I've had some time to digest everything, and I feel good about these rankings. I've kept you guys waiting long enough for the results on this round, so I'll keep the write-ups nice and short. HERE WE GO!
1.
Dr. DTVT Kevin Gilbert- Song For a Dead Friend
What can I possibly say about this song, except
Okay… I'll try harder. This song is, at once, both captivating and poignant. The piano melody is is haunting, the vocals are appropriate, and the emotion couldn't possibly come across as any more authentic. A large part of that emotion is derived from the lyrics, which are both simple and thought provoking. The whole book, paragraph, word, etc. parallel is the highlight in the lyrics! I noticed that you also sent this for obfuscation's roulette, and scored a 10/10. While I'm only ranking here, I will say that you would have scored the maximum here as well. Best song of the roulette, thus far. THANK YOU!
2.
Shadow Ninja Red House Painters- Katy Song
Before I heard the Doc's submission, I was convinced that this one would end up on top. Similar to his choice, this one also carries a more morose tone. While I think the lyrics in Kevin Gilbert's song are more effective, this one is also quite nice. My one complaint would be that it comes across as a little whiny at times ('without you is all I amount to'). Still, you are right about the delivery here: very evocative! This song also wins the title for most peaceful submission. It's the kind of song I find myself putting on repeat before I fall asleep at night. It's a little repetitive at times, and it drags on a touch at the end, but those are very minor flaws in an otherwise very interesting song. I will definitely be checking out more from this group.
3.
jingle.boy Triumph- Magic Power
Since the Rush comparison seems like a natural one to make, I'll start there. Being a relatively big Rush fan, I was excited to hear how this one compared. While Geddy Lee has a peculiar voice it's really grown on me, and I probably prefer his to this particular Canadian vocalist. The guitar and drum work are both good on this one as well, but I'd obviously need to listen to a lot more Triumph to feel more comfortable comparing them to Rush. Thankfully, you've piqued my interest enough with this one to get me to put 'em on the list. I take it this same album would be the best starting place? As far as lyrics go, I really enjoyed these, and can definitely relate given that music is my primary mode of escape when things are getting rough in my life (albeit not a frequent problem).
4.
lonestar Fish- Crucifix Corner
So I mentioned yesterday that I would be using the scores from the first two rounds as one-time tiebreakers moving forward, and that's what got you landed at 4, because I honestly couldn't pick between this and jingle.boy's submission. Firstly, I'm a big fan of Fish's work with Marillion, particularly Clutching at Straws, so I had high hopes for this song. On the lyrics, I have slightly mixed feelings. I appreciate the lyrics here, insofar as they do a good job of showcasing Fish's talent for story telling. With that being said, I'm not a big fan of the historical approach. It's just personal preference, but I don't care much for battlefield scenes, and that takes away a bit from this one I think. Still, an overall intriguing song that I enjoyed quite a bit.
5.
black_floyd Tasmin Archer- Sleeping Satellite
Firstly, I have a really hard time imagining you jamming out to this tune
With that out of the way, this is actually a really nice one. Not something I would typically listen to, and not something I'm sure I will be going out of my way to listen to in the future, but a song I find myself enjoying quite a bit when I've made the tiny effort to put it on. The lyrics are nice, though I'd be lying if I said they struck me too much. The highlight of the song for me is definitely the little keyboard solo. Other than that I don't have too much to say. A nice, middle of the pack, song for this round.
6.
LieLowTheWantedMan Bright Eyes- Old Soul Song (For the New World Order)
This one was definitely the strangest one for me this round, in the sense that I wanted to like it a lot more than I could and I suspect that it has a lot of really good things going for it. Somehow, though, it just doesn't quite add up the right way for me. The lyrics are nice, but I'm not sure I 'get' them. Everything else about the song is fine, but nothing too spectacular. It seems like pretty run of the mill indie rock, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's not necessarily a good thing either.
7.
Elite David Bowie- Life on Mars?
Obviously a name I've heard before, and an artist I've been interested in checking out in the past just based on reputation alone. With that in mind, thank you for sharing. Interestingly enough, I find it interesting enough to maybe check out some more Bowie. And that truly is odd, because I don't like this song too much. It's just too weird for me in most places. Not necessarily weird in its arrangement, or even in the lyrics (though they are odd), but just in his voice. I can't help thinking that there is, in fact, life on Mars, and it's David Bowie.
8.
Dark Castle Rivers of Nihil- Rain Eater
Right off the bat, I'm not sure how I feel about technical death metal. Looking specifically at this song, I have a few issues. While the riffing is interesting, I don't like the relative absence of nice melody. The guitar solo is an exception that stands out. The vocals are a little too much for me, particularly when they begin to leave the growl range and venture into something else, and especially when they are layered on top of each other. Overall, I worry that this song isn't going to give me much more than a headache. Sorry if that's too harsh, but it's the best I got. WELP, that's not entirely true…. I do actually have one nice thing to say. The LYRICS. Oh man, THE LYRICS. Just my cup of tea! You get an extra point for sending the best lyrics for this round. Just wish the rest of the song lived up to them, for me.
Knowledge through growth,
My veins grow out into the Gaian essence which feeds all life.
Grow into the essence which feeds all life.
Isolation, paralysis: the state in which I spend eternity interned. Eternity flows.
Time moves slowly, work to emerge, fulfill my purpose within the natural world.
Within this temple of dirt.
But time is no more, where this seed is sewn.
The flesh no longer part of me: I am alive.
Standings
Dr. DTVT 8
Shadow Ninja 7
jingle.boy 6
lonestar 5
black_floyd 4
LieLowTheWantedMan 3
Elite 2
Dark Castle 2