You may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?

#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe – 8 votes
defeats
#1 The Clash, London Calling – 6 votes

Analysis:
"When people ask what music I like (and they don't ever ask), and I know that they won't know who I'm referring to if I mention GbV or Wilco or something like that, I say R.E.M. is my favorite band. Then they say "That 'Everybody Hurts' song?" I say, "Yeah." They say, "That song sucks." I say, "Maybe, but have you heard 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite' or 'Exhuming McCarthy' or 'Talk About the - - -' Hey, where are you going? I like 'Hey Ya' and that Gnarls Barkley song, too! Really." R.E.M. gets the vote." - Rud

#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart – 6 votes
defeats
#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – 5 votes
(2 abstentions)

Analysis:
"Joy Division. NMH should never have gotten past Marshall Crenshaw. " - Cranky Bitter Uncle Greg

#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime – 8 votes
defeats
#6 Big Star, September Gurls – 6 votes

Analysis:
"Talking Heads -- Toughest decision this round. Big Star probably would have beat every other song. " - Mike

#9 Pixies, Debaser – 9 votes
defeats
#4 Replacements, I Will Dare – 5 votes

Analysis:
"And no songs by the Replacements feature Black Francis screaming. This is their flaw." - MMC

So now, on to... the Final Four? There's no funny name for this? Really? Okay. Cranky Uncle Greg has requested that I be "less Prussian" with the scheduling, so I'll make this due... oh, let's say Friday. Then give everyone about a week to vote for the winner. Moving on:

W#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe
vs.
MA#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart

GP#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime
vs.
FW#9 Pixies, Debaser

And the resentment rides high

#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe – 11 votes
defeats
#7 Pavement, Summer Babe – 6 votes

Analysis:
Just go look at Mike and Rud talking in the comments, y'all. - Ms. L

#1 The Clash, London Calling – 11 votes
defeats
#18 Guided By Voices, I Am A Scientist – 6 votes

Analysis:
"Guided by Voices, in what, sadly, appears to be a wasted vote. Good run for Little Bobby Pop, it was." - Rud

#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart – 11 votes
defeats
#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime – 6 votes

Analysis:
"I only referenced one of these in my Switzerland/Togo liveblog." -CDB

#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea –9 votes
defeats
#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow – 7 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
"Neutral Milk Hotel, I have never heard this song, but that hasn't stopped me from voting for it four or five times now." - WBF

#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime – 11 votes
defeats
#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend – 6 votes

Analysis:
"Talking Heads vs Matthew Sweet - "Once In A Lifetime." Please, please win." -MMC [Ms. L: You get a pony, little boy!]

#6 Big Star, September Gurls – 10 votes
defeats
#9 R.E.M., The One I Love – 7 votes

Analysis:
"oh, I don't like this. But I feel like I have to give Big Star some sort of present for beating U2, and the bald dude in the R.E.M. video always rather upset me. Big Star it is." - SRF

#4 Replacements, I Will Dare – 11 votes
defeats
#10 Beck, Where it's At – 6 votes

Analysis:
"Replacements. Can we get a Chilton/Westerberg matchup in the Final 4?" - Cranky Hopeful Uncle Greg

#9 Pixies, Debaser – 9 votes
defeats
#11 New Pornographers, Letter From an Occupant – 8 votes

Analysis:
"Pixies. The New Pornographers are nice and all, but, well, they're not the Pixies. Fat Black Francis and stoned Kim Deal rock much harder than the Pornographers, and this was when the Pixies were clearly - clearly - only in it for the money. Like, they weren't trying, but they were still better than just about anything." - Rud

Moving on... to the Indie 8! (Greg came up with the nicknames, y'all, not me. Though I look forward to the DAY OF ROCKENING). Get your votes in by Sunday around 9; I'll tally and post them after me and Bob Pollard finish our collaborative binge drinking session. Or I'll do it after I get back from Intonation and recover from my sunburn.

Oh, did I mention I was on public radio talking about Os Mutantes? And that I'm a shameless self-promoter? 'Cause I am. Moving on!

#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe
vs.
#1 The Clash, London Calling
There's a lot of calling in these songs.

#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart
vs.
#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The lowest seed still remaining the in tournament goes up against one of the three #1 seeds still around.

#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime
vs.
#6 Big Star, September Gurls
The remaining song from grandpappies of indie Talking Heads, or the holy grail of modern power pop?

#4 Replacements, I Will Dare
vs.
#9 Pixies, Debaser
I... I will dare... to be a debaser!

For the love of a God

Let's get some results, people!

#9 R.E.M., The One I Love – 15 votes
defeats
#4 Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun – 3 votes

Analysis:
“The One I Love... how exactly did the Violent Femmes make it this far?” – JZ

#6 Big Star, September Gurls – 10 votes
defeats
#10 U2, Where The Streets Have No Name – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Big Star vs U2 - "September Gurls," which actually appears to be winning!” - MMC

#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe – 12 votes
vs.
#5 Public Enemy, Bring the Noise – 6 votes

Analysis:
“gah. Killin' me. This is the better R.E.M. song, but I'm going PE, because I never forged an ID to see R.E.M. (at 1st ave., no less).” – Cranky Uncle Greg, reminiscing about when he was Cranky Non-Uncle Greg.

#7 Pavement, Summer Babe – 9 votes
defeats
#3 Pixies, Here Comes Your Man – 9 votes

Analysis:
Hey! I get to break a vote again! Oh, Steve Malkmus, you’d be hot if you had better posture. – Ms. L

#9 Pixies, Debaser – 11 votes
defeats
#5 White Stripes, Fell In Love With a Girl – 7 votes

Analysis:
“Debaser - Hey, I got to vote for REM twice, and the Pixies twice. I could have saved some time by saying, "I vote for college."” - Danimal

#11 New Pornographers, Letter From an Occupant – 10 votes
defeats
#10 New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle – 8 votes

Analysis:
“New, old, doesn't matter -- Pr0nography nearly always trumps order.” – Cranky Uncle Greg!

#4 Replacements, I Will Dare – 10 votes
defeats
#9 Nirvana, All Apologies – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Also, daring is always better than apologizing. (For those bitter at Nirvana beating U2, I will point out that daring is far better than following.)” – Cranky Uncle Greg

#10 Beck, Where it's At – 10 votes
defeats
#6 Belle and Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Belle & Sebastian (can I make this one count 5 times, in exchange for some of the others not counting?)” – Cokehead Matt

And now! The Sardonic 16! Blah blah Wednesday 9pm, blah blah email/comment. Anyone want a free pass to Intonation on Saturday only? Anyhow:

From the West Regional, at First Avenue & 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis:
#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe
vs.
#7 Pavement, Summer Babe
Don't you love it when a band and their influences face off?

From the Midwest Regional, at The Hacienda, Manchester, U.K.
#1 The Clash, London Calling
vs.
#18 Guided By Voices, I Am A Scientist
So, how strong are you, indie rock voting block?

From the Mid-Atlantic Regional, at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA
#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart
vs.
#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime
Neuroticize!

From the South Regional, at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, Los Angeles, CA
#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
vs.
#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow
Two of the lower-seeded, lesser-known bands still on the list face off.

From the Great Plains Regional, at the 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime
vs.
#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend
So, how strong are you, power pop voting block?

From the Southeast Regional, at Max's Kansas City, NYC:
#9 R.E.M., The One I Love
vs.
#6 Big Star, September Gurls
Don't you love it when a band and their influences face off?

From the Northeast Regional, at CBGB & OMFUG, NYC:
#4 Replacements, I Will Dare
vs.
#10 Beck, Where it's At
I will personally be voting against Beck to avenge Belle and Sebastian.

From the Far West Regional, at the 100 Club, London, UK:
#9 Pixies, Debaser
vs.
#11 New Pornographers, Letter From an Occupant
So, what generation of indie are you?

Ain't lost yet, so I gotta be a winner.

Ms. L tallied results last night, but they were gone when I went in to add the download links this morning. And now I, Ms. L, am back to tally! Blessed Internet! Woo!
#1 Joy Division, Love Will Tear Us Apart – 11 votes
defeats
#4 Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop – 6 votes

#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime – 9 votes
defeats
#23 Sonic Youth, Teen Age Riot – 8 votes

#1 The Clash, London Calling – 13 votes
defeats
#12 David Bowie, Sound and Vision – 4 votes

#18 Guided By Voices, I Am A Scientist – 10 votes
defeats
#3 New Order, Blue Monday – 7 votes

#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime – 13 votes
defeats
#12 REM, Driver 8 – 4 votes

#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend – 11 votes
defeats
#2 Iggy Pop, Lust for Life – 6 votes

#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – 10 votes
defeats
#9 David Bowie, Heroes – 6 votes
(1 abstention)

#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow – 9 votes
defeats
#2 Elvis Costello, Alison – 8 votes


Here's the rest of the Round of 32. Grab them here or here. Voting for this round will end at 9:00pm CST Sunday. Comments only for now. We'll post and tally the results then.

From the Southeast Regional, at Max's Kansas City, NYC:
#9 R.E.M., The One I Love
vs.
#4 Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun

#6 Big Star, September Gurls
vs.
#10 U2, Where The Streets Have No Name

From the West Regional, at First Avenue & 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis:
#1 R.E.M., Radio Free Europe
vs.
#5 Public Enemy, Bring the Noise

#3 Pixies, Here Comes Your Man
vs.
#7 Pavement, Summer Babe

From the Far West Regional, at the 100 Club, London, UK:
#9 Pixies, Debaser
vs.
#5 White Stripes, Fell In Love With a Girl

#11 New Pornographers, Letter From an Occupant
vs.
#10 New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle

From the Northeast Regional, at CBGB & OMFUG, NYC:
#9 Nirvana, All Apologies
vs.
#4 Replacements, I Will Dare

#6 Belle and Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister
vs.
#10 Beck, Where it's At

Hey! Ho! Let's go!

#9 The Pixies, Debaser – 14 votes
defeats
#16 Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – 3 votes

Analysis:
“Debaser. Is it wrong for me to vote based on making the mp3 compilation easier?” – Cranky Uncle Greg

#5 White Stripes, Fell In Love With A Girl – 9 votes
defeats
#4 The Cure, Close to Me – 8 votes

Analysis:
“Fell In Love With A Girl is the better Pixies song in today's bracket.” – Cranky Uncle Greg

#11 New Pornographers, Letter From An Occupant – 14 votes
defeats
#3 Massive Attack, Unfinished Sympathy – 3 votes

Analysis:
“NPs (would Neko and Dan show up for the streetfight? would it make a difference?)” – SRF [Ms. L: They probably wouldn’t. It wouldn’t ultimately matter, but Neko would help out, while Dan would watch, drink, and self-referentialize.]

#10 New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle – 9 votes
defeats
#2 The Smiths, How Soon Is Now? – 7 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“4. Bizarre Love Triangle wins the battle of songs that I once identified with too much. Where oh where is "Dancing with Myself?"” – JZ [Ms. L: Ahh! Why are you admitting to this in public? Ahh!]

#9 Nirvana, All Apologies – 11 votes
defeats
#1 U2, I Will Follow – 6 votes

Analysis:
“U2. Having to decide between U2 and Nirvana in this tournament is the equivalent of asking a Blue Jays fan to decide between the Yankees and Red Sox. They're both overhyped by the media for more than their performance would suggest.” – Canadian Dave

#4 Replacements, I Will Dare – 11 votes
defeats
#5 Sleater-Kinney, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone – 6 votes

Analysis:
“Mats!” - CDB

#6 Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister – 11 votes
defeats
#3 Mission of Burma, Academy Fight Song – 5 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“B&S. Is Mission of Burma slowly losing coolness points becaquse they've started putting out new records? (Probably.) Even though the records are good? (Even though.) And aren't they one of those bands that you say you like more than you actually like? (Yup.) IYFS, meanwhile, is totally awesome. S&M and Bible study, my friends.” - Rud

#10 Beck, Where It's At – 13 votes
vs.
#2 Nine Inch Nails, Head Like a Hole – 3 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“abstain, I'm not going to vote for Beck, nor will I vote for a Nine Inch Nails song that makes me nostalgic for the era of Jesus Jones.” - WBF

Here are the pairings. To ease your decisions (and avoid any abstentions), download all 16 songs in a .zip file here or here. 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
vs.
#4 Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop

#11 Talking Heads, Life During Wartime
vs.
#23 Sonic Youth, Teen Age Riot

From the Midwest Regional, at The Hacienda, Manchester, U.K.
#1 The Clash, London Calling
vs.
#12 David Bowie, Sound and Vision

#3 New Order, Blue Monday
vs.
#18 Guided By Voices, I Am A Scientist

From the Great Plains Regional, at the 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
#9 Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime
vs.
#12 REM, Driver 8

#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend
vs.
#2 Iggy Pop, Lust for Life

From the South Regional, at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, Los Angeles, CA
#9 David Bowie, Heroes
vs.
#13 Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow
vs.
#2 Elvis Costello, Alison

A Brief Interlude

For further argument's sake, here are WOXYs Modern Rock 500 lists for 2006 and 2005 (Tip of the hat to JQ). How'd they do; how'd we do? The biggest diversions I see is that we gave two top-15 Sex Pistols songs early boots, while they gave Neutral Milk Hotel, our big surprise so far, a lowly #330 spot.

That was a good drum break.

#9, REM, The One I Love – 11 votes
defeats
#1, Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit – 8 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Nirvana. R.E.M.'s about the best, but Nirvana's Nirvana, dude.” - Rud

#4 Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun – 11 votes
defeats
#12 The Clash, White Man in Hammersmith Palais

Analysis:
“The Clash vs Violent Femmes - My copy of The Clash The Clash doesn't have Hammersmith Palais. I think it's a fake song. Fake songs are fun but I'm gonna go Blister in the Sun.” - MMC

#6 Big Star, September Gurls – 12 votes
defeats
#19 Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out – 8 votes

Analysis:
“#6 Big Star, September Gurls. I fully blame Ms. L for this, for if she had not insisted that I needed to go, now, listen, to Big Star, I would have just voted for the Scotsmen. But, again, it's a good kind of blame, hopefully one that comes without death threats.” - CDB

#10 U2, Where the Streets Have No Name – 9 votes
defeats
#15 Sinead O'Connor, Nothing Compares 2 U – 8 votes
(3 abstentions)

Analysis:
“4. Where the Streets Have No Name, which is the song that will be able to finally take down Take Me Out.” –JZ [Ms. L: Actually, that was September Gurls. Not that you voted for it.]

#1 REM, Radio Free Europe – 19 votes
defeats
#8 Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams – 1 vote

Analysis:
“#1 REM, Radio Free Europe. Wait, are we voting on the Hibtone verson or the album version, because...that makes no difference whatsoever.” – CDB [Ms. L: Hey, Cranky Uncle Greg, which are we sending out?]

#5 Public Enemy, Bring the Noise – 15 votes
defeats
#4 Blondie, Heart of Glass – 5 votes

Analysis:
“Bring the Noise ("Farrakhan's a prophet that I think you ought to listen to." Word, Chuck)” – Seth S

#3 Pixies, Here Comes Your Man – 13 votes
defeats
#6 Portishead, Sour Times – 7 votes

Analysis:
“7. Sour Times. The other isn't even one of my top 5 Pixies songs, whereas this one is one of the few successful outings in trip-hop.” - JZ

#7 Pavement, Summer Babe – 10 votes
defeats
#15 Wilco, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart – 9 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
“Pavement--Why is it that these two songs are always up against another really amazing song and I agonize over the decision of which to vote for? Now here I have to choose between the two knowing that one of the Sinead v. U2 mathup is going to get a pass to the next round while one of these songs is "going home" so to speak. ITS NOT FAIR!” - Mike

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

From the Far West Regional, from the 100 Club, London, U.K.
#16 Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (iTunes)
vs.
#9 The Pixies, Debaser (video)
This time around, the Pixies song accompanies footage from Un Chien Andalou.

#5 White Stripes, Fell In Love With A Girl (video)
vs.
#4 The Cure, Close to Me (video)
Which man looks more corpselike?

#3 Massive Attack, Unfinished Sympathy (video)
vs.
#11 New Pornographers, Letter From An Occupant (iTunes)
This is a band-on-band streetfight I'd like to see.

#10 New Order, Bizarre Love Triangle (video)
vs.
#2 The Smiths, How Soon Is Now? (video)
On the Varieties of British Misery.

Today's matchups from the Northeast Regional, at CBGB & OMFUG, New York City, NY
#1 U2, I Will Follow (video)
vs.
#9 Nirvana, All Apologies (video)
Wow, Cranky Uncle Greg's head is gonna explode if he tries to vote for one of these. Which does he hate more?

#5 Sleater-Kinney, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone (video)
vs.
#4 Replacements, I Will Dare (iTunes)
I will. I wanna. C'mon, get up and do something.

#3 Mission of Burma, Academy Fight Song (video [actually the second song in the clip])
vs.
#6 Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister (iTunes)
Clippy's a dick.

#10 Beck, Where It's At (video)
vs.
#2 Nine Inch Nails, Head Like a Hole (video)
I'll listen to their music, but I wouldn't wanna date 'em.

I want to run. I want to hide.

Confidential to Dan: Even though it’s your birthday, you cannot vote twice. Ah well, at least you voted for the exact same 8 songs each time, so I didn’t have to try to parse which votes to count.

#9 Talking Heads, Once In A Lifetime - 11 votes
defeats
#1 David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust – 4 votes

Analysis:
"Once In A Lifetime - Now that choice hurt." - Dan, who cannot vote twice, despite it being his birthday.

#12 R.E.M., Driver 8 – 9 votes
defeats
#4 Patti Smith, Gloria – 6 votes

Analysis:
"Patti Smith (though I don't think that Peter Buck would vote for her so much as throw yogurt all over her and look grouchy)" - SRF, who knows I'm a sucker for a good Peter Buck Yogurtgate jab

#6 Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend – 10 votes
defeats
#3 Devo, Jocko Homo – 5 votes

Analysis:
Let’s critique Cranky Uncle Greg’s comments about this match!
"Matthew Sweet. Isn't it premature to declare Devo the best thing out of Ohio considering the massive Guided by Voices love going around?" – Canadian Dave

"Girlfriend (because Pere Ubu is actually the best thing out of Ohio, sorry Devo)" - Tlaltecuhtli

#2, Iggy Pop, Lust for Life – 11 votes
defeats
#10 Nick Lowe, Cruel to be Kind – 3 votes

Analysis:
"...aaaand this is where Mr. Lowe hits the wall. Mr. Pop!" - Cranky Uncle Greg

#9 David Bowie, Heroes – 8 votes
defeats
#1 Talking Heads, Psycho Killer – 7 votes

Analysis:
"David Bowie--The 1s and 9s in both of these matchups should be reversed!" - Mike [Ms. L: Well, now they kinda are.]

#13, Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – 10 votes
defeats
#5 Breeders, Cannonball – 4 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
"Neutral Milk Hotel! I'm not sure there's enough Pixies loyalty for the Pixies to overcome NMH, much less the Breeders." - Cokehead Matt

#19 My Bloody Valentine, Only Shallow – 12 votes
defeats
#11 Minor Threat, Straight Edge – 2 votes
(1 abstention)

Analysis:
"My Bloody Valentine vs Minor Threat - Wow. All I can say is, wow. Also, "Only Shallow."" - MMC

#2 Elvis Costello, Alison
defeats
#7 Gang of Four, I Love a Man in a Uniform – 6 votes

Analysis:
"Elvis Costello wins my vote with my favorite song in this round. Too bad he picked a terrible day for his Ravinia concert." - SRF

From the Southeast Regional, at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY
#1, Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit (video)
vs.
#9, REM, The One I Love (video)
A classic 80s vs. 90s showdown.

#12 The Clash, White Man in Hammersmith Palais (video)
vs.
#4 Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun (video)
Acoustic vs. electric.

#19 Franz Ferdinand, Take Me Out (video)
vs.
#6 Big Star, September Gurls (video)
Alex Kapranos is the only member of his band older than the song they face.

#10 U2, Where the Streets Have No Name (video)
vs.
#15 Sinead O'Connor, Nothing Compares 2 U (video)
U2, meet 2U.

From the West Regional, at First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
#1 REM, Radio Free Europe (video)
vs.
#8 Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams (video)
Kudzu or cows?

#5 Public Enemy, Bring the Noise (video)
vs.
#4 Blondie, Heart of Glass (video)
I know Debbie Harry rapped. Did PE ever cover Blondie?

#3 Pixies, Here Comes Your Man (video)
vs.
#6 Portishead, Sour Times (video)
I think both of these bands know the nervous walking, actually.

#7 Pavement, Summer Babe (video)
vs.
#15 Wilco, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (video)
Apart from which you prefer... which song's lyrics make the most sense?