The results for Day 10 are below. Votes on the next set of matches are due Monday, October 7th at 11 PM EST/8 PM PST, take a listen this weekend!
We’ll go from the roots of the blues to the roots of soul in the late 50s to get things going. From there, whether you like it or hate it I was very happy that Professor Covach covered the roots of “jazz rock” so we’ll see how Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, and other heavy hitters pan out for 1970-1971. Third, down to the Tube for some UK street punk. And last but not least, a slugfest amongst four mega-artists of the last few years, all currently under the 
age of 33 (wow, I feel old.)
- Gettin’ Soulful With It, 1956-1957 (Group 2)
- Jazz Rock, 1970-1971 (Group 7)
- UK Street Punk, 1978-1979 (Group 11)
- Late 00s Pop Radio, 2006-2010 (Group 16)
Click here to open up the voting window to rank the match-ups!
Day 10 Results
Where The Blues Began, 1912-1936
“Crossroads Blues” by Robert Johnson-56
“Down Hearted Blues” by Bessie Smith- 49
“St. Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy- 46
“Memphis Blues” by W.C. Handy- 43
Healthy enough showing given the recording technology available to these ones.
The Phil Spector Legacy, 1965
“California Girls” by The Beach Boys- 63
“I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher- 57
“Then He Kissed Me” by The Crystals- 56
“Ebb Tide” by The Righteous Brothers- 51
That’s 2-2 for The Beach Boys.
Disco Fever, 1977-1978
“Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees- 65
“Night Fever” by The Bee Gees- 55
“Macho Man” by The Village People- 53
“If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman- 48
Anyone catch the random Sportscenter piece on the Chicago White Sox Disco Demolition Night in 1979?
Alternative Rock, 1994
“Buddy Holly” by Weezer- 70
“When I Come Around” by Green Day- 67
“Self-Esteem” by The Offspring- 54
“Spoonman” by Soundgarden- 43
With a runner-up 7.44 average, WICA looks good to grab an at-large spot. Meanwhile, Weezer destroys it.
Living the Dream 
I simply can’t stand these modern poppers – maybe I wasn’t objective, but I don’t like that music and gave my grades based on it. Not one song stayed with me, so they’re deep down on my score chart.
UK punkers are all around ‘good’ mark, not the best crop from that scene – but not bad either. The Jam and Buzzcocks are tiny bit better than girl groups for me.
Jazz rockin’ – simply great. Can’t really decide which one I like the best, so my grades are based on a moment’s notion. Therefore Weather Report is on top of the chart, while Mahavishnu Orchestra is in the back – but great grades all around.
Soulful group is one of the best so far, only Johnny Mathis can be said to be a tiny bit weaker than the rest of the group. As for the others, James Brown and Sam Cooke are both legends in this genre and these are some of their greatest works, so Fantastic 8s for them both. In the Still of the Night got a 9, the highest mark this week, on personal preferences simply, since I love the romantic atmosphere and doo-woping of that song.
My vote commentary:
The soul category utterly killed it for me. These scores were in the stratosphere, no one went lower than an 8. In the end, one song was perfect for me in that moment of listening- Sam Cooke for the win.
I ended up pretty indecisive on the last three groups, and landed giving three different ties for the wins (so hopefully you guys will break those ties.) In Jazz Rock, it was Weather Report/Traffic. Weather Report may have gone higher with a Jaco Pastorius song, but we had to pull one from the debut album for the tourney.
UK Punk- Buzzcocks or Banshees. 00’s Pop- JT or Gaga. Somebody break those ties for me too.
Soulful – simply great material and someone had to win; In the Still of the Night is what this period was all about, soundwise, for me. Johnny Mathis is just toooooo smoooooth and James Brown has better material.
Jazz Rock – fingerboard scratching is more listenable for me; I recognize that this material is competent muscially, I just don’t care for it. Reminds me of most of 20th century classical music which is either dissonant or atonal or whatever else you want to call it. Personally, I find it unlistenable.
UK Street Punk – this sound is no more listenable for me. Again, I tried to score more on the basis of performance and/or musicianship. I can’t fault them because I don’t care for the sound.
New Pop – for me, this is not pop; it is new and popular but that’s as far as it goes. Too me, pop should have a more simplistic sound, a hook and something you want to play loud with the top down and sing along. These songs don’t give me any of that. My wife says I’m looking for “old” pop. I said I am an old pop. She rephrased that to old………….flatulence.
Keep enjoying whatever music you like. That’s what counts.