2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 1, Week 4

New results for Tier 1!  Nuff said..... 

Rufus du Sol – Solace VS. Sloan – Steady

Sloan – Steady

The songs are memorable and the production quality is ridiculous on Solace, but Sloan captures the heart of what I consider to be power pop in an irresistible way.  Easy win for me.

Viewer’s Choice: Rufus du Sol – Solace

Charlotte Wessels – Tales from Six Feet Under v. 1 & 2 VS Sault – Today and Tomorrow

Charlotte Wessels – Tales from Six Feet Under v. 1 & 2

There’s a lot to say about the dirty bomb that Sault suddenly dropped at the end of last year.  Surpassing even their own prolific ways, they released five albums at once with Today and Tomorrow being their “rock” entry in the set.  It’s a pretty raw release, but like many Sault albums, it has several really great high points and a few less convincing moments.  Tales From Six Feet Under is bigger, cleaner, and more consistent across its two volumes.

Viewer’s Choice: Sault – Today and Tomorrow

Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals – King Cobra VS. Nnamdi – Please Take a Seat

Nnamdi – Please Take a Seat          

Nnamdi was the clear winner for me here.  King Cobra is a pretty refined rap album, but Nnamdi crushes genre in a playful and complex way that I find really appealing. 

Viewer’s Choice: Nnamdi – Please Take a Seat

Floating Points – Eleania VS. Frank Sinatra – Watertown

Frank Sinatra – Watertown

This right here is the reason for the redundancy of the mid-year Tier 5 bracket.  Both Elaenia and Watertown could potentially emerge as a Top 20 album, so eliminating one of them in Tier 1 seems premature.  With that in mind, I have to go with Watertown. 

Keep in mind that Floating Points has been a fixture in my Top 20 for the past couple of years.  He’s a genius at what he does and his uniquely exploratory style really resonates with my intellectual side.   Watertown, however, hits me in the gut.

When you listen to Sinatra, there is no question as to what he is singing about.  Especially in his later work, his performances dripped with a sense of nostalgic reflection.  Coupling that with the topics of loss and longing that sit at the core of Watertown results in some masterfully tear-jerking moments. That’s special.

But Floating Points will be back.

Viewer’s Choice: Floating Points - Elaenia