2016 Roulette Championship v. THE CONCLUSION

[Bolsters]

Scorp still hasn't submitted anything but the other four submissions are in the judges' inboxes.

[Crow]

he sent John Cage 4'33"

[Tyrias]

he sent John Cage 4'33"

Rejected, I've heard it before. But then, it's different every time you listen to it...

[Crow]

it's my most listened song of all time but I've never listened to it twice

[Tyrias]

So apparently Nekov likes to take a trip down Risky Lane just before the finals, Evermind bores us with some standard nothing-special prog, seneca is feeling nostalgic for a time where he probably wasn't even born yet and Sacul likes singing swans. Will be interesting to see what crazy stuff Scorpion comes up with.

[Nekov]

  I know it's risky but even in the rounds when I thought my song was gonna suck I still got pretty good scores so I'm a little confident.

[Crow]

remember it's red judge so evermind is gonna score high

[Scorpion]

Sent. I'll probably be axed this round, but oh well. It's been fun, y'all.

[Sacul]

Sacul likes singing swans.

And I didn't send Swans, but a swansong

[Bolsters]

New additions to the banned list:


David Bowie
Distorted Harmony
Fish
Neil Young
Von Hertzen Brothers

[Crow]

wow bowie really

ok

[Sacul]

What does that even mean?

[Crow]

he's just the kind of artist you'd expect everyone to know, especially considering the past few months

[Sacul]

For a second I was afraid my song would be rejected because of that, but I hope to make it to the finals 

[425]

he's just the kind of artist you'd expect everyone to know, especially considering the past few months

Obviously I know a few of the big songs by Bowie. But I don't know most of his discography, never listened to a full album, etc.

There are plenty of artists that people are generally expected to know, and true, in a lot of those cases, it'd be weird if you hadn't heard at least one song from them. Artists like Bowie, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Radiohead. But I wouldn't necessarily expect people to have heard a full album, let alone a significant portion of the discography, by any of those, because that does require conscious effort. Like, if someone didn't know Space Oddity, or Hey Jude, or Thriller, or Money, or Creep, that might be a bit unusual. But I wouldn't ban a whole artist just because I knew a few hits from them.

[Train of Naught]

Distorted Harmony 

Hope it's either Kono Yume or something off Chain Reaction.

Edit: I never heard Space Oddity, and only heard Money once because the album got recommended after my roulette. I recall really liking Money though, was my favorite off the album.

[Tyrias]

The first time I heard Space Oddity was when Steven Wilson posted a live cover of it on youtube. Bowie just has never been on my radar.

On another note, you can expect my write-ups tonight (unless I end up going out and getting drunk, then tomorrow night ).

[Tyrias]

Here are the round 9 write-ups! Spoiler: There’s hardly any differentiation between songs here point wise, hardly meaning “none at all” in this particular case. Yes, you all got the same score from me. On that 5 point scale there’s just not enough space to differentiate, even though I do have some slight favourites.

senecadawg2      Neil Young - Like a Hurricane      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-WMbP1RcC4
Whoever mixed this should lose his job. I know it’s pretty old, but come on, why would you think that mixing the guitar that is the most important thing for most of the song almost all the way to the right? Does anyone actually like it that way?
I write above that you’re feeling nostalgic for a time where you weren’t even born yet, and after listening to this song a few times I feel the same, basically. His vocals are nice and all, the drums are really repetitive and simple, but the guitars are just amazing. Must be nice being able to write an 8 minute song that’s 75% messing around on your guitar and having it come out great. The guitar has this really raw and suffering tone to it that I really like, and it’s also pretty clever melody-wise. Nice tune.

Nekov         Von Hertzen Brothers - Bring out the snakes      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQKF5YG2YiU
You certainly love taking risks, I’m pretty sure this is by far the weirdest song of the roulette so far. I found it interesting from the start, I just wasn’t sure if it was a good kind of interesting or not. The samples at the beginning are really creepy and weird. The whole song is, in fact. It changes between completely different parts all the time, and yet it feels cohesive somehow. I’m not sure how they pulled this off, but they did. And you certainly won’t get a “too repetitive” comment from me on this one. This whole song feels more like an experience than just listening to music, and I really like that. I’m not going to comment on any part in particular, that would just be completely hopeless with how different everything is. I’m not even sure which instruments are on here. But I really like it, so good job.

Evermind      Fish – Cliché
So, a love song. You predicted I would “meh” this, but you were only partially right. It’s not absolutely amazing, but still a really good song. The production might sound old, but it’s still really good (my main problem with old production is that microphones back then sucked at picking up bass frequencies and thus it lacked the punch some music needs, e.g. Iron Maidens self-titled).
I feel this would resonate with me at a much higher level if I was in love with someone right now, but it still stands strong without that added bonus. I like how the vocalists goes between a very soft vocal style and a more energetic one, and he sounds really good in general. The overall atmosphere here is very strong, but the highlight are definitely the guitars. I love the guitar tone and the very melodic style of playing. The soloing is nice as well, but not as great as those melodies thrown in all the time during the song (that solo in the middle is pretty strong, though). So, overall, you did quite a bit better than you expected. Congrats.

Sacul         David Bowie – Lazarus
It’s quite a coincidence that all 3 judges don’t really know David Bowie, given how he’s so famous and died recently. Doesn’t mean it’s not a great song, though. At first I thought it was pretty mediocre, but it grew on me a lot. The vocals seem really fragile somehow, as if his voice could break apart at a moment’s notice. I love the brass instruments here. And really, I’m having a hard time saying more about this, except that I really liked it.

Scorpion     Distorted Harmony – Misguided
This was without doubt the heaviest song this round, and also the one that took the longest for me to enjoy it. At first I thought it dragged a bit, but further listens showed me I was pretty wrong on that account. Evermind would probably call this djent, and I guess he wouldn’t be that far off. It has lots of heavy, great riffs. The chorus is really catchy, the riffs are fantastic, and it keeps me entertained all the way through. Even though you probably won’t make it to the finals, at least you went out in style.

So now it's up to the other judges. I'm curious how it will turn out.

[Crow]

yeah, lazarus is really good, def the song that left the biggest impression from the listens I gave the album

[Evermind]

Every song got the same score? Really? Quite a way to avoid any responsibility here.

Alright, let's wait for the other judges then.

[425]

Yes, you all got the same score from me.

K thanks for the added pressure Tyrias. 


I also have no idea how you're so fast. I said I'd be faster this round and I will be, but I'm not gonna be three days fast.

[Evermind]

It's interesting how I know both Nelson's and Lucas' tunes and my song is much better than these two in my book, so as far as I'm concerned I should have no problems with getting through. But with 425 and Mr. Red, well, you never know.

[senecadawg2]

senecadawg2      Neil Young - Like a Hurricane      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-WMbP1RcC4
Whoever mixed this should lose his job. I know it’s pretty old, but come on, why would you think that mixing the guitar that is the most important thing for most of the song almost all the way to the right? Does anyone actually like it that way?
I write above that you’re feeling nostalgic for a time where you weren’t even born yet, and after listening to this song a few times I feel the same, basically. His vocals are nice and all, the drums are really repetitive and simple, but the guitars are just amazing. Must be nice being able to write an 8 minute song that’s 75% messing around on your guitar and having it come out great. The guitar has this really raw and suffering tone to it that I really like, and it’s also pretty clever melody-wise. Nice tune.

Reading the bit about the mixing made me worried, but I guess you actually like the song anyways?

And as for the bolded part... I missed that post. I should note though, that I was born in 1894 and so most certainly was around when this song was released. My grandchildren kept waiting for me to die, but this song has kept me alive for another few decades.

[425]

It's interesting how I know both Nelson's and Lucas' tunes and my song is much better than these two in my book, so as far as I'm concerned I should have no problems with getting through. But with 425 and Mr. Red, well, you never know.

I'm just going to start grading these songs by guessing how well I will like them based on the artist name, song name and who sent them.

[Sacul]

I hope you watched the music video as recommended, Tyrias 

[Tyrias]

Every song got the same score? Really? Quite a way to avoid any responsibility here.

Alright, let's wait for the other judges then.

Well, at first there were some differences, but after giving each song a chance to grow on me I liked them all about the same. So when I did my final listen, I was like: Yeah, this song is really good. might be the best song of the round. Then the next song came up and I was like: Or maybe this one? Not sure. By the third one I was like: Fuck.

I also have no idea how you're so fast. I said I'd be faster this round and I will be, but I'm not gonna be three days fast.

I just try to listen to the songs twice each day, which is not too hard when there are only 5 songs to listen to. So by the end of day 3 I have listened to everything 5 to 6 times, enough to have a good grasp on the songs.

I hope you watched the music video as recommended, Tyrias 

I did, and I enjoyed it. Well actually I didn't really enjoy it, but I guess enjoying it was not really what it was meant to achieve. More like unsettling people.

senecadawg2      Neil Young - Like a Hurricane      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-WMbP1RcC4
Whoever mixed this should lose his job. I know it’s pretty old, but come on, why would you think that mixing the guitar that is the most important thing for most of the song almost all the way to the right? Does anyone actually like it that way?
I write above that you’re feeling nostalgic for a time where you weren’t even born yet, and after listening to this song a few times I feel the same, basically. His vocals are nice and all, the drums are really repetitive and simple, but the guitars are just amazing. Must be nice being able to write an 8 minute song that’s 75% messing around on your guitar and having it come out great. The guitar has this really raw and suffering tone to it that I really like, and it’s also pretty clever melody-wise. Nice tune.

Reading the bit about the mixing made me worried, but I guess you actually like the song anyways?

And as for the bolded part... I missed that post. I should note though, that I was born in 1894 and so most certainly was around when this song was released. My grandchildren kept waiting for me to die, but this song has kept me alive for another few decades.

So you're a vampire ? That's so cool.

[Train of Naught]

Misguided like Tyrias said, I considered sending this song to Evermind but thought he might confuse progressive metal for djent. Also I've already sent this song in like 3 roulettes and wanted some variety, none of the other songs on that album were good roulette material except for maybe Natural Selection, but that intro/outro would definitely turn him off.

[Sacul]

Heh, I find the video adds a whole layer of symbolism and meaning to the song. The opening sequence with Bowie on a hospital bed singing "look up here, I'm in heaven", and the final one, him entering the wardrobe (which looks like a coffin) with a serious, strong look in the eye... Damn, they give me chills.

[senecadawg2]

So you're a vampire ? That's so cool.

No, much worse... I'm a vegan.

[Evermind]

Misguided like Tyrias said, I considered sending this song to Evermind but thought he might confuse progressive metal for djent. Also I've already sent this song in like 3 roulettes and wanted some variety, none of the other songs on that album were good roulette material except for maybe Natural Selection, but that intro/outro would definitely turn him off.

I never confuse progressive metal for djent. If I like it, it's progressive metal, if I don't, it's djent. No room for confusion. 

[Bolsters]

Mr. Red has informed me that his writeups should be done by Monday.

[425]

I'm targeting Monday as well.

[Sacul]

I saw you posted and expected results 

[425]

Haha have you been paying attention to me this roulette at all?

[Sacul]

Of course, you've meh'd like half of my songs