Podcast Panel #15

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Neon Neon - 'I Told Her On Alderaan'

I'm back! So is the Panel - direct download above and streaming at http://freakytrigger.co.uk until tomorrow's entry goes up.

Our first time submitter (to the panel at least) says: "Vocalist from UK indie band + US electronic producer + star wars reference in the lyrics + retro 80s styling = Unlikely pop gem of the year so far"

[Poll #1145249]

STILL OPEN! DJ Scoobie! and Sara Paxton! (whose poll ends tomorrow)

POLLS CLOSED! Robbie Williams ended up with 6.00 (but a high st.dev of 2.52). Richard Emsley is on 5.78 BUT he's only had 9 votes so is one below my self-imposed statistical cutoff: someone go and vote for him! And finally...

HALL OF FAME! A new leader - Keke Palmer - "Music Box" with 7.27. See the full list of completed entries here.

To submit a track for the podcast panel send the MP3 to leagueofpop@gmail.com

Comments

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I keep giving everything low marks! The highest score I've given so far is a 7 and that was Silver blummin Bullet. I'm being strict but nothing up so far has really grabbed me. Maybe it's time I submitted something tho.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

2 seems very low!

I would have liked this more if it wasn't Gruff Rhys singing - I can't stand his voice, it always sounds clotted. Everything else here feels annoyingly mannered but it's a pretty good tune, so it evens out to a 5 I think.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

2 = losing patience/tolerance generally. his voice reminded me of Journey ha

how i break scores down:

0 = unspeakably terrible in every way (actually v rare)

1 = no redeeming features except something other than to do with the song directly e.g. funny name, reminds me of something much much better etc.

2 = average at best tune/production but with no standout features and scuppered by boring/annoying voice/lyrics bad enough for me to never wanna hear again. nein danke.

3 = not my usual thing but can see it's appeal, on the distant horizon. it seems good for what it is but i don't like that.

4 = as 3 but with some bonus minor amusing element

5 = typical, competent but interesting only potentially. unlikely to get a repeat play but if i hear it again i won't mind.

6 = like the sound generally but still a few things bringing it down e.g. lack of progression/boring subject/too generic in context

7 = good effort, wold play again. no real relevant drawbacks - more to do with my limitations than those of the artist. well played.

8 = i like this a lot, maybe more than i should. feel like maybe there is something going against it but not sure what yet so gets the benefit of the doubt and i may never realise it anyway. many more plays to come.

9 = excellent production and performance - something beyond just 'i like to hear this', feels important culturally in addition to me totally getting it.

10 = life/outlook changing brilliance now and forever

re: Hall of Fame

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

I can makes it like the populist - add a field to the original post that appears in the post in the sidebar (I currently add 'Verdict: X " manually) and then generate a list sorted by popularity.

i cannot stop wordpress hacking :-(

[koganbot]

The Alderaanian people highly valued education, arts, architecture, poetry, the performing arts, and peaceful resolutions to conflicts. They placed high value in their participation in the Galactic (later Imperial) Senate. Though largely a democratic society, Alderaan was headed by a hereditary constitutional monarchy, with the Royal House of Organa presiding over the High Court and legislative High Council of Alderaan. Its monarchs have variously borne the titles "Prince", "First Chairman", and "Viceroy". Traditionally, the heir of the Alderaan throne also serves in the legislative High Council of Alderaan and a term as Senator of Alderaan. Bail Organa was the leader of Alderaan and was on the planet when it was destroyed, while his heir and (secretly adopted) daughter Princess Leia served as Senator of Alderaan in the Imperial Senate.

[jel-bugle.livejournal.com]

I give this a solid 6. I would have gone for a female vocalist and given the vocals a totally robotic soaring harmony sheen. I also would have changed the title to "He Told Her On Alderaan", as it's totally obvious that the guy is lying, there is something going on! Corny two-timing Indie Fuxor!

I don't generally have a scoring schematic.

apologies

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

for being a dufus, but is there a way to actually subscribe to these tracks like a podcast?

Re: apologies

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

yes. i will get tom to include it in the next post

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

there's a little guitar fill in there that's straight out of 1983-4 (actually kind of reminds me of Genesis' yellow album). otherwise unoffensive but lacking enough of a hook or a melody or whatever

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

Oh boo. It was really disappointing! Mid-80s retro in precisely the *wrong* way - weak, tinny sound, meandering verse, not much chorus.

Perhaps I had hopes which were far too high. I was expecting bouncy electro-pop with silly sci-fi lyrics, but I was expecting it to be FUN! It wasn't, very. It was nice. That's not necessarily a good thing.

I expect that the next time I fancy bouncy electro-pop with silly sci-fi lyrics, I shall just go and listen to S.P.O.C.K. or something, who did that kind of thing quite well.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Oh no, no, no. The arrangement is cheap bluster and it doesn't go anywhere at any point, and the voice! Have I ever told poptimists how much I fucking LOATHE the Super Furry Animals? Vile band. Like the British Beck, really. "Wacky" - check the SCI-FI REFERENCE! Oh do go away you boring boring boys - when in fact they're deeply unimaginative and DULLLL. A generous [b]1[/b].

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I am slightly surprised this is getting hammered quite so badly! Fabulous Bella's reign of shame at the bottom of the Panel charts may be threatened!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I've just realised Alderaan is a Star Wars reference. I would deduct another point for that if it was possible.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

It would be hammered even more had I not voted for it myself. I really should have known better than to submit a Gruff Rhys song, I know his voice doesn't go down well round these parts, but thought the song might work.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I've not heard it yet, but it's Boom Bip's contribution I'm dreading.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

...haha well there's nothing like low expectations! This is actually quite good. Pushes quite a few of my buttons. 7. Would've been higher but for the lyric.

weeks too late to count: 3

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

this is very feeble! "nothing else is going on" indeed -- we need to do a good vs bad map of SF-in-music