The Wonder Years Band • Page 56

Most of these were really tough decisions for me. I don't think I've ever immersed myself so fully in an album as I did with this one in the summer of 2011. I dissected every lyric, learned every song on guitar and bass, and talked about it endlessly with friends.

"My Life As A Pigeon"
"My Life As Rob Gordon" - If had to choose a least favorite track on Suburbia, it would probably be "Summers In PA." That's not to say "Rob Gordon" isn't great, and I'll give bonus to any song with a Get Up Kids reference.
"You Made Me Want To Be A Saint" - Like a lot of people have mentioned, "I Won't Say the Lord's Prayer" pushed me to examine my own religious upbringing, but I'm giving this one to "Saint" because it's such a perfect burst of raw emotion, and the live performance on the GK Tour was unforgettable.
"Hoodie Weather" - This is pretty much a toss-up, but I tend to go back to "Hoodie Weather" more as an individual song. I think about the "grandmother's veins" line a lot since my grandmother passed away earlier this year.
"Me Vs. The Highway" - Both great songs, but "Highway" is still TWY at their best. A couple of their most interesting guitar and drum parts are in that song.
"And Now I'm Nothing" - My first long-term relationship was with a girl named Molly. We would still hang out sometimes after we broke up, and I wrote a lot of songs on the guitar in her dorm room. So the chorus in this song was a gut punch when I first heard it and still kind of is today. Also, the last two minutes of this song are impeccable. I get so excited every time I hear the drum feel change at 3:44, and the "fade out" with each instrument dropping out individually is so well done.
"Came Out Swinging" - The only easy choice as I've never been a huge fan of "Living Room Song," and "Came Out Swinging" does such a great job transitioning from The Upsides, both musically and lyrically, and setting the scene for the rest of the album.
"Local Man Ruins Everything" - I saw the first ever live performance of this song, the day after it was released, at a 100-cap venue in Dekalb, Illinois. It seemed like everybody already knew the words.

 

I'm one of those people. I like Me Vs. The Highway, but I just can't quite understand the amount of love it gets.

 

Yep, also guilty haha

 

im not a self help book im just a fucked up kid

 

Here are my votes.

"I've Given You All" vs "My Life As A Pigeon"
-Before I generated the tournament I contemplated combining the title tracks as one, kind of wish I did it because they're probably not gonna get too much love. But this is the bed I made so My Life As A Pigeon wins with that awesome bridge.

"Summers in PA" vs "My Life As Rob Gordon"
-Summers in PA perfectly relates to how my friends and I from home are when we reunite, I appreciate My Life As Rob Gordon for the amount of references it stuffs in, but not enough to give it a win.

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" vs "You Made Me Want To Be A Saint"
-A couple years ago I might have picked Lord's Prayer, but nowadays I think it's a little too on the nose. You Made Me Want To Be A Saint rips, and I think the subject would be proud of how awesome that song is.
"Hoodie Weather" vs "Woke Up Older"
-Probably the hardest matchup on this round. I love how Woke Up Older plays with dynamics and the lyrical depth in the song is great. But, Hoodie Weather is something unique in the band's catalogue instrumentally I think, and the lyrics hit the most on this song for me. "Growing up means watching my heroes turn human in front of me"
"Me Vs. The Highway" vs "Don't Let Me Cave In"
For some reason I'm not that into Don't Let Me Cave In these days, maybe I overplayed it before the album came out, but I don't feel that way about Local Man and I listened to that countless times. Me Vs The Highway is a great song, bridge is dope, and its lyrics are unique in The Wonder Years' catalog.
"And Now I'm Nothing" vs "Coffee Eyes"
The Wonder Years closers are the best closers, I love the bass in Coffee Eyes, but And Now I'm Nothing can't be beat.

"Came Out Swinging" vs "Living Room Song"
-As soon as "My mind is made up. There's going to be trouble" sounded in on my first listen I got so amped for this record. Then the explosion happens and I rocketed into outer space for how much this song rips.

"Local Man Ruins Everything" vs "Suburbia"
-Local Man Ruins Everything is probably my most played song on this record due to its single release, and I still love it so yeah.

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Here's the morning count peeps, with 40 people in so far. Approximately 7 hours left to vote, so keep them coming.

"I've Given You All" (10) vs "My Life As A Pigeon" (30)

"Summers in PA" (20) vs "My Life As Rob Gordon" (20)

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" (24) vs "You Made Me Want To Be A Saint" (16)

"Hoodie Weather" (25) vs "Woke Up Older" (15)

"Me Vs. The Highway" (16) vs "Don't Let Me Cave In" (24)

"And Now I'm Nothing" (31) vs "Coffee Eyes" (9)

"Came Out Swinging" (40) vs "Living Room Song" (0)

"Local Man Ruins Everything" (40) vs "Suburbia" (0)

 

I'm sickened that Woke Up Older and Me vs. The Highway are probably going to be out first round

 

I'm literally crushed that Living Room Song doesn't have a single vote. I mean, I knew it had no chance of winning that match-up from the start but it's still an amazing song.

 

My Life As A Pigeon
My Life As Rob Gordon
You Made Me Want To Be A Saint
Hoodie Weather
Me Vs. The Highway
And Now I'm Nothing
Came Out Swinging
Local Man Ruins Everything

 

"I've Given You All" vs "My Life As A Pigeon"
Some of the most interesting vocals here with Soupy in the background on the bridge. Kinda feels like everyone who does vocals got involved on this one haha. I do like I've Given You All a good bit but oh well

"Summers in PA" vs "My Life As Rob Gordon"
Not just a good breakup song, but honestly a great song for any transition between seasons of life

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" vs "You Made Me Want To Be A Saint"
I go back and forth on how I feel about I Won't Say because of my faith. Valid points are made for sure, but ultimately disagree with it too. You Made Me Want To Be a Saint is such a great tribute to Mike and was so cool to see live at the Anniversary shows.

"Hoodie Weather" vs "Woke Up Older"
I'm bummed that Woke Up Older had this match up in the first round. Some of my favorite verses on the record. But Hoodie Weather is my favorite TWY song so whatcha gonna do? The lyrics are tops for Hoodie Weather. The pre-chorus and chorus knock it out of the park. I also named my college radio show (The Solid Ground) after the line in the chorus. Also my favorite bridge with the lyrics and woahs in the background.

"Me Vs. The Highway" vs "Don't Let Me Cave In"
I got burnt out on Don't Let Me Cave In initially, but I've really come back around on it hard. I love it once again. I love that second verse. It's also so good live.

"And Now I'm Nothing" vs "Coffee Eyes"
A close second favorite on the record for me behind Hoodie. That outro too where each instrument fades out. It also has my favorite musical moments on the album during this tracking. Kennedy really highlights this song me.

"Came Out Swinging" vs "Living Room Song"
Living Room Song was a fun one when it finally circled around on YouTube. But Came Out Swinging is that perfect transition between The Upsides and the rest of Suburbia. The bridge destroys it obviously.

"Local Man Ruins Everything" vs "Suburbia"
Despite fatigue with this song at times, I still really love it and Suburbia just pales in comparison. I like the verses a lot, but the chorus has tired on me.

 

Fair point but how could you vote for anything over Came Out Swinging?

 

"I've Given You All" vs "My Life As A Pigeon"

"Summers in PA" vs "My Life As Rob Gordon"

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" vs "You Made Me Want To Be A Saint"

"Hoodie Weather" vs "Woke Up Older"

"Me Vs. The Highway" vs "Don't Let Me Cave In"

"And Now I'm Nothing" vs "Coffee Eyes"

"Came Out Swinging" vs "Living Room Song"

"Local Man Ruins Everything" vs "Suburbia"

 

"My Life As A Pigeon"

"My Life As Rob Gordon"

"You Made Me Want To Be A Saint"

"Woke Up Older"

"Don't Let Me Cave In"

"And Now I'm Nothing"

"Living Room Song"

"Local Man Ruins Everything"

 

Oh, I know. I just wish it was in a better match-up this round. Although I do recognize that Came Out Swinging is the favorite to win this album so it's not like it had a shot in the end anyway.

 

Is it time for the next round?

 

After a long weekend of voting we have our winners, with some great songs already seeing the axe.


"I've Given You All" (10) vs "My Life As A Pigeon" (34)

"Summers in PA" (21) vs "My Life As Rob Gordon" (23)

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" (25) vs "You Made Me Want To Be A Saint" (19)

"Hoodie Weather" (27) vs "Woke Up Older" (17)

"Me Vs. The Highway" (17) vs "Don't Let Me Cave In" (27)

"And Now I'm Nothing" (34) vs "Coffee Eyes" (10)

"Came Out Swinging" (43) vs "Living Room Song" (1)

"Local Man Ruins Everything" (44) vs "Suburbia" (0)

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Let's get Round 2 started, voting starts from now until tommorow, August 15th 5PM EST.

"My Life As A Pigeon" vs "My Life As Rob Gordon"

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" vs "Hoodie Weather"

"Don't Let Me Cave In" vs "And Now I'm Nothing"

"Came Out Swinging" vs "Local Man Ruins Everything"

 

Pigeon
Hoodie Weather
Don't Let Me Cave In
Came Out Swinging

 

My Life As Rob Gordon

Hoodie Weather

And Now I'm Nothing"

Came Out Swinging

 

My Life As A Pigeon
Hoodie Weather
Don't Let Me Cave In
Local Man Ruins Everything

 

"My Life As Rob Gordon"
"Hoodie Weather"
"And Now I'm Nothing"
"Came Out Swinging"

 

Pigeon
Lord's Prayer (This one hurts more for me than any of the first round matchups. Other than COS and LMRE, these are my two favorite songs)
And Now I'm Nothing
Came Out Swinging (Wow, this was even harder than the second matchup)

 

My Life As A Pigeon
Hoodie Weather
Don't Let Me Cave In (absolutely brutal, but Don't Let Me won out because I like it more as a standalone song whereas I like And Now as the finale to the album)
Came Out Swinging

 

My Life As A Pigeon
I Won't Say The Lords Prayer
And Now I'm Nothing
Local Man Ruins Everything

Fuck that last one so hard, god. My two favourite songs, and the two that got me into the band. Unbelievably difficult choice.

 

My Life As Rob Gordon
Hoodie Weather
And Now I'm Nothing
Came Out Swinging

 

"My Life As A Pigeon" vs "My Life As Rob Gordon"

"I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" vs "Hoodie Weather"

"Don't Let Me Cave In" vs "And Now I'm Nothing"

"Came Out Swinging" vs "Local Man Ruins Everything"

These damn matchups. Ugh.

 

My Life As Rob Gordon
Hoodie Weather
And Now I'm Nothing
Came Out Swinging