Best Album of the '80s - And the winner is ... on page 14

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

I can't believe I've got to vote against Bruce Springsteen TWICE in the first round. Here's the bracket all in one post, since Creosote decided to make it tough on people:

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 16 Nebraska (Bruce Springsteen)
8 Rhythm Nation 1814 (Janet Jackson) vs. 9 Brothers In Arms (Dire Straits)
5 1999 (Prince) vs. 12 Rain Dogs (Tom Waits)
4 Like A Virgin (Madonna) vs. 13 Faith (George Michael)
6 Doolittle (Pixies) vs. 11 Pretenders (Pretenders)
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 14 Psychocandy (The Jesus and Mary Chain)
7 Daydream Nation (Sonic Youth) vs. 10 1984 (Van Halen)
2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) vs. 15 Private Dancer (Tina Turner)

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 16 Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi)
8 Like A Prayer (Madonna) vs. 9 Tracy Chapman (Tracy Chapman)
5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) vs. 12 The Message (Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five)
4 Synchronicity (The Police) vs. 13 The Smiths (The Smiths)
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 11 The Unforgettable Fire (U2)
3 Sign O' The Times (Prince) vs. 14 She's So Unusual (Cindi Lauper)
7 Paid In Full (Eric B. & Rakim) vs. 10 So (Peter Gabriel)
2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) vs. 15 Document (R.E.M.)

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 16 Nick of Time (Bonnie Raitt)
8 Hysteria (Def Leppard) vs. 9 Closer (Joy Division)
5 Whitesnake (Whitesnake) vs. 12 Let It Be (The Replacements)
4 Graceland (Paul Simon) vs. 13 King Of Rock (Run-D.M.C.)
6 Paul's Boutique (Beastie Boys) vs. 11 The River (Bruce Springsteen)
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 14 Ride The Lightning (Metallica)
7 Number Of The Beast (Iron Maiden) vs. 10 War (U2)
2 Back In Black (AC/DC) vs. 15 Hounds Of Love (Kate Bush)

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 16 Reign In Blood (Slayer)
8 Radio (LL Cool J) vs. 9 Bad (Michael Jackson)
5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) vs. 12 Dirty Mind (Prince)
4 The Queen Is Dead (The Smiths) vs. 13 Beauty And The Beat (The Go-Go's)
6 The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) vs. 11 Disintegration (The Cure)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 14 Dare! (The Human League)
7 Run-D.M.C. (Run-D.M.C.) vs. 10 Ace Of Spades (Motorhead)
2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) vs. 15 Nothing's Shocking (Jane's Addiction)

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Round-by-round.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Did I miss Pyromania on those lists?

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Do we post our votes or PM them to you?

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

I refuse to participate since "Dream of the Blue Turtles" isn't included.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Document is a No. 15? Wow... That's almost as bad as Ride the Lightning being a No. 14.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

I'll go with Straight outta Compton vs. Ride the Lightning...

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

It's definitely Thriller vs. Nebraska.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Straight Outta Compton would win in a landslide except it has no great intrinsic value because it is rap.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Doolittle vs. The Pretenders. I hated having to pick between those two. Chrissie's Choice, if you will.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Just sent mine in. East and West Regions are ripe for upsets.

 

Re: Best Album of the '80s - A Tournament

Agreed.

Anyway, for fun, with comments:

East
1 Thriller (Michael Jackson) vs. 16 Nebraska (Bruce Springsteen) - Who the hell did the seeding here?
8 Rhythm Nation 1814 (Janet Jackson) vs. 9 Brothers In Arms (Dire Straits) "Heavy Fuel" isn't on this one, right? That song sucks
5 1999 (Prince) vs. 12 Rain Dogs (Tom Waits)
4 Like A Virgin (Madonna) vs. 13 Faith (George Michael)
6 Doolittle (Pixies) vs. 11 Pretenders (Pretenders) - Hate the Pretenders on principle. Oh, they're a Rock hall band, but Rush isn't? Die, Wenner, die.
3 Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) vs. 14 Psychocandy (The Jesus and Mary Chain)
7 Daydream Nation (Sonic Youth) vs. 10 1984 (Van Halen) - 1984 is not even VH's best of the decade, but no one gives Fair Warning its proper respect.
2 Raising Hell (Run-D.M.C.) vs. 15 Private Dancer (Tina Turner)

South
1 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (Public Enemy) vs. 16 Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi) - I ask again regarding the seeding
8 Like A Prayer (Madonna) vs. 9 Tracy Chapman (Tracy Chapman)
5 Remain In Light (Talking Heads) vs. 12 The Message (Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five)
4 Synchronicity (The Police) vs. 13 The Smiths (The Smiths)
6 Master of Puppets (Metallica) vs. 11 The Unforgettable Fire (U2) - This is a Final Four matchup. Both should be top three seeds. I vote for both, on principle
3 Sign O' The Times (Prince) vs. 14 She's So Unusual (Cindi Lauper)
7 Paid In Full (Eric B. & Rakim) vs. 10 So (Peter Gabriel)
2 Appetite For Destruction (Guns N' Roses) vs. 15 Document (R.E.M.) - Who the F$#% did the seedings?!?!?!?!?! An Elite Eight matchup, Sweet 16 at worst. Voting for both; again, on principle

Midwest
1 Purple Rain (Prince and the Revolution) vs. 16 Nick of Time (Bonnie Raitt) - About damn time we had a proper 1-16 rout.
8 Hysteria (Def Leppard) vs. 9 Closer (Joy Division) - Would argue that Hysteria should be seeded in the teens
5 Whitesnake (Whitesnake) vs. 12 Let It Be (The Replacements) - I'm not proud of this vote
4 Graceland (Paul Simon) vs. 13 King Of Rock (Run-D.M.C.)
6 Paul's Boutique (Beastie Boys) vs. 11 The River (Bruce Springsteen) - hahahaha, really? No respect for Bruce here. Where's Tunnel of Love?
3 Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A) vs. 14 Ride The Lightning (Metallica) - Another Elite Eight matchup. Seriously, now.
7 Number Of The Beast (Iron Maiden) vs. 10 War (U2) - This one hurts. The seeding should be reversed. Powerslave probably a better Maiden album.
2 Back In Black (AC/DC) vs. 15 Hounds Of Love (Kate Bush) - Overrated! Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!

West
1 The Joshua Tree (U2) vs. 16 Reign In Blood (Slayer) - Another laughable seeding. It really is OK to try to understand what an album meant to its genre when doing this whole seeding thing. YOU may not appreciate Slayer's brand of music, but if you're gonna inflate a few of the rap albums, how about some love for metal?
8 Radio (LL Cool J) vs. 9 Bad (Michael Jackson)
5 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul) vs. 12 Dirty Mind (Prince) - Is death an option?
4 The Queen Is Dead (The Smiths) vs. 13 Beauty And The Beat (The Go-Go's)
6 The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) vs. 11 Disintegration (The Cure)
3 Murmur (R.E.M.) vs. 14 Dare! (The Human League)
7 Run-D.M.C. (Run-D.M.C.) vs. 10 Ace Of Spades (Motorhead) - See above.
2 Licensed To Ill (Beastie Boys) vs. 15 Nothing's Shocking (Jane's Addiction)