Tier 5: The Nerdiest Bracket

Now that the mid-year favorites have been posted, its on to Tier 5, a bracket with a unique construction in this year’s eliminations.  One of the tenets of the elimination process is to provide every album I listen to with at least 5 weeks in regular rotation.  During most of the year, this is an organizing principal.  At the very beginning of the year, however, the sheer volume of new music is prohibitive.  The albums back in Tier 1 only had two weeks of listening opportunities before being subjected to a showdown. 

Tier 5, however, is a revisit.  It is constructed of all the eliminated albums from Tier 1, intentionally matched to minimize stylistic clashes.  These 24 albums were reduced to 12, a group that will serve as the “control group” for the Fall eliminations.

Sound nerdy?  It absolutely is.  It was also the best innovation this year.  I had a chance to look at this music with just a hint of retrospect, providing deeper appreciation.  This “check” tier has provided a couple of them with a satisfying trajectory to the Top 20.

Curious yet?  Probably bored.  Oh, well - here we go:

Sufjan Stevens – The Ascension VS. Vanishing Twin – Ookii Gekkou

Vanishing Twin – Ookii Gekkou

 

Arushi Jain – Under a Lilac Sky VS. Snail Mail – Valentine

Snail Mail – Valentine

 

Eastman Jazz Ensemble – Live! VS. Emma Jean Thackray – Yellow

Eastman Jazz Ensemble – Live!

Shubh Saran – Inglish VS. Leprous - Aphelion

Leprous- Aphelion

 

Juliana Barwick – Healing is a Miracle VS. Cindy – 1:2

Juliana Barwick – Healing is a Miracle

 

Colleen Green – Cool VS. The Red Locusts – The Red Locusts

Colleen Green – Cool

 

Flying Lotus – Yasuke OST VS. Gang Gang Dance – Saint Dympha

Flying Lotus – Yasuke OST

 

Tony Kaye – End of Innocence VS. Tim Reynolds & Greg Howard – Sticks and Stones

Tim Reynolds & Greg Howard – Sticks and Stones

No clip available, but an improvised semi-ambient Chapman Stick and guitar recording worth digging up and finding ten years after purchasing.  Not that I did that.  But I did.

Transatlantic – The Absolute Universe: Forevermore VS. Anathema – We’re Here Because We’re Here

Transatlantic – The Absolute Universe: Forevermore

 

Shadoko – Le Domaine de Seedmill OST VS. Limina – Hidden Spaces

Limina – Hidden Spaces

 

Bad Bunny – YHLQMDLG VS. Freestyle Fellowship – To Whom it May Concern

Freestyle Fellowship – To Whom it May Concern

 

Between the Buried and Me – Colors II VS. Cardiacs – On Land and In The Sea

Cardiacs – On Land and In The Sea