Friday13th: Progday Discovery M2

Friday13th 09.22.17	This should be good.
MrSirLordGentleman 09.22.17	Formal Female's link is blocked on my country :[ You guys got another one?
Friday13th 09.22.17	It was a bad link, so I just swapped it. Does it work now, Gentleman?
MrSirLordGentleman 09.22.17	It does thx m8
MrSirLordGentleman 09.22.17	damn that lo-fi production sounds sexy
Frippertronics 09.22.17	YES
foxblood 09.22.17	i can tell by that album cover that 2 is good. sounds nice and lo-fi so far
Frippertronics 09.22.17	JW has some tough competition which is saying a lot because The Formal Female is pretty cool
TheSpaceMan 09.22.17	thats good to hear fripp, i'm gonna listen to Todd tomorrow. commenting to keep in-the-loop
Frippertronics 09.22.17	will warn you guys, he gets a bit hammy on a song or two (although considering one of them IS a cover of Gilbert and Sullivan, that's a given)
Divaman 09.22.17	Been looking forward to this.
Divaman 09.22.17	Leaning pretty heavily in one direction after the first listen, but there's too much here to take it all in at once.
Frippertronics 09.22.17	suspense is setting in
Jethro42 09.22.17	I only know Todd Rundgren's famous ''A Wizard, A True Star'' and Utopia. I like the way Todd is starting here.
e210013 09.22.17	Here we are again. Frankly, I don't know nothing about both albums. I only know Utopia. So, let's go starting working on both competitors. Good work guys.
Sabrutin 09.22.17	Really curious about 2
e210013 09.22.17	Me too.
bgillesp 09.22.17	Just adding to my discussions. I've listened to Todd 2x now but I need to check 2 still
Friday13th 09.22.17	Todd sometimes reminds me of The Residents...and then it's like really sappy soul stuff lol. I am digging this one much more than Something though.
bgillesp 09.22.17	2 is reminding me of a more psyched out Genesis from the Nursery Cryme era
bgillesp 09.22.17	I have a feeling I'll like both of these a good bit more than either from last round
Friday13th 09.23.17	"My Bundle of Joy" on #2 is where the prog is at.
wham49 09.23.17	this might be unfair I've been a Rundgren fan for some time
Jethro42 09.23.17	I only have A Wizard, A True Star as a reference for Todd. In both albums we have plenty of catchy songs, and we can detect a good sense of humor, but I wish he was more serious in Todd. He tried too hard to include unecessary noises. I prefer the sobriety found in Wizard. It's really trippy, original, unique music to my ears, and I feel Todd Rundgren was ahead of his time, but no need to include all that noise in order to prove it.
Frippertronics 09.23.17	If you want serious Todd, his albums "The Ballad of Todd Rundgren" and "Healing" are good ones to go with, although the latter has another one of his joke songs ('Golden Goose')
Jethro42 09.23.17	Alright Fripp. I have nothing against occasional joke songs if they are not too exuberant...a la Todd :)
Frippertronics 09.23.17	Oh yeah, although as a Todd fan, it's to be expected although with 'An Elpee's Worth of Toons', there's a message that couldn't have been played straight had it been a serious song.
Jethro42 09.23.17	''No, no, no!!! A little more humanity please...''
Frippertronics 09.23.17	"Who's that on the racks again?"
Frippertronics 09.23.17	Will say his cover of Nightmare Song is the cheesiest thing ever
MrSirLordGentleman 09.23.17	Am I the only one loving Formal Female's artwork?
Frippertronics 09.23.17	It's good, surprised the site hasn't updated it since I added new art the other day
Frippertronics 09.24.17	Aaaaand I spoke too soon
MrSirLordGentleman 09.24.17	I was looking for a JW Farquhar page on Facebook to give it a like and the only thing I found was the guy's personal facebook account lol Well I suppose that can happen with underground artists
Jethro42 09.24.17	Yeah what an acrobatics on the cover art of 2 :D I'm starting to get used to that simplist, rudimentary sounding. It's like a poor man's Nick Drake experimenting psych folk.
bgillesp 09.24.17	Is the "plastic waffle" an LP or a Nike brand shoe? Nike was started the year before that album with their "waffle trainers" made literally with a waffle iron but that reference seems unlikely
Frippertronics 09.24.17	an LP hence the title "An Elpee's Worth of Toons", the song being about wanting to change the world with music although the very concept of it is incredibly bizarre and an impossibility
bgillesp 09.24.17	I figured but it's a pretty weird coincidence that Bill Bowerman was making a living off plastic waffles in shoe form at the same time
Papa Universe 09.24.17	When's this round over again?
Friday13th 09.24.17	Friday
SCREAM! 09.24.17	Given both a listen and I know where I'm leaning but these definitely warrant more than a single listen so we'll see if that changes
TwigTW 09.24.17	"A Dream Goes on Forever" is one of my favorite Rundgren songs. Sometimes I think Todd's a pop genius trapped in a progger's body . . . Still need to listen to #2.
Papa Universe 09.24.17	Formal Female is kind of weird and not in a good way. After a while it just became more or less annoying. Todd is long winded, but it has its undeniably strong moments. I'd personally cut about 20 unnecessary minutes of it out, but that's just me. 2.5 < 3.5 Todd has it from me so far, but who knows it might change.
MrSirLordGentleman 09.24.17	Todd was a hard 4.0, but Formal Female was almost a 4.5 so my vote goes to it
SCREAM! 09.24.17	"Sometimes I think Todd's a pop genius trapped in a progger's body . . ." Hence why I'm personally leaning towards 2. Todd's pop sensibilities are a bit too much for me sometimes. Round 1 was more my style overall than this one so far
MrSirLordGentleman 09.24.17	I might have 5'd Formal Female if it wasn't for Where Have you Been which is a little bit bland
Sabrutin 09.24.17	The Former Female is a cool oddity that I'm glad I found but as unfair as it may be I think it's undercooked, and not because of the production. The Want Machine especially felt like a bit of a drag on first listen. I don't dislike the album though
Jethro42 09.24.17	The more I listen to it, the more I can see; Formal Female contains interesting vocal lines. It's def the strenght of the album; great melodies.
Frippertronics 09.24.17	"Sometimes I think Todd's a pop genius trapped in a progger's body" in the context of his career, he made several straight up pop albums compared to this four or so years of prog (73-77)
MrSirLordGentleman 09.24.17	"Formal Female contains interesting vocal lines." The selling point for me is the instrumentation. Specially the guitar
MrSirLordGentleman 09.24.17	Todd is an awesome album Fripp, great pick. I might prefer it over Something/Anything
Frippertronics 09.24.17	well Something/Anything is an alright album (didn't need to be 93 minutes though) trust me, if anyone thinks Todd is overlong, Something/Anything and Initiation will take you for a ride.
Divaman 09.24.17	I'm ready to vote. My vote is for JW Farquhar -- The Formal Female With apologies to Fripp, I really didn't like the Todd Rundgren album. It was too out there for me. It also felt very disorganzied and all over the place. And the length didn't help. As for the JW Farguhar, it gets a little repetitive at times, but I mostly found it pleasingly weird and psychedelic. I don't know if I'll buy it, but I did enjoy listening to it.
Friday13th 09.24.17	Gentleman: #2 Divaman: #2 [fixed] 0-2
MrSirLordGentleman 09.24.17	but i voted Formal Female too lawl
Friday13th 09.24.17	oh, Divaman also voted Farquhar haha See, that's why I need you to catch my mistakes.
Friday13th 09.24.17	I think I'm leaning towards Todd because at it's best it reminds me of Wizard/early 70s Beach Boys (which I freakin' love), but I need to hear Farquhar at least one more time to get a solid opinion on it.
Friday13th 09.25.17	Yeah, I'm voting Todd. Several great songs were enough to win me. JW Farquhar had some very cool moments throughout, but the only song I really enjoyed all the way through is "My Bundle of Joy." I really disliked the faux Dylan tune "Where Have You Been." 1-2
Frippertronics 09.25.17	quite obvious enough what i'm voting for 2-2
Jethro42 09.25.17	The Formal Female is pretty much like an unique, linear song from start to finish and it seems longer than 45 minutes. Too bad the guy was all alone with his low budget equipment, and the result is obviously poor and half baked and it also sounds rushed. Not much prog to be found. My vote goes to Todd even if album is a bit overlong, and it contains a few boring songs, and it doesn't have much replay value to me. Too popish to prog properly.
Jethro42 09.25.17	However I give it 3.5, because Todd is a good pop rocker.
TheSpaceMan 09.25.17	quite obvious enough what i'm voting for [2] 3-3 Todd was much better then i thought and will check out his other stuff no doubt but i just really dig the formal female. Bias of me reccing it included (;
Friday13th 09.25.17	Alright, so far: Gentleman: #2 Divaman: #2 Friday: #1 Fripper: #1 Jethro: #1 SpaceMan: #2 yup, 3-3
Frippertronics 09.25.17	looks like this will be a lot closer than round 1
TheSpaceMan 09.25.17	Looks like it'll come down to my alt
Frippertronics 09.25.17	looks like Farquaad just earned himself an entire point demotion
TheSpaceMan 09.25.17	Oh shit
Sabrutin 09.25.17	"Looks like it'll come down to my alt" Got me laughing there
TheSpaceMan 09.25.17	(;
Friday13th 09.25.17	lol not on my watch...gotta look at every user with suspicion from now on ;)
MrSirLordGentleman 09.25.17	witch hunt begins
TheSpaceMan 09.25.17	lol was just kidding, would never devalue the integrity of this tournament
TheSpaceMan 09.25.17	that sounded super sarcastic but its said with honesty
Friday13th 09.25.17	lol
SCREAM! 09.26.17	I think this is the most I've laughed during these tourneys so good job guys
Friday13th 09.26.17	Dang...Todd is revealing its mysteries on my third listen. Todd has some truly excellent instrumental/synth lines.
Frippertronics 09.26.17	it got to you a lot faster than me, it finally clicked after two years this past summer
wham49 09.26.17	has to be Todd
Friday13th 09.26.17	@wham Is that a vote for Todd?
Frippertronics 09.26.17	It shall be
Friday13th 09.26.17	It shall be [2] 4-3
TheSpaceMan 09.27.17	disappointed in the voter turnout but love how close it is (even if a few of you were less than impressed with both albums)
Friday13th 09.27.17	^ the 2016 election lol
Friday13th 09.27.17	But really, I'll start pestering people if we don't get some more votes soon
TheSpaceMan 09.27.17	haha tru
Jethro42 09.27.17	Is there anybody out there...
Frippertronics 09.27.17	Don't you ever listen? Don't you ever learn?
TheIntruder 09.27.17	In this 2nd tournament I choose number 1, Todd. Todd 4.0 and and The Formal Female 3.5.
SCREAM! 09.27.17	All in all I'm definitely more into the psych leanings of 2 than the pop leanings of 1. Also the length of 1 makes it a bit of a chore to get through. So my vote goes to 2
wham49 09.27.17	sorry yes it is a vote for todd
TwigTW 09.27.17	The Formal Female was an interesting listen. It's a great relic. I love the sound of the lo-fi recording, and it's something that he made the whole album by himself, but I don't see myself playing it again in the future. The songwriting just didn't grab me. So... My vote goes to Todd. I always liked his pop side, and I don't mind Gilbert and Sullivan either (in small doses). There are so many bad Todd Rundgren albums; I'm really happy to discover one I like.
Friday13th 09.27.17	Okay, vote update: Intruder: #1 SCREAM: #2 Twig: #1 6-4
Sabrutin 09.27.17	I Think You Know + the album's length preoccupied me but it turned out to be easier than expected, I dig the atmosphere(s) and trippy parts. I'm afraid it's an easy win against The Formal Female... perhaps a bit of an unfair one. I didn't dislike TFF though. So my vote goes to Todd
TheSpaceMan 09.27.17	Is it customary to concede via shoutbox Thursday night?
CusmanX1 09.27.17	I love things like Utopia and Something/Anything, but this one miss something imo.
CusmanX1 09.27.17	Well, few days ago I listened to TFF, my vote goes there
bnelso55 09.27.17	Here's a vote for 2. Todd will probably grow on me in the future, but for now I'm finding that I like JW Farquhar more.
TwigTW 09.27.17	the vote is really close...
MrSirLordGentleman 09.27.17	7-6 if I'm not wrong
Friday13th 09.27.17	^ correct
Divaman 09.28.17	Farquhar, Farquhar, Farquhar! Have the vote tallies come in from the rural districts yet?
Frippertronics 09.28.17	Todd tho
bgillesp 09.28.17	Im gonna go Todd > Female, 4.1 > 4.0 My vote is for Todd Rundgren- Todd to clarify
bgillesp 09.28.17	Both were really great this round but Todd was a bit more "well-put-together" to me. Some absolutely amazing moments in FF though
Friday13th 09.28.17	8-6
Divaman 09.28.17	Arghh! Considering offing myself if I have to listen to Todd again in Round 2. (Friday's going to have to get one of those "NO ELECTIONEERING" signs that they usually put up around polling places for me).
Frippertronics 09.28.17	best be ready to suffer
Divaman 09.28.17	Noooooooooooo!!! sob, sniff
Frippertronics 09.28.17	idk man i'm quite ready to listen to it again and again and again
e210013 09.28.17	As happened with the first round, I never heard anything about the existence of the album "The Formal Female". About "Todd" I never listened it. About Rundgren's career, I only was a bit familiarized with Utopia. By one hand, I must confess that I'm not a great fan of both albums, by different reasons. By the other hand, I think they aren't totally two prog albums. Still, I think both have some positive points. So, let's analyse both albums individually. JW Farquhar - The Formal Female: I must confess that I became particularly surprised with this album. The story of its birth is particularly amazing and fun, or dramatic, if you prefer. An album that is considered as a forerunner to lo-fi and outsider album is always news, for me, despite the year of its release. For an album recorded in such difficult circumstances and place, the recordings aren't as bad as I thought in the begining. But, the quality of the recordings aren't great. Although this is an album pretty much like an unique linear song from start to finish, one of the main caracatheristics of many prog albums, we can't say this is a prog album. This is more a psychedelic and folk album. However, I think the album has quality. Despite I listened to the album four times, I never became bored with it. My sympathies for JW Farquhar. So, I rated it with a 3.0. Todd Rundgren - Todd: This is a very difficult album to rate. Sometimes it seems to me very prog and others it seems to me be very popish. Sometimes it seems to me has great tracks and others it seems to me has AOR songs. Sometimes it seems to me it has good original vocals form Todd and other times its vocals seems to me vocals from Prince. So, the final result is a kind of a "mixed bag", really. I think the album had shocked many people when it was released and even today. Todd mixes up all of the styles of music he was into at the time, making this a music lovers extravaganza. It's really difficult to listen to this album in only one breath. Still, this album is one of the main reasons for Todd be considered a prog artist. So, despite be an album with so many different styles and a popish feeling too much times for my taste, I think it's full of short synth instrumentals and experiments that sometimes work very well. So, I rated it with 3.5. So, my vote goes to Todd.
Friday13th 09.28.17	@e21 Nice analysis. Yeah, neither are prog in the strictest sense, but I think they each have enough prog elements, at least a couple songs. I don't regret letting them in (though you're free to disagree!) 9-6
e210013 09.28.17	Neither do I. I can't disagree. Especially in the case of "The Formal Female". This was really a nice surprise. Todd, as you know is very known as an artist already, but not necessarily by this album. So, both albums were a nice musical journey. Thanks, for the idea, man. Continue with it. We need things like this. Prog never dies. At least, I hope that.
Jethro42 09.28.17	The Formal Female is more demanding imo. It needs all our attention if one wants to ''get it'' still more. Todd could be played background in a coffee bar, and it would be all fine; Thereby, we could capture what's essential.
TheSpaceMan 09.28.17	love your analysis of the two albums e2!
e210013 09.28.17	Thanks SpaceMan. I appreciate your kind words.
bnelso55 09.28.17	Second SpaceMan. Solid summation, e2!
e210013 09.28.17	Thanks to you, too, bnelso.
Friday13th 09.28.17	So far we got votes from: Gentleman: #2 Divaman: #2 Friday: #1 Fripper: #1 Jethro: #1 SpaceMan: #2 Wham: #1 Intruder: #1 SCREAM: #2 Twig: #1 Sabrutin: #1 Cusman: #2 bnelso: #2 bgill: #1 e21: #1 9-6
Papa Universe 09.28.17	you didn't count me in...
Papa Universe 09.28.17	(it was Todd, if you don't wanna scroll)
Friday13th 09.28.17	@UniqueUniverse You didn't make a clear vote: "Todd has it from me so far, but who knows it might change." Okay, I'll put you down for Todd. This is why I'm doing the list, so you guys know if I didn't count someone.
Friday13th 09.28.17	So far we got votes from: Gentleman: #2 Divaman: #2 Friday: #1 Fripper: #1 Jethro: #1 SpaceMan: #2 Wham: #1 Intruder: #1 SCREAM: #2 Twig: #1 Sabrutin: #1 Cusman: #2 bnelso: #2 bgill: #1 e21: #1 Unique: #1 10-6
Friday13th 09.28.17	Alright...time to pester...Mythodea.
Mythodea 09.28.17	I am a bit late to the party, I've got many things running in my everyday life. I'm wondering if I could vote tomorrow? I need to spin the albums a few times more.
Friday13th 09.28.17	Sure, Mythodea. I'll post the new match tomorrow anyways.
Mythodea 09.28.17	Nice, thanks a lot. I'll post my vote tomorrow, by mid-day.
Divaman 09.29.17	Looking at the bright side -- maybe the world will end before Todd shows up in Round 2.
Frippertronics 09.29.17	I think Friday and I would make the proper adjustments to prolong your suffering to the backings of "Useless Begging"
Friday13th 09.29.17	haha Todd channeling that Beach Boys goodnes! mm-mm
Divaman 09.29.17	Dear Kim Jong-un: I think you are just swell. But my pals Fripp and Friday say you are a big wussy-dog who would never dare lob a nuke at us. Your Friend, Diva.
Frippertronics 09.29.17	In response to the faint whimpering of a very well-named Diva, a 1LP edit of "Todd": Side One: How About A Little Fanfare?/I Think You Know - 4:07 The Spark of Life - 6:23 A Dream Goes on Forever - 2:21 Drunken Blue Rooster - 3:00 The Last Ride - 4:48 (total: 20:39) Side Two: Everybody's Going to Heaven (sans King Kong Reggae, fuck that bit honestly) - ~4:00 (seriously, the last two minutes is a long fadeout) Useless Begging - 3:40 Sidewalk Cafe - 2:15 Izzat Love? - 1:55 Don't You Ever Learn? - 6:04 Sons of 1984 - 4:34 (total: 21:48) (my edit: 42:27 / original: 66:28)
Friday13th 09.29.17	No Elpee's Worth of Toons? That's one of the best!
Frippertronics 09.29.17	I was going to include it, although I could say this is the "non-joke song" version Will say though, that's a first. Doing his albums up until 1981's Healing so when I get to the review for Todd, I'd be interested to see more of your thoughts on it.
Friday13th 09.29.17	Cool, I bought Hermit of Mink Hollow for $2 the other day. What do you think of that one?
Frippertronics 09.29.17	That's a pretty good one, more of a return to the one-man band thing he did on Ballad, Something/Anything? and did on Healing, which is one of his best records.
Divaman 09.29.17	Are you sure the original wasn't 366:28? That's how I remember it.
Frippertronics 09.29.17	i should rec Initiation for the next tourney in that case
Divaman 09.29.17	Of course, I might be just a little ADHD.
Frippertronics 09.29.17	68 minutes, one song is 36 minutes rip diva
Sabrutin 09.29.17	Useless Begging ruuules
Mythodea 09.29.17	Todd Rundgren's ''Todd'' has lush soundscapes, brilliant musicianship and I just love the vocals. It can become tiring due to its length, but it's never boring. His electronic passages are nothing sort of great experimentation and the ballads bring to mind great oldies. A great first impression from the man I thought I'd never get into. The cover is bad, tho...(4) JW Farquhar - The Formal Female is nice, albeit a bit amateurish. I understand the difficulties in recording the album, but it really doesn't compliment many of the songs. I also liked listening to a ''lo-fi'' rock album, as I'm more used to chill lo-fi, with jazz loops. But, it really couldn't grasp me as much as Todd could and it really wears off quickly. If it was shorter maybe I could appreciate it a bit more. Vocals are weird but in an engaging way, much like Van der Graaf. Although the album's cover is awesome, as is the story behind it, the music needs much time to be digested. For now, I'm givin' this a 3, because I find the music to be very linear and samey.
Divaman 09.29.17	And by the way, there was nothing faint about my whimpering! Oh well, it's all good. Because today is prog day!
TwigTW 09.29.17	happy prog day!
Snowdog808 09.29.17	I know I'm rather late, but I will vote for Todd's album. I like the Formal Female, but I appreciate the more diverse nature of Todd's album.
Friday13th 09.29.17	Happy prog day! [3] Alright...I'm gonna put you down for Todd, Mythodea. That plus Snowdog808 (welcome dude!) brings the tally to... Final Tally: 12-6 Match over! Todd is the winner.
Frippertronics 09.29.17	oh sweet i actually made it past the first round
TheSpaceMan 10.01.17	Nice job fripp, win it for me