Summer Psychosis: Results for the Championship Round

Hello everyone,

Hope you had a nice Labor day weekend! Oh wait, that's when this darn bracket was supposed to end. Nevermind...I hope people had fun on Halloween! Oops, that's when I posted the preview for the Championship round. As you can see, I have let Summer Psychosis go way past summer, and for that I'm sorry. I know you were waiting with bated breath, utterly ruining your November while I was selfishly celebrating my birthday (not that you would know that).

Anyway, that's all behind us because we have come to a decision!!!! The Beatles and Bob Dylan are more than deserving of wearing our best-artist-of all-time crown, but only one can.

Before I reveal who came out on top, let's reflect on the amazing careers of these two groups. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's 5000 for each artist.

The Beatles

 

 

 

 

Bob Dylan

 

 

The Beatles - 3

"I know what you’re thinking – how can you choose between these 2 greats. I know my fellow writers are wrestling with this right now, although I can guess how they’re leaning, and I can tell that this is going to be as close as you would think it is, and someone is going to go home crying. Kind of like when you were 8 and played Mario Party and…(Editor's note: Eric goes into a long run-on sentence about family issues. I'm guessing that this competition brought back some emotional trouble)

Anyway, I have to go with The Beatles. I just have to. If you look back my previous write-ups about The Beatles that made it through, I clearly got love for them. Not to say that I don’t love Bob Dylan. He’s the man, with a… unique voice and a fantastic sense of lyricism. Folk music, even back then, wasn't exactly selling records left and right. For someone to make a name for himself in that genre is incredibly difficult. It’s a testament to Bob Dylan’s skill and talent that he’s even in the bracket, let alone in the championship round.

But it’s The Motherfucking Beatles. What I love in an artist is a clear, obvious evolution in their music that pushes the bounds of not only the band’s sound, not only the genre they’re in, but for music in general. That’s one of the reasons why I love The Beatles so much – they have such an amazing evolution, releasing album after album of new, interesting material that brought in influences from everywhere and everything. Yes, you can argue that this was facilitated by Bob Dylan and his drugs, but that’s like saying you should be thanking Tom Brady’s high school coach for the Patriots’ Super Bowl wins. Each has a strong vocal, lyrical, and songwriting ability that you can debate about for decades (and people have). And while Dylan did push some boundaries with his electric guitar (and got a lot of hate for it), those songs and albums are nowhere near as experimental as The Beatles, and that’s what clinches it for me." - Eric

"It is not good to leave these decisions for a while because you start to overthink it. When I think of The Beatles vs. Bob Dylan, I think of a best-case and worst-case scenario. Best case in that two of, if not the most powerful influences in all of popular music are going head to head for our title. Worst case because I have to choose between them. But enough beating around the bush. I’m going with the Beatles. There’s no way around that. I've already mentioned that "The White Album" is my favorite album of all time, but here’s why I consider it the quintessential Beatles album. In 1968, the band basically broke up and could barely stand to be near each other in the same studio. But instead of trying to be the same old Revolver/Sgt. Pepper-era classic Beatles, they explored the absolute fringes of their sound. Country, proto-metal, musique concrete…it’s all in there and somehow, it all works.

The Beatles are not the most gifted players, songwriters or singers ever, but that display of musicianship lets me know that they are the greatest group of musicians I have ever heard. This doesn't mean that Bob Dylan isn't also an incredible musician. I am perfectly happy with “Like a Rolling Stone” being the most acclaimed (yes, I had to mention it) song of all time because it’s absolutely brilliant. He’s still amazing as a septuagenarian. But Dylan has yet to overwhelm me with something like "The White Album", “A Day in the Life” or “Hey Jude”. I am eager to truly take in what Bob Dylan has had to say. Until then, the Beatles are my pick." - John

"The Beatles music career started out like every big pop band ever has; with catchy music with almost no weight to it. Were the Beatles in 1963 any better than One Direction now? Well many people will want to murder me for this, but I have to say "not by much". I mean think about it. "Love me do", "P.S I love you", "Baby its you" and "I saw her standing there". Sure these songs might have a bit more musicality to them than "What makes you Beautiful", but come on, this is not music that even compares to Bob Dylan.

What is important is what the Beatles did from there. They never ever stopped changing. Every single album they made after 1964 pushed them in new directions. They constantly evolved, constantly innovated, and constantly upped the anti. Think about it. "Let it Be" is nothing like "Abbey Road" which is nothing like "the White Album" which is nothing like "Sgt. Pepper's" which is nothing like "Rubber Soul" which is the evolution of "Revolver" which is nothing like "Help" which is the tip of their early career. Who would think that the band that was famous for their hair cuts would become famous for their ideas on peace and love? They were musical and cultural revolutionaries. I love the song "Get Back" because it is NOTHING like the rest of their music; it shows that even in their last days, they were never done evolving.

You might argue that Bob Dylan did the same and you are right, his music did evolve. You are right! But Bob Dylan has been making music for 40 years or so and I don't think he has touched as many different styles and genres as the Beatles did in seven years.

Wait, seven years? Yes. The Beatles did everything that they did in seven years. Taylor Swift's first album came out six years ago. In this time the Beatles would have just released "the White Album." Lady Gaga has only been around for four years, the Beatles would just be releasing "Sgt. Pepper's." Radiohead? The Beatles would have broken up before "Kid A" came out. The Beatles existed for less time then a two term-president. They are truly incredible.

The last point I wanted to make was the Bob Dylan would not have been Bob Dylan without the Beatles and vice versa. They fed and challenged each other. They expanded each others minds (sometimes literally, Bob gave the Beatles pot). So even though I am choosing the Beatles over Dylan, I wanted you all to know that they are interdependent. Once again, I feel like the Beatles looked forward and did more with less. Also, that chord at the end of "A Day in the Life" gives me Goosebumps every...single...time." - Elliott

Bob Dylan  - 2

"In any sort of bracket tournament, every match-up could be put up for contention. It’s a necessary evil because we have every single possible match-up. However, I would be hard pressed to find someone would be REALLY upset with how this bracket has turned out. I have met people who don’t like one of these guys or the other, but I've met so many more who love, appreciate and respect both. So…I guess I’ll have to pick one.

John really sums up my personal conundrum best: both of these guys were important to each other’s careers and craft. They are both extremely influential, groundbreaking, talented, and timeless. It’s a photo finish, and to me Dylan is just a nose ahead.

Dylan manages to transcend music in a lot of ways to me. His works are so poetic, and I feel they speak for a certain time, place, or people, sometimes even all three. The Beatles--though of course, their music is ubiquitous in pop culture--doesn't really seem to. Great music or not, it’s kind of just that.

I also think Dylan’s influence is more important then the Beatles’. The Beatles are so important to rock and roll and really helped to bring it to the forefront of culture, but for the most part, the music they were harrowing already had champions. Pop music was going to happen, of course it would be drastically different without them, but it would still happen. Lastly on a more personal note, Dylan’s songs always held more weight for me. The Beatles songs are, and will forever be some of the greatest of all time. However, there are only a few that really evoke any feelings, or any more feeling then another great song. Dylan has some songs that are so swollen with emotion, feeling, tradition, history, passion and substance. Songs like “Tangled up in Blue,” “Knocking on Heaven’s Door,” and “Hurricane” among SO many others hit me the same way they did the first time I head them. That’s got to mean something." - Mark

"If you asked me to compile a list of words that describe how I feel about Bob Dylan and a list of words that describe how I feel about the Beatles, those lists would have a lot of similar words on them. Respect, admiration; these are the types of words that would abound on both lists. There is one word though that would make my list for Bob Dylan that I know would not be on my Beatles list, and that word is gratitude. While it is true that music in general would be completely different without either of these two artists, and indeed artists is the right word, I can say with certainty that I would not be the same without the songs of Bob Dylan. 

Does that sound hokey? Absolutely it does, but it's true. Now I could go into the details of why that is, why I think Bob Dylan deserves the accolade of being the best modern musician ever, but it just doesn't matter. The Beatles never meant that much to me; is that a character flaw, does that make me a bad person? There are some people who would say that it is and that it does, but I never saw it that way. For me this is an easy choice, and it always will be." - Steve

Well, that's all folks. We have a Summer Psychosis champion: The Beatles!!!!! This final matchup was very fitting because both of these artists were more or less coasting until now. It appears that the only serious challenge for these two artists was each other.

I'd like to thank my fellow blog writers Elliott, Eric, Mark and Steve for letting me drag them along in this huge undertaking. I am grateful for the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the other 148 artists who were a part of this bracket. Your music inspires so many every day. Last but not least, thanks to the people who read these posts! I hope that it has been as fun for you to read as it was for me to write. 

2012 is almost over and 2013 is almost here, so I hope you have a happy New Year! Keep your eyes peeled next summer, we'll be making some kind of painful decision (we never learn)!

Summer Psychosis: Preview for the Championship Round

Hello everyone,

So, here we are...finally. It took a freaking hurricane to get this final showdown underway. It's a habit, really, waiting for a natural disaster. It helps me focus. But seriously, I am pleased to announce...

THE SUMMER PSYCHOSIS CHAMPIONSHIP!! (Fox football theme music plays)

THE BEATLES (a.k.a The Fab Four a.k.a. The Mop Tops a.k.a. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)

VS.

BOB DYLAN (a.k.a. Robert Zimmerman a.k.a. The Bard a.k.a. ChaCha)


To put it lightly, this is a matchup of epic proportions. Not only are these the two best artists of all time (according to the blog's votes), but they were artists who emerged in the 60's and have been legends ever since. The most incredible thing about this matchup is that Bob Dylan and The Beatles also met, became friends and influenced each other's sounds in fundamental ways. But first, let's relive their fateful meeting (Note: This is somewhat dramatized).

August 28th, 1964 - The Delmonico Hotel in New York City

(Bob Dylan and writer Al Aronowitz walk down one of the many hallways of the Delmonico, searching for the Beatles' suite. Finally, they come upon the right door)

AA: Here it is.

(Dylan knocks, Beatles' manager Brian Epstein answers the door)

BE: Hello Al, hello Bob. Come in!

(Dylan and Aronowitz walk into the suite. The four Beatles John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are sitting around a table, but quickly turn around to face the door. It's clear they've been expecting company and approach the two guests along with Epstein. Personal assistant Mal Evans turns with them)

AA: Hello everyone. Bob, meet John, George, Ringo, Paul, Brian and Mal

(Several greetings and handshakes exchanged)

BD: Before we even sit down, do we have any drinks?

BE: No, not really. What would you like?

BD: Some wine would be fantastic.

BE: (Turns to Mal) Could you get some cheap stuff right away?

(Mal nods, immediately opens the door and walks out, heading for the lobby. Dylan walks toward the table and chairs, reaching for something in his pocket. He sits down and starts rolling a joint of marijuana)

BD: (Looks up to Epstein and the Beatles) Hey, you cats should have a smoke.

(Several Beatles shake their heads)

BE: Thank you, but we don't smoke cigarettes.

BD: (Laughs and shakes his head) No man, I'm talking about a joint. You want a hit?

(Epstein and the Beatles take a few seconds to respond, glancing apprehensively at each other. Epstein suddenly takes on a sheepish tone)

BE: We've never smoked marijuana before.

(Dylan is struck dumbfounded, looking for answers in each face but coming up with nothing)

BD: What? But what about your song? The one about getting high?

(Now it's the Beatles who are dumbfounded. More glances and puzzled looks are exchanged)

JL: Which song?

BD: You know...(singing "I Wanna Hold Your Hand") "...and when I touch you I get high, I get high..."

JL: (Looking embarrassed) Those aren't the words. The words are "I can't hide, I can't hide, I can't hide..."

Though the script (written by me) is completely amateur, the encounter quickly became legendary for many reasons. Obviously, it was the first time the Beatles had enjoyed cannabis and hilarity ensued. They shared a mutual admiration for each other, and now that the two artists had finally met they were genuinely inspired by each other. One might argue that the meeting was the best thing to happen to both of them. Here's the breakdown:

Bob Dylan influencing The Beatles: The marijuana, of course. Some of The Beatles had actually tried it when they were still in Liverpool, but they thought it was nothing special. On August 28th, the Beatles truly realized its mind-expanding properties. Later Beatles' albums became more and more drug fueled as the Fab Four tried harder stuff such as LSD. Lennon even released a solo single "Cold Turkey" about getting over heroin. But besides the drugs, the Beatles' music (as described by Lennon) entered a "Dylan period" where they started experimenting with non-romantic songs and a Dylan-esque folk aesthetic. "Norwegian Wood" and "I'm a Loser" are prime examples. Dylan's direct influence was a key element in the Beatles' musical maturity.

The Beatles influencing Bob Dylan: On August 28th, Dylan was still in his revered, Greenwich Village folk period. Yet he had heard The Beatles on the radio and described their sound as a reinvention of rock and roll. After their first meeting, Dylan's musical evolution accelerated considerably. No longer content to be a folk icon, Dylan started to experiment, most notably with electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. In essence, Dylan started to become an actual rock star, which was helped in the U.K. when the Beatles "endorsed" him. Some of Dylan's most famous songs and albums were released in the next few years, and most of which had a strong electric component.

So, there you have it. The Beatles vs. Bob Dylan is a matchup steeped in a vibrant history. They were peers that challenged each other to be better and remained lifelong acquaintances who collaborated on occasion (Harrison with Dylan, most notably). Two amazing artists who were at the cream of the crop in the most storied era of popular music. Do we really have to decide between them? (Do Super Bowls end in a tie?)

Get ready, everyone! Summer Psychosis is going to end with someone on top and 149 left in the dust.

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Summer Psychosis: Results for the Final Four

Hello everyone,

So, here we are in early October and Summer Psychosis is still going on. I could say that I was building suspense until the last possible moment, but I made that joke last time. No matter, because the Final Four results are finally here! We had to decide on two incredible matchups to see who gets into the championship. The Beatles, The Doors, David Bowie and Bob Dylan outlasted the 146 other fantastic artists in this bracket to get where they are right now. That's why these results are quite anticlimactic. Certainly, we would have some sort of epic showdown between the voters. Perhaps a chair would be thrown in disagreement? Nope, everyone agreed. However, this agreement will definitely change with the championship, let me tell you. After seeing these results, be prepared for the ultimate showdown and look for the poll on Frogs on a Log's facebook page.

The Beatles 5, The Doors 0

"As much as I love the Doors and as proud as I am to see them here, it’s not a tough choice when you look at the alternative. Here are a few reasons. First, Jim Morrison is quite the legendary figure. The image, the demeanor, the self-destructive behavior adds up to a terrific character. But comparing that to the legend of the Beatles’ entire career is silly. Think about it…the early matching suits and mop-tops on Ed Sullivan, the colorful Sgt. Pepper outfits, the bearded, scruffy veterans on the rooftop. No band has had that kind of incredible and iconic career trajectory.

Much has also been said in this bracket about the Doors’ terrific chemistry that is apparent in their best releases. But the juxtaposition between Lennon’s ying and McCartney’s yang balances the Beatles’ music between happiness and cynicism. The two artists vowed at the beginning of their career to credit Beatles songs that they wrote as Lennon/McCartney, and they (at least nominally) stuck to that sense of collaboration, becoming arguably the greatest songwriting duo of all time. The Doors are great, but anyone who says they are greater than the Beatles is kidding themselves. Throw out “Light My Fire”, and I would throw out “Hey Jude”, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “A Day in the Life” against it." - John

Hey Jude, Light My Fire ... two seven-minute classics


"The Doors might have one of the most unique sounds in music. It is impossible to listen to them and not know who is singing. The mystique and intrigue of Morrison and the boys transcends just their stage presence. It is embedded in all of their music, always there. Sometimes, like in "Light My Fire", it is subtly there in the background and other times it is in your face, like in "Riders on the Storm". That personality is one of the things that makes the Doors such a worthy band for the Final Four. But now, they are up against the Fab Four, and they are out of their league.

Some people say the Beatles are overrated, I say those people don't know the Beatles. The Doors' personality transcends their music, but the Beatles' music transcends their personality. The Doors had an amazing sound, but not much more. The Beatles experimented with EVERY sound yet stayed the Beatles. Admittedly they don't have much in the way of electronica and hip-hop. But come on, if they could see twenty five years into the future then John would have created world peace, George would be the Dali Llama, Paul would have been made King, and Ringo would have made a successful solo album." - Elliott

I agree, the Beatles couldn't really do anything with electronica or hip-hop. However, Paul McCartney has released three electronic albums in a collaboration called The Fireman.


"As a music journalist (or blogger or whatever we are considered now), I think its kind of boring writing about the Beatles. What could a handsome 20-something like myself say about the most talked about rock-and–roll band of all time? That’s not even saying I think they’re the best. It’s just that anyone who knows anything about music probably knows about the Beatles, so what am I going to be able to add? It’s like yelling in a crowded room. There is really nothing I could say that hasn't been said before, but I got to say something…

The reason I chose the Beatles over the Doors was album strength. There are two Doors albums that REALLY stand out to me next to the seven stand-out Beatles albums. The Beatles had better core songwriters, as evidence by how the post-Beatle careers stand next to the post-Doors careers. Bottom line is that the Beatles are a very good band. Again I haven’t been the first one to say it, but I guess one more opinion couldn't hurt." - Mark

Here's just one (I'm assuming) of the nine albums that Mark mentioned.

"Is this even a contest? I have given the Beatles a lot of flak here on the blog, but even thinking that the Doors could be better than the Beatles is a crime. This is the kind of thing that made me upset when I saw the Doors and the Beastie Boys match up last round. While there certainly are differences between the two bands, they can be thought of in the same way here: two bands that were great fifty or so years ago. In that respect, the only difference is that one of those bands was far better without a doubt, the Beatles, and that is as simple as this needs to be. 

No disrespect to the Doors, who clearly have earned their spot in the classic rock pantheon, but they don’t match up with the Beatles. It can easily be pointed out that Morrison was a better singer than any of the Fab Four or that the sheer musician ship of the Doors was superior, but with the Beatles the whole has always been better than the sum of the parts, and the music speaks for itself (even when one of those parts was Ringo)." - Steve

Hey, you can knock Ringo all you want, but he's a pretty cool dude. Plus, his rhythm is "distinctive". 

"This matchup on the surface looks easy, at least to me. The Doors were pretty good, and The Beatles are The Mother Fucking Beatles. But upon closer inspection, it’s not hard to see why The Doors made it this far. I mean, they forewent a bassist, and used an organ. In a rock band. Who does that? The Doors did. And Jim Morrison’s lyrics were amazing. “This is the end, beautiful friend/This is the end, my only friend/The end of our elaborate plans/The end of everything that stands, the end”. That’s just so damn beautiful, especially given its simplicity. Plus his stage presence was something else and helped introduce the idea of a charismatic frontman to entertain the people while playing great music (or mediocre music, depending on the band). 

All that said, I’m going with The Beatles. And if you have to question why I’m choosing The Mother Fucking Beatles, then you clearly don’t know music, nor have you been following the competition and read my reasoning last week. I mean, they’re The Mother Fucking Beatles; there’s a reason why they’re the obvious choice for the championship round, and a reason why I call them The Mother Fucking Beatles, and it’s because they’re awesome and amazing and just better than The Doors." - Eric

You say Mother Fucking Beatles as if it only applies to them, but Mother Fucking Doors is actually just as apt. "Mother...I want to...YEAHH COME ON YEAH!" - Jim Morrison

Bob Dylan 5, David Bowie 0

"Ughh….I’m so glad I won’t have to make these decisions anymore when this is over. Now that both of these artists are so well accepted and canonized in popular culture, it’s easy to forget how challenging both of these artists were. Dylan was pushing the boundaries of songwriting and singing. His voice is not classically good, but the emotional resonance more than made up for it. To this day, many people are thrown off by what Dylan changed and how he showed that singing is more about the emotion behind the notes than the notes themselves. On the other hand, Bowie’s androgynous personas and glamorous music challenged expectations that people had for a pop star. Sure, there were bad boys, but there were never any questions of sexual orientation or hints of underground culture. In ’72, it really seemed like Bowie had dropped in from Mars. 

Without a doubt, both of these artists have the resume to move on and they would not be here otherwise. Now that I have to make a decision, I’ll look at the bigger picture. Bowie was the artist of the 70’s. He had persona after persona that kept his music fresh and excellent, even though he was strung out most of the time. But after 1983, when he really hit it big, Bowie ran into a wall. It’s almost as if he asked himself “Wait, what music should I be making? What do these people want?” instead of just doing it, like the last decade. I don’t want to say it’s a fatal flaw, but all of a sudden Bowie wanted to cater to his new audience. Even after five decades, Dylan has never catered to anyone, and for that I think he deserves to move on just a little more." - John

I lied, Bob Dylan has catered to fans...of James Cameron's "Titanic" by mentioning the movie on the epic title track of his new album, Tempest. NOOOO!

"I love Bowie, he is a pretty fantastic musician who I could easily have picked over Bob Dylan. The Chameleon should win but...Bob Dylan kinda cheats.

From a musical standpoint, I would actually put Bowie and Dylan on pretty close ground. While Dylan might write some slightly better music (in my opinion), the fact that Bowie's voice sounds better then gravel in a garbage disposal evens them out. But Bob Dylan is more then just a musician. He is a modern day bard, a 20th century Homer.

Bob Dylan might be the most influential musician of our day. I am not talking about influence on other musicians (something that I refuse to judge based on), I am talking about influence on out national consciousness. Like Homer, he watches the world spin around him and takes it all in. He then pours it out in a language so beautiful and timeless that his music should still be heard in 300 years. Like Homer, he transforms men and history into epics that resound in the hearts and souls of the people. Listen to "Hurricane" sometime. You don't have to know who Rubin Carter is to feel his pain.

In short, Dylan's music touches people's souls. Who else could even hope of taking down the Beatles in the last round?" - Elliott

Bob Dylan - Hurricane


"I have to pick Dylan over Bowie. I feel that Bowie would have to agree with me. Dylan is a musician for musicians. His music seems to embody the time period in which it was written. I would be surprised if almost all of the bands in this bracket didn’t take something from him. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Syd Barrett, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits (yes, I copied those names from Wikipedia) all directly stated Bob Dylan has been extremely important to music. He’s essentially defined a genre of music that had been around for years before his birth. 

Above all, Dylan’s greatest strength is that of a songwriter. His songs are not usually complex, his rhymes and deliveries aren’t always the most stellar, and his voice (well I’m certain everyone before me and after me has mentioned his voice so I won’t go into it.) However, these songs are some of the greatest ever. He is just simply amazing at writing songs." - Mark

I have one more artist for you who was directly influenced...Bono.


"When it comes to lyrics there is no contest here, Dylan was the voice of a generation, a generation that luckily for him had plenty to say. It should also be pointed out that Bowie's lyrics are nothing to shake a stick at, gracefully putting to words what his nation of Britain was feeling. In that respect, both men are commendable. In terms of delivery, every Dylan lyric comes packaged with real folk or blues sentimentality that kept Dylan grounded in his time, whereas Bowie's space age style often took left turns and admittedly sometimes got weird. It's worth saying that there are few Dylan covers that are better than the original article, which is saying a lot considering that Dylan is one of the most covered acts and had people like Hendrix and The Grateful Dead singing his songs. Bowie on the other hand had other artists turn well written songs into hits like "All the Young Dudes" and "The Man Who Sold the World". It's certainly not a reason by itself to count out Bowie, but it is a testament to the individual artists legacy." - Steve

One of the Bob Dylan covers that was better than the original has to be this. Meanwhile, Mott the Hoople really owned "All the Young Dudes".


"Wow, what can I say these 2 iconoclasts? Both of these men were so highly influential, you can write books on how their styles and techniques showed up in the music of others that came later. Bob Dylan makes one of the first commercial rap songs, while David Bowie showed that you can be whoever you are, even if that person is a bit more of the opposite gender than what most people are used to. And they've both been making music since forever, with Dylan just putting out a new album a few weeks ago, 50 years after his first one, and Bowie releasing an album every year from 1969 to 1980, plus all of his other ones. 

While each demigod has so many accomplishments, so much influence, and such revolutionary styles, I have to pick Dylan. The one thing I try to keep out of these votes is my own personal affinity to the music. Yes, it plays a role (it’s impossible to not include it in your consideration), but I’d rather focus on their talent, uniqueness, and influence on the industry, since those are about as objective as you’re going to get when it comes to music. But here, both of these men are pretty much equal, give or take, in those departments. So I’m going to vote for whose sound I like better. And I just have never liked glam rock. I’m not a big folk fan, and I know Bowie has reinvented himself multiple times, but I just can never get into any of his stuff. Not like Dylan’s. Dylan is just so damn accessible, and such an amazing lyricist. That’s why I have to go with him." - Eric

To cap off the sweep, here's something I forget about until about a minute ago. On "Hunky Dory", Bowie has a song called "Song For Bob Dylan". There's no "Song For David Bowie" by Bob Dylan.

That's it everyone. Two sweeps in the Final Four? Inconceivable! It also means no BMO this time. Get to thinking about Bob Dylan vs. The Beatles with this food for thought.

Summer Psychosis: Results of the Elite Eight

Hello everyone,

Hope you all had a great labor day weekend! Most of us voters have been laboring over studying for finals, so lucky you, for having a summer. We are now down to four! It's hard to believe, but after all these months it's finally come true. Did some results surprise me? You bet they did! Did we make "bad" decisions? Maybe, depending on your point of view. But that's what I expected from Summer Psychosis when only drawing from a pool of five voters. It makes it a lot more interesting, that's for sure. At least we didn't pick Nine Inch Nails over The Beatles, right? Oh wait, one of us did...anyway, that's behind us. Behold, the final four!

Did you know we have a Facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/FrogsOnALog

The Beatles 3, The Rolling Stones 2

"Everyone knows that these two bands are among the best of the best. It’s just comes down to taste when one has to choose. The harmonizers or the bad boys? But now I have to pick one, so I’ll share this. My favorite album of all time is "The White Album". Where the Stones are amazing, they just don’t hit as close to home as the Beatles. "Hey Jude", "I Am The Walrus", "A Day in the Life", "Abbey Road" medley…those are only some of the moments that still slay me. Hard to think of anything that’s better." - John

"If you couldn't tell by my vote on the blog’s poll (sorry John!), I love me some Beatles. I hinted at my vote last time too, if you read my write up on the Stones vs. Marvin Gaye (you should totally read that if you haven’t). I like this matchup, because I use it to explain my previously mentioned feelings of “selling out”, however loose and vague that term may be. You see, once The Beatles got famous, they did whatever they wanted, because they were The Motherfucking Beatles. They didn’t tour, they released one of the first concept albums, made songs with sitars, and made fun of The Beach Boys. The Rolling Stones, on the other hand, found a formula that worked, and have ridden that sound to the $943 trillion dollars their band is worth (that number may or may not be made up). Now, do they care about their music? Are they fantastic musicians, lyricists, and songwriters? Do they put on a great show? Yes, oh god yes, and are-you-kidding-me of course. But they just didn’t have that desire to deviate from their normal sound and drastically experiment like The Beatles did. And that’s why The Beatles are The Beatles, and the winner here." - Eric

The Battle Royale was a scrum for sure, but it looks like we have a winner! And with two all-time great artists going head to head, I wouldn't have it any other way. I will be celebrating the Beatles shortly, but first a bit about the Rolling Stones. While embracing experimentation (musical or otherwise) while keeping the core sound is the mark of a great band such as the Beatles, I think it can be just as impressive that a band can refine their sound to a tee until it becomes legendary in its own right. The Stones started out great, but it was naturally rooted in the British Invasion. But from "Beggars Banquet" to "Exile on Main Street"--1968-72--they tightened up, expanded in different ways and broke novel sonic ground. In essence, they became the Stones. And truthfully, they did their fair share of experimentation. Multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones added lots to mid-60s Stones, including the sitar on "Paint It, Black" and the marimba on "Under My Thumb". Oh, and did you know "Start Me Up" was originally written as a reggae song? Sorry for all the critiquing, but I had to get back at Eric for messing up my poll somehow...Abbey Road Medley!

The Doors 4, Beastie Boys 1

"The tough thing with both of these bands is that they are both so freaking unique. NOBODY sounds like The Doors or Beastie Boys, and that is for a reason. The Doors and the Boys both have a style that no one else can mimic. Beastie Boys sit there and dare you to tell them that their music is not good. It is a lot of shouting over simple music, yet it is sooo much more then that (for one, it is actually incredible). Meanwhile, The Doors have this mystique that makes them special, like Morrison is cursed by some native american priest. He is standing there on stage channeling spirits of the dead (or just whiskey). So I am going to have go with The Doors because in the words of Jim Morrison: "Indians scattered on dawn's highway bleeding, ghost crowd the young child's fragile eggshell mind". Seriously...who the hell comes up with lines like that?" - Elliott

"For me this is another band I have to look at the musicianship. Obviously Morrison was probably the most important cog in the machine, but the musicians he surrounded himself with provided the environment for some of the best albums ever. Beastie Boys did what they do best, probably better then almost any other band in their genre, but sometimes it’s a matter of a big fish but in a much bigger pond." - Mark

While Beastie Boys weren't too shabby musicians themselves and even started as a punk band, The Doors clearly have won in that department. And not just that The Doors had great musicians individually, but that they worked together to back Morrison's beat poetry in astounding ways. One could also argue that Beastie Boys had great chemistry, just in a different way. Deciding on who's better just depends on one's definition of musicianship. Then again, The Doors are going to get more artist points for things such as the aforementioned lines in "Peace Frog" than a group who references White Castle on five separate songs from their first album. 

David Bowie 3, Jimi Hendrix 2

"Catalogue strength…that’s it. Both these guys made great songs, great musicians, great performers, and great collaborators. However, Bowie’s albums just stack up when you compare them to the 3 amazing ones Hendrix put out before unfortunately, calling it a day." - Mark

"Damn, well this is one for the books. Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie. Damn. If you were to look at live performances you would have to give it to Jimi Hendrix. In fact, if you were to look at live performances you would have to give it to Jimi Hendrix no matter who he was up against. But I guess the love stops there. You could define this matchup in terms of careers, that Bowie had one of the longest most successful careers of all time, whereas Hendrix packed so much into such a short time. But if you look at this matchup like that, you have got to give it to Bowie. There is no evidence that Hendrix would have been able to maintain the career he had, evidenced by the fact that 1) he didn’t, and 2) that he recorded enough subpar material to make over fifteen albums after his death. What's more is that Hendrix is easy to understand; there is nothing particularly dynamic about his character or music. On the other hand, Bowie is and has been an enigma. There is so much uncertainty in all of his best songs, from the helplessly isolated Major Tom to the vague questions asked by "Life on Mars?". He was sexually ambiguous before sexual ambiguity was cool. Bowie has redefined himself time and again, making him in my eyes the better artist." - Steve

Hendrix does have the better live legacy here. Who can forget Woodstock or Monterey Pop? Not to say that Bowie was a slouch, but that is one thing Hendrix had going for him. I knew this matchup would be very close, and it shows how every voter was feeling the pressure. Steve even cursed twice! However, it came down to the numbers. Here's what I mean:

Hendrix Classic albums: "Are You Experienced?", "Axis: Bold as Love" and "Electric Ladyland"

Bowie Classic albums: "Hunky Dory", "The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars", "Aladdin Sane", "Station to Station", "Low", "'Heroes'" and "Scary Monsters"

That's seven to three in favor of Bowie, and when it came to this matchup, discography won the day. 

Bob Dylan 5, Nirvana 0

 "Should Nirvana beat Dylan here? NOoOoOooO0Oo0o0o0O0! But seriously, Bob Dylan is among one of the chief powers in the singer song writer pantheon. He has changed the way people play, think about, and listen to music multiple times throughout his career and in no way deserves to be beaten here by Nirvana. While Cobain certainly had a noteworthy career, that note probably will end up as a footnote in a chapter about singers who aren’t as good as Bob Dylan in a book about Bob Dylan." - Steve

 "This was the hardest of all of the matchups this week. Two completely separate genres and time periods, and yet we have to somehow compare them and decide who was more influential and talented than the other. I can’t even use my usual tie breaking method of whose sound I like better. I’m going to be sad no matter who wins this battle of greats. However, I have to go with Bob Dylan. It sucks to have to make a decision, especially for the worst reason I could think of – the fact that he’s influenced more people. The main problem with that argument is that he’s been around longer, so he’s had a much better chance of influencing people. But, I have to make a decision, and that’s the only thing that gives Bob Dylan an edge in this matchup, at least in my book. Sorry Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, and Bassist for Nirvana, you’ll be able to make it into the Final Four in the future." - Eric

 Both Nirvana and Bob Dylan can be pretty enigmatic songwriters, but yea...that's about the only real similarity between these two disparate artists. If someone told me that there would be a sweep in the Elite Eight, I'd be shocked. Then again, it's no secret that this matchup was the most lopsided of this week. Nirvana was the "young upstart" of the Elite Eight, releasing their debut album "only" 23 years ago. On the other hand, Dylan has been going strong for 50 years and releases his 35th studio album in six days. Perhaps one day, decades down the road, Nirvana would win this matchup. But until then, Dylan shows he can win on influence alone. Nirvana will be second fiddle to an artist revered by his greatest peers (including you know who) and touted by some as the greatest influence on pop culture in the history of pop culture, period. Oh and one last thing for the record: The bassist for Nirvana is named Krist Novoselic!

So apparently, only half of the Elite Eight matchups in Summer Psychosis resulted in major disagreement. Who knew? Sure, the random placements within seeds carried inherent risk, but I was happy to take that chance. There were going to be incredibly tough matchups anyway, so I guess I just didn't want it to feel premeditated. Yet here we are with a sweep and a near sweep (trust me, it was close). This bracket will certainly surprise me until the very end. Of course, this means that there are slim pickings for the BMO this week with only five minority opinions total. So, who of the four other guys had the best...oh, there's not much to choose from...and my explanation of why I voted for Hendrix was pretty good. Anybody else? Please, anyone. Send it right now and I'll put it in. Ughhh...fine, I give.

Best Minority Opinion: John

"I was gonna save this for later on, but since it’s do or die I might as well say it now. Hendrix had a technicality and timbre all his own. It’s too awe-inspiring for anyone to duplicate entirely. That ability translates into incredible artistry, regardless of how long the person was around to show it. Sure, you’ve got to have the discography as well, but Hendrix has that, though not to the extent of Bowie. Still, though it surprises me to write this, discography isn’t everything (I’m really into that stuff). Bowie’s got the goods in so many ways, but to me Hendrix is an artist’s artist who remains largely unmatched."

I really strayed away from my roots here. Heck, my love of numbers and brackets is what got us into this mess, so how can I change now? I don't know. I just started talking about the timbre (meaning how it sounds) of Hendrix's guitar. Like I said, this bracket continues to surprise me. 

Best Minority Opinion, Runner Up: Mark

"Look, I don’t really want to talk about it. There are aspects of both bands that I don’t really care for. What it came down to was the musicianship. I’ve just always admired and related to Keith Richards as a guitar player. George is certainly a phenomenal guitar player, and the rest of the four could certainly never be counted out, but what Richards did with the guitar…man. Songs like “Honky Tonk Woman,” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” those songs are pretty impressive to play let alone write. The Beatles are known as pioneers, and they certainly are, but there are certainly some aspects that the Stones brought to the table that I feel often get overlooked when talking it over…or I could just be wrong."

I've probably said this before, but sometimes the best way to decide a matchup is to draw on something personal. It's hard not to get personal with Keith Richards on the axe. A legendary figure in his own right, Richards defines the Stones' crafty songwriting as much their excesses. He was able to conjure unique sounds and riffs at will, developing an impressive and inspiring legacy. That's why Beatles vs. Stones is such a Battle Royale. When you remember the true depth of the Stones' musicianship, you need to start the debate all over again.

Summer Psychosis: Preview for the Elite 8

Hello everyone,

If we weren't dealing with the cream of the crop, the upper echelon of music history, we certainly are now. Eight artists are left and vying for the title of greatest artist of all time (as named by this blog). Dozens of other artists deserve to be in this position, but it is these final eight that have prevailed throughout the summer.

Since Summer Psychosis has generated a wealth of voting statistics over four rounds, I decided to focus on them this time. Whether the artists look unstoppable or resilient, these four rounds have certainly proven them worthy. Also, with dwindling numbers comes a greater focus on each artist. Therefore, I've linked to an extensive playlist for each of them. Thank you, Youtube and Grooveshark.

As a warning, I will post a Facebook poll about each matchup with one each day for the next four days. We'll see what the audience has to say about these tough choices (Hint: Voters can not participate!). Speaking of Facebook...like the blog on Facebook!




Has the de facto Summer Psychosis favorite been tested? Not really. Then again, you could argue that they haven't met their match quite yet. The Rolling Stones may cause The Beatles some problems.

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Nine Inch Nails, 4-1
Second Round: Def. The Police, 5-0
Third Round: Def. Queen, 5-0
Sweet 16: Def. Velvet Underground, 4-1
Overall Vote Tally: 18-2
Average Seed of Opponents: 10
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD88AF3ECC3FCFBBB

Vs.



The Stones plowed through the competition in the first three rounds, yet just squeaked by Marvin Gaye. Will the Stones revert to their dominating ways, or have more trouble? I think you know the answer to that.

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Jefferson Airplane, 5-0
Second Round: Def. PJ Harvey, 5-0
Third Round: Def. James Brown, 5-0
Sweet 16: Def. Marvin Gaye, 3-2
Overall Vote Tally: 18-2
Average Seed of Opponents: 8
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL67F4B102C2160C1E




The Doors will certainly not overpower anybody, but against a series of strong opponents they have proven their resilience. They've already beaten and #1 seed and a #3 seed, so another #5 seed shouldn't slow them down one bit.

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Kanye West, 4-1
Second Round: Def. Johnny Cash, 3-2
Third Round: Def. Prince, 4-1
Sweet 16: Def. Pink Floyd, 4-1
Overall Vote Tally: 15-5
Average Seed of Opponents: 6
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40AD80587F46B818

Vs.



Speaking of resilience, I'm still impressed by Beastie Boys' upset of Radiohead. That was certainly a shake-up. Everytime you go back to vote for the Beastie Boys, you're reminded that they're kind of a sneaky great. A greatness that could surprise even the Doors.

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Fleetwood Mac, 4-1
Second Round: Def. Van Morrison, 4-1
Third Round: Def. Radiohead, 3-2
Sweet 16: Def. Creedence Clearwater Revival, 4-1
Overall Vote Tally: 15-5
Average Seed of Opponents: 6
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB004E0A8A9ECEA8




While Bowie is a strong contender and has been ever since he entered, he's shown signs of weakness. Of the remaining #1 seeds, he's had the toughest time getting here. The White Stripes almost took him down. An appreciation of influence goes a long way, but sometimes liking a band puts them over the top. That's what Bowie will have to overcome.

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Janis Joplin, 5-0
Second Round: Def. The White Stripes, 3-2
Third Round: Def. Michael Jackson, 4-1
Sweet 16: Def. Neil Young, 4-1
Overall Vote Tally: 16-4
Average Seed of Opponents: 8
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL38E2C806BE1DBB4D

Vs.


The only three members of the Sweet 16 to sweep the first three rounds were Hendrix, The Stones and Led Zeppelin. But where the Stones were challenged by Marvin Gaye and Led Zeppelin was upset, Hendrix has remained essentially untouchable. The challenge Hendrix will face is one of juxtapositions. Will voters favor the longer, deeper career over the shorter, brighter career?

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Muddy Waters, 5-0
Second Round: Def. OutKast, 5-0
Third Round: Def. Sonic Youth, 5-0
Sweet 16: Def. Talking Heads, 4-1
Overall Vote Tally: 19-1
Average Seed of Opponents: 8
Playlist: http://grooveshark.com/#!/search?q=jimi+hendrix




In order to get where they are now, Nirvana had to get through a strong #2 seed and an even stronger #1 seed. That's exactly what they've done, and they're the only artist to do it. It was shocking when they upset Led Zeppelin, but can they pull it off again?

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. Paul Simon, 4-1
Second Round: Def. Lou Reed, 4-1
Third Round: Def. Elvis Presley, 4-1
Sweet 16: Def. Led Zeppelin, 3-2
Overall Vote Tally: 15-5
Average Seed of Opponents: 6
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDED84258B5E79E0F

Vs.



Last but not least, the artist who has reached the Elite 8 impressively, sweeping opponents in the toughest rounds to date. Revered by his 60's peers still remaining (see "All Along the Watchtower") and beyond, Dylan is the elder statesman that could cause Nirvana a whole host of problems.

How They Got Here:
First Round: Def. The Everly Brothers, 5-0
Second Round: Def. Simon and Garfunkel, 4-1
Third Round: Def. Public Enemy, 5-0
Sweet 16: Def. The Beach Boys, 5-0
Overall Vote Tally: 19-1
Average Seed of Opponents: 8
Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF32A2473C1AAA296

Summer Psychosis: Results for the Sweet 16

Hey everyone,

So...where were we? I was building all of this suspense and was pretending not to notice the fervent calls for results. Actually, sarcasm aside, I've just been pretty busy lately. I apologize for throwing off the rhythm of Summer Psychosis, because I know that our readers (not to mention our voters) have shown tremendous support and I thank you for that. Just know that after a short "hiatus", Summer Psychosis is up and running again! Woohoo!

Now, to the Sweet 16. In the preview, I started getting fancy with critical acclaim and pictures, but when it comes to these tough matchups the voters had to get down and dirty. That's why I was very surprised that most of these matchups were not all that close. One was even a sweep. It's a fine line between a "close" 3-2 and a comfortable 4-1, but to see the latter so often this late in the game defied my expectations. Also, for those who think that nothing qualifies as an upset in this round, let me know what you think after this matchup.

The Beatles 4, The Velvet Underground 1

"I’m hoping this isn’t a sweep. Even if my vote goes with the Beatles that by no means makes me think the VU deserves to roll over like that. I can’t imagine how popular these guys would have been if they came out in maybe the 80’s or even now in the age of the internet and Pitchfork. It’s a testament to how powerful this music is when almost no albums were sold, and yet any real music fan has at least one album on their Ipod. The Beatles on the other hand had everything going for them. Everyone loved the music, radios could play them, and their image was marketable. I’m not saying they didn’t deserve this popularity, but at the same time it’s not like they had much controversy to overcome (Even that one comment Lennon was misinterpreted to say blew over relatively quickly, all things considered)." - Mark

If any #2 seed was not going to be swept, it was the Velvet Underground. They have gotten this far for a reason. But once again, the Beatles have shown why they're the favorite in this bracket. No band could have had its offhand comment turned into religiously-driven outrage like the Beatles...and then have it not affect them at all in the long run. Now, if John Lennon had said that the Beatles were bigger than Pitchfork? Well, that would be a HUGE problem.

The Rolling Stones 3, Marvin Gaye 2

"Never been a Stones fan. They could write a hell of a pop song, but I never would compare them to a group like The Beach Boys or The Beatles. While I would say that I would have appreciated having an alternative to those other bands back in the day, I don’t think that they hold up as well these days. Anyway, I'm still voting for them, which brings me back to that earlier statement: They could write a hell of a pop song." - Steve

In one of the closest matchups of the round, the Stones prevail! Now we'll have the matchup that we all thought we would have: Beatles vs. Rolling Stones. The Yin and Yang of popular music, The creative "axis" that defined the 60's and helped make rock what it is today. Is it such a heavyweight bout that many, many other people have already chimed in? You bet.

The Doors 4, Pink Floyd 1

"Aggggghhhh…Ok, I won’t draw this one out. I know more Doors. Shorter career, but pretty consistent (even "Soft Parade"). Think they have a one of a kind chemistry that Pink Floyd never attained. They also had Jim Morrison. Doors." - John

As you can see I was trying to make this painful vote as quick and painless as possible. It didn't work. When you have to choose between two iconic, psychedelic and just plain weird bands, there's no way to feel bad about leaving one out. That being said, I'm still waiting for an 8-bit version of the Doors' self-titled, unlike Floyd.

Beastie Boys 4, Creedence Clearwater Revival 1

"At this point in the competition, being vindictive is out, which makes my votes significantly harder. However, I got lucky with this matchup, as my vindictive nature agrees with my subjective feelings. How CCR beat Bob Marley, the most influential and important figure in the foundation of American Reggae/Hip-Hop, and Kraftwerk, the most influential and important group in the foundation of electronic music, blows my mind. This bracket has shown me a lot of artists that I like and should explore more fully, but CCR is the first artist that I’ll be coming out of Summer Psychosis hating." - Eric

It is pretty amazing that CCR got this far. Of all the bands that made the Sweet 16, they were the one that... 

Yet I tip my hat to them, for they are obviously a great band. It is both impressive and perplexing that they were able to get by very influential bands such as Bob Marley and Kraftwerk. That's what Summer Psychosis is all about--surprises! Oh, and hating bands, according to Eric. Here's a fun list in that vein. P.s. every band on that list made it to Summer Psychosis, but our shitlist only partially coincides.

David Bowie 4, Neil Young 1

"To me personally, Southern man >> anything Bowie did. However, the rest of Bowie's work makes up for it and surpasses Young. I am sorry Canada, you know I love you..." - Elliott

I have to get strange here. I'm going with what I'm now calling a reference portmanteau...Canada I love you...but you're bringing us down. Oh yeah, and David Bowie is really cool. 

Jimi Hendrix 4, Talking Heads 1

"I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’ve never really been a Talking Heads fan. Yeah, I like a few of their songs, and understand their importance, along with David Byrne’s importance, but I just don’t really like them or get the massive amounts of love for them. Besides, Hendrix is the one of the greatest guitarists of all time (and very humble about it). He made some of the best and most important music of the late 60’s, and I’m sure he’d still be pumping out amazing songs if he didn’t die so young." - Eric

I agree, Eric. This is of course, all speculation, but I'm betting that Hendrix would've been a lot funkier in the 70's and beyond. He was even interested in working with the horn section from the band Chicago. How awesome would that have been? Even though we'll never get that dream combo, we do have numerous posthumous albums of one sort or another. Does all this music over-saturate the market and push his image to the point of self-aggrandizement and idolization? Yes, it does. But it still shows that Hendrix left us an incredible legacy.

Nirvana 3, Led Zeppelin 2

"It’s interesting to compare bands that are very different in this bracket. You sometimes get an outlook on music that you don’t normally have. However, I don’t think this is one of those times. Nirvana were always a modern Zeppelin to me. For the more obvious reasons like…well, Zeppelin had a huge influence on Nirvana musically. Also, for the less obvious reasons such as for a lot of kids in the 90’s Nirvana was what Zeppelin was to a lot of kids in the 70’s. This was their music, not the music of their parents. It sounded the way they were feeling and it rocked. Watching these 3 kids rock on stage made the rock star dream seem real to a lot of kids in the same way seeing Zeppelin made a lot of kids pick up guitars. I’m most certainly in the minority, but as much as I love Zeppelin, Nirvana was my music." - Mark

You're not, Mark! Wow! If anything could qualify as an upset in the Sweet 16, it's this result. Sure, a lot of people may cry foul on Nirvana over Zeppelin, but who cares? Rock that 90's nostalgia, voters and peers! You might as well own up to it. Nirvana did, and it led to some unfortunate stage antics.

Bob Dylan 5, The Beach Boys 0

"Should the Beach Boys beat Bob Dylan here? NoOoO0Oooo!!!!!!!" - Steve

I like how Steve threw in a zero with all of those O's, because that's exactly how many votes the Beach Boys got. They came so far, only to get swept? Kinda shows you how well-regarded Bob Dylan is by this blog. If it's any consolation for the Beach Boys, Dylan did have some kind words to say about Brian Wilson.

As the matchups are dwindling, candidates for the BMO are becoming scarce. However, there were still some good divergent picks here. Elliott was again the king of the minority opinion overall, with half of his picks on the wrong side of the vote (no other voter had more than two). But then, I realized that Eric and I used the exact same reasoning to vote for Marvin Gaye. Even though I never thought I'd give myself a BMO, I will...in a tie. 

Best Minority Opinion - (tied) Eric and John

"Part of me wants to vote for The Rolling Stones, but part of me doesn’t want to vote for them. I’m almost 100% positive that I’ll be in the minority for this, but I’m sticking to my guns here. There’s just something that irks me about The Rolling Stones. Something that gets under my skin and sits there and plays soccer and has a family barbecue. It’s hard to put my figure on it, but I guess it’s just I feel like they’re a commercial band. Call me a hipster (trust me, you’ll be the first), and maybe it’s the fact that I’ve grown up long after their heyday, but they just don’t feel like they’re in it for the music, man. They’re great musicians, lyricists, and songwriters, but they just feel so…tainted. The biggest reason I say this is because I compare them to The Beatles; they both became wildly popular, but rather than taking The Beatles’ route and doing some heavy experimentation, The Rolling Stones just stuck to their guns and kept in a relatively similar vein for their entire careers. They most certainly are a great band, but I’d lay awake sleepless for years if I voted for them."

That was Eric, as you might have able to tell from that "family barbecue" line. Notice the phrase "Sticking to my guns"? Keep that in mind as you read my explanation.

"Marvin Gaye’s discography is not as deep, I know that. But some of the Stones’ stuff is on there (especially earlier albums) and I think “I don’t know if it should be that high”. The crazy thing about the Stones is that they were doing very well for the first 3-4 years, but then kicked it into another gear. Then you go from Beggars Banquet to Exile in another 4 years. Still, everything that Marvin put out turned into some kind of precious metal (usually gold). I got into Marvin before I got into the Stones, and I’m sticking to my guns."

Exact same phrase, written 100% independently. It turns out that in order to vote for Marvin, you need to stick your gun towards him. I would guess how Eric's twisted, depraved mind might interpret that sentence, but I'm trying to keep this post clean.

So anything else? Yea, how about Steve's impassioned plea for the Velvet Underground? As their bid for greatest artist ends, our most devoted follower sends them off nicely.

Best Minority Opinion, Runner-up: Steve

"Finally, a band that can stand up to the unstoppable forces of Trent Reznor and the rest of the Nine Inch Nails Crew. With four albums over the course of a short nine years, The Velvet Underground set the standard every single time they got into the studio. No other band ever had an album produced by Andy Warhol, and I don’t think there is any other band that would have rejected his help the way The Velvet Underground did. With John Cale and Lou Reed at the helm, they were a band that could do no wrong. Whereas the Beatles (that’s right, I’m going to acknowledge that they are actually the band in this contest) career changed the face of pop music undoubtedly forever, The Velvet Underground changed both music and art, and that earns them my vote here."

In leaving Summer Psychosis last round, The Clash took a graceful and proud bow (that Mark is still upset about). With Steve's Runner-up BMO, the Velvet Underground have done the same. Well, look on the bright side--no more worn-out NIN references! Hooray!

Summer Psychosis: Preview for the Sweet 16

Hey everyone,

Finally, we're into March Madness terms! The Sweet 16 is upon us, and boy, what a lineup of artists we have left. Congratulations to those who made it, for this blog considers you the best of the best (just go with it guys) in music history. However, 15 of these artists still need to be eliminated in the coming weeks. Luckily, it's not a fight to the death like some sort of musical Hunger Games. At this point, we've gone way past background information. Going back to Acclaimedmusic.net--the fantastic site that made the rankings of this bracket possible--I have a brief yet comprehensive report on each artist's critical acclaim. The reason I mention Acclaimedmusic.net's rankings and nothing else is that any other critics list I might mention is almost surely included in their calculations. Also, I have now put pictures in the document instead of just linking to them (helps to have more room) and instead of just one key track, I linked to the first and last ranked song chronologically from Acclaimedmusic.net.

Okay that's it, I'll stop talking now. Well, one more thing...

Artist remaining (overall ranking by Acclaimedmusic.net):
The Beatles (1)
The Rolling Stones (2)
Bob Dylan (3)
David Bowie (4)
Led Zeppelin (6)
Jimi Hendrix (10)
The Beach Boys (12)
The Velvet Underground (13)
Neil Young (14)
Marvin Gaye (16)
Nirvana (19)
Pink Floyd (21)
Talking Heads (25)
The Doors (32)
Beastie Boys (34)
Creedence Clearwater Revival (43)

1 The Beatles

Critical Recommendations: 13 albums and 51 songs in top 3000, 12 albums and 24 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Five (!) albums in the top 30 most recommended all time
First and Last Tracks: Love Me Do to The Long and Winding Road

Vs.

2 The Velvet Underground

Critical Recommendations: 6 albums and 11 songs in top 3000, 5 albums and 6 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: "The Velvet Underground & Nico" is 4th most recommended album of all time
First and Last Tracks: All Tomorrow's Parties to Rock and Roll


1 The Rolling Stones

Critical Recommendations: 15 albums and 36 songs in top 3000, 11 albums and 15 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction is 2nd most recommended song of all time
First and Last Tracks: It's All Over Now to Start Me Up

Vs.

2 Marvin Gaye

Critical Recommendations: 5 albums and 11 songs in top 3000, 3 albums and 7 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Top 10 placements in most recommended albums ("What's Going On" - 6th) and songs ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - 8th)
First and Last Tracks: Can I Get a Witness to Sexual Healing

4 The Doors

Critical Recommendations: 6 albums and 7 songs in top 3000, 3 albums and 3 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: "The Doors" is 24th most recommended album of all time
First and Last Tracks: Break On Through (To the Other Side) to Riders on the Storm

Vs.

3 Pink Floyd

Critical Recommendations: 9 albums and 10 songs in top 3000, 4 albums and 4 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Every top 1000 album is in top 200 most recommended all time ("Dark Side of the Moon", "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", "The Wall" and "Wish You Were Here"
First and Last Tracks: Arnold Layne to Comfortably Numb

5 Beastie Boys

Critical Recommendations: 5 albums and 9 songs in top 3000, 5 albums and 3 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Dominating 1986 with an album ("Licensed to Ill" - 207th) and 4 songs, including "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" at 291st most recommended all time
First and Last Tracks: The New Style to Intergalactic

Vs.

6 Creedence Clearwater Revival

Critical Recommendations: 4 albums and 10 songs in top 3000, 3 albums and 5 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Three albums released in 1969 made it to top 1500 most recommended all time, two of which are top 400 all time
First and Last Tracks: Proud Mary to Have You Ever Seen the Rain


1 David Bowie

Critical Recommendations: 12 albums and 17 songs in top 3000, 8 albums and 10 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Three albums in the top 100 most recommended all time ("Ziggy Stardust", "Hunky Dory" and "Low")
First and Last Tracks: Space Oddity to Let's Dance

Vs.

2 Neil Young


Critical Recommendations: 15 albums and 15 songs in top 3000, 9 albums and 4 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Two albums in the top 100 most recommended all time ("After the Gold Rush" and "Harvest")
First and Last Tracks: Cinnamon Girl to Rockin' in the Free World


4 Talking Heads

Critical Recommendations: 7 albums and 9 songs in top 3000, 5 albums and 2 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Has a Top 400 most recommended all time album in four consecutive years (1977-80)
First and Last Tracks: Psycho Killer to Road to Nowhere

Vs.

2 Jimi Hendrix

Critical Recommendations: 5 albums and 12 songs in top 3000, 4 albums and 5 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Three top 150 most recommended all time albums in two years ("Are You Experienced", "Electric Ladyland" and "Axis: Bold as Love")
First to Last Tracks: Hey Joe to The Star Spangled Banner


1 Led Zeppelin

Critical Recommendations: 6 albums and 11 songs in top 3000, 6 albums and 5 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Three albums in top 100 most recommended all time ("Led Zeppelin IV", "Led Zeppelin II" and "Physical Graffiti")
First and Last Tracks: Dazed and Confused to Kashmir

Vs.

3 Nirvana

Critical Recommendations: 5 albums and 8 songs in top 3000, 3 albums and 6 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: 3rd most recommended album ("Nevermind") and song ("Smells Like Teen Spirit") of all time
First and Last Tracks: About a Girl to Where Did You Sleep Last Night?


1 Bob Dylan

Critical Recommendations: 22 albums and 29 songs in top 3000, 14 albums and 13 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: Three albums in top 25 most recommended all time ("Blonde on Blonde", "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blood on the Tracks")
First and Last Tracks: Blowin' in the Wind to Mississippi

Vs.

2 The Beach Boys

Critical Recommendations: 10 albums and 14 songs in top 3000, 3 albums and 7 songs in top 1000
Impressive Accolade: "Pet Sounds" is the most recommended album of all time, with two top 50 most recommended songs ("Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows") written in its sessions
First and Last Tracks: Surfin' USA to Surf's Up

Summer Psychosis: Results of the Third Round

Hello everyone,

I watched the Opening Ceremony to the London Olympics over the weekend. Since the Olympics haven't been in London for over 70 years, now was the first time to celebrate U.K. popular music from the 60's to today in a global television event. The whole segment was a little sketchy and about social networking for some reason, but you still got healthy glimpses of great British bands. At least ten bands from Britain made it into the Third Round. Anyway, what I'm getting to is that Summer Psychosis is very British, but that's only a small part of the intrigue for the Third Round. All of the #1 seeds and most of the #2 seeds have survived to this point. But will strong three, four or five seeds take them down?

The Beatles 5, Queen 0

"Here’s where the votes become a bit unfun. Not that the bands I vote for aren’t good (I wouldn’t vote for them if they weren’t), but that not voting for one hurts almost more then voting for them. The Beatles were really important for me as a kid. They were one of the first bands where I would listen to albums from beginning to end, which is really important for understanding and appreciating music. They were also some of the first guitar parts I learned, as well as the first bands I read about. For a lot of people, the Beatles were the first band worth absorbing. They are a gateway into music study as well as appreciation." - Mark

So far, it's still a breeze for the Beatles. A clean sweep of the last Cinderella with lots of support? That's pretty impressive. The London Opening Ceremonies featured both of these artists, but the Beatles were much more prominent. I couldn't find a video for that, but I did find Mr. Bean. Good old Mr. Bean.

The Velvet Underground 4, Elvis Costello 1

"When the VU's manager arranged for them to play at Summit High School for $75, their current drummer Angus MacLise quit the band, protesting what he considered a sellout. They replaced him with a girl. Truly a band after my hipster heart." - Elliott

If you have a hipster heart, you must feed it. And buy its clothes. Hey wait, that kind of looks like Elvis Costello. Now I'm just confused...

The Rolling Stones 5, James Brown 0

"While the 'selling out' The Rolling Stones (working with Will.I.Am? Mick, you’re better than that) in the last few years has certainly hurt their image in my eyes, no body puts on a better show, even Mr. Brown. And let’s not forget some of the greatest song writing from that era." - Eric

James Brown had strong support, but the Stones just rolled over the Godfather of Soul. Yea, I guess working with Will.I.Am. is selling out, but you could argue that Jagger's been doing that a lot lately.

Marvin Gaye 3, The Clash 2

"My love of Marvin Gaye has been documented by this tournament before, and it doesn’t stop here. The Clash is good, but they’re no Marvin Gaye. No one invents the slow jam after making doo-wop and gospel music, looks that good, and causes a million births without making it to the Sweet Sixteen." - Eric

I honestly did not expect this at all. The Clash are punk, but go beyond that and therefore had strong support across the board. Yet sweet baby-making music prevails. Let's go at this from an Eric angle. Kanye West sample!

The Doors 4, Prince 1

"I’m going to assume that Prince’s reign is going to end here. Of all the musicians I have ever listened to, I think Prince is the only one that I have ever considered to be too weird to listen to, and that is really saying something. Between changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol to his haircut, it’s just too much. It’s hard to imagine a normal person doing any of those things, and it makes most of his songs totally un-relatable. Take "When Doves Cry" for instance. Doves can't cry. They don’t have tear ducts, I googled it; http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100710162002AAiJvLD. Anyway, I’m going with The Doors here." - Steve

I've already said a lot about the Doors being awesome, so instead I'll torture Steve and continue Prince's reign of terror (not that he's forced to watch this or anything). Prince crashing The View!

Pink Floyd 4, The Who 1

"'Tommy' is a poor man's 'The Wall'. Also, 'CSI' kinda killed the Who for me. I can't listen to 'Won't Get Fooled Again' without seeing David Caruso putting on his shades and making a corny joke." - Elliott

Tommy is a poor-man's Wall? Fighting words, Elliott. Luckily, David Caruso is here to diffuse the situation.

Beastie Boys 3, Radiohead 2

"SOMEONE’S gotta vote Beasties! Radiohead, ya I get the hype. A lot of my musical peers know Radiohead’s whole discography and have got a lot personally from it, but for whatever reason I’ve never loved them as much as the next guy. Beasties were my first hip-hop group, and their consistency and camaraderie is something to be emulated. One other thing that Radiohead can never say is the Beasties never took themselves too seriously, and while that’s not always the best quality for some bands it allows you to stay grounded, and help make music that your fans will always have fun with." - Mark

Someone certainly did, Mark! I thought Prince might go down, but wow! But then again, it's probably easier to vote for a great band who is fun-loving and humorous rather than grim. Can you imagine Radiohead ever doing something like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evA-R9OS-Vo&feature=related 

Creedence Clearwater Revival 3, Kraftwerk 2

"I'm sorry, but you don't beat out Bob Marley just to lose to Kraftwerk. Also, CCR IS America. Voting against them is a vote against America." - Elliott

The folks behind "Team America: World Police" (a.k.a. the South Park writers) didn't play CCR for their All-American movie, but it's close enough. Sorry Kraftwerk, sometimes blind patriotism beats influence.

David Bowie 4, Michael Jackson 1

"After last weeks Bowie matchup, I went back and listened to some of his stuff. I listened to 'The Rise and Fall...', I listened to 'Hunky Dory', and I listened to 'Space Oddity'. 'Space Oddity' made me cry. That is one of the most emotionally driven songs with a strange concept that I have ever heard. When I think about Bowie, I see a guy whose voice is downright crappy, whose lyrics are pretty good but not as good as some of the other guys from his era, and I think, how the hell did he make such good music? On the other hand, Jackson was a guy who had literally all the talent in the world, but still couldn’t make music as good as Bowie." - Steve

The incredible thing about Bowie is that his discography goes much deeper than what Steve described. He's also had a hand in bands from The Stooges to TV On The Radio. And he does a little acting on the side! This matchup is kind of like how 'The Prestige' went, if Bowie was Thomas Edison and MJ was Nikola Tesla.

Neil Young 4, Stevie Wonder 1

"Sigh, Stevie Wonder did more for women's and disabled people's rights then any other person in history. The story about how her teacher tought her how to write by running water over her hands is incredibly touching. However, Neil Young is just a far more impressive musician." - Elliott

They say that everything has a silver lining. The silver lining for the elimination of Stevie Wonder is that Elliott can't troll me in public anymore. Trolling is a serious business, and sadly I have been victimized. Well, Stevie Wonder too, for being mistaken for Helen Keller. But that doesn't affect him.

Talking Heads 3, Bruce Springsteen 2

"Springsteen deserves the praise he gets, from NU JOIZ and everywhere else. A long and great career. But there’s something about Talking Heads and their dynamic dance/punk/funk hybrid. They really carved out their own niche in music history. Well done. Also, they have 'Remain In Light.'" - John

You know, David Byrne is like David Bowie in way. He's not just androgynous, but also has worked with many great bands such as Brian Eno, Dirty Projectors and St. Vincent. It would be interesting to see those two go head-to-head. As for this matchup, another strong #1 seed has gone down, but just barely. We know about Springsteen's legendary live shows, but Talking Heads is probably dead even. Holy crap.

Jimi Hendrix 5, Sonic Youth 0

"There is an old quote that I read somewhere (I don’t remember where) about Jimi Hendrix, involving the song 'Little Wing.' 'Little Wing' was covered pretty heavily during its day, and the quote goes something like 'Everybody wanted to play 'Little Wing,' everybody wanted to play its opening exactly like Jimi played it, that is everyone except for Jimi himself.' Hendrix was the most creative Guitarist to ever live, bar none. I give credit to Sonic Youth for their ability to find innovative ways to play the guitar after Jimi Hendrix had pretty much done everything one can possibly do to an instrument. I actually think of the two as similar in a lot of ways, the way they would play their live shows, the way they would innovate every time they got in the studio. But I can't pick Sonic Youth here. Jimi is just too good, and even while I don’t think his music is as interesting to listen to he still gets my vote." - Steve

Even our biggest Sonic Youth supporter did not vote for them when Hendrix opposed them. Says a lot about the power of Hendrix's music. Just listen to Little Wing and ponder how Hendrix has wreaked havoc on this bracket.

Led Zeppelin 5, Miles Davis 0

"I wrote something about Zeppelin last time in the vain of how they rock so hard other people rock hard as a result…ya that about sums it up." - Mark

There's no doubt Miles Davis is fantastic. But let's just say this is a more rock-oriented blog, so unfortunately Davis's departure was expected. Also, I agree that Zeppelin rock so, so hard. It's funny that they don't have their own Rock Band game so you can rock as them. Or maybe they will?

Nirvana 4, Elvis Presley 1

"It’s funny that we have the top two (or three?) best-selling posthumous artists of all time competing against each other. Cobain passed Presley a couple of years ago. That’s kinda how it feels for me, that we all know Presley is an all time great singer, performer and icon. But Nirvana led the Seattle grunge movement by writing their own songs and changed rock in the process." - John

While my 'top two best-selling posthumous artists' claim may be a little dubious, their legendary status after death is certainly not. What's amazing is that Nirvana only had 7 years of activity, a third of Elvis's time. Here's a interesting list from the same posthumous vein. Guess who's on it?

Bob Dylan 5, Public Enemy 0

"It’s a shame that Public Enemy has to go, but hey, at least they made it much further than I thought they would, and they lost to someone I have going to the Final Four at the very least." - Eric

Public Enemy had a great run as protest titans, but Bob Dylan's just been at it better and longer. But at least political rap just got a great parody/homage.

The Beach Boys 3, Beck 2

"The Beach Boys and Beck both have a later period that I haven’t been that familiar with, so they’re close in that way. But the whole 'Smile' saga is so fascinating. How can I ignore that?" - John

It's a testament to Beck's musical prowess that he nearly beat the Beach Boys. Sea Change-era Beck and late-60's Beach Boys are both on my list. Not kidding though, the whole released/cancelled/finally released saga of Smile is really fascinating to me.

What a week to get down to the Sweet 16! You had the last Cinderella story ending, #1 seeds going down and 'favorites' of voters being forced to leave. One of the big blog favorites to go is the Clash. They had a legitimate chance to beat the Stones and dare I say, the Beatles. No more, thanks to Marvin Gaye. The biggest fan of the Clash within the blog has always been Mark. His love letter to the band on their departure has to be the BMO for this week.

Best Minority Opinion: Mark

"No contest! While the Beatles were the first band I really explored, The Clash were the first band I used the newfound musical fondness to peruse a Ph.D in Loving The Clash. John mentioned in my last Clash testimonial that there is 'No King in Punk', but I still disagree. Maybe king is the wrong word, but the Clash gave punk a legitimacy and rallying point that helped it go from a self destructive 'flash in the pan' to one that is still alive and well today. Joe Strummer was so instrumental to that. If not king, then he's the father or director. Punk wasn’t about 'no leaders.' It was about 'new leaders.'"

The great thing about the Clash is that they lead the way by just experimenting with their sound and doing what they do best. That's why many people view them as more than just a punk band and instead as an all time great band.

Best Minority Opinion, Runner Up: Steve

I had no idea how Kraftwerk was going to be received by this blog. All of us were not very familiar with the German electronic group. Yet the band's influence propelled them to face CCR, a populist American rock band. Basically, the antithesis of Kraftwerk. Steve draws this juxtaposition nicely while making a good case for the eliminated German group, and for that he gets the Runner Up BMO.

"One of these bands was one of the most creatively artistic bands of all time; the other is Creedence Clearwater Revival. Why does that line fly again? I'm not sure. I honestly don’t know who will win this one. Here are two bands, one with all the creative power in the world but none of the accessibility, and one with all of the accessibility in the world but none of the creativity. I honestly don’t forsee either of these band continuing past the next round considering who the winner here will be up against, but it will be interesting to see who that band is."

I hope it was very interesting, Steve, because it was for me. Three #1 seeds going down? This week is what Summer Psychosis is all about. And it only gets crazier from here.