FUCK TWO HOURS RESULTS NOW
Quite a good round, even though some people didn't really send folk at all, so the scores don't completely reflect my enjoyment of the songs.
Shadow Ninja 2.0: Blackmore's Night - Shadow of the MoonI love Ritchie Blackmore, and I am fairly indifferent about Candice Night, so I had no idea whether I would like this. Luckily - for both you and me, I guess - I did. The guitar playing is very folky and quite awesome - though I would have no idea that it's Ritchie Blackmore if I didn't know, to be honest - and Night's voice fits the music very well. If there was one criticism that I'd have to level against this is that it has little replay value for me - even though it's a good song, I don't find myself wanting to listen to it very much.
7.5 points.
senecadawg2: Gallowbraid - Stone of RemembranceWell, as I noticed immediately, you had taken my recommendation of folk metal to heart. And that's good, because I dig it. Some great melodies, the harsh and the cleans contrast nicely... on paper, this sounds like a really great song. But - and you knew there was a but coming - this is just lacking in originality for me. The melodies could have been lifted from an Ensiferum song, the feel of the song is a distinct mixture of Agalloch and Caladan Brood with approximately nothing that Gallowbraid himself brings to the table, the bagpipes had me wondering if this was a Grave Digger interlude, and so on. Derivativeness doesn't always lessen my enjoyment of songs, but it does here. I wish I could enjoy this more, but I'm just not feeling it. Sorry.
5 points.
Sacul: Neutral Milk Hotel - Two-Headed Boy/The FoolOkay, these were two songs. And if I had actually noticed this earlier, I would have rejected this, but I just had a cursory read over the band name, didn't know them, and didn't actually read the rest of your PM.
Anyway, because of this, I decided to roll with it, but please don't do it in the future - though in interest of fairness, everyone can send two songs in a future round, and I will average their scores - everyone except for Sacul.
Anyway, onto the songs. I actually know the first one - sort of. I know a cover of it, by The Dresden Dolls. And I prefer that in every sense. The piano on that works a lot better than the sorta pedestrian strummed guitar, and the voice here is just sorta annoying. I can see why people would dig it, but I don't. It works a little better in the calmer section, and it did grow on me, but I still don't quite like it, and I can't help comparing it to the cover, which has superior vocals.
"The Fool" doesn't really have anything to with "Two-Headed Boy" - it's a waltz with some brass instrument playing a melody that is kinda cool, but again, this is nothing that's really exciting. I have a hard time getting excited about anything that's basically just an ordinary waltz ever since dance school, and this is no exception. Not bad, but nothing I'd seek out either.
Both songs weren't bad, but they failed to pull me on. Neither the vocals nor the instrumentation here really clicked for me. I'm giving these two songs an average of
3.5 points.
kingshmegland: Days of the New - Touch, Peel and StandHeavy, dark and acoustic, you say? Well, that description certainly intrigued me, because there was much potential for awesomeness here. And the end result was definitely awesome. I love the singer and the emotion that he carries in his voice, and the heaviness that the band manage to convey simply with atmosphere, despite being an acoustic group, is amazing. While it doesn't hit me quite as hard, I would compare this to Alice in Chains live acoustic version of "Nutshell", and that's definitely a compliment. Unfortunately, this was also just about as folky, so while I really dig this song, I'll have to deduct two points for kinda missing the theme. Not everything that's acoustic is folk, guys.
9.5 points - 2 points = 7.5 points.
Tyrias: The Decemberists - Rox in the BoxTrue, this is no folk metal, but I like it anyway. Some solid instrumentation and some very emotive vocals and catchy melodies makes this a very enjoyable tune. I really like those folky interludes after choruses. While this felt a little boring my first listen, it grew on me with subsequent listens - it's very much a grower and takes a few spins to reveal just how well-made and just plain fun to listen to this song is. Nothing too original, but a very good song all the same.
9 points.
mikemangioy: Korpiklaani - Beer BeerOh dear. While I like music that doesn't take itself too seriously, there is such a thing as too much, and I assumed the worst upon hearing the title. Luckily, they manage to straddle the line between the ridiculous and the awesome quite well, having the whole thing result in what sounds like more folky version of Ensiferum (yes!) that knows how to have fun as well as write catchy songs (hell yes!) while merging folk elements and awesome riffs perfetly (hell fucking yes!). Definitely a band that I'll check out in the future.
9.5 points.
Elite: Shining - FisheyeYou said it yourself: this isn't really all that folky. Which means two points off - but that doesn't stop the song from being amazing in every other aspect. The riffs, the avant-garde-ness, the vocals, the saxophone - had you sent this in an open round, it would have been a perfect score, and it pains me that I can't give it the score it deserves. But yeah. A theme is a theme. If it's any consolation, these dudes have just gained a new fan.
10 points - 2 points = 8 points.
Standings:
senecadawg2: 57 points
Shadow Ninja 2.0: 54.5 points
Sacul: 51.5 points
Tyrias: 48.5 points
Elite: 47.5 points
kingshmegland: 45.5 points
mikemangioy: 44.5 points
Despite valiant efforts, mike continues playing caboose. His number 8 means that we are in for some female vocals. I'm not too big on operatic styles (see Nightwish) but they can be done well too. You can also send something that's a duet or features multiple vocalists - as long as there is a prominent female vocal part, you'll be fine.
After this round, there'll be one more open round to wrap things up, so you don't have to send a number this time. Since a few awesome themes went unused, I might recycle them for my next roulette... in 2018, probably.
Once again, 48 hours, and good luck.