The Batlord

Well, there's an alternative album club that hasn't been touched since 2011, but I'd like to try something a little less involved seeing as how those threads tend to die. The Metal Wars thread was popping for a while and I imagine it helped that it was a much simpler format so I'm giving this approach a shot. I've heard a lot of people say that the metal and hip hop cliques are the biggest cliques around here but I've always thought alternative is arguably the most popular genre on the site, it just hasn't been tapped as much as it should. Here goes...

I imagine most people already understand the concept of an album wars thread since it's pretty simple: I post two albums and the rest of you comment on them and vote. Comments are necessary as this thread is for fostering discussion rather than just voting. Battles will likely last two weeks, or longer if necessary, or possibly shorter if they go fast enough and it looks like the vast majority of people who are likely going to contribute have already weighed in. I'm gonna be very liberal with the definition of alternative. I probably don't have to tell you what that means from the eighties onward, but I'm also counting art/experimental rock from the sixties onward (VU, the Monks, Bowie, Brian Eno, etc), proto-punk (the Stooges, New York Dolls, Modern Lovers, etc), krautrock, post-punk, new wave, and in general any old school rock not generally falling under the classic rock umbrella. Use your best judgement and imagination about anything else I haven't mentioned and PM me your own battles. Suggest whatever you want but I'm likely going to be posting a few of my own that aren't as obscure to get people chiming in on bands that they already have something to say about and hopefully draw in newbies and other members of the site who aren't necessarily aficionados.

So first up is an easy one that I'm sure everybody will be familiar with just to get things rolling...

The Replacements - Tim

R.E.M. - Automatic for the People

Remember, comment and then post the current score of the battle.

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The Batlord

Automatic for the People is pop rock gold, but it doesn't have the same eclecticism that makes Tim a masterpiece. Every song on Tim is different and combines pop, punk, and country in a way that's accessible yet clever. It feels unique but at the same time makes you wonder why ten bands hadn't come up with the sound already. From energetic power pop "Waitress in the Sky" and "Bastards of Young" to softer ballads like "Here Comes a Regular" this album switches from one tempo to another with an ease that is jaw-dropping. And instead of just playing straight punk to show they still have edge they throw in country to up the energy level on "Dose of Thunder" and "Lay It Down" to an extent that one usually associates with Jason and the Nashville Scorchers. Combined with brilliant pacing that keeps you constantly engaged this album is pretty much flawless. And I can't forget Paul Westerberg's vocals. He's the best example that I can think of of a singer who sings better because he has no real professional technique. His ability to convey emotion would probably only be hampered with actual singing training. Love him.

Replacements - 1
R.E.M.- 0

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GravitySlips

I like a lot of the songs on Tim, but there are a few I don't like at all. That's the problem with them in general - when they're good, they're ****ing brilliant, but I don't enjoy a lot of their songs.
It's been so long since I listened to Tim that I can't really remember it.

I like Automatic, and suspect that I like it more than Tim, but I'm gonna have to listen to these albums over the next few days and see how it goes.
If life doesn't sidetrack me, I'll return and vote.

Overall, I definitely prefer REM to The Replacements.

odysseusofsnow

Going to have to go with Tim because of Bastards Of Young. I really like The Replacements also and have never gotten into R.E.M. really, so that's probably a factor too.

odysseusofsnow

Also the album art on Tim is wicked cool.

The Batlord

Alright, hell yeah, another vote!

Replacements: 2
R.E.M.: 0

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