Tournaments: Roxy Music bracket Archives

June 23, 2007

with your opinion which is of [much] consequence

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)

June 17, 2007

Someday, we'll surprise you

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)

June 09, 2007

And, then, there were four

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)

June 08, 2007

Oh, the karma

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)

June 05, 2007

Third Round Stats

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)

Roxy Music Bracket: Paranoid Android (1) v Exit Music (For a Film) (6)

Paranoid Android
(1)
OK Computer
Fun Wikipedia "fact": Bassist Colin Greenwood said "On 'Paranoid Android' what we were into was the idea of a DJ Shadow meets The Beatles thing." [source]

Paranoid Android Wikipedia entry

VS

Exit Music (From a Film)
(6)
OK Computer

Fun Wikipedia "fact": "Exit Music (For a Film)" is a song by Radiohead, written specifically for the ending credits of the 1996 film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Although included in neither of the two soundtrack albums at the request of Thom Yorke, the song appears on the band's highly acclaimed third album, OK Computer (1997).

Exit Music (From a Film) Wikipedia entry

Listen to the songs after the jump

Continue reading "Roxy Music Bracket: Paranoid Android (1) v Exit Music (For a Film) (6)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 05:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 03, 2007

No, surprises

Third round results

Roxy Music bracket

Paranoid Android (1)

OK Computer
89% (34 votes) defeats Optimistic (4) 11% (4 votes)

VS

Exit Music (From a Film) (6)
OK Computer 63% (25 votes) defeats 2+2=5 (2) 38% (15 votes)

Pink Floyd bracket

Karma Police (1)

OK Computer
72% (28 votes) defeats The National Anthem (5) 28% (11 votes)

VS

Airbag (10)
OK Computer 56% (23 votes) defeats There There (3) 44% (18 votes)
Kraftwerk bracket

Everything in its Right Place (1)

Kid A
74% (29 votes) defeats A Wolf at the Door (4) 26% (10

VS

Idioteque (2)
Kid A 71% (30 votes) defeats How to Disappear Completely (14) 29% (12 votes)

Pink Floyd bracket

No Surprises (4)

OK Computer
66% (27 votes) defeats Bends (9) 34% (14 votes)

VS

Fake Plastic Trees (2)
The Bends 57% (24 votes) defeats Let Down (3) 43% (18 votes)
Posted by Keith O'Brien at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 29, 2007

Roxy Music bracket: 2+2=5 (2) v Exit Music for a Film (6)

2+2=5
Hail to the Thief
(2)
Sporting equivalent: Germany national soccer team. Efficient, calculated, stronger. Then, without much notice, they explode with a thunderous goal. "You have not been; paying attention. You have not been. GOL!"

VS

Exit Music (For a Film)
OK Computer
(6)
Sporting equivalent: Cincinnati Bengals passing attack. If you've ever watched Carson Palmer connect with Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in slow motion; this is the song that plays in your head. Sheer aerial beauty.

Listen to the songs after the jump

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: 2+2=5 (2) v Exit Music for a Film (6)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: Paranoid Android (1) vs Optimistic (4)

Paranoid Android
OK Computer
(1)

Sporting equivalent: 2006-2007 New England Patriots. It's well known that Bill Belichick is a coaching genius. Nowhere was this more apparent than when the Patriots played the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. The Vikings were (are?) a substandard team that just happened to do one thing well (stop the run). So what did Belichick do? He had Tom Brady pass and pass and pass to a 31-7 victory. That's what "Paranoid Android" does. It does what is necessary to win, and it does it well, no matter what structure it requires.

VS

Optimistic
Kid A
(4)
Sporting equivalent: Acie Law IV - Texas A&M point guard. All heart. Throughout the song, you don't think that much of it. But when it comes times to send it home, it won't let you. It wants to win too much.

Listen to the songs, after the jump

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: Paranoid Android (1) vs Optimistic (4)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

May 26, 2007

More high seeds left High & Dry

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)
70% (26 votes) defeats Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box (6) 30% (11 votes)

Roxy Music bracket

Paranoid Android (1)

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

VS

Optimistic (4)
52% (16 votes) defeats Street Spirit (5) 48% (15 votes)
--

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)
74% (23 votes) defeats Scatterbrain (16) 26% (8 votes)
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)

Second round stats

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)

SECOND ROUND VOTING HAS ENDED

All matchups below are no longer in play.

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

May 23, 2007

Roxy Music Bracket: The Tourist (10) v 2+2=5 (2)

"The Tourist"
OK Computer
(10)

Sexiest Lyric: "I guess it's seen the sparks a-flowing / No one else would know"

VS

"2+2 = 5 (The Lukewarm.)"
Hail to the Thief
(2)

Sexiest Lyric: "Because / You have not been / Payin' attention"

Posted by Randall Monty at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music Bracket: Planet Telex (3) v Exit Music (6)

"Planet Telex"
The Bends
(3)

Sexiest Lyric: "You can walk it home straight from school / You can kiss it, you can break all the rules"

VS

"Exit Music (for a Film)"
OK Computer
(6)

Sexiest Lyric: "Breathe, keep breathing, don't lose your nerve, breathe, keep breathing / I can't do this alone"

Posted by Randall Monty at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music Bracket: Paranoid Android (1) v Lucky (9)

"Paranoid Android"
OK Computer
(1)

Sexiest Lyric: "Why don't you remember my name?-- I guess he does"

VS

"Lucky"
OK Computer
(9)

Sexiest Lyric: "Kill me Sarah, kill me again with love"

Posted by Randall Monty at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music Bracket: Optimistic (4) v Street Spirit (5)

"Optimistic"
Kid A
(4)

Sexiest Lyric: "If you try the best you can / The best you can is good enough" right into the "whoa-a-whoa" part

VS

"Street Spirit (Fade Out)"
The Bends
(5)

Sexiest Lyric: aided by the tapping percusion, "this machine will not communicate these thoughts"

Posted by Randall Monty at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 22, 2007

FIRST ROUND HAS ENDED

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)

May 20, 2007

2 seed just enough: Roxy Music bracket results

Paranoid Android
OK Computer (1)
defeats

Pearly*
Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] (16)
31-2

Lucky
OK Computer (9)
defeats

I Might Be Wrong
Amnesiac (8)
57-44

Optimistic
Kid A (4)
defeats

Knives Out
Amnesiac (13)
58-38

Street Spirit (Fade Out)
The Bends (5)
defeats

Sit Down. Stand Up.
Hail to the Thief (12)
76-20

Planet Telex
The Bends (3)
defeats

Life in a Glass House
Amnesiac (14)
54-39

Exit Music (For a Film)
OK Computer (6)
defeats

Fog
Knives Out (11)
80-11

The Tourist
OK Computer (10)
defeats

Black Star
The Bends (7)
54-36

2+2 = 5
Hail to the Thief (2)
defeats

Climbing Up the Walls
OK Computer (15)
47-38

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 18, 2007

Roxy Music bracket: Paranoid Android (1) v. Pearly (16)

First result

Pearly* 88% (76 votes)
defeats
I Can't 12% (10 votes)

Now, it goes onto to face Paranoid Android, the overall #1 and Radiohead's kinda-homage to Roxy Music.

Paranoid Android
OK Computer (1)
This song is a good song.

VS

Pearly*
Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] (16) Very little of this song sounds like it would come from Radiohead. Thom has adopted a much more menacing voice (and Thom echo self-duo in the chorus), and the vampy cha-cha-cha melody don't have any sort of kin elsewhere in the Radiohead canon.

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 16, 2007

Roxy Music bracket: Black Star (7) v The Tourist (10)

Black Star
The Bends (7)
I could see a riot breaking out over such a non important topic, but "Black Star" always struck me as the most "Bends" track of the Bends songs. Lugubrious Thom (and his frequent falsetto) mixes with the fade-in guitar and the now-famous choral guitar crunch (cited elsewhere). One of those songs that disappears in spontaneous Bends recollecting, but one of the album's (admittedly many) highlights.

VS

The Tourist
OK Computer (10) In which Radiohead remind you its members don't feel everything has to be soooo complicated. Thom complains about his lot and, even when he's trying to comfort himself (or is it someone else), he can't leave the insults behind ("Idiot.") Simplicity, not banality, as the languid, careful guitar is a sound to behold.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: Black Star (7) v The Tourist (10)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: 2+2=5 (2) v Climbing up the Walls (15)

2+2 = 5
Hail to the Thief (2) Radiohead continues its streak of killer album-leading songs. Oh, the Bends-era fanboys must have salivated upon the first sound being a guitar plugged into an amp. Pscyhe! While astute Radiohead students must have known the metronome-like (muffled hi-hat?) drums were harbingers of a climax, but what strikes me so much about this song is that frenetic break seems simultaneously completely controlled and as if the sound got away from the band like water permeating after a wave hits the shore.

VS

Climbing Up the Walls
OK Computer (15)
Speed junkies might initially look at the end of OK Computer as soporific, but there's some real nuanced quality back there. "Climbing" at nine (immediately following the rousing "Electioneering" is perhaps the least compelling of the "come down" songs, but its brooding quality (and seagull-like effects) make it a worthy contender.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: 2+2=5 (2) v Climbing up the Walls (15)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: Exit Music (For A Film) (6) v Fog (11)

Exit Music (For a Film)
OK Computer (6) If I were to lose my mind someday, and my psychosis is Radiohead-related, this would be the song I rant about most as if it had "deeper" meaning. The title is spot-on, as the tone evokes a community of survivers discussing their bleak future in a bombed-out shelter (the lyrics suggest domestic abuse?). Paradoxically lush and sparse; it's epic.

VS

Fog

Knives Out
(11)

"Fog" begins and ends with little fanfare. Thom & Co. play it pretty straight, and the result is a Radiohead palate cleanser. I have little to say about this song that can help you appreciate it.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: Exit Music (For A Film) (6) v Fog (11)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: Planet Telex (3) v Life In A Glass House (14)

Planet Telex
The Bends (3) Let me take the liberty to state that this is my historic favorite song. I truly adore this song. Will you let me down? Now, onto the objective: this song perfectly sums up the Radiohead lyrics-tonality conundrum. Pretend you don't know English (or the lyrics), how exultant, exuberant, and hopeful does this song sound? It's pure affirmation. Oh, what's that? He repeats how everyone and everything is broken? Let me look that up in the dictionary. That bad? Oh, ok.

VS

Life in a Glass House
Amnesiac (14) This -- and "You and Whose Army" -- are like Radiohead's Luddite songs. Hey, look at how technology and our information/communications swarm are consuming us. Let's pretend we're a tired speakeasy band. Yes, this is my croon. Deal with it.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: Planet Telex (3) v Life In A Glass House (14)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: Street Spirit (5) v Sit Down. Stand Up. (12)

Street Spirit (Fade Out)
The Bends (5) I suspect more people like this than don't, but I think the world is pretty well divided on whether this song is underrated or overrated. Most like the video. Falling around in trailer parks. The song is tender.
VS

Sit Down. Stand Up.
Hail to the Thief (12) I suppose this isn't as much of a slam dunk statement as I think it should be, but this song sort of provides the perfect unintentional Radiohead parody. The song, piano-anchored, progresses well enough despite the limited choice of options and repetitive melody, but you know, like 2+2=5, that there will be a buildup. And it does. Jungle-breakbeat and Thom robotically chanting "the raindrops."

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: Street Spirit (5) v Sit Down. Stand Up. (12)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: Optimistic (4) vs Knives Out (13)

Optimistic
Kid A (4)
I suppose the boys from Travis and Coldplay point to this song when they make the argument (begrudgingly and only to people who could further their careers) that they sound like Radiohead. I've always enjoyed this song (as well as its competition). It's accessible and pleasant. And, almost, well, optimistic! Trying my best is good enough? Thom, will you be our dads? Thom, now that you're our dad, shouldn't you talk to us every once in awhile. No, dad, we're not from Q Music. We're your sons and daughters. And your cryptic notes to us make us unhappy about the future.

VS

Knives Out
Amnesiac (13) Sprinkled liberally with jazz (as understood by surf rock), this Amnesiac song breezes by pleasantly enough, which might be its death sentence. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the way Thom's voice is the steady instrument surrounded by experimentation in this song.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: Optimistic (4) vs Knives Out (13)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 09:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: I Can't (16) v. Pearly (16) (play-in game)

I Can’t
Pablo Honey (16) This song to me is like a canvas of scribbles - is it art or shite? I kind of like this song, but it's a little too emotive. It's best and worst quality is that Thom seems to care.
VS

Pearly*
Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] (16) Very little of this song sounds like it would come from Radiohead. Thom has adopted a much more menacing voice (and Thom echo self-duo in the chorus), and the vampy cha-cha-cha melody don't have any sort of kin elsewhere in the Radiohead canon.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: I Can't (16) v. Pearly (16) (play-in game)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 08:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxy Music bracket: I Might Be Wrong (8) v Lucky (9)

I Might Be Wrong
Amnesiac (8) I really like the garage-band like guitar lick to this song. It's not a blue chipper in my book, but I might resemble the track name.
VS

Lucky
OK Computer (9) OK Computer is a soundtrack to a 90s movie never made, that only exists when it plays in my head. Despite (or in spite) of being a man who makes his living on putting thoughts onto paper, most of my OK Computer images stem from the music. Depsite the chorus having the line "Pull me out of the lake," it's the sudden stabbing of Johnny Greenwood's guitar that makes me think of some character getting submerged in water.

Continue reading "Roxy Music bracket: I Might Be Wrong (8) v Lucky (9)" »

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)