Great Albums Bracket - Region 1 (part 1)

And we're off. So this is Region One and in this part 1 (of 2), we'll be seeing:

Radiohead's In Rainbows (1) vs. Beck's The Information (8)
Broken Social Scene's You Forgot It In People vs. Amy Winehouse's Back To Black

The two winners of these matchups will face each other in the Sweet Sixteen in a couple weeks. Click here if you need your memory refreshed.

(1) In Rainbows vs. (8) The Information

Overall Musical Quality and Consistency: In Rainbows is an innovative, unique and complex listen. The same can’t necessarily be said for The Information. It’s one of Beck’s lesser albums, yet even a bad Beck album is still a really good album. The Information probably has the edge in terms of lyrics, but the sheer sound of In Rainbows will be quite hard to beat. Victor: In Rainbows

Best Track: This comes down to Jigsaw Falling Into Place vs. Cellphone’s Dead. Jigsaw Falling Into Place is basically a perfect stage for Thom Yorke’s wailing voice. Pure brilliance and one of Radiohead’s best songs, period. Cellphone’s Dead is classic, weird-o Beck, combining interesting beats and almost a hip-hop foreground that’s reminiscent of anything off of Midnite Vultures. A great song, but not as memorable as Jigsaw Falling Into Place. Victor: Jigsaw Falling Into Place



Impact: The Information was perhaps the first album that I truly waited for and had the date of release marked on my calendar. I was just coming off of intense love for Midnite Vultures (came out in 1999, just missed the cut, would have been a number one seed). My Beck love was at its height. In Rainbows simply solidified the fact that Radiohead is one of my favorite bands, if not my favorite. Has nearly everything I dream of from an album. Victor: In Rainbows

Overall Play Count: 182 to 107 Victor: In Rainbows

Cover Art: I must say, two heavyweights in terms of Cover Art. Yet the cool graphics and colors of The Information are pretty amazing. Victor: The Information



And the winner is… In Rainbows, 4-1

(4) You Forgot It in People vs. (5) Back to Black

Overall Musical Quality and Consistency: The thing that Back to Black has going for it is that basically every song on it is good – if not really good. It has its flashes of brilliance and remains stable the whole time. You Forgot It In People has one of the best songs of this decade (Almost Crimes) and Cause=Time is not far from that status either. Yet Back to Black’s powerhouse consistency reigns supreme for me. Victor: Back to Black

Best Track: As stated earlier, Almost Crimes is incredible (please listen – you’ll be hooked right away). Back To Black, the song, is really strong but simply no match. Victor: You Forgot It in People



Impact: Back to Black was almost a flash in the pan for me. I like Amy Winehouse (AS A MUSICIAN) yet I’m not into her whole train-wreck-whore…aura. But beyond personality, the music is more daring and oozing with unique genius (most of the time) on YFINP. It solidified BSS in my pantheon of greatness and was constantly listened to two summers ago when I ate, slept and breathed Broken Social Scene.

Play Count: 115 to 107 Victor: You Forgot It in People

Cover Art: The YFINP art is mediocre and Back to Black’s isn’t too much better, but kinda fitting to the whole album. Victor: Back to Black



And the winner is…You Forgot It in People

So Region One will be continued later in the week where bands like Coldplay, TV on the Radio and other favorites will be featured. Stay tuned.