Modern Qualifier 1 – CITY ZERO GIRL SHOUT

The lead single from the French band’s Hurry Up We’re Dreaming in 2011 – nominated by Charlotte A.
The lead single from the indie rockers’ 2009 LP It’s Blitz – nominated by Arron W.
A heavyweight collab from Royksopp’s 2009 LP Junior – nominated by Al E.
Rounding off our headline group, the title track from the Swedish’ electronic band’s 2006 LP – nominated by Graham M.

Modern Qualifier 2 – RUMOUR DIANE BROTHER DEAD

Modern Poll Day 2 Playlists

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Arron Wright

10 May 2023 12:24

Hello. I picked ‘Zero’ because there was much Discourse about whether it should have been the YYYs song in the 4-letter-words poll. Crucially, this was back in summer 2021, the days of one-song-per-artist. (‘Maps’ made the semis anyhow, btw)
However, I didn’t even vote for it, because ‘The Girl and The Robot’ is equally ace and I assume it will need more help. Also, the more non-UK/US songs advancing the better, he said, having, er, picked 2 UK and 2 US songs for the Modern poll…

Arron Wright

10 May 2023 12:29

Reply to Arron Wright

(I also meant to add that the extended/album mix of TGATR is even better AND has more YT views)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIWRYwCGEF4

j_e_l

10 May 2023 12:26

A kind of drenched in synth syrup group for me. Not the good kind of syrup. Quite liked the cheesy sax bit on the M83 song.

Last edited 1 year ago by j_e_l

palacelotty13

11 May 2023 08:18

Reply to j_e_l

The cheesy sax bit is top tier cheesy sax.

Mitchell Stirling

10 May 2023 12:37

When I first heard ‘Zero’, I was convinced it would be a Parallel Lines moment for YYYs, and the band would go supernova. I blame Interscope and the rest for not making that happen.

Tom

10 May 2023 12:50

This is very much a “The Blog Years” qualifier for me. I still think of The Knife as a message board favourite that somehow escaped out into the wider discourse. M83 I associate with semi burnout on music at the end of my time writing for the Guardian and Pitchfork; gratified to hear how good it sounds now, even if it is a bit MGMT-ish.

Kat but logged out innit

10 May 2023 13:14

Forgotten how much I liked R&R at the time, easy vote. Zero is good of course but doesn’t really get going until too late.

Steffen Rayburn-Maarup ?

10 May 2023 13:28

I’m not the world’s biggest synthwave fan but I do love M83’s music from around this time. Easy vote among three very good songs.

qosephine

10 May 2023 14:51

This is just making me realise how long I’ve been in the same job, as I definitely heard all of these for the first time on 6 Music in the same office. I have a vague memory that Tom pooh-poohed ‘Zero’ and preferred a different YYYs song on the same album, so I’ve always felt slightly guilty for liking it best!

Tom

10 May 2023 16:07

Reply to qosephine

Hopefully I can assuage your guilt after all these years! I do (or at least did) prefer “Heads Will Roll” but only a tiny bit.
“Zero” IS however the only time I got a blurb sent back from Pitchfork with “no, write it again” instructions – I think I stressed its fetishy subtext too much!

sclv

10 May 2023 16:03

In a very synthy and nostalgic group I gotta go with The Knife, which, title aside, is the most delicate and least shouty of the bunch — still less of the sound of a foreclosed possibility, or a genre reaching a conclusion, and more of a coiled spring, an icy and menacing bit of latent energy that could go off in any direction.

Edward Still

10 May 2023 17:50

Great group, would love to see any 2 of the latter 3 through, (and voting for 0 here 😉 )

wmterhaar

10 May 2023 18:45

In the 2000s there were some bands of which I only like their first album, while later albums are more critically acclaimed: LCD Soundsystem, The Horrors (UK, although also of the USA one that was active at the same time) and YYYs. Weird.
Never got past Silent Shout for The Knife too, but that was more because I never got to listening to there other stuff, like sometimes happens. Silent Shout is still good.

Arron Wright

10 May 2023 20:25

I think this is right… if ‘Zero’ reaches Pollhalla, the YYYs will overtake Outkast*, Wet Leg, MGMT and That Girl In Stockholm Right Now as the most successful C21 artist in PPP history.

(*also have entry from 1998)

j_e_l

10 May 2023 21:28

Reply to Arron Wright

Damn, regret chucking them a vote – doubt if it’ll happen again 🙂

Arron Wright

10 May 2023 22:10

Reply to j_e_l

They’ve been reeled in a bit here, which I wasn’t expecting at all.

Jeff Worrell

11 May 2023 00:28

For this tournament I’m planning to vote in the qualifiers for things that are new to me, or what’s the f’ing point, y’know? Might make an exception for curated groups. Here, I know The Knife very well (and they should be bossing this group tbh). Therefore it’s between “Zero” and “Robot”, which I might have been exposed to before but they certainly aren’t ringing bells. Both have great underscores, but I generally prefer Robyn’s vocal mannerisms over Karen O’s so that’s that.

Augusto Tinashe

11 May 2023 02:38

Always thought Zero was the least interesting song on that vvv good YYY album. This is a finely poised group though, despite its totemic indie kid stature even M83 is good.

SmoothBrain

11 May 2023 06:06

Absolute superstar group, all of these except YYYs are iconic songs of my teen years. ‘Silent Shout’ stands out for me, though, as establishing an unforgettable moodscape with those stabbing synth choruses like the crenellations of some dark castle.
Disappointed I can’t vote for the girl and the robot, though, which is my favourite Robyn song pre-‘Honey’.

SmoothBrain

11 May 2023 06:16

Love all these tracks, but my vote goes to ‘Silent Shout’ for constructing a dark, cold world that I still want to visit again and again, those synth stab choruses like crenellations to some icy castle. Have never gotten sick of it.

Disappointed I can’t vote for the girl and the robot, though, probably my favourite Robyn song pre-‘Honey’.

Dan Bright-Amaya

11 May 2023 11:25

Oof indeed. All great obv but it’s The Knife’s subtler approach that does it for me, and another one to add to their contenders for my C21 list. Royksopp have an even better collaboration eligible for the late poll by the way.

vinnycrackers

11 May 2023 16:27

The YYYs being bridesmaids so many times makes me vote their way (to likely be bridesmaids again.)

That M83 song has been used in too many commercials/interstitial bits of music in the US to hold any interest for me anymore. It made me feel like I’m being told to buy a Prius.

Arron Wright

11 May 2023 16:37

Reply to vinnycrackers

Not sure I get the bridesmaids reference… they’re one of only five acts I can find with two C21 songs in Pollhalla already*. None of their opponents here have even one.

Though three of those five have made finals and only MGMT and YYYs didn’t. No winners from four finals.

*yesterday’s post forgot that Wet Leg already have three songs in there, thanks to the QF shootout for 2021.

vinnycrackers

11 May 2023 19:20

Reply to Arron Wright

I just feel they’ve come so close to winning (getting in Polhalla) without getting there (unless they did win before I showed up)

Arron Wright

11 May 2023 19:32

Reply to vinnycrackers

Semi-finalists in 4-letter-words (Aug/Sep 2021) and 2022 (Jan of this year).

Only equal or better from C21 are:
Wet Leg (2 RU, 1 QF)
Outkast (1 RU, 1 SF)
Beyonce (1 RU, 1 QF)
MGMT (2 SF)

wpDiscuz

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Modern Qualifier 1 – CITY ZERO GIRL SHOUT

Modern Qualifier 2 – RUMOUR DIANE BROTHER DEAD

Modern Poll Day 2 Playlists

The Discourse