Marmotrus 2023

[Marmot]

Marmotrus 2023

Hello friends!!! It's been a couple years, but I've got another walrus ready to go. I've recycled a couple categories from last time, but most of them are relatively new, or fun spins on other cats I've seen from other walruses. I hope you enjoy!!!


Format

• All submissions are due Monday, April 10 at 11:59 PM PST.
• You may send me submissions via Discord or PM on the Syndicate. I'll list players who submit here as they come in. Please keep submissions anonymous (make sure the links you send me don't embed the youtube videos).
• There will be no cap on number of participants, and participants are permitted alt subs.
• I may or may not construct a simple formula for scoring, but in general, songs will be judged largely on both enjoyability/likability and catfit. Songs I've never heard before will likely score better, but only a little. Everyone's worst score will be dropped.
• I like almost anything. I could go through all of them here, but I think looking at my example songs for each category might be more useful. In general, I don't care for some country, some rap, and some generic rock/pop. Everything else is likely to score reasonable well.
• No artists are banned, but try to avoid artists I've used as example songs below, as I'm very familiar with them.
• There are no caps on song length, but I may not fullplay long songs if reveals end up lasting a long time.

~marmotmarsh: Here is a link to my RateYourMusic page if you want to get an idea of what music I've heard or haven't heard.


Categories

Spoiler: show

1) It All Began with a Burst: Let's start with some energy. Send me a hype song. An upbeat song. A song with flourishes and crescendos. A song that'll subconsciously make me walk 23% faster. This cat is for serious bangers.
Kishi Bashi - It All Began with a Burst
Yelle - Comme Un Enfant [Freaks Fremix]
Everything Everything - My Computer


2) ...And the Great Cold Death of the Earth: Winter is almost over in North America (and probably will be by the time this is revealed), so I want to get this cat in early. Send me a song that epitomizes the long, dull seemingly never-ending final days of winter. Something with a pulse, but just barely. Something that struggles to plod along through several feet snow.
Agalloch - ...And the Great Cold Death of the Earth
Bowery Electric - Beat
Mount Shrine - Hindmost Flood


3) Old Castle, by the River, in the Middle of a Forest: As winter closes, signs of life slowly creep in, and Mother Natures reminds us the planet is in fact still alive. Send me a song with heavy nature vibes. It doesn't have to contain literal sounds of nature (bird calls, wind, weather, etc.), it can be evocative of nature or sing about it.
Hiromi - Old Castle, by the River, in the Middle of a Forest
Dirty Three - Sirena
Hiroshi Yoshimura - Green


4) Toda Mágoa do Mundo: This is an open cat, with an exception. Send me a song from anywhere in the world that is not a country that typically broadcasts loads of music internationally. Specifically, the artist who recorded your sub must have spent a significant portion if not all of their life there. Countries that are banned are listed in the spoilers. I didn't give this list a ton of thought, and as such, I'm open to appeal on some of these countries.

Spoiler: show

Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, United States, United Kingdom

Kaatayra - Toda Mágoa do Mundo - Brazil
молчат дома - волны - Belarus
White Ward - Love Exchange Failure - Ukraine


5) Discipline: Bass. Bass is generally my favorite instrument to hear in a song, in particular when it carries more weight than just the rhythm. Send me a song that features bass at the forefront in some capacity. It can be bass/cello/upright, whatever you prefer (but don't send Apocalyptica please).
King Crimson - Discipline
Rush - La Villa Strangiato
Thundercat - Them Changes


6) The Work of Art in the Age of Culture (aka The Ship of Theseus): I want the beginning and the end of the song to be entirely different, but the process in getting there is fluid, as different components of the song are removed, added, or replaced by others. I may be a little more lenient on scoring this cat.
Tim Hecker - The Work of Art in the Age of Culture
Jambinai - Sawtooth
Riverside - Night Session, Part Two


7) Welcome to Hell: Send me a song that'll wreck my brain. Something where my mind takes a long time to come close to comprehending that magnitude of the sub. This cat is open to interpretation, although shitsubs are less likely to do well here (that's for Cat 9).
black midi - Welcome to Hell
The Residents - Edweena
Henry Cow - War


8) In the Flame of Error (aka Tell Me I'm Wrong): Send me a sub that is a song from an album that I have given a rating of 2 stars or fewer on RYM (but please don't sub something like Under Pressure from Queen's Hot Space, because that's obviously an amazing song from a subpar album, unless you explicitly think it's not a bad album).
Note: You are welcome to add a writeup when submitting for this cat to explain to me why it is that I'm wrong about the album you've chosen.
Here is a link to my RYM page for reference.
Coheed & Cambria - In the Flame of Error
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea
Metallica - The Unnamed Feeling


9) 闇祭 / Festival of the Dark: Night is here, let the chaos and debauchery set in!!! Send me bangers. Shit-subs strongly encouraged. Serious bangers are less likely to do well here. Normally I don't like this kind of music, so this might be hit-or-miss for me, but I want to appreciate things I don't necessarily like more, so I'm trying this here. (I'd make a connection to embracing my shadow self, but this is a joy_cat, not a serious_cat).
Kikuo - 闇祭 / Festival of the Dark
Steamed Hams Inc.
Dillon Francis - Not Butter


10) The Place Where He Inserted the Blade: Send me a song with raw, cracked, and/or emotional vocals. Where the singer is about to have a breakdown because he's about to be murdered (probably figuratively, it can also be literally). Fun emphatic instrumentation is helpful here, but not necessary. Similar to the last couple cats, this sort of music is not what I seek out all the time, so it might be hit-or-miss, but please try me.
Black Country, New Road - The Place Where He Inserted the Blade
Lingua Ignota - Do You Doubt Me Traitor
KennyHoopla - how will i rest in peace if i'm buried by a highway?


11) Tongues: Like the last cat, this one is centered on vocals. Unlike the last cat, I'm not looking for sung vocals here. I'm looking for vocals used in a different manner. Send me a song that utilizes vocals as an instrument, spoken word, or some other non-traditional manner. The less "standard singing" there is, the better.
Tanya Tagaq - Tongues
Pinki Floyd - The Great Gig in the Sky
Chat Pile - Why


12) We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling: I've talked about it at times, but I love a good closing track to an album. One that builds that wonderful pulse of energy before slowly fading into oblivion, allowing you to slowly take off your headphones and ponder the full experience. Send me a song that is a closing track that is also in this vein. I won't be too harsh on capturing the energy I'm looking for, but closing track on an album is a must.
of Montreal - We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafling
The Decemberists - Sons and Daughters
Parannoul - After the Magic

Note: I may have some complicated categories in here, but I'm a fairly lenient grader as a host, and generally find reasons to like songs that you sub to me.

[Marmot]

Those who have Submitted

1. Syn
2. WIM
3. Harun
4. Deciduous
5. Evergreen
6. Quas
7. Moose
8. WIM 2
9. tutuu
10. Lyris
11. Shad
12. Dobby 1
13. Dobby 2
14. Cape90
15. mansnicks
16. soah
17. Bloobird
18. Epignosis
19. Simon
20. falcon45ca
21. 112
22. staypositivefriend
23. Mulnerbi
24. Mahoganbi
25. Hollbi
26. Junibi
27. mynameisnothing (non-english)
28. mynameisquarteronetwentytwentythree
29. John
30. Trve Kvlt
31. Schiavetto
32. NateTheLesser
33. PsychoSoldier
34. Made
35. MacDougall
36. mynameisnothing (english)
37. Tangy Tangrowth
38. shane (partial sub)
39. mixed berries (partial sub)

[LordQuas]

/in & first cause i'm baller like that

[katze]

but this is a joy_cat, not a serious_cat

arent the subs supposed to pander to you, not the other way around?

[Sabiplz]

Ommg

[LordQuas]

[Marmot]

but this is a joy_cat, not a serious_cat

arent the subs supposed to pander to you, not the other way around?

We've entered uncharted waters

[Marmot]

Updates:

- I forgot to add that your worst cat score will be dropped
- I added my RYM page to the top for easy reference to my music taste, as well as near the "Tell Me I'm Wrong" cat, since that cat is based on ratings I've given.
- I added a blurb next to the "Tell Me I'm Wrong" cat. You may send a writeup with the cat explaining why I'm wrong.

[Epignosis]

This looks grand. The ninth category is in a different language for me. Can you translate for old Rob?

[JaggedJimmyJay]

I volunteer to have every intention of participating and forget until the last possible moment.

[Marmot]

This looks grand. The ninth category is in a different language for me. Can you translate for old Rob?

Hmmm.

It's hard to describe to be honest. This is very similar to shad's Cat 6 that he's posted before.

Basically I'm looking for songs that are so ridiculous, cringey, over-the-top, and don't take themselves seriously to the point that listening to them is actually mildly enjoyable despite expectations. Cat 7 is almost the same, except that I'm looking for serious ridiculous songs in that one. I'm looking for non-serious ridiculous songs in this one.


Mood/Vibes is an important factor here. In addition to the examples I posted above, there are probably a few Frank Zappa songs that would fair well in this category.

Hopefully this helps

[Marmot]

I volunteer to have every intention of participating and forget until the last possible moment.

I'll send you a reminder at the last possible moment.

[Marmot]

Side Note on how I operate.

I absolutely try-harded on creating some of these categories, but I am not a harsh host by any means, and am unlikely to be a tryhard or overly critical about any subs people make.

[JaggedJimmyJay]

Side Note on how I operate.

I absolutely try-harded on creating some of these categories, but I am not a harsh host by any means, and am unlikely to be a tryhard or overly critical about any subs people make.

*submits exclusively the work of Emerson, Lake, & Palmer and songs from the Lou Reed/Metallica collaboration*

[Marmot]

Side Note on how I operate.

I absolutely try-harded on creating some of these categories, but I am not a harsh host by any means, and am unlikely to be a tryhard or overly critical about any subs people make.

*submits exclusively the work of Emerson, Lake, & Palmer and songs from the Lou Reed/Metallica collaboration*

I would probably find nice things to say about them.

[Marmot]

"I'm really not a Lou Reed fan, but Metallica make him sound really good on this album"

"I always wanted to know what a pretentious prog band sounded like when they decided to make pure pop music, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer gave me that opportunity"

[falcon45ca]

In

[Syn]

excited for the moose subs

[dunya]

damn cool categories

[Marmot]

damn cool categories

They're almost as cool as your cat!

[Shad]

I swear every time I come over here I have 20 new private messages.

[Shad]

I did it

whew

[Sabiplz]

Please check dms

[Cape90]

/in

[Epignosis]

Simon and I made it in like college students submitted for a deadline.

[falcon45ca]

I will have subs today

[JaggedJimmyJay]

I did indeed forget. Clockwork.

[Sabiplz]

Those who have Submitted

1. Syn
2. WIM
3. Harun
4. Deciduous
5. Evergreen
6. Quas
7. Moose
8. WIM 2
9. tutuu
10. Lyris
11. Shad
12. shane
13. Dobby 1
14. Dobby 2
15. Cape90
16. mansnicks
17. soah
18. Bloobird
19. Epignosis
20. Simon
21. falcon45ca

Waits to be added

[Marmot]

Those who have Submitted

1. Syn
2. WIM
3. Harun
4. Deciduous
5. Evergreen
6. Quas
7. Moose
8. WIM 2
9. tutuu
10. Lyris
11. Shad
12. shane
13. Dobby 1
14. Dobby 2
15. Cape90
16. mansnicks
17. soah
18. Bloobird
19. Epignosis
20. Simon
21. falcon45ca

Waits to be added

Added.

[tutuu]

HOLY SHIT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE LOL

[Marmot]

HOLY SHIT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE LOL

There's 33 of you nerds.

I have an irl friend who might join too, but otherwise this is our list!!

[Marmot]

Cat 1 Reveals go here

[Marmot]

37th place

Song: The Way We Get By by Spoon
submitted by: @falcon45ca

Catkins: 3
Pinecones: 6.2
Total: 9.2

I enjoyed how many people looked at the singer disapprovingly in the video. Reminds me of how Syn looks at me anytime I send him a non-Kishi Bashi sub.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

36th place

Song: All Shook Up by Elvis Presley
submitted by: @mansnicks

Catkins: 3
Pinecones: 6.8
Total: 9.8

First listen, eh. I do like the rhythm, it had me bobbing my head, but I like Elvis when he sings with more force in his voice, it kinda falls flat here for me.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

35th place

Song: Mixer by Amber Mark
submitted by: @Schiavetto

Catkins: 3.8
Pinecones: 6.1
Total: 9.9

Bass good, everything else doesn't work for me. Actually those faint background ""ahhhhhhhhhhs"" at the beginning and end are surprisingly enjoyable.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

34th place

Song: Anthem by Rush
submitted by: WIM 2

Catkins: 3
Pinecones: 7.04
Total: 10.04

I never cared much for Rush's first 3 albums, they didn't really hit their stride until Farewell to Kings imo at which point they're definitely an S-tier band, but this track is on of the notable early ones.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

33rd place

Song: KNOW URSELF by EVABOY
submitted by: shane

Catkins: 4.2
Pinecones: 5.88
Total: 10.08

That creepy voice is too low in the mix.The background hmmmmms make this song way better than I'd otherwise think. The drums going off at the end are pretty hype tbh. This song is so polarizing. The voice is simultaneously intriguing and a bit of a turn-off in how they mixed it, but there are some neat things otherwise going on.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

32nd place

Song: Paradox by Kansas
submitted by: @Epignosis

Catkins: 3
Pinecones: 7.2
Total: 10.2

Kansas has some bangers. This is aaaalmost one of them.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

31st place

Song: Welcome 2 Houston by Slim Thug
submitted by: WIM

Catkins: 3.4
Pinecones: 6.9
Total: 10.3

It's a little long considering its lack of tempo change, but I like the vibe of the thing. No idea who Slim Thug is, but the feature list on this song is hype!

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

30th place

Song: Where the Hood At? by DMX
submitted by: @112

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 6.38
Total: 10.38

This is a catfit. I lowkey love the vocals. I'm having trouble with the rest of the song though. Also ""Where the wolves, where the wolves, where the wolves at?""

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

29th place

Song: Begin Again by Jessie Ware
submitted by: @MyNameIsNothing (english)

Catkins: 3.5
Pinecones: 7.04
Total: 10.54

The intro is ok, but the song really gets going when the Jessie starts singing solo. The closing section is also pretty hype.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

28th place

Song: Aaj Shanibar by Rupa Biswas
submitted by: @Sabiplz (Hollbi)

Catkins: 3
Pinecones: 7.58
Total: 10.58

No words. Only jam.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

27th place

Song: Long Before Rock'n'Roll by Mando Diao
submitted by: @dobby 1

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 6.64
Total: 10.64

Is this a Rolling Stones cover band?

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

26th place

Song: Naked by Bickle
submitted by: @Sabiplz (Mulnerbi)

Catkins: 3.5
Pinecones: 7.18
Total: 10.68

First listen. It sounds like it should be a bop, but it isn't quite bopping me. Second listen. Ok it grew on me a little. Third listen. Ok yeah this is kind of enjoyable. Subtle enjoyment, I have it.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

25th place

Song: Wishmaster by Nightwish
submitted by: Harun

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 6.8
Total: 10.8

I didn't realize kat had subbed. Honestly, I love the instrumentation of this, but Idk about the theatrical vocals.It's weird, I like grandiose stuff, particularly when it's metally, but maybe it's just these particular vocalists that don't do it for me? And yet I love Diablo Swing Orchestra. Ok, I'll stop complaining, they have grown on me a little bit.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

24th place

Song: MANiCURE by Lady Gaga
submitted by: @Lyris

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 7.04
Total: 11.04

I've only listened to this album like once or twice, and don't remember much tbh. This songs is a bop though. I particularly like the grit she has in her voice at certain points.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

23rd place

Song: RYDEEN by Yellow Magic Orchestra
submitted by: @NateTheLesser

Catkins: 3
Pinecones: 8.08
Total: 11.08

ty for forcing me to listen to this band I've been meaning to listen to. It was worth it. GG MNIN. This is indeed magic.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

22nd place

Song: Flowers of Light by Caspian
submitted by: @nutella (Evergreen)

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 7.1
Total: 11.1

When this started, I was expecting some indie pop or something, and was pleasantly surprised to hear some enjoyable post-rock. It wasn't amaazing, but it was good. It feels relatively tame as a song, so I don't feel the urge to rate it really high or really low.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

21st place

Song: Energia by Russkaja
submitted by: @John

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 7.2
Total: 11.2

Whoa. What? I can't tell if this is German, Russian, Jamaican, or some conglomerate. I can't even.

Spoiler: show

[Marmot]

20th place

Song: Serpent King by God Dethroned
submitted by: PsychoSoldier

Catkins: 4
Pinecones: 7.34
Total: 11.34

The background vocals grate a bit on me, as they sound like a weird sound between a sing and a chant, sort of a moan, but not in enjoyable way. Counterpoint: the guitar riffs in between the vocal portions are remarkable.

Spoiler: show