Draining the POLL for you - ILM artist poll #98 - The Go-Betweens

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#5
Streets of Your Town
from 16 Lovers Lane (1988)

Points: 526
Votes: 26 (0)

Original promo video 1
Original promo video 2

OH NO!

Ooh, what an upset!

No one's no.1! All too cool.

Promo video #1 = REM
Promo video #2 = Crowded House

Ahahaha a bit of image-based insurrection there!

Oh wow, I thought this would be in the top two for sure!

I think it was the song that introduced me to the band when it was played on GLR in 1988 or 1989. Bought the 78-90 compilation off the back of it. Don't the sleeve notes complain that DJs only played it when the sun shone?

Just realised I've undone my own chronology there. Must have been 1990 or 1991 I heard it on the radio.

The videos are fine, no?

They're the right videos -- I was just drawing some aesthetic comparisons

Okay, cool! :)

just a beautiful sweeping epic, another stunning 16LL bridge too. probly shoulda put it higher, but i was feeling idiosyncratic

always thought 16LL was an excellent rainy day album, with those cascading acoustic guitars and a track that's called 'clouds' fergodsake

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#4
Bye Bye Pride
from Tallulah (1987)

Points: 571
Votes: 23 (3)

Original promo video

perfect song.

a white moon appears like a hole in the sky

Never got it!

THE DOOR IS

Amanda is perfect.

Never noticed how many of these songs have an oboe solo.

They were really choosing some nauseating typefaces circa Tallulah.

"Bye Bye Pride" itself, on the other hand, has been known to make me a little misty-eyed.

Get shivers off this one. Turned the fan off, and went for a walk by the lights down on Shield Street...

Its what falling in love sounds like.

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#3
Bachelor Kisses
from Spring Hill Fair (1984)

Points: 577
Votes: 24 (2)

Original promo video

^alfred otm

I think I forgot about Bachelor Kisses, I always do. What an idiot, but then, what a lovely surprise to remember.

I happened to play "Bye Bye Pride" just before May 24 this year, but forgot to play it again a few days later :(

The first Go-Be's song I heard.

I'm glad that means the top 2 slots are shared between the two songwriters.

"Bye Bye Pride", my number one,cemented my fandom via first hearing it on Bellvista Terrace

I love the bass playing on “Bye Bye Pride”, particularly during the verses.

So relieved that spring rain is going to be in one of the top 2 slots -- I won't have to delete my account in disgust.

My elbow in the breeze

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#89
River of Money
from Spring Hill Fair (1984)

Points: 23
Votes: 2 (0)

Youtube audio

Still holding out for River of Money to make that surprise appearance

Ahahahahaha xp

Ha!

It's neither fair nor reasonable for sadness to confine itself to its causes

OTM

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#2
Spring Rain
from Liberty Belle & the Black Diamond Express (1986)

Points: 610
Votes: 26 (2)

Youtube audio

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#1
Cattle and Cane
from Before Hollywood (1983)

Points: 816
Votes: 28 (7)

Countdown appearance, ABC TV

ultimately the only choice

Minor mislabelling there: the 'Spring Rain' link is the 1986 video, not just audio.

Amazing top two. One for each songwriter, both anchored to place and childhood, each showcasing their individual strengths. I'm happy.

His father's watch
He left it in the shower

Personally, I think Spring Rain is the only choice... so many details to love:
the lead guitar line during the verse, the suspenseful void of the pre-chorus, lindy's drum fill that leads into the chorus, grant echoing robert's lines during the chorus, and finally the payoff when they sing the last line in harmony

(but cattle and cane was still in my top 5)

^compelling argument, love Spring Rain. Also, is it their only good video? If we're pretending Your Turn, My Turn/SMAL don't exist, which we clearly have been >:(

"River of Money" too high but can't really argue with the top 5.

I'll paste full results in the [GMT+10] morning, if people are interested. I must sleep pretty much immediately.

Thanks everyone for voting and listening and discussing and reading!