Tuesday Top Ten: "Letter" Songs

Top ten songs this Tuesday with the title containing the word "Letter". I've got 20 songs in my ITunes, chopped it down to my favorite ten for a Tuesday Top Ten. Click on the song title for a listen. Enjoy your Tuesday!

1. The Box Tops or Joe Cocker-The Letter
This is the ultimate letter perhaps. The narrator wants to get a ticket to an aer-o-plane because his baby just wrote him a letter saying "Baby, I just can't live without you." The narrator says he's coming home which means he's been estranged from his love until the letter says she wants him back. It's a letter for those who believe in second chances through the mail.

2. Wilco-Box Full Of Letters
These letters are in a box that Jeff Tweedy from Wilco sings about. He thinks that the person would be interested in reading them even though they're all addressed to Tweedy. He has troubles writing his mind the way he wants it to read. The listener may believe he has a case of writer's block or these letters are his last ditch effort to get his love back...if she would only read the letters in the box!

3. The Cure-A Letter To Elise
This is a letter written by Robert Smith of The Cure to a love of his named Elise. It's not a pleasant letter as Smith reminds her that the two of them just can't go on anymore acting out the same the way they act out. He thought Elise was the girl he always dreamed about but then the promises broke and the make believe ran out. He reminds her there's nothing she can do or say to change his mind. Smith's breaking her heart with this letter even though he's the one who can't hold the tears the way Elise does. It's one big heartbreaking rejection letter.

4. Living Colour-Open Letter To A Landlord
This is a letter written by Living Colour's Corey Glover to his landlord who is burning homes down in the slum to receive more blood money. Glover reminds him that you can tear a building down, but you can't erase the memory...they have a value that his landlord just can't see. A very true and teary eyed sentiment.

5. The White Stripes or Son House-Death Letter
This is a letter received by a man who learns of the death of the woman he loves through a letter delivered to him early in the morning. The narrator later views her body on the cooling board at the morgue, attends her funeral, and returns to his home in a state of depression. Out of all the artists that have covered this delta blues cover, The White Stripes perform my favorite cover of "Death Letter" found on their 2000 LP "De Stijl".

6. The Wallflowers-Letters From The Wasteland
These are letters that Jakob Dylan is sending back from the wasteland home. Where the wasteland is located is unclear but he does drive the point home that it's a place where he slowdances to this romance on his own.

7. R.E.M.-E-Bow The Letter
This letter is written from Michael Stipe of R.E.M. to who some believe is to the late actor Rivers Phoenix. The single's sleeve has something written in small text at the bottom of it that says "For River." It's a letter that was never received because it was never sent.

8. Ned's Atomic Dustbin-Capital Letters
These letters are a figure of speech used by Ned's Atomic Dustbin to express how they can read a girl's thoughts...in capital letters. The lyrics go on to say that "I've lost it since I met her" alluding to the fact that those capital letters are more poignant than lower case ones.

9. The Beastie Boys-An Open Letter To NYC
This letter is written from the Beastie Boys to the largest city in America, New York City. They muse about how much they love their hometown and also touch on the effects of the city since the 9/11 attacks. All 5 boroughs are mentioned in the songs' chorus which also was the name of their 2004 album "To The 5 Boroughs."

10. Fugazi-Dear Justice Letter
This letter from Fugazi is a tribute to Justice William Brennan of The Supreme Court who was retiring around the same time as the band released their 1991 LP "Steady Diet Of Nothing." In a passage about the album, they note “the song mourned Brennan’s passing as ‘the last fair deal going down,’ a line from a blues standard and defiantly barked, ‘I won’t go die politely.’” For more visit justicebrennan.com.

Top Artists Of All Time: Division 20-Britpop/Brit-Indie

With the Olympics starting today, station to station decided to show support to our friends in London with a focus on Britpop/Brit-Indie artists. Each Friday we focus on a different genre as part of our Top Artists Of All Time series. Ballots are sent to 20 judges who vote for their favorite 6 artists. Points are tallied based on voting position and the Top 8 are featured. Those artists also move on to the semifinals round which will pit winning artists from different genres against each other. Out of the 20 ballots, 16 votes (80%) were cast. From the 32 artists, 24 received a vote. 5 artists received first place votes.

Oasis swept up the Union Jack crown of the 32 artists this week receiving the most points and the most 1st place votes. They also moved into the coveted Top 16 on the overall leader board with their high point total (15th to be exact). The Smiths rallied behind the Gallagher brothers to take second place. If voters weren't playing to the Gallaghers or Morrissey and company, they were giving praise to other British icons like Blur or The Stone Roses who both received first place votes on a few ballots. A long career of solid albums helped The Charlatans nab the 5th place position and recent acts who've had success from the U.K., Kaiser Chiefs and Muse, also got their fare share of votes this week.

Perhaps the real drama was tabulating the votes and finding just how many artists were so close to taking the eighth spot but were left trying to grab it without any luck. Artist with 3 plus votes who didn't have enough votes to make The Top 8 included Snow Patrol, Jesus Jones, Travis, Bloc Party, Pulp, and Supergrass. That left one artist standing: It's Ned's Atomic Dustbin (it almost feels like a holiday should be named for their victory)! Only three votes, but a second and third place vote along with a sixth place vote was worth more in points than any of the other artists mentioned above for the 8th place spot.

You can keep up with The Top Artists Of All Time (32 artists, 32 Genres) by clicking the tab at the top of the home page to see who's moving on to the semi-final round of 256. Below are The Top 8 artists from the Britpop/Brit-Indie division (with total points and votes received), the artists who just missed or had votes cast, and the ballots randomly placed at the bottom. Thanks again to those who voted this week!

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Division 20: Britpop/Brit-Indie (16 Ballots)

Top 8 (Points and Total Number Of Votes)

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1. Oasis 59.5 (12)

Key Albums: Definitely Maybe, (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

5 Essential Tracks: Live Forever, Supersonic, Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova, Don't Go Away

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2. The Smiths 51.5 (12)

Key Albums: The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead, Strangeways Here We Come

5 Essential Tracks: This Charming Man, What Difference Does It Make?, How Soon Is Now? There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, Panic

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3. Blur 36 (9)

Key Albums: Parklife, Blur, Think Tank

5 Essential Tracks: There's No Other Way, For Tomorrow, Girls & Boys, Song 2, Tender

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4. The Stone Roses 32.5 (8)

Key Albums: The Stone Roses, Second Coming

5 Essential Tracks: She Bangs The Drum, Fools Gold, I Wanna Be Adored, I Am The Resurrection, Love Spreads

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5. The Charlatans 25.5 (7)

Key Albums: Some Friendly, The Charlatans, Tellin' Stories

5 Essential Tracks: The Only One, Weirdo, Can't Get Out Of Bed, North Country Boy, My Beautiful Friend

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6. Kaiser Chiefs 17.5 (6)

Key Albums: Employment, Off With Their Heads

5 Essential Tracks: I Predict A Riot, Oh My God, Ruby, The Angry Mob, Never Miss A Beat

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7. Muse 14 (5)

Key Albums: Origin Of Symmetry, Black Holes And Revelations

5 Essential Tracks: Muscle Museum, Plug In Baby, Hysteria, Starlight, Knights Of Cydonia

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8. Ned's Atomic Dustbin 10 (3)

Key Albums: Godfodder, Are You Normal?

5 Essential Tracks: Grey Cell Green, Happy, Not Sleeping Around, Walking Through Syrup, Stuck

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Missed The Cut (Total Number Of Points And Votes):
Snow Patrol 9 (4),  Jesus Jones 9 (4), Travis 8.5 (3), Bloc Party 8 (3), James 7 (2), Pulp 6 (3), Supergrass 6 (3), Elastica 6 (2), EMF 6 (2), Happy Mondays 5 (2), The Libertines 5 (1), The La's 4 (1),  Elbow 3 (1), Kasabian 3 (1), Super Furry Animals 2 (1),  Robbie Williams 2 (1)

No Votes:
Ash, Cast, Catatonia, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, Ocean Color Scene, Stereophonics, The Boo Radleys

Ballots:
1-1. Oasis 2. Ned's Atomic Dustbin 3. Travis 4. Blur 5. Elastica 6. Happy Mondays
2-1. Oasis 2. Kaiser Chiefs 3. Muse 4. Elbow 5. Blur 6. The Smiths
3-1. Bloc Party 2. Blur 3. Muse 4. Pulp 5. Super Furry Animals 6. The Smiths
4-1. Oasis 2. The Smiths 3. The La's 4. James 5. EMF 6. Snow Patrol
5-1. The Stone Roses 2. The Charlatans 3. Blur 4. The Smiths 5. Supergrass 6. Oasis
6-1. The Smiths 2. Oasis 3. The Stone Roses 4. The Charlatans 5. Blur 6. Kaiser Chiefs
7-1. The Smiths 2. The Libertines 3. Blur 4. The Stone Roses 5. Supergrass 6. Travis
8-1. The Smiths 2. Kaiser Chiefs 3. James 4. Kasabian 5. Pulp 6. Bloc Party
9-1. Oasis 2. Blur 3. Elastica 4. Jesus Jones 5. Supergrass 6. Ned's Atomic Dustbin
10-1. Oasis 2. Blur 3. EMF 4. Jesus Jones 5. Muse 6. Snow Patrol
11-1. Oasis 2. The Smiths 3. Happy Mondays 4. The Stone Roses 5. The Charlatans 6. Pulp
12-1. Blur 2. Oasis 3. Snow Patrol 4. Muse 5. Kaiser Chiefs 6. Jesus Jones
13-1. The Smiths 2. Oasis 3. The Charlatans 4. Snow Patrol 5. The Stone Roses 6. Muse
14-(No Order) The Charlatans, Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Travis
15-1. The Stone Roses 2. The Charlatans 3. Ned's Atomic Dustbin 4. The Smiths 5. Jesus Jones 6. Kaiser Chiefs
16-1. The Smiths 2. The Stone Roses 3. Oasis 4. The Charlatans 5. Robbie Williams 6. Bloc Party

Weezer-Pinkerton (JHO Hall Of Fame)

Anyone who has followed Weezer through the years knows the story. An unbelievably successful debut leads to enormous expectations for a follow up album. Lead man Rivers Cuomo decides to put his heart on his sleeve and pens ten songs that abandon the debut's sunny disposition for more anguished and brutal pastures. Cuomo spilled out his guts in his songwriting and no one could give a care. "Pinkerton" was panned and almost forgotten as the 90's wore on even being named one of the worst albums of the year by Rolling Stone in 1996. So Weezer went on hiatus, left behind to be seen as a band that capitalized on the strengths of their videos from their debut. It took a few years until the public and the press came around to how good of an album "Pinkerton" really is.

For me, I liked "Pinkerton" when it came out in 1996. I thought it was raw and sounded more like a working band rather than the polished sound of their debut album. I was floored to see how bad the general public disliked it and, like Rivers Cuomo, decided to put it at the back of the CD rack and pull it out for special occasions (like drunken rides home from the bar or rainy weekends where the world seemed to be falling apart). It was cathartic for me to listen to. Here's a guy, Cuomo, letting it all out and not afraid to show his feelings. And the music was quirky and murky all at the same time.

So it seems a bit cliche now to say how great of an album "Pinkerton" is. "Why Bother?" I mean, without the resurgence of Weezer fever at the start of the century from rabid fans clinging to their hopes that Cuomo would release another gem, would we even be talking about Weezer today? Would we have been graced with several disappointing albums and singles since the start of the century? Let's say Cuomo decided not to release anything else with the new found popularity for the band after the commercial failure of "Pinkerton". How would "Pinkerton" stand up against other classics from the 90s? Well, let's take a moment to look at the ten tracks and why "Pinkerton" goes down as one of my favorite albums of all time.

1. Tired Of Sex
Beginning with a loud, tribal beat out of the gate from Patrick Wilson and followed with a Cars' like synthesizer from Matt Sharp, Cuomo recites about how he's become tired of meaningless affairs with groupies. He hits the point home when he hoarsely sings: "I'm beat, beat red, ashamed of what I said" Then he lends a blistering guitar solo to make the skin jump off the back of your neck. All those songs meant to sound cool about the girls you could pick up just by being in a band in the late 80s..this is the exact opposite..and it rocks with as much as purpose.

2. Getchoo
And if being "Tired Of Sex" literally wasn't enough, then the lines "This is beginning to hurt/This is beginning to be serious/It used to be a game/Now it's a crying shame" shows just how serious Cuomo is. No more fun and games and the quirky mischief in the backing music lends to a claustrophobic fun house that Weezer has whipped up.

3.  No Other One
It works the pace down a bit for effect but "No Other One" is every bit as self loathing as their debut hit "Say It Ain't So". If anything it's more direct than "Say It Ain't So" as Cuomo begins the song stating "My girl is a liar/But I'll stand beside her." We've all been in a relationship we're ashamed of at one time or another. On "No Other One", Cuomo provides the soundtrack for those embarrassing moments.

4. Why Bother
Clocking in at just over two minutes, "Why Bother" is quick and to the point. A song about giving up hope on a relationship to the point of sticking up for it being useless. It's the answer to the liar he sang about on "No Other One". The brevity of songs like "Why Bother" was unheard of in 1996 where albums tipped the 70 minute mark on average. No wonder "Pinkerton" was looked at as short and a toss away. But songs like "Why Bother" packed enough punch to get the message across. Ramones-style.

5. Across The Sea
The beginning of the four pack of songs I love from "Pinkerton" the most (the gooey center), "Across The Sea" was written by Cuomo after getting an unidentified letter from a Japanese fan. It's his response back to the anonymous fan ("I got your letter, you got this song") but could also be construed as someone dealing with a long distance relationship. And the three part harmonies by Cuomo, Sharp and guitarist Brian Bell come off gorgeously in the chorus. When Cuomo breaks in the middle of the chorus to state "I could never touch you, I think it would be wrong" it's done in a bittersweet and romantic tone.

6. The Good Life
As I inch closer to middle age, I never thought I'd fully realize the significance until now of "The Good Life". It always seemed awkward singing along about shaking booty and yearning to get back to the good life when I was 22. I've never been one who fully encompasses wanting to get back to a life that is harder to attain as you get older with more responsibilities, but I at least understand the message more now. And it's such a treat to sing to when the chorus breaks down slowly to it's final build. Some things truly never change.

7. El Scorcho

The real winning element behind the loosely arranged "El Scorcho" is the wordplay. Half-Japanese girls, cello shredding, the epitome of Public Enemy, a Green Day concert, Grunge Leg drop New Jack through a press table, Cio Cio San, you would keep my fingernails clean...but that's just a stupid dream, I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the bacon, etc. Always make sure when you're by yourself to give out the nonsensical scream at the end of each verse and to sing along like a drunken sailor to the chorus. "El Scorcho"...why wasn't this song a smash hit???? Damn MTV.

8. Pink Triangle
Cuomo finally finds the woman he wants to settle down with and maybe get married to someday only to find out that she's a lesbian. Unheard of song material from the 90s? And the chorus to "Pink Triangle" is ironically the most singable on all of "Pinkerton" delivered with a conviction that is truly bittersweet. If you ever have belted out the chorus to "Pink Triangle" you know how fun it is to sing along to, not just because of the wordplay, but because of the emotion behind it. "I'm dumb she's a lesbian, I thought I had found the one. We were good as married in my mind, but married in my mind's no good." Even when Cuomo waxes "If everyone's a little queer? Why can't she be a little straight", you want to put your hand on his shoulder and tell him it's not the end of the world mate. Better luck next go round.

9. Falling For You
I guess even the best of albums have a throw away. "Falling For You" could be considered it on "Pinkerton" if it wasn't for such a bone crushing chorus and Cuomo's awkward stance on finally finding his true love. Perhaps? "What could you possibly see in little ol' 3-chord me?/I do like you, and you like me too!/I'm ready, let's do it baby." No, it's too damn quirky and fun to be a throwaway. 

10. Butterfly
So after 9 songs of quirky heavy emo pop turns, Cuomo delivers a confessional acoustic number at the end of "Pinkerton". If it seems odd, which it is, it still somehow fits perfectly and caps an album of messy, self loathing and awkward confessions off beautifully. When Cuomo gravely states "I'm sorry" at the end of "Butterfly" you ponder if he's asking for apologies from listeners for letting them into his cathartic 34 minute opus. The answer would be no apologies needed, we enjoyed the ride.

I'll never expect another "Pinkerton" from Weezer (especially when they're releasing stuff like "Raditude" and an album named after a cast member from the TV show "Lost"). I just enjoy the mess of a lovely album it is and don't expect it to be copied again.

Five years after Pinkerton's release, Cuomo described the album to Entertainment Weekly: "It's like getting really drunk at a party and spilling your guts in front of everyone and feeling incredibly great and cathartic about it, and then waking up the next morning and realizing what a complete fool you made of yourself." Really, we've all been there before Rivers. I personally want to say thank you for committing it to tape for me to enjoy for 16 years and many more to come.There will truly be "No Other One."

New Music Reviews: Dirty Projectors, Fiona Apple, Frank Ocean, Ty Segall Band, Beachwood Sparks

Dirty Projectors-Swing Lo Magellan

Domino Records

Grade: 8.08 (B-)

Available At: emusic, Amazon MP3 & CD

My first introduction to Dirty Projectors was 2009's "Bitte Orca" mainly because of the hype it received and because of my insatiable appetite to find out what makes an album with so much acclaim...tick. I found it completely soulless on my first few listens. It was mechanical and even a little faceless. But time changed my feelings for it and I found quite a few charms with it. Acclaimed, I could see why. A favorite of mine? Not by a long shot. So I was mildly looking forward to their follow up "Swing Lo Magellan" to see if would win me over right off the bat and the answer again would be it hasn't. Main man Dave Longstreth tries to throw in a little more warmth and human feeling on the album that works well right off the bat. The first three songs are knockouts right out of the gate. "Offspring Are Blank" contains a phenomenal chorus with fuzzed out guitars, "About To Die" features great female backing vocals and a disjointed drumbeat that recollects a lot of their previous album's charms, and "Gun Has No Trigger" shuffles along with great energy on a danceable like backbone. By the time the title track shows itself the rest of the album reveals itself to be a meandering mess. The ideas are there and maybe after several more listens they can reveal themselves to be winners. But for an album that is being totted as the band's most accessible, I'm not buying it. If this is Dirty Projectors being accessible then I wish they would have thrown in some more quirks to make it more memorable. In trying to be more human they've lost the ability to thrill. The doo wops backing vocals are a nice showcase but the album is too smart for its own good. But then again, hasn't that always been Dirty Projectors calling card? Could impress more on repeated listens. That's also a Dirty Projectors calling card as well.

JHO Picks: Offspring Are Blank, About To Die, Gun Has No Trigger, Unto Caesar
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 Fiona Apple-The Idler Wheel...

Clean Slate, Epic

Grade: 9.28 (A)

Available At: emusic, Amazon MP3 & CD

If you want an album where every album's attention to detail is nailed down to the core and where raw emotion takes the forefront on the stage, then by all means...you need to pickup Fiona Apple's latest album The Idler Wheel... Apple as at that point now where she can release something every six years and her adoring fan base can wait on pins and needles to see what she's crafted. The Idler Wheel won't disappoint them. You can hear Apple struggle with raw emotion on every one of the album's 10 tracks from the beginning Native American chants in the chorus of "Every Single Night" where Apple admits every single night is a fight with my brain to the closer "Hot Knife" where Apple's voice is overdubbed countless times along with her sister's guest appearance to accentuate the sensuality in her voice to great effect. In between she's out for blood with a troubled relationship on the raw "Valentine", she's throwing out her own personal disorder on "Werewolf" which out of nowhere children's voices screaming come in to heighten the mayhem and she lets her own voice shine in jazz standard fashion on "Left Alone". If the album's sparseness of Apple and a piano feels like it's leaving you in the parking lot on the first few listens, you'll soon be in for the show after repeated listens. Is is worth the hype? Probably. I enjoy it. But you'll have to be giving your devotion and attention to reap the benefits. Apple's raw emotional approach should win you over at that point.


JHO Picks: Every Single Night, Werewolf, Periphery, Hot Knife
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Frank Ocean-Channel Orange

Def Jam

Grade: 8.87 (B+)

Available At: emusic, Amazon MP3 & CD

This will be on many end of the year lists from critics far and wide as album of the year. I can't say that I disagree at all. What Frank Ocean has delivered is an album that is already being hailed as a masterstroke of contemporary R & B and comparisons to Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" have been thrown around as well. Ocean has a commanding voice and his themes he touches on "Channel Orange" are way mature and thought out in a genre that has been begging for a new spokesperson for years now. But what makes Ocean stand out? To me, he's a natural story teller, willing to delve into topics but never beating you over the head to get the point across. It's true that the themes he's dealing with from love, social classes and money have been dealt with countless times before, but it's the way Ocean delivers his meassge across that makes "Channel Orange" a winner. And the music delivers a great soundtrack for Ocean's vision whether he's singing falsetto on the intimate "Thinkin' 'Bout You", talking to a taxi cab driver about his impression on life on "Bad Religion" or comparing the Egyptians to modern day prostitutes on the extended jam of "Pyramids", Ocean has kept things varied and exciting through the course of the album. A wide array of guest vocal spots heighten the bigness of "Channel Orange" lending a helping hand without ever overshadowing Ocean's well thought out songs. Perhaps the only thing that will keep me from having it as a forerunner for album of the year is that I'm not the biggest R & B fan around. But I continue to admire 'Channel Orange" for all of it's self assured swagger and emotion. I'll be listening to it for the rest of 2012. That's something I haven't said about an R & B release in over a decade.

JHO Picks: Thinkin' 'Bout You, Super Rich Kids, Pyramids, Bad Religion, Forest Gump
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Ty Segall Band-Slaughterhouse

In The Red Records

Grade: 8.98 (A-)

Available At: emusic, Amazon MP3 & CD

Countless EPs, LPs, and other efforts have left Ty Segall as a man that releases so much that a casual consumer can not no where to start (really, I had no idea where to start as it seems like he's releasing something each season.) So after giving his latest effort with White Fence called "Hair" a few proper listens and seeing Mr. Segall at Pitchfork Music Festival last weekend, I decided to dive into his first album with Ty Segall Band entitled "Slaughterhouse." Working with his touring band, Segall capitalizes on "Hair"'s uncanny strengths of delivering just enough 60s garage punk to make you want to hear more. And with a title like "Slaughterhouse" you may expect a lot of blood on the floor which you do get in some places like on the opener full on assault of "Death" or the closing epic "Fuzz Out Wars" which is exactly what the title advertises...ten minutes of guitar fuzz and distortion. But in between, the listener will be delighted to find a hodgepodge of abrasive 60s inspired songs that recollect early MC5 and Blue Cheer in pure execution. "Wave Goodbye" is a mid-tempo power-driver that relentlessly churns forward on Black Sabbath riffs, "Tell Me What's Inside Your Heart" is 60s pop run through a filter of haze and undeniably catchy guitar riffs, while songs like the anarchic "That's The Bag I'm In" and the driving force powering "I Bought My Eyes" are uncanny gems that feel unprocessed. A lot of "Slaughterhouse" is a throwback to unbridled energy found in old classics from a time that time has forgotten. Where many bands or artists are creating their next big move in their bedroom with computers, there's something refreshing about the pure mayhem that Segall has harnessed here with a live fleshed out sound and band. It's not for the faint of heart and I may not always be in the mood for "Slaughterhouse" but it's something that just can't be denied. Put this on repeat for me for awhile. Exhausting mayhem.

JHO Picks: I Bought My Eyes, Tell Me What's Inside Your Heart, Wave Goodbye
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Beachwood Sparks-The Tarnished Gold

Sub Pop

Grade: 8.21 (B)

Available At: emusic, Amazon MP3 & CD

"Time rolls In, brings me back with my friends" is a line from "Sparks Fly Again" that pretty much sums up the return of California alt country act Beachwood Sparks. Time can fly by. Their new album "The Tarnished Gold" makes its appearance after a lengthy eleven year hiatus for the band. And it's a welcome return to breezy sun lit fall afternoons where enjoying the ride down the highway is more important than the car that you're riding in. If you've been missing pretty slide guitars and thoughtful harmonies in your alternative country music, then Beachwood Sparks is back to provide them. They all run their course through thirteen tracks of Neil Young "Harvest" era like California country music. The high points such as the opening "Forget The Song", "Sparks Fly Again" and "Earl Jean" are gracious enough to help you ignore some half baked mid section songs that never quite take full flight. If you're looking for pretty and carefree for the rest of the summer without much thought processing, then I recommend it. Then again, if you find "The Tarnished Gold" too lightweight and inoffensive than I understand this might not be your bag. Either way, it's a pleasant ride.

JHO Picks: Forget The Songs, Sparks Fly Again, Talk About Lonesome

Top Artists Of All Time: Division 19-R&B/Soul

This week, we focus strictly on R & B and Soul as we continue our weekly addition of 32 Artists in 32 Genres. Each week voters chose six artists from a ballot of 32. Points are given to where they are placed on the ballot they return or each artist receives 3.5 points a piece if no order is requested. Points are tallied and The Top 8 are featured each Friday on station to station. A semifinal round will begin this autumn pitting the semifinalists against each other. Out of the 20 voters, 15 (75%) cast ballots in the the R & B/Soul Division. Out of the 32 artists, 20 received at least one vote. 6 different artists received first place votes.

Marvin Gaye takes the top honor this week receiving the most points. His 56.5 points on 12 votes was enough to position him in the 16th place on The Top Artists Of All Time leader board. Gaye had high vote placements with 3 first place votes and 6 second place votes. Second place was tight with Stevie Wonder edging out Michael Jackson by half a point. Wonder and Jackson also each received three first place votes between them. Only 2.5 points separated the 4th through 7th place positions. Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Al Green and The Temptations all received several votes and very respectable point totals to move ahead. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles got 5 votes and enough points to finish comfortably in the 8 spot ahead of The Jackson 5 and Tina Turner.

You can keep up with The Top Artists Of All Time (32 artists, 32 Genres) by clicking the tab at the top of the home page to see who's moving on to the semi-final round of 256. Below are The Top 8 artists from the R & B/Soul Division (with total points and votes received), the artists who just missed or had votes cast, and the ballots randomly placed at the bottom. Thanks again to those who voted this week! 

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R&B/Soul (15 Ballots)

Top 8 (Total Number Of Points And Votes)

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1. Marvin Gaye 56.5 (12)

Key Albums: What's Going On, Let's Get It On, Here My Dear

5 Essential Tracks: I Heard It Through The Grapevine, What's Going On, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Let's Get It On, Sexual Healing

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2. Stevie Wonder 43 (11)

Key Albums: Talking Book, Innervisions, Songs In The Key Of Life

5 Essential Tracks: Uptight (Everything's Alright), Superstition, Living For The City, Higher Ground, Sir Duke

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3. Michael Jackson 42.5 (10)

Key Albums: Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad

5 Essential Tracks: Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough, Rock With You, Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller

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4. Otis Redding 26.5 (9)

Key Albums: Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul, Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul, The Dock Of The Bay

5 Essential Tracks: I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now), I Can Turn You Loose, Try A Little Tenderness, Tramp, (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay

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5. Aretha Franklin 26.5 (7)

Key Albums: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, Lady Soul, Amazing Grace

5 Essential Tracks: I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You), Respect, Chain Of Fools, Think, I Say A Little Prayer

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6. Al Green 25 (7)

Key Albums: Let's Stay Together, I'm Still In Love With You, Call Me (Come Back Home)

5 Essential Tracks: Tired Of Being Alone, Let's Stay Together, Love And Happiness, Call Me, Take Me To The River

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7. The Temptations 24 (8)

Key Albums: The Temptations Sing Smokey, Psychedelic Shack

5 Essential Tracks: My Girl, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today), Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), Papa Was A Rolling Stone

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8. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 17 (5)

Key Albums: Going To A Go-Go

5 Essential Tracks: Shop Around, You've Really Got A Hold On Me, The Tracks Of My Tears, Going To A Go-Go, The Tears Of A Clown

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Missed The Cut (Total Number Of Points And Votes):
The Jackson Five 11.5 (4), Tina Turner 6.5 (2), Four Tops 6 (2), Sade 5 (2), Sam Cooke 4 (3), Sam And Dave 4 (1), Jackie Wilson 4 (1), The Supremes 3.5 (1), Gladys Knight & The Pips 3.5 (1),  The Staples Singers 2 (1), Roberta Flack 2 (1), Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 2 (1), Dusty Springfield 1 (1)

No Votes:
Archie Bell & The Drells, Bobby Womack, Dobie Gray, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, Percy Sledge, The Chi-Lites, The Delfonics, The Dramatics, The Impressions, The Isley Brothers, Wilson Pickett

Ballots:
1-1. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Jackie Wilson 4. Al Green 5. Harold Melvin & The Bluetones 6. The Temptations
2-1. Michael Jackson 2. Aretha Franklin 3. Sade 4. Marvin Gaye 5. Al Green 6. Otis Redding
3-1. Marvin Gaye 2. Michael Jackson 3. Stevie Wonder 4. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 5. The Jackson 5 6. Sade
4-1. Michael Jackson 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Stevie Wonder 4. Tina Turner 5. The Staples Singers 6. The Temptations
5-(No Order) Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson, The Temptations, The Supremes
6-1. Otis Redding 2. Aretha Franklin 3. Sam And Dave 4. Al Green 5. Stevie Wonder 6. Michael Jackson
7-1. Marvin Gaye 2. Four Tops 3. Al Green 4. Otis Redding 5. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 6. Dusty Springfield
8-1. Stevie Wonder 2. The Jackson 5 3. The Temptations 4. Al Green 5. Otis Redding 6. Sam Cooke
9-1. Stevie Wonder 2. Michael Jackson 3. Otis Redding 4. Aretha Franklin 5. Marvin Gaye 6. Sam Cooke
10-1. Marvin Gaye 2. Stevie Wonder 3. The Temptations 4. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 5. Michael Jackson 6. Otis Redding
11-1. The Temptations 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Aretha Franklin 4. Otis Redding 5. Sam Cooke 6. Four Tops
12-(No Order) Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Tina Turner
13-1. Stevie Wonder 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Al Green 4. Michael Jackson 5. Aretha Franklin 6. The Temptations
14-1. Al Green 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Michael Jackson 4. Otis Redding 5. Roberta Flack 6. Stevie Wonder
15-1. Michael Jackson 2. Marvin Gaye 3. Aretha Franklin 4. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 5. Stevie Wonder 6. The Jackson 5

Pitchfork Music Festival, Day 3, July 15, 2012

Just a quick summary of another great Sunday at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park in Chicago. Lots of great music again this year as the lineup went with a boatload of high adrenaline acts in the afternoon giving way to the most carefree act I've ever seen at the end of the night. Here's to hoping the festival continues to bring an array of upcoming acts to future festivals. Good times are always had on a 90 degree day in the Chicago sun.
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What's Up With The Early Afternoon Moan?: Dirty Beaches

If you had a hangover from Saturday, Dirty Beaches made sure you felt it some more. Gregorian chants....Ugh. _______________________________________________________________________________

Better Live Than On Record: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Their debut album has some fun hooks but Ruban Nielson can really brought some new life with his guitar work on many of these songs. The guy can play guitar really well. Ffunny Friends was perfect in the early afternoon heat.
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Favorite Act: Thee Oh Sees

They just killed it. Looked like they were having a ball with it and played with more heart than I've seen anyone do in quite awhile. Getting your groove on with them in the mid afternoon sun made everyone sweat, just the way a show should go.Lead singer John Dwyer kept the energy rolling with fantastic support from his mates.You could say there at their peak right now. So see them if they come to town near you.
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Best Showmanship: Ty Segall

Just getting into Ty recently, I was surprised how the guy was all over the map. Leading a chant of Dwyer for from Thee Oh Sees standing at the wing of the stage. Leading an Oi Oi Oi chant which surely wouldn't lead to an AC/DC cover..would it? Dirty Deeds? At Pitchfork? Impromptu crowd surfing? What matters in the end is the guy can play a filthy guitar and with his bountiful amount of output, he can really go down any road he chooses. It will be fun to see which avenue he takes next.
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Slight But Not Huge Disappointment: The Men

Probably better at a smaller venue. They sounded great but the audience was less engaged than I thought they should be to the raucous energy. It could be that they followed Thee Oh Sees and people were exhausted from their fantastic set. _______________________________________________________________________________

Second Favorite Act: Real Estate

After an array of frantic bands finished the afternoon sets, chilling with some Real Estate was perfectly sublime. I forgot how much I loved so many songs on their latest release "Days" until I heard them live. "All The Same" was a perfect closer. Here's to gentle summer days for the rest of the summer.
_______________________________________________________________________________
What To Do When Chavez is playing?: Go Scrounge through some old vinyl and see what you can identify from your father's collection

What I regret not buying: A kick ass Pulp Poster. Money left was for tacos after the show and toll money back to Indiana. Jarvis will have to wait until another day.

Best throwback jersey spotted during Sunday: Moses Malone/Sixers jersey

Give us a tip!: The people at the beer stand calling out people for not tipping became a bit of a nuisance. Here's a tip, quit pestering people for tips and you may get more next year.
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Just Not For Small Clubs Anymore: Beach House

They sounded great. I'm not sure if they're fit for the slot they played late in the day as their music works better for a theater or small club in a more intimate setting. But everyone seemed to be casually bopping their heads to the soundtrack of synth glazed dream pop they've pretty well perfected by now. It's a strange paradise.

Setlist:
Wild
Gila
Norway
Other People
Lazuli
Silver Soul
The Hours
Zebra
Wishes
Myth
10 Mile Stereo
Irene
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The Kids Don't Stand A Chance: Vampire Weekend

I wondered if this was a weak pick for headliner and I was wrong. Vampire Weekend was actually the perfect ending to a festival. A light hearted  and carefree set from their first two albums kept the kids dancing, the hipsters happy, the parents who brought their kids along jubilant and the mood festive. Lilies  and sunflowers were being passed around in the crowd and Ezra Koenig said they're going to go back and finish their new album now. Here's to hoping they strike gold a third time.

Setlist:
Cousins
White Sky
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
M79
Run
Holiday
California English
A-Punk
Horchata
I Stand Corrected
New Song *
Diplomat's Son
Campus
Oxford Comma
Giving Up The Gun

Encore:
One (Blake's Got A New Face)
Mansard Roof
The Kids Don't Stand A Chance
Walcott
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Tacos?: Why yes! After the show, Troy and I met up with our friend Matt for the best after show tacos you could ask for. I can't spell or pronounce the name of the place but it's down the road on Ashland.

New Music Review: The Tallest Man On Earth-There's No Leaving Now

The Tallest Man On Earth-There's No Leaving Now

Dead Oceans/SC Distribution

Grade: 8.75 (B)

Available At: emusic, Amazon MP3 & CD

This isn't exactly new in the sense that it was released in the last week or two. I've been enjoying the latest LP from Swedish singer songwriter Kristian Matsson for about a month now. "There's No Leaving Now" is the third LP in his catalog and for fans that have been following along with Matsson since his terrific sophomore effort "The Wild Hunt" in 2010, well, you're going to get more of the same quality songs on his latest release. His knack for carving beautiful folk tinged Dylan like arrangements are still in place. "There's No Leaving Now" glides by in a more relaxed manner than previous efforts giving a feeling that Matsson is starting to grow more comfortable with his craft. It may not be the album to draw a legion of new fans to his beckoning, but there's more in the book than the cover may suggest to long time fans.

The handful of standouts make a welcome addition to his work with the same flourishes of earthy, laid back tones that just make you want to pull up a chair and think about nothing but pleasant things. True, Matsson still waxes tunes that are in a mournful light, but everything on "There's Leaving Now" leaves you yearning for more of his reflective pieces. When he finishes "Revelation Blues" musing "And I always want to bring you something/But sometimes they're just roses/Dying in the yard" the spirit of his work shines best. You remember his quip from earlier in the song that "It's the damn revelation blues" and it reminds you that you want to have another go at it. "1904" adds a little electric guitar to the arrangement with great paybacks and "Little Brother" starts each verse with an ode to his younger brother's demons and how he may just give up on helping him. They are both the two biggest standouts to me on the LP. Where "There's No Leaving Now" hits the hardest (which is funny because hard is the furthest word you would use to describe anything on such a fluently pleasant album) is with the piano he incorporates on the tile track. Matsson ends each chorus with the reminder "There's no leaving now" and you wonder if he's talking about where he is personally with the carefree music he's creating. It comes across so effortless that you're left with a wide smile. It shouldn't be so easy to craft something so gorgeous and unengaged at one time.

And that could be the fault of "There's No Leaving Now" as well. While before on songs like "The King Of Spain" or the brilliant "The Dreamer" from his EP "Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird", Matsson delivered each line like his life depended on it. Here, he seems so comfortable that some lines pass by without a hint of that desperation. The music still merges brittleness with blissfulness but it may lack the heart tugging moments that he once had before.

It's a difficult LP to review because it's faults are sparse. I can't find anything to nitpick about disliking it. His guitar picking remains unique and lovely and his knack for transferring self doubt into odes that anyone can relish remain in tact. In a two word review I would call it "sublimely pleasant". If that's not enough to get the juices flowing, than so be it. Matsson's approach is still highly likable and if you like what he's laid out before, chances are "There's No Leaving Now" won't disappoint.


JHO Picks: Revelation Blues, 1904, There's No Leaving Now, Little Brother, Wind And Walls

Top Artists Of All Time: Division 18-New Wave

It's the bands that filled the gap at the turn of the 80's. This week our panel voted on the genre of New Wave. Every Friday we showcase a different genre with a look at the Top 8 artists in a given genre. 32 artists from the genre are placed on ballots and sent to 20 voters who send back their six favorite artists. After a tally, we get The Top 8 based on points. Tiebreakers are broken by votes. Out of the 20 voters, we had a tie for record participation this week as 18 (90%) cast ballots in the New Wave Division. Out of the 32 artists, 20 received at least one vote. 5 different artists received first place votes.

Two artists breezed through this week to notch the first two spots. The Police grabbed first place with six first place votes and 16 votes on 18 ballots. Elvis Costello followed close behind with 5 first place votes on 15 ballots. They both claimed top 10 spots on The Top Artists Of All Time leader board. Although they were on less ballots, Duran Duran grabbed a fair amount of first place votes to catapult them to third place. Double digit votes for Pretenders, The Cars and Blondie garnered these artists positions 5 though 7. The B-52's received 9 votes and enough points for seventh place while Joy Division got a late second place vote on ballot 5 to make the difference for the final spot over Joe Jackson, XTC and The Jam.

You can keep up with The Top Artists Of All Time (32 artists, 32 Genres) by clicking the tab at the top of the home page to see who's moving on to the semi-final round of 256. Below are The Top 8 artists from the New Wave Division (with total points and votes received), the artists who just missed or had votes cast, and the ballots randomly placed at the bottom. Thanks again to those who voted this week and have participated up to the halfway point! 

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New Wave (18 Ballots)

Top 8 (Total Number Of Points And Votes)

_______________________________________________________________________________

1. The Police 71.5 (16)

Key Albums: Outlandos D'Amour, Reggatta de Blanc, Synchronicity

5 Essential Tracks: Roxanne, Message In A Bottle, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Every Breath You Take

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2. Elvis Costello 66.5 (14)

Key Albums: My Aim Is True, This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Get Happy!!!, Imperial Bedroom

5 Essential Tracks: Alison, Pump It Up, Radio Radio, (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love & Understanding?, Shipbuilding

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3. Duran Duran 42 (9)

Key Albums: Duran Duran, Rio, Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)

5 Essential Tracks: Girls On Film, Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf, The Reflex, Ordinary World

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4. Pretenders 37.5 (10)

Key Albums: Pretenders, Learning To Crawl

5 Essential Tracks: Brass In Pocket, Stop Your Sobbing, Message Of Love, My City Was Gone, Middle Of The Road

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5. The Cars 32 (11)

Key Albums: The Cars, Candy-O, Heartbeat City

5 Essential Tracks: Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl, Let's Go, Shake It Up, Drive

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6. Blondie 23.5 (10)

Key Albums: Blondie, Parallel Lines

5 Essential Tracks: Heart Of Glass, One Way Or Another, Dreaming, Call Me, Rapture

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7. The B-52's 21.5 (9)

Key Albums: The B-52's, Wild Planet

5 Essential Tracks: Rock Lobster, Dance This Mess Around, Private Idaho, Love Shack, Roam

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8. Joy Division 14 (4)

Key Albums: Unknown Pleasures, Closer

5 Essential Tracks: Digital, She's Lost Control, Isolation, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Atmosphere

_______________________________________________________________________________
Missed The Cut (Total Number Of Points And Votes):
Joe Jackson 11 (4), The Jam 9 (4), XTC 8 (2), Simple Minds 7 (2), Nick Lowe 6 (2), Mission Of Burma 5 (2), The Go-Go's 5 (3), The Fixx 5 (2), Killing Joke 5 (1), The Boomtown Rats 4 (2), The Romantics 3.5 (1), Squeeze 1 (1)

No Votes:
A-Ha, Berlin, Big Country, Dexys Midnight Runners, Modern English, Naked Eyes, Scritti Politti, Spandau Ballet, The Call, The Style Council, Thompson Twins, Til Tuesday

Ballots:
1-1. The Police 2. Pretenders 3. The Cars 4. Elvis Costello 5. Blondie 6. Joe Jackson
2-1. Elvis Costello 2. Nick Lowe 3. XTC 4. The Cars 5. The Jam 6. The Boomtown Rats
3-1. Duran Duran 2. Elvis Costello 3. Joy Division 4. Mission Of Burma 5. The Cars 6. The Police
4-1. Duran Duran 2. The Police 3. The Fixx 4. The Go-Go's 5. Pretenders 6. The B-52's
5-1. The Police 2. Joy Division 3. Joe Jackson 4. The B-52's 5. Elvis Costello 6. Blondie
6-1. The Jam 2. Elvis Costello 3. The Police 4. Pretenders 5. Mission Of Burma 6. Blondie
7-1. The Police 2. Killing Joke 3. Simple Minds 4. The Cars 5. The B-52's 6. Duran Duran
8-1. Pretenders 2. Elvis Costello 3. Duran Duran 4. The Cars 5. The Police 6. Blondie
9-1. Duran Duran 2. The Police 3. The B-52's 4. Blondie 5. Pretenders 6. The Cars
10-1. Elvis Costello 2. Pretenders 3. The Police 4. The Boomtown Rats 5. The Cars 6. Squeeze
11-(No Order) Blondie, Elvis Costello, Pretenders, The B-52's, The Police, The Romantics
12-1. The Police 2. Pretenders 3. The Cars 4. Elvis Costello 5. The B-52's 6. The Go-Go's
13-1. The Police 2. The Cars 3. Duran Duran 4. Blondie 5. The B-52's 6. The Go-Go's
14-1. Elvis Costello 2. The Police 3. Pretenders 4. Joy Division 5. Joe Jackson 6. The Jam
15-1. The Police 2. Elvis Costello 3. Duran Duran 4. Blondie 5. Pretenders  6. The B-52's
16-1. Elvis Costello 2. The Police 3. XTC 4. The B-52's 5. Blondie 6. The Fixx
17-1. Duran Duran 2. Elvis Costello 3. Blondie 4. Simple Minds 5. The Cars 6. The Police
18-1. Elvis Costello 2. Duran Duran 3. Joe Jackson 4. The Cars 5. Joy Division 6. Nick Lowe

The Year Was...1968

Random Playlist For 1968:
1. Big Brother and the Holding Company-Piece Of My Heart
I enjoy Janis Joplin more and more as I get older.
2. Cream-Crossroads
Pretty much a staple for three piece blues rock bands from this point on.
3. The Rolling Stones-Sympathy For The Devil
I'm so glad I got a chance to visit St. Petersburg last year. I instantly thought of this stepping off the boat.
4. Sly & The Family Stone-Dance To The Music
Sly could do no wrong for a short time with the band's first top ten single leading the way.
5. Steppenwolf-Born To Be Wild
I loved Steppenwolf's lesser known singles when I was younger. Never a fan of this one.
6. Tommy James & The Shondells-Crimson & Clover
Joan Jett had nothing on the original. The underwater vocal effect is stellar.
7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Could be one of my favorite guitar intros of all time.
8. Grateful Dead-Dark Star
Exists as the 2 minute single or the 24 minute plus live jam. Take your pick.
9. The Byrds-You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Another great Dylan cover by a band who was dropping band members like bad habits in 1968.
10. The Band-The Weight
Always unflappable. Seems to be more well known as the years go on. That would be called classic.
11. The Beatles-Revolution
You've got 1 and 9 (ugh) on the White Album. I prefer the rock version on the Hey Jude single.
12. Van Morrison-Madame George
It really is 9 minutes plus of pastoral beauty from Morrison.

7 Albums Worth Revisiting From 1968:

1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Electric Ladyland
2. The Rolling Stones-Beggars Banquet
3. The Beatles -The Beatles "White Album"
4. The Kinks-The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society
5. The Byrds-The Notorious Byrd Brothers
6. Simon & Garfunkel-Bookends
7. Johnny Cash-At Folsom Prison





Random Quote From A Song From 1968:
I left my home in Georgia/Headed for the Frisco Bay/Cuz I've had nothing to live for/And look like nothing's gonna come my way
"Watchin' The Tide Roll Away"

Random Thoughts On A Song From 1968:

I have fond memories when I think of 1968's debut album from California Psychedelic Rock outfit Iron Butterfly. My father had it on vinyl. The album cover had a dog bite mark in the lower corner of it. Apparently, my parents basset hound, Ralph, wasn't fond of Iron Butterfly. It may also be that Ralph was a bit confused being a female dog with a male's name. I remember as a kid pulling out the LP to listen to it on the record player and noticing that Side 2 only had one song on it. It was the title track to the album. I asked why there was only one song in which my father responded it was one long jam that was popular back in the late 60's. He didn't explain that the song title, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", was supposed to be "In The Garden Of Eden" but lead singer Doug Ingle coined the phrase when he slurred the song title during a recording rehearsal. The new name stuck. I also remember getting a drum set when I was, I don't know, 8 years old maybe. My parents encouraged me to learn how to play along with this song first. Maybe it was to keep me busy for seventeen plus minutes or maybe I just grew up in a house that overflowed with flower power (I imagine both). I gave up drums shortly after and I can honestly say that I haven't listened to the full length song all the way through since I was maybe ten years old. For one mammoth of a song, I've got enough memories and stories about it to pass on to my child someday. And I was yn't close to being born yet in 1968. Maybe Ralph did the right thing chewing on that album. Even he wait I'm sorry, she couldn't take the bloated jam that was "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." Forty four years later, Ralph would be happy to know I've shared the dog's story on a blog that randomly discusses music from my life.
"Please Take My Hand"

Lotus Plaza @ The Bishop, Bloomington, IN 7-8-12

Took the opportunity to head down to Bloomington Sunday night for the Lotus Plaza Show at The Bishop  Bar.  It's another great venue to see live music in Bloomington. Bar in the front, room and stage through the doors into the back. For info on up coming shows click here. I'd recommend it along with Bluebird Nightclub as two great places to catch a concert.

After two opening acts, Lotus Plaza took the stage a little before eleven and delivered a blistering set of music heavily concentrating on material from their latest LP "Spooky Action At A Distance". Highlights from their seventy minute, or so, set included standouts like "Eveningness", "Monoliths", and the hypnotic churn of "Jet Out Of The Tundra". If you like your music in the vein of, say, My Bloody Valentine, then you need to checkout Deerhunter's Lockett Pundt's side project if they come to a town near you. An excellent set.

Below are list of dates for the remainder of the tour and some photos from the show provided by Troy because his phone is much better than mine. Cheers!

 

  

Lotus Plaza Tour Dates:

7-9-12: Columbia, MO @ Mojo's

7-10-12: Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's

7-11-12: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club

7-12-12: Madison, WI @ Memorial Union Terrace @ UW

7-13-12: Chicago, IL @ Subterranean

7-14-12: Chicago, IL @ Union Park

7-17-12: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

7-18-12: New York City, New York @ Mercury Lounge

7-19-12: Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn

7-21-12: Washington, DC @ Rock And Roll Hotel

Top Artists Of All Time: Division 17-00's Pop/Pop-Rock

This week, station to station's panel of 20 voters tackle pop and pop-rock since the turn of the century. Each Friday we showcase a different genre with a look at the Top 8 artists of 32 voted in the category. Ballots are sent to 20 voters who send back their six favorite artists. Points are given 6 for first place, 5 for second place, and so on. Voters who say no order get 3.5 points an artist. After a tally, we get The Top 8 based on points. Out of the 20 voters, 15 (75%) cast ballots in the 00's Pop/Pop-Rock Division. Out of the 32 artists, 26 received at least one vote. 6 different artists received first place votes.

Foo Fighters dominated the division for the most part raking in 13 of the 15 possible votes. 6 of those 13 votes were first place and Grohl and company find themselves in the 9th spot on the overall leader board. Coldplay charged right behind with a good showing on 12 of 15 ballots. From there The Killers, Adele, Pete Yorn, Jack Johnson and Franz Ferdinand all racked up enough points and votes to move on to the semi-final round which will begin in Mid-October. The last spot was decided on a last minute ballot sent at 11:47pm Thursday night which nullified the first tie-breaking moment (where I send a random text to three friends who haven't voted for either of the two artists in the tie..Keys would have won that way as well) of the tourney yet. John Mayer and Alicia Keys had the same exact points and vote positions but the last ballot (Ballot 9, for those keeping score) had Keys in the 6th spot giving her one more point than Mayer. Gus Johnson would have loved to make the call. "Keys at the buzzer....WOOOOHHHH!!!""""

You can keep up with The Top Artists Of All Time (32 artists, 32 Genres) by clicking the tab at the top of the home page to see who's moving on to the semi-final round of 256. Below are The Top 8 artists from the 00's Pop/Pop-Rock Division (with total points and votes received), the artists who just missed or had votes cast, and the ballots randomly placed at the bottom. Thanks again to those who voted this week and have participated up to the halfway point! 
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00's Pop/Pop-Rock (15 Ballots)

Top 8 (Total Number Of Points And Votes)

_______________________________________________________________________________

1. Foo Fighters 62.5 (13)

Key Albums: Foo Fighters, The Color And The Shape, One By One, Echoes Silence Patience & Grace

5 Essential Tracks: This Is A Call, Everlong, Learn To Fly, All My Life, Best Of You

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2. Coldplay 47 (12)

Key Albums: Parachutes, A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Viva La Vida or Death and All Of His Friends

5 Essential Tracks: Yellow, Clocks, The Scientist, Fix You, Viva La Vida

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3. The Killers 23 (6)

Key Albums: Hot Fuss, Sam's Town

5 Essential Tracks: Somebody Told Me, Mr. Brightside, All These Things That I've Done, When You Were Young, Human

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4. Adele 21.5 (6)

Key Albums: 19, 21

5 Essential Tracks: Chasing Pavements, Daydreamer, Rolling In The Deep, Set Fire To The Rain, Rumour Has It

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5. Pete Yorn 20.5 (6)

Key Albums: Musicforthemorningafter, Night Crawler

5 Essential Tracks: Life On A Chain, For Nancy (Cos' It Already Is), Crystal Village, For Us, Paradise Cove

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6. Jack Johnson 18 (5)

Key Albums: Brushfire Fairytales, To The Sea

5 Essential Tracks: Flake, Bubble Toes, Upside Down, If I Had Eyes, You And Your Heart

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7. Franz Ferdinand 16 (4)

Key Albums: Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better

5 Essential Tracks: Take Me Out, Darts Of Pleasure, The Dark Of The Matinee, Do You Want To, No You Girls

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8. Alicia Keys 14 (5)

Key Albums: Songs In A Minor, The Diary Of Alicia Keys

5 Essential Tracks: Fallin', A Woman's Worth, If I Ain't Got You, You Don't Know My Name, No One

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Missed The Cut (Total Number of Points and Votes):
John Mayer 13 (4), The Fratellis 10.5 (3), Maroon 5 10 (2), Justin Timberlake 9 (3), Gwen Steffani 9 (2), Train 6 (2), Kelly Clarkson 7.5 (3),  Usher 5.5 (2), Keane 4 (1), Shakira 4 (1), Jet 3 (2), 30 Seconds To Mars 3 (1), Lifehouse 2 (2), Jimmy Eat World 2 (1),  Amy Winehouse 1 (1), Cee-Lo Green 1 (1), John Legend 1 (1), The Fray 1 (1)

No Votes:
Beyonce, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Nelly Furtado, Panic! At The Disco, Robyn

Ballots:
1- 1. Coldplay 2. The Killers 3. Foo Fighters 4. Pete Yorn 5. The Fratellis 6. Lifehouse
2- 1. Coldplay 2. Foo Fighters 3. Pete Yorn 4. The Killers 5. Train 6. John Mayer
3- 1. The Killers 2. Maroon 5 3. Jack Johnson 4. Foo Fighters 5. Coldplay 6. Jet
4- 1. Foo Fighters 2. John Mayer 3. Adele 4. Alicia Keys 5. Coldplay 6. Amy Winehouse
5- 1. Pete Yorn 2. Franz Ferdinand 3. Adele 4. The Killers 5. Foo Fighters 6.Coldplay
6- 1. Coldplay 2. Jack Johnson 3. Foo Fighters 4. John Mayer 5. Jet 6. Lifehouse
7- 1. Gwen Staffani 2. The Fratellis 3. Keane 4. The Killers 5. Franz Ferdinand 6. Alicia Keys
8- (No Order) Adele, Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Yorn, The Fratellis, Usher 
9- 1. Foo Fighters 2. Justin Timberlake 3. Coldplay 4. 30 Seconds To Mars 5. Usher 6. Alicia Keys
10- 1. Foo Fighters 2. Alicia Keys 3. Shakira 4. The Killers 5. Adele 6. Coldplay
11- 1. Foo Fighters 2. Maroon 5 3. Train 4. Coldplay 5. Adele 6. Justin Timberlake
12- 1. Foo Fighters 2. Coldplay 3. John Mayer 4. Justin Timberlake 5. Jack Johnson 6. John Legend
13- 1. Adele 2. Coldplay 3. Alicia Keys 4. Pete Yorn 5. Kelly Clarkson 6. The Fray
14- 1. Coldplay 2. Foo Fighters 3. Franz Ferdinand 4. Jack Johnson 5. Jimmy Eat World 6. Pete Yorn
15- 1. Foo Fighters 2. Franz Ferdinand 3. Jack Johnson 4. Gwen Steffani 5. Kelly Clarkson 6. Cee-Lo Green