In a photo-like finish, Paranoid Android is your next tournament champion (defeating Idioteque 66-64). The readers and interlopers of MerrySwankster.com have decreed: it is the best song in Radiohead's catalogue, as determined by a 65-team bracket.

Paranoid Android
OK Computer
1

We have some ideas for our next tournament, but, I must ask, "Do you?" In the comments, please.

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Radiohead tournament finals

Paranoid Android
OK Computer
1

Approbations:

NME - Greatest Tracks from 1996-2006
#3

Rolling Stone list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"
#256

Q Magazine greatest songs of all-time (Aug, 2006)
10

VS

Idioteque
Kid A
1

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's your final four. Results of the Round of Eight after the jump

Continue reading "And, then, there were four" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So I can't be accused of electioneering, I wanted to inform readers that the fourth-round voting at our Radiohead song contest will end Saturday at 11:30AM.

We pretty much know who will be winning three of the contests, but, right now:

Karma Police 50% (19 votes)
Airbag 50% (19 votes)

Fascinating!

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Voting starts below

Notables
Lowest seeds remaining: Airbag (10)
Highest seeds ousted: Creep (1), High & Dry (2), 2+2=5 (2)

Album records

Pablo Honey: 0-6

Bends: 10-11 (1-1 in the third round) Remaining (1): Fake Plastic Trees

OK Computer: 20 - 6 (5-1 in the second round) Remaining (5): Karma Police, Paranoid Android, No Surprises, Exit Music (For a Film), Airbag

Kid A: 14-5 (2-3 in the second round) Remaining (2): Everything in its Right Place, Idioteque,

Amnesiac: 3-8

Hail to the Thief: 9-9 (0-3 in the third round)

B-sides 1-11 (Pearly* winning the play-in game)

More stats after the jump

Continue reading "Third Round Stats" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everything in its Right Place
(1)
Kid A
Fun Wikipedia "fact": Thom Yorke and guitarist Ed O'Brien have both cited "Everything in Its Right Place" as the moment their frustrations with a year of contentious recording sessions began to give way, and they felt they were actually getting somewhere with their experimental approach, which had initially been worrisome to O'Brien.

Everything in its Right Place Wikipedia entry

VS

Idioteque
(2)
Kid A
Fun Wikipedia "fact": "Idioteque" contains two credited samples of experimental 1970s "computer music." The first is several seconds of Mild und Leise, a piece by Paul Lansky, forming the four chord progression repeated throughout the song.
Idioteque Wikipedia entry

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket: Everything in its Right Place (1) v. Idioteque (2)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 05:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Third round results

Roxy Music bracket

Paranoid Android (1)

VS

Exit Music (From a Film) (6)

Pink Floyd bracket

Karma Police (1)

VS

Airbag (10)

Kraftwerk bracket

Everything in its Right Place (1)

VS

Idioteque (2)

Pink Floyd bracket

No Surprises (4)

VS

Fake Plastic Trees (2)

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Idioteque
Kid A
(2)
Sporting equivalent: Air Force football or the 2007 Boise State football team in bowl game. Sheer audio audible. Whereas "Everything" was the clue to the departure, no one truly knew where Radiohead would go until they heard Idioteque.

How to Disappear Completely
Kid A
(14)

Sporting equivalent: George Mason (obviously); San Antonio Spurs. This songs lulls you into complacency with its methodological structure; but it's the little flourishes that gets its through the competition.

Listen to the songs after the jump

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket - Idioteque (2) vs How to Disappear Completely (14)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everything in its Right Place

VS

A Wolf at the Door

Listen to the songs after the jump

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket - Everything in its Right Place (1) vs A Wolf At The Door (4)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Third-round previews

Pink Floyd bracket

Karma Police (1)

74% (23 votes) defeats Where I End and You Begin (9) 26% (8 votes)

VS

The National Anthem (5)

71% (22 votes) defeats (Nice Dream) (4) 29% (9 votes)

__

There There (3)

66% (23 votes) defeats You and Whose Army? (11) 34% (12 votes)

VS

Airbag (10)

80% (28 votes) defeats High and Dry (2) 20% (7 votes)

WINNER OF PINK FLOYD BRACKET TO FACE

Kraftwerk bracket

Everything in its Right Place (1)

73% (24 votes) defeats Bullet Proof (8) 27% (9 votes)

VS

A Wolf at the Door (4)

defeats 53% (18 votes) Subterranean Homesick Alien (5) 47% (16 votes)

--

Idioteque (2)

74% (26 votes) defeats Motion Picture Soundtrack (10) 26% (9 votes)

VS

How to Disappear Completely (14)

Roxy Music bracket

Paranoid Android (1)

90% (27 votes) defeats Lucky (9)10% (3 votes)

VS

Optimistic (4)

--

Exit Music (For a Film) (6)

71% (22 votes) defeats Planet Telex (3) 29% (9 votes)

VS

2+2=5 (2)

84% (26 votes) defeats The Tourist (10) 16% (5 votes)

WINNER OF Roxy Music bracket TO FACE Pixies bracket

Pixies bracket

The Bends (9)

VS

No Surprises (4)

77% (23 votes) defeats Morning Bell (5) 23% (7 votes)

--

Fake Plastic Trees (2)

63% (20 votes) defeats Pyramid Song (10) 38% (12 votes)

VS

Let Down (3)

68% (21 votes) defeats A Punch Up at a Wedding (11) 32% (10 votes)

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Notables
Lowest seeds remaining: You and Whose Army (14), Airbag (10), The Bends (9)
Highest seeds ousted: Creep (1), High & Dry (2), Just (3), Planet Telex (3)

Album records

Pablo Honey: 0-6

Bends: 9-10 (2-3 in the second round) Remaining (2): Fake Plastic Trees, The Bends

OK Computer: 15 - 5 (6-3 in the second round) Remaining (6): Karma Police, Paranoid Android, Let Down, No Surprises, Exit Music (For a Film), Airbag

Kid A: 12-2 (5-2 in the second round) Remaining (5): Everything in its Right Place, Idioteque, Optimistic, The National Anthem, How to Disappear Completely,

Amnesiac: 3-8 (0-3 in the second round)

Hail to the Thief: 9-6 (3-3 in the second round) Remaining: 3 (2+2=5, There There, A Wolf at the Door)

B-sides 1-11 (Pearly* winning the play-in game) Remaining: 0

More stats after the jump

Continue reading "Second round stats" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All matchups below are no longer in play.

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"How to Disappear Completely"
Kid A
(14)
defeated "Just" (3)
Most Depressing Lyric: "I'm not here. This isn't happening. "

vs.

"Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box"
Amnesiac
(6)
defeated "Anyone Can Play Guitar (live)" (11)
Most Depressing Lyric: "After years of waiting nothing came."

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket - How to Disappear Completely (14) v Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box (6)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Idioteque"
Kid A
(2)
defeated "Polyethylene (Parts 1& 2)" (15)
Most Depressing Lyric: "Throw them in the fire"

vs.

"Motion Picture Soundtrack"
Kid A
(10)
defeated "Sulk" (7)

Most Depressing Lyric: "Red wine and sleeping pills. Help me get back to your arms."

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket - Idioteque (2) v Motion Picture Soundtrack (10)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"A Wolf at the Door (It Girl. Rag Doll)”
Hail to the Thief
(4)
defeated "A Reminder" (13)

Most depressing lyric: "Steal all my children if I don't pay the ransom"

vs.

"Subterranean Homesick Alien"
OK Computer
(5)
defeated "The Trickster" (12)

Most depressing lyric: Of all these weird creatures Who lock up their spirits Drill holes in themselves And live for their secrets."

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket - A Wolf at the Door (4) v Subterranean Homesick Alien (5)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Everything in its Right Place"
Kid A
(1)
defeated "You" (16)

Most depressing lyric: "Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon."

vs.

"Bullet Proof (I Wish I Was)"
The Bends
(8)
defeated "Stop Whispering" (9)

Most depressing lyric: "Heat the pins and stab them in."

Continue reading "Kraftwerk bracket - Everything in its Right Place v Bullet Proof (I Wish I Were) (8)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For your edification, there is no more voting on the entries below. That ship, she has sailed.

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 02:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Everything in its Right Place"
Kid A
(1)

defeats

"You"
Pablo Honey
(16)

134-15

"Bullet Proof (I Wish I Was)"
The Bends
(8)

defeats

"Stop Whispering"
Pablo Honey
(9)

107-37

"A Wolf at the Door (It Girl. Rag Doll)”
Hail to the Theif
(4)

defeats

"A Reminder"
Airbag / How am I Driving?
(13)

97-42

"Subterranean Homesick Alien"
OK Computer
(5)

defeats

"The Trickster"
My Iron Lung
(12)

115-30

"How to Disappear Completely"
Kid A
(14)

defeats

"Just"
The Bends
(3)

101-58

"Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box"
Amnesiac
(6)

defeats

"Anyone Can Play Guitar (live)"
Just
(11)

117-26

"Motion Picture Soundtrack"
Kid A
(10)

defeats

"Sulk"
The Bends
(7)

113-24

Idioteque

defeats

Polyethylene (Parts 1& 2)

129-18

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Idioteque

Lyrically, this song might be about the end of the world, or maybe just the end of human existence, almost certainly not about a CGI children's movie. Sonically, it's a Terry Riley-flavored dance track that gets the body movin'. Who really cares what they're talking about, anyway?

Polyethylene (Parts 1& 2)

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: Idioteque (2) v. Polyethylene (Parts 1& 2) (15)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Sulk"
The Bends
(7)

From Pitchfork:

"Okay, wait. Jimmy Eat World have released a new song and called it... "Pain"? This is actually great. I hope this monosyllabic truth-in-advertising extends to singles from other artists. Look out for the Rolling Stones' "Old", Linkin Park's "Angst", R.E.M.'s "Dull", and "Dead" from Nirvana's upcoming box set."

"Motion Picture Soundtrack"
Kid A
(10)
This as an extremely beautiful song that is equally over-regarded and under-appreciated. The blissful harp that enters about two minutes in would fit perfectly in that scene in Disney's Fantasia where the cherubs are running around Mount Olympus. The final 4:30 of alternating nothingness and ambient noise raises an eyebrow, however.

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: Sulk (7) v. Motion Picture Soundtrack (10)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Just"
The Bends
(3)

Johnny Greenwood’s coup de grace solo is the second-best single-instrument work ever put forth by this band. Sick, just sick.

VS

"How to Disappear Completely"
Kid A
(14)

Less quirky than most of Kid A (it has a guitar!), it fits perfectly into the album thanks to its popping brass and what I can best describe as “whale sounds”.

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: Just (3) versus How to Disappear Completely (14)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box"
Amnesiac
(6)

Kid B’s opening track is monotonous and awkwardly danceable, drumming up authentic near-angst. Composed entirely with electronics, yet it comes across as calmingly organic, thanks to the sounds of bees and clanging bell.

"Anyone Can Play Guitar (live)"
Just
(11)

Here's a bit of trivia: the album version of this song was actually Radiohead's first single, coming out in EP format a couple month prior to that really popular one. But its this live version, which follows the "I wanna be Jim Morrison" wail with the worst guitar solo this side of Robby Krieger, more fully captures the sarcasm intended in that verse. I don't know what's funnier, that line, or the people who take it seriously.

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box (6) v. Anyone Can Play Guitar (11)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"A Wolf at the Door (It Girl. Rag Doll)”
Hail to the Theif
(4)

A crooked lullaby of a song accompanied by some of Colin Greenwood's most hypnotic bass work. I think this song is about living with organized crime, possibly the sort run by one's own government. Or wolves. Cam'ron would be proud.

VS

"A Reminder"
Airbag / How am I Driving?
(13)

Here's Radiohead's "When I'm Sixty-four", although with less nostalgic foreshadowing. I suppose if Thom Yorke ever befalls a fate similar to Teri Schaivo, and the rest of the band is arguing with Thom's family over whether or not to pull the blug, the guys can play this song at the trial.

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: A Wolf at the Door (4) v. A Reminder (13)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Subterranean Homesick Alien"
OK Computer
(5)

This is the most Bends-y of all the OK songs, while there are hints of experimentation, the hook is straight guitar-paced rock. It's kind of like a reverse "I'm Only Sleeping"; rather than predicting the direction the band will be going, it's a send off to its past successes.

VS

"The Trickster"
My Iron Lung
(12)

I can't prove it, but I'm quite certain that Radiohead pilfered this song's entire guitar part from an NES game. Possibly one of the later levels of Mega Man.

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: Subterranean Homesick Alien (5) v. the Trickster (12)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Everything in its Right Place"
Kid A
(1)

The joke at the time was, “More like ‘Everything in its Wrong Place’!” Clever. But this track was the perfect initiation for Radiohead’s movement into completely theoretical music. Abandoning pop structure in favor of songs that seemingly go nowhere has been done before and since, but never with such authority.

VS

"You"
Pablo Honey
(16)

There is no Radiohead album more entrenched in its timestamp than Pablo, therefore/unfortunately “You” fits perfectly in the early ‘90’s grunge canon.

Continue reading "Kraftwerk Bracket: Everything in its Right Place (1) v. You (16)" »

Posted by Randall Monty at 04:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)