And I'm Spent

Damnit, there's like five other songs I could easily take right now and be satisfied. I wasn't planning on taking this song when I started out the draft. However:

A) It's a great, great song, and I forgot how good it sounds

B) It's U2's best song live. So be it. This from Live Aid in 1985.

Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live)

Alright, good job. Now everybody put their hands in the middle......

Yes, You Will Follow

Dopey couldn't resist ending with U2's first big hit:

I Will Follow

How Many Long Titles Can I Take?

We'll start with the final 00's song. Not happy that I missed on some better tracks like Elevation and didn't want to take Beautiful Day. So I'll go with this song since it sounds kinda cool.

I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight

As far as the last song, this was a tough decision. I really really REALLY like The Three Sunrises, but there just wasn't room. So many good other songs and there was very little overlap. So I'll take the Facility theme from Golden Eye 007 on N64: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB4DDtIKrAw

Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car

Gonna Run to You, Run to You ...

If by 'you,' you mean the entire Achtung Baby album, which Dopey is seemingly trying to take.

Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World

They're Singing About Marijuana, Right?

Ah yes, my end game strategy is working out. I had both of these targeted for awhile and am glad to see them get through.

It's funny, I think of this song and Wire as companion tracks because of their respective places on The Unforgettable Fire and the fact that they're overlooked by the bigger hits on the album. Plus, I love U2's heavy breathing phase on that album.

Indian Summer Sky

This song isn't the quality of City of Blinding Lights, but it's relatively close, and it definitely felt like a more classic U2 track.

Miracle Drug

I'll Have the Tofurkey

Dopey showing how much he loves Achtung Baby, though I can't begrudge him because this song does kick ass:

Even Better than the Real Thing

Still Can't Believe It's Available

I'm very happy to swipe a mega hit this late in the draft. No comment needed since it's such a popular song.

Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

As for my second song, I'll take my 3rd needed 90's song. There were 3 songs I liked on Pop. Disotechque, Staring at the Sun, and this one. and it couples well with my previous pick Until the End of the World.

Last Night On Earth

Defining Dopey's Teen Years

Dopey's desire to take a song from Boy led him to this. A solid song, but don't all the songs on Boy sound alike?

Out of Control

Milhouse's At-Bat Music

I'm actually having some touch choices here coming down to the wire.

Dopey made this first decision easy with his last pick. Toying with two tracks from All That You Can't Leave Behind -- I probably would have taken this anyway, but now the choice was made for me. A tad schmaltzy but also some really great melodic parts.

Walk On

When Milhouse took Two Hearts Beat as One, I had to reconsider what I wanted to take from War. Not that I would have taken that track -- I was torn between several. But it seems War is insanely popular, and I would like at least to take one track before I get painted in the corner. I find this track just as good as Two Hearts, so it was really part of a larger either/or scenario for me.

Like a Song ...

How Long Dopey Takes to Make His Picks

Dopey continues his All You Can't Leave Behind run with this pick (a good one, I might add):

In a Little While

Y2K Celebration

I am shocked that both of these songs have lasted this long. Of all the songs I liked, I thought these two were the most "Rambler-esque" songs that existed. It's a running joke I've had for awhile which signifies a song with no to little guitar solo and generally sounds like U2. It works when we talk about different bands. Anyway, I swore Rambler would have taken at least one of these by now, but somehow, they are still there at Rounds 10 and 11.

The first has SUCH a great riff. Love it and how they keep coming back to it. Hard rocking.

Until the End of the World

The second was the song that I struggled with taking when I took Refugee. Similar sounds but this one just has the fast beat and fast guitar I love. Great track.

Two Hearts Beat as One

City Slicker

Dopey's text "I'll take New York but the Mets still suck" yes, Rambler and I are Mets fans living in Philly. Don't we have enough torture already?

New York

I Prefer the Mana Tree

At this point in the draft there's the off chance someone may steal the song you're holding out for. In reality though, it seems things have really opened up, to the point that it's not so much what that person might take of yours, but just curiosity of what that person will take. Also, I'm pretty tired, so let's get on with it.

First, the unknown secret of The Joshua Tree is that it's not as deep as some of the other albums -- just higher high points. Which means, after Milhouse took One Tree Hill, there's not as much to choose from. This track is quite beautiful, though, and a good last card to pull from that deck.

Running to Stand Still

Next, this single didn't make many waves when it was released (just like the album), but I actually quite enjoyed it, with U2 acting at its most playful and fun, which really carries through the track.

Get on Your Boots

(And yes, I'm running to a stand still because I got on my boots.)

Definitely Not One of Dopey's Sins

This could have easily been a first round track if somebody really wanted it. Of course it's awesome, but we're all just dragging our feet to make sure we don't just take massive hits.

Pride

Is this a Tom Petty Draft? Wyclef?

Feeling very happy that I went unscathed through those last 4 picks. None of them were on my radar, not even One. This first song is a hit single and really shows their blues side. If I didn't get this song, I probably wouldn't have represented Rattle and Hum

Angel of Harlem

There are two songs on War that I feel are excellent, if not very similar. Couldn't really distinguish which one I wanted, so I'm taking this one because, well, I don't really know why. I just really like it and it's calling to me over the other one.

The Refugee

Dopey's animal spirit...

Ok, his animal spirit is more likely a wolf or some pack/hunting animal. But in the sense of taking elevation and the innuendos we make about him, this song seems appropriate since he likes to "fly"

The Fly

One Fart

Alright, sorry about that, no more delays.

First off, it's not my intention to take so many '90s songs in a row -- I guess it's just a clear delineation in that decade of the songs I definitely want versus the songs I don't (instead of the '80s, which has a ton of awesome tracks grouped together). Anyway, I definitely would have taken this song last round, it's great, massive hit, etc.

One

And it's also not my intention to take all singles. Milhouse really fucked me over by taking Electric Co., so this is my fallback, though a song I've always been enchanted by, even if it's a little too ambient.

Into the Heart

One note: the previous track off Boy, An Cat Dubh, flows right into Into the Heart. Some people group them together as one track, others don't. Frankly I'm undecided if I want both tracks together or separate. Give me a day or two to decide, I just didn't want to hold things up any longer. However, if someone really wants An Cat Dubh, they can pick it and I will relinquish it.

You!

Dopey has made his preference for songs with similar titles clear after his last pick and then this pick.

All I Want Is You

Abracadabra!

Love Love LOVE this song! Played it through at least 5 times when I first heard it. Such a Milhouse song, and I feel like it would have kept falling. But it has consistently been in my head for days now.

Wire

As for my next pick, taking another hit and get credit for a 00's song! Def taking the remake.

Sweetest Thing

Who?

Quote Dopey: "All Because of You sounds like The Who. I like it."

Okay then.

You Know, They Never Did Answer That Question

Everybody is making some very strong selections. Good to see.

Still a lot of depth to the '80s, which is drawing me to some relatively newer stuff.

First, I always loved this song from Pop, and I also thought it got kind of a bum rap because it represented "U2's new sound" at the time. Frankly, I think it plain rocks.

Discotheque

Next, I toyed with this and another song from the same album. Beyond considering taking both this time (something I toyed with), I thought about what those songs mean to me. One song is awesome, but so is this one. Plus, I consider it to be 'my' song, something I've championed as a huge unknown hit, even so much that Milhouse mentioned this song by name when talking about songs I really like. So be it, decision made.

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

And He's Peelin' Off Those Dollar Bills

My buddy and I, upon having too much time in college, came up with this game of using U2 song names as euphemisms for taking a shit. This was the best one I came up with, which is also Dopey's pick:

Bullet the Blue Sky

The Next Tier

I feel like I'm dipping into the next tier of songs. This tier consists of lesser known non-singles that simply rock. They are the songs that I play over and over again, skipping other songs on the album to get to them. The question, do I pick the ones I truly love or the ones I don't think will make it back to me? I'm picking the ones I think Rambler and Dopey would take and hoping the ones I truly love fall to me.

First one is a song I think Chucksta will kick himself for not taking. I have a vague memory of him telling me about 5 years ago that this is known as one of the best non-single U2 songs. It's also the clear best song off of Boy and I would like to represent that album without necessarily having to take I Will Follow.

The Electric Co.

The next song is another great song off of Joshua Tree. After Bullet the Blue Sky, I feel the album really tails off...until this song. Totally pulls the album together near the end and solidifies it as a great album.

One Tree Hill

Upon Rambler reading that I took Electric Co. this was his response: "F___. F___. I was banking on taking it. F___. Can you at least take the live version? It's so much better."

So I'm actually taking the live version.

Just like his name...

Dopey takes the song which most suits him.

Elevation

Putting the Squeeze on You Guys

Interesting choices so far. The contest is still pretty wide open, a lot of different ways this could go. I'm balancing picks with a personal favorite and what I assume might be a coveted track (that I really enjoy nonetheless).

First up, the best track from Zooropa. (Though that album gets a bum rap, it's got some nice depth to it.) This song's kinda unique in the grand scheme of things, but so was much of U2's work in the '90s.

Lemon

Next up, a huge, huge personal favorite of mine. Don't know if this is on anybody's radar. Don't care. Like it too much to even risk the chance of losing out on it. My favorite non-hit, easily.

A Sort of Homecoming

Shooting BBs

We assume Dopey picked this track not because of the song (actually, the song is very good and a lesser-known favorite of a lot of U2 fans), but because of the unintelligible conversation that Bono and B.B. King have on the Rattle and Hum DVD before they perform this song together.

When Love Comes to Town

Dipping into the 90's and 00's

There is one basic rule for this draft. Of the 15 songs needed to be drafted on this album 5 need to be from the 80's, 3 need to be from the 90's, and 3 need to be from the 00's. With these two picks I'll have one from each decade.

I used to like this song but it wasn't a 5 star song for me. Catchy but kind of lost on the radio to me. Doing research for this draft and hearing it in the context of the album, I was awe struck. Easily the best song on Achtung Baby and of the 90's. It also plays into my harder rock style than Chucksta and Dopey. Truthfully, I bet I could wait about 5 more rounds to take this, but I'd like to get my top songs from the 90's and 00's due to it's overall weakness versus taking another 80's hit that probably won't be there next turn. Ditto with the 00's song. A definite 1 or 1A to another 00's song in an otherwise weak decade.

Mysterious Ways
City of Blinding Lights

Who's that in Left Field?

It's Dopey. A little info. U2 is Chucksta's band, not mine. So when Dopey took this last track, Chucksta chimed in with "nice song. definitely top half of that album." My thought was "I need to go listen to remember that song." Which I did. Nice song, not on my 47 song U2 prep list though.

So Cruel

I'm Double Penetrating This Draft with Awesomeness

First reactions:

Damn you Milhouse for taking perhaps my most beloved U2 song. But it was probably to be expected.

Dopey: Bad is a great, great song. It might have been in the running my next time around, but it's a testament to U2 that there are so many great songs that I'm not even flinching. (Personally, I would have taken the live version from Wide Awake in America. But hey, that's me.)

Now, in the words of Ace Ventura's talking buttocks, 'Okay, now it's my turn!'

My big gamble was to take the third pick and let Tim pick the second. The thought process was that I had a clear top three, and by picking third, I ensured a reasonable shot of getting two of those tracks provided Milhouse and Dopey didn't read my mind. The gamble worked, which pleases me.

First, this is the song I would have taken first had I had the chance, even though it's 1 and 1A with Where the Streets .... It's a massive hit for U2, an overly popular tune, but also simply perfect in its build up and execution. So glad to get this track.

With or Without You (Live)

(By the way, I'm taking the live version from Rattle and Hum. It's not on the CD, but it was in the movie. Not only is it awesome, but it has an extra verse at the end that is balls out great and I wish they would have put it into the real song. Here's the link to listen it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzZj7zHtMEU)

Next, another massive personal favorite of mine. I hope they play it at the concert, since they didn't play it last time. It's kinda underrated in the canon, plus they absolutely massacred it on the Best of 80-90 by just repeating the chorus at the end instead of using the last verse. Still, it can't taint the original, which is just plain exceptional.

New Year's Day

Alright, that felt good. Now to smoke a cigarette.

Blogspot is Dopey, but Dopey is Not Blogspot

Dopey has decided not to bother with "that Google bullshit," so for the sake of continuity we'll be sure to post his picks.

For his first pick, Dopey takes ..... Mofo.







(Actually, he takes Bad. Though an obscure song from Pop would have been our preference.)

Let It Commence...

(silence...)

Do you hear something?





It's getting louder...




There it is. But what is that?




Wait...A church organ? I thought this was rock and roll?





Ah, there's the guitar. And the familiar hook. So starting off the U2 draft, I'll take arguably their best song. Not because it is my favorite (though it is top 2...and either 1 or 1A with another song) but because I know it isn't making it past this first round. No way. Let the draft begin!

Where the Streets Have No Names

Def Lep Album/Concert Review...and the next Draft process

The latest Def Leppard concert was AWESOME! Who cares that they played the same songs they always play (save for a new one). It still rocked. The best part about it was that Daily Rambler (DR), Dopey, and I (I'll save our names) played a game to decide the draft order of our upcoming U2 draft. We predicted two songs that Def Lep would play (easy pickins) and whosever two songs played first, they got the first choice of draft pick. So who won? Yours truly! My two Def Lep songs were Animal (3rd song played) and Foolin (4th song played). Daily Rambler was not far behind with his choices (currently blanking...I blame the alcohol) and Dopey was far in last.

And onto the album. DR came up with the idea of making an album for the concert. "10 Def Leppard songs having to do with...." It was basically open ended. Pick 10 Def Lep songs and have some sort of theme. We both ran with it. Here is my album:

"10 Def Leppard Songs Having to do with Baseball"
This album is meant to show the variety of a baseball season from start to finish. For each song, I've added the month of the year as well as an alternate title. (real title in parentheses)

1. January: Off Season Rumors (Truth?)
2. February: Rabid Fans at Spring Training (I Wanna Touch You)
3. March: Delusions of Grandeur (It's All About Believin')
4. April: Opening Day Starter (Rocket)
5. May: Clean Up Hitter (Demolition Man)
6. June: Stale Coaching Philosophy (Another Hit and Run)
7. July: Bases Loaded Calm (Blood Runs Cold)
8. August: Aggressive Play (You Got Me Runnin')
9. September: 9th Inning with Bases Loaded (I Wanna Be Your Hero)
10. October: World Series Memories (Photograph)

Ok, some of them are a stretch, and critique it as you will. But it is a solid play list.

As for the U2 draft, I'll take the first pick. Draft starts Friday and I already have my first pick lined up.

New Draft Ideas

Another draft is in order. I may still be doing a Cake draft in preparation for my concert, but who says another can't occur at the same time? And please, if someone has an idea and wants to run with it, GO FOR IT! CJ or I don't need to be draft commissioner or even involved for that matter. I'm happy to follow or participate in any draft.

On to the ideas. Here's what I heard last night along with some other ideas CJ and I had kicked around earlier.

Scott Weiland or Slash (some combination of STP, GNR, and Velvet Revolver)
Linkin Park
Rock Vocalists (Come up with a list of 50 defining rock vocalists, and then you get to choose one vocalist each turn, with one song for each vocalist)
Bare Naked Ladies
Some Rap Idea. East Coast, West Coast, Death Row, etc.
Guilty Pleasures (Come up with a list of 100 and then go from there)
Foo Fighters
Ozzy Osbourne and/or Sabboth
Local Bands
Audio Clips of Dennis banging random women
Def Leppard (oops, how did that slip in there...)
Any other idea.

So here's the plan, use this thread to put up other ideas. Then, after a few days, I can open a poll and have people vote and we see what idea is dominant.

Last night was fun guys. Good to see you all.

Draft idea

I have an idea for a draft. I think it would be cool to do a draft of everyone's favorite local band. Original music of course. Unless someone wants to do cover music. Everyone can choose one cd and we can exchange them all and pick our favorites. What does everyone think?

A quick 2010 review and 2011 preview

Hello Boys,

2010 was a great year for Albums Drafts. It marked the first time that a draft consisted of more than the original two nerdy nerds....and it happened twice! Here's how it went down.

Train came around in concert in March, playing at the Keswick. That draft consisted of 5 people, the largest in Album Draft history. The draft was a huge success, suckering 3 new people to the scrumtrulecent (the only possible word to describe this) ways of the album draft. For me, Train was a highlight of the year. Seven albums, all good.

The Album Draft was started in 2007 with Def Leppard and there's been a Lep draft every year. In fact, I kinda remember each of the past 4 years by what Lep draft there was. We did another one this year which was of course a success. Still, it lacked the hype of a multiple person draft. Some great songs were uncovered, but it wasn't the same.

To finish the year, we took our first foray into non-mainstream music, diving into the MegaMan series and it's oodles of spin-offs. Snaring two more people into the grasps of an album draft, the total number of people is now up to 7. So much possibility.

And so looking into 2011, here is what I see. Please people, give your comments! What drafts would you like to do? Over the past years, we've tended to do 3 drafts a year: Spring, Summer, Fall/Winter. Still, we have discussed expanding to 4.

Cake is coming in concert on April 17th at the Keswick (oddly, where Train plays...and in the same town where I now go to school....) I'll be doing a Cake draft with those going (College buddies Blue, Tootie, and my cousin Abby). If anyone else is interested in either the concert or the draft, please let me know.

Last summer was supposed to be highlighted by a U2 concert and draft. Dennis, I'm sure you hate U2 so let the roasting commence. Still, their concert is now this summer. A U2 draft will be happening. I think the concert is in July.

So that leaves a Fall and a Winter draft. Maybe one starting around Sept and another Dec. I don't know how we could go a year with Def Leppard, but stranger things have happened. Here are some other ideas we have kicked around:

Scott Weiland (STP and Velvet Revolver)
Slash (GNR and Velvet Revolver)
Linkin Park
Final Fantasy
Bare Naked Ladies
Foo Fighters
Ozzy
The Beatles

Those are the bands. Here are other ideas:

Rap (East vs. West or some variation)
Rock Vocalists (Come up with a list of 50 defining rock vocalists, and then you get to choose one vocalist each turn, with one song for each vocalist)
Guilty Pleasures (Come up with a list of 100 and then go from there)

We're open to ideas. What are you guys thinking?

Megaman was fun. Lets see what 2011 has in store...

The End...

Ok, so sorry it has taken forever to get these last picks in. It wasn't as easy to find exactly what I was looking for as I thought. Oh well, it's done now. I am going with good old Powerglove again. I liked Arm Cannon, but the song they did started out with the MM2 Prologue, which I already have. Since Dorian picked the one standout Wily Stage in my eyes, I am taking a version of it that's pretty awesome in it's own right.

Powerglove - Dr. Wily's Theme

I'm looking forward to hearing these awesome CDs and beating more Wily ass.