Tomislav's Roulette v. The Best of Roulette

[Bolsters]

BTW Bolsters, do you have information when was the last time there were no active roulettes? Because that's what'll happen after this is over

I did notice that. I'd have to check the archive for any gaps in the days before my time (2010-2012), but I have a feeling that this could be the first time since 2010 that there won't be any new roulettes starting before the last ends.

If I get bored one day I might check the archive for confirmation.

[Scorpion]

I'd like to run one next, if that's okay.

If there are still people left playing, that is.

[Tomislav95]

 

[Bolsters]

I'd like to run one next, if that's okay.

There's no waiting list, so you're automatically up.

If you're actually ready now, no need to wait for this roulette to end first, either.

[Tomislav95]

EP rules:

• EP have to be between 25 and 40 minutes long (I could allow a few seconds over 40 minutes)
• Minimum 3 different artists; I think this is reasonable, I don't want to get one band EP
• EP round is worth 30 points total: 5 for flow and 25 for the songs
• Every song is scored out of 10 as usual, average score is scaled up to 25 points
• I don't care if transitions aren't smooth, flow points are more about how good those songs sound next to each other
• The most important thing: make it good

If you think I forgot something or if there's something wrong about rules, let me know to change it while I can.

[Train of Naught]

Very glad about the "don't care if transitions aren't smooth" cause I don't really feel like going audacity and adding crossfades and shit this time around.

I must admit, I too have already been working on ideas before even securing my final spot so I'm putting the EP(s) (got 2 possible routes right now) out there whether you like it or not

[Crow]

I'd like to run one next, if that's okay.

If there are still people left playing, that is.

start it literally right now, dude, go for it

also my transitions are fantastic this time but also the songs all belong together anyways so i'm expecting a 5/5 for flow 

[Tomislav95]

Yeah, it's good if transitions are fantastic but it won't affect your score if they aren't. What may affect your scores is Parama's (or anyone else's) transitions being so noticeably good I have to deduct some points from others

[Crow]

the transitions between tracks 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 are both so good you'd think they belonged to the same album
anyways i'm going to send a meme EP for april fools real quick, take it seriously & score it & whatever else

[Scorpion]

I'll write up the OP tonight or tomorrow.

[Tomislav95]

anyways i'm going to send a meme EP for april fools real quick, take it seriously & score it & whatever else

You should've said it was meme EP do it

I'll write up the OP tonight or tomorrow.

In!

[Crow]

ehy tomi here's my ep, i went a bit over the time limit but who cares!

i hope you like it 

https://mega.nz/#!TZdyCJzK!veZ0txWYhOT9xYJAPBrdkG687y7qGWfRyiU6hDCvOvE

[Crow]

whoops i meant to pm that! mod could you delete that post

don't actually do it

[Tomislav95]

It's a trojan! Don't download that!

[Train of Naught]

Angela's Got Your Back is an instant classic, just love that intro riff!

I also like how A Sacrificed Sun and A Sacrificed Sun II share some of the same riffs and themes, gives me a real Systematic Chaos feel

[Tomislav95]

I was literally lol-ing when I played the song(s) I was excited to hear what will be there and you delivered

[home]

Oh wow, that's the most cohesive EP I've ever heard! It's almost like it's all just one big song 

[Tomislav95]

Oh wow, that's the most cohesive EP I've ever heard! It's almost like it's all just one big song 

Also, those reprises. So proggy.

[Crow]

thanks guys, i'm glad you like it 

personally i'd rate every song a 10/10

[Sacul]

[home]

thanks guys, i'm glad you like it 

personally i'd rate every song a 10/10

more like 7.5/10

[Elite]

OMG

I need to hear this now

[Tomislav95]

Tidbits! Try to find yours if you wish

At first I thought this is not the music for this time of the year but it already proved it could be a grower.

I don’t know what to think about it, I’m not sure if this is the music I want to listen to. And I don’t think that in a bad sense, it’s just weird to me.

I can’t believe something like this still can make me excited. It not being most typical {genre} song is probably the part of it.

This song kinda goes all over the place and it is the most enjoyable when it gets to the point.

I feel this one is going to be grower but it really depends on the context and my state of mind while listening to it. Songs like this sometimes get on my nerves so let’s hope I’ll be in the mood for it on last listen

Uh this does so little for me that it seems impossible to rate

For some reason, I expected this to sound a little different and I’m glad it sounds like it does.

I don’t think anyone knows this (because no one sent something like this before), this is right up my alley and you are onto something here.

Very inconsistent song, there are parts I love and parts I don’t like at all.

This song makes me remember why I like this kind of music. It is really special and nice and fun to listen to.

BTW I wrote this after just two listens so my opinion on some of them may have changed.

[home]

I don’t think anyone knows this (because no one sent something like this before), this is right up my alley and you are onto something here.

I hope this is mine, but it's probably one of the others. I haven't seen Spiritualized mentioned very often here, though I think Sacul listens to them 

[Luoto]

I did mention my song being (genre)-ish and not exactly typical to its peers, so those tidbits are intriguing.

[Scorpion]

Uh this does so little for me that it seems impossible to rate

Definitely mine.

[Tomislav95]

Don't be so pessimistic

[Crow]

sorry scorp that's mine

[Evermind]

I'd say it's mine, but then almost all the tidbits could be mine, so I'm not sure.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I don’t know what to think about it, I’m not sure if this is the music I want to listen to. And I don’t think that in a bad sense, it’s just weird to me.

Might be mine.

[Crow]

for real;

1: maybe? it's a pretty wintery song imo and it's spring now so
2: doubt it
3: maybe. that'd be cool
4: definitely not
5: possibly but let's hope not
6: ouch, i sure hope not
7: dunno
8: don't think so
9: also no, my song has about 3 parts
10: fun is not the word i'd use so i doubt it

[Crow]

 

sorry I'm just excited / dreadnoughting results

[Tomislav95]

I was planning to deliver results today and I did writeups for 3 songs but I'm just too tired, sorry.

[Crow]

no worries take all the time you need

[Tomislav95]

Here it is, last round for some of you it was pretty diverse round and there are many good scores and more than usual not so good scores.
BEWARE: write-ups order is not the usual

Round 8 Results

#10: Scorpion
Wilderun - The Garden of Fire

I had a hard time getting into this, for some reason. Transitions in this songs are somewhat weird, I didn’t know what’s happening in one moments it’s folky, in other more of a black metal. On average, I liked folky parts more but there are some great heavy parts as well. My favorite part of the song comes after silence around 2:00, both vocally and instrumentally the best part. There are also some interesting acoustic folk parts. I especially like when that melody played on acoustic is later played on electric, sounds pretty epic. As a whole, this seemed a little unfocused to me, like it’s made out of more songs (I should be used to this, considering I’m prog fan ) but it’s pretty good.

7.5/10

I really feel like you hate me for giving not so good scores to some of your favorite songs Your peak was definitely in the first round with Katy Song, I listened to it many times since round 1 and it just gets better. I even checked that album out but it was too much to digest, an hour of the most depressing music ever. Unfortunately, nothing else really hit me. Thrice is very cool, Beggars just wasn't the best song I heard from them. I was glad to have you and I hope you won't hate me and you'll play in my v2 some day

TOTAL: 58 points


#9: Sacul
Shearwater – The Snow Leopard

Maybe it's because of the title but this sounds very winter-y even though indie is my spring music
The beginning is really beautiful, piano and his quiet voice. There, I love his voice. Contrary, on louder part of the song I don't like it that much, he sounds like shouting too much and he holds that vibrato for too long Instrumental part is great, sounds like soundtrack to looking out of the window when there's cold outside. I don't know, I like it but I'd probably like it more if singer wasn't so dominant.

7/10

It's interesting how your best scored song was the one that was nothing like the music I listen to yeah, it was really fun. I think you tried to hard with trip-hop, some of it was good, some less good, unfortunately, not much of it was really great to me. The only thing I think I rated too low was Sufjan Steven's song which is more of my kind of music so I will definitely check some of the bands you sent though

TOTAL: 59.5 points


#8: Luoto
Anomalie – Between Reality and the World Beyond

When you said you sent some black-ish metal, I was like: oh, no. Not because I think black metal sucks or anything but because of the fact there are many similar sounding bands and I don't think I need another black metal band. But I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. As you said, this isn't really typical song for the genre and it's not weird at all. There are some melodic black metal bands like Dissection which are kinda similar to this yet more black than this. My favorite thing about this song are the growls. Really really perfect growls, brutal yet at the same time pretty clear and comprehensive. Not my favorite thing is that the tempo is the same during the whole song and I feel some changes would make it better. This is definitely something I want to check out but I'll need to be in certain blackish mood.

8/10

So you've sent some really great songs. None of it was 8.5+ material but you've got four 8s and all of those songs are killer. I checked out Communic already and it is great stuff. My favorite of your songs is probably Aurora by Ghost Brigade and they are high on my wishlist. So yeah, great effort from you, thank you for participating

TOTAL: 61 points


#7: Evermind
Phideaux – Waining for the Axe to Fall

I was expecting to get this band from you they were on my wishlist (Doomsday Afternoon) for quite some time now but I never came to check them out. So this is very classic sounding prog rock and I’m glad I got something like this finally, I love prog rock. I don’t feel like getting into details of this long ass song so I’ll just say what my favorite parts are (there are no parts I dislike). Around 3:45 starts that cool piano-driven section and falsetto vocals come in later, those wacky parts is what makes symphonic prog so good to me. And again, around 6:13, the piano and catchy vocal melodies. There is just a bunch of those wacky and kinda wanky sections I love Female vocals are little weird (or unusual) at moments but that’s what makes them cool in the context of this song. Another cool part is the reprise of the earlier part, just less “heavy”. That quiet part was necessary to refresh from earlier busy playing. I’d like it if there was heavier part, climax at the end but it’s cool.
This is easily my favorite song of yours, it was almost 9.

8.5/10

You hit the peak with this last round and you were actually pretty close to the line, too bad The Wishing Tree happened Most of the other stuff was really great, like Vanden Plas and Flaming Row. Our tastes are not that similar except for a few meeting points so I guess you did pretty good. Thanks for some awesome music

TOTAL: 61.5 points


#6: home
Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen, We’re Floating in Space

Uh this is the song for which I said I have no idea how to score it has grown on me since but I still have a trouble saying anything about it and rating it. There were moments when I thought I finally get it, maybe when I was in mood for it, but I don’t think I do. The idea of having two separate vocal parts/harmonies played at the same time is really cool, there are some song using this technique I really love but this seems like 4 minutes of the same thing over and over. And also, I think I’d rather listen to just one of those tracks and that’s the one with "…All I want in life's a little bit of love, To take the pain away…"
I admit this is very emotional and there’re moments I feel it but I can’t justify score higher that this.

6.5/10

Man, I can't believe this really happened after so many great rounds you started not so good and ended even worse. I was pretty sure you are going through but this last song just wasn't my taste. But, you've sent some of the best stuff of this roulette. I checked out two FtM albums already and there's not one song there I don't like, I think they're already becoming one of my favorite bands. Karnivool is great as well. I think you're the participant who sent me the most stuff which I'll end up loving so I feel so bad eliminating you but others were more consistent. Hope you don't hate me too much for this

TOTAL: 62.5

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Shadow Ninja 2.0: Fever Ray – If I Had a Heart

I don’t know what to say about this it is weird, that’s for sure. This sounds like ambient or something, which is pretty weird to listen next to other songs from the round. It has kind of tribal feeling which I like but there’s nothing else that sticks to me. I didn’t want to skip this track when it came when I was listening to the whole round, that’s a good thing to say, right On the other hand, it was always just a transition song, I didn’t get into it and I heard it many times. Sorry, this is easily my least favorite song you sent in this roulette. You shouldn’t be worrying though, there’re still a few more points you can afford to lose

6.5/10


Train of Naught: The Reign of Kindo – Romancing a Stranger
I can definitely see why you compared this to The Dear Hunter, it has that swing/jazz feeling some TDH songs have and singer’s voice sounds pretty similar to Casey’s. And yes, it sounds pretty upbeat but even if I wasn’t listening to lyrics I would probably realize this isn’t happy song, it’s just something about vocal melodies. Speaking of vocal melodies, I love them! The make the song very catchy and easy to listen to. Instrumentation is more bright than vocals and lyrics but they make a good combination together. I have to admit I needed some time to digest those jazzy moments, in the end I liked them too. Don’t have much to say really, this is pretty good and I think I’m going to check it out. I wasn’t sure what score to give it but after comparing it to other songs, I think this is fine.

7.5/10


Parama: Solsatfir – Djakninn

I used to listen to this band, 4-5 years ago when I was really into this kind of music. Never really get into them, I remember only 2 songs. It happens to me, I just stop listening to some bands and then I’m kicking myself when I rediscover the band (recent example is dredg). This song is literally what progressive means, building and getting more and more rich and heavy. It is very interesting song, I’m still finding some things I didn’t catch on previous listens. My favorite moment is near the end when guitar gets crazy and atmospheric and drums are following it in being crazy. It just sounds so good. Sometimes it’s hard to listen to this, it’s not really in the easy-listening section but when I’m in mood for it, it is pretty great.

8/10


Elite: David Bowie – Life on Mars?

I head some Bowie before this, a few songs from his last album (which were pretty good but weird), heard the whole Ziggy album (I don’t really remember it) and I know Space Oddity, which is one of my favorite songs ever it’s funny I never tried to get into his music considering my love for Space Oddity. Life on Mars? Is obviously from the same era, sharing some elements with it. To be honest, when you sent this I expected not to like it for some reason but it is my kind of music, just no one sent something like this in roulette. Wakeman’s playing is nice as always but I like it more when he’s more in the background, he overplayed some parts a bit. Chorus is really great, it is a good kind of a earworm, I’m humming it all the time. I don’t think I did this song a justice, I like it more than I can show in the write-up because there’s not lot to say. It is great 70s pop song

8.5/10


twosuitsluke: Myrath – Silent Cries

I heard of them before and I think someone played something by them on plug.dj. That led me to believe this band is much more folky and much more power metal sounding. There are both of those elements in Myrath but (fortunately) not in too big doses. Also, I know where they come from so I knew there will be some of those muslim(or whatever) melodies to which I cringe because there is type of music in some of the neighbour countries which are based on those kind of melodies forunately(again), they are incorporated well here that it doesn't remind me of earlier mentioned music at all. And I liked this song from the start and it just kept getting better. Chorus is really one of the best things I got out of this roulette, it is great to sing along. Also, there are some epic sounding tight riffs, very melodic and catchy stuff. That guitar solo is nice, too. I like how it's very classic sounding, like it could be in some older hard rock/heavy metal song. Will definitely check out more of Myrath, I'm really glad I was wrong about them.

9/10


STANDINGS:
1. Shadow Ninja 2.0 - 64 + 1 = 65
2. Train of Naught - 63.5
3. Elite - 63.00001
4. Parama - 63
4. twosuitsluke - 63
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6. home - 62.5
7. Evermind - 61.5
8. Luoto - 61
9. Sacul - 59.5
10. Scorpion - 58

You have realized 5 of you are advancing to the EP round, I just couldn't tweak the points to eliminate someone of you I'm sure in my scoring this time, can't give anyone 0.5 more or less.