'Too Many Poets'

1 Makes me Wonder
[Tocks]

I like the name Jimmy Butcher and I quite like the chorus but I’m not sure about mates and States. Overall this entry scans OK but lacks the correct Procolic ring 

2 Two Sides to Every Coin
[Alan Terego]

There are two verses that scan rather nicely but there seem to be two versions of the chorus and a possible bridge. If shuffling the pack is allowed this will make it to the next round although you wouldn't shuffle a KR lyric

3 Tomorrow's Tombstones
[Arc]

Some very nice imagery indeed here. But I cannot hear it being sung successfully certainly not in a Procolian context.

4 Whiter Shades
[Dion Charles]

Who wrote this? Gotta be a Southend boy ... who else would know Crowstone, Chawkwell Park, Peter Pan’s playground. And although the verses stop this entry getting any further I think the chorus is very nice – and the connection between the Shades and Whiter Shade is interesting – and coincidental.

5 Cream of the Crop
[Eve Ryman]

This has many Procolian qualities not least its rhythm – it all scans pretty well apart from the bridge – they are words that will sound good when sung. It's that nice abstract content which gives many a PH song extra depth – so see you next round

6 Rainbow Sewer
[Andrea Loud-Warehouse & Tabitha Rice Paper]

I love the authors’ names and I love the oxymoron of tedious epiphanies almost like ships running afloat. But it does sound a bit New Lamps for Old.

7 Darkest Before the Dawn
[Ramblin' Ron]

Three verses and a chorus all hang together pretty well – they will sing OK (maybe a preposition altered here and there). I like the "corpse is self-composing", I like the general occult whiff – not sure about the middle – don't mind the optimism (light at end of tunnel) but it just doesn't seem to sing well – maybe it could be spoken. Through to next round

8 A Moment in Time
[Farther Tyme]

Absolutely no doubt of the title as each verse or whatever begins with it. But it all reads and scans well – and will sing well – a challenge for the music writer

9 The Sad Ascent
[6]

This flows from start to finish – it asks for music – it sounds quite PROCOLIAN with maybe a soupcon of vintage Elton John – definitely a finalist

10 Suspended Sentence
[Andromeda Sago]

This has a late 60s PH ring to it without reminding of any particular song

11 The Life I Know
[Chuck S]

Another strong contender – well written, scans, sings, interesting imagery. We could have an album’s worth at this rate

12 Taken Away
[Joseph Craig]

Well written, scans well but somehow a very straight set of words with no twist (like "I wish that I could have died instead" etc). If the standard were not so high, this could have made the next round.

13 It All Came Undone
[Tommy]

Again, without the competition of some of the above entries, this could easily make the next round. But it is not only these entries – there is the real PH tale of the same thing in Nothing but the Truth one of my favourites ever.

14 Mr Bartholomew’s Dream
[Charles David]

Definite hint of Dylan on this one. And it’s different enough. Yeah – next round.

15 Perfectly Drowned
[Romulus Remus]

Can't make up my mind about this one. It made it so far but I have to pass on it for now.

16 Alamo
[Basil Eunathco]

Pretty bizarre imagery – then again pretty bizarre times – in fact it is so topical it has to go through – another big challenge to the music writer (will need more than a hint of Morricone)

17 Wanderers in the Dark
[Mel Drum]

Great hook, nice sense of mystery – has the right Procolic ring AND A Bloomsday connection – actually the most Blooming lyric (the Ithaka chapter)

18 Johnson's Corner
[Chang]

VERY strange – do we allow Rizlas in PH songs (certainly allowed in the dressing room) – we shall see.

Chris Copping's Final Cut

Manchester: Palers' Convention

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