The Syndicate

Round 8 Power Ballads



`What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction
Submitted by: Queen Pink
This is sweet and saccharine, not romance or ballad.
6.5`


I Love You - Anders Lystell
Submitted by: motobot
It’s just not very ballad-y. I will try to explain why in the comments?
6.9


This is the Dream of Evan and Chan - Dntel
Submitted by: iaafr
Why is this here?
7.0


I Love You So - The Walters
Submitted by: gbsfranca
It’s... it’s really okay.
7.1


Love On the Brain - Rihanna
Submitted by: dunya
Quite a hot take on romance.
8.0


`For Crying Out Loud - Meatloaf
Submitted by: G-Man
I’m just like falling
8.7`


If We Were Vampires - Jason Isbell at the 400 Unit
Submitted by: Epignosis
Man you just wanna believe every word he says.
8.7


Eee Ahhh Aright? - Devin Townsend
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11
I loved everything about this song but the duo-syllabic chorus.
8.7


`Sunflower - Low
Submitted by: M Plus 7
Sweet sweet sweet, just low-key kinda haunting
8.7`


Sheets - Damien Jurado
Submitted by: sprityo
Stop making me cry, I can take no more
8.7


I Love You to Death - Kamelot
Submitted by: speedchuck
The textbook definition of a ballad
8.7


`Goodbye England Covered in Snow (I Speak Because I Can) - Laura Marling
Submitted by: Sloonei
Cathartic and lovely
8.9`


`Don’t Wake Me - The Family Crest
Submitted by: nutella TITLE TRACK
Feels like a holdover from the sloth category, or it could even have gone in coda with the way it rises in the second half. I’m not sure what specifically warranted its inclusion here, though it is beautiful. (It’s a TITLE TRACK)
8.9`


Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
Submitted by: MacDougall
9.3`


Unison - Bjork
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay
Holy -
9.5

Round 7 Seven Deadly Sins


`Sloth (A Similitude of a Dream) - The Neal Morse Band
Submitted by: Epignosis
Just a liiiiiiiittle too literal for me. Okay it’s way too literal for me. I appreciate that someone else could appreciate the craft here, but I need a bit more subtlety. Omg, that “drool” and “cool” rhyme. I like the second half of the song MUCH more than the first.
6.8`


`The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
Submitted by: motobot
I feel like this got included here by following these crucial steps:
What’s the laziest song I could submit for a category that includes laziness?
The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars
7.0`


`Pastel - Snail’s House x Moe Shop
Submitted by: iaafr
Are we sure this wasn’t a carryover from the color category? This is the only one I had trouble with identifying the sin.I can vibe to the song itself though.
7.1`


`Your Woman - White Town
Submitted by: sprityo
This one feels more like unrequited love than lust; I don’t think the singer has committed any cardinal sins here. The song itself is average in my opinion.
7.2


`All Caps - Madvillain
Submitted by: M Plus 7
Pride’s a hard sin to take the fall for, but some are able to walk that line. I think he does an adequate job here of owning his sin and not letting it disable him.
7.8`


`Into Temptation - Crowded House
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay
This song is like 80% of the way there for me. Something about it feels not polished lyrically. Still, I quite enjoy its decadence.
8.0`


Mr. Brightside
Submitted by: MacDougall
This is like PG-rated lust. The song itself is, of course, absolutely amazing. But for this particular sin I was looking for something more carnal and viscerally unbridled, and more importantly, morally wrong.
8.3


`Day Fourteen: Pride - Ayreon
Submitted by: speedchuck
This one is way cooler if you don’t follow along with the lyrics/story.
8.4`


`Saints - Echos
Submitted by: Queen Pink
I like the rhapsodic instrumentation and the simple but heavy lyricism. She’s got a decent voice but she doesn’t use much range, so vocally it falls a little flat for me, but I love the idea behind the song.
8.5`


`Because I Got High - Afroman
Submitted by: G-Man
One of my favorite songs for just hangin with the boys. Quality vibes.
8.6`


`Avaritia - deadmau5
Submitted by:gbsfranca
More, please.
8.8`


`Sleeping In - The Postal Service
Submitted by: nutella
This one I feel like the sloth is earned, and wearily welcomed.
8.9`


`Antichrist Television Blues - Arcade Fire
Submitted by: Sloonei
Is this song about the World Trade Center? In any case, I think the sin is wrath. A beautifully told story.
9.0`


`Playground Love - Air
Submitted by: dunya
Pure surrender to sin.
9.1`


`Down by the Water - The Decemberists
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11
Unadulterated down n dirty gluttony.
9.6`

Rounds 7 and 8 have been postponed until next week because I won't be able to make it tonight. Sorry for the inconvenience!

DARKSIDE - Shinedown
Submitted by: speedchuck w/h/f Lunalee
This song is only two years old, so it must be a very recent memory. It’s quite a jovial welcome.
6.8




Cut to Black - Lemaitre
Submitted by: sprityo
Some standard indie pop but it’s good mood setting. I see how something impactful could have happened during this.
7.0




Obsolete Dreams - Nok From the Future
Submitted by: iaafr
Sounds like music for gaming to me, so maybe this recalls a specific game title or play session. idk.
7.1




Raining Tacos - Parry Grip & BooneBum
Submitted by: motobot
First song in this entire exercise that made me laugh out loud. Bonus points for clearly being a highly specific memory. I wish I could give this song more points because I appreciate that it’s not simply a joke.
7.2




The Wanton Song - Led Zepelin
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay
This could fit in lots of places: driving in your first car, chillin’ with the boys, blasting it from a secluded room, ordering Chinese takeout, endless possibilities really.
7.4




Free - VAST
Submitted by: G-Man
I just want to point out that the music video for this is amazing in the most ridiculous way. Just got out of a bad relationship, quit a mediocre job? No matter what, I can appreciate how this song could sum or encapsulate that moment.
7.6





Safe & Sound - Electric President
Submitted by: Sloonei
I don’t know how to explain this, but the song has a very nostalgic tone. Oh it’s from the singer of Radical Face. Maybe that explains it.
7.9




Cardinal Song - The National
Submitted by: dunya
This band is so good at setting a scene. My guess is this is a painful moment to relive. Heartbreaking outro, this poor individual.
8.3




Fader - The Temper Trap
Submitted by: nutella
(I changed the link to the official video) Someone’s been digging through my old iTunes playlists. I have some extremely palpable memories attached to this song, too, and hearing it takes me back every time. Looks like we’re memory bros.
8.5




Hearts- Blackbird Blackbird
Submitted by: gbsfranca
Maybe a particularly enjoyable stoner sesh, or great sex. I gave this one extra points because I just really liked the song.
8.6




Twin Peaks Theme - Angelo Badalamenti
Submitted by: M Plus 7
TV show theme songs are a huge source of memory recall. I think it was a great choice for this category, it feels very personal yet relatable.
8.7




Superman - Goldfinger
Submitted by: MacDougall
This is a Tony Hawk Pro Skater song. So here we are. Another great example of tying a song strongly to a particular experience, if that’s what happened.
8.8




Hexes (Live in Studio) - TesseracT feat. Martin Grech
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11
Oh HELL yeah. I felt the power of this one. Some well-crafted allusions to the category theme as well.
9.1




Dare You to Move - Switchfoot
Submitted by: Epignosis
I like the feel of this memory. It feels genuine and pure while being strong and anthemic at the same time.
9.2




Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Judy Garland
Submitted by: Queen Pink
Like remembering something you can’t get back to. When I opened the link I expected to find the Kamakawiwo’ole version; this is much better.
9.7

Discover - Magic Sword (2015)
Submitted by: sprityo
I’m in Tron and I love it. Could be a glimpse into our cyberpunk future or a retro 80’s soundtrack. Either way, for something released in 2015, this feels very “of another time and place”.
8.8`




Drifting Time Misplaced - The Caretaker (2016)
Submitted by: M Plus 7
I think I named the right track. A very... atmospheric selection. Not sure what time it belongs to, specifically, and due to the title that could be very intentional. I’m a fan of these melancholy tones.
7.5




Drunken Sailor - The Longest Johns (2013)
Submitted by: speedchuck w/h/f Lunalee
This sea shanty is somewhat amateurishly recorded, which could end up being part of its anachronistic charm.
7.2




But You - Alexandra Savior (2020)
Submitted by: Sloonei
Very noir, I’m a huge fan of this sound.
8.6




The Less I Know the Better - Tame Impala (2015)
Submitted by: dunya
Great song though I’m not sure where the anachronism comes from. Did we travel to the present?
7.0




Square Hammer - Ghost (2016)
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11
I feel like we’re centuries in the past being chased by gothic horrors.
7.8




Machine - Regina Spektor (2009)
Submitted by: nutella
This fits really well conceptually and lyrically; an interesting and unique interpretation of the prompt. I like this choice a lot here.
9.5




Perturbator’s Theme - Perturbator (2020)
Submitted by: iaafr
Synth keys fall like raindrops amidst sun-tinged bass and guitar. Another retro-future 80s vibe for watching Stranger Things or navigating a futuristic city on my light cycle.
8.9




Emerge - Fischerspooner (2003)
Submitted by: MacDougall
Almost everyone hit the nail on the head with this category, and this selection exemplifies that .
9.5




A Lady of a Certain Age - Divine Comedy (2006)
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay
Beautifully evokes high society culture of the mid-20th century. Masterful storytelling.
9.5




Submitted by: gbsfranca
Ringtone (remix) - 100 gecs feat. Charli XCX, Rico Nasty, Kero Kero Bonito (2020)
Hmm.
4.4




Safari Song - Greta Van Fleet (2017)
Submitted by: G-Man
Rock And Roll The Next Generation
8.5



Me & Mr Jones - Amy Winehouse (2006)
Submitted by: Epignosis
An updated cover song that still sounds like it belongs in the past. This sound needs to come back to pop music tbh.
8.7



The Night Begins to Shine - B.E.R. (2015)
Submitted by: motobot
This song was literally written to be included in this category. Solid choice.
8.2




NO - Meghan Trainor (2016)
Submitted by: Queen Pink
A tribute to late 90s pop a la Britney and Xtina? though not quite as memorable as the originals. Or maybe whoever submitted this “noped” out of participating in this category and it’s a statement song.
6.9

Same time as last week

The Advanced Colors Song - Scratch Garden
This is what I said I specifically didn’t want in this category, so I cannot give it many points. However, I suppose it serves as a decent primer for the rest of the exercise.
1.0
Submitted by: motobot



Wintergreen - That Handsome Devil
Perhaps this is meant to evoke the color and texture of vomit. I hear a little bit of black as well, almost gothic.
5.4
Submitted by: Speedchuck and lunalee



Mr. Malum - The Dear Hunter
I hear the band’s personality more than a color’s personality (according to the concept album, this is meant to be violet). The song doesn’t really give me any feelings of synesthesia, I have to sort of strain my brain to almost feel the color. It's like it was an attempt to fit a concept instead of being conceived organically.
5.6
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11



Aquarius - Boards of Canada
“.....ORANGE.” Yeah, that’s right.
6.0range
Submitted by: M Plus 7



Lillian - The Dear Hunter
If I try really hard, I can hear the violet via the strings and the pounding keys. I enjoyed this one more than the other The Dear Hunter track, but the color is still not readily apparent to me. Again it feels like the concept came before the execution.
6.7
Submitted by: MacDougall



Red - King Crimson
The song indeed sounds red. Mission accomplished, let us jam.
7.2
Submitted by: Epignosis



Rub Til It Bleeds - PJ Harvey
I hear reds, oranges and browns in this paint-by-numbers grunge track. I’m quite sure it’s about a handjob. Color me fascinated.
7.3
Submitted by: dunya



Colors - Halsey
The color palette is gorgeously defined in the vocals, lyrics and music, especially that chorus. A bit on the nose for the category, but a really good choice nonetheless.
8.4
Submitted by: Queen Pink



Becomes the Color - Emily Wells
Watercolors and brushed wash lines move beneath crisp and outlined vocals. It evokes a purple, blue and green palette, like swimming among a coral reef.
8.5
Submitted by: Sloonei



Blue - SG Lewis
This one actually feels like faded pink to me, like the color of clouds. Sky colors for sure. Pleasant and airy, very dreamlike.
8.7
Submitted by: gbsfranca



Red Right Hand - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
This song is just so cool. I don’t know that it evokes red specifically, but maybe more specifically red juxtaposed against black and white and grey.
8.8
Submitted by: G-Man



The Blue - David Gilmour
Gilmour lulls us, sets us adrift and then encapsulates us in a prism of blue sound. A deftly controlled form of hypnotism. I assume the guitar solo is a pod of dolphins.
9.0
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay



Into the Trees (Serenetti Part 3) - Trentemøller
Black and hunter green, like a dangerous forest. I love all the little movements, constantly shifting, never getting comfortable.
9.2
Submitted by: iaafr



Bright Whites - Kishi Bashi
White was such an adroit choice for this exercise. Personally I love this song.
9.3
Submitted by: nutella



God Shattering Star - Composed by Takeru Kanazaki, Rei Kondoh, and Hiroki Morishita
The orchestra hits like white hot gold. Thematically on point and a rousing listen.
9.7
Submitted by: sprityo

Some of the videos in this category are worth watching.


Mandala - Circa Survive
This would feel right at home on an emo/alternative station. But there are many, many songs within this genre that command my attention better. Needs a better hook to stand out from a crowded genre.
4.8
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11



Lost in Bonerland - Nero’s Day at Disneyland
If I heard this on the radio I would be very confused. This sounds like music for ghosts; unfinished and incorporeal..
5.0
Submitted by: iaafr



Hello Hello - Bic Runga
Unagressively catchy, indefensibly happy; this feels like an artist’s debut single which isn’t as well-received as some of their later, more popular efforts, and then it eventually stops getting played at concerts.
6.8
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay



Don’t Be Seen With Me - Oppenheimer Analysis
Feels like something we’d hear on the radio in the 80’s. I can already picture the embarassing greenscreen music video. It’s well-constructed, slightly silly, with cheesily sad undertones.
7.0
Submitted by: M Plus 7



Soda City Funk - Tim Legend
A really cool fusion of styles. This was constructed in a hit-song laboratory where the song-scientist used slightly imprecise measurements for all the ingredients. Nevertheless, it’s fun and infectious.
7.1
Submitted by: sprityo



Can’t Let Go - DJVI
Cool blending of rock structure with EDM instrumentation. It has lots of motifs to build on so that repeated listens feel varied yet familiar. I feel like vocals would have made this track truly stand out, but that’s obviously not what the artist was going for.
7.2
Submitted by: motobot



Fire Escape - Tall Heights
This is like a poor man’s “Pumped Up Kicks”. The bassline is super duper.
7.3
Submitted by: nutella



Lyric - Zwan
This would have had a better shot at getting on the radio about 20 years ago, when Third Eye Blind and Smashing Pumpkins were still cool. Maybe this could spawn a “New-Classic Rock” radio format, where its music video impressively pops up as a Top 5 pick.
7.4
Submitted by: G-Man



Oh Theo! - Blood Cultures
The vocal melody is like a calmly winding river; then suddenly we get rocked by rapids. It’s unique and low-key iconic, but probably needs a singable chorus to make an even bigger impact.
8.0
Submitted by: gbsfranca



Sorry - Halsey
We already hear Halsey all over the radio so this would fit right in. With such a focused theme, it would likely succeed. What I like about Halsey is how she struggles to perfectly channel her maturity; there’s a messiness to her effort that feels very human.
8.2
Submitted by: Queen Pink



Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers
This subdued vocal range isn’t often heard on the radio but it’s reminiscent of Americana singer-songwriters from last century, like Patty Cole. It’s kind of quietly beautiful. It’s not quite iconic enough to stick in the Top 10 for weeks on end.
8.4
Submitted by: Sloonei



I’ll Kill Her - Soko
I think she’s serious. The vocal delivery alone is enough to justify this being “that song”; a one-hit wonder that turns into the next “Mr. Brightside”, with every lyric shouted in unison by a drunken crowd.
8.5
Submitted by: dunya



Big Yellow Bus - Seven Nations
This would be a successful radio single in the right culture climate, particularly if this were still the early aughts, but “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” and “You and Me” stole its thunder.
8.6
Submitted by: Epignosis



Upside Down - Wolfgang Lohr feat. Alanna Lyes
It’s got the pop vocals, playful lyrics and instantly recognizable horn honks to give it a signature sound. It’s enough to earn staying power on the radio. A really fun bridge would have pushed it over the top, but I’m being nitpicky at that point. This would be a successful single and likely a breakout hit for both featured artists.
9.0
Submitted by: speedchuck and Lunalee




Heaven - The Fire Theft
Accessible lyrics and major key sound. I love the dramatic buildup and payoff. They’d probably chop off the last minute for the radio edit.
9.2
Submitted by: MacDougall

We're going to try to run this at 7pm EST on Saturday, this should hopefully accommodate [mention]MacDougall[/mention] and [mention]dunya[/mention] (and hopefully gbs too) being able to attend along with all the Americans

Results after round 1(courtesy of G-Man)




Results after round 2 (courtesy of G-Man)

To Here Knows When - My Bloody Valentine (TITLE TRACK)
This is what I imagine a star forming in the night sky sounds like. Beautifully incomprehensible.
8.0
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11



In The Face of Evil - Magic Sword
Magic Sword! Deliberately plotted. Sometimes crunchy, sometimes slick and neon. I would have appreciated some organic instrumentation to go along with the synths, but within its lane it’s a great piece.
7.2
Submitted by: speedchuck



Alice - Pogo
This is delicious.
8.4
Submitted by: iaafr




A young magic practitioner excited about their immediate future. It’s like cotton candy to my ears. A little more depth to the production would have rated it higher for me.
7.3
Submitted by: motobot



Make Believe - Kero Kero Bonito
A decent example of squeezing a pop song into a theme. It’s pretty close to succeeding at its mission statement. The vocal range is constrained which holds it back, and the lyrics are at 75% inspiration.
7.1
Submitted by: gbsfranca




A Cloak of Elvenkind - Marcy Playground
This is what a teenage wizard listens to in the basement while smoking weed and forgetting to practice his spells.
6.9
Submitted by: MacDougall



The Magician - Magic Fantasy Music composed by Peter Gundry
Exactly what I wanted out of this category. The magic is palpable, it has character and movement. It left me wanting more like I’m out of mana.
9.7
Submitted by: Queen Pink



Can’t Get It Out of My Head - Electric Light Orchestra
It’s not tremendously on-theme, more like theme-adjacent, but I can appreciate the track. It’s simple but elegant. Sad Wizard Life
7.8
Submitted by: Epignosis



The Birth and Death of a Day - Explosions in the Sky
Maybe this is the aftermath of magic; what the world sounds like when magic has seeped back into it. Crushingly heavy leads into light and airy, the song itself has an evolution to it as alluded to in the title.
7.7
Submitted by: G-Man



Reach for the Summit - Celeste Original Soundtrack
Kind of like a futuristic sci-fi magic. Definitely a cool piece, though it didn’t quite earn its length.
7.6
Submitted by: sprityo



Secret of Life - Lord Huron
All magic has a price. In this song, Lord Huron walks the line between success and sacrifice. It’s like he’s found something hidden, and now he’s using it, and he’s going to follow wherever it takes him, knowing it will be worth the cost.
8.9
Submitted by: Sloonei


Earthrise - Camel - Mirage
I wasn’t sure which was the song’s name, the band’s name, or the album’s name. I think it’s from a different school of magic than the one I went to.
5.8
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay



Plantasia - Mort Garson
I was incredibly bored by this until about halfway through. It sounds more like space than magic.
5.9
Submitted by: M Plus 7



The Hymn of Acxiom
This is how you cast a spell.
9.2
Submitted by: nutella

Glory Days - Pulp
“Glory Days” has great structure and setting. Tonally, it’s reminiscent of When In Rome or The Airborne Toxic Event. The lyrics are a metered stream of consciousness; one can ride the writer’s train of thought all the way around. Maybe just a little too earnest and self-conscious for my taste, but it’s got a nice overall sound.
7.6
Submitted by: JaggedJimmyJay


Apartment Story - The National
This feels like a currently relevant POV in the time of covid with lines like “We’ll stay inside til somebody finds us, do whatever the TV tells us”. The voice is afraid of leaving the safety of this almost pleasant but not quite fulfilling bubble, and maybe they’re right to feel that way.
7.7
Submitted by: nutella


The Thing With Me - Toehider
Brutally honest. A visceral and all-too real trainwreck.
8.9
Submitted by: speedchuck


Computer Face// Pure Being - Flying Lotus
TITLE TRACK - iaafr
Where are we going? The sound molecules are packed dense and tight, but they’re trapped in an undefined nucleus.
5.5
Submitted by: iaafr


Min, Min Mio - Weatherday
The voice is warbly and unrefined. To me it feels like all flaws and no strengths on display. An interesting character study, but not all that pleasant to listen to.
5.8
Submitted by: gbsfranca



Happy - Pharrell Williams
An unpretentiously brilliant pop song; if we’re defining one state of mind we nailed it. It just feels incomplete as a POV, a slightly shallow exploration of a singular mood. It lacks dimension to really round it out.
7.3
Submitted by: Queen Pink

Alive - P.O.D.

What a throwback. In a lot of ways I feel like the singer is putting on a mask of feeling alive, to hide from the things that don’t make them feel alive at all. It’s a little bit of a lie that becomes a truth.
6.8
Submitted by: G-Man



Reach For the Stars - Sonic Colors
TITLE TRACK for motobot
Man, I’m just so happy for this guy. You can tell he’s going to succeed and have a fun time along the way. The synths and pop-punk instrumentation are paired well with the sunny lyrics.
7.4
Submitted by: motobot


We Carry On - Portishead
An incredible reveal of intention set against a grimey backdrop. The eerie vocals and pulsating industrialism bleed into each other to paint an adrenalized soundscape. A violent and empowering turning point in the relationship between the singer and their environment.
9.6
Submitted by: M Plus 7


Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear
Springboard percussion and spritely harmonies elevate this song from generic indie rock into something a little more unique. Having been submitted to the POV category, I can’t help but feel there’s a deeper story behind its inclusion here.
7.9
Submitted by: sprityo



Slo Fuzz - Sol Seppy
The name of the song describes its aesthetics to a tee. I could lose myself in this subdued yearning. It brings dimension and weight to the room without being overpowering.
8.7
Submitted by: Sloonei


Color Your World - Devin Townsend
No.
1.1
Submitted by: birdwithteeth11


Simon - Lifehouse
A beautiful relationship emerges from the pain shared between the singer and the subject. The song effectively utilizes POV to convey the tremendous extent of the damage and the abuse; damage which is impossible to ignore and threatens to define us. Yet the existence of hope makes it beautiful and not exclusively tragic.
9.2
Submitted by: Epignosis


American Boy - Estelle feat. Kanye West
TITLE TRACK FOR MACDOUGALL
Just a great song really. High production values, clever but not abrasive rhymes from Kanye, and a hook that gets caught in your brain. There’s innocence and pure desire here, like a PG-rated romance. I like how the nonlinear verses deftly dance around the hook.
8.8
Submitted by: MacDougall

Bring snacks

This is officially happening in less than 24 hours. 1pm EST this Saturday, i.e. tomorrow

Deadline to submit has passed. The participants:

birdwithteeth11
Epignosis
G-Man
gbsfranca
iaafr
JaggedJimmyJay
M Plus 7
MacDougall
motobot
nutella
Queen Pink
Sloonei
speedchuck
sprityo

The current plan is to start the first round on Saturday April 4 at 1pm EST. I hope everyone can make it.

Thank you everyone who submitted!

G-Man wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:12 pm I work from home at the present time, so I am available most nights. I have a few evening Zoom meetings coming up, but they’re usually on Tuesdays.

I’ll send my tracks in tomorrow. Sorry- been very busy.

No worries Mr. G

For those who are interested in attending the live listening parties, is there a specific night of the week that doesn't work for you? I'm looking to keep our regular start time of 8pm EST, and likely during the second half of the week since I work late sometimes Mon - wed

I'm still waiting on submissions from [mention]Epignosis[/mention] [mention]sprityo[/mention] [mention]JaggedJimmyJay[/mention] [mention]Sloonei[/mention] [mention]G-Man[/mention] [mention]motobot[/mention] [mention]Queen Pink[/mention]

T-minus 1 week and 13.5 hours to submit your lists.

Here's a link to our discord channel where the live reveals and listening parties take place: https://discord.gg/nUhm2B

speedchuck wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 4:38 pm

Epignosis wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 3:34 pm No hydras.

@Turnip Head

??

Hmmm I'll allow it. Will category 1 be a duet, or will you like.... merge consciousness?

No

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:33 am Starting to really peruse the categories and I have a very stereotypically-MP7 question — how would you feel about submissions being purely instrumental? Part of my brain is already making arguments that certain compositions of that nature might be my best option. With that said, I would understand if instrumental wouldn’t work in cases like POV that specifically mention a voice.

I would say submit instrumentals where it makes sense to do so, and don't try to force anything that doesn't work. Perhaps it is a technique better used sparingly? At the end of the day I just want you to be proud of your submissions.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:52 pm There's two others who want to join this if it's all right.

I'm good with it

M Plus 7 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:12 pm This looks cool, I’m in.

Oh my god... I might die from pleasant surprise

nutella wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2020 12:15 am As in, it's your "voice" in a metaphorical/emotional sense; you feel that you could be the one behind the song.

This

Epignosis wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:40 pm Can you clarify category one? I really don't understand it any better than I did the first time I read it. Maybe give an example?

I hope it's not too foreign of a concept. Imagine the singer is your shadow, and you look down and your shadow starts moving independently. Or you look in the mirror and your reflection comes alive. I'll try to let my shadow explain the concept directly:



linki: what nutella said

birdwithteeth11 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:02 pm @Turnip Head

Are you the kind of host that would knock a song down a few points if it is longer than a certain amount of time? Asking for a friend.

Not necessarily, I like long songs if the length feels earned. However, I am less likely to appreciate a prog or metal song than another host.

For the first category I am specifically looking for a singer who is not actually you, you're borrowing their voice

The twist this time is that you're allowed to have one "title track", I'll describe how it works:

The Title Track - you can replace one of the below categories with your playlist’s title track. This is the song that ties your whole tracklist together. You can take this in any direction you'd like; I'm just looking for a moment of impact. Title tracks will be judged independently of the category they are replacing, though it will be played during that category to maintain the tracklist. If you would rather adhere to all 10 category prompts, please still designate one song as the title track.






1. POV
When we listen to this song, we want to experience your soul escaping your body and possessing the singer. This is not a song you wrote, but it is your voice. Dig deep. The vocalist’s gender should not necessarily be a barrier here. (To clarify, I am specifically looking for a singer who is not actually you, you're borrowing their voice )



2. Magic
A song that alludes to, evokes, or inspires a) arcane magic, or b) that almost-tangible energy that emanates from nature and each other. The song has an ethereal quality.



3. The Single
You think this would be a hot new hit if it was released to popular radio formats; perhaps the song's genre is not popular enough, or the band is not well-known enough to get on the radio, or the song has some other quirky defect. Nevertheless, if millions of people heard this song on the radio, you'd bet on them calling in and requesting it to be played again and again. This song shouldn't be much longer than three and a half minutes at most.



4. Color
The sensory and imagery elements of this song evoke a specific color's aesthetic, or the song is named after a particular color. This is not just about the concept of color in general. Bonus points for creativity and originality here.



5. Anachronism
Sounds like it belongs to a different time period from when it was recorded, either forwards or backwards.



6. Memory Extraction
The song viscerally takes you back to a specific memory. Perhaps the feeling was only a fraction of a second, the song could have been playing at that immediate moment or it could not have been, but the memory and the song are irrevocably connected.



7. Deadly Sins
Song about one of the seven deadly sins.



8. (Power) Ballad
This is a slow and raw romantic song with powerful vocals.



9. Guilty Pleasure
You can't deny this song's appeal, even if you're a little bit ashamed or shy to admit it.



10. Coda
The finale builds and builds and builds and releases, or there is a sustained and powerful coda at the end. A climactic finish.

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When you submit your songs, please submit only a link, not a full youtube video and don't write out the song name. This is so submissions can remain as anonymous as possible. So if it's a youtube video, copy the link to your clipboard, and bracket it with the url tag like so If a song is the title track, designate it as such next to the link (but don't break the link!).

Songs will be graded on a 10 point scale using one decimal place. E.g. A nearly perfect song would receive a 9.9

My personal taste will be a factor. I love LOTS of different kinds of music, but I don't like everything.

We will schedule listening parties on the Discord server as usual.

Tentatively you have until March 31st, 11:59pm EST to submit your lists!

Happy walrusing!

link to the Walrus discord: https://discord.gg/nUhm2B