Girls vs. Boys 4AD Smackdown: Kristin Hersh vs. Scott Walker

ooh daaamn

KH

(winner will be pitted against Liz F btw)

Isn't this a bit pointless if we already know Liz is going to win in the end?

This being ILX, there is always potential for challops upsets, so you never know..

Sorry Scotty.

Isn't this a bit pointless if we already know Liz Scott is going to win in the end?

BTW, can you please repeat the point that Walker can only be judged on 4AD output?

I think you just did, but it seems the rulebook has been thrown out the window at this point.

Either that, or a lot of folks really, really like The Drift (which is a fine album, don't get me wrong).

Wait Lisa Gerrard didn't win the girls poll? Weirdos.

lol dude, both of those polls prove that either ILMers need to go back and investigate more artists before voting, or well...ears checked by a physician, etc. I mean, at this point, I wonder if even LIZ would have won if she'd been included! I'm glad she wasn't, though because I would have had a conniption...

I would think this is an easy win for Scott, but then he lost to Nilsson the other week so who knows?

Voted Scott blindfolded in my sleep, btw.

I love all you guys, really, but you have to try to understand the history of 4AD records. All you people who voted Black Francis are in need of an education. Scott Walker is another matter, but to vote Black Francis shows a blatant ignorance of everything. Yes, the Pixies were brilliant as hell but they HAD PEERS ON THIS LABEL HELLO! HELLO~! I'm talking about major, major, major CLASSIC GOTHDOM here. MAJOR CLASSIC 4AD GOTHDOM. And you want to vote for Black Francis? Did you own the 4AD catalogue prior to 1986? No you did not. You did not grasp the essence. Repent. Repent now. You know not what you do.

Bimble is trying to tell you what goth is

But Bimble, you voted for Ian Masters..

I know! But how is it that Brendan Perry gets two fucking votes! This is cause for a revolt!
Also John D. I don't mean any offense at all, this has nothing to do with you at all. You probably should have got 6 votes instead of 4. But Scott Walker...grrrrrrrr god don't even get me started.

Pillbox, please please put together a poll where Liz wins and we can all go walking off into the distance in peace forever?

REMEMBER LIZ WINS EVERY 4AD CONTEST WHATEVER GENDER REMEMBER

bbbbut, The Drift has many hallmarks of classic 80s (goth) 4AD: nightmarish lyrics, beautifully sung; that off-putting juxtaposition of weird opera/atonality.. If you want to rep for the old guard, that is totally fine, but I'm surprised you're so offended by Scott, as opposed to, say, Tunde Adebimpe getting a fair amount of votes.

This is sorta weird since SW only had the one 4AD album, but I think I'd pick Scott anyway. Not voting cuz I haven't given KH much of a proper chance, though based on the little I've heard I don't think there'd be much deliberation for me.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I have to be honest and say I think I've only ever heard one Scott Walker song, I have no idea what his thang is. Sorry for the ignorance but *shrug*.

Goth isnt the only marker of 4ad's brilliance bimble! Far from it - as far as possible from it actually, pls. I'd much rather Mark Kozolek's resigned, quiet angst or J0hn D's storytelling over Brendan Perry's pompous goatee-beardedness (and I love DCD).

And anyway no one even bats an eyelid ever mentioning the wonderful Wolfgang Press. Also whats with all the Ian Masters love, he's just a generic twee-indie moaner!

Wolfgang Press pretty great first few records most defs/

The Drift is fucking great, my faves album of his, & I could never get into Hersh.

Bimble I am so glad to see that blog of yrs!

Also cld never get into Red House Painters! And yet I went to a Black Tape for a Blue Girl show. wtf is my deal.

Kristin all the way. Golden Ocean is one of my favorites of the decade.

Abbott y u braek hart ;_;

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

O wow never saw this one. Scott is great dgmw, but Kristin is überheroine ever ever ever, so I approve of result. Yes, I would vote Hersh > Fraser if it came to that. Even if twere about best singer.

I know Trayce. But it was like 6 years ago or more I heard them, maybe another go is called for. Rec for starters?

Glad it was close - two of my absolute pop heroes. What next, Blossom Dearie vs Tom Waits? Don't make me choose.

^^ yeah, nice to see a lot of votes for both. As great as The Drift is, I can't say I'm disappointed in these results (and Bimble can rest easily, for now at least). I am tired & on vacation, so the final confrontation will have to wait until tomorrow..

Haha, yeah that's how I felt about the results of this, like I could finally rest for awhile. It seems to take two poll results to piss me off before I finally get one I'm okay with these days, though. And yeah I know I put too much emphasis on the Goth upthread, but hell I'd have been happy if the dude from Wolfgang Press had won the other one, you know? The Pixies just happened to be one of, if not the most commercially successful act on the label and a vote for Black Francis just seems like such lazy cop-out to me no matter how you slice it. At least Walker fans can say there's something special about the dude's VOICE - what's so special about Black Francis'? The fact that he screams? Gimme a break.

Good result.

the pixies were cool! and lyrically they could be plenty goth.

But it was like 6 years ago or more I heard them, maybe another go is called for. Rec for starters?

If you mean t'Muses I guess it depends wether you prefer angular angry new wave rock with nightmarish lyrics, or more countryish (if still unhinged) laid back stuff. The first album is fantastic, remains a fave for me, as does the "chains changed" ep. Of the later work, University and Limbo kick ass. But its all good!

I think the Real Ramona is a good starting album for the Muses. Probably best not to start with Hunkpapa or Red Heaven... but anything else is fine.

what's so special about Black Francis'? The fact that he screams? Gimme a break.

Y'know, that was actually pretty amazing at the time. The unhinged cherry on the cake. It was certainly more of a revelation for me than any number of back-combed crooners. 1986-7 was when 4AD really got going!

If you mean t'Muses I guess it depends wether you prefer angular angry new wave rock with nightmarish lyrics, or more countryish (if still unhinged) laid back stuff. The first album is fantastic, remains a fave for me, as does the "chains changed" ep. Of the later work, University and Limbo kick ass. But its all good!

She is still producing great records, like The Grotto and Learn to Sing Like a Star. Also cannot stress enough that Golden Ocean, by Hersh's 50 Foot Wave, is one of the best grunge records I've heard.

I guess it depends whether you prefer angular angry new wave rock with nightmarish lyrics

hahaha this is like asking if I like puppies or bananas or a nice shower after exercise.

Checking out s/t rekkid btw

Y'know, that was actually pretty amazing at the time. The unhinged cherry on the cake.

Oh yeah! It totally was, no doubt. Especially for the whole 4AD aesthetic at the time...me & my friend were rather shocked by the contents of that first EP of theirs! (i.e...did he really just...say that word? on a 4AD record? we felt like we'd lost our innocence!) But again I don't think it cancels out all the other talent in that poll.

Yeah the first TM album is a good choice, Abbott. If you don't dig that, I'd second f. hazel's suggestion for Real Ramona. If you don't like either one, well...I can't help you. ;)

First TM album is MONSTROUS and kinda unique. In a good way. NB note that they have two self-titled ones, the other one quite recent.

1986 one.

Yes. READ the stop signs.

Anyone got a starting-off-point rec for Kozolek?

Hmm. Are you just looking for 4AD stuff? If so, I'd probably point you to the Red House Painters album with the rollercoaster on the front (It's sometimes known as Rollercoaster because there's another self-titled release) or if you want to go past Red House Painters and 4AD, the Sun Kil Moon album "Ghosts of The Great Highway" is to my mind still the best thing he's ever done and more rock-based than the RHP album. I just read he's doing another covers album and a live album this year, but alas, I can't excited about either.

ROllercoaster was the one I tried to get into & failed.

House Tornado = the slept on Throwing Muses record? I never read anyone give it the props it deserves, although the debut has astonishing moments, I think their 2nd might be their best, and it's probably one of my favourite albums of all time.