I'm the last splash.

Plans for the future: Come the round of 32, Cranky Uncle Greg and I are gonna put up a .zip file that contains all the remaining songs, so everyone can have them and listsen to them and make informed choices, yada yada. How do we feel about this? Good? Good:

#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart – 12 votes
defeats
#9 Clash, Train in Vain – 8 votes

Analysis:
“ I have a far-fetched theory that The Clash, specifically my uncool-with-peers decision to see them in jr. high when the hip kids were seeing Rush, saved my life.” – Cranky Wistful Uncle Greg

#4 Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop – 11 votes
defeats
#12 Television, Marquee Moon – 9 votes

Analysis:
“television (if you vote for the ramones, you're supporting theterrorists)” – Seth S

“Blitzkrieg Bop, because Tom Verlaine wasn't doing as much speed.” – JZ [Ms. L: I’m not sure that’s true, and also, you worry about me dumping you for your voting choices and then choose this? For this reason? Bold choice.]


#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime – 12 votes
defeats
#3 Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side – 8 votes

Analysis:
“"Life During Wartime" -- For the first time in my life, I'm not living at home or at a dorm with easy access to a dining hall, so suddenly the "I got some groceries, some peanu butter/to last a couple of days..." lyrics are much more meaningful.” – Jack B.

#23 Sonic Youth, Teen Age Riot – 12 votes
defeats
#2 Weezer, Undone – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Sonic Youth. Ms. L, just what were we smoking giving them a #24 seed?” – Cranky Uncle Greg [Ms. L: I believe it had something to do with them having no definitive single, being more of an album band, blah blah blah. And why aren't you asking this about GBV, too?]

#1 Clash, London Calling – 15 votes
defeats
#9 Elvis Costello, Radio, Radio – 5 votes

Analysis:
“The Clash vs Elvis Costello - "London Calling," because I can't vote against the Clash twice in one round. Also it's a better song.” - MMC


#12 David Bowie, Sound and Vision – 12 votes
vs.
#13 Elliot Smith, Miss Misery – 6 votes
(2 abstentions)

Analysis:
“Dammit, I can't use the "it's about sitting in your bedroom" test. But the "doo-doo doo-doo" wins it for Sound and Vision.” - JZ

#3 New Order, Blue Monday – 10 votes
defeats
#6 Pogues, Fairytale of New York – 7 votes
(3 abstentions)

Analysis:
“The Pogues were one of the best acts I've ever seen. New Order, on the other hand, stood around putting discs in drives. ho-hum.” – Cranky Uncle Greg

#18 Guided by Voices, I Am a Scientist – 11 votes
defeats
#7 Go-Gos, Our Lips Are Sealed – 8 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
”Guided By Voices--Will Ms. L tell us what the experiment was when its over?” – Mike [Ms. L: not my experiment, but I think it has something to do with this.]

Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Sunday. Comment or email me.

From the Great Plains Regional, at the 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
#1 David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust (video)
vs.
#9 Talking Heads, Once In A Lifetime (video)
Two nearly identical Heads vs. Bowie matchups today; only the seeds are reversed. How about some horsetrading here?

#12 R.E.M., Driver 8 (iTunes)
vs.
#4 Patti Smith, Gloria (video)
To be fair, I think even R.E.M. would vote for Patti. At least Peter Buck and Michael Stipe. That Mike Mills is a wild one.

#3 Devo, Jocko Homo (video)
vs.
#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend (video)
Best thing out of Ohio vs. best thing out of Nebraska in the Battle of That's Not Saying Much.

#10 Nick Lowe, Cruel to be Kind (video)
vs.
#2, Iggy Pop, Lust for Life (video)
Cruel to be Kind of Lusty for Life: The Iggy Pop Story.

From the South Regional, at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, Los Angeles, CA
#1 Talking Heads, Psycho Killer (video)
vs.
#9 David Bowie, Heroes (video)
as I was saying above...

#5 Breeders, Cannonball (video)
vs.
#13, Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (video)
Is there enough Pixies loyalty in this bunch to overcome NMH? (My guess: no.)

#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow (video)
vs.
#11 Minor Threat, Straight Edge (iTunes)
Look at the things you can do with guitars!

#7 Gang of Four, I Love a Man in a Uniform (download)
vs.
#2 Elvis Costello, Alison (video)
Marxism vs. bitter love. How very UK in the 70s and early 80s.

I am a lost soul, I shoot myself with rock 'n' roll.

The second round is done, people! 64 songs remain.

#1 U2, I Will Follow - 9 votes
defeats
#17 De La Soul, Me Myself and I - 6 votes

Analysis:
“I Will Follow - At this point, I think I'm just voting U2 whenever possible to annoy Susan.” - Danimal

#9 Nirvana, All Apologies – 13 votes
defeats
#8 Green Day, Longview – 2 votes

Analysis:
“Nirvana. I don't feel like voting for a song that rhymes "motivation" with "motivation”.” – The GZA

#5 Sleater-Kinney, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone – 8 votes
defeats
#12 Specials, A Message To You Rudy – 7 votes

Analysis:
“sleater-kinney ("i wanna be your thurston moore" -- is there anything more indie?)” - Amanda

#4 Replacements, I Will Dare – 12 votes
defeats
#13 Dead Kennedys, Kalifornia Uber Alles – 3 votes

Analysis:
“Replacements--Not my favorite 'Mats tune, but I feel I have to somehow make up for the fact that "Left of the Dial" went up against "Summer Babe".” - Mike

#3 Mission of Burma, Academy Fight Song – 9 votes
defeats
#19 Pulp, Common People – 6 votes

Analysis:
“Mission of Burma, even though they're not not not not not not not not going to advance.” – Cranky Incorrect Uncle Greg

#6 Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister – 11 votes
defeats
#11 Oasis, Supersonic – 4 votes

Analysis:
“Belle & Sebastian--See Replacements comment above only substitute "Lazy Line Painter Jane" for "Left of the Dial" and "How Soon is Now" for "Summer Babe"...oh, and "one of my favorite" for "not..."” – Mike

#10 Beck, Where It's At – 8 votes
defeats
#7 Bjork, Army of Me – 7 votes

Analysis:
“Björk. Though the Matthew Barney relationship is a liability approaching Beck's Scientology.” – Cranky Uncle Greg

#2 Nine Inch Nails, Head Like a Hole – 12 votes
defeats
#15 Dead Milkmen, Bitchin' Camaro – 3 votes

Analysis:
“I have only heard Leah cover one of these artists as "Elmo Sing Dirty". Nine Inch Nails it is.” - SRF


Here are the next 8 matchups. Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Wednesday. Comment or email me. We'll post and tally the results then.

From the Mid-Atlantic Regional, at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA
#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart (video)
vs.
#9 Clash, Train in Vain (video)
The Clash vid is a double shot of Train in Vain and London Calling (which is in a matchup below).

#12 Television, Marquee Moon (iTunes)
vs.
#4 Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop (video)
Counting this matchup, "Marquee Moon" is still 2:28 longer than all the songs it's faced.

#3 Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side (video)
vs.
#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime (video)
Another battle of NYC.

#23 Sonic Youth, Teen Age Riot (video)
vs.
#2 Weezer, Undone (video)
Guess which band is playing the Minnesota State Fair this summer?

From the Midwest Regional, at The Hacienda, Manchester, U.K.
#1 Clash, London Calling (video)
vs.
#9 Elvis Costello, Radio, Radio (amazon)
Even though SNL pulled all the performances from YT, I know a proper "Radio, Radio" video was made...not sure why it never popped up on the nets. Hell, "I Wanna Be Loved" is up there...

#12 David Bowie, Sound and Vision (video)
vs.
#13 Elliot Smith, Miss Misery (video)
I got nothing here, so here's Klaus Nomi singing Falling in Love Again.

#3 New Order, Blue Monday (video)
vs.
#6 Pogues, Fairytale of New York (video)
I'm curious about this reunited Pogues, so here's a clip from 2005 (sans Kirsty MacColl, of course). Odd standards & practices in the UK..."arse" gets bleeped but "faggot" stands?

#7 Go-Gos, Our Lips Are Sealed (video)
vs.
#18 Guided by Voices, I Am a Scientist (video)
Be quiet or you'll ruin my experiment.

I'm the queen of rock 'n' roll

Random fun vote-quote of the day:

"I'm concerned that Yo La Tengo turned rabid after losing to the NPs last round. Naming their next album "I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass"?" - Canadian Dave

#16 Gil Scott–Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - 10 votes
defeats
#1 Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK - 8 votes

Analysis:
" The Revolution Will not Be Televised. Seriously, if this makes it to the very top, I will not be disappointed...only surprised." - Tri-L

#9 Pixies, Debaser - 14 votes
defeats
#8 Depeche Mode, Just Can't Get Enough - 5 votes

Analysis:
"Pixies--Another vote for the Pixies. Yawwwn." - Mike is bored with us.

#5 White Stripes, Fell In Love With a Girl - 10 votes
defeats
#12 Velvet Underground, Rock 'n' Roll - 8 vote
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
"White Stripes. I got Civ IV after my defense and Leonard Nimoy, as narrator, quotes "Rock 'n' Roll" at one point. I actually think Nimoy would do better reciting "Fell in Love With a Girl" Is there any line more Spock-like that "sometimes these feelings can be so misleading"?" - Canadian Dave

#4 Cure, Close to Me - 14 votes
defeats
#13 Tori Amos, Silent All These Years - 2 votes
(1 tie, 1 neither, 1 abstention)

Analysis:
"Cure, This is the one Tori Amos song that I don't despise, but I watched five seconds of the live clip and decided to vote against her pretension." - WBF

#3 Massive Attack, Unfinished Sympathy - 9 votes
defeats
#14 Blondie, Rip Her to Shreds - 7 votes
(3 abstentions)

Analysis:
"Massive Attack, Unfinished Sympathy. Massive Attack, I never quite got them in college, but I totally kind of get them now, and I like it. I blame House." - CDB


#11 New Pornographers, Letter from an Occupant - 15 votes
defeats
#6 Jeff Buckley, Last Goodbye - 3 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
"NPs. shouldn't Buckley be facing "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism?"" - Exceedingly Tacky Cranky Uncle Greg

"NPs (are there a lot of math jokes about the New Pornographers?)" - SRF [Does that make the current touring lineup sans Neko NP-incomplete? - Ms. L]

#10 New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle - 11 votes
defeats
#7 Roxy Music, Love Is the Drug - 8 votes

Analysis:
"Roxy Music--Toughest choice this round. Roxy Music almost lost because a local (Cleveland) radio station uses "Love is the Drug" as the background to their traffic reports, so when I hear it I think of either a> annoying nasal voiced traffic reporters or b> being stuck in traffic." - Mike

#2 Smiths, How Soon Is Now? - 10 votes
defeats
#18 Belle & Sebastian, Lazy Line Painter Jane - 9 votes

Analysis:
"How Soon Is Now? When Morrissey loses... and yes, I know he has no hope against Belle & Sebastian in this crowd... I will mourn the last remaining Smiths song by locking myself in a dark room and attempting to masturbate while crying." - Danimal

"How is that different than any other day of his life?" - Cranky Uncle Greg on Tuesday


Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Sunday. Comment or email me.

And now...the final matchups of the second round:

#1 U2, I Will Follow (video)
vs.
#17 De La Soul, Me Myself and I (video)
After upsetting The Smiths in the first round, the guys from Amityville take on the one U2 song with any shred of "indieness."

#9 Nirvana, All Apologies (video)
vs.
#8 Green Day, Longview (video)
Would Green Day be famous without Nirvana?

#5 Sleater-Kinney, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone (video)
vs.
#12 Specials, A Message To You Rudy (video)
Upbeat politically-aware punk-pop battle!

#13 Dead Kennedys, Kalifornia Uber Alles (video)
vs.
#4 Replacements, I Will Dare (iTunes)
Figurative 1984 meets the literal.

#3 Mission of Burma, Academy Fight Song (video [actually the second song in the clip])
vs.
#19 Pulp, Common People (video)
Covered by REM vs. covered by Shatner.

#11 Oasis, Supersonic (video)
vs.
#6 Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister (iTunes)
Unibrow or bowlie?

#7 Bjork, Army of Me (video)
vs.
#10 Beck, Where It's At (video)
Let's just combine them and send "Bjëck" to the next round.

#15 Dead Milkmen, Bitchin' Camaro (iTunes)
vs.
#2 Nine Inch Nails, Head Like a Hole (video)
Two novelty acts. Only one is funny.

You shut your mouth!

Better late than never, right?

#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe – 17 votes
defeats
#16 Squeeze, Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) – 1 vote

Analysis:
"REM - Didya know that the Univ. of AL has a local music festival each fall called Radio Free Tuscaloosa. Dunno if predates REM or not, though." - Bunoich

#8 Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams – 13 votes
defeats
#24 King Missile, Jesus Was Way Cool – 3 votes
(2 abstentions)

Analysis:
"Sweet Dreams. I vividly remember dancing when this song came on the radio at a very young age. Don't tell anyone." - JZ

#5 Public Enemy, Bring the Noise – 11 votes
defeats
#12 X, Los Angeles – 7 votes

Analysis:
"Public Enemy, this is probably somewhere around Public Enemy's 27th best track but it will do." - WBF

#4 Blondie, Heart of Glass – 11 votes
defeats
#13 Pet Shop Boys, What Have I Done to Deserve This? – 6 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
"What Have I Done to have to choose between these two? Believe it or not, I really like the Pet Shop Boys. All the same, 'Heart of Glass' has more staying power with me. I hate that Paris Hilton covered it, and I hate that I even know that dirty fact." - Tri-Elle

#3 Pixies, Here Comes Your Man – 15 votes
defeats
#14 Cowboy Junkies, Sweet Jane – 2 votes

Analysis:
"Here Comes Your Man - I had an entire relationship in college that was pretty much based around getting kinda buzzed and singing this as "Here Comes Your Dan." Good times." - Danimal
#6 Portishead, Sour Times - 11 votes
defeats
#11 Billy Bragg, A New England – 7 votes

Analysis:
"#6 Portishead, Sour Times. Just out of curiosity, can anyone else think of a song so exemplar of a sub-genre (in this case, trip-hop), that it's the song everyone points to when they want to discuss it?" - CDB

#7 Pavement, Summer Babe – 10 votes
defeats
#10 Replacements, Left of the Dial – 8 votes

Analysis:
""Pretty girl keep growin' up, playin' makeup, wearin' guitar" That must be some sorta magic cassette tape, because it should've snapped or been eaten in the 20 years I overplayed it..." - Cranky Uncle Greg, in search of lost time


#15 Wilco, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart – 12 votes
defeats
#2 Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, Roadrunner - 6 votes

Analysis:
"Modern Lovers. As much as I love Wilco, this song is too good. Driving through the middle of nowhere with something turned up loud; it's a perfect evocation of what I do all the time. Radio ON! Even if it's playing a CD." - The GZA

Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Wednesday, or whenever I wake up on Thursday. Comment or email me. We'll post and tally the results then.

#1 Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK (video)
vs.
#16 Gil Scott–Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (iTunes)

#9 Pixies, Debaser (video)
vs.
#8 Depeche Mode, Just Can't Get Enough (video)

#5 White Stripes, Fell In Love With a Girl (video)
vs.
#12 Velvet Underground, Rock 'n' Roll (video)

#13 Tori Amos, Silent All These Years (video)
vs.
#4 Cure, Close to Me (video)

#3 Massive Attack, Unfinished Sympathy (video)
vs.
#14 Blondie, Rip Her to Shreds (iTunes)

#11 New Pornographers, Letter from an Occupant (iTunes)
vs.
#6 Jeff Buckley, Last Goodbye (iTunes)

#7 Roxy Music, Love Is the Drug (video)
vs.
#10 New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle (video)

#18 Belle & Sebastian, Lazy Line Painter Jane (video)
vs.
#2 Smiths, How Soon Is Now? (video)
So here's the thing. #18 is one of my top five favorite songs by one of my top five favorite bands. I will be voting for it. But I feel the need to say this about #2... please, please, please, let Morrissey get what he wants. Lord knows, it would be the first time.

I'm in love with the radio on

Konichiwa, bitches.

#1 Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit – 13 votes
defeats
#6 X-Ray Spex, Oh Bondage, Up Yours! – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Smells Like Teen Spirit - "How can I not vote for this? I AM a slacker!"” - Danimal

#9 R.E.M., The One I Love – 13 votes
defeats
#8 The Shins, New Slang – 7 votes
(1 neither)

Analysis:
“Don't make me choose! I love them both. Well, if both these songs were stuck in a burning building and I could only save one, I would save 'The One I Love', but I would remember 'New Slang' eternally while I wiped a tear away in remembrance. To be clear: 'The One I Love' would not be the one I left behind.” – Tri-L

#12 The Clash, White Man (in Hammersmith Palais) – 11 votes
defeats
#5 Nick Drake, Pink Moon – 9 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“#5 Nick Drake, Pink Moon. Hell, if I had been in the market for a car back when that ad was airing, I would have thought about it solely because of Mr. Drake.” - CDB

#4 Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun – 11 votes
defeats
#13 Grandmaster Flash, The Message – 10 votes

Analysis:
“Message. You haven't cringed until you've heard the Everlast cover of "Blister in the Sun."” - JZ

#19 Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out – 13 votes
defeats
#3 The Police, Roxanne – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Take Me Out - Any band that decides after the first verse, "You know what? Fuck it, let's do another song," is tops in my book.” - Danimal

#6 Big Star, September Gurls – 11 votes
defeats
#11 The Pixies, Gigantic – 9 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Big Star (It feels really weird to be voting agains the Pixies.)” - Cokehead Matt

#10 U2, Where the Streets Have No Name – 12 votes
defeats
#7 The Soft Boys, I Wanna Destroy You – 9 votes

Analysis:
“The Soft Boys, or cats being tortured, or whatever else y'all care to put up against U2.” - SRF

#15 Sinead O' Connor, Nothing Compares 2 U – 13 votes
defeats
#2 Pearl Jam, Jeremy – 7 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Sinead O'Connor - The Pearl Jam that people make fun of is encapsulated in "Jeremy." The overly IMPORTANT subject matter, the Eddie Vedder faces, the melodrama.” – Canadian Dave

No funny comments this time, as I need to get to work and am reeling over the difficulty of these matchups (except the second one). Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Sunday. Comment or email me.

#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe (video)
vs.
#16 Squeeze, Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) (iTunes)

#24 King Missile, Jesus Was Way Cool (video)
vs.
#8 Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams (video)

#5 Public Enemy, Bring the Noise (iTunes)
vs.
#12 X, Los Angeles (video)

#13 Pet Shop Boys, What Have I Done to Deserve This? (video)
vs.
#4 Blondie, Heart of Glass (video)

#3 Pixies, Here Comes Your Man (video)
vs.
#14 Cowboy Junkies, Sweet Jane (video)

#11 Billy Bragg, A New England (video)
vs.
#6 Portishead, Sour Times (video)

#7 Pavement, Summer Babe (iTunes)
vs.
#10 Replacements, Left of the Dial (iTunes)

#15 Wilco, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (iTunes)
vs.
#2 Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, Roadrunner (iTunes)

I'd a danced like the king of the eyesores

Now is when I'll start making noises about some future tournament. Would you want one? About what? Email if you care. - Ms. L

#1 Talking Heads, Psycho Killer – 15 votes
defeats
#17 They Might Be Giants, Birdhouse in Your Soul – 5 votes

Analysis:
“I could never justify voting for TMBG. My worst musical moment ever came when I was playing Uncle Tupelo's "Atomic Power," and someone said, "This sounds like They Might Be Giants." That hurts. Talking Heads, out of spite.” - Rud

#9 David Bowie, Heroes – 15 votes
defeats
#8 Kate Bush, Wuthering Heights – 5 votes

Analysis:
“David Bowie--Even the Wallflowers couldnt ruin this one.” - Mike

#5 Breeders, Cannonball – 12 votes
defeats
#12 PJ Harvey, Down By The Water – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Breeders vs PJ Harvey - If this were about the bands I'd have to vote PJ but "Cannonball" is a better song.” - MMC

#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over The Sea – 12 votes
vs.
#4 Radiohead, Paranoid Android – 4 votes
(4 abstentions)

Analysis:
“Abstain. Look, it's not that I have anything against either of these bands, it's just that I am clearly not cool enough to vote for either one.” - CDB


#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow – 12 votes
defeats
#3 Run-DMC, Rock Box – 8 votes

Analysis:
“I have to vote for Run-DMC--my boss named the protein we work on after it.” – SRF

#11 Minor Threat, Straight Edge – 10 votes
vs.
#6 The Cars, My Best Friend's Girl – 9 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“I hate Minor Threat. Your X's look dumb. I don't like The Cars much, either. Either will lose to MBV. I vote for The Cars.” - Rud

#7 Gang of Four, I Love A Man in a Uniform – 10 votes
defeats
#10 The Ramones, Sheena is a Punk Rocker – 10 votes

Analysis:
“Gang of Four. The more GoF I hear (and there's been a ton lately on the music sites I check) the more I think Leah and I really jobbed them.” – CUG
He’s right, so they win the tie. There’s more Ramones. – Ms. L
“Gang of Four. I voted against that cover song by the Pretenders, but I will vote for Gang of Four covering Franz Ferdinand.” – Canadian Dave

#2 Elvis Costello, Alison – 10 votes
defeats
#15 Joy Division, Transmission – 10 votes

Analysis:
“Pop. Elvis.” - Rud

Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Wednesday. Comment or email me. We'll post and tally the results then.

From the Southeast Regional, at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY

#1 Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit (video)
vs.
#6 X-Ray Spex, Oh Bondage, Up Yours! (video)
When Poly Styrene got sick of the starmaking machine, she just became a Hare Krishna.

#9 R.E.M., The One I Love (video)
vs.
#8 The Shins, New Slang (video)
A lot of people didn't realize this R.E.M. song wasn't a love song; McDonald's apparently didn't notice the "dirt in your fries" line.

#5 Nick Drake, Pink Moon (VW ad -- look, this is why everyone knows it now)
vs.
#12 The Clash, White Man (in Hammersmith Palais) (video)
White man in a VW!

#13 Grandmaster Flash, The Message (video)
vs.
#4 Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun (video)
Politics or self-lvoe?

#3 The Police, Roxanne (video)
vs.
#19 Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out (video)
My mom's friend named her daughter after this Police song. Does that seem really wrong to anyone else?

#11 The Pixies, Gigantic (video)
vs.
#6 Big Star, September Gurls (video)
Clippy can just about die for putting these two up against each other.

#7 The Soft Boys, I Wanna Destroy You (DL from Archive.org)
vs.
#10 U2, Where the Streets Have No Name (video)
Both media files are from Chicago shows. The Soft Boys show was the night before Trashionals at Northwestern.

#15 Sinead O' Connor, Nothing Compares 2 U (video)
vs.
#2 Pearl Jam, Jeremy (video)
What a difference a year (and a grunge revolution) makes.

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, to the radio.

#1 David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust - 11 votes
defeats
#16 XTC, Senses Working Overtime – 9 votes

Analysis:
“Ziggy Stardust - Because the world needs more songs that use the phrase "God-given ass."” - Danimal

#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime – 18 votes
defeats
#8 Smashng Pumpkins, 1979 – 2 votes

Analysis:
“Once in a Lifetime - I must warn everyone ahead of time that if this song doesn't win, I will be forced to yell "MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Don't make me do this.” - Danimal


#12 R.E.M., Driver 8 – 14 votes
defeats
#5 Pretenders, Back on the Chain Gang – 5 votes

Analysis:
In response to a comment: if someone could explain how a BOTCG, a song about Hynde’s dead bandmate that started out as a song about breaking up with Ray Davies, could possibly be a cover, you will get a shiny nickel. – Ms. L

“R.E.M., because they're far better than the Pretenders, and because "Exhuming McCarthy" isn't in the field.” - Rud

#4 Patti Smith, Gloria – 13 votes
defeats
#13 Kraftwerk, The Robots – 6 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“"Gloria" - Yes it's a cover. Yes, it means far, far more to me than anything Kraftwerk has ever come near.” - MMC

#3 Devo, Jocko Homo – 13 votes
defeats
#19 Cracker, Low – 6 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Devo. WTF? Cracker? what is wrong with you people? Are you trying to prove the existence of de-evolution with your Cracker votes?” – Cranky Uncle Greg shakes his digital cane at us

#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend – 10 votes
defeats
#11 Flaming Lips, She Don't Use Jelly – 9 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend - You know what, if I am going to have an emotional breakdown on what a perfect song this is, I should probably do it on my own blog. That said, it's a really perfect song in a lot of respects, theme packet be damned.” - CDB


#10 Nick Lowe, Cruel to be Kind – 11 votes
defeats
#7 The Strokes, Last Nite – 9 votes

Analysis:
“Nick Lowe--Seeing as how Weezer beat out Joe Jackson a few round ago, I'm probably swimming upstream with this pick, but someone's gotta represent us old folks on here.” – Mike

#2 Iggy Pop, Lust for Life – 15 votes
defeats
#15 Blur, Girls and Boys – 5 votes

Analysis:
“8. Lust for Life. I could mention the commercial, but who cares? Also, there's a stick in my hand and a horse's corpse out back.” - JZ

Moving on. Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Sunday. Comment or email me.

From the Great Plains Regional, at the 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

#1 Talking Heads, Psycho Killer (video)
vs.
#17 They Might Be Giants, Birdhouse in Your Soul (video)
Dork-off!

#9 David Bowie, Heroes (video)
vs.
#8 Kate Bush, Wuthering Heights (video)
A song I like better than the Wallflowers cover vs. a song I like better than the book it's named after.

#5 Breeders, Cannonball (video)
vs.
#12 PJ Harvey, Down By The Water (video)
The random number generator in Excel seems to have ensured that the women in the group will keep battling it out. Sexist random number generator!

#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over The Sea (video)
vs.
#4 Radiohead, Paranoid Android (video)
I'm not too crazy about linking to the Harry/Hermione video, but I didn't have any such qualms linking to Senor Wences singing NMH. So...don't kill the messenger.

#3 Run-DMC, Rock Box (video)
vs
#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow (video)
Are the shoes you're gazing at Adidas?

#11 Minor Threat, Straight Edge (iTunes)
vs.
#6 The Cars, My Best Friend's Girl (video)
Ian MacKaye: more cred. Ric Ocasek: hotter wife.

#7 Gang of Four, I Love A Man in a Uniform (iTunes)
vs.
#10 The Ramones, Sheena is a Punk Rocker (video)
But what if the uniform is ripped jeans and leather jackets?

#15 Joy Division, Transmission (video)
vs.
#2 Elvis Costello, Alison (video)
One of these songs features work from the group that would become Huey Lewis and the News. Can you guess which one?

And all the world is biscuit-shaped, it's just for me to feed my face.

Elvis over Wire (not so indie). Pogues smash Duran Duran (indie!) Go-Gos beat Nirvana (not so indie). GBV outs Loser (indie AND anti-Scientologist!). You crazy kids! You confuse me, but I adore you. (I am clearly not Greg.)

#1 Clash, London Calling – 12 votes
defeats
#16 Stooges, Search and Destroy – 6 votes

Analysis:
“Clash - London Calling is cool enough to be by the Clash.” – Canadian Dave

#9 Elvis Costello, Radio, Radio – 11 votes
defeats
#8 Wire, Three Girl Rhumba – 7 votes

Analysis:
“elvis costello -- because i can never vote against elvis since he was so nice to me when i asked to kiss him.” - Amanda

#12 David Bowie, Sound and Vision – 12 votes
defeats
#5 Velvet Underground, Heroin – 6 votes

Analysis:
“I'm all for the supergroup. Hmmm...what if Mick Jagger...no, nevermind. Hey, hey bout that Keith Richards trepanning? Yeah. Anyway... Velvet Underground” – Tri-Elle

#13 Elliot Smith, Miss Misery – 10 votes
defeats
#4 B-52s, Rock Lobster – 8 votes

Analysis:
“LLTT vs B-52s - I think I've mentioned elsewhere that I'm generally not a fan of "fun" in my art/entertainment. This is a non sequitur because "Rock Lobster" is merely annoying.” - MMC

#3 New Order, Blue Monday – 12 votes
defeats
#19 Church, Under the Milky Way – 5 votes

Analysis:
“The Church - Any other two songs from these bands would have reversed the decision.” - Bunoich

#6 Pogues, Fairytale of New York – 14 votes
defeats
#11 Duran Duran, Girls on Film – 4 votes

Analysis:
“Fairytale of NY. Never mind its overplayedness: the Pogues were still one of the best live acts I've ever seen, and this is the one chance to vote for Kirsty MacColl.” – Cranky Uncle Greg

#7 Go-Gos, Our Lips Are Sealed – 10 votes
defeats
#10 Nirvana, Lithium – 7 votes

Analysis:
“I just voted for the Go-Gos over Nirvana. Wow.” - CDB

#18 Guided by Voices, I Am a Scientist – 10 votes
defeats
#2 Beck, Loser – 8 votes

Analysis:
“G-B-V! G-B-V! I am a Scientist was my gateway drug. Shoot myself with rock and roll, indeed.” - Rud

Now for the next round! I don't have many witty things to say tonight, so there will be no descriptions. Except for the second one, because I take great pleasure in mocking Billy Corgan. Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Wednesday. Comment or email me. We'll post and tally the results then.

From the Great Plains Regional, at the 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

#1 David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust (video)
vs.
#16 XTC, Senses Working Overtime (iTunes)

#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime (video)
vs
#8 Smashng Pumpkins, 1979(video)
The guy in the big suit vs. Uncle Fester.

#5 Pretenders, Back on the Chain Gang (video)
vs.
#12 R.E.M., Driver 8 (iTunes)

#13 Kraftwerk, The Robots (video)
vs.
#4 Patti Smith, Gloria (video)

#3 Devo, Jocko Homo (video)
vs.
#19 Cracker, Low (iTunes)

#11 Flaming Lips, She Don't Use Jelly (video (90210 appearance))
vs.
#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend (iTunes)

#7 The Strokes, Last Nite (video)
vs.
#10 Nick Lowe, Cruel to be Kind (video)

#15 Blur, Girls and Boys (video)
vs.
#2 Iggy Pop, Lust for Life (iTunes)

Look out honey, ’cause I’m using technology

#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart – 11 votes
defeats
#17 Jane's Addiction, Jane Says – 6 votes

Analysis:
“Joy Division, because it's the right thing to do. "Cred," you know?” - Rud

#9 The Clash, Train in Vain – 12 votes
defeats
#8 The Jam, That's Entertainment – 4 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“The Jam - There was a song I'd heard on the radio that I didn't know the title of. There was also this song called "Train in Vain" that I thought I'd never heard. Then one day I realized they were one and the same. The reason I was confused for so long was because I thought the song wasn't cool enough to be by the Clash.” – Canadian Dave

#12 Television, Marquee Moon – 10 votes
defeats
#5 The Buzzcocks, Ever Fallen In Love? – 6 votes
(1 abstension)

Analysis:
“Television. Give me extended wankery or give me death.” - Rud

#4 The Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop – 14 votes
defeats
#20 Liz Phair, Flower – 3 votes

Analysis:
“Blitzkrieg Bop: Once, at an indoor fooball game in South Dakota, I wrote alternate lyrics for this song that would explain the Zimmerman Note. Really, I kind of wish I were making that up. Later that night, in the middle of South Dakota, we listened to a third-rate soccer radio talk show. I'm not sure which was more confusing.

Hey, ho, Mexico, you fight them you get Texas...” - CDB

#3 Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side – 13 votes
defeats
#14 Soundgarden, Black Hole Sun – 4 votes

Analysis:
“Lou Reed, because a) I don't like Black Hold Sun and b) Walk on the Wild Side is the greatest karaoke song for the tone deaf (points thumb) ever.” - rud

#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime – 14 votes
vs.
#6 Public Image Ltd., This Is Not A Love Song – 2 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Talking Heads (though I get "This Is Not a Love Song" confused with "This Is a Rebel Song"--purely on prosody of titles, obviously--and that would just be a WEIRD cover)” - SRF

#23 Sonic Youth, Teen Age Riot – 11 votes
defeats
#7 Husker Du, Makes No Sense At All – 4 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Husker Du vs Sonic Youth - "Teen Age Riot." This match-up makes me sad.” - MMC

#2 Weezer, Undone (The Sweater Song) – 10 votes
defeats
#15 Joe Jackson, Is She Really Going Out With Him? – 5 votes
(2 abstensions)

Analysis:
“Joe Jackson - Is there a more overrated band than Weezer?” – Canadian Dave


Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Sunday. Comment or email me.

From the Midwest Regional, at The Hacienda, Manchester, U.K.

#1 Clash, London Calling (video)
vs.
#16 Stooges, Search and Destroy (iTunes)
I'd muse about a possible second ex-lovers' matchup in this bracket (see 5 vs. 12 below) if I thought Iggy and company had any chance of winning this one.

#9 Elvis Costello, Radio, Radio (amazon)
vs.
#8 Wire, Three Girl Rhumba (lastFM, good luck with it)
If you voted for Elastica, you might want to vote for Wire, as you'd be voting for almost the same song, but better. No hate against this EC song, either, though.

#5 Velvet Underground, Heroin (video)
vs.
#12 David Bowie, Sound and Vision (video)
So, David Bowie slept with Lou Reed, right? And Iggy Pop? Did Iggy Pop ever sleep with Lou Reed? Because they should do that, and then all three should form a supergroup.

#13 Elliot Smith, Miss Misery (video)
vs.
#4 B-52s, Rock Lobster (video)
Ending a party or starting one?

#3 New Order, Blue Monday (video)
vs.
#19 Church, Under the Milky Way (video)
Are bagpipes the new mariachi horns?

#11 Duran Duran, Girls on Film (video (this time SFW))
vs.
#6 Pogues, Fairytale of New York (video)
Two songs Cranky Uncle Greg probably never needs to hear again; I only sing one of them while drunk. --L
[hey, Matt Dillon's in the Pogues video! --GS]

#7 Go-Gos, Our Lips Are Sealed (video)
vs.
#10 Nirvana, Lithium (video)
These will both be included in my One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest mixtape.

#18 Guided by Voices, I Am a Scientist (iTunes)
vs.
#2 Beck, Loser (video)
Voting for GBV because one is actually a scientist is eerily reminiscent of the dopey trixies who squeal "that's about ME!" whenever they hear "Brown-Eyed Girl." But identifying with Mr. Hansen is probably worse.--GS
You can only vote for one, but in real life, it's possible to be both. --L