Tier 6 is moving right along! We will be completely done with it by November 14. Tier 7 is a reduction set with half as many showdowns, so it will not be far behind. At that point, we will have produced our Fall Top 12. The Fall Top 12 will not have a dedicated post like the Mid-Year Top 12, but it will be plugged directly into the Finals bracket, which will begin on November 21.
The Fall Top 12 will still have the same redundancy features that we saw in the Spring. The group’s top contributor (comments and posts only) will sub out one album from the list for an eliminated album of their choosing from Tiers 6 or 7, and the group at large will select 6 eliminated albums as “saves” that will go directly to the Finals.
The Murlocs - Rapscallion VS. Sobs - Air Guitar
Sobs - Air Guitar
The intellectual care that The Murlocs have hidden inside of Rapscallion’s rougher edges is incredibly respectable, and is certainly delivered with no small amount of musical craftsmanship. Air Guitar is similarly well-crafted, however, and what it lacks in conceptual cohesion it more than makes up for in polished performances and production.
Yes - Union Review ‘91 VS Soft Machine - Bundles
Yes - Union Review ‘91
Being that I am usually hesitant to really delve into live albums and am not a big advocate of bootlegs, I was emotionally ready to give this one to Bundles, which is amazing. Union Review ‘91, however, captures a very unique configuration of Yes, and listening to them interpret the repertoire is not only interesting for this longtime fan, but it also allows me to quite vividly recall my own experience on the Union decades ago. When it is at its best, Yes’ music is magical, and Union ‘91 has helped me remember that.
The Tea Club - If/When VS. Hjatalin - Enter 4
The Tea Club - If/When
The vibe and atmospheric clarity of Enter 4 has pushed it out in front of many of the Icelandic albums that I was introduced to last Summer, and I was really rooting for it going into this Spin-Off. I can’t deny, however, that despite having a few production and consistency quibbles, If/When contains some of the best tracks I have heard this season. Several of them have been on repeat in my head for weeks and, as a result, indelibly imprinted on many Fall experiences. These emergent memory episodes are very hard to ignore when considering albums that represent 2025.
Father of Peace - The Year of Madness VS. Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows
Father of Peace - The Year of Madness
This was the most difficult Spin-Off from this week. Tinted Windows has come back around several times since the beginning of this year, and has only increased in my esteem with each return. It's a pristine example of my favorite branch of power pop that is flawlessly executed by a compelling “supergroup” roster of musicians. The Year of Madness is similarly well-crafted, but Father of Peace’s approach to songwriting is epitomized by quirky Pinkerton-esque shifts that provide the album with a broader stylistic palate that doesn't sacrifice musicality or memorability.
Viewer’s Choice
The Murlocs - Rapscallion VS. Sobs - Air Guitar
The Murlocs - Rapscallion
Yes - Union Review ‘91 VS Eldberg - Þar Er Heimur Hugans
Yes - Union Review ‘91
The Tea Club - If/When VS. Sheena Ringo - Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana
The Tea Club - If/When
Father of Peace - The Year of Madness VS. Teitur Magnússon - Orna
Teitur Magnússon - Orna
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