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Monday, June 4, 2012

Summer Psychosis: the Preliminary Round Matchups

Hello everyone,

It's John again. Last week, I introduced the blog's new feature, Summer Psychosis. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can read about it here:  http://frogsonaloginabog.blogspot.com/2012/05/introduction-to-summer-psychosis.html 

Okay, done? Now get excited, because it begins!! This week is the preliminary round, where the full 150 artists is narrowed down to 128 through the three lowest seeds. 

Since there are 22 artists too many for a "final" bracket, there must be 22 matchups to decide the 22 final seeds. That means all of the 16 and 15 seeds and six of the 14 seeds (Kate Bush and Sam Cooke were ranked just high enough to be 14 seeds and miss the preliminary round) must play in. That's nearly a third of all of the artists already competing, and half of them have to go. So sad...but that's the way it is!

Anyway, here are the matchups of the preliminary round. I have linked the wiki article of the artist and a key track of theirs (so...many...links). Read up, be informed and vote! If you'd like to see how each matchup fits into the bracket as a whole, go here:  http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=428801 

14th Seeds:

Little Richard vs. Run-D.M.C.

An original pioneer of Rock and Roll vs. The influential 80's trendsetters of rap

Key Tracks: Little Richard - Tutti Frutti, Run-D.M.C. - Walk This Way

My Bloody Valentine vs. Blondie

The quintessential shoegaze band vs. the late-70's New Wave powerhouse
Key Tracks: My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow, Blondie - Heart of Glass

Pearl Jam vs. Grateful Dead

One of the most celebrated rock bands of the last 20 years vs. the founding fathers of the jam band

Key Tracks: Pearl Jam - Jeremy, Grateful Dead - Dark Star

Charles Mingus vs. Pet Shop Boys

The ambitious and iconic jazz bassist vs. the late-80's London synthpop superstars

Key Tracks: Charles Mingus - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls

Paul Simon vs. T. Rex

The vibrant and prolific embracer of world music vs. the early-70's glam rock princes

Key Tracks: Paul Simon - Graceland, T. Rex - Get It On (Bang a Gong)

M.I.A. vs. Randy Newman
The political activist and influential cultural icon vs. the brilliant satirist disguised as an accomplished songwriter

Key Tracks: M.I.A. - Paper Planes, Randy Newman - Sail Away

15th seeds:

Cream vs. Peter Gabriel

The hard rock/blues supergroup trio ahead of its time vs. the solo career of the 80's art rock giant

Key Tracks: Cream - Sunshine of Your Love, Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

The Jesus And Mary Chain vs. Missy Elliott

The noisy and rebellious late-80's indie darlings vs. the dynamic and lauded early-00's rapper

Key Tracks: The Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey, Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On

The Stone Roses vs. The Replacements

The 80's alt rock pioneers of the "Madchester" movement vs. the bratty yet forceful 80's punk rockers from Minneapolis

Key Tracks: The Stone Roses - Fools Gold, The Replacements - Bastards of Young

Thelonious Monk vs. Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young)

The idiosyncratic and highly influential jazz pianist vs. the folk rock supergroup with a knack for lush harmonies

Key Tracks: Thelonious Monk - 'Round Midnight, Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young) - Ohio

Duke Ellington vs. Deep Purple

The prolific and revered pianist and big-band leader vs. the loud 70's pop band who happened to help pioneer heavy metal

Key Tracks: Duke Ellington - Take The 'A' Train, Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water

Eagles vs. Muddy Waters

The band who stormed the 70's with their distinct folk rock vs. the inspirational father of modern Chicago blues

Key Tracks: Eagles - Hotel California, Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy

Big Star vs. The Chemical Brothers

The early 70's power pop cult favorites vs. the powerful Manchester electronic duo who helped pioneer Big beat

Key Tracks: Big Star - September Gurls, The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats

Aerosmith vs. The Specials

The revered 70's hard rock band from Boston vs. the terrific late 70's to early 80's ska/punk band

Key Tracks: Aerosmith - Walk This Way, The Specials - Ghost Town

16th seeds:

Elliott Smith vs. Nine Inch Nails

The gifted multi-instrumentalist who owned the 90's Portland indie scene vs. the band that singlehandedly brought industrial rock into popular culture

Key Tracks: Elliott Smith - Miss Misery, Nine Inch Nails - Closer

Jefferson Airplane vs. Depeche Mode

The 'Summer of Love' psychedelic rock legends from San Francisco vs. the popular and influential 80's synthpop group from Essex

Key Tracks: Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit, Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus

Television vs. The Temptations

The musically proficient products of New York's underground punk scene vs. the iconic and wildly successful Motown soul group

Key Tracks: Television - Marquee Moon, The Temptations - My Girl

Curtis Mayfield vs. De La Soul

The gentle, socially-conscious singer who helped pioneer funk vs. the quirky yet innovative rap trio from Long Island

Key Tracks: Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up, De Le Soul - Me Myself and I

Roy Orbison vs. Janis Joplin

The early-60's rock and roll pioneer with an incredible, multi-octave voice vs. the Texas-born singer with the bluesy and powerful voice

Key Tracks: Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman, Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee

Rod Stewart vs. Coldplay

The wildly successful English blues singer with a distinct raspy voice vs. the dignified, meditative and popular alt rock band from London

Key Tracks: Rod Stewart - Maggie May, Coldplay - Yellow

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles vs. TV on the Radio

The immortal vocal group synonymous with Motown vs. the arty Brooklyn band that was consistently acclaimed in the 2000's

Key Tracks: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - The Tracks of My Tears, TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me

The Everly Brothers vs. Sigur Ros

The 50's rockabilly duo with influential melodic harmonies vs. the ethereal post-rock band that emerged from Iceland

Key Tracks: The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love, Sigur Ros - Svefn-G-Englar

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