Self-explanatory
The votes are in with some surprises in the bag. To start things off, the heavyweight fight of the group was most definitively the Beastie Boys versus NWA battle to cap the playlist. Indubitably two of the most important acts in the history of rap, but there could only be one in the end. “Sure Shot” takes it, 92.3-84.2.
“My Cherie Amour” built an early lead against “Ole Man Trouble” and Stevie never looked back. Otis Redding exits the tournament, 89-81.6. David Bowie successfully fights off a comeback by Sting and The Police- “Modern Love” defeats “Message In A Bottle,” 91.3-89.2. The same couldn’t be said for Buddy Holly and “I’m Gonna Love You Too,” which loses gas in the home stretch and is overtaken by “Blue Suede Shoes” 93.1-91.2. Elvis grabs high score in this round as well.
We’re halfway done with the play-ins- next match-ups due Wednesday, February 13th at 8:00 PM EST. Playlist is here, as always vote with your hearts.
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) vs.”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992)
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) vs.
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988)
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) vs.
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) vs.
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994)
Living the Dream 
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) vs.”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992) – 8/5.5
The opening riff of WTTJ elicits a certain emotional reaction, as well as an increase in adrenaline, even after all these years.
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) vs.
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988): 5/9
The Traveling Wilburys might be the best band ever assembled.
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) vs.
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006): 5.5/5
I wasn’t really enthused here.
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) vs.
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994): 8/7
Both remind me of freshman year of high school. It was a simpler, better time…until June, when we got the internet. That’s where the world became more complicated. Actually, it was Memorial Day Weekend, but still. I remember it changed EVERYTHING.
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) vs.”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992): 9 – 7.5
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) vs.
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988) 5 – 5
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) vs.
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006) 6 – 4.5
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) vs. 9.5
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994) 7
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) 7
”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992) 7
3 and out.
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988): 6.2
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988): 7.1
Had a good convo with Joe about this last week. The Wilburys man- you don’t really appreciate the lyrics or the songs as much as you should until you get a little bit older. Roy Orbison’s singing that chorus from the heart.
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) 6
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006) 8.2
Best combination finger picking/innovative guitar percussion this millennium.
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) 7.5
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994) 7.6
Beck today. this is a dirty first round match-up.
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) 8
”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992) 7
WTTJ makes me want to grab a friend and do comedy Jack Black-style rock faces. Just me? Ahem. It’s also a great album-opener. I used to work with Billy Corgan in his Zwan phase but he is, alas, 99% asshole which is a bit of a shame because I LOVED the Pumpkins growing up. Siamese Dream is great and this track alone is really good.
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) 8
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988) 6
I love a bit of Tracy on a roadtrip.
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) 7
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006) 4.5
The Flips continue to fascinate me. So weird and so…interesting. RyG are wild live but I don’t dig them so much on record.
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) 9
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994) 6
Early Weezer warms my little emo heart.
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) 7
“Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992) 7.5
I love GnR, but oddly, I might be too stressed for Jungle to hit its normal highs for me. Not usually a fan of the Pumpkins, but Cherub Rock hit that right spot of not too high key to exacerbate stress, and yet full of enough pace to keep me listening close. Stunning upset for me.
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) 5.5
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988) 6.3
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) 4
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006) 6
Race is just not my style. Tamacun was definitely fun.
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) 8.5
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994) 8.1
Never been a huge Weezer fan, but My Name Is Jonas is a killer opening track. Nearly perfect for my mood too. But a brutal matchup. Loser almost had me… just tails off a bit at the end. Shame these can’t both be in the full tourney.
8- “Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) vs.
9.5- ”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992)
Maybe it’s the stadium effect. I think WTTJ is an amazing, highly charged opening jam but it’s like a numbe rof other songs when you only hear a snippet of them blasted they lose their sparkle. Damn the sporting man. Also, Siamese Dream was a revelation to me. Billy may be a pompous bastard but Cherub Rock is one of my favorite alt-90’s jams.
7- “Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) vs.
6- “Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988)
Wilburys gets a 6 based on the fact that I love the song, but not as a T1S1. I feel like although I don’t like Tracy Chapman nearly as much, that song is a solid opening number
7.5- “Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) vs.
6.5- “Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)
I enjoyed both songs but neither reaches the upper echelon by any stretch. Beautiful but not elite.
9- “My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) vs.
9- “Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994)
These are the songs of my youth. It’s like picking a favorite child. Too hard. I could have seen these going all the way to the finals in another bracket arrangement. Hard decisions.
Welcome to the Jungle – 4.6
Cherub Rock – 6
Maybe a little too harsh for my mood this morning. Guns n Roses should not be listened to before optimum coffee levels have been achieved. Vote goes to the Pumpkins.
Talkin about a revolution – 3
Handle with Care – 8
Clearly never a big Chapman fan; the Wilburys however is a collaboration of so many favorites that it almost seems unfair.
Race for the prize – 5
Tamacun – 7
I am ashamed to admit that I’ve never heard of Rodrigo y Gabriela until this moment, but they are very appealing to my Gypsy Kings lovin’ heart.
My name is Jonas – 10
Loser – 7
Needs no explanation. 🙂
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses, Appetite For Destruction (1986) vs.”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (1992): 8 : 7.8
This is tough, because Cherub Rock is a much better song, IMO, but Welcome to the Jungle is GnR’s introduction to the world, and it’s hard to get more anthemic than that. Narrow win to GnR. Everyone is entitled to their own philosophy, but I am going to score this differently that a regular tournament, where I might have gone 7.5-8.2 or something.
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (1988) vs.
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1 (1988): 6 : 8.4
Tracy was ok, but the Wilburys were great. Added bonus that this is the first song they recorded together. It was originally intended as a b-side to “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You.”
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips, Soft Bulletin (1999) vs.
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006): 7.5 :6
The versatility of the Lips over the years is impressive, and they remain the best live act I’ve ever seen.
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer, Weezer (1994) vs.
“Loser,” Beck, Mellow Gold (1994): 10 : 7.8
I’m with emglasser on this one.
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses – 5.5
”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins – 6.0
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman – 6.0
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys – 5.5
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips – 5.0
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela – 8.0
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer – 4.0
“Loser,” Beck – 5.5
“Welcome To The Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses – 5.0
”Cherub Rock,” Smashing Pumpkins – 6.0
Not really a fan of either group but the Pumpkins were definitely easier to listen to. Not bad.
“Talkin’ About A Revolution,” Tracy Chapman – 5.5
“Handle With Care,” The Traveling Wilburys – 7.0
Always a fan of the Wilburys. Somewhere is probably a cassette of this album.
“Race For The Prize,” The Flaming Lips – 5.0
“Tamacun,” Rodrigo y Gabriela – 7.5
R y G is just a fun listen, though, a whole album might be much.
“My Name Is Jonas,” Weezer – 3.5
“Loser,” Beck – 5.5
Sorry, but Weezer is the loser.