Here are the results. Sorry for not being wordy on most of the write-ups but most of the songs are short and I didn't have much to say about them. Also, I should be doing my homework
Round 3 ResultsScar: GWAR - Rock n' Roll Never Felt So GoodObviously, I heard of them before but never bothered to listen to them. And I don't really listen to this kind of music anymore if it's not especially good. Well, this was exactly what I expected, classic heavy metal. I would compare it to Kiss and first Iron Maiden album if it was less good. This isn't bad, I enjoyed it but after second listen I had no desire to listen to it anymore yet I had to because it wouldn't be fair. Not to be negative, I liked singer's voice, sounds similar to Paul Di'Anno. I'm sorry for not scoring it better but I can't really say there's anything great about this song, that made it better than other classic heavy metal songs.
Was it worth to send this song just because of the few seconds of cowbell in the intro? I don't think so.
6/10Scorpion: Portishead - Nylon SmileOnce again, semi-banned artist from you. I have this weird relationship with trip-hop: love it or don't get it. Unfortunately, I didn't really get this. Or Portishead at all. I'm listening to it and know I should like it because everything is there but I just don't feel it. It's atmospheric and kinda eerie, singer's voice is great, lyrics are cool and in the end I still don't feel it. It's not that I hate it but I expected to like it more and that's why I'm disappointed. Really don't know what else to say about it.
6.5/10Luoto: Embreach - City of HopeI think this is the only song where too much happens in 3 minutes
Vocals kick right in and it's nice melodic metal. But that change is kinda weird, screaming hardcore vocals, I just don't like it as much as clean part. Part which I like is that short solo, especially rhythm section underneath it, double bass and heavy guitars. But it also feel like it was taken from some other song. And this whole song is weird mix, I can't really describe it. Can't say I love this song but it was fun to listen to.
7/10twosuitsluke: Clutch - A Quick Death in TexasAnother band I wanted to check out since forever now, I'm sure you played something by them on plug.dj and last.fm recommended them to me. So I was excited to hear it. Unfortunately, I wasn't too blown away because I expected something like stoner rock/metal yet this is bluesy rock really. I hope rest of their stuff is less of that and more beard metal
Guitar tone is great, sounds really natural and at the same time heavy. Also, I like singer, especially in chorus, really ballsy performance. However, there is some kind of 'brake', it does not go all in like, for example, Corrosion of Conformity. As I already said, this sounds more like blues rock. I'd like to like it more and that's why I'll definitely check them further.
Cowbell section wasn't really that memorable to me, sorry.
7/10Home: Lorde - Gore and GloryI have to admit this had lower score on my first listen
I seemed really forgetful. However, it grew on me. It is one of those songs for which I don't really have much to say. Atmosphere is really cool, thick and trippy, some sick beats there
Chorus is definitely high point of the song. I'm not sure about her voice. I mean, it's nice but nothing special to me, I'm not crazy about it. I was tempted to give it 0.5 more but looking at the other songs I wasn't so sure but I'd like to hear this album and maybe I'll like it more (and know it doesn't mean much too you because score isn't too high
)
7/10Elite: Talking Heads - Crosseyed and PainlessI heard of this band and I knew what kind of music they usually play. And I was excited to hear it because I expected some post-pun/new age but I got something else. Well, this is funk more than anything else. Thing about me and funk (and this song): usually, I don't like it. I know most funk musicians are really great players and I can hear it in this song but there is something I can't understand about it. However, I liked this song. Something in the intro reminded me of Bill Wither's Lovely Day, not that it's really similar but I wanted to say it
Singers are awesome, both lead and back vocals. I don't think I have to say anything about guitars, that playing is crazy, there's always something happening. But it's just sometimes it gets boring to me. I know I suck but this gets too 'happy' for me
It's good yet not something I would usually listen to.
And yeah, cowbell in this song is crazy
there's even small cowbell solo section and I just have to give bonus points to you.
7 + 0.00001 = 7.00001/10Train of Naught: Arctic Monkeys - BalaclavaThis band is very popular in my country but I didn't like anything I heard from them before. However, this was pretty cool (and also, I had to listen to it more than once
). It kicks right in, with catchy vocal line and funky bass. Actually, whole song is pretty catchy. I'm not really a dancer but this was one of the songs in this round that made me dance
You probably know the part, that heavy guitar riff. I heard singer's solo EP he made for movie Submarine. I liked that very much but those are ballads and this song fits his voice more. Now, on slightly worse things. I'm not really into this kind of music (or is it just this one song). It sounds like classic rock revival, I don't know. And I'd like to like it more, it's kinda cool yet probably not something I'll listen to all the time (but who knows). It's not bad by any means but I can't give it higher score than this.
Cowbell section was pretty cool, starting with basic rhythm and then doubling it here and there. However, there was one better cowbell section in this round.
7.5/10Evermind: iamthemorning - CirclesSo here is the biggest teaser of this roulette
I love piano in the intro and I love combination of piano and string. And voice is very soothing. Vocal melodies are really really nice, they are not over the top, singer is mostly in same range all the time and that works. I love the part of the chorus (?) where piano melody gets faster and in that moment everything fits so well together. However, this feels like teaser and I'm so sorry (blame Train
) you had to send short song. Just when I get into it it's over. But don't be disappointed, your score in this round his above average.
7.5/10Parama: Cursive - Driftwood: A Fairy TaleWhen I was listening to this for the first time I didn't know what it was yet I liked it. And, to be honest, I still have no idea what this is. What genre? It doesn't matter because it's pretty cool. This was actually cheating, song is actually 4:40 long but I forgive you
If I had to compare it to something, I got Bodies of Water vibe in the intro and their A Certain Feeling is one of my favorite albums I discovered lately. It's cool how in one moment it sounds really folky with that violin and then distorted guitar kicks in. It's not that guitar is heavy but in contrast with violin it seems like it. Singer's voice is somewhat thin but it fits well here. And chorus is very catchy. Then why 'only' 7.5? Because it's just too short to really get into but I'm looking forward to check Dirty Organ
7.5/10Shadow Ninja 2.0: Landon Tewers - Ma and PaOk, this song was very weird at first, especially intro with those few long notes and deep layered vocals. And I have to admit, I thought this was ok but nothing more. The thing that won me over later was chorus, very catchy and powerful. Also, verses grew on me very much. I mean, you know I love dark music and verses are super dark (“…I'm a sick fuck, a sick fuck with good luck…”). And it's atmospheric, I like that part before chorus where it sounds like I'm underwater
There isn't much to say about it because it's really short song but I enjoyed it very much, more than most songs in this round so here you go.
(BTW I'm still not sure what genre this is)
8/10Sacul: Janelle Monae - Cold WarThis was my favorite song on first listen and it remained up there. You know I'm usually not into this genre (is this rnb?) but this is just too good, everything about it. It starts with some atmospheric organ (I think) but real thing is actually very upbeat. This is another song that made me dance
Throughout the song there are atmospheric parts which I love, it would be monotonous without them, I think. Her voice is absolutely beautiful, I already feel I could listen to her singing phonebook. There is something like keyboard solo at the end, maybe those are not keys but guitar with some weird effect, I love that part.
This really is a perfect pop song, I will definitely check this album out. Also, you won this round, choose one of the remaining bonuses.
8.5/10STANDINGS:1. Shadow Ninja 2.0 - 24 + 1 = 25
2. Train of Naught - 24
3. Sacul - 23.5
4. Parama - 23
5. Home - 22.5
5. Luoto - 22.5
7. Elite - 22 + 0.00001 = 22.00001
8. Scar - 22
8. Scorpion - 22
8. twosuitsluke = 22
11. Evermind - 21.5
12. Fluffy Lothario - 14.5 (?)
About round 4: I have 4 exams in week from January 23rd to 27th but it's all over (hopefully) after 31st. That week and a half will probably be slow so I'd like you to send as soon as possible so I can finish round 4 next week.