Welcome gentleman to 2016s song tournament. Each of you has a selected a song that has some deep meaning; a song that represents you in a sense. Well it is now time to judge those songs and by extension you to see if they are worth anything.

The Rules are simple: Every 24 hours two match-ups of two songs will be placed in this thread along with a link to a playlist with the songs included. Listen to both songs in the match-up and decide which one you like more. Make a post and bold the song choices you would like to advance to the next round. On weekends voting will extend for an additional 24 hours because I hear some people have social lives or whatever.

Each round will end at around 11:30 PM Central Standard Time.

Without further ado let the 2016 song tournament commence.

Round 1: One

1. Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans – Coward

2. Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no

Playlist

Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans - Coward
I went with the one that didn't crush my self-esteem.

Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no
Some pretty cool, tight instrumental sections.

1. Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans – Coward
This was actually my first time hearing a Swans song. Good candidate for the "explain the appeal" thread. Like Mark Cuban said, Idontgetit.

2. Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no
The first track I didn't really dig. The 2nd track had a nice mix of indie rock with some jazzy sounds mostly coming from the pianist. The instrumental breakdown halfway through was better than the song itself. The vocals reminded me of Phoenix, which I subconsciously associate with being bored. But yeah nice song overall.

Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans – Coward

Exquisite and uplifting spiritual jazz (with a lead playing style that clearly influenced Kamasi Washington) vs noisy no-wave anti-music.

Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no
I love that chilled out, introspective electronic that is kind of between EDM and IDM. After the full sound comes together, it's one of those tracks I could listen to for hours if I was in the mood.
That fucking groove though. What a perfect interplay of instruments and vocals. It's rare to find Japanese pop music that is so infectiously catchy without being grating or overly sugary. The jazz elements are just icing on the cake.

Edit: which reminds me, I need to nominate the theme from Last Exile some time.

1. Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans – Coward

Glorious from Pharoah - such a beautiful soloist. Not in a Swans mood at all right now and this doesn't feel like the best example of their style.

2. Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no

Sky and Sand is my nom - a song I've loved for a few years now that I threw in on a whim while trying to nominate something. I can see why it's boring some people - it is rather repetitive. But for me, it's a kind of glorious, meditative repetition. I've always said repetition is a great tool when used well. This one is just perfect for the sun coming after an amazing night out setting - reflective and with that nostalgic tinge that I've always been a sucker for. Jazz fusion style J-pop is something I would have never imagined but I can't honestly say I'd come back to this in the future.

Question to you more electronic-literate folks, since I am still getting a feel for most of this music, what would you call Sky & Sound? Minimal house? Is that a thing?

Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans - Coward
First one was good but outstayed its welcome.


Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no
Both felt too long for me honestly but maybe because I heard them for the first time. I give benefit of the doubt to longer song.

4 minutes is too long for you?

It felt like that.

1. Pharaoh Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans – Coward
It is impressive how Pharoah Sanders can sound both harsh and smooth at the same time. He distorts his tone to screeching but it never feels abrasive. It also keeps it from sounding too much like smooth jazz, which is what could have happened given the backing instrumentation. The piano solo is also quite lovely. Overall it is a very pleasant track, although I can't say I feel a strong connection with it on this first listen. It lacks the same spiritual quality I felt while listening to Karma.

I'm not sure I've heard a full Swans song either. It feels very heavy but in a way different from metal. Rather than a wall of sound, it is just a menacing riff with creepy spoken word vocals. I like the weird reverb laden percussion. I can't say I really understand the appeal though.

Pharaoh Sanders it is.

2. Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no

I can definitely see the appeal of the repetition used in Sky and Sand. It seems like a good track to wind down the night. I like how the instrumentation is very muted just laying down some nice vibes in the background. The picture that goes with the song seems to capture the mood perfectly. It feels like you are watching the last minutes of the day as the sun sinks into the horizon. That fade out, then briefly coming back in, then fading out again at the end felt awkward.

Gesu no Kiwami Otome are a really tight band and the instrumentation of this track is top notch. Additionally, it has a really catchy chorus. I will have to agree with batman that the instrumental breakdown was the best part of the song. I'm not sure I can really get behind the vocalist. He doesn't have enough power in his voice.

I'm gonna give this one to Sky and Sand.

1. Pharoah Sanders - Greetings to Idris vs. Swans – Coward

These are both soul-purifying. The appeal of Sanders when he's screaming is the same as Swans. I love you.

2. Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky and Sand vs. Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no

What a cool J-Pop track. Reminds me how stupid the acts at the Grammys probably are. But I've also been looking to listen to some more electronic lately, and that hit the spot.

Also, when you look at AG's liked videos and realize you like all the same things.

*Scrambles to check liked videos to make sure there's nothing embarrassing in there*

Well we're in this embarrassment together bruh.

Pharoah Sanders - Greetings To Idris Pleasant, but kind of smooth-jazzy. At least until about 1:20 in when he starts screeching. That's not necessarily a bad thing. And that's kind of how it goes...a nice smooth jazz track that sometimes gets decidely unsmooth, if that makes sense.

Swans - Coward Kind of industrial. Plodding.The mix of deadpan talking and screaming isn't doing much for me.

Vote: Pharoah Sanders - Greetings To Idris

Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky And Sand Liked the intro a lot. Then it just kept going. Hey, the song finally started! I like this. I think I'd like it even more if either it were edited to trim some of the long instrumental passages, or if a bit more happened in those passages. But it's good. Kind of reminds me of an old Chicago house track, but with some more current influences. The false ending right before the actual end is a nice touch.

Gesu no Kiwami Otome - Watashi Igai Watashi ja Nai no This is good. Catchy. Gets a little too busy toward the end.

Vote: Fritz & Paul Kalkbrenner - Sky And Sand Definitely my favorite of the four.