Votes due by Saturday at midnight: And we’re back with a bang! After our last call for coaches, people popped up out of the woodwork left and right- so much so that we ended up with eight new bands in addition to the four survivors from past groups. And this is a killer, killer dozen of artists. I say only appropriate since the Facebook event for Marathon Day V was recently released. Welcome back to coaches Salem (Rush) and Jenn (Tom Petty) who take another shot, and welcome new coaches Janos(Beach Boys), Tats(Soundgarden), George+George’s Wife (Allman Brothers), Greg (Atmosphere), Alex (The Band), and Dan/”Team MarComm” (U2). We’ve got some killer match-ups for all below- listen to the tunes here, vote by commenting on the post. Extra time since we’ve got extra songs- hey, make a weekend party out of this killer set. With this many players, no reason to not break some voter records…
Champion vs. Challenger, Stevie leads 1-0: Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) vs. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin)
Next Challenger Final: Heroin (Velvet Underground) vs. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC)
Last LBS Group
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) vs. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) vs. Anthem (live) (Rush)
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) vs. Tryin’ To Throw Y our Arms Around The World (U2)
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) vs. The Shape I’m In (The Band)
Living the Dream 
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) vs. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin)
Next Challenger Final: Heroin (Velvet Underground) 6
vs. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 5
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) 6
vs. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 5
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) 5
vs. Anthem (live) (Rush) 5 What about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy? Now I know for a fact that he does.
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) 4
vs. Tryin’ To Throw Y our Arms Around The World (U2) 4
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) 5
vs. The Shape I’m In (The Band) 6
No offense Janos, but Guillermo has really upped the ante with these graphics.
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder): 10
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 7
To me, Boogie On Reggae Woman is a perfect song. It’s also the soundtrack of how I hope my future looks in the kitchen on Saturday mornings, if that makes sense. Boogie on, reggae woman.
Heroin (Velvet Underground) 6
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 7.9
Peter chose this version but I’d have preferred the studio. Joe continues to impress with the depth of his AC/DC knowledge. Albeit, he did live the era- what up Reagan administration teen years!
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) 5.2
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 5
Well-matched first match- neither for me, but equally so.
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) 6.4
Anthem (live) (Rush) 6.7
Anthem grew on me.
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) 7.3
Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World (U2) 6.5
Dude, listening to Soundgarden is a crazy flashback. What a great band to have involved- welcome to the rodeo, Chris Cornell.
No time for last one, will try to get to it later in the weekend.
Some night over a lot of tequila and cheap beer I’ll spill all of my thoughts of what “Just Say No”, Iran Contra, the PMRC, and “tear down that wall” means to me. If I’m drunk enough I’ll forgo the politics and just go into what it was like to wear Sperry topsiders, Levi 501’s and trying to date girls with “rooster hair”.
Champion vs. Challenger, Stevie leads 1-0: Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) vs. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 8 – 7.5
Next Challenger Final: Heroin (Velvet Underground) vs. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 2 – 4
Last LBS Group
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) vs. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 5.5 – 7
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) vs. Anthem (live) (Rush) N/A
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) vs. Tryin’ To Throw Y our Arms Around The World (U2) 5 – 4
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) vs. The Shape I’m In (The Band) 5.5 – 9
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) vs. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin)
7 : 9
Ramble On starts innocuously, but really takes it home.
Next Challenger Final: Heroin (Velvet Underground) vs. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC)
8 : 6.5
Not my favorite version of Heroin…studio version is a guaranteed 9.
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) vs. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
I am really glad George (and wife!) and Jenn picked these artists, and I think they’re a great fit for each other.
6 : 6
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) vs. Anthem (live) (Rush)
8.3: 6
Atmosphere brings some potent lyrics here.
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) vs. Tryin’ To Throw Y our Arms Around The World (U2)
5 : 5.1
Not sure why Dan went with this song from U2, but it’s tough to see them losing a 7 game series. Their catalogue is absurdly deep.
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) vs. The Shape I’m In (The Band)
N/A
Shape I’m In is a great song. As a heads up to folks who have set opinions one way or another about the Beach Boys- I foresee myself relying heavily on their 1966-68 work, which is a lot more interesting than the car and surf pop they got famous for- though I will call upon some of the catchier tunes from that era as well.
Pet Sounds, Smile and Friends are great, but don’t ignore the stuff from Sunflower, Surfs Up, and 20/20. So much to choose from, it’s a tough team to manage.
I appreciate this disclaimer. Personally, the Beach Boys reckons memories of family road-trips to Cape Cod listening to 20 Good Vibrations, the greatest hits tape. Innocuous enough until you consider that we drove up there in a 1985 Crown Vic wagon, which – I’m pretty sure – vented half its engine exhaust through the floor vents. One summer my sister ate too many candy-paper dots on the Mass Pike and threw up in the back. The count of my family was 6 at the time and my dad always refused to turn on the air-conditioner in an effort to conserve gas. So I came to associate this Dresden fire-bombing style assault on my olfactory sense with Beach Boys’ surf-pop. I’m sure that’s unfair. And I really doubt anyone else here has a similarly motivated, deep-seeded aversion to the band. Regardless, I’ll try my best to overcome my psychological dilemma and vote for the song that deserves to win. But certainly the less car-surf-pop, the better for this humble listener.
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder): 6.5
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 7.0
Solid songs from both, but I just love Bonham’s unorthodox beats in Ramble On. I think it brings the song from about a 5.5 to what I gave it. It just goes so well with Jimmy’s play.
Heroin (Velvet Underground) 5
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 6
Two very different sounds for two very different moods. Tough to listen to them back-to-back and critique. But for me, it’s just too much Angus for VU to overcome. I think if this competition were just about guitar riffs, it’d be tough to top ACDC with anyone.
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) XX
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) XX
Tidbit: Guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley died in separate motorcycle accidents in Macon, GA a year apart and three blocks from each other.
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) 4.5
Anthem (live) (Rush) 5.5
I give the edge to Alex Lifeson in this matchup. It’s also pretty difficult for me to ever go against the Professor when he’s whipping the ride and snare like that.
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) 5
Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World (U2) 5
This is going to be a solid match up. I can’t give either the edge in this one, though.
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) – 5
The Shape I’m In (The Band) – 6
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) 7
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 8
This is a tough match up. I love both songs. This might be my favorite Stevie beat, and his piano playing is incredible. Ramble On is just awesome. To this day I can’t figure out if John Bonham is playing the drums with his hands during the verse. The acoustic guitar is beautiful, and the bass line bounces so nicely. Ramble On wins this match.
Heroin (The Velvet Underground)XX
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC)XX
Down In Texas (The Allman Brother’s Band) 7.5
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 8
Gregg Allman has soul. The Allman’s have groove. Duane Allman is an amazing guitarist, but his playing can’t win against this Petty song. I love this song. It’s pure nostalgia for me.
Party for the Fight to Right (Atmosphere) 8
Anthem (Rush) 8.5
Oh man I am so geeked out for someone to have nominated Rush. Anthem is so g-damned cool. And I think it’s really cool that it’s up against a cool hip-hop duo. This is a cool Atmosphere song, and the pairing of a Hip Hop band
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) 6.5
Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World (U2) 6.5
I love both bands, but I’m not a fan of either song. I’m excited by what these coach’s will play, and team Soundgarden, if for some insane reason, you decide Jesus Christ Pose is to be played, I’m giving you a 9. I’ll be the only 9 you’ll get, but I promise it.
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) 5
The Shape I’m In (The Beach Band) 7
The Beach Boys are a hard sell for me. I’m sure I’m in the minority here. I do appreciate their four way harmonies, Brian Wilson’s experimentalism, and his “dog hearing”, but I dig Levon Helm’s story telling, and the Band’s grooves more, and I respect a song dealing with anxiety.
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder): 6
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin): 8
I love II, it’s a fantastic album, there is not single bad song on it. Sorry Boogie on Reggae Woman, Led Zeppelin has got this one sealed up.
Heroin (Velvet Underground): 5
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC): 8.5
Live songs/albums tend to be purely for fans, you have to be a big purveyour of an artist/group to get into most live music (unless it’s Phish and the majority of their work is live, but we all know how Phish-heads are). It’s a rare circumstance that a live song happens to be better than it’s recorded counterpart. Heroin is a deep and meaningful cut about addiction, very cool for the time it was released, but this version is not for me. As for AC/DC, even big girls need love too. Just listen to Angus shred.
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band): 7
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers): 4
I gotta give it to The Allman Brothers, right now I’m more in the mood for some good southern folk-rock.
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere): X
Anthem (live) (Rush): X
I really wish I wasn’t against Rush, I know I’m in the minority here, but they are an underappreciated group.This is going to be a really fun match-up.
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden): 5.5
Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World (U2): 6.5
I never got into Soundgarden, I couldn’t get over the fact that most 90’s rock sounded the same. I can’t say Fell on Black Days is a bad song it’s just bland for my tastes. I believe Achtung Baby is the only U2 album I actually own. I enjoy the popiness of love in Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World. U2 has got it this time.
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys): 7
The Shape I’m In (The Band): 6.5
Never heard this Beach Boys song, this is a group I can always stand behind regardless. Pet Sounds is easily one of my all-time favorites. It’s nice not to hear the surf-pop they did early on. Solid pick. I’m digging the organ in The Shape I’m In a good cut to go against Darlin’. In the end though I’m going with The Beach Boys slightly edging by.
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder): *
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin): *
Heroin (Velvet Underground): 7.1
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC): 8.5
Heroin is going to be my NFL draft ode here. It feels as if it has unbelievable upside (emotional potential) and its just threatening to bust out into amazing – and yet its just not quite there. Pure projectability. Maybe the live version, maybe the recording, I’m not 100% sure, but because it seems like its going to be special if I find the right version, it gets bonus points. If someone knows a version that would unleash it, I’d be immensely obliged for a link! Minimum 1.6 point upgrade. I apologize for playing Mel Kiper. Even more so against one of my favorite AC/DC songs (coincdentally, a live staple that i swear ABSOLUTELY SUCKS live). Rosie does drag a bit at the end, down a half point.
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band): 4.5
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers): 5.1
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere): 6.5
Anthem (live) (Rush): 6.3
Wow, Party was far cooler than I anticipated – and while I love Rush (honestly, I do), Anthem has never been one of my favorites, and oddly, it wasn’t what I needed tonight. Like words in English that you can hear without canine eardrums. Then again, Alex Lifeson is amazing (more than a point for the solo at about 2:30).
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden): 7
Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World (U2): 4
Didn’t know this Soundgarden tune, but happy I do know. Not my cup of U2 kool-aid. Odd tidbit – Janos and I (along with a couple other drunken wanderers who really should be in this tournament) once made a 3-CD, Best of U2 mix, when we were wasted as freshman. Involved lots of song scoring (different set up than this) but we played songs against each other for tie breakers both for inclusion and song placement. All you have to know is that both The Fly and Trip Through You Wires made it to know that our opinions were not… normal… when it comes to U2.
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys): 5
The Shape I’m In (The Band) 7.3
I can’t wait for this matchup. Janos, I’m expecting big things. And if you ever play Sloop John B, you’re winning that matchup. Just how it is.
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) 6.5
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 8
Heroin (Velvet Underground) 5.5
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 7.5
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) 6.5
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 6
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) 6.5
Anthem (live) (Rush) 5.5
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) 5
Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World (U2) 6.5
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) 6
The Shape I’m In (The Band) 5.5
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) 6
Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 8
Heroin (Velvet Underground) 7
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 5
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) 5
Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 6,5
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) 6
Anthem (live) (Rush) 5
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) 4
Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World (U2) 5
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) XXX
The Shape I’m In (The Band) XXX
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) vs. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 6.5 to 6.5
Heroin (Velvet Underground) vs. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 4.5 to 3.0
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) vs. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 7.0 to 8.0
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) vs. Anthem (live) (Rush) 5.0 to 3.0
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) vs. Tryin’ To Throw Y our Arms Around The World (U2) 7.5 to 8.2
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) vs. The Shape I’m In (The Band) 7.5 to 8.0
Boogie On Reggae Woman (Stevie Wonder) vs. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 5.8 to 7.3
Heroin (Velvet Underground) vs. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC) 3.5 to 3.0
Down In Texas (The Allman Brothers Band) vs. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) 6.0 to 7.0
Party For The Fight To Right (Atmosphere) vs. Anthem (live) (Rush) 4.5 to 3.0
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden) vs. Tryin’ To Throw Y our Arms Around The World (U2) 7.5 to 7.0
Darlin’ (The Beach Boys) vs. The Shape I’m In (The Band) 6.5 to 7.75