Hi friends, welcome to Peanut Gallery. Every Wednesday here at MusicOlogy, we'll be presenting two classic albums from the same iconic band or artist and asking you... the smart, savvy, blindingly attractive Ology readers... to debate amongst yourselves over which record reigns supreme. Individual songs, concepts, music videos, lyrics, album artwork—everything's on the table here, folks. Give us your best argument in the comments section below. We'll announce the winner at the beginning of next week's Peanut Gallery face-off.
Last Week's Winner:
We pitted two of Michael Jackson's biggest albums not titled Thriller (Off The Wall vs. Bad) up against each other in a battle to the... well, not death, but something definitely painful. In what I can only assume is a gut reaction to the "Rock With You" jumpsuit, you guys voted in an overwhelming majority for Bad, which beat out MJ's 1979 classic 6-2. Sorry, Off The Wall fans—if it makes you feel any better, I'm playing "She's Out Of My Life" for both of you right now. Sniffle.
This Week's Match-Up:
In a very special edition of Peanut Gallery, we'll be celebrating the Fourth of July in the most patriotic, American-centric way I can think of: paying homage to 1995's "Battle of Britpop" with a rematch between Blur's The Great Escape and Oasis' (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
Damon Albarn & Co. followed up the smash success of 1994's Parklife with another expansive, evocative portrait of rubbish modern life in the UK. A darker, gloomier album than its predecessor, The Great Escape boasts a surprising (considering the themes of suburban alienation and existential hopelessness Damon tackles) amount of uplifting pop hooks, wink-nudge referential arrangements (a little bit of Scott Walker here, a little Kinks there, etc.) and, of course, the band's wry sense of humor. Both conceptually and musically, The Great Escape caught Blur at their Anglocentric peak; it is inarguably one of their finest albums and an indispensable Britpop classic.
Classic Songs: "Country House," "The Universal," "Charmless Man," "Stereotypes" and "Best Days."
Though Blur's "Country House" outsold Oasis' "Roll With It" in the original Battle of Britpop, the latter band's (What's The Story) Morning Glory? was the more successful album (commercially if not creatively) by a landslide. Honing the relentless rock n' roll energy of Definitely Maybe, the Gallagher brothers' blockbuster second album expanded their throwback sound into a majestic sweep filled with introspective ballads, string arrangements, fuller ideas and broader emotions. Arguably the second or third most important British rock album on the '90s, Morning Glory was notably also a huge hit in America, thanks in large part to classic singles like "Wonderall" and "Champagne Supernova."
Classic Songs: "Wonderwall," "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Champagne Supernova," "Roll With It" and "Some Might Say."
Okay, ladies and gentlemen... it's in your hands now. Hit up the comments section below and let us know which 1995 classic deserves to win our Battle of Britpop re-enactment.
Brett Warner:
@Gabriel Don't forget everyone's all-time favorite commercial jingle, "You All Every Butties."
July 3, 2012
Gabriel Hayes:
Personally prefer Damon Albarn as the Gorillaz. Also "Champagne Supernova" is my favorite Oasis song. Plus that Oasis album is the inspiration for Charlie's band in Lost (Drive Shaft) and their classic song "You All Everybody." Therefore going with (What's The Story) Morning Glory
July 3, 2012
Brett Warner:
@Victoria I'm tempted to agree with you... though we're going for historical accuracy this week. Shrug, what can you do.
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