The final tier of the year before finals! This set was actually pretty straightforward for me, with one exception: Lindsey Buckingham VS. Snail Mail. Valentine really took its lumps this year: It was eliminated in Tier I when it ended up in a showdown with Cynic. Unfair, really, which is why it got a second chance at life in Tier 5 and knocked out a lot of serious contenders, not the least of which was black midi!
But for the first time, Snail Mail ran up against an adversary writing in a similar style, and Lindsey Buckingham is, in my opinion, an overlooked genius. And even in the twilight of his career, he still has it. The b-side tracks on the album have the elegance of pre-Revolver Beatles, never mind the fact that he just burns it as a guitarist. Snail Mail put up a fight, but the judges rule for Buckingham.
Eastman Jazz Ensemble - Live! VS. DOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT DOMi & JD Beck - NOT TiGHT
E
David Bowie - Scary Monsters (& Super Creeps) VS. Porcupine Tree - CLOSURE/CONTINUATION Porcupine Tree - CLOSURE/CONTINUATION