Sometimes experimentation works... sometimes not.
Part 2!* * *
Evermind
Soulspell - Into the Arc of Time (Haamiah's Fall) 6.5 Jon Oliva isn't bad on this but I struggle with finding a really good melody or something memorable here. Maybe it's better in the context of the album, if this is a conceptual metal opera? I keep trying to click with this one but sadly I'm struggling.
Amadeus Awad - Lonesome Clown 9.4 This is fantastic. I thought Amadeus Awad was the name of one person, not a group. Hearing Anneke was a lovely surprise. Yeah, this song is awesome. Powerful, impressive lyrics with memorable vocal lines and of course an enchanting delivery by Anneke. The instrumental part is delightful. I could do without the last minute or so with the narration, otherwise this is an excellent song, dig it. [+1 BP]
Steam Powered Giraffe - Brass Goggles 7.6 Um. Okay, wow. Vaudevillian steampunk robots singing about being robots. This is just... so... weird. This isn't something I'd ever willingly play in my free time, but honestly, they're so good at pulling off the gimmick that it's hard to knock them for leaning so hard into it. I appreciate the effort and creativity that went into this - I really struggled with scoring this but I think that's the best it's gonna get. I love experimentation, but of course it's always a gamble with the score.
Current Score: 58.69 [+9 BP]
Round 8 Score: 23.50 [+1 BP]
Average: 7.83~
Movement: 8 spaces
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 66.52 [+10 BP]
* * *
Stadler
Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe 9.2 Okay, this sounds too familiar, I've probably heard this a hundred times on classic rock radio (the riff, the organ, the way he says the title, now I'm sure I've heard this a lot). I dig this though - a lot. Gives me Alan Parsons, Pink Floyd vibes. It's got swagger, and I'm able to crank this one up on my monitors and really hear everything breathe because the recording isn't hot as hell. Really fun rocker, this is my jam. [+1 BP]
Journey - Only the Young 9.0 First, Frontiers annoys the hell out of me - Separate Ways is a bad song with less than great vocals from Steve Perry, but this song is exactly the sound I like from Journey. Chipper and upbeat and not heavy so much as it is pushing forward and catchy. Love that simple hook. Great song, I enjoy 80s cheese when it hits the sweet spot like this. [+1 BP]
Billy Joel - The Night Is Still Young 8.4 I'm not familiar with too many artists like Billy Joel but I want to be. I get a big Bruce Hornsby (& The Range) vibe from this track, but maybe that's just the 80s production... This is good though. Smart and smooth songwriting, and it's more rocking than I expected from BJ.
Current Score: 58.69 [+5 BP]
Round 8 Score: 26.60 [+2 BP]
Average: 8.86
Movement: 9 spaces
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 67.55 [+7 BP]
* * *
Sacul
Hooverphonic - 2Wicky 9.0 My kind of chill - this is the kind of song I look for when I play random 'chill' music on Spotify. She has a lovely voice that pairs so well with the beat. Love the transition when she goes higher and the fuzzy guitar enters. Great song. [+1 BP]
2. Bohren & der Club of Gore - Painless Steel 9.2 Gorgeous, simply gorgeous, I love to play this with all the lights off and curtains drawn. Simultaneously dreary and beautiful. Don't have many pieces like this in my collection but it's exactly what I like. The ethereal synth atmosphere is good as it is but the saxophone is exactly what it needs to put it over the top. [+1 BP]
Goldfrapp - Stranger 7.7 "Inoffensive." That's always the word I come back to for something like this - doesn't make much of a splash, but doesn't bother me at all. I like it, and it's super easy to chill to, but it doesn't make the playlist.
Current Score: 59.57 [+8 BP]
Round 8 Score: 25.90 [+2 BP]
Average: 8.63
Movement: 9 spaces
NEW CURRENT SCORE: 68.20 [+10 BP]