OK, so there's really no point in dragging this out any further. I have some songs in the middle, and the song I listened to last out of them is usually the one I like best. I switch up the play list, same thing. So there will be more ties, and more funny math.
10. Clipping - story 2Sent by Sacul
I did give you the opportunity to resend, and you didn't want to, so I hope you don't feel too bad about this score. The very very beginning always made me think I was getting an ad at first, but then a couple seconds later I realized it was the track and not a commercial. This was actually not as bad as it could have been. I appreciate very much that it was only 2 minutes long. I also appreciate that the music underneath was somewhat cool. I like the idea behind it, the way the music intensifies, and the last 15 seconds. However, I still don't like the rapping. It's just not something I've ever dug. It's never resonated with me, never moved me, never done whatever it does for other people.
9. Michael Schenker Group - SamuraiSent by Stadler
I'm sorry Stadler. I really love Three Days and Love to Love, but this one didn't make that kind of an impact. It's better than I thought it would be from what I heard of MSG. Great guitar playing of course, I like the singer, but it still probably falls into what I've been told about certain bands: "a little too rock n roll for you."
None of the other bands are getting below a 6, because I just can't do it. I like all these songs a lot, and spent some time driving around just listening to them.
6. The Family Crest - Beneath the BrineSent by Train of Naught
This track alternates between me really liking it and feeling it gets a little too dramatic. That might not even be the right word for it. I really do like this song, and this was just a case of liking the other ones more. I like the strings on this a lot, and the singer has an incredible voice. Maybe sometimes he's... I know dramatic isn't what I want to say because plenty of music I listen to is dramatic, but it's something. But I love it his voice at the end when he's really going for it. Curious what their other material sounds like.
5. Brand New - LimousineSent by Parama
The scoring on this is kind of like what I did with Dyssidia for TAC. Except I don't hate anything here like I did the harsh vocals on that song. It's just that I think the beginning kind of takes forever, and I'm not that into his voice. However - that middle part is soooooo good. The first time I heard it, I will admit to saying "OK dude I get the point" with the repeating verse… but then, I think I didn't get the point right away because it's actually awesome. It keeps building and building and I often have the part of the song in my head. I also at first thought that the song takes a little long to end, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe it needs that long to wrap up so you can come down from the intensity of that middle part. This was definitely an interesting submission, for sure.
4. Essence of Sorrow - The MirrorSent by TAC
Really heavy, great vocals, awesome song. Another one that I kept turning up the volume whenever I played it. It starts off dark and heavy right off the bat. I don't have a whole lot to say about this one, but sometime I just want to
, and when I like the singer, it works perfectly.
4. Epysode - Raven's CurseSent by jingle.boy
Maybe you would have received the score you predicted if it weren't for Tom Englund.
I liked the other song you sent too, but well, it doesn't have Tom. And he sounds incredible here (note to Redemption, can we have the real Tom next time, please?) I also like Ida Haukland's voice here and the song is pretty
. Add to that Simone from DGM and we have an awesome combination.
4. Beyond the Bridge - The Difference is HumanSent by Evermind
I feel like this song is one that needs time to grow on you to really be appreciated. (So does the other song). Luckily, I got an early start with this song and it did just that. By the time you get to the end of this track, it's just awesome. The male vocals are OK, and I really like the female vocals here. I'd really like to check this album out, because both songs are promising after you listen to them a few times.
3. Thrice - DaedalusSent by Elite
This song is just gut wrenching. I'm not sure how many songs I've heard that reference Icarus, or his wings, but it's a lot. This is the first one that made me feel a true sense of loss, rather than just a romantic notion. It starts off very beautifully. I like that kind of sad guitar playing that runs through the song. I love the build up that happens before the last 2 minutes, and then in the last 2 minutes the anguish is fully unleashed.
2. Mystery - Dear SomeoneSent by Kattelox
So… why wasn't I sent this band rounds ago, jingle.boy? I thought you were saving it up for the end perhaps, and were going to murder Firewings as soon as the list was published, but you seemed unfazed. Anyway, on to the song. It's beautiful. I had 3 songs this round that I grouped together as the slower/sad songs. They're all very good, but this one has my favorite singer of the three. Also, Rushiness. No, it does not take too long to get going nor does it take to long to end, and if that's what you think, you're wrong.
I dunno why, but I love the way he sings "beware." The guitar playing is really nice here too. Very beautiful song.
1. Children of Nova - The Complexity of LightSent by Puppies
I listened to this song as soon as you sent it, which is what I usually do if I'm up, checking my email, and not listening to Legends of the Shires. I thought it was cool, nothing special, and went to bed. A few days/plays later - it really hit me in a big way. Just when I was grinning like an idiot at how good it was, I realized I’d missed my exit and the next one wasn't for another 5 miles. I was OK with that. I want to hear this song live and I want to hear that singer pull it off too. The vocals on this song are fantastic. I love the rhythm section on this track; great bass and drums. I took this song, and a few others, off the playlist today so I could sort out the rankings of all the others. But that was a no go, because it demanded to be played. Awesome, intense, intricate.
Parama: 5 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 5 + 5 = 20
Elite: 1 + 10 + 4 + 1 + 5 + 3 = 24
Train of Naught: 3 + 4 + 3 + 8 + 3 + 6 = 27
Kattlelox: 4 + 7 + 8 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 28
Puppies on Acid: 7 + 8 + 1 + 5 + 6 + 1 = 28
TAC: 9 + 3 + 7 + 5 + 2 + 4 = 30
Evermind: 6 + 6 + 5 + 2 + 10 + 4 = 33
Stadler: 8 + 2 + 6 + 9 + 1 + 9 = 35
jingle.boy: 2 + 9 + 10 + 7 + 7 + 4 = 39
Sacul: 10 + 5 + 9 + 10 + 7 + 10 = 51