Yes - Union Review ‘91 VS. Consider the Source - The Stare
Yes - Union Review ‘91
Consider the Source has stellar musicianship and respectable compositional skills. Despite the singularly unique style of the group, their music is ultimately fun and often electrifying. Against all odds, however, this unofficial Yes recording is an engaging document of Yes at a crucial point in their career arc. Untangling the way in which the various players subtly rearrange this classic and often magical music is an irresistible treat for the Yes fan.
Amythyst Kiah - Still+Bright VS. Sobs - Air Guitar
Amythyst Kiah - Still+Bright
While both of these albums share a certain songwriting focus, they diverge in really profound ways. Amythyst Kiah’s rootsy blues approach is, in some ways, far removed from Sobs’s urban sheen, but in the end, each of these albums succeed respectably well in their respective styles. Place matters, however, and because I am currently living in a rural area close to the place that Amythyst Kiah calls home (Johnson City is nearby), her music resonates really strongly with me right now. If I was living in a city, I wonder if my preferences would be different.
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk VS. Father of Peace - The Year of Madness
Father of Peace - The Year of Madness
Online advocacy for Imaginal Disk is rabid. Critics love it, fans love it, and I love it. It’s a deep, cinematic listen that stands up to nearly microscopic inspection. Many will rightfully argue that it is the superior album of the two - perhaps even one of the standout albums of the decade! The infectious nature of The Year of Madness, however, is undeniable, and as much as I love and respect Imaginal Disk, its tunes like Advice and Land of Foreign Suns that wander in when I relax my inner dialogue.
Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady VS. Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn - Pigments
Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
Choosing between these two was more difficult than anticipated. Like several other albums that I have encountered this season that prioritized vibe and ambience, Pigments has resonated with me in an elusive yet undeniable way. In this particular case, however, the sociocultural relevance and subsequent raw conviction of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is irrefutably convincing.
Viewer's Choice
Yes - Union Review '91 VS. Consider the Source - The Stare
Yes - Union Review '91
The Murlocs - Rapscallion VS. Lucy in Blue - Lucy in Blue
The Murlocs - Rapscallion
Teitur Magnusson - Orna VS. Dummy - Pure Energy
Teitur Mangnusson - Orna
Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady VS. Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn - Pigments
Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
