Walrus - phatkev - The Reveal

phatkev

Hi, and welcome to my reveal thread. We have 18 contestants involved in this one and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the selections

I’ll reveal each category as I listed them in the sign up thread and I up to start the first one on Wednesday or Thursday.

I had one song selected for each category before I got any entries and one entry has matched one of those choices! Also super glad I went with Teenage Angst category, there’s some absolute chooons in there, a lot of nu metal!!

fixXxer

Starting now???

phatkev

fixXxer wrote: »

Starting now???

Ah Jaysus, give me a chance:pac:

Electric Nitwit

phatkev wrote: »

Ah Jaysus, give me a chance:pac:

Now? It's been two hours :pac:

JP Liz V1

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Now? It's been two hours :pac:

So now

phatkev

I've the first round marked up and ready to, I'll get it started tomorrow evening around 7:30 or 8

phatkev

Right, going to get this going in the next bit, I'll be starting with the place name/geographical feature round. Some very interesting tracks in the list, definitely some bands I'll be looking into int he future. I'm going to leave the bottom and top 3 until last, I've put some of the notes I jotted down with each track, but I was too lazy to flesh it out and use proper English but I hope ye will get the general gist of it.

Entrants:

JP Liz V1
Homer J. Fong
Sawduck
Also Starring LaVar Burton
CJ Maxx
The Purple Tin
Gru
Irish Aris
ShaneU
Osh
Lassykk
y0ssae1an22
Mustang Shelly
S1ippy
Rothko
Fixxxer
Barney92
Electric Nitwit

Electric Nitwit

phatkev

In 15th place we have Life in Tokyo by Japan, submitted by

Irish Aris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsbrw9Y6_ng

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: Being honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of the New Wave genre. Liked the sweeping synth sound at the start of it, but got repetitive pretty quickly. Not a massive fan of the Vocals and the chorus was a little underwhelming. Bridge is interesting, but not enough to move it any further up the list

Score: 5.8

phatkev

In 14th place, Malibu by Hole, submitted by

Lassykk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0CYB5V9e64

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: The absolute whack off 90’s of this one! Sorry Lassy but Courtney Loves voice really grates on me. Apart from that its a decent tune, but it kind of turns to background music after the first listen

Score: 6.1

Electric Nitwit

phatkev wrote: »

Thoughts: The absolute whack off 90’s of this one!

I hope you're saying that as a good thing based on what I entered!

phatkev

In 13th place - Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett, submitted by

ShaneU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mz_EXHKGHs

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: Had high hopes for this one until the Na Na Na’s came in, I cant put into words how much this put me of the song. Wilson as some set of lungs on him, some very nice funk/soul screams. I might have a different view on this after a few jars, I reckon I’d definitely find my way to the dance floor for it! The energy and vocals are great, but it’s a no on the na na na bit

Score: 6.6

lassykk

phatkev wrote: »

The absolute whack off 90’s of this one!

Oh I'm in trouble if you don't like the 90s!!!!

phatkev

In 12th place we have Rainy Night in Soho by Ronnie Drew, submitted by

S1ippy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrrCno4CBw

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Not this version

Thoughts: OK I’m going to keep this one short because Ronnie Drew is a legend and I don’t want to be disrespecting him, BUT…..A Rainy Night in Soho is one of my absolute favourite songs and I just can get behind this version of it. I don’t think Drew’s voice suites this song, I also wouldn’t be a fan of the guitar/piano going through it, there’s just something a bit off sounding about it. Damien Dempsey’s verse is nice addition.
Score: 6.7

phatkev

In 11th place we have Jackson by Johnny Cash and June Carter , submitted by

JP Liz V1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGhCsznO0S8

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: Never been a fan of Johnny Cash and in my opinion June Carter saves this song. Love her attitude and the way she belts out those first words on each line. Nice upbeat tempo that immediately has my foot tapping

Score:6.9

phatkev

In 10th place we have Corsican by The Antlers, submitted by

Homer J. Fong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fqMJCJw5Hs

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: So prior to listening to this one I’d never heard of the Antlers or this song, but as soon as the first notes hit I had the feeling I’d heard it somewhere before. After doing a bit of digging it turns out I went to see their lead singer perform in the Unitarian church in Dublin.
I think this was the hardest song to mark, I really wasn’t into the first listen, then second time around it grew on me, I listened to it again after that and I was back to not really being a fan of it. Its definitely an emotionally song and you can clearly hear that from the vocalist, but I was waiting for the song to move up a notch and it just never came.

Score:7.3

phatkev

In 9th place - Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles, submitted by

The Purple Tin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRgWBN8yt_E

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: Straight off the bat I’ve never liked the Intro to this song, and its one of those ones I cant explain. Charles voice really is iconic, silky smooth.
Backing Harmonies/melodies are unreal.
A classic song but its not going to break into the top of the list this time around

Score: 7.6

phatkev

In 8th place we have Moskau by Rammstein, submitted by

FixXxer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT714sj011w

Have I heard the band: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: Rammstein are a band I’ve always been kinda into, but wouldn’t know there whole back catalogue. Seen them live a couple of years ago and was absolutely blown away by their performance.
This is exactly the type of sound I think of when I think of a Rammstein song, Like the female vocals that accompany throughout, also love the pipe sounding synth that makes an appearance around 2:10. Tends to get slightly repetitive.

Score:7.6

phatkev

In 7th place we have Knights of Cydonia by Muse, submitted by

Gru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_sBOsh-vyI

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: Muse are a band that I would have been massively into about a decade ago, It’s a long time since I’ve listened to anything by them and this still sounds very current. The Intro is great and the guitar has a lovely tone. The Brass adds a nice element to it. Don’t like the ohhs that start around 1:45, could have done without them, drum fills are excellent. Love the build-up starting around 3:45. The song clocks in at over 6 minutes, I felt it was a little repetitive towards the end

Score:7.7

phatkev

In 6th place - I set my face to the Hillside by Tortoise, submitted by

Osh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXf4VeYVkH8

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: I’ll be very interested in this going by the intro. Love the slow build and how they keep adding in different little details throughout the song. While I mentioned that the Muse song was a bit long at 6 minutes, I could nearly keep listening to this for longer than its 6:09 runtime.
Anytime a xylophone is added to a song I’m on board! The song has the feel of a great group of musicians just jamming out and I really enjoy that dynamic. Definitely a band I’ll look further into.

Score:7.9

Electric Nitwit

Wow, haven't heard any Tortoise for a long time!
Lovely choice osh, clever fit to the category too

phatkev

In 5th place we have Jacksonville Skyline by Whiskytown , submitted by

Rothko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB10N1ecSiQ

Have I heard the band/Artist: I know Ryan Adams, never listened to Whiskytown though

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: Adams is an amazing song writer and I’ve always enjoyed listening to his stuff, “Oh My Sweet Carolina” is one of my absolute favourite song, it’s a pity he turned out to be an A grade scumbag! But this is a song contest and I’m going to judge it that way.
Big fan of this alt-country sound.
I cant reiterate how well written this song is, it bounced around between 3 and 5, I enjoyed the ones ahead of it that little bit more, but that could easily change if I were to listen to them a week from now

Score:8

phatkev

In 4th - The Rains of Castamere by Serj Tankian/Ramin Djawadi, submitted by

y0ssae1an22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlkgbwmN9mQ

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Don’t think I’ve heard this version of it

Thoughts: Serj Tankian is unreal, he really can put his voice to any type of music and still sound brilliant. This is all very cinematic, which I suppose is to be expected giving its from a TV show.
Love the build ups, especially around 2:45. The choir is also an excellent addition, really adds to that haunting feeling that goes through the song.
Shout out to Ramin Djawadi who arranged this particular version of the song, excellent job all around

Score:8.2

phatkev

So that leaves us with 6 entries left, I'm going to break the bad news first and then I'll run through the podium places

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Always so nervous when it's at Top 3 and Bottom 3 and your song hasn't appeared yet...

Electric Nitwit

So I'm in the top or bottom 3...

phatkev

In 16th place - Arlandria by The Foo Fighters, submitted by

Also Starring LaVar Burton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt3j_nm25LU

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: this is one of those it’s not you Dave, it’s me moments! The Foos are a band I could never get into no matter how hard I’ve tried. I respect that they’ve got a massive following and they churn out hit after hit and they put on amazing live performances, but I just find them a bit the same. I’ve never listened to this track , yet I feel like I’ve heard it 100 time before.

Score: 5.4

phatkev

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

Always so nervous when it's at Top 3 and Bottom 3 and your song hasn't appeared yet...

Sorry:o

Also Starring LeVar Burton

osh

Glad you liked my entry. That album TNT is one of their best and a good introduction. Wasn't sure how it would go down!

phatkev

In 17th place - Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond by Ella Roberts, submitted by

Barney92

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb8AGuD2uOI

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: Another one I wouldn’t be a huge fan of, don’t hate it by any means but its just not the type of song/vocal I enjoy listening to. The singer seems to have a really odd accent on certain phrases and it’s a bit off putting. I don’t know if this is just the version I’m listening to but the Vocals seem to get a bit muddled in the rest of the music and for an artist that seems to be primarily about her vocals it seems like an odd decision. NOTE, I listened to other version by the same artist and this issue seems to be in those as well. Sorry Ella, you’re just not for me

Score: 5.1

phatkev

In 18th place - Fields of Verdun by Sabaton, submitted by

Mustang Shelly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8G-LwWNn0

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: Sorry Shelly, this was rock bottom after one listen and never moved after listen 2 or 3! Here are some of the notes I jotted down during each listen.
• Not feeling the intro
• The explosion sound effects are another negative for me
• Big no on the vocals
• The beat kept my foot tapping and the guitar solo is nice
• Just not for me

Score:4.9

Electric Nitwit

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

So I'm in the top or bottom 3...

phatkev

Coming in 3rd place - India by Puressence, submitted by

Electric Nitwit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q85rTHBeX9I

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: This is brilliant, added to the playlist straight away! Never heard of these guys, they seem to have got lost in the crowd of the bands that came out of Manchester in the mid 90’s. Love the vocals, pure emotion. Unlike the Na’s by Wilson Pickett, I really enjoyed the La parts of this song

Score:8.7

Electric Nitwit

phatkev wrote: »

Coming in 3rd place - India by Puressence, submitted by

Electric Nitwit

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: This is brilliant, added to the playlist straight away! Never heard of these guys, they seem to have got lost in the crowd of the bands that came out of Manchester in the mid 90’s. Love the vocals, pure emotion. Unlike the Na’s by Wilson Pickett, I really enjoyed the La parts of this song

Score:8.7

Ah brilliant, delighted you loved it
They really did get lost in the crowd, they were probably my favourite band for a time. Their first two albums in particular are cracking

phatkev

In 2nd place - America by Simon and Garfunkel, submitted by

Sawduck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo2ZsAOlvEM

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: Its been a long time since I’ve heard this song and its still as good as ever. Paul Simon really is in the elite category of songwriters. The lyrics start of so optimistic, but don’t take long to turn to sadness. Love the use of Major 7ths. Toms are a really under-utilised part of drums, used to great effect here. Harmonies are really beautiful. There’s really not much you can complain about on this song. That last run of the chorus is class

Score:9.5

ShaneU

Sounds like a bad Radiohead song, not a fan

(Puressence not the amazing S&G obviously)

Sawduck

2nd place, not to bad, i'll take that but one of these days i will see my name at the top of the leaderboard,maybe

phatkev

In 1st place we have Rainy Night in Soho by The Pogues, submitted by

CJ Maxx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSyL-TrD_2g

Have I heard the band/Artist: Yes

Have I heard the song: Yes

Thoughts: This is just perfect, I had a list of the 6 songs that I’d submit for each round and this is the one I chose for the Places round. Great choice CJ, I feel a bit sorry for S1ippy as they chopped and changed between this and the Ronnie Drew version, before settling on the latter

Score: 10

Electric Nitwit

ShaneU wrote: »

Sounds like a bad Radiohead song, not a fan

(Puressence not the amazing S&G obviously)

There's no such thing so maybe your computer's on mute

Electric Nitwit

Nice one kev, great reveal

Highest place song you hadn't heard of is a special prize, right?

phatkev

Name Rd1
JP Liz V1 8
Homer J. Fong 9
Sawduck 17
Also Starring LaVar Burton 3
CJ Maxx 18
The Purple Tin 10
Gru 12
Irish Aris 4
ShaneU 6
Osh 13
Lassykk 5
y0ssae1an22 15
Mustang Shelly 1
S1ippy 7
Rothko 14
Fixxxer 11
Barney92 2
Electric Nitwit 16


Scores after round 1, thanks for joining in this evening:)

Tauriel

phatkev wrote: »

In 18th place - Fields of Verdun by Sabaton, submitted by

Mustang Shelly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8G-LwWNn0

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: Sorry Shelly, this was rock bottom after one listen and never moved after listen 2 or 3! Here are some of the notes I jotted down during each listen.
• Not feeling the intro
• The explosion sound effects are another negative for me
• Big no on the vocals
• The beat kept my foot tapping and the guitar solo is nice
• Just not for me

Score:4.9

Oh shoots, I forgot there is a history version and non history version (i.e. no weird intro and no gun fight throughout, plus approx 1 minute less run time), I've actually never listened to the history version before .

Rothko

A few songs here that I haven't heard of so I'll have to check them out.

Rainy Night In Soho is a worthy winner of this round. Fantastic song.

phatkev

mustang shelly wrote: »

Oh shoots, I forgot there is a history version and non history version (i.e. no weird intro and no gun fight throughout, plus approx 1 minute less run time), I've actually never listened to the history version before .

Ah sh1t, my bad never even realised there was two versions, just went with the first one I found! I dont think it would have moved it off the bottom spot if thats a consolation:o

phatkev

phatkev wrote: »

In 10th place we have Corsican by The Antlers, submitted by

Homer J. Fong

Have I heard the band/Artist: No

Have I heard the song: No

Thoughts: So prior to listening to this one I’d never heard of the Antlers or this song, but as soon as the first notes hit I had the feeling I’d heard it somewhere before. After doing a bit of digging it turns out I went to see their lead singer perform in the Unitarian church in Dublin.
I think this was the hardest song to mark, I really wasn’t into the first listen, then second time around it grew on me, I listened to it again after that and I was back to not really being a fan of it. Its definitely an emotionally song and you can clearly hear that from the vocalist, but I was waiting for the song to move up a notch and it just never came.

Score:7.3

I was at that Unitarian Church gig too! His voice is incredible, albeit not perhaps one you could listen to for too long in one go. I've a patchy history with the Antlers live though; saw them in the Olympia theatre a few years ago but had to leave before the end because I started feeling unwell (and it wasn't alcohol-induced). And then a couple of years later I was supposed to see them at the Sugar Club when I got a migraine the day of the gig - thankfully was just about able to use my mental faculties to find a buyer on Toutless, before heading home and feeling sorry for myself.

If I was only destined to get an average score, I'm at least glad I gave you the one that was hardest to mark!

Tauriel

phatkev wrote: »

Ah sh1t, my bad never even realised there was two versions, just went with the first one I found! I dont think it would have moved it off the bottom spot if thats a consolation:o

Ah no worries, I don't particularly like that song anyway. I am doing my best to select songs other than those from my beloved Nightwish as I think people may be sick of me nominating them all of the time

(it killed me not to nominate Over The Hills And Far Away).

Electric Nitwit

mustang shelly wrote: »

I don't particularly like that song anyway

Interesting tactic :pac:

Also Starring LeVar Burton

mustang shelly wrote: »

(it killed me not to nominate Over The Hills And Far Away).

I've got that one covered for rainbowtrouts Eurovision Tournament.

Tauriel

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Interesting tactic :pac:

It is on an album that I have by them and I normally turn it off before I get to that song

Tauriel

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

I've got that one covered for rainbowtrouts Eurovision Tournament.

What's this Eurovision tournament?

I saw the thread title and assumed it was based on entries to the Eurovision. You can nominate non-contest songs?