PCT 2: Elite Eight!

Posted on October 24, 2012 by g-mo

(well, not Springfield)

Thanks to everyone for your patience with the next round- wanted to make sure my partner-in-crime had time to get back from Hungary/Serbia/Finland to help out. And to give everyone a big breath before diving in to select our Final Four songs. We’re doing Elite Eight in one fell swoop, so best of luck to all songs. Playlist is here, and votes are due no later than Friday night at 8 PM.

Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise by The Avett Brothers
Killer Queen by Queen

Get Rhythm by Johnny Cash
Man on Fire by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

Australia by The Shins
Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder

Your Love by The Outfield
Just Like Heaven by The Cure

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HCS (IV, 2): Dally and Nevada

Posted on October 22, 2012 by g-mo

II- Colorado

West of Lincoln, I-80 opens up into vast maize, white yellow gold on both sides. There are power lines, buildings here and there, and the wind is fierce and dangerous. I threw on a “This American Life” podcast, and Ira Glass and I struck forward.

I guess along the way I thought about going north to the Dakotas and finding my farmhouse, but the reality of not having a plan was beginning to sink in. My idyllic farmhouse was waiting for me (maybe) but I wasn’t sure about the gumption of finding this place. I had Helicopter too, and was hundreds of miles from anyone that cared about me. Indecision (which is really another word for inertia) kept me west.

At my first gas stop, I had reception again and a message. It was Dally, who was getting into Denver that night and definitely wanted to see me if I was really going to be there. I called her back and caught her at the airport between legs of her flight from Charleston. Yes, I’d be in Denver tonight. I was westward bound, and the timing was perfect. We’d be in touch, she was excited, I was excited too to see a familiar face in big America. Mississippi was further as it became farther, so it was good.

I called Ryan too, who picked up and excitedly wanted to know if I’d actually left Biloxi and done it. He was Continue reading →

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PCT 2: Sweet Sixteen, Day 4 Results

Posted on October 20, 2012 by g-mo

An 8.20 average, you say? Eh, NBD.

Pretty low turnout, but the scores are the scores. On top, “Just Like Heaven” eliminates Hanson, 88.4-74.4. On the other side, “Man On Fire” atop “Long Monday” 90.2-76.5. And don’t look now, but both of these songs got +8.0 averages (albeit on 11 voters, but still a laudable mark.)

Only 7 matches left until we have our champion. Good set still alive, get excited!

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PCT 2: Sweet Sixteen Results, Day 3

Posted on October 18, 2012 by g-mo

Not f-ing around- Freddie goes to his 4th Elite Eight

No surprises here, and we’ll keep it short and sweet. I got too busy to vote, but couldn’t have changed any outcomes. In the front, Queen continued its ridiculous tournament run with a 92.35-81.95 win- “Killer Queen” eliminates “Stubborn Love.”

On the back end, apparently we love the 80s- “Your Love” defeats “Skinny Love” by a score of 87.6-77.35. Wooooooosh.

The big dogs are coming out to play this round as many of the darlings have fallen day by day. We’ll wait to see how things shake out for Day 4- make sure to vote (I will)!

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PCT 2: Sweet Sixteen Day 4 (and Day 2 Results)

Posted on October 18, 2012 by g-mo

Stevie stays alive

Every. Vote. Counts. With one of our Sweet Sixteen matches decided by a margin of 0.35 points, that is as true as ever. The honor of overcoming the darling of the tourney goes to “Sir Duke,” squeezing by Tristen’s “Baby Drugs” by the slimmest of margins: 102.5-102.15. Congrats to Stevie Wonder. Next up- “Australia.”

Not to be outdone in the “I’m a Legend For A Reason, Voters” category, “Get Rhythm” has no problem with “Pulling On A Line,” winning 103.2-93.4.

The last of our Sweet Sixteen matches awaits. Playlist is here, and votes are due at midnight EST on Friday, October 19th. Best of luck to all songs!

Thinkin’ Bout Something (Hanson)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)

Man On Fire (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes)
Long Monday (John Prine)

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PCT 2: Sweet Sixteen Day 3 (and Day 1 Results)

Posted on October 16, 2012 by g-mo

Neither the Shins nor the Avett Brothers have ever been this far in a tournament

Wooooosh- and just like that, two spots in the Elite Eight are claimed. The results were pretty interesting in that two powerhouse quick tempo’d tunes got shown the door by two arguably more mellow options. Let’s review:

In Match 1, “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” makes a surprise statement, eliminating “Little Talks” 75.4-68.75 and claiming top score of the pairs with an impressive 7.54 average (over a point higher than last round.) The Avett Brothers aren’t letting up here- modern folk wins a big one here, and awaits the winner of “Stubborn Love” and “Killer Queen.”

In Match 2, “Australia” wins a closer one 73-68.75 but eliminates “1901” regardless. The Shins are still alive, and wait for the winner of “Baby Drugs” and “Sir Duke” (going right now in Day 2 voting.)

Let’s get on with it and the third of our four days of Sweet Sixteen matches. I’m pumped to figure out who comes out in the Lumineers/Queen showdown, and let’s see what happens between Bon Iver and The Outfield to keep up our theme of new versus old. Playlist here, and votes are due at 8 PM EST on Thursday, October 18th.

Stubborn Love (The Lumineers)
Killer Queen (Queen)

Skinny Love (Bon Iver)
Your Love (The Outfield)

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Sweet Sixteen: Day 2

Posted on October 16, 2012 by g-mo

Great Lake Swimmers

Sorry for the late post- moving on into the Sweet Sixteen, we’ll keep going with our match-up shuffle motif. Playlist is here, votes due by Wednesday, October 17th at midnight EST. Best of luck to all!

Baby Drugs (Tristen) vs. Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder)

Pulling On A Line (Great Lake Swimmers) vs. Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash)

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Sweet Sixteen: Day 1

Posted on October 14, 2012 by g-mo

“Of Monsters And Men” puts on the war paint- its go time

We are shaking it up a bit in terms of songs on a given day. Call it the Ickey Shuffle of sorts- we’ll get through the whole Sweet Sixteen, but I’m mixing up the order of the matches. We have a great set of songs still alive but as we know, there can only be one. Let’s go.

To kick things off, our premier match-up features The Avett Brothers taking on Of Monsters and Men as “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” matches up against “Little Talks.” Refreshing to see some third millennium entrants this deep.

The second match is sure to invite some commentary. “1901” by Phoenix tags up against “Australia” by The Shins for a fun fight.

Playlist here– votes due by 8 PM on Tuesday night. We’re moving to four a day this round to stretch things out until Nos gets back from Hungary. Best of luck to all songs!

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PCT 2: Round of 32, Day 4 Results

Posted on October 13, 2012 by g-mo

The Outfield starts a run

Had to extend the voting a few hours due to an exact tie between two songs- that’s the way to end the Round of 32 with a bang. Some matches were a little further away, so we’ll hold off on the result of the photo finish until the end of the post.

Let’s start in a good year. A year where anything was possible, the 20th century was 86% done, and a Brit named Tony Lewis just straight up wanted to tell the girl he didn’t want to lose her love one night…but at the same time simply wanted to use her love. Yup, “Your Love” wows in surprise scoring, defeating “Someone Great” by LCD Soundsystem 120.4-104.3. It nets a 7.08 average, grabs two separate 10’s, and all of the sudden makes a statement as a surprise contender.

Not to be forgotten in the 80s excitement, “Just Like Heaven” easily clears “Foundations” by a score of 124.05-95.85.

Big Pimpin’ mounts a comeback, but not enough- “Skinny Love” defeats the classic jam of my high school days, 108.55-103.05.

Last but not least, and the reason we extended voting- Hanson and Dawes were in a tie to the hundredth when voting ended, but I extended it and the tie got broken (thankfully) by the Harrisburg, PA duo of Milly and Dave- “Thinkin’ Bout Something” claims a Sweet Sixteen spot (?) and eliminates “Little Bit Of Everything” 105.55-103.65.

With that, there are sixteen songs still alive 😉

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BONUS (STILL OPEN FOR VOTES) PCT II: Round of 32, Day 4

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Janos Marton

Kate Nash: Happy just to be here as she takes on the Cure juggernaut.

This should be a fascinating set- every matchup features contrasting styles and moods.  Are you feeling fired up and joyful or mellow and introspective?  We’ll see how the votes play out.  Listen here and vote by commenting below by MIDNIGHT EST on Friday.

And with this post I sign off for an adventure in Europe.  Would like nothing better than to pull together a room full of voters in Transylvania.

Big Pimpin’ (Jay Z feat. UZG) vs. Skinny Love (Bon Iver)

In the first round, Skinny Love outscored Big Pimpin’ by 9, but in the second round, Big Pimpin’ outscored Skinny Love by 8.   Since this voting is going to go down largely on Thursday night and Friday during work, the result will come down to how many of you are in peacock weekend mode vs. how many of you are in warm introspective moods.

Someone Great (LCD Soundsystem) vs. Your Love (Outfield)

I love LCD, but the aggressive retro sampling dance tracks don’t make for great “headphones at your work desk” music.   That’s why I’ve chosen this lovely little slow song.   The lyrics are pretty moving, you can tell that something’s heavy going down, but James Murphy has left the details deliberately nebulous.   – Janos

Thinkin’ Bout Something (Hanson) vs. Little Bit of Everything (Dawes)

I almost talked myself out of nominating a Hanson song, because I didn’t want to out myself as a 30 year-old teeny bopper.  But I am.  I loved Hanson when I was 12 and I love them now — and I’m so glad their music has grown up a bit along the way.  Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’ is a fun song.  Playing this joint makes me happy, and I love the little references to other great songs in the lyrics.  (Listen! They’re like Google Easter Eggs!)  And you should check out the video too — yay Tulsa!  –  Lindsay

Just Like Heaven (Cure) vs. Foundations (Kate Nash)

The Cure averaged a whopping 7.68 last round, a full 1.5 better than Kate Nash, so the British lady has her work cut out for her.

I must have listened to this song hundreds of times in the late winter/spring of 2008 and it’s still one of my most-listened to songs on my ipod. I had been out of college for a year and still in a college relationship that was crumbling so this song really resonated with me. Plus, it’s really fun to sing in an accent. – Meghan

Easy postables:

Big Pimpin’ (Jay Z feat. UZG) vs. Skinny Love (Bon Iver)

Someone Great (LCD Soundsystem) vs. Your Love (Outfield)

Thinkin’ Bout Something (Hanson) vs. Little Bit of Everything (Dawes)

Just Like Heaven (Cure) vs. Foundations (Kate Nash)

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