Seeing the Pixies perform “Doolittle” live from start to finish was one of the great concert experiences of my life. But ditto to Arcade Fire at MSG…
Today’s playlist is just fantastic. Arcade Fire vs. Pixies is going to be like choosing between the children I don’t have, Rumours vs. Blue Album is an epic generational battle, and music tournament legends Queen and Van Morrison make their debuts on the radio side of the bracket.
For our next set of matches, votes are due by Friday, March 1 at 8:00 PM PCT. Playlist is here, full rules and philosophy here, and the tournament bracket is here. See you in the comments!Best Track One, Side One
“Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” (Arcade Fire, Funeral) vs. “Debaser” (Pixies, Doolittle)
“Secondhand News” (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours) vs. “My Name is Jonas” (Weezer, Blue Album)
Best Song About The Radio
“Radio Gaga” (Queen) vs. “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” (Joni Mitchell)
“Caravan” (Van Morrison & the Band) vs. “Around the Dial” (Kinks)
Results from Day 4 are on the way, and will be posted here shortly. Update from G-Mo: Results from Day 4, short and sweet.
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” over “Sure Shot,” 85.2-74.3.
“Modern Love” upsets “Down On The Corner,” 85.95-80.3.
“On The Radio” over “Are You Out There,” 72.6-60.3.
“Radio, Radio” over “Baby’s In Love With The Radio,” 72.4-62.4.
Living the Dream 
“Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” (Arcade Fire, Funeral) 6.5
“Debaser” (Pixies, Doolittle) – Just too disorganized for me tonight. 3.5
“Secondhand News” (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours) 6
“My Name is Jonas” (Weezer, Blue Album) 8.3 – victory!
Best Song About The Radio
“Radio Gaga” (Queen) 8 – just can’t deny that Queen is perfect for this tournament…and had to have been fabulous on the radio
“You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” (Joni Mitchell) – CANNOT. STAND. JONI. MITCHELL. SCREW YOUR CLOUD’S ILLUSION. 2
“Caravan” (Van Morrison & the Band) 8.8 Fantastic song, and honestly a boost coming after Joni’s travesty.
“Around the Dial” (Kinks) 6.3
Best Track One, Side One
7- “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” (Arcade Fire, Funeral) vs.
8.8- “Debaser” (Pixies, Doolittle)
I enjoy Arcade Fire and I love the song, just not sure it’s a Best Side One, Track One winner.
7- “Secondhand News” (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours) vs.
10- “My Name is Jonas” (Weezer, Blue Album)
Again, love Secondhand News but on an album like Rumours, I’m not sure it deserved Side One, Track One status. Meanwhile, Weezer, thankyouma’ammayIhaveanother. This took the morning from good to golden.
Best Song About The Radio
8.5- “Radio Gaga” (Queen) vs.
5- “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” (Joni Mitchell)
Joni, you’re a victim here. No one deserves to run up against Queen in a music tournament. Another one bites the dust. (HAD TO)
6- “Caravan” (Van Morrison & the Band) vs.
5- “Around the Dial” (Kinks)
I didn’t dislike either, but neither really got me going like I thought they would. This match up just fell flat this morning. Back to Weezer.
“Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” (Arcade Fire, Funeral) vs. “Debaser” (Pixies, Doolittle) 5 – 6.5
“Secondhand News” (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours) vs. “My Name is Jonas” (Weezer, Blue Album) 4.5 – 9.5
Best Song About The Radio
“Radio Gaga” (Queen) vs. “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” (Joni Mitchell) 4.5 – 4
“Caravan” (Van Morrison & the Band) vs. “Around the Dial” (Kinks) 7.5 – 4.5
“Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” (Arcade Fire, Funeral) vs. “Debaser” (Pixies, Doolittle)
Janos: 9.5 AF & 9.5 Debaser
Cristina: 10 AF & 10 Pixies
“Secondhand News” (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours) vs. “My Name is Jonas” (Weezer, Blue Album)
Janos: 8 FM & 10 W
Cristina: 7.4 FM & 9.3 W
Best Song About The Radio
“Radio Gaga” (Queen) vs. “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” (Joni Mitchell)
Janos: 8.2 Q & 6.9 JM
Cristina: 7 Q Y 6 JM
“Caravan” (Van Morrison & the Band) vs. “Around the Dial” (Kinks)
Janos: 7.5 VM & 8.8 K
Cristina: 6 VM & 6.9 K
“Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” (Arcade Fire, Funeral) vs. “Debaser” (Pixies, Doolittle) = 8 to 9.5
This is the first time the matchup itself dictated my scores
“Secondhand News” (Fleetwood Mac, Rumours) vs. “My Name is Jonas” (Weezer, Blue Album) = 6 to 10
I’m not a huge Weezer person, but My Name is Jonas remains one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard
Best Song About The Radio
“Radio Gaga” (Queen) vs. “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio” (Joni Mitchell) = 6.5 to 7
Never listened to Radio Gaga – such a great tune, such terrible 80s production!
Imagine if this was a rocking Queen tune with real instruments! Ah well.
“Caravan” (Van Morrison & the Band) vs. “Around the Dial” (Kinks) = 7 to 1
This is on Last Waltz? I love the band, but the studio version of Caravan is so tight and groovy. This is just a different song entirely this way, probably would’ve been cool to have been there.
Ol’ what’s his name was a goddamn funky drummer for a southern loving canadian.
Oof, I have no idea what the Davies’ were thinking in the 80s. I don’t see how bands can go from being so dynamic and thoughtful to being just, dumb. What the fuck is this?
This sounds like a bad outtake from friends’ bands in high school; we would’ve all agreed to scrap this one and move on. This pissed me off for the rest of the day this is such fucking garbage. Good lord, Cheap Trick writes better songs than this.
Debaser- 7.3
Perhaps higher than what I would typically rate it as, cause its Friday night and this song makes me feel like getting into a bit of trouble…
Neighborhood #1- 8
Great album, love the buildup in this song; great life soundtrack material
Secondhand news – 6.5
Not my favorite FM song, but I appreciate the “baw baw baw’s”
My name is Jonas – 10
I’m going there. This album is the one I can go back to, time after time after time, and it NEVER gets old.
Radio gaga – 4
Not the strongest Queen song
You turn me on I’m a radio – 7
I love Joni, this song is so indicative of what she does so well.
Caravan – 7.8
Van can.
Around the dial – 4.5
Oh kinks, what have you become?
Neighborhood – 4.0
Debaser – 3.0
Second Hand News – 7.5
My Name is Jonas – 5.0
Radio Gaga – 7.5
You Turn Me On – 6.0
Caravan – 8.0
Around the Dial – 6.0
Neighborhood – 4.0
Debaser – 3.0
Second Hand News – 8.5
My Name is Jonas – 3.0
Yes, this is a big spread. The first is real music, the second real noise. I’ve heard static that sounded better.
Radio Gaga – 8.0
You Turn Me On – .6.0
Caravan – 7.0
Around the Dial – 5.0
Debaser- 7.5
Tunnels- 9.4
Mood. Changes. Snow.
Second Hand News- 9.8
My Name Is Jonas- 7
SHN was on “This Was 2011.” And been singing it to myself all week. MNIJ is a sure staple but its a lyrics night.