Moving right along, this 6th matchup features a '90s duo that has been likened to Simon & Garfunkel against a traditional New England folk artist who began his career in the '60s. Here's the skinny:
Harrod and Funck - Live
A 90s equivalent of Simon & Garfunkel, they each had a unique style of songwriting that blended sweetly together. This is probably my favorite folk album ever, and "Lion Song" is a perfect folk tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmGFnf1heNc&list=PLATeyS5bPJiFL-rGWUSi2b9GgJiMHgQlX (also available on Spotify)
vs.
Gordon Bok - A Tune for November
My pick is on YouTube, I saw it there. He is old school sea shanty New England type stuff pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n6v45J3vGk
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Folk Contest: Round 1 Match 5 Results
Unlike last week, this one was close, although I was disappointed to see that several of our usual participants didn't vote this week.
Here's what I had to say:
I'm ready to vote.
I love the guitar and songwriting on Matt Elliott. I'm less of a fan of the vocals, however. I feel like I need to cattle prod him or something to wake him up. This style of vocals would have worked on one, two or maybe even three tracks. But when it's done for the whole album, it annoys me, especially considering how good everything else is.
The Borg album is my favorite of the tournament so far, which is surprising for me for an album that is all instrumental. I just love this style of music, though, and they do it very well.
My vote is for Borg.
Some of the others found the Borg to be more generic, though, and although others agreed with me about the Matt Elliott vocals, not everyone was as bothered by his sleepy vocals as I was.
Final Results: Matt Elliott 6 votes, Borg 5 votes.
Winner: Matt Elliott
Here's what I had to say:
I'm ready to vote.
I love the guitar and songwriting on Matt Elliott. I'm less of a fan of the vocals, however. I feel like I need to cattle prod him or something to wake him up. This style of vocals would have worked on one, two or maybe even three tracks. But when it's done for the whole album, it annoys me, especially considering how good everything else is.
The Borg album is my favorite of the tournament so far, which is surprising for me for an album that is all instrumental. I just love this style of music, though, and they do it very well.
My vote is for Borg.
Some of the others found the Borg to be more generic, though, and although others agreed with me about the Matt Elliott vocals, not everyone was as bothered by his sleepy vocals as I was.
Final Results: Matt Elliott 6 votes, Borg 5 votes.
Winner: Matt Elliott
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Folk Contest Round 1 Match 5
We're now halfway through the first round. The fifth matchup features a Leonard-Cohen-style singer/songwriter vs. a Swedish medieval/renaissance music ensemble. Here it is:
Matt Elliott - Farewell to All We Know
Do you believe in resurrection? You don't? Well, I did when I first heard this. This is the second coming of Leonard Cohen, I mused. He breathes throughout this album somehow. How very odd, how wonderful! It is probably not true, but damn it, he used to play a mean guitar, too. Enjoy!
https://mattelliott.bandcamp.com/album/farewell-to-all-we-know
also on spotify and YouTube
vs.
Borg - Woodland
I've choosen this album because it is just a humble and enchanting release. I don't really think most of you would like it, since it is traditional (medieval) folk music.
https://borg.bandcamp.com/album/woodland
The voting ends next Friday. As always, feel free to listen along at home.
Matt Elliott - Farewell to All We Know
Do you believe in resurrection? You don't? Well, I did when I first heard this. This is the second coming of Leonard Cohen, I mused. He breathes throughout this album somehow. How very odd, how wonderful! It is probably not true, but damn it, he used to play a mean guitar, too. Enjoy!
https://mattelliott.bandcamp.com/album/farewell-to-all-we-know
also on spotify and YouTube
vs.
Borg - Woodland
I've choosen this album because it is just a humble and enchanting release. I don't really think most of you would like it, since it is traditional (medieval) folk music.
https://borg.bandcamp.com/album/woodland
The voting ends next Friday. As always, feel free to listen along at home.
Folk Contest: Round 1 Match 4 Results
This round wasn't even close. Here was my vote:
At first, I didn't relate to the Clara Engel album at all. I will say it grew on me, particularly that first song.
However, for me, the Clem Snide album was solid throughout. My vote goes to 2.
The rest of the group mostly agreed. Several people forgot to vote this week, but it wasn't really close enough to matter.
Final Results: Clara Engel 4 votes, Clem Snide 9 votes.
Winner: Clem Snide
At first, I didn't relate to the Clara Engel album at all. I will say it grew on me, particularly that first song.
However, for me, the Clem Snide album was solid throughout. My vote goes to 2.
The rest of the group mostly agreed. Several people forgot to vote this week, but it wasn't really close enough to matter.
Final Results: Clara Engel 4 votes, Clem Snide 9 votes.
Winner: Clem Snide
Sunday, May 3, 2020
April 2020 Song of the Day
For new readers, this refers to the monthly Song of the Day list on the Sputnik Music website. Each month, one user hosts the list and names a theme. Everyone then recommends songs in line with this theme, and people rate the various song recommendations. The list of April songs can be found at Sputnik Music Song of the Day - April 2020.
1. The theme for the month was "Artists whose name begins with the letter 'B'".
2. My pick for the month was "Under a Violet Moon" by Blackmore's Night. It's one of their best. Blackmore's Night - Under a Violet Moon.
3. My highest rated song of the month was an old classic, "Presence of the Lord" by Blind Faith. Blind Faith - Presence of the Lord. In general, though, my ratings were pretty low this month - 2.69. IMy average rating is usually somewhere just over or just under 3. I'm not sure if this was because I was grumpier this month due to the quarantine, or the songs were just suckier. Might have been a combination.
4. The highest rated song by the group in general was "Firefly" by Black Light Smoke. I liked that one myself. Black Light Smoke - Firefly.
5. The link for the playlist for the month, minus the one song I couldn't find on YouTube, is April 2020 Song of the Day YouTube Playlist.
1. The theme for the month was "Artists whose name begins with the letter 'B'".
2. My pick for the month was "Under a Violet Moon" by Blackmore's Night. It's one of their best. Blackmore's Night - Under a Violet Moon.
3. My highest rated song of the month was an old classic, "Presence of the Lord" by Blind Faith. Blind Faith - Presence of the Lord. In general, though, my ratings were pretty low this month - 2.69. IMy average rating is usually somewhere just over or just under 3. I'm not sure if this was because I was grumpier this month due to the quarantine, or the songs were just suckier. Might have been a combination.
4. The highest rated song by the group in general was "Firefly" by Black Light Smoke. I liked that one myself. Black Light Smoke - Firefly.
5. The link for the playlist for the month, minus the one song I couldn't find on YouTube, is April 2020 Song of the Day YouTube Playlist.
Folk Contest Round 1 Match 4
Here's the fourth matchup of the first round:
Clara Engel - The Bethlehem Tapes
she has material for days & a whopping one vote on one of her albums in this database
https://claraengel.bandcamp.com/album/the-bethlehem-tapes
vs.
Clem Snide - Forever Just Beyond
Gilkyson is an American folk artist based out of Austin, Texas. Secularia, her most recent LP, contains her musical musings on spirituality vs. religion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zMWd2Jbjz8&list=OLAK5uy_mog-g6-TVTgSsfwxI6D68cHio8gQdrCxU
The album is also available on spotify.
Clara Engel - The Bethlehem Tapes
she has material for days & a whopping one vote on one of her albums in this database
https://claraengel.bandcamp.com/album/the-bethlehem-tapes
vs.
Clem Snide - Forever Just Beyond
Gilkyson is an American folk artist based out of Austin, Texas. Secularia, her most recent LP, contains her musical musings on spirituality vs. religion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zMWd2Jbjz8&list=OLAK5uy_mog-g6-TVTgSsfwxI6D68cHio8gQdrCxU
The album is also available on spotify.
The voting for this one ends next Friday. Feel free to listen along at home.
Folk Contest: Round 1 Match 3 Results
So here was my vote on this round.
Not surprisingly, I'm sticking with my own pick on this one. I like the Augie March album overall, especially the musical things going on in the song. I don't love the vocals, though, and the album feels a little overlong. As I said earlier, I especially liked "Men Who Follow Spring the Planet Round".
I just find Eliza's spiritual musings very pretty. And as I stated earlier, I particularly like "Solitary Singer", "Seculare" and "Instrument".
My vote is for Eliza Gilkyson.
Unfortunately for dear Eliza, not everyone concurred. This was the closest vote to date.
Final Results: Augie March 9 votes, Eliza Gilkyson 7 votes.
Winner: Augie March
Not surprisingly, I'm sticking with my own pick on this one. I like the Augie March album overall, especially the musical things going on in the song. I don't love the vocals, though, and the album feels a little overlong. As I said earlier, I especially liked "Men Who Follow Spring the Planet Round".
I just find Eliza's spiritual musings very pretty. And as I stated earlier, I particularly like "Solitary Singer", "Seculare" and "Instrument".
My vote is for Eliza Gilkyson.
Unfortunately for dear Eliza, not everyone concurred. This was the closest vote to date.
Final Results: Augie March 9 votes, Eliza Gilkyson 7 votes.
Winner: Augie March
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)