Board 8 > The Board 8 Bi-Weekly Song Club - The 11th

(+) Yeah! (+)

Seginustemple posted...

Rapsody - 2AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieZARNWQQY

Pretty great stuff, love the beat changes and the delivery especially. By the 3rd verse I was feeling this completely.

digiiiiiiiii posted...

DMX - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIQPmdPR7cI

Completely unnecessary cover, the ad-libs are okay and I like the beat though. Just a novelty not much more than that.

Terastodon posted...

OK, christmas - fine, I'll bend to your whim.

Alexander Jean ft. Casey Abrams - We Three Kings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQbqhL_d2xo

I wish the whole song was just Jean's vocals, I didn't really like Casey's vocals. Otherwise it's a satisfying version I could myself pulling out again during the holidays.

Shaduln posted...

Christmas time? Christmas time.

Good chance some of you have heard this one, but it isn't one of their more well known songs.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Nights in Blue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAwY645CgPM

https://open.spotify.com/track/4APgQsRLwNXVINB4ca1iLS

Doesn't come close to the more classic and well-known TSO tracks, which are sweeping, technical, and epic. The vocals and instruments are just a little lifeless here for me.

Steiner posted...

oh god

august burns red - sleigh ride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnAEBgzuLOs

Pretty cool cover, I liked the way they kept on changing things up throughout, especially the jazzy interlude.

MysticBrohan posted...

oh damn totally forgot
not sure what to post so just gonna hit shuffle and see what i get
BROCKHAMPTON - BLEACH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTMucy4PR2k

The only verse I really liked was Ameer's but the beat and hook are decent.
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Vote: Muse- Showbiz

2 AM
Let It Snow
Sleigh Ride
We Three Kings
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Bleach
Christmas Night in Blue
When My Heart Finds Christmas
Chanel
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas
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hmmm
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tonight or tomorrow i promise
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bumppppppp
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Chanel > Christmas Night in Blue > 2 A.M. > the rest
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Sorry, I passed out trying to finish these last night. Really the only reason I needed even more than the two weeks was due to holiday travel. Also I listened to everything at least 4 times, and couldn't separate the top 3 - they're basically all tied.

(1ST) Sufjan Stevens - Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day?
This one really grew on me. It was way too aloof and hipster for me at first, but the synth opening, and most of the instrumental parts throughout the song are excellent. There's something really great about those chugging 8th notes with the simple and fun synth part.

(2nd) Muse - Showbiz
Really glad Bane didn't follow the Christmas theme because I hadn't heard this Muse song before, and like most Muse tracks it fuckin' rules. Really great gradual, but strong build-up to the fiery ending. I like the guitar solo and classic Muse sustained vocals in the chorus w/dramatic vibrato.

(3rd) Panzerballett - Let it Snow

Mr Lasastryke posted...

One of the few times I would want to do without vocals in the song.

Hmmm....I liked the vocals, though the death metal 'grunting' toward the end is more comical and not especially "good". The harmonizing on the back half of the 'Let it Snow' descents is excellent though, as heard at around 1:05. Very interesting chaos, without being too abstract or dissonant.

Alexander Jean, Casey Abrams - We Three Kings
I really like the somewhat ominous tone of this. Reminds me of KT Tunstall or something. Might be even better than the Sarah McLachlan + Bare Naked Ladies version they included in their mash-up with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", a favorite of mine for a while. The vocal movement at 3:00, lol wtf, really cool. Her voice is very good.

August Burns Red - Sleigh Ride
This grew on me as well. Drums are very good, and cover a lot of ground rhythmically. Interesting take on this song.

The Alan Parsons Project - Somebody Out There
Not nearly as fun or interesting as Parsons' more experimental "It's Funny You Should Say That", still one of my favorite tracks I heard through Song of the Week (thanks mycro). It's alright though.

Rapsody, Ab-soul - 2 AM
Much better than the Frank Ocean song, though technically that might be considered R&B. Funny that they actually mention Frank towards the end of the song. I really like the line "Everybody ain't family just cuz they call you 'cous' ". Whoever the girl rapper is spits some really good lyrics.

DMX, Divine Bars - Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer
FAHREAL. It's good for a laugh for sure. Honestly one of my favorite renditions of the song, since the original's worn on me after hearing it for 25+ years.

BROCKHAMPTON - BLEACH
Like the Frank Ocean song, not very interesting. The verse where the guy goes into falsetto on the last word of each line is obnoxious, but the verse following that is decent and probably the best part of the song. The twangy guitar loop towards the end is kinda cool, too.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Nights in Blue
Uhhh.....TSO should just never do songs with lyrics.....ever....based on this and the others I've heard. I didn't even look at the artist and initially figured this was some random, cheesy Christmas original. The piano riff is not good, very basic and almost goofy. The best part is the big guitar hits in what I guess is the chorus. The vocals don't seem to fit well in the verses, and the lyrics are lacking. Again, the chorus is probably where the vocals are at least decent. Just a feeble attempt at a 'swanky' style Christmas song. Stick to instrumentals plz, many of which are very good.

Frank Ocean - Chanel
I don't really get the hype with Frank Ocean. This sounds pretty bad to me. Slow and not very interesting.
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Let it Snow - 2
Somebody Out There - 1
Bleach - 1
Showbiz - 1
Chanel - 1
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? - 1

Think I'm gonna start the next topic without announcing a winner here, in case we get any last-second votes
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Showbiz is pretty decent. It drags on a little too much for my tastes but it definitely isn't bad

Somebody Out There feels like a goofy fun track

Let It Snow is funny? I actually like the vocals just because it makes it sound goofy and campy which is what I would imagine a jazz metal version of let is snow would actually be like

When My Heart Finds Christmas is old school sounding and fine

I like Sufjan a lot, this one isn't one of my favorites but it still is pretty nice to hear

2AM is really good, was considering Rapsody as an artist to nominate briefly.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a novelty cause of DMX and it's hilarious but it's not something I would ever vote for. It's kinda like, I dunno, that one video of Goofy singing Evanesence.

We Three Kings is surprisingly good, dig the voices

Christmas Night in Blue is different than most Trans Siberian Orchestra I listened to, but it isn't bad

Sleigh Ride was fun, straight forward metal but I still think christmas and metal just sounds too cheesy together and I think Let it Snow goes deeper into the well there.

BLEACH is just a really good song. These guys are pretty talented, great lyrics, think this is better than most of their stuff. Makes me hyped to listen to Saturation III finally

See you in the now Board 8 Tri-Weekly Song Club!
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VeryInsane posted...

See you in the now Board 8 Tri-Weekly Song Club!

nope

Let it Snow - 2
Bleach - 2
Somebody Out There - 1
Showbiz - 1
Chanel - 1
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? - 1
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i assume the votes are coming in so slowly because we're busy with holiday shit.
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https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/76164415

I figure we can declare the 11th installment winner in the new topic, once it's settled
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radiohead is an extremely innovative and adventurous band and muse isn't

man i cannot disagree with this more. muse's first few albums were extremely innovative and adventurous. their last couple sucking doesn't change that
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muse - showbiz

you picked the most tool-like muse song that exists, and it's a great one. it's not my favorite, but it might be top three behind citizen erased and sunburn. the vocals are just so good, and the bass is droning in a really great way that muse tried to replicate more in recent albums and kinda failed hard at it

the alan parson's project - somebody out there

man, alan parson's project is a thing i've heard a lot of, and i always feel like everything sounds just a little bit thin ... i always want just a little bit more out of it, but this is one song that is the exception. the vocals are just so good, and the synth is dope. i dig it.

panzerballett - let it snow

it loses its novelty really quickly imo. i think it's a silly fun thing for the first minute or so, but i definitely don't want to listen to this for five minutes. i like the breakdown at two minutes and the instrumentals are good. i think the jazz later on in the song is less good, and i like jazz. the death stuff is bad. overall a joke that went on way too long but i'd be interested in hearing a serious song from these folks.

harry connick jr - when my heart finds christmas

i mean, it's a pretty enough song and all, but not at all something i'd listen to on my own. but that's kind of the point about christmas songs i guess

sufjan stevens - did i make you cry on christmas day? (well, you deserved it!)

i've actually never listened to sufjan stevens despite it being pretty popular, i just always assumed i won't like it. i don't enjoy this a ton, but i don't dislike it either. i think the writing is actually the strongest part of the song.

frank ocean - chanel

i aggressively dislike the vocals from this guy, and the writing is bad.i hate the auto-tune, i hate the things he's trying to do with his voice. this is the first frank ocean song i've heard, to my knowledge, and i don't like it. i really just don't like anything about this song.

rapsody - 2am

ab-soul is dope on this song, and this reminds me i need to listen to rapsody's album from last year. this track flows great, the beat is simple but good, the writing is excellent. i think ab-soul outshines rapsody on the track, but it's still very good, at least until the lauryn hill reference .. she puts herself on the same level, and he's definitely not. but i mean, that's the nature of hip-hop anyway i guess

alexander jean ft. casey abrams - we three kings

never heard of these people but this is very good. the vocals are top notch. the skinnier dude gets really high at one point and it's bad, but the rest is good. also there's a part where the lady starts waving her hand like a weirdo and it makes me very uncomfortable and sad for her for looking so stupid but that's a video thing loool. i like this a lot

trans-siberian orchestra - christmas nights in blue

trans-siberian orchestra is so good. it's dumb, but it's good. i've always liked them and this is good, but i'd have picked a different song myself!

august burns red - sleigh ride

i dont fuck with too many christian metal bands these days, but a few of them stand out for me ... august burns red is occasionally one of them. the breakdown in this is dope af

brockhampton - bleach

bitch i was gonna listen to all of saturate 1, 2 and 3 in one sitting for the first time and here you go fucking that up you really are the worst brohan

i love the beat and i love the dreamy synth over the top. im pretty hype to listen to more of this

vote coming shortly
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showbiz > 2am > bleach > christmas nights in blue > sleigh ride > we three kings > did i make you cry on christmas day > somebody out there > when my heart finds christmas > let it snow > chanel
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Let it Snow - 2
Bleach - 2
Showbiz - 2
Somebody Out There - 1
Chanel - 1
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? - 1

four people yet to vote I believe
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digiiiiiiiii posted...

muse's first few albums were extremely innovative and adventurous.

haven't listened to those albums in ages so perhaps i should refresh my memory but i don't remember this being the case, at least not on the level of radiohead. radiohead completely reinvented themselves with ok computer and then did it again with kid a. origin of symmetry was a pretty big departure from showbiz, though, i'll give you that much.
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later tonight!!
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I should have gone with a Christmas tune apparently!

Muse - Showbiz
It's true, I skipped this album and went straight to Origins of Symmetry. This seems to represent them at their most stripped-down and straight-forward, a simple build-up to showcase Bellamy's signature intensity/hyperventilating falsetto. It's pretty well-realized for a first album although I'd argue they went on to write much more involving song structures over the course of their next few albums. And for the record, I never quite got the Radiohead comparison myself.

The Alan Parsons Project - Somebody Out There
A peppy identity theft anthem, I'm into it. Guess I should expand my APP knowledge because I've only really heard I Robot but I love that record. I don't think this song gets to that same level but it kinda fits into a brand of wistful 70's piano rock (Elton John, Supertramp) that generally agrees with my taste.

Panzerballet - Let It Snow
This is my kind of cover, a wild recontextualization that goes well beyond the scope of the original and manages to transcend its own ridiculousness by taking itself so seriously as a composition. By the time the intro riff recapitulates at the end I'm totally sold on the sincerity of a damn Christmas carol as prog metal pulp. Bravo!

Harry Connick Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas
Good old HCJ. I found out about this guy in reverse, first knew him from movie Bug before realizing he was actually a musician. The latter is way more appreciable, I've always been fond of the great american songbook/tin pan alley style of torch that he keeps lit. It's a bit sappy but around this time of year when I'm visiting relatives it's incredibly cathartic and nostalgic.

Sufjan Stevens - Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)
This is an affront to Santa. 'Sufjan' just declared War on Christmas with this cheer-souring, unjolly lump of charcoal in the stocking of domestic despair. It sounds decent I guess.

Frank Ocean - Chanel
Dig the use of autotune and the delicacy of production (it really comes through on headphones). Melty and tranquil with a glistening hook, Frank's music aspires to a beauty that rap deserves more often.

DMX - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
I don't even think he's in tune but that makes it funnier. It's more of a drunk karaoke than a proper cover...one stronger in concept than execution.

Alexander Jean ft. Casey Abrams - We Three Kings
One of the more musically interesting Carols that doesn't get overplayed, lyrically it's bit too on the religious bent for my singing along to. It was penned surprisingly recently for how much of a medieval vibe it gives off. This rendition is servicable and well-balanced but nothing jumped out at me as uniquely special about it.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Nights in Blue
Too cornball theatrical for me, especially the singer. Like, settle down with the fuckin' tossed salad and scrambled eggs okay Louis Armstrong? Guy thinks he's Louis Armstrong over here.

August Burns Red - Sleigh Ride
There's some bomb drum fills and a neat jazzy interlude that I might appreciate more if Panzerballet hadn't already cornered the market on it with Let It Snow. Thunder stolen! Still kinda fun though.

Brockhampton - Bleach
Similar to the Frank Ocean tune but the rapper seems more dominated by the track behind him - that has its own appeal but in a way where I'd rather just listen to the instrumental, which sounds lush and labored over and in control. I believe this is the second Brockhampton song in the club so far and I'm just not yet convinced in the talent of the rapper.

bump just in case
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Showbiz - 3
Let it Snow - 2
Bleach - 2
Somebody Out There - 1
Chanel - 1
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? - 1

with Steiner voting for Showbiz, that's the winner unless anyone else is gonna vote who hasn't yet
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i still might
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