Round 2 God

[rayge]

A Roberta Flack – I Told Jesus



B Sebadoh – God Told Me

[toomanyhatz]

A is a bit overlong, but better too much Roberta Flack than too much of almost anyone else. Besides, it's a more sincere take on the theme (about time!)

I generally like Sebadoh in miniaturist mode, but like most of their stuff, B is pleasant enough but doesn't stick.

[DarknessFish]

Hmm, it's not often there's a song posted which ends up with me reading theological debates on internet forums, which is a genuine shame. The lyrics don't appear particularly deep, and this is 6 minutes long and a bit of a dirge. But she's singing with conviction, and everything appears to be played with conviction, and it never got boring, despite the length and simplicity. The amount of space between the instruments is a touch of class, everything has proper room to breathe, and it sets up a tension that Flack's vocal manipulates. Interesting, I wonder if I'd get the same feeling after a couple of plays.

Sebadoh are taking the opposite tack here, and thrashing up for 70 seconds, which also has its place. I get the feeling they're in for a kicking, which is unfortunate because there's a real energy to this, and the vocal isn't without charm. It's just up against something which feels more cohesive and profound.

A

[Deleted]

Vote B

[Deleted]

A

[Mr. FOLLARD]

B

altho' A is beautiful and I agree with a lot of what's been said about it

[osgood]

Difficult choice, I loved both and they can't be more different. Just to even current score

B

[Deleted]

I find A immensely powerful in the stately way it builds. Flack's vocal has a wonderful clarity and control and the emotion it contains seems absolutely real.
B is good raucous punk but doesn"t have the same power for me.

A

[fange]

'I Told Jesus' and 'God Told Me' - I feel like a divine middle-man.


This is a good and tough match. B might have clinched a win in quite a few other ties for me, but it doesn't quite get up against A; just a super performance and tune.


A

[neige]

Wow, what a pairing!!

B is fun, but I suppose I'm too old (school) for it

 A is simply lovely

[rayge]

a Well I bought this album when it came out, played it a few times, but have no memory at all of this track, which says more about me and my memory than Roberta or the song. It's graceful, and eventually builds to an agreeable climax, but it does take a while, and if anything it's a little too tasteful - I was hoping for some proper tear-up gospel somewhere in this theme

B Lou's songs were always the weakest part of Dinosaur Jr's albums, so I never bothered with Sebadoh. No idea about the words, but then again there was very little I took in from the Roberta song, and I certainly couldn't accuse this of being over-stately.

Sod it, surprising myself, B

[Reactionary Rage]

a

[The Red Heifer]

I vote B, it's more my speed.

[Half Machine Lipschitz]

I like A better than B, to be honest, but B is mine and I do love it like a little cripple child, so B.

B