Let’s start so we have some tunes to listen to on this difficult day…
In 11th place for 1 point is Pauwl with “Masquerade” by Clan Of Xymox
This is very much of its time and place ie the 80’s gothy scene, all swirling portentous keyboards and Nico-esque vocals, which I wasn’t and am not into at all I’m afraid. I’m the wrong person to judge this, but judge it I must. Sorry.
My first real experience of IRL counterculture was a goth danceclub at 13. There was a sign on the front door that just said: “NO BASEBALL CAPS.” lol
1 Like
10th spot, worth 2 points, goes to suzzer99 with “Not Too Soon” by Throwing Muses
I hadn’t heard this before, not being a big fan of theirs depite rock journos going ape over them in the 80s. I like the guitar sound but overall it doesn’t do a lot for me. Just not my bag.
1 Like
Next, in 9th place earning him 3 points is pyatnitski and “Two For Joy” by Electrelane
After an extended and stunning intro this 2005 track morphs into a bit of an Albini guitar thrash after a couple of minutes that I found disappointing. The song doesn’t seem robust enough to me to take that sort of production.
I’d like to think I can see where they wanted to go with this and that Mister Hardcore derailed their train, though I’m not mad about her voice. The keyboards at the end are great, but I wish they’d come in earlier.
2 Likes
This category turned out to be overall much stronger for me than the last, and I had a lot of trouble pushing some entries down the list that would have podium’d in other circumstances.
1 Like
Every band should have a female lead. Men can try again in a while.
1 Like
Male singers can be entertaining to watch (Jagger/Prince/Freddy) but are usually egotistical prats.
I liked pyatnitski’s track.
1 Like
8th place and 4 points goes to the absent microbet and “Queen Of The Night” aria (Magic Flute) by Mozart
An extraordinarily pure soprano voice sings the piece she’s most renowned for.
Unfortunately, as with the Shostakovich entry in the previous round I’m not a huge fan of Mozart’s operas, being more of a Wagner sort of chap, but you have to admire her skill and precision.
(Some renditions of the Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde would have won this category against any competition I can think of, and move me to tears for reasons I can’t explain:
Is the category with the twin submissions?
What will that wily micro come up with next. 
Resubmission? Yes.
Ok, let us continue…
Oh I thought you meant two people submitted the same song.
That too, so that’s another yes.
1 Like
yeah that’s what I meant
In 7th place for 5 points is smrk4 with “No Stars” by Rebakah Del Rio
A classic torch song from the pen of David Lynch surprisingly, whose quote gives me the excuse for the mandatory TMR plug: “Captain Beefheart was a really great artist, and I used to listen to Trout Mask Replica all the time.”
There.
smrk says “I’ve posted about this song more than once, I’m obsessed with it. As it has not yet been officially ranked, that duty falls on you.”
Yikes. This simple song doesn’t sound too original to me but I find it a pleasant listen. I imagine it sounds great at the end of a drunk night walking back home though the city in the rain, collar up and headphones on. On the downside it has fucking Moby on guitar.