Pop Premiership Week 10 RESULTS

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

From the mouth of inhibitorylinks comes...JUDGEMENT.

"First of all, as a long-time lurker at poptimists, I just wanted to say a big thank you to all for letting me be a part of this very fun event. Thanks also for my tracks, which I burned onto a CD and listened to as I sojourned around Sydney for work yesterday - it's not often I can do that and feel content at the same time.

For what it's worth it was VERY hard to separate most of these tracks into "winners" and "losers" - aren't we all winners in the end, after all?

01. High5 - "Dooset Daram": I'm always up for a bit of foreign language madness, and the "tik-tikka-tik" snare in the background throughout was a pleasure for reasons I can't really explain, though it begins to wear a little thin by the three minute mark. The singer sounds a little tired as well, though he could just be pacing himself. 9TH PLACE - LOSE - dubdobdee's title dreams shattered by cruel defeat.

02. Jon Brion - "Monday": At the risk of sounding like an old man, "charming" is the first word that sprang to mind when I heard this. I also had visions of friendly monsters doing the Viennese waltz on a frozen lake. I don't know why that is. Reminds me of the best bits of the "About A Boy" soundtrack. One of the few instances where I don't feel that a vocal would improve proceedings, and my only real complaint is that it doesn't go on for long enough. 1ST PLACE - WIN - fugitivemotel arrests his slump in dazzling style.

03. The Timelords - "Doctorin' The TARDIS": This IS "Doctorin' the Tardis" by The KLF, isn't it? For some reason I'm not entirely sure, and am nervous about my obvious lack of knowledge of the classics. It's certainly glamtastic, and finally katstevens' "yer what" icon makes sense to me, as does the word BOSH. Definitely an important poptimists artefact. 6TH PLACE - DRAW, though I'd award it a win if I could. - braisedbywolves snatches a point but will it be enough to stave off relegation?

04. Luigi Nono - "...Solo Dolce Tacere": I've never really been fond of that Ligeti choral piece I submitted several weeks ago for hauntedballroom; it always seemed too much like the sort of music that would be the soundtrack to my most distressing and Dali-esque nightmares. This piece is, for whatever reason, significantly less distressing, but I just can't shake my Pavlovian reflex to shudder slightly and say "creepy!" 10TH PLACE - LOSE - tactical misfire could cost xyzzzz_ dear.

05. Oi Va Voi - "Seven Brothers": The trumpets and cymbal rolls at the beginning promise drama, and it indeed delivers, although it's a drama that boils and seethes just beneath the surface, rather than drama with bombast and lightning flashes. I particularly like how the bass line doesn't conform to any standard sort of rhythm, which means that you can never settle into any particular groove. This is "7 Brothers" by Oi Va Voi. 2ND PLACE - DRAW - crucial point keeps katstevens' head above water.

06. Grosvenor - "Private Domain": I'm a sucker for a string section, and also harpsichords. This song offers both! It reminds me of The 6ths, or at least something that Stephin Merritt has had his finger in; there's a wonderful baroque fussiness to it that, admittedly, would probably become a little grating over an entire album, but in isolation it's dramatic, uplifiting and I find more to hear in it with every listen. 3RD PLACE - WIN - strange_powers keeps his side in contention for the title.

07. Dr John - "She's Just A Square": Never has being called a "square" seemed more insulting. Surely the best song on the soundtrack to that lost Blues Brothers movie, this is accompanied by all sorts of far-out and groovy instrumental Rhodes organ and flute flourishes. There's nothing particularly groundbreaking about this, but it's definitely a lot of fun. 5TH PLACE - WIN - buoyant performance makes bengraham sure of safety.

08. Charlie Christian - "Death Letter Blues": Oh god, a harrowing tale of death and despair over weary piano and muted trumpets. Almost spiritual in places, really. I don't really know enough jazz songstresses from the past, and after listening to this I feel that has to change. And the line at the end about wanting to take her sweet papa's place...good lord, pass me a tissue. 4TH PLACE - WIN - hauntedballroom's third win must surely make her safe from the drop?

09. Rocker Spaniel - "Where The..?": The storyteller in this certainly seems to be having "fun," but it's a tuneless, aimless "women in bikinis/uniforms using office stationery/garden tools/spelunking equipment in a sexually suggestive manner" type of fun that ends up being a bit sterile and not much fun at all. I must admit that I feel slightly violated. 11TH PLACE - LOSE - have zenith's high-flyers got altitude sickness?

10. Man Or Astro-Man - "Bermuda Triangle Shorts": Ridiculous soundbites, yay! I forgot to mention that I also love music that reminds me of surfing (which I also cannot do), but I feel that an extended guitar solo is a poor replacement for lyrics about the sun being high in the sky or catching waves or whatever. 7TH PLACE - DRAW - deserved draw for jel_bugle's team of entertainers.

11. Considering that this is sung from the viewpoint of a woman who eventually puts a bullet in her "dirty ho" best friend when said ho sleeps with her (the singer's) man (but NOT before making it VERY clear that she does not appreciate said friend using up her toilet paper), this could certainly have done with a bit more emotion, both in the vocal and the instrumentation. This is "Moodring" by Mya, and I DO applaud her thanking me for listening to her album at the end of the song; the world needs more polite popstars. 8TH PLACE - LOSE - alexmacpherson's fans left biting nails as play-offs threaten to slip away from them.

So far in Week 11 we've had a healthy haul for Epicharmus and almost nothing for Dubdobdee! Come on! Don't be scared!

Reveals at 4-ish.

Comments

[lisa-go-blind.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to see Ben post a Dr John track. I had considered submitting something by him myself, but nothing ever seemed right. Although I didn't know this particular song before, it's already one of my favorite LoP discoveries.