BCB Cup 2022 Round 2 Match 3 Diamond gone to the Dogs

[never/ever]

List A


1. Anoushka Lucas - Grace Jones link
2. Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her link
3. Edwyn Collins - Make Me Feel Again link
4. Pretty Things - Grass link
5. Talk Talk - After The Flood link
6. Alt-J - Taro link
7. Grizzly Bear - Sun In Your Eyes link
8. Manic Street Preachers - All Surface No Feeling link
9. David Axelrod - The Fly link
10. Millie Jackson - I'm Tired Of Hiding link
11. Reb Fountain - Faster link



List B


1. Summer Time - Pretty Things link
2. Summer Breeze - Isley Brothers link
3. Sunshine Day - Osibisa link
4. Summetime - Sidney Bechet Quintet link
5. Delius (Song of Summer) - Kate Bush link
6. Walking on Sunshine - Eddy Grant link
7. Summer '68 - Pink Floyd link
8. Morning Sun - Popol Vuh link
9. Winter Song - Lindisfarne link
10. Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles link
11. Winter in America - Gil Scott-Heron link

[Purgatory Brite]

B

[The Modernist]

I guess all our lists are eclectic because we all like a range of things, but A seems eclectic in quite a confused way. Of the new additions Millie J has a good production married to a song that doesn't enthuse me, Axelrod is tremendous but possibly overused as a 'leftfield' choice in these cups, Reb Fountain is pleasant enough but I'm hearing a lot of this kind of female vocal lead Americana with an ambient production in the cup. It's almost become a cliche of modern music and as a consequence it has to work harder to really grab me..it doesn't quite make the grade.
I'm a little disappointed that B has moved on to winter when there are still so many 'sun' songs out there to pick. Perhaps their plan is to make the final using a different season in all four rounds. Anyway, The Bangles pick is a little tired, but the Lindisfarne and Scott- Heron are lovely.
Overall, A's dish could do with some of B's seasoning.

B

[Andrews Sisters Conundrum]

Once again I agree with G. A has some great tunes but is all over the shop and there are a couple there I wouldn't mop the floor with.

B

[Walk In My Shadow]

B

[toomanyhatz]

B's seasonal turn made it seem even more forced. The Lindisfarne and Heron are perfectly fine songs, but are still mostly there to please the self-handicap. And the Bangles, well...fine. But is it better than S&G? And is it a cup-worthy Bangles pick in any other respect?

Nonetheless A is a bit all over the place. Love the Pretties, Talk Talk, and Axelrod picks, but they're surrounded by some pretty average stuff.

Don't really want to vote for either of these, so I won't for now. Not abstaining, just taking time to decide. One of these has to advance, I guess.

[Deebank]

Once again, not hugely impressed, however this tie did lead me to this snippet of trivia...

Heron's father Gil Heron (1922 - 27 November, 2008) was a Jamaican footballer/soccer player. He was the first black player to play for Scottish club Celtic FC after being invited on a trial in 1951. Heron went on to score on his debut, on August 18, 1951 in a League Cup tie against Morton that Celtic won 2-0.

Far out!

Funny sort of name Axelrod - I swear I wore out the axelrod in my old VW van. Bit of a dull tune though - reminded me of the test card in the early 70s. Not mad keen on the Millie Jackson pick and the Reb Fountain tune rather pales compared to a lot of similar stuff.

And speaking of paling (paleing?) you have to wonder why The Bangles bothered. It's not bad as such but the original is so perfect you are always going to pale by comparison.
I reckon if I was five years older I might have been a fan of Lindisfarne, so thank fuck I'm not, same goes for Cat Stevens. I have much to thank the Sex Pistols for.
I quite liked the Gil tune so I'll give it to

B

[toomanyhatz]

Am I attempting to punish B for eliminating me? Maybe.

Anyway, I'm still not convinced I actually prefer A, but I do know there's enough good stuff on it that it doesn't deserve to be shut out.

Still don't love either, but at least at the moment I want to throw a sympathy vote A's way. It may not be that good, but it's not that bad either.

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind arbitrarily and at any time...

[Jimbly]

B is just a bit better even allowing for The Bangles pick. Nothing against them as such but its not a patch on the original.

[The Fish]

Problems abound !! A's first and last picks are fine and pleasant enough, but if you are including lesser know female vocalists you're fishing in quite a large pond and there's a vast number I could name I prefer to these. A picks up pace early on with Chi-Lites/Edwyn/Pretties all good. I like Talk Tak well enough but a lot less it seems than many here. Millie is fine, but Manics - meh. Alas the ALt-J and Grizzly Bear are the sort of thing that just rub me up the wrong way, quirky originality substituting for heart and soul.

For B Isleys are untouchable and Gil great. Popok Vuh was pleasant but didn't go anywhere. Floyd - meh. Summertime looks like low hanging fruit with regards the theme and though this version is fine, surely the true genius of the song rests in its vocal delivery. Rest of B OK if not knocking me out. I'd echo the Bangles comments (yes the Isleys is a cover but this is THE version though original is fine).

Gil wins it at 11th hour. An unenthusiastic B

[pcqgod]

Can't get that excited about either list here, but B has a Rick Wright-penned Floyd number that already had a very dated UK pop-sike sound at the time it was released, but is kind of pleasant anyway.

B

[fange]

Again, 2 lists who i think i voted for in round 1, with several good songs i like in the initial set. A is a bit patchier for me, and that continues in the new 3. B's seasonal theme sounds interesting as a playlist and the choices here are strong; the Lindisfarne is a nice surprise, cheers, and the GS-H is dependable and hard to deny.


B

[Matt Wilson]

Clearly it's B.

[Rayge]

A has one song I like and three acts with which I refuse to pollute my ears
B has none of the former, one of the latter, and a whole heap of meh

Abstain

[never/ever]

Not the biggest fan of the additional 3 on either list. Axelrod still evades me as too slick. Lindisfarne is just shit, the GSH I rather know too well from an Australian cover version made.of it and even Miss Jackson can't really get me excited.
On strength of the original lists:

A

[Nick Danger]

I really don't like too much on either list. I didn't vote for B in the first round but the additional three are probably the tracks I like best on either list.

B

[Neige]

Can't believe that B is winning.

A... love the Reb Fountain track

[trans-chigley express]

I liked both lists in the first round and voted for both. Strong additions from both too. A tough tie to call , I kind of wish both could go through.

B edges it.

[Jumper K]

B

[never/ever]

List A


1. Anoushka Lucas - Grace Jones link
2. Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her link
3. Edwyn Collins - Make Me Feel Again link
4. Pretty Things - Grass link
5. Talk Talk - After The Flood link
6. Alt-J - Taro link
7. Grizzly Bear - Sun In Your Eyes link
8. Manic Street Preachers - All Surface No Feeling link
9. David Axelrod - The Fly link
10. Millie Jackson - I'm Tired Of Hiding link
11. Reb Fountain - Faster link



List B


1. Summer Time - Pretty Things link
2. Summer Breeze - Isley Brothers link
3. Sunshine Day - Osibisa link
4. Summetime - Sidney Bechet Quintet link
5. Delius (Song of Summer) - Kate Bush link
6. Walking on Sunshine - Eddy Grant link
7. Summer '68 - Pink Floyd link
8. Morning Sun - Popol Vuh link
9. Winter Song - Lindisfarne link
10. Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles link
11. Winter in America - Gil Scott-Heron link

A 3 - B 13

List A is Diamond Dog

Three more from you, Mr. B!