For the past 4 years, our most beloved JamieCarroll has arranged an NCAA Basketball Tournament-Style battle of the 64 most "relevant" Features songs. Last year, I had a hand in the seeding and this year, the esteemed JC has passed the honor on to me to coordinate the tourney this year. Hopefully this will generate some much-needed discussion on the board. If you know anyone who's strayed from posting here, let 'em know that now is the best time to come back. Also, tell your friends who aren't members that it's high time they joined the messageboard.

As most of you know, the NCAA now incorporates 65 teams. The lowest seeded teams battle it out in an "Opening Round" game. I don't see any reason why we can't do that for OUR tournament, too. So, I'm posting a poll in addition to this topic where anyone who wants can vote for their favorite of 2 most recent songs (Complication and Concrete). The winner of this poll will be the 16th seed for their division. So, go vote right now on your favorite of the two songs. If you haven't heard the songs, well... vote on the one with the better name I guess. or don't vote at all.

The Round 1 through the Elite 8 matchups will be voted on by means of instant messaging to me (no email this year). The Final Four and Championship matchups will return to the MB Poll format of the Opening Round matchup. This is the rough schedule of the action (which roughly parallels the Basketball Tourney):

March 13-14: Opening Round (Complication vs. Concrete) Poll
March 15-17: First Round Voting
March 18-20: Second Round Voting
March 21-24: Sweet 16 Voting
March 25-28: Elite 8 Voting
March 29-April 1: Final Four Poll
April 2-4: Championship Poll

I would put "Now You Know" or "Lions Dressed in Leather" against "Complication" since they were all debuted at the same time. "Concrete"'s been around longer than "Drawing Board" and "I Will Wander."

I love me some "Concrete." And I'm super stoked about this, like always.

I was surprised to see "Concrete" in the play-in game. I thought it was more established than that. I'm sure it will win the poll easily.

Hopefully "Lions" can make a deeper run into the tournament than "Stick Together" ever did.

You're right. It looks like Complication and Now You Know were introduced at the same time and played at the same subsequent shows while Concrete has been played a few more times. To have included the former and not the latter was an oversight on my part. To my knowledge, the other songs in the new/rare division are more "established" than Complication and Now You Know.

Lions Dressed in Leather will be included in the tourney because of the connection to Stick Together. Drawing Board and Take You On will be included because all voters will be able to listen to the songs and make more informed decsions. In hindsight, I should have matched up I Will Wander against Complication (and maybe Now You Know), but that probably would have made Keith angry.

I really don't give a shit, but thanks for your concern.

Okay, the first round has officially begun. By the way, I will NOT be voting on my favorites. However, in the event of a tie, I will break the tie. Think of me as overtime Or if it makes people feel better, I'll vote on every song as long as it doesn't create a tie between two songs. It's pretty much the same either way.

(Edited by CarlW at 9:50 am on Mar. 15, 2006)

CarlW and I have decided that I will submit a ballot, but it will only be counted if there are an equal number of ballots from others (which is the case right now with 18). This will break any possible ties.