Round 1 Results:I'm going to apologize ahead of time and say my write ups aren't really the best things you've ever read. I absolutely hate writing, so I just write a few things that come to mind when listening. I've seen some of you guys' write ups and they're like freaking essays. I'm just gonna be blunt and to the point.
Scorpion - "Vinushka" - Dir En GreyIf I had to pick a least favorite part of this song, it would be the vocals. I'm certainly fine with them, but there are certain parts, like the end, that just don't hit me the right way. Not bad by any means, but not particularly something I really enjoy. As far as the musical arrangements go, the intro is really badass. I really like the slower parts of this song like the beginning and somewhere in the middle around 6 minutes. There's a certain mood to this song that really works and this song definitely flows well. It just happens to be my least favorite of the round, but still a nice solid song.
7/10Splent - "Stolas" - Scale the SummitInstrumental progressive metal/rock is something that can be hit or miss with me. I either really enjoy it, or I can find it really boring. For example, Animals as Leaders, I am a fan of them, but some of their stuff is just so "by the numbers" and uninspired. Meanwhile, listening to Chon, they feel so fresh and fun, with a ton of energy. I'd say this song is about the half-way point for me. It's certainly good, but not great. Scale the Summit is surely a talented group, but something I can enjoy in small doses. One really good thing I like about this song is that considering how it's only 5 minutes, it does change up the pacing and melodies. Some very cool moments, like around 3:30. This is enjoyable, for sure, but not something I'd probably go back to a lot.
7.5/10Train of Naught - "Figure It Out" - Royal BloodWhat you sent me here is a simple, straight-forward rocker. Good thing is, it's kickin'. It may not feel like the most original thing, and for some reason I get a Black Keys/Jet fusion listening to this, which isn't a bad thing at all. I think the strength of this one is the chorus. The verses are pretty good, but I do get a lot more interested when the chorus comes around. Also, I do like the finale of the song, the quick buildup and climactic finish. It's a really tight song, with good energy, but like the previous songs, it's good, but not something I'm going to find myself going back to often.
7.5/10Shadow Ninja 2.0 - "Leave a Trace" - CHVRCHESFunny you sent this because a friend of mine just showed me a song of theirs just 2 weeks ago. The song was "Tether", and I think I actually prefer it to this one. Luckily, I like both a lot. The vocalist is really good and the songs are extremely catchy. I've always liked me some synth-pop, it's just fun to listen to and always has a good vibe going with it. Nothing really out of the ordinary here, but the strength is definitely the vocals. Her melodies are very creative, and not predictable, and that makes me want to come back to this.
8/10Parama - "Naif/Linear Failure/My Favorite Society Guy" - East of the WallThis one took the longest to click out of all entries, but maybe that's just because it's the longest of the bunch. This song (more like, 3 combined) really does take on a lot of different styles, at first, I really thought it was going to be this slow sludge metal track, and then it felt more like an alternative metal track when the vocals came in. Then, it got heavier, maybe hardcore? I usually don't listen to many artists with this vocal style, but I really like them, and I think it works well within the context of the music. The solo in the middle is quite relaxing and serves as a good breather in between the more chaotic moments of the song, I think my favorite part of it though is around the 6:20 mark and onward. The riffs are really great, and the song gets to its highest point IMO. One thing I can take from this that I really, really enjoy is the production. It has that loose, aggressive feel to it, and I've heard it done wrong plenty of times. In this case, it definitely hasn't. Awesome track!
8.5/10Elite - "See Hell" - Agent Fresco2nd times the charm, right? You sent me "Dark Water" in my first roulette, and I did actually enjoy it, regardless of it being ranked so low. However, I much prefer this one. The intro is awesome, the mix of guitars and keys really give it this epic feel to it. I said it then, and I'll say it again: This feels like Haken-pop music, which is most definitely a compliment. The vocalist is really great, and it couldn't fit the instrumentation any more perfectly. The drumming is super tight in this song, and I guess that's just something I notice, being a drummer. This is a truly great and catchy song, great choice, I guess you were saving the better Fresco song for this roulette.
8.5/10senecadawg2 - "John My Beloved" - Sufjan StevensProbably the most emotional of the entries, along with Sacul's. I can definitely see what you like about this one, it's super relaxing, and the vocals can almost put you to sleep, in a good way of course. The piano melody later in the song is beautiful and the song only gets better as it goes. My favorite part of this is around 3:10. The almost-whispered vocals and the soft touch of the keys make this a comforting experience. This is a perfect song to listen to on a rainy day, which we've definitely had a lot of lately around this area. Also, I've seen this album get mentioned a lot, specifically on Sputnik, so thanks for sharing a track from it, I'm definitely going to check the rest of it out.
9/10Tom Bombadil - "Jack of Speed" - Steely DanThis song is the definition of "cool". Seriously. The tight, yet groovy foundation of the drums, the incorporation of jazz instruments, and breathing guitars really make this track a fine one, and the vocals on top of it are great. Out of all the songs, this might be the one I was most initially excited for. I've heard only a few Steely Dan tracks on the radio, and I always told myself I really liked them and that I need to seriously check them out. This jazz-rock piece is nearly perfect, and it's been stuck in my head for days now. Appreciate it
9.5/10kingshmegland - "Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire" - RiversideAhhh, Riverside. I've listened to like 3 songs from them, and never went back to them. Why? Not because I disliked them, but because I'm an extremely lazy music discoverer. If this is from their new album, then this really rocks. Actually, now that I remember, Seneca sent me a song a couple months ago from the same album. Riverside is probably at the top of my "Get Your Ass to Listening To" list, and Caterpillar and the Barbed Wire pretty much solidifies that. I can't decide what my favorite part of the song is. The vocals are really, REALLY good, and the music is even better. The atmosphere of this song is huge and resounding. Probably going to start listening to them this week!
9.5/10Sacul - "EOS" - UlverWow, you hit the spot man! It must be obvious now that I really like ambient and atmospheric music. I listened to Shadows of the Sun a while back, like over a year ago, maybe even 2, I can't remember. This song is pretty much perfect, and I realized that on first listen. Not the kind of song you should have playing your car, but rather when it's dark, quiet, and a period of reflection. The vocals are somber, in which case usually isn't something I'd enjoy, but it works wonderful in this track. My favorite time to listen to music is when I'm tired and half-asleep, and this is what I would want to listen to when doing that. I'm not saying I like everything that's ambient and atmospheric, because yes, some of it is boring, but definitely not in this case. I have to check out this album and I HAVE to love it. Great choice and good start Lucas!
10/10Great round, everyone! As stated before, I'm not very picky and I generally enjoy everything. Honestly anything below like a 6.5 is something I don't enjoy, so most likely, you won't be seeing much of that in this roulette.
Standings after Round 1:
1. Sacul (10 Points)2. kingshmegland (9.5 Points)
2. Tom Bombadil (9.5 Points)
4. senecadawg2 (9 Points)
5. Elite (8.5 Points)
5. Parama (8.5 Points)
7. Shadow Ninja 2.0 (8 Points)
8. Train of Naught (7.5 Points)
8. splent (7.5 Points)
10. Scorpion (7 Points)