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BLC: They Might Be Giants vs. R.E.M.

Willets Point Apr 25 2006 12:32 PM

So-called "alternative" or Modern Rock radio was basically created for these two bands. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Birdhouse in Your Soul Ana Ng Particle Man The Statue Got Me High Clap Your Hands New York City Don't Let's Start Older Cowtown

Johnny Dickshot Apr 25 2006 01:45 PM

New lineup! Old-school purists and new-schoolers wondering what the big deal about REM is ought to be tempted by Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) from the astonishing EP debut, Chronic Town. It replaces 'Fall on Me' and features unabashed rhythmic jangling from Peter Buck, Mike Mills' underrated backup singing and the muffled thump-thump, thump-thump-thump-thump of Bill Berry's syncopated drum fills, played on real drums. And Kate Pearson of the B-52s makes a sexy guest vocal duet on 'Me in Honey' which slides in for 'Half a World Away' off the same Outtatime LP. Enjoy! Not annoy! Pilgrimage Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) Radio Free Europe Driver 8 Me In Honey Nightswimming It’s the End of the World as We Know it Man on the Moon These Days South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)

Edgy DC Apr 25 2006 04:14 PM

vs. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" "Older" vs. "These Days" "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)"

Willets Point Apr 25 2006 04:18 PM

Edgy's now expanding into band logos. I like it. Six geeky looking guys in the photos above. The 80's were the decade when suddenly it felt like any of us could be rock stars.

Willets Point Apr 25 2006 05:02 PM

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"vs."Pilgrimage" They Might Be Giants - - - A Pilgrimage to Istanbul anyone? (Close vote btw) "Birdhouse in Your Soul"vs."Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" They Might Be Giants - - - Should have stuck with "Fall on Me" the favorite song of Michael Stipe and myself "Ana Ng"vs."Radio Free Europe" Tie - - - "I don't want the world, I just want your half." "Particle Man"vs."Driver 8" They Might Be Giants - - - Both very good, but "Particle Man" is more iconic "The Statue Got Me High"vs."Me In Honey" They Might Be Giants - - - Out of Time bummed me out. "Clap Your Hands"vs."Nightswimming" R.E.M. - - - Pretty etherial piano tune knocks down children's song I threw in as a bone to the parents on the CPF. "New York City"vs."It’s the End of the World as We Know It" R.E.M - - - See Particle Man/Driver 8 only vice versa "Don't Let's Start"vs."Man on the Moon" They Might Be Giants - - - R.E.M. at their most craptastic vs. TMBG at their most punk. Easy choice. "Older"vs."These Days" R.E.M - - - Both songs are concerned with time. TMBG is blunt, but R.E.M is prettier. "Cowtown"vs."South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" Tie - - - This is an unfortunate matchup, TMBG makes you laugh, R.E.M makes you cry, but they're both good. They Might Be Giants 6:4 R.E.M.

sharpie Apr 25 2006 05:49 PM

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" TMBG "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" TMBG "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" REM "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" TMBG "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" REM "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" REM (I'm a parent, but don't pander) "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" Tie. Tough one. "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" TMBG "Older" vs. "These Days" TMBG "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" REM TMBG 5.5 REM 4.5

Lenny Harris Apr 25 2006 06:17 PM

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" -tmbg "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)"-tmbg "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" -tmbg "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" tmbg "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" tmbg "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" tmbg "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" rem "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" rem "Older" vs. "These Days" tmbg "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" tmbg 8-2 tmbg

Gwreck Apr 25 2006 07:37 PM

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" - R.E.M. "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)"- R.E.M. "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" - R.E.M. "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" - R.E.M. "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" - R.E.M., despite the strange choice "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" - R.E.M. in a walkover "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" R.E.M. "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" R.E.M. "Older" vs. "These Days" R.E.M. "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" R.E.M. Even though the strange lineup, R.E.M. pulls out a 10-0 victory. Appreciate the effort at pulling out some good ones from the dark corners of the catalog but still think there are some big ones missing. Life and How to Live It?

RealityChuck Apr 26 2006 09:29 AM

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" -- TMBG "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" -- TMBG "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" -- tie "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" -- TMBG "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" -- tie "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" -- tie "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" -- REM "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" -- TMBG "Older" vs. "These Days" -- tie "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" -- tie 6.5-3.5 TMBG

Johnny Dickshot Apr 26 2006 09:53 AM

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" --REM, baby. "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" --Boxcars (are pulling) out of town with a win for REM. "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" --Like ‘em both. Only one can win. REM "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" --Credit to TMBG for a non-irritating novelty song but as shown above, train songs beat comedy songs generally. "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" --There’s a lot of honey in this world, but baby, this Honey’s for me. REM "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" --I’m less than 3 weeks away from becoming a parent and already tiring of the sounds. REM "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" --REM wins a close one. "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" --Win for TMBG. Hopefully my inclusion of an REM song wins the non-fanboy vote, but if not a sacrficial lamb. "Older" vs. "These Days" --Very disappointed that the Sharpie Family scored this one for the enemy. How could you? REM "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" --Cowtown’s not bad, but too silly to win this one. REM REM 9, TMBG 1 gwreck -- “Life and How to Live It” is great, but obscure REM songs aren’t getting the love. I like my Top 10 enough, but the songs I’d remove to include others would only cost me a rung or two, I’m afraid. But post your top 10 and I’ll borrow for the next challenge… “Fall on Me” may be Stipe’s favorite but Stipe’s a long way from being my favorite REMmer. He ain’t much without Peter & Mike, and, I think, the three of them aren’t as good minus Bill.

Edgy DC Apr 26 2006 09:57 AM

word.

Willets Point Apr 26 2006 10:42 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 26 2006 02:14 PM

I beg your pardon, but "Particle Man" is not a novelty song. It is a two minute thesis on philosophy, theology and mathematics.

abogdan Apr 26 2006 02:07 PM

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" - TMBG "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" - TMBG "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" - REM "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" - TMBG "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" - REM "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" - REM "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" - REM "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" - REM "Older" vs. "These Days" - REM "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" - REM REM 7-3

Gwreck Apr 26 2006 05:29 PM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: gwreck -- “Life and How to Live It” is great, but obscure REM songs aren’t getting the love. I like my Top 10 enough, but the songs I’d remove to include others would only cost me a rung or two, I’m afraid. But post your top 10 and I’ll borrow for the next challenge... My top 10 sort of looks like this: Nightswimming Orange Crush Country Feedback Fall On Me Life and How to Live It Radio Free Europe Electrolite Cuyahoga Ignoreland Exhuming McCarthy I don't think that many of these are the best for vote-getting. I mean, you could use The One I Love and LMR and probably garner a few more votes (but lots of respect for not using 'em)

Edgy DC Apr 27 2006 01:43 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Apr 27 2006 02:11 PM

> "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" vs. "Pilgrimage" REM takes round one of the two songs aimed at the Islamic world. > "Birdhouse in Your Soul" vs. "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" I’m giving the ever so slight edge to TMBG here, thought I like Dickshot dipping into Dead Letter Office. Say I’m the only friggin’ bee in your bonnet. > "Ana Ng" vs. "Radio Free Europe" If you asked me what each of these bands sound like, I’d play these two songs. Slight edge is acting like a basketball possession arrow, because now it’s swinging back to REM. > "Particle Man" vs. "Driver 8" I feel like I know “Driver 8.” I feel like I am “Driver 8.” I am he and he is me. His pain is my own. REM has won this one. > "The Statue Got Me High" vs. "Me In Honey" “Texarkana” and “Me in Honey” (cry out, oh country boy!) go a ways to redeeming Out of Time for me, though I wish "Country Feedback" wasn't in between them. REM. > "Clap Your Hands" vs. "Nightswimming" I appreciate that somebody is doing babyfunk, but I’m not listening to it over “Nightswimming.” REM. > "New York City" vs. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" I like “New York City.” Despite it’s carnival sound and snappiness and cheery lyrics, there’s a Freedy-like melancholy in there too. But that “Best part about New York City is you and me” pay off line is too cheap. It’s not so much commercial as it sounds like a commercial. REM and Pedro Astacio win. > "Don't Let's Start" vs. "Man on the Moon" I’m glad that TMBG got to land one haymaker here. Oh boy, I didn’t even want to look at the nasty replay of this one. > "Older" vs. "These Days" Life’s Rich Pageant is such a free-flowing album full of high-quality tracks largely dependent on and indistinguishable from one another, it’s almost perfect that I clicked the sample link id "These Days" at Amazon and got “Hyena.” (Was “Superman” always tacked on at the end?) Nonetheless, “These Days” is something of a call-to-inarticulate-arms punk anthem. “Older” has some high concept there, .but the goofy prologue, like jokes, gets worn fast. REM. > "Cowtown" vs. "South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" REM, as once again, the heartbreak trumps the smile. What the Hell is wrong with me? And REM takes it, 8-2, though if you offered me tickets to see either tonight, odds are 4-1 that I’d see They Might Be Giants.

sharpie Apr 27 2006 02:07 PM

They Might Be Giants turn into They Must Be Losers at the hands of REM: 48-32

Willets Point Apr 27 2006 02:13 PM

Ouch! I love 'em both. At least TMBG never sang "Shiny Happy People."

Edgy DC Apr 27 2006 02:17 PM

Good point. It would be fun (if only brieftly) to have a matchup of a sponsor putting up a few of his or her opponenets uglliest tracks against the worst of his own.