You guys really think Alex English is DGD’s best song? I love it, but don’t think it even holds a flame to Inspire. Vote is for the latter.
I’m not sure if it’s their best song, but I think it’s the better choice in this match up. Kurt era is also my favorite, so I’m happy with Alex winning.
Inspire The Liars - This song is huge, I just get so pumped whenever I hear Tilian go "LIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE". The way Will makes his guitar sound like a synth with all those weird reverse reverb pedals and stuff is so cool. Jon is fucking hillarious on this song too, I have a friend who calls this song "Alien Cum" and honestly, that just about sums it. Plus the funky bridge going into that anthemic outro represent all that's great about this band. And it's just ridiculously accessible. Alex English is badass too, but I don't think I could play it to my pophead friends and have them be immediately enthralled the way they were by Inspire. It's truly an amazing song.
also Inspire is one of those times when I hear Tilian and just go... His Mothership vocal performance blows me away.
As someone who isn't a big Tillian fan, I do think Inspire the Liars is one of his best, wish he sounded like that more often.
EP would make it an even 10 if you exclude the b-sides/singles round. Would that make it easier for match ups?
Doesn't really matter - I'll include it to make it an even number but whatever album is up against it will essentially have a bye!
I love Alex, it’s one of the very few Kurt songs I like, and on the shortlist I’d show new fans, but I do think Inspire is prob a top 3-5 DGD song so it gets my vote.
Alex English is a scene classic in a way that's almost anthropological. I like it for that reason. But that's also what doesn't make it the winner. It's too emblematic of the time period. It ultimately feels like DGD cranking out a solid emo/post-hardcore song. Not to mention, the chorus is kind of lackluster; Kurt's passion and sass is what saves it if anything. The best parts of that song occur around the chorus. Inspire the Liars is great song-writing on all fronts, chorus included, AND it's a more unique sound. It sounds like Dance Gavin Dance writing a really fresh Dance Gavin Dance song. It's less a relic of the scene so much as it is a relic of the band. It's in its own lane creating its own standard. I think that's more of an accomplishment. It's mature song-writing with a doubly powerful vocal performance.
Final Totals: Alex English - 5 Inspire The Liars - 6 ---------------- That's it, everyone! Inspire The Liars is the winner of the Dance Gavin Dance bracket by a narrow margin over Alex English! I hope everyone has had fun these past several weeks and I thank you all for your participation. It's been fun for me to see all your thoughts on the albums and songs and I've done a deep dive on their discography these past several weeks as well. Usually this would be the part where we stop, but by request I am going to post one additional bracket where the albums face off against each other to determine what album you all think is their best. This isn't something we usually do, but it sounds like a fun idea! Stay tuned!
Album Bracket - Round One: 1) Happiness vs. Instant Gratification 2) Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean (EP) vs. Mothership --------------------- Album Bracket - Round Two: 1) Match 1 Winner vs. Downtown Battle Mountain II 2) Downtown Battle Mountain vs. Acceptance Speech 3) Match 2 Winner vs. Artificial Selection 4) Dance Gavin Dance vs. Afterburner Round One begins now and will run until tomorrow morning. Just vote for your favorite album in the matchup and feel free to share why you voted the way you did!