Четверг 28 Авг 2008, 1:23

Round Four of the Tournament of Hands is now upon us. This time the eight tracks I was left with after Round Three are winnowed down to a mere four. Can you taste the excitement?

1. Relax (Come Fighting) by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
vs.
2. The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Difficulty: ****
Winner: Melle Mel
Comments: Because, apparently, Grandmaster Flash himself was only involved with the record-scratching part, and didn't do any rapping himself, and this song is actually really a Grandmaster Melle Mel number. (There's at least two MC's that I can hear, possibly more, but Wikipedia won't tell me more than that.) Anyway, "Relax" is a kickass track but still not a real favourite of mine.

3. Take Me Away by Fefe Dobson
vs.
4. As Good As New by ABBA
Difficulty: *****
Winner: Ms. Dobson
Comments: Apparently I prefer the newer sounds of Fefe Dobson to the somewhat stale sounds of disco-era ABBA. Whoda thunkit?

5. What If We Don't Get What We Want? by 13 Engines
vs.
6. The Killing Moon by Echo & The Bunnymen
Difficulty: ****
Winner: Lucky 13
Comments: Am I just getting tired of "Killing Moon", perhaps? I'm reminded of some critic's contention that Echo & The Bunnymen were a watershed in the history of new wave, because after they came out everyone realized things had just gone too far and there was a backlash. This is one of their best songs, but it's run out of steam, in this tournament at least.

7. Bus Stop by The Hollies
vs.
8. Future Call by Jill Cunniff
Difficulty: *****
Winner: Hollies
Comments: Sixties pop manages to beat more modern and dynamic pop, but for how much longer?

Things are really getting down to the wire here. Who do you think will come out on top?