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User
Reviews 40
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Last Active 12-09-22 12:08 am
Joined 08-22-13
Review Comments 40,969
| Round 9: Inverted Umbrella Competition
2 are out and 5 are still in. No lateness disqualification this time! The new deadline to get your round 2 songs in is 5pm EST on December 24th! From here on out, only 1 person will be eliminated each round. | | 1 |  | Todd Rundgren
A Wizard, A True Star
1.Link a song via YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, DailyMotion, Vimeo... or whatever you like as long as I don't have to download something.
2. This round is [Progressive Rock/Pop]. Progressive Rock is rock that is: thematic, has multiple sections that progress into each other, and feels as epic as a symphony! Progressive pop is that, but way catchier and possibly without guitars. Both work!
3. Aim to impress me with what you pick, since I'm rating these.
4. If I know the song already, I'll tell you to pick something new, otherwise, you're good.
5. I'm going to start each new round every Sunday night (EST,) so if you're late, you're out. My 1-2 least favorite recs will be eliminated each round (1 if we don't get a lot of people and 2 if we do.)
***Winner of the competition can recommend me whatever 2 albums they want and I'll listen to them no matter the album as long as it's possible to find and as long as neither exceeds 3 hours.*** | | 2 |  | The Left Banke
Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina
porcupinetheater: “Walk Away Renee"
Pleasant stuff so far. The strings are nice. A trumpet solo is unexpected! Nice. The vocals are quite nice, but I suppose I don’t love them. The strings, harpsichord, and trumpet are definitely the leads here. It’s good, but it didn’t blow me away.
3.5/5 (ELIMINATED!) | | 3 |  | Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood
Nancy and Lee
SlothcoreSam: “Some Velvet Morning"
This one sounds cinematic! The vocals boom and echo, not sure how I feel about that. Nancy’s voice is etheral, I think that I prefer it to Lee’s. The dynamic changes are cool, as are the tempo changes. I feel like I’m listening to a proto-Broadcast song whenever Nancy comes in. Ooh the interchanging between the parts at the end is awesome! Trippy and twinkly!
4.1/5 (SAFE) | | 4 |  | John Cale
Paris 1919
GhandhiLion: “Paris 1919”
The brass is quite pretty. For an artis who criticized The Beatles, this sure reminds me of a Paul McCartney song. Good thing I love The Beatles haha. The bird chirps are quite pretty. This definitely feels very sunshiny and lively in a way that definitely hits.
4.5/5 (SAFE) | | 5 |  | Van Dyke Parks
Song Cycle
Fogza: “Palm Desert”
He defintely has a nerdy voice, but it’s in a cute way. This definitely has granny energy, but I don’t mind it. It’s also quite off kilter. I’ve been meaning to check this album to a point where I’m not sure why I haven’t. This is goofy as hell and that trumpet is so fun. This also has bird calls, but they’re kinda messed up sounding. Honestly this is psychedelic and disorienting as hell. It’s changing so much. Why haven’t I checked this already?
5/5 (ROUND WINNER! [+0.5 will be added to their next round score]) | | 6 |  | Ars Nova (USA)
Ars Nova
ffs: “Pavan for My Lady”
Very folky so far, but the trumpet baroques it. I guess it’s on the same plain as Love in that way. It’s simple, but romantic sounding. Spanish guitar influence definitely shines though here too.
3.8/5 (SAFE) | | 7 |  | These New Puritans
Hidden
CugnoBrasso: “Hologram”
Whoa, modern production! The piano crashes a lot, hmmm. I guess the baroque pop part is otly the chimes and woodwinds. It’s definitely a very clangy type song, but that’s good! Definitely unique!
3.7/5 (ELIMINATED!) | | 8 |  | Sparks
Propaganda
JohnnyoftheWell: “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth” (by Sparks from Propaganda)
The harpsichord is jinging the strings feel sophisticated, but are light. It’s pretty and elegant for sure. That weird psychedelic cut-up violin? Is neat! More of that please.
3.8/5 +(0.5 from winning last round) = 4.3/5 | |
ArsMoriendi
12.17.23 | I wonder if porcupinetheater's song swap was a mistake because he and CugnoBrasso are out
Fogza wins the round with a truly excellent track
Only 1 elimination per round from here on out | ArsMoriendi
12.17.23 | Who in the final 5 do you think is gonna win:
SlothcoreSam
GhandhiLion
Fogza
ffs
JohnnyoftheWell | fogza
12.17.23 | I am really glad for the bonus going into the progressive round, I don't think Peter Gabriel is gonna save me here | porcupinetheater
12.17.23 | Damn lol R.I.P. that’s what I get for over thinkin’ it | SlothcoreSam
12.17.23 | Let's keep this dream run going. Let's get proggy | Ryus
12.17.23 | u recd a 5/5 song porc dont feel bad
pretty ballerina mightve been more his speed | ArsMoriendi
12.17.23 | Pretty Ballerina wouldn't have been eligible since I actually know it
Only thing I know by them | GhandhiLion
12.17.23 | Van der graaf generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers | ArsMoriendi
12.17.23 | I assume this link will suffice Ghandhi? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDf_SuAlBA | GhandhiLion
12.17.23 | Yep
Also someone else rec "Dog like sparky" or "Dirty Boy". I'd bet on that being the win. | SlothcoreSam
12.18.23 | OK, this is off one of my 5s
Lucio Battisti - Anima Latina.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6XOguNHu0tyQRFhPqoBFeV?si=5c6d0eeaa6d743e5 | JohnnyoftheWell
12.18.23 | time to for ars' inevitable RIOpilling
Thinking Plague - Warheads | ArsMoriendi
12.18.23 | This link work, Johnny? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KU22NGHrJQ | JohnnyoftheWell
12.18.23 | Oh oops sorry yes that is the one | CugnoBrasso
12.18.23 | I went out with a blast.
Also, GhandiLion is basically rec'ing what I would have rec'ed so it's like I'm still in. | porcupinetheater
12.18.23 | Somebody drop Univers Zero or Present | CugnoBrasso
12.18.23 | Univers ZĂ©ro is hot | ffs
12.18.23 | how the hell am i still in this??!
harmonium - histoires sans paroles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD93_Hz_YgI | ArsMoriendi
12.18.23 | Your recs were never the worst! Maybe you could win
Only time will tellll | Havey
12.18.23 | i'm surprised your roommate never forced you to listen to 5 | fogza
12.20.23 | Hey ars, I'm sure you've heard this but how about Tears for fears - Sowing the seeds of love
https://youtu.be/VAtGOESO7W8 | ArsMoriendi
12.20.23 | Hmmm I know like Shout, Mad World, Head Over Heels, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Mother Talk… but not that one | ArsMoriendi
12.20.23 | Or maybe I do know it (it hit #2 in the US pop charts???) but I don’t recognize the title so you’re good without penalty | SlothcoreSam
12.23.23 | Hey Arse man, are you continuing this over the holiday period?
I'm ready to win. | fogza
12.23.23 | I was gonna say at least it's a short playlist now, but then I realised it's the prog round | ArsMoriendi
12.23.23 | Yeah I will have no breaks haha 5pm Christmas eve lets gooo lol | ArsMoriendi
12.24.23 | Starting soon | JohnnyoftheWell
12.25.23 | Oh fuck | ArsMoriendi
12.25.23 | Your approaches to prog were all so different
Ghandhi went epic and traditional
Slothcore went for colorful and robust
Johnny went for chaotic and unique
ffs went for patient and rustic
fogza went for poppy and pastiche
Next round will be posted SOON | JohnnyoftheWell
12.25.23 | Classic arscore ranking of those adjectives would be Sloth>me>fogza>Ghandhi>ffs oh boi I wonder how this will correlate |
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