Interactive Poll: Whatever Floats Your Boat

suitkees wrote: First impressions... (2nd instalment, to be continued...) JD and his overdose of songs: Several well known artists. The Doobie Brothers song is nice, but leaves me a bit indifferent. Enya's Orinoco Flow, that was a smashing hit at the end of the 80s and maybe a bit overplayed then. It has all that it needs, and it is wonderful but a bit too polished to my ears (and I still prefer Clannad). Gordon Lightfoot brings us a wonderful song with his well known quality; a touching storytelling aspect, classic in its structure, but very captivating. Gowan, not sure I heard of him (other than that he joineds Styx). This is a rather typical 80s AOR song, but (so?) I like it very much. His voice makes me think a bit of Chris DeBurgh, and actually, his music a bit too (of som DB's 80s outings...). Nice! Ah, Men At Work, it's been a while I haven't heard them. You see, the 80s were very good! This one is actually better than any hit song I remember from them! Not sure I heard Men Without Hats before. This is another typical 80s new wave track, a bit quirky. Nice to hear, but it does not have the quality of Men At Work or Gordon Lightfoot, which are my favourites of these.

I don't disagree with any of this. And BTW, I'll try and keep the picks to 3 next time.

First impressions... (3rd instalment...)

Raff: Blind Faith, wow, what a bunch of great musicians! They deliver a wonderful Classic Rock song (with a capital C and a capital R!). I know them as a band but never listened much to their music, so it's a good thing to put that under my nose.
The Stranglers, another very well known band, but I don't think I ever heard this track, and I love it. Actually surprised to learn it is from one of their earlier albums - a curious mix of new wave, punk and something very sophisitaced. Nice choice! Lucio Dalla brings us a rather depressing song (in its lyrics) with a convincing voice against a monotonous, pulsating rhythm. This has something captivating, but I will have to listen to it again to be completely convinced. With Giuni Russo we're in early 80s pop-rock - wonderful voice, indeed, but the song is for me rather underwhelming.

mathman: What happened? Soft-rock from Gillan & Glover? Something went wrong. Nice to hear though, even if I'm used to much better by both of them. Mark Eitzel is unknown to me; a kind of big band pop-rock. Nice to hear, love the piano, but maybe a bit too monotonous in the singing department. Gustavo Santaolalla delivers with his wonderful playing a captivating song which gets more atmospheric with the violin. Needs a film, maybe, to fully come into force...

Logan: Ween who Piss Up A Rope. Now, that provokes images (as do other parts of their lyrics), but shouldn't this song be censored? Foul language, anyone? Big fun, though.

Lewian: Mice Parade's Waterslide starts with a very watery piano before drums set in, very up-tempo. Apart of the singing it makes me think a bit of a mix between the Nits and Gastr del Sol in its dense textures and some sudden turns and experimental/avant-tinge. Didn't know them and this one makes me curious... Thomas Dolby is indeed well known, but this is a great rendition of this song. Not spectacular, but nice to hear again. Loved your Comsat Angels suggestion in the previous poll, and this one is again a great choice. Maybe a bit dated, but it keeps its strength.

Snicolette: Luno Rae with Contact Solution is a typical American singer/songwriter product to my ears, leaning to pop. Nice, but will not stick in my head for long.

rushfan4: Ah, he found a loophole. Interesting cover; I suggest you post it here. Interesting, but not a very spectacular cover, imo.

The Anders: Great choice! I like most of Eisler/Brecht collaborations, and here with the powerful singing by Gisela May. Too short, though.

Cristi, in echo to The Anders: Smetana's Moldau; with Wagner, he brought some pomp in classical music. Sometimes a good listen, but not always.

Tancos: Very nice eclectic selection! Hot Tuna: This sounds from the start really great. Some wonderful (guitar) playing in a relatively "simple" song structure. I really like this one! Shugo Tokumaru starts of in a more contemparary music vein (Steve Reich...) before it becomes a peculiar kind of pop and indie-rock mixture. Intriguing and original, worthwhile to explore more, I guess. Eubie Blake is more symphonic ragtime music. Interesting, but not my favourite. Neither is Michael Chapdelaine, although I recognize the great playing, but the guitar as solo instrument has seldomly convinced me.

suitkees wrote: I see Cristi has put up another run of three suggestion, but I refrain from commenting any further unless it is from someone who hasn't put up anything yet. It really become too much, otherwise...

Snicolette wrote: BaldFriede:  Nina Hagen Band "Naturträne"  Begins with some lovely acoustic guitar notes (and I love the finger sounds on the strings).  I do know some Nina Hagen, but not a lot.  Here she is very operatic to my ear.  There are some underpinnings of choir-ish vocals underneath and drums come along, with a string section, then a more traditional sound of electric lead commences.  Nina returns with her plaintive, then strident operatic tone again, ending on a very high note with a bit of a cluck at the end.

Here are a couple of real suggestions:

Edited by rushfan4 - May 01 2021 at 19:46

Snicolette wrote: jamesbaldwin wrote: My selection: 1) Alberto Fortis: Mary   Lorenzo, this one doesn't work for me, perhaps you can confirm or may not be able to, that this is the same?  It's 5:22 in length.

jamesbaldwin wrote: A question for American and Canadian friends: Don't drink the water by Dave M. Band is very famous among you?

jamesbaldwin wrote: A question for American and Canadian friends: Is Don't drink the water by Dave M. Band very famous among you?

This Canuck (Canadian) does not recognise the name of that song, and after playing it I don't remember it despite it sounding vaguely familiar. I wasn't really into the alt. rock/ pop rock kind of scene, didn't play much music radio, and while I like much more from that time now than I did then, that particular kind of music is still not really in my wheelhouse. At the time it came out I was in my full-on international art house film obsession mode and was mostly playing classical music, film soundtracks, and Kitaro when I did put on music.

did not know what Dave M was at first, but Dave Mathews Band is huge, I had a CD and I gave it to an American friend of mine, he'd listen to it more than I would. 

Edited by Cristi - May 02 2021 at 07:00

suitkees wrote: First impressions... (3rd instalment...) Snicolette: Luno Rae with Contact Solution is a typical American singer/songwriter product to my ears, leaning to pop. Nice, but will not stick in my head for long.

  That was only to meet the challenge of finding a song about contact solution, not a serious potential entry.