Not the Onion. Not parody. This really happened.
I like reading books about books, listening to jangly guitar music, and watching Philadelphia sports teams break my heart.
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Not the Onion. Not parody. This really happened.
Mekons open with a great track and really deliver with "Only Darkness Has the Power." DTAS is undoubtedly post-prime Replacements, but it still has "Achin to Be," "Portland," and the one true classic "I'll Be You." I am going with Westerberg and the boys for at least one more round.
Sign Schwarber immediately after this game!
it's the guns
This line got me: mudslinging Galaxie 500 for self-indulgence and off the mark singing using anything involving Lou Reed shows about as much awareness as Home Alone’s beloved Marv and his crackpot “Wet Bandits” persona.
1. Spoon. GIRLS CAN TELL 2. Pete Yorn. MUSICFORTHEMORNINGAFTER 3. Stephen Malkmus. solo debut 4. Strokes, obv. 5. Beulah. THE COAST IS NEVER CLEAR There are a bunch of albums with a few killer tracks, but the rest of the album is ho-hum
Both places love green. Go Birds!
Watched it for the first time this week. Stamp is excellent. Great piece. RIP Nicky Katt too.
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
The new Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band album is soooo good!
This is why Philadelphia sandwiches are better than New York’s
Franklin Institute Give Away Night
And Peter Buck and Mike Mills on “Tried to be True.”
The Ocean Blue is totally new to me, but right up my alley. The best discovery of the tournament. Thanks to all who nominated!
Booo!
Schwarbomb! Sign that man!
Congrats to Stephen Colbert for never bending the knee.
For the 1st time since the mid-20th c, a major urban US transit network is going to be largely destroyed. Philadelphia’s SEPTA must cut 45% of service, starting NEXT MONTH. 45% is not “waste fraud and abuse.” It’s “would you like to keep your heart or your lungs?” wwww.septa.org/fundingcrisis/
In 1989 neither of these artists were on my radar. But since then I met and fell in love with a girl from Texas who played a lot of Lyle. Voting for the man with the large band.
Kershaw much better on the mic. Taking requests, teasing Smoltz. Much more relaxed
Spiral Stairs’ playlist “Peanut Nut Conspiracy Vol 1.” Just heard the Van Morrison “You Don’t Pull No Punches…” open.spotify.com/playlist/4Rk...
I’ve finally taken sides on the Goose vs Geese divide in the “I only have enough memory to keep one in my brain” battle. open.spotify.com/album/7uY2Qy...
Garrett Stubbs (8) has pitched in more MLB games than Jacob Misiorowski (5)
T.J. McConnell hero watch
@wawa ANNOUNCE IT
XTC is a great singles band. The problem is that their albums usually have fourteen other songs that grow increasingly annoying
Great album, but I feel like it’s better when the sun goes down!
Could Taylor Swift affect the vote? (We know how she feels about 1989!) I first heard of The Blue Nile through the Swifties in my house. Apparently Matty Healy's seduction technique was to play her "Downtown Lights." Travis Kelce is more of a Soul II Soul guy.
That's the one!
Worthy of winning the whole thing
All this time I think I had the Mekons confused with someone else. Voting for them to make up for the mix-up.
RIP to Brian Wilson, who gave us many perfect albums but also the perfect interview
Jody and the gang always make connections between what happened in our past and what’s happening now so this is in keeping with the mission. (But when did they drop my favorite part—the “esoteric political history”?!)
Normally, if you told me a Factory Records band named after Spanish anarchists featured a Mancunian guitar master, I’d be all in. But VR, while pretty, is dull. Instead the nostalgic power of “Vicky Vale!” echoing over summer pool parties is too strong to deny. Voting Prince for this round.
"Madonna of the Wasps" is pop candy for my ears. One of my favorite songs of 1989.
It wasn't a *terrible* show! It was warm, nostalgic, low-stakes escapism wrapped in sitcom absurdity. Rooted in character-based slapstick and misunderstanding, it offers comfort in the formula. Everybody, now: "Just sit right back..."
This blog is now blocked on my work computer! I'll have to read this later on my phone like a young person
2. Graffiti on high school desk: The Smiths and Galaxie 500. They seemed like passwords to a secret, cooler world. Whoever they were, I was sure, they wouldn't be shirtless in a leather vest playing for bikini clad mannequins come to life.
Two distinct memories from freshman year in 1989: 1. A pretty girl with a walkman played "Dream On" for me on our school bus. I was stunned. You mean those shirtless cartoon characters who make sex puns "Love in an Elevator" weren't always a joke?
Those lyrics should be accompanied by snotty blistering blast of guitars. Where’s the angry young man? Wasted opportunity
The Best Album of 1989 Round 1 Match #3 #32 Throwing Muses, HUNKPAPA vs. #97 The D.O.C., NO ONE CAN DO IT BETTER forms.gle/5Yz6fo7zMSMN...
My natural tendency is toward female fronted guitar-centered college rock, but my vote is actually for The D.O.C. "Dizzy" is a stand out for the Muses, but D.O.C. presents a thesis--NO ONE CAN DO IT BETTER--and then backs it up!
“…or what the company calls a ‘rapid unscheduled disassembly.’”
I thought this Motley Crue album was from earlier in the decadent 80s, but I guess that was just "Girls Girls Girls." I wasn't a fan than (or now), but "Kickstart My Heart" does have a good riff. The only BH song I like is "Indian Summer" so I'm going glam metal here.
Well, that's one way for the former Diddy girlfriend to dodge those freak-off allegations.
The odd number songs are DOOLITTLE are like a greatest hits album. Unfortunately, there are the even number songs too. (Swap the great "La La Love You" with "Crackity Jones" to really make it work.)
The game is afoot!
The Best Album of 1989 Round 1 Match #1 #1 Pixies, DOOLITTLE vs. #128 After Dinner, PARADISE OF REPLICA forms.gle/sgnnDYu2oyV6...
Enjoyed listening to After Dinner, but still voted for the inevitable DOOLITTLE. Tough draw. I think I could have easily voted for After Dinner in a few other round one matches.
Scotland, PA
Seeing all the winners listed in order makes me reconsider my bracket. Radiohead and rap account for 8 out of 13 winners. No Radiohead in '89, but there are De La Soul, NWA, and the Beasties...
Of course I am showing my age, but this list proves that the 2000s are the worst era for one hit wonders, a phenomenon that peaked in the 80s and apparently died somewhere between Nina Sky's "Move Ya Body" and The Click Five's "Just The Girl." This list makes Soft Cell look like Beethoven
15 tracks is way too long. "Veronica" is pop candy. "Tramp the Dirt Down" is a great take down of Thatcher, but I wish it rocked with a little more anger. Not his best
Galaxie 500's ON FIRE is my favorite of all of these, even more than the mighty #1 seeded Pixies. Will it prove too glacial, too slow when compared to ear-wormy "Love in an Elevator"? Tune in next week...
"I am the Resurrection" catching strays here. In our house, the Roses play right along side Olivia & Sabrina & Lorde. There's room for it all. Taylor Swift released 1989 in honor of year Madchester broke.
My bracket is also a lot of “me voting my heart.” I can’t imagine rooting for an album I don’t actually like just for points. Cringe as it may be, I like that Lou Reed album—or at least most of it!
My daughter is on a real Helen Keller kick. The Miracle Worker is on again. I’m stunned that lived up until 1968!
Krimpet four pack! I'm going Herr's sour cream and onion, but this is otherwise impeccable
Hell yeah, they did!
chocolate is good, but entenmann's crumb top is goat
Did a lot of prelim listening, but I wanted to get a ballot started knowing that I can make edits. In the nominating round, I like to cast a wide net, but for seeding I am picking my preferred favorites.
Keith Jarrett, Xymox, and Creatures. No way I would have voted for a jazz record in 1989, but now that’s easily the one I’d listen to again.
local piety. city over league.
1. Phillies 2. Eagles 3. NFL 4. World Cup soccer every four years 5. 76ers 6. MLB 7. March Madness 8. NBA in general (can move up if Sixers in general) 9. Union 10. Wimbledon/US Open tennis 11. Olympics, Summer 12. Olympics, Winter 13. MLS 14. The Masters, golf 15. Flyers 16. NHL
Cure Pixies Beasties Nine inch nails
This is absolutely correct
In addition to the automatic “This Year,” I’ll go with “Love Love Love” and the shout out to Raskolnikov.
At the time? “I’m Free” by the Soup Dragons and “The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground. That covered my range of interests
Philadelphia's The Industry. Wild boar ragu. And I still have an uncashed gift certificate.
THE PEOPLE OF PHILADELPHIA RISE UP IT IS TIME FOR ANOTHER REVOLUTION.
Been trying to find this song from 1971 on any platform--Spotify, YouTube, etc. Found it on Tokyo video(!?) "Come on Plane" is an absolute banger. www.tokyvideo.com/video/silver...
"Silence [is] not as the absence of sound but simply...a duration of time where sound can occur by chance. Silence is not nothing; it is the possibility of anything." This is great.
What a year! It kicks 2000's butt. There are half a dozen contenders for a top seed. This should be fun
Go birds.
Phils at full mojo
"Apologies to the Queen Mary" is a masterpiece. Put in the top 20. Love "Shine a Light"! I am not even a Arcade Fire true believer, but they were one of the big indie bands of the past 25 years. If you can find room for Mac Demarco or Steve Gunn or Title Fight (all fine), then squeeze Funeral in.
He cops to this early on, but I really can't believe Arcade Fire didn't make the cut. Sure, there are controversies but disqualify Funeral (or to a lesser extent Suburbs) just because you don't like the French lyrics seems like a miss. WOD is top 10!
Reminds me of The Clash's Cut the Crap. (Both are the sixth album in a celebrated band's discography, both are missing a key element, both are disappointments following an imperial run of greatness, both are pretty forgettable.) Both have at least one gem: "This is England" and "I'll Be You"
All right, fine. The second Trump administration as villains from the Batman TV show. Let's do this.
Love this! Thanks for posting! (This might be a deliberate snub, but U2's Rattle and Hum came out in 1989, right? Eligible?) R.E.M.'s Green.
i need less decorum and more “home game in philadelphia” when it comes to the energy in the room.
I say he lies, And lies, and lies.
I am sorry for thy much misgovernment.
They’re acknowledging Amazon killed Bond. 1962-2015. RIP 007
What were the two?
My take on best pic noms: 1. Dune Part 2 2. Anora 3. Brutalist 4. A Complete Unknown 5. The Substance 6. Conclave 7. Emilia Perez Did not see: Nickel Boys (but I loved the book) I’m Still Here Wicked
Man, they’ve been trying to develop Market East for a long time
You guys should keep the party going…all the way to Philly on Thursday. I’ll see you there!
I’m hoping the guys are having so much fun that they decide to continue on the road…at last as long a the Philly show on Thursday!
"Either way, it’s as if Franklin Delano Roosevelt had showered slurs on Winston Churchill during the Blitz and praised Adolf Hitler" -- The Philadelphia Inquirer's great foreign-affairs columnist Trudy Rubin, on what the hell just happened here www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
The Stone Roses. (But so many more are all time favorites!)
Exactly. Same age. My personal feelings are absolutely a factor, but that's the point! That's when I came to fall in love with music! I remember starting high school and someone had written "Galaxie 500" and "The Smiths" on one of my desks. My ears were about to be opened.
My favorite album of all time was released in 1989. Y2K was a fun ride, but I am ready to get serious about some seriously good music.
Strong disagree! Maybe it's due to my age (I was entering ninth grade in 1989), but I think it's the exact opposite. '89 is one of my favorites and 2000 (with apologies to OutKast, PJ, Radiohead) is a down year.
You are the master bracketologist! Thank you! Should have remembered that Nevermind upset.
How many years has the winner been a top 1 or 2 seed? Who was the last 1 seed to lose? The last few I remember--Public Enemy, Radiohead (twice)--won as 1 seeds.
