Rate the Song Above You

Okay, so the idea for this topic is simple (and also a ripped-off forum game, but whatever).

Numerically rate the song posted above you, and give a brief reason for your rating. Then put a song (i.e. its name, you can't append an actual song) at the end of your post, and the next person will rate that one.


A few additional guidelines:

So off we go. I'll start: "Sticky Thread" by Local Natives.

(Yes, that is a song. Yes, I always start my "Rate the Song..." topics with it. If you don't get the double meaning I suggest thinking about how it relates to a forum. )

8/10. My main problem with this song was actually a subjective concern - not often my main complaint - and that'd be the vocals, which I just didn't like that much. It's actually quite interesting of a song, though; the fragmentary orchestral-ish intro was nice, and eventually the song soars to an acceptable degree. I thought the production seemed a bit muddy though (hopefully not just the version I listened to).


"Substitution" by Silversun Pickups.

7/10. It was a pretty good song! However I think that the guitar part was a little too repetitive. I found the vocalist's voice very unique and for the most part good (for most of the song), but I found that the way he sang "sorry" was very annoying. All in all it sounded nice though.

"Crystallize" by Lindsey Stirling

6/10. The violin was well-smoothed, but the drum machine makes up for it by being obnoxiously obvious. I'm indifferent to dubstep as a genre but other than the drum machine, the electronic sounds are a neat choice. Overall a pretty solid song, but the problem ends up being that it's somehow not low-key enough to be ambient but not up enough to be memorable. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't go back to it.


"Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes.

7/10. Very pleasant if slow and rather unexciting. Acoustic-y. I suppose it's balladic? There's so little to say about it, and I doubt I'll go back to it (possibly ever), but it wasn't a waste of time while it was on.


"Semi Automatic" by the Boxer Rebellion.

6/10.  It's honestly not that bad, but it hasn't aged well.  The intro chords are obviously on a keyboard with synthesizer capability, the distortion on the guitar(s?) seems inexpert.  It's not great, but it can be enjoyed for what it's worth.  Though, of course, my final dig at it would be -- who knows if it's worth much.  I wouldn't go back to it, but given that it apparently gets played often, I guess I wouldn't need to actively listen to it again.


"I Felt Free" by Circa Survive.

4.5/10, not that bad but too repetitive to be good.  Lyrically there're some changes, but instrumentally there's little in the way of that.  There really isn't that much to it... the drums keep on pulsing, the guitars keep on clattering, and that's about it.  I give it a rating of "there".


"Coffee & TV" by Blur.

"The Unwinding Cable Car" by Anberlin

6/10 at the most.  I expected a better expansion upon the arpeggiation/picking of the intro than the rather gentle strumming that followed.  The vocalist was nice, but I don't care for lots of "la la la la..."  Make up some lyrics, man.  Overall a bit too soft, in volume and in content.


"Hummer" by the Smashing Pumpkins.

6.5/10.  War generally has seemed like a pretty sparse album for me, and this song is no exception.  Unfortunately the rather prominent plucked bass adds no real interest, and the distant midtone wailing of the vocals is not terribly endearing.  Not bad melody-wise, if dated (and again, sparse), but the supporting vocals and rhythm section aren't much to speak of.


"Strange Attractor" by Animal Kingdom.

1.5/10.  The practically monotone vocals and strummed guitar gave not a dusky or floating tone but a flat quality to the entire song.  Peculiarly weak percussion and choppy bass failed to overcome the one overwhelming flaw - a lack of a remotely interesting melody.


"Is and Is and Is" by White Denim.

7.5/10.  It's a nice song, if very simple.  The vocals can be a bit thin, but I really just don't have much to say about it.    I suppose the piano is repetitive.



"Imagine" by A Perfect Circle.

2.5/10.  They seem to be going the pop-folk route for sure, and the excessive major harmonies and metallic strumming, combined with the surefire saccharine repetition that the chorus embodies, become too much - certainly for me.


"Seasick" by Silversun Pickups.

3/10.  Pretty much none of the instruments have any depth of sound, coming across as flat and tinny.  Even the slight echo in the vocals doesn't seem right.  The guitar would be perfectly fine other than that, I think, but I just can't get past the sound quality of the original.  It's also extremely simple, and in this case it's not a good thing for it.


"Sick Muse" by Metric.

5/10.  Not bad (other than the vocals, which are generic), but sounds immensely dated.  Weak arpeggiation... guitar solos that are hard to tell from the vocals... it could've been ~3.00min. long instead of ~4.75min.


"Tiny Vessels" by Death Cab for Cutie.