Lurker > Fluttershy_Pony

Speedway: Nice song seemingly about continuing on through adversity. Not quite my type of inspiration, but Google Translate gives a few nice lines such as "There's meaning in the night that won't be taken away". I remain easily manipulated by night. Also, once it fully kicks in, it kinda feels like a Gundam intro?

https://tubedubber.com/?q=jAOSABgkAoY:DjktWcs9hJ8:0:100:0:0:1

The intro of the song doesn't sync at all, but the fast-paced singing goes very well with beam sabers clashing once everything gets into full swing.

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Cactus in the Valley: Intriguing. Some of these lyrics are very close to hitting hard... marks of madness & past disgraces make this better than the average love song, but it never fully clicks for me. I also wish it had done more with the richer, heavier part of the song... that is also my favorite part, but it's quite short. Still, high marks for lyrics and I could see myself loving this on the right day.

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Pink Dazzled 45: Fun murder song. I like the image of a sparkly, pink gun.

Seanchan posted...

No problem! Plenty of time still to make adjustments.

Thanks! Sorry for the trouble, but I just sent the revised list and am officially done for real this time.

1: The Last Laugh
2: Psalms
3: Saviour
4: Over Your Shoulder
5: Holocaust
6: Angelic
7: God is Coming
8: Flowers
9: Going Nowhere

Light

Star Trek episode, though I wouldn't call it the best.

@Seanchan

Actually, would you mind if I scrapped that list and submitted a new one tomorrow? I want to move an album up one or two spots, correct some typos, and switch my top songs around a bit... think I'd like to give myself a hard "no more than three songs per album" rule to free up space for a few other songs. Had four songs stuck in my head the past two days, feels like they need to be on my list.

Powerpuff Girls
Teen Titans Go
Adventure Time
Space Ghost: Coast to Coast

Powerpuff Girls is one of the biggest shows of its era, had a theatrical film, and keeps getting remade. Easy choice.

Modern Cartoon Network is basically just a Teen Titans Go channel and it was also big enough for a theatrical film, so... I think it has to be on.

Adventure Time... I feel was influential enough to sneak in, though I'm not as sold on it.

Space Ghost basically created Adult Swim, which is notable enough.

HMs: "What A Cartoon!" for creating so many of the Cartoon Cartoons, but it's lack of an identity of its own makes it hard to vote for; "Steven Universe" for being my favorite CN show, but I can't honestly say it had enough impact that I want to vote it.

King
Kyle

Mega_Mana posted...

I'm having some dissatisfaction with user write-ups. Any tips or inputs on how best to do them?

Definitely highlighting their songs and where they ranked, as well as average score.

Honestly, I think you did plenty. Stats are good. I... wanted to offer advice, but honestly, I barely do anything myself. Just type whatever, calculate any stat that amuses me personally, and move along. The ranking is the important thing, so I'd say... try not to stress about the eliminations? (Not helpful, but after a full day of thought, that's all I came up with.)

Space

Limits was the second thought.

Auron
Kiryu

VNV Nation - Judgement > Burial - Untrue > Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible

Alright, I've got mine submitted. In retrospect, I really should have gone over my writeups & fixed the many, many typos... but let's just pretend there's some value in pure, unedited stream of consciousness thoughts regardless of how garbled they are.

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Shadow

Figured that one was next and a bit surprised it made it this far. The Remedy was my second most listened to song of 2023, though it feels like it should have been first... I listened to it regularly throughout the year, but it inexplicably lost in number of listens to a song that I basically played on an endless loop for one day.

Abandoned Pools is the guy who did the Clone High theme, which is a show that I would describe as "something that exists" (it was fortunate enough to air on Comedy Central along a block of better cartoons, making it something I have a lot of nostalgia for even if I wouldn't recommend it). I love his voice, but there aren't many songs of his I can get into... honestly, this is the only real song, though I have a soft spot for all versions of the Clone High Theme. I still need to watch the new season that just came out, hoping to start that in a day or two.

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Square Hammer: Hey, another song I love! Or loved, at least. One of those songs I played on an endless loop so many times that I'm a bit tired of it, but still, very nice song.

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Tap Dancer: Also good, though it's something I need to be in the right mood for.

Taxi

I'll participate for as long as this goes on.

Amaterasu
Midna

End

Michiru Mori:

I try scream out my wishes, but I cant make them heard
I have no place to go, Im crushed
By cold forest full of sadness that towers over me
My tender heart quietly rots away

Not my favorite lyrics of blunt sadness, but definitely something I could work with. Pretty good melody, rather solid nomination all around.

Cool Cat: I'm surprised I haven't heard this one before since I covered an entire Garfield album before. This is incredibly catchy and I'm afraid of how high up I'd place the song... probably top 20-ish? Shame "Party of Love", the other song mentioned on the artwork, isn't half as good.

Like... I usually don't go for dance music or songs with lyrics this repetitive, but I kinda love this one.

Fight

Still working on relistens (think I'm 14 albums in), but I think this set has the highest average quality. Like, I don't think I'd put anything in the top 5 albums we've covered, but there's also nothing that I strongly dislike. Even my bottom two albums from this cycle would have likely been in the top half of any past cycle.

Dawn FM > Act II: The Father of Death > amo

Hard choice, since I love all of these, but I think I'll stick with my plan to support the popular option.

I love Another Day, though it took years and multiple appearances at various ranking topics for me to get into it... you're definitely coming around on it faster than I did.

Listening to it again now, I feel like the song really needs the accompanying physical performance to really sell it. The body language between them really elevates the song & the backing chorus appearing out of nowhere is weird even when I know when they're coming in. Having the visual of her being kicked out of his apartment & joining up with a group of people singing up to him from the street makes it easier to appreciate their role and timing.

Mine

Shantae
Edgeworth

Master Sword
Buster Sword
BFG
Blue Shell

Couldn't think of a fourth, but Blue Shell will do nicely.

I don't know, but I've been told

Literally, my only full thought was the marching soldiers repeating the earlier cadence. I couldn't think of a following line; closest I ever got was "something something something old!" if you prefer that answer.

Mega
Phoenix

1: Yoru
2: Sara
3: Poem
4: Church
5: Everland
6: Intro Theme
7: Sailing
8: Clap & Walk
9: Hold Your Life
10: Swamper
11: Prontera Field
12: Din Don Dan Dan
13: The Force Midgarts
14: Red Wolf
15: Beginners
16: Play Chess in the Air
17: Hodo
18: 5 Year War
19: Kings Joy
20: Pub

I... think I like this album? It's just really long... I like half the songs, which means there's a lot here I enjoy! Also a lot that's... less good... it's just a lot in general. Still, I'd say I like this.

Mega_Mana posted...

Computer restarted overnight and I forgot to save, lost about two days worth of write-ups. I'll try not to pause, but... damn.

Oof. Always sucks when something like that happens. Happy to see this continue, but I think we'd all understand if you need a bit of time to make up for the lost work.

Mega_Mana posted...

#88. Fight Like A Girl

Link seems to be missing, so here:

https://youtu.be/576LCe-POgI

I think I fully agree with that writeup. It's a fun song with some good lyrics, but that chorus does get spammed an awful lot.

Mega_Mana posted...

#89. We Are The One

Hmm. I wouldn't say the song is too long, exactly, but my opinion of it seems to steadily drop while it goes on. I absolutely love how it starts; then I kinda love it; and we eventually end at "well, I like it more than most songs at the "I like this" tier". I'm not sure why it falls off so drastically over its runtime, though I do like it a fair amount and more than it sounds like I do.

Four

...I don't recall even hearing of that game before, but it's apparently a thing.

Mega Man
Ryu
Dante
Captain Commando

Surprised anyone else mentioned Commando. I know he's not great, but I feel the original company mascot deserves a vote or two since he was created entirely to be the face of the company.

Dante
Waluigi

Mega_Mana posted...

The guitars and the pace of this song are great, but like a few other songs that fell already (This Is It, After the Storm, Another Day)

Mega_Mana posted...

Remaining Songs

A Lifetime of Adventure
A Tap Dancer's Dilemma
Acacia
Ain't No Reason
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Another Day

...Well, there's at least one song left that I know isn't going to win! <./<

Kidding, I know how hard it is to avoid spoiling another song's placement when writing out of chronological order and don't make much effort to avoid it myself these days. Also, it's hypothetically possible your opinion changed so drastically that it could still wind up at the top of the list--Lord knows I do that often enough...

Lost

Definitely thinking of the movie I haven't seen, followed by Peter Pan.

Tidus
Sora

*continued*

THE PROTOMEN - ACT II: THE FATHER OF DEATH

Year: 2009
Genre: Rock Opera that transitions from Spaghetti Western to Synthpop
RYM Score: 3.69/5 [1,132 Ratings]
Length: 12 Songs, 57:19

No helpful quotes on Wikipedia, so take some bits from Rate Your Music reviews:

"This album is probably one of the best Rock Operas that Ive heard in a good while and while this album centers around the Mega Man franchise, it feels more than just that. [...] This album has two major thematic parts separated by its genre. The past and exposition is portrayed in a Spaghetti Western sound, then is later transitioned from this western theme to a synth-heavy sound that portrays the dystopian future."

"A massive (if objectively bizarre) achievement in spattering genres across the canvas like a punk rock Pollock. One of the Most albums ever made, sweeping and impassioned and filled with detail even across its many progressive soundscapes. About as theatrical as it gets but without ever acknowledging it, there's no musical theater-esque wink at the audience. It's all just grandiose, pulpy excitement and dramatic highs."

"As a musical experience this record is incredible. There's only one thing holding this back from being perfect, and that it all feels a massive stage production and less like a band playing music together. [...] I love it, but sometimes it feels too Broadway for me."

Example Tracks:

The Good Doctor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toeh0-0B4mE

Breaking Out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4X1ZXokS_s

[I am aware that "Light Up the Night" is the big single which appeared as Rock Band DLC, however as this is a story heavy album, I feel it best to show how each half of the story begins.

Act II is a massive indie rock opera concept album that is very loosely inspired by the Classic Mega Man franchise--by which I mean there are characters named Albert Wily & Thomas Light and robots, which is pretty much it. This is an epic tale of how the city fell into a 1984-style dystopia, broken into stories of how the world fell under darkness & picking up years later as someone finally rebels against Wily's society. The skillful way the album slowly transitions from a heavily Western inspired sound to the synth-heavy rock the band is known for is truly masterful and helps keeps things fresh throughout the album's runtime.

-BUT- this is an extremely story heavy concept album. While there are some songs that could be hit singles--particularly on the second half--there are definitely several tracks that exist more to move the story along than be something you'd likely listen to on their own. The album also included extensive liner notes with full narration to help set the scenes---those are included in the links posted above, so if you're interested in the story, I highly suggest using those & reading along for the full experience. And yes, I am aware there are people who are going to HATE this nomination as a result, -but- it is one of my favorite albums of all time. Also there are, you know, two other less story heavy albums to pick from.

You should pick this album if you want an extravagant theatrical production that tells a complete story.

{EDITOR'S NOTE: Act II is a prequel to their original album, so don't be concerned by the II in the title.}]

THE WEEKND - DAWN FM

Year: 2022
Genre: Synthpop, Dance Pop
Rate Your Music Score: 3.45/5 [17,619 Ratings]
Length: 16 Tracks, 51:49

Wikipedia Quotes:

"The Weeknd described the album's concept as a state of purgatorya journey towards the "light at the end of a tunnel" [...] Dawn FM is an upbeat record containing dance-pop and synth-pop songs that are heavily inspired by the 1980s new wave, funk and electronic dance music styles. The album received widespread acclaim from music critics, who complimented its production and melodies.

Dawn FM reached number one in over 10 countries, including the singer-songwriter's native Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; meanwhile, it debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart."

Example Tracks:

Gasoline:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T4UykXuJnI

Out of Time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxgj5af8zg4

[A concept album that represents a radio station that plays in purgatory, this is possibly the concept album best suited for this type of ranking as it's relatively light on "concept", featuring several pop hits that work great even without the context of the other songs on the album. I've had a hard time narrowing it down to two example tracks, but I think these two tracks should do a good job. Gasoline is being used as the theme for the next Wrestlemania, making it an oddly topical choice; Out of Time is a catchy, 80s style song that samples a Japanese city pop classic & has a brief outro that leans into the album's concept to show how that's handled.

You should pick this album if you want a popular, mainstream choice.]

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BRING ME THE HORIZON - AMO

Year: 2019
Genre: Pop Rock, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
RYM Score: 2.83/5 [4,084 Ratings]
Length: 13 Songs, 51:59

Wikipedia Quotes:

"Sykes stated about the album: "amo is a love album that explores every aspect of that most powerful emotion. [...] It deals with the good the bad and the ugly, and as a result we've created an album that's more experimental, more varied, weird, and wonderful than anything we've done before." He later commented that Amo is a concept album about love, as "Everything boils down to love in the end". Sykes also said that some of the lyrical content concerns his divorce. The genres of the album has been described as pop rock, electronic rock, electropop, synth-pop, EDM, alternative rock, electronica, hard rock, pop metal, and pop. The album also contains elements of hip hop and trap.

AllMusic gave the album a positive review saying, "Amo is a genre-bending thrill ride that marks a brave new era for the band." The Independent called the album "catchy and eclectic" but also said that "amo won't satisfy all of BMTH's fans...[but will] bring in some new ones."

Example Tracks:

mother tongue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aC_TSkGvPw

MANTRA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvZxPWmnqeo

[Having listened to this album dozens of times, I would not describe it as a concept album at all--but it has coincidentally let me nominate three things described as concept albums, so hey, let's run with that. Either way, this album is a bit of a beautiful mess; as you can tell from the Wikipedia quotes, this album takes inspiration from basically every genre to exist except for the metalcore that brought the band fame in the first place. Or as I described it when I was hyping it up to a friend:

""amo" is an interesting album. While the band got their start as a heavy metalcore band, they transitioned to a more Linkin Park-esque sound with "That's the Spirit" (their biggest album by far), and largely moved away from metal entirely with this album. You can feel the band going through a lot of growing pains on this album and it's a rather mixed bag, lacking any type of cohesion. Some songs, like "wonderful life", could easily fit onto their earlier albums with its depression chorus that repeats "no one cares if I'm dead or alive" ; but then they spend two different songs attacking fans of their earlier work, one complaining that no one likes him now that he's not doing suicidal depression (but.. you just... did a depression song...) and one attacking fans who want them to go back to being a metal band & honestly TWO SONGS attacking your fans is a weird choice? But then you have MANTRA, which is catchy as hell, and "mother tongue" is the sappiest ballad the band has ever made and... it's all over the place. Sad songs, songs about how they're not doing sad songs, songs that could be on their old albums, but also fuck you if you like the old albums, but occasionally catchy, occasionally bizarre, and completely all over the place tonally. Objectively, it is not their best album, but it is fascinating and has quite a few songs that I love."

This may be my current favorite album, largely because I've binged other BMtH albums so often that this one's different sound is now more appealing. You should pick this album if you dislike concept albums ("love" is, at best, a theme & not a concept) or if you want a less metal introduction to my favorite band.]

*continued*

Seanchan posted...

So, I know the next topic isn't up yet, but is that another Youtube only album?

https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/ragnarok-online-ii-original-sound-track

I still think KH Insider is the best way to listen to game soundtracks, so that should be an alternate option.

Beer

Travis
Raiden

After the Storm: I like this one. I find the folksy instrumental styles rather pleasing and the singing is nice enough; I do wish we had some new lyrics towards the end of the song, as it does feel a tad repetitive lyrically -but- I feel that I like the rest of the song well enough to excuse it.

Yume Utsutsu: Nice ambiance and painful lyrics--I'm especially fond of "Are the pains that were burnt away what you call love?", though the next verse's "The sword pierces through into that body that transforms into bubbles; Will you gladly drink even your own poison?" is also certainly evocative--though her voice is a bit higher pitched than I might like... lyrical dissonance is fine, but I think I'd personally prefer a deeper voice to accompany the lyrics... still, I like it, and I could see myself enjoying it more on relistens when I've had more time to acclimate to the song's vocal stylings.

Eddie My Love: Singer feels like a modern day Elvis. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that, though I wouldn't say I dislike it.

Arthuriana: I really like the section starting around 2:25--I suppose it's a chorus, since it's reprised in full at the end of the song. I'm.. not nearly as sold on the rest of the song, which does feel like a lot of references thrown together & I wish we had a different third verse, instead of just reprising the old lyrics again... but I do really, really like that chorus so I'd be inclined to give it a relatively high score anyway. Probably a 7/10 song, though it's being hard carried by it's 8.5/10 chorus.

One Year of Love: Not my kind of love song, to be honest. I like the sax and I like how it's much more subdued than most Queen songs, so this is... probably right below the "I like this" tier? I kinda like it and it's close, but the lyrics aren't quite for me... actually, considering how much I love rain, describing a rainy day as a *bad* thing makes this song rather aggressively not for me lyrically, but... I do like the music itself well enough. I don't know. Nice music, subpar lyrics, and an unsatisfying ending (it feels more like the song just stops) but the music may be nice enough to get it to the "I like this" tier anyway. Maybe. I quite honestly don't know, it's very much an "ask me again in two months and we'll see where things are" type of song.

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Topic is fun, I like the writeups, I don't really have anything to suggest from eliminated artists; I do like a lot of Tat Ming Pair songs (they did the night driving song), but I can't think of any that would be more to your liking.

Axel
Yuna
Toad
Soma

Shit

Time to reset the "days since my mind was needlessly vulgar" count back to zero.

Mysterious

I think I went for "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet" and couldn't recall the full title?

Layton
James

And one more.

Mega_Mana posted...

Just popping things put of my head

Ooh, some interesting links there. I don't recall seeing the Nick one before & I'm not sure I've even heard of Shelby Woo, but I'm far more amused than I should be by the "We didn't say it, we sang it." "Whatever." exchange. Also it reminds me of Boo Boo Baba Dee Dee.

https://youtu.be/mhZVfqbVP8c

...I am unsure if being reminded of that is a good thing as I'll have that stuck in my head all week.

DTV may actually be something I'd been wondering about for a while now... I have this vague, half-memory of Daisy dancing on a commercial & there she is. The memory is too distorted to be sure this is what I saw, but it seems probable.

HBO's neat and it's fun seeing old Power Ranger commercials.

I actually expected Big Red to do the best of my nominations--second, at worst, so this is a bit of a surprise. Well, not completely as a 30 second jingle for a subpar piece of gum should be seen as a longshot, but I love it enough to believe in it anyway. I think this song was my third most listened to of 2023; never cared for gum of any kind and have no particular nostalgia for the track, but a few different commercials for it played while I was watching old Classic Concentration episodes on YouTube & I developed a brief obsession with the track.

Top five jingles, off the top of my head:

Mentos:
Big Red
Crossfire
Skip It
Liberty Mutual Pool Party (Young people having a good time with insurance!)

...I know no one else likes that last one and I don't care. Honestly, there are probably better out there, I'm really only confident in my top two. I just can't think of them right away... right now I'm stuck on Atari Mario Bros.' parody of the "Car 54, Where Are You?" theme:

https://youtu.be/dduvx-dEySY