Okay... this is the last time I'm linking to the bracket. We're completing the first round match-ups in the Wilco regional. If you have any opinion on who should win in the next round, let me know. And now, on to the picks...
(1) TV On The Radio vs. (16) Late of the Pier
Winner: (1) TV On The Radio
When UConn beat Chattanooga yesterday by the modest score of 103-47, I couldn't help but think of this "match-up." That's assuming that anyone (ever) would consider Late of the Pier on a level capable of competing with TVOTR. That's not even a knock against Late of the Pier, who make completely likable dance music. But really, TVOTR are on another level right now. Dear Science, has taken the sounds and ideas they've cultivated with Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes and Return To Cookie Mountain, polished them up with slicker production, and made them more accessible and immediate. The result? A consensus Album of the Year for 2008, and a demolition in the First Round of the tourney.
(5) Bon Iver vs. (12) Crystal Castles
Winner: (5) Bon Iver
I could be wrong, but I think this represents a match-up of the most disparate sounds between two bands in the entire tournament (so far, at least). Crystal Castles eponymous debut album is an electronic orgy of samples, original beats, and 8-bit video game sounds. And it's good. And they've made approximately 1912413 remixes in the past couple of years. Still, Bon Iver's current ascent, from For Emma, Forever Ago to Blood Bank EP to his contributions to the excellent Dark Was The Night compilation, into the forefront of independent music is too impressive to deny. I can think of (and have experienced) more situations in which I'd randomly decide to listen to Bon Iver. For that reason, in addition to many others, Bon Iver gets the nod. Count it.
(3) MGMT vs. (14) The Mae Shi
Winner: (14) The Mae Shi
I mean, I guess MGMT is okay. Their music is generally pretty entertaining. They sound kind of like Muse, and Muse is okay. Or they sound like other British proggy bands, and that's okay too. But Oracular Spectacular came out a couple of years ago. Am I missing something? Are they really one of the 12 most relevant bands in music today? Is that even possible? The Mae Shi, on the other hand, have put out a number of records and have slowly developed a sound that is spastic, but controlled enough for the casual listener to stay interested. And they put out an album last year (HLLLYH). And they obviously love abbrevs... winners in my book!
(7) Antony and the Johnsons vs. (10) The Sea and Cake
Winner: (7) Antony and the Johnsons
Everyone should listen to The Sea and Cake. They're really good. 2007's Everybody and 2008's Car Alarm were both consistently enjoyable, and against another top seed (like MGMT, for example), they'd definitely win. But... as we see so often in the real tournament, sometimes you just get unlucky. For The Sea and Cake, Antony and the Johnsons are like a brick wall of unluckiness. Between his incredible 2009 album The Crying Light and his contributions to 2008 critic and fan favorite Hercules & Love Affair (as well as his other past albums, like I Am A Bird Now), Antony Hegarty is on quite a roll. The orchestral compositions, rich lyrics, and unmistakable vocal quiver of Antony is a force to be reckoned with... a really, really pretty force. Like Leia. (Did she have the force too? She did, I'm almost positive).
(2) Sufjan Stevens vs. (15) Mother Mother
Winner: (2) Sufjan Stevens
This is a weird pairing, because neither artist has released a new, proper album since 2007. So it would be dishonest to say that either band's music makes them currently relevant. Mother Mother's Touch Up is... interesting, to say the least. But Sufjan Stevens is indie music. When he does anything, people take note. Although a large number of people are involved, Stevens is more-or-less the figurehead of his label Asthmatic Kitty. And he's already 1/25th completed with his goal of writing an album (loosely) based on every state (Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State and Illinois)! So yeah... Sufjan Stevens just has the pedigree to outrun Mother Mother. End of story.
(6) Dan Deacon vs. (11) Joanna Newsom
Winner: (11) Joanna Newsom
This isn't a rational pick, and I understand that. Dan Deacon just released a new album (Bromst) and although I haven't had a chance to hear it, I'm sure it's similar to his last album, Spiderman of the Rings. Which means it's good. Crazy and trippy and schizophrenic and spastic. And good. Joanna Newsom hasn't released new material since 2007, but my love for her is like my love for Kelly Clarkson... unconditional. Her voice, off-putting to some (or many), is like a Siren to me, and I could listen to her phenomenal Ys at any time. Her winning this match-up is so wrong, it's right.
(4) Girl Talk vs (13) HEALTH
Winner: (4) Girl Talk
I feel like I'm on the outside of an inside joke with HEALTH. They're obviously good, but I'm not entirely sure why. Like, if you asked me "Matt, do you like that band HEALTH?" I'd say "Yeah!" But I wouldn't be able to follow it up with a good reason. But Girl Talk? I can tell you why I like Girl Talk, but it would take too long. Here's an idea, check this out. It's not really fair, I guess... you're comparing one band to an almost seamless amalgamation of dozens of bands, expertly spliced into sequences that elicit novel emotions that the original pieces, in isolation, could never bring out. I'll link to a song, but you should really just download the whole thing for yourself (at whatever price you want to pay).
(8) Man Man vs (9) Blitzen Trapper
Winner: (9) Blitzen Trapper
This was a really hard decision, and fitting of an 8/9 match-up. Man Man is definitely less accessible than Blitzen Trapper, but their unique sound are what sets them apart from more traditional bands playing similar types of music. Rabbit Habits is a really good album, but when it comes down to what I'd be more likely to play on any given day, the win has to go to Blitzen Trapper. Both Furr and Wild Mountain Nation draw heavily from the classic rock sounds of the 70s without sounding completely dependent on those motifs. Extremely tight competition... one of those "it's a shame one team had to lose" situations. But, as the Magic Numbers would agree, those the brokes.
... and thus concludes the First Round! Stay tuned Saturday and Sunday as we narrow the remaining 32 bands to the Sweet 16. Again, if you have any input, speak now or forever hold your peace. Have a great Friday evening... GSATW, out!
Friday, March 20, 2009
March Music Madness, Round 1 - LCD Soundsystem Region
Come on... seriously. You HAVE to have the bracket by now! Without further ado, the LCD Soundsystem region. Cowbell not included.
(1) Kanye West vs. (16) The Henry Clay People
Winner: (1) Kanye West
Kanye west is egotistical, selfish, brash, and probably about 64% schizo. But he's one of the very few people in hip-hop that's taking chances with sound and style, and 808s and Heartbreak is a prime example. He traded the tried-and-true sample-heavy style of College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation for Police's synthesizer (and 808). And (ugh...) the T-Pain vocoder. But if you can get past the pomp and circumstance, there's a good album there, and since I've never heard of The Henry Clay People, Kanye wins by default.
(5) Cat Power vs (12) No Age
Winner: (12) No Age
Cat Power is getting lazy. Yes, Chan Marshall... I'm talking about you. You have one of the best female voices going right now, and you just lay down Jukebox, a relatively uninspired collection of covers?? Come on, you're better than that. No Age, on the other hand, released the superb Nouns last year, and although I realize it may not appeal to as many people as Cat Power, it's a more relevant album than anything she's put out recently. And it rocks! This one is pretty close... I'm thinking maybe a +8, but 5 of those points probably came at the end of the game as Cat Power was fouling. No Age just knows how to make free throws.
(3) Arcade Fire vs. (14) The Walkmen
Winner: (14) The Walkmen
Wake up Arcade Fire! You can't just coast on the success of your past! Make some music already! After putting out the essential Funeral and solid follow-up Neon Bible, the band has been relatively quiet. If I was more informed, I'd probably know if they were planning on releasing something this year (I hope so)... but I'm not. The Walkmen own one of my all-time favorite pump up songs, "The Rat," and their recent You & Me, saw a return to form after a couple album missteps. We have two bands going in opposite directions. Hopefully Arcade Fire can right the ship this year, but in this tournament, they're getting bounced earlier. Drive home safely!
(7) Neko Case vs. (10) Cut Copy
Winner: (10) Cut Copy
My review of Cut Copy's In Living Colours was [cough] Big Brothered! [cough] and taken down from our site, but let me summarize it for you in a sentence: They're fucking awesome. Seriously, if you can't get down to some Cut Copy, there's very little hope for you. Picking just one song for their victory is probably the hardest thing I'm going to do today. I like Neko Case, but I like her Canadian indie supergroup New Pornographers even more. So, in conclusion... Cut Copy and New Pornagraphers > Neko Case.
(2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs. (15) Foals
Winner: (2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs
IT'S BLITZ!!!!!! That's the way I feel every time I listen to the new album by Karen O's Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I'll be devoting an entire column to a review, but literally every song on It's Blitz! is fantastic. It really is like a blitzkrieg of awesomeness... even when the songs aren't smacking you in the face, they're shockingly pretty (ex. "Skeletons"). In fact, the songs on this album are so diverse that I'm giving you two of them. I don't know who Foals are, and honestly, I don't even care. This is a beat-down... similar to Duke over Binghamton last night!
(6) The Decemberists vs. (11) Sigur Ros
Winner: (6) The Decemberists
Really? The Decemberists with a #6 seed? You're basically saying that they're not one of the top 20 bands in this tournament, and that can't possibly be true. Colin Meloy and company are the madrigals of indie-rock, cranking out hyper-literate songs that actually tell stories and build themes... what a novel concept (PUN)! Sigur Ros might possibly be my favorite music to study to, but their lack of intelligible lyrics (seriously... at one point, they used a "made up language"... I wish I was joking) keeps the ball solidly in The Decemberists' court (see what I did there? That's what the kids call a metaphor).
(4) Feist vs. (13) The Cool Kids
Winner: (13) The Cool Kids
I like Leslie Feist. I like her a lot. I like her style, I love her voice, and I'm a fan of the band from which Feist started her solo career (Broken Social Scene... check 'em out!). But she's resting on her laurels... and I don't like it! Her 2007 album The Reminder was phenomenal, but she's been riding that high for too long, even releasing a Deluxe version of that album (instead of releasing new music). I'm on the record for really liking The Cool Kids, and I think their approach to hip-hop is by no means original, but by all means refreshing. Gun to my head, I'd probably say I'm more excited for the next Cool Kids album than the next Feist album, and that's why they pull out the win.
(8) Sun Kil Moon vs (9) Beach House
Winner: (9) Beach House
I don't care about either of these bands, so I flipped a coin and Beach House won. Whatever. Dumb pairing.
That's it for the LCD Soundsytem region. Check back in the afternoon for the final Round of 64 results: the Wilco region. There were a lot more upsets in this round... hopefully that bodes well for some exciting basketball today (I'm pretty sure that's a scientifically sound correlation).
(1) Kanye West vs. (16) The Henry Clay People
Winner: (1) Kanye West
Kanye west is egotistical, selfish, brash, and probably about 64% schizo. But he's one of the very few people in hip-hop that's taking chances with sound and style, and 808s and Heartbreak is a prime example. He traded the tried-and-true sample-heavy style of College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation for Police's synthesizer (and 808). And (ugh...) the T-Pain vocoder. But if you can get past the pomp and circumstance, there's a good album there, and since I've never heard of The Henry Clay People, Kanye wins by default.
(5) Cat Power vs (12) No Age
Winner: (12) No Age
Cat Power is getting lazy. Yes, Chan Marshall... I'm talking about you. You have one of the best female voices going right now, and you just lay down Jukebox, a relatively uninspired collection of covers?? Come on, you're better than that. No Age, on the other hand, released the superb Nouns last year, and although I realize it may not appeal to as many people as Cat Power, it's a more relevant album than anything she's put out recently. And it rocks! This one is pretty close... I'm thinking maybe a +8, but 5 of those points probably came at the end of the game as Cat Power was fouling. No Age just knows how to make free throws.
(3) Arcade Fire vs. (14) The Walkmen
Winner: (14) The Walkmen
Wake up Arcade Fire! You can't just coast on the success of your past! Make some music already! After putting out the essential Funeral and solid follow-up Neon Bible, the band has been relatively quiet. If I was more informed, I'd probably know if they were planning on releasing something this year (I hope so)... but I'm not. The Walkmen own one of my all-time favorite pump up songs, "The Rat," and their recent You & Me, saw a return to form after a couple album missteps. We have two bands going in opposite directions. Hopefully Arcade Fire can right the ship this year, but in this tournament, they're getting bounced earlier. Drive home safely!
(7) Neko Case vs. (10) Cut Copy
Winner: (10) Cut Copy
My review of Cut Copy's In Living Colours was [cough] Big Brothered! [cough] and taken down from our site, but let me summarize it for you in a sentence: They're fucking awesome. Seriously, if you can't get down to some Cut Copy, there's very little hope for you. Picking just one song for their victory is probably the hardest thing I'm going to do today. I like Neko Case, but I like her Canadian indie supergroup New Pornographers even more. So, in conclusion... Cut Copy and New Pornagraphers > Neko Case.
(2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs. (15) Foals
Winner: (2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs
IT'S BLITZ!!!!!! That's the way I feel every time I listen to the new album by Karen O's Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I'll be devoting an entire column to a review, but literally every song on It's Blitz! is fantastic. It really is like a blitzkrieg of awesomeness... even when the songs aren't smacking you in the face, they're shockingly pretty (ex. "Skeletons"). In fact, the songs on this album are so diverse that I'm giving you two of them. I don't know who Foals are, and honestly, I don't even care. This is a beat-down... similar to Duke over Binghamton last night!
(6) The Decemberists vs. (11) Sigur Ros
Winner: (6) The Decemberists
Really? The Decemberists with a #6 seed? You're basically saying that they're not one of the top 20 bands in this tournament, and that can't possibly be true. Colin Meloy and company are the madrigals of indie-rock, cranking out hyper-literate songs that actually tell stories and build themes... what a novel concept (PUN)! Sigur Ros might possibly be my favorite music to study to, but their lack of intelligible lyrics (seriously... at one point, they used a "made up language"... I wish I was joking) keeps the ball solidly in The Decemberists' court (see what I did there? That's what the kids call a metaphor).
(4) Feist vs. (13) The Cool Kids
Winner: (13) The Cool Kids
I like Leslie Feist. I like her a lot. I like her style, I love her voice, and I'm a fan of the band from which Feist started her solo career (Broken Social Scene... check 'em out!). But she's resting on her laurels... and I don't like it! Her 2007 album The Reminder was phenomenal, but she's been riding that high for too long, even releasing a Deluxe version of that album (instead of releasing new music). I'm on the record for really liking The Cool Kids, and I think their approach to hip-hop is by no means original, but by all means refreshing. Gun to my head, I'd probably say I'm more excited for the next Cool Kids album than the next Feist album, and that's why they pull out the win.
(8) Sun Kil Moon vs (9) Beach House
Winner: (9) Beach House
I don't care about either of these bands, so I flipped a coin and Beach House won. Whatever. Dumb pairing.
That's it for the LCD Soundsytem region. Check back in the afternoon for the final Round of 64 results: the Wilco region. There were a lot more upsets in this round... hopefully that bodes well for some exciting basketball today (I'm pretty sure that's a scientifically sound correlation).
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March Music Madness, Round 1 - Flaming Lips Region
Don't forget to fill out your brackets at home... on to the picks!
(1) Fleet Foxes vs. (16) Shearwater
Winner: (1) Fleet Foxes
By the narrowest of margins! Frequently, a #16 seed will stay competitive for a half, maybe even a little longer. But eventually, the #1 always ends up dominating them with a big run. Fleet Foxes is still riding that run, racking up a plethora of "Best Album of 2008" titles from various publications (scroll to the bottom). But Shearwater's Rook, along with their well-deserved critical praise, should have earned higher than a #16. Hard decision, but the right one.
(5) Wolf Parade vs. (12) French Kicks
Winner: (5) Wolf Parade
Filled with the type of frenetic energy you'd expect from Canadians who are probably trying to keep themselves warm, Wolf Parade's At Mount Zoomer was a very solid follow-up to their incredible debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary. The French Kicks, while also owning a good 2008 album (Swimming) and solid past albums, lose a significant amount of points for referencing the French in their band name. I don't know whether it's ironic or not, and I don't care. This is America!
(3) Andrew Bird vs. (14) Thao Nguyen
Winner: (3) Andrew Bird
Thao Nguyen has the second-coolest backing band name: the Get Down Stay Down (first = Nick Cave's Bad Seeds). Her album We Brave Bee Stings And All has a ridiculous title, but appropriate music that toes the line between childlike naivete and grown-up cynicism. But Andrew Bird has been churning out great albums for years, and Noble Beast, released this year, finds him at his whistling, big-vocab-using best. What happens when a storied program goes against a wily upstart? Usually... the big guy wins.
(7) M. Ward vs. (10) The Dirty Projectors
Winner: (7) M. Ward
Two words (and a symbol)... She & Him. Matt Ward has been making gorgeous, lo-fi, technically-impressive music as M. Ward for a long time, but his recent collaboration with actress Zooey Deschanel has been a revelation. Having seen the two of them live, I can say, without question, that they are a legit force to be reckoned with in the indie music realm, and her music chops are wondefully retro (like... really retro... as in 1950s). So, combine M. Ward's present and past, and he easily flies past a band I've only heard a couple of times.
(2) Of Montreal vs. (15) Ladyhawk
Winner: (2) Of Montreal
Ugh... this is the dumbest match-up so far. Without question. Neither of these bands put out good albums recently, and I'm finding Of Montreal more and more annoying (especially Kevin Barnes... and it's NOT just because he routinely dresses like this). That being said, at least Of Montreal provides some interesting musical interpretations. Ladyhawk sounds like most bands from Seattle in the early 90s. Not the best strategy.
(6) Vampire Weekend vs. (11) M.I.A.
Winner: (11) M.I.A.
Dear preppy-looking kids from Vampire Weekend: When you sing and dance on a stage in front of a live audience of thousands and a television audience of millions, and you're on the literal verge of giving birth... then you can win a match-up with M.I.A. And I wouldn't even guarantee a win, but at least you'd be competitive. Vampire Weekend was all the rage in 2008, and it should've been... it's an immediate, easy-to-listen-to album. It helped launch them into a Shins-like pop culture status (post-Garden State, of course). But M.I.A. didn't even put out a record in 2008 and still managed to stay extremely relevant, mainly through movies ("Paper Planes" was in every Pineapple Express trailer, and she sang on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack... a small, independent film that very few people have ever heard of) and as a sample on hip-hop super collaboration "Swagger Like Us." This one isn't even close.
(4) Beirut vs. (13) Okkervil River
Winner: (4) Beirut
This is the dumbest seeding of all time! How could you possibly rank Okkervil River as a #13? With very few exceptions, if you put Okkervil River up against any of the teams that've made it to the next round, they win. No question. Stage Names may not be their best album, but they've got a track record of putting out phenomenal albums (ummm, Black Sheep Boy, anyone???). But my love for Zach Condon and Beirut is pretty unconditional right now. Beirut just continually releases sonically rich, diverse albums with musical themes you don't hear very often, and his newest release March of the Zapotec is no exception. I hate making this call, but the edge goes to Beirut.
(8) The Mountain Goats vs. (9) The Fiery Furnaces
Winner: (8) The Mountain Goats
The Fiery Furnaces are a band that music critics like to tout to see if people will blindly listen to anything they say. It'd be like if I told you that only the coolest, smartest, most badass people were getting their nuts shocked by Jack Bauer. And you agreed to do this, and went through it, and... charred balls and all, thought you were cooler for suffering through that shit. That's what listening to a Fiery Furnaces album is like. Except you can't say you met Jack Bauer. The Mountain Goats are awesome anyway, so even if The Fiery Furnaces didn't suck (they do... just to be clear), Mountain Goats are champs.
Alright... read this while watching the actual tournament/bemoaning your piss-poor picks. It's the most wonderful time of the year!!
(1) Fleet Foxes vs. (16) Shearwater
Winner: (1) Fleet Foxes
By the narrowest of margins! Frequently, a #16 seed will stay competitive for a half, maybe even a little longer. But eventually, the #1 always ends up dominating them with a big run. Fleet Foxes is still riding that run, racking up a plethora of "Best Album of 2008" titles from various publications (scroll to the bottom). But Shearwater's Rook, along with their well-deserved critical praise, should have earned higher than a #16. Hard decision, but the right one.
(5) Wolf Parade vs. (12) French Kicks
Winner: (5) Wolf Parade
Filled with the type of frenetic energy you'd expect from Canadians who are probably trying to keep themselves warm, Wolf Parade's At Mount Zoomer was a very solid follow-up to their incredible debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary. The French Kicks, while also owning a good 2008 album (Swimming) and solid past albums, lose a significant amount of points for referencing the French in their band name. I don't know whether it's ironic or not, and I don't care. This is America!
(3) Andrew Bird vs. (14) Thao Nguyen
Winner: (3) Andrew Bird
Thao Nguyen has the second-coolest backing band name: the Get Down Stay Down (first = Nick Cave's Bad Seeds). Her album We Brave Bee Stings And All has a ridiculous title, but appropriate music that toes the line between childlike naivete and grown-up cynicism. But Andrew Bird has been churning out great albums for years, and Noble Beast, released this year, finds him at his whistling, big-vocab-using best. What happens when a storied program goes against a wily upstart? Usually... the big guy wins.
(7) M. Ward vs. (10) The Dirty Projectors
Winner: (7) M. Ward
Two words (and a symbol)... She & Him. Matt Ward has been making gorgeous, lo-fi, technically-impressive music as M. Ward for a long time, but his recent collaboration with actress Zooey Deschanel has been a revelation. Having seen the two of them live, I can say, without question, that they are a legit force to be reckoned with in the indie music realm, and her music chops are wondefully retro (like... really retro... as in 1950s). So, combine M. Ward's present and past, and he easily flies past a band I've only heard a couple of times.
(2) Of Montreal vs. (15) Ladyhawk
Winner: (2) Of Montreal
Ugh... this is the dumbest match-up so far. Without question. Neither of these bands put out good albums recently, and I'm finding Of Montreal more and more annoying (especially Kevin Barnes... and it's NOT just because he routinely dresses like this). That being said, at least Of Montreal provides some interesting musical interpretations. Ladyhawk sounds like most bands from Seattle in the early 90s. Not the best strategy.
(6) Vampire Weekend vs. (11) M.I.A.
Winner: (11) M.I.A.
Dear preppy-looking kids from Vampire Weekend: When you sing and dance on a stage in front of a live audience of thousands and a television audience of millions, and you're on the literal verge of giving birth... then you can win a match-up with M.I.A. And I wouldn't even guarantee a win, but at least you'd be competitive. Vampire Weekend was all the rage in 2008, and it should've been... it's an immediate, easy-to-listen-to album. It helped launch them into a Shins-like pop culture status (post-Garden State, of course). But M.I.A. didn't even put out a record in 2008 and still managed to stay extremely relevant, mainly through movies ("Paper Planes" was in every Pineapple Express trailer, and she sang on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack... a small, independent film that very few people have ever heard of) and as a sample on hip-hop super collaboration "Swagger Like Us." This one isn't even close.
(4) Beirut vs. (13) Okkervil River
Winner: (4) Beirut
This is the dumbest seeding of all time! How could you possibly rank Okkervil River as a #13? With very few exceptions, if you put Okkervil River up against any of the teams that've made it to the next round, they win. No question. Stage Names may not be their best album, but they've got a track record of putting out phenomenal albums (ummm, Black Sheep Boy, anyone???). But my love for Zach Condon and Beirut is pretty unconditional right now. Beirut just continually releases sonically rich, diverse albums with musical themes you don't hear very often, and his newest release March of the Zapotec is no exception. I hate making this call, but the edge goes to Beirut.
(8) The Mountain Goats vs. (9) The Fiery Furnaces
Winner: (8) The Mountain Goats
The Fiery Furnaces are a band that music critics like to tout to see if people will blindly listen to anything they say. It'd be like if I told you that only the coolest, smartest, most badass people were getting their nuts shocked by Jack Bauer. And you agreed to do this, and went through it, and... charred balls and all, thought you were cooler for suffering through that shit. That's what listening to a Fiery Furnaces album is like. Except you can't say you met Jack Bauer. The Mountain Goats are awesome anyway, so even if The Fiery Furnaces didn't suck (they do... just to be clear), Mountain Goats are champs.
Alright... read this while watching the actual tournament/bemoaning your piss-poor picks. It's the most wonderful time of the year!!
Labels:
Flaming Lips Region,
March Music Madness
March Music Madness, Round 1 - Radiohead Region
For your reference, the Music March Madness bracket. Let's get to the picks!
(1) Animal Collective vs. (16) Frightened Rabbit
Winner: (1) Animal Collective
A #1 seed has never lost to a #16 in the history of the NCAA tournament. In fact, I'm pretty sure the average margin of victory in those games is something like 20-25 points. Not exactly competitive. Now, my love of Frightened Rabbit is well-documented, but this is Animal Collective's tournament to lose. In January, they released Merriweather Post Pavilion, already being heralded as the album of the year (and justifiably so). Add in Animal Collective's excellent discography, and they win this match-up running away.
(5) Deerhunter vs. (12) Bloc Party
Winner: (5) Deerhunter
Let's break it down: Deerhunter is from Atlanta. Block Party is from not America. Deerhunter released Microcastle AND bonus-disc Weird Era Cont., both of which were ridiculously good. Bloc Party released Intimacy, which originally had this uncomfortable album cover (but switched to this boring album cover) and songs that don't come close to their 2005 release Silent Alarm (which I just listened to the other day). No 5-12 upset here.
(3) Grizzly Bear vs. (14) Black Lips
Winner: (3) Grizzly Bear
This is like Memphis vs. Wisconsin. Just two completely different styles matching up head to head. The Black Lips hyperkinetic lo-fi garage rock is a stark contrast to the deliberate, metered sound of Grizzly Bear. Black Lips is another local Atlanta band, and although I'd love to pick them for their crazy live shows and hard/punk rock machismo, it's impossible to vault them ahead of Grizzly Bear. The buzz about Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear's upcoming album, in the indie blogosphere is deafening (the album leaked a number of weeks ago... BUT WE WON'T BE POSTING A LINK TO IT!!! Hopefully blogger.com got that). This one is a no-brainer.
Grizzly Bear - "Cheerleader" (MP3)
(7) Spoon vs. (10) Sunset Rubdown
Winner: (7) Spoon
I just realized I'm writing WAY too much, so expect shorter blurbs. Spoon = amazing band from Austin, TX (Texas forever) that has never made a bad album. Sunset Rubdown = very good band formed by guy from a band I like more than Sunset Rubdown (Wolf Parade). Edge goes to Spoon. By a lot. This will probably be the equivalent of the upcoming Michigan beatdown at the hands of Clemson (ACC >> Big 10). Okay, math is over.
(2) Lil' Wayne vs. (15) The Avett Brothers
Winner: (2) Lil' Wayne
The Avett Brothers would shit their pants during warm-ups when they saw Lil' Wayne on the other side of the court. In the time it took me to write that sentence, Lil' Wayne recorded more guest verses than The Avett Brothers will record for the next two years. Advantage: Weezy F. Baby.
(6) The National vs. (11) The Black Keys
Winner: (6) The National
I have to say, I think The National deserve higher than a #6 seed. They're on the verge of breaking into mainstream, and a number of their songs have already been featured in both television and movies. The Black Keys are awesome, but I think Dan Auerbach's new album is generating more interest than his group currently is.
(4) Franz Ferdinand vs. (13) My Brightest Diamond
Winner: (4) Franz Ferdinand
Man, we're just not seeing ANY upsets! Either the bracket-makers did an excellent job seeding, or I'm really lame. Don't answer that. Franz Ferdinand has one of the most re-listenable (made it up, roll with me) songs in the past 15 years with "Take Me Out." There is never not a good time to listen to that song. Try to pick one. You can't. The Scots' new album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is good, and I'm enjoying having them back in the iPod rotation.
(8) Deerhoof vs. (9) M83
Winner: (9) M83
Any time you can salvage an "upset" with a French electronic music outfit, you have to do it! I've already written about how much I liked Saturdays = Youth, and since Deerhoof basically sounds like a mess to me most of the time, I'm going with the synthesizer superfunhappytime of M83.
If you listen to ANY of the songs I've posted, listen to this one... it's incredible. But seriously, listen to all of them. It took a lot of work, and you don't want to be rude. Do you? No, I didn't think so.
Whew... 1st Round of the Radiohead bracket is done! Check back later for the Flaming Lips Region breakdown.
(1) Animal Collective vs. (16) Frightened Rabbit
Winner: (1) Animal Collective
A #1 seed has never lost to a #16 in the history of the NCAA tournament. In fact, I'm pretty sure the average margin of victory in those games is something like 20-25 points. Not exactly competitive. Now, my love of Frightened Rabbit is well-documented, but this is Animal Collective's tournament to lose. In January, they released Merriweather Post Pavilion, already being heralded as the album of the year (and justifiably so). Add in Animal Collective's excellent discography, and they win this match-up running away.
(5) Deerhunter vs. (12) Bloc Party
Winner: (5) Deerhunter
Let's break it down: Deerhunter is from Atlanta. Block Party is from not America. Deerhunter released Microcastle AND bonus-disc Weird Era Cont., both of which were ridiculously good. Bloc Party released Intimacy, which originally had this uncomfortable album cover (but switched to this boring album cover) and songs that don't come close to their 2005 release Silent Alarm (which I just listened to the other day). No 5-12 upset here.
(3) Grizzly Bear vs. (14) Black Lips
Winner: (3) Grizzly Bear
This is like Memphis vs. Wisconsin. Just two completely different styles matching up head to head. The Black Lips hyperkinetic lo-fi garage rock is a stark contrast to the deliberate, metered sound of Grizzly Bear. Black Lips is another local Atlanta band, and although I'd love to pick them for their crazy live shows and hard/punk rock machismo, it's impossible to vault them ahead of Grizzly Bear. The buzz about Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear's upcoming album, in the indie blogosphere is deafening (the album leaked a number of weeks ago... BUT WE WON'T BE POSTING A LINK TO IT!!! Hopefully blogger.com got that). This one is a no-brainer.
Grizzly Bear - "Cheerleader" (MP3)
(7) Spoon vs. (10) Sunset Rubdown
Winner: (7) Spoon
I just realized I'm writing WAY too much, so expect shorter blurbs. Spoon = amazing band from Austin, TX (Texas forever) that has never made a bad album. Sunset Rubdown = very good band formed by guy from a band I like more than Sunset Rubdown (Wolf Parade). Edge goes to Spoon. By a lot. This will probably be the equivalent of the upcoming Michigan beatdown at the hands of Clemson (ACC >> Big 10). Okay, math is over.
(2) Lil' Wayne vs. (15) The Avett Brothers
Winner: (2) Lil' Wayne
The Avett Brothers would shit their pants during warm-ups when they saw Lil' Wayne on the other side of the court. In the time it took me to write that sentence, Lil' Wayne recorded more guest verses than The Avett Brothers will record for the next two years. Advantage: Weezy F. Baby.
(6) The National vs. (11) The Black Keys
Winner: (6) The National
I have to say, I think The National deserve higher than a #6 seed. They're on the verge of breaking into mainstream, and a number of their songs have already been featured in both television and movies. The Black Keys are awesome, but I think Dan Auerbach's new album is generating more interest than his group currently is.
(4) Franz Ferdinand vs. (13) My Brightest Diamond
Winner: (4) Franz Ferdinand
Man, we're just not seeing ANY upsets! Either the bracket-makers did an excellent job seeding, or I'm really lame. Don't answer that. Franz Ferdinand has one of the most re-listenable (made it up, roll with me) songs in the past 15 years with "Take Me Out." There is never not a good time to listen to that song. Try to pick one. You can't. The Scots' new album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is good, and I'm enjoying having them back in the iPod rotation.
(8) Deerhoof vs. (9) M83
Winner: (9) M83
Any time you can salvage an "upset" with a French electronic music outfit, you have to do it! I've already written about how much I liked Saturdays = Youth, and since Deerhoof basically sounds like a mess to me most of the time, I'm going with the synthesizer superfunhappytime of M83.
If you listen to ANY of the songs I've posted, listen to this one... it's incredible. But seriously, listen to all of them. It took a lot of work, and you don't want to be rude. Do you? No, I didn't think so.
Whew... 1st Round of the Radiohead bracket is done! Check back later for the Flaming Lips Region breakdown.
Labels:
March Music Madness,
Radiohead Region
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
March Music Madness!!!
Courtesy of the wonderful people at We Listen For You... March Music Madness! This is the second year that they've compiled a bracket, and although I didn't follow or participate last year, I'll definitely be joining in the fun this year. If you go to their site, you can listen to how they created the bracket, but essentially:
- Main requirement and basis of seeding = relevancy of the band... ultimately a judgment call between the two creators
- Radiohead (last year's winner) couldn't be in the bracket (avoids Florida-like back-to-back champion)
- Seeding based on the appropriateness of that band's relevance in the previous year... so a band like Arcade Fire might be a #1 seed in previous years, but not this year
- Animal Collective received the overall #1 seed because of current relevancy
- Tried to get good mixture of groups
The voting supposedly coincides with the timing of the rounds for the actual tournament, so Round 1 and 2 should be complete by this Sunday. Oh yeah, and I'll obviously be making picks during this whole thing. Check back for results!
- Main requirement and basis of seeding = relevancy of the band... ultimately a judgment call between the two creators
- Radiohead (last year's winner) couldn't be in the bracket (avoids Florida-like back-to-back champion)
- Seeding based on the appropriateness of that band's relevance in the previous year... so a band like Arcade Fire might be a #1 seed in previous years, but not this year
- Animal Collective received the overall #1 seed because of current relevancy
- Tried to get good mixture of groups
The voting supposedly coincides with the timing of the rounds for the actual tournament, so Round 1 and 2 should be complete by this Sunday. Oh yeah, and I'll obviously be making picks during this whole thing. Check back for results!
Labels:
March Music Madness,
We Listen For You
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Old People + Young Jeezy + Animal Collective = My Dream
"Breakfast At Sulimays, Episode 16." I have no idea what this is, but it's quite possibly the most amazing video of all time. I want to send money to Woodshop films to ensure that they never stop making these. So many thoughts: I hope this is my life when I'm old and senile; Ann, Joe, and Bill interact very similarly to Paula, Simon, and Randy; everyone has a mildly-to-inappropriately racist grandparent that would say something like, "I wonder what our prominent black.... people... would think about this;" if they don't like "My Girls" then they obviously have significant hearing deficits; I wonder how Animal Collective would feel if they knew they were being compared to Elton John; "DON'T FORGET YOUR GIRL SCOUTS! I LOVE THE THIN MINTS!"
Honestly, I need to find the entire back-catalogue. Enjoy music criticism at its highest!
Honestly, I need to find the entire back-catalogue. Enjoy music criticism at its highest!
Labels:
Animal Collective,
Old People,
WTF?,
Young Jeezy
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Kelly Clarkson on SNL
Our post about Kelly Clarkson's new album All I Ever Wanted may or may not have been taken down for legal reasons (read: it was taken down for legal reasons), but if you happened to read through the 1500 word song-by-song breakdown, you'd know that one of the best songs on the album is "I Do Not Hook Up." We predicted that it would be the next single off the album, and with this performance of the song last night on SNL, all signs are pointing towards us being right. Naturally. We're ALWAYS right! We could be, like, music and TV executives. Well... we could've been. You know, before we (read: Matt) started giving away free music. Eh, oh well. The satisfaction of being right is good enough for now.
PS. Kelly sang current single "My Life Would Suck Without You" in the 1st spot.
PS. Kelly sang current single "My Life Would Suck Without You" in the 1st spot.
Labels:
Kelly Clarkson,
SNL
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