Day two of the bracket system witnessed The Misunderstood of the Southern California region getting past the midwest region winner, The Litter. Our congratulations go out to The Misunderstood who, we have on good authority, are huddled at a restaurant in Las Vegas watching the returns with baited breath. Stand by boys, we are about to move on.
Today we move to a bracket with two very strong region representatives: The 13th Floor Elevators representing Texas and The Bad Roads from nearby Louisiana representing The South region. Our celebrity judges will now weigh-in with eloquent words located in the comment section below and let you know who comes out ahead today. So, without further ado, let's get ready to rumble!
Ok, this is a really tough one. Its like picking your favorite child- I love them both! Both are 2-sided slabs of awesomeness. Can we call it a tie? Ok, probably not.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm going to pick the underdog and go with The Bad Roads. Everyone knows and loves The Elevators and their place in Rock & Roll Legendom. But The obscure Bad Roads two-sided killer 45 is just so powerful. I'm going to give it up for The BAD ROADS.
The thing about running 10 singles against each other in a competition for the region by region battles is that you sometimes get surprised by just how good a single is. Take The Bad Roads. I've always loved that single. Hell, I covered Too Bad in three different bands. But I really was pleasantly surprised when it won the South Region of the Battle of the Bands. It's when you stack it up against stiff competition that you really get to see just which 7 incher rises above the rest. Too Bad has great vocals, a tremendous guitar lead and a really beautiful set of different chord progressions for those two odd (in a good way) bridges. And the A-side, Blue Girl, just flat out rocks. More great guitar work.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm going with The 13th Floor Elevators. You're Gonna Miss Me is a song that just never fails to inspire me to pick up the guitar and play along. Soaring vocal performance, unique jug work (yeah I just said that) and a great bridge. Combine with the earlier, alternate version of Tried To Hide and this is just strong enough to hold off a very strong challenge from Louisiana.
This was an easier pick than the first two. A couple months back I watched a documentary on Rocky Erickson and was completely blown away by his story. I loved everything about both of the singles, musically innovative, aggressive and rocking. What more could you want out of a song! Sorry Louisiana, The 13th Floor Elevators are too rockin and are my pick.
ReplyDeleteLike the Misunderstood, the Elevators on You’re Gonna Miss Me are working with a musical palette to create a rich sonic texture that I can’t resist. Overlaying the charging four chord structure, there’s the bubbling jug, the frenetic cymbals, the evolving, searching drums, all underscored and contrasted by the steady and punctuating bass. It all moves along with a purpose matched by the weighty vocals. Just rich. I vote Elevators.
ReplyDeleteI gotta go with the Elevators. Both sides of the Bad Roads 45 are killer fuzz 'n snarl and I'm surprised they haven't show up on more compilations. The Elevators 45 is a little less nasty sounding but still has tons of manic energy and variety in its sound, composition and arrangement. These psychedelic elements give it a boost over the more straightforward Bad Roads 45.
ReplyDeleteKInda weird to be judging one great 45 against another, but it's interesting to listen to this stuff in a new way.
Really great stuff. All of it.
ReplyDelete13th Floor Elevators. 'you're gonna miss me' is just awesome and so is entire body of work. Can listen to it over and over, and then come back many years for same great feeling (as just did now).
ReplyDeleteI won't add much to the discussion because everyone else already said what needed to be said. Elevators without hesitation.
ReplyDelete