you know they’re kind of bad for you, right up until the point when you just can’t take one more.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order) 6/9.8
Etta was higher but they the ending was really flat. I sung the praises of Temptation in the last round… it’s a song that rewards repeated and focused listening because of its subtlety, something that not a lot of pop songs do. It never NOT a good song to put on, pretty much no matter what. I feel like New Order is an under-appreciated band.
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring)
6.7/6.5
I can’t not like the Offspring, but I also can’t give them much higher than this score. Otis…I don’t know… I feel like Otis should move me more. Maybe I just have a heart of stone.
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
6.3/8.8
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) – 7.8
#8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) – 2
Alanis was yelling, not singing.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) – 6
# 5 Temptation (New Order) – 4.2
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) – 6.2
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) – 2
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) – 6.8
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) – 5
I’m having an Earls Family Listening Party tonight. My score, then Lori’s (mom), then Dad, then Casey. It is pretty obvious that Casey inherited her Hater Genes from Dad.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8/7/4/6
vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 5/5/2/4
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 8.5/5/3/3
vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order) 4/2/4/2
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 9/4/4/3
vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 5/5/2/8
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) 8/4/2/7
vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 1.5/3/1/2
The Earls family does not dig Lou Reed.
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 4
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 7.5
Temptation (New Order) 5
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 6.5
The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 5.8
Someday (The Strokes) 6.5
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 5.5
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 5
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 2.5
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 5.5
Temptation (New Order) 9.3
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 7.5
The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 6
Someday (The Strokes) 7.5
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 10
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 6 vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 5
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 8 vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order) 7
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 5 vs. The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 2
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) 6 vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 8 Funny that Julian Casablancas is up against the guy whose voice he imitates.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) [8.25]
#8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) [4.5]
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) [6]
# 5 Temptation (New Order) [7.3]
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) [6.5]
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) [5.75]
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) [7]
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) [7.5]
Now I know what Venus and Serena Williams’ father must have felt every time he went to a tennis tournament. And in what other Division but G. Ugh, let’s do this.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8
# 8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 4
Love that cymbal on Joker. There are so many other songs on Jagged Little Pill that I wish this were.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 7.7
# 5 Temptation (New Order) 10
Etta was better this time around. New Order started at 10 and kept at a 10 for the first 4 minutes. Then it went to a 9 because it was too long. Then it went back to a 10 because I didn’t mind that it was so long. If this ends up Joker-Temptation in the semi’s, there is a good chance I will wish my SMB nomination the best and cross the line to New Order.
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 10
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 2.4
Anybody up for a game of stump? It’s really fun, you flip a hammer in the air and catch it and drive inferior nails into a wooden stump while protecting your own. Really, it’s fun.
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) 7.5
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 9.2
Damn this is a strong division.
Was on vacation. Nice to be back to the tourney, not nice to be back in NYC while it is still summer.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette)
7:5.5
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order)
6.5:8
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring)
5:5.5
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
8:9
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8.3
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 5
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 7.7
Temptation (New Order) 4
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 8.7
The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 5.6
Someday (The Strokes) 6.4
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 7
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 8
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 7
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 5
Temptation (New Order) 5.1
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 5
The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 9
Someday (The Strokes) 8
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 5
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) vs. #8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) = 7:5
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) vs. # 5 Temptation (New Order) = 5:5
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) vs. # 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) = 6:7
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) vs. # 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) = 7.5:9
Some of my votes have gone up or down. I’m in a pretty neutral mood and really thought about these numbers. Also – “Perfect Day” has followed me these past 2 weeks.
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 7.5
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 5
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 5
Temptation (New Order) 7
I like temptation even more this time around.
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 5
The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 7.5
Someday (The Strokes) 8
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 5
While perfect day has some beautiful parts to it, someday always makes me happy.
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) – 5.5
#8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) – 4
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) – 5.1
5 Temptation (New Order) – 5.3
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) – 6.7
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) – 8.6
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) – 6
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) – 9.2
The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 7
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 4
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 2
Temptation (New Order) 4
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 2
The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 8
Someday (The Strokes) 3
Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 1
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 6.5 Little repetitive, but always solid.
#8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) 5.8 Much better than last time.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) 4 Meh.
# 5 Temptation (New Order) 5.3 Better Meh.
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) 6 Good but just not great tonight.
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) 7 Good ole angst. Angst angst angst.
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) 6.1
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) 5 Not a perfect day. Blah day. Hope Division H is better.
Best round yet?
# 1 The Joker (Steve Miller Band) – 7
#8 Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) – 9
At the time it first came out, this was actually my favourite song on Jagged Little Pill. I really like it. Looks like it’s buried but that ain’t gonna stop me! Joker is – of course a classic but nostalgia swings it the Crazy Canadian’s way for me. Actually, I just listened to it twice. Love the 2:40 angsty bridge.
# 4 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James) – 4
# 5 Temptation (New Order) – 4
Completely impartial and drowning in meh. Doubt either of these will be around past the next round.
# 2 That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) – 5
# 7 The Kids Aren’t Alright (The Offspring) – 8
I used to be obsessed with this Offspring track. Ob.Sessed. Nostalgic thrust probably inflates this rating but I think that’s OK.
# 3 Someday (The Strokes) – 8
# 6 Perfect Day (Lou Reed) – 7.5
Someday makes me wildly happy and want to dance around the room and do silly dance moves. One of two Strokes tracks that will forever linger on most party playlists I make. Perfect Day is a total classic though, so this comparison is really hard for me…but I listen to Someday way more so that swings it.