Gruff Rhys - Seeking New Gods VS. Colin Hay - Going Somewhere
Colin Hay - Going Somewhere
Seeking New Gods is amazing and has survived as a strong contender throughout the year, but Colin Hay’s direct, unadorned songwriting and distinctive voice gives him the edge here.
I
nfinity Knives & Brian Ennals - King Cobra VS. Death Grips - Government Plates
Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals - King Cobra
Although I am a dedicated advocate for Death Grips in general, King Cobra’s paradoxically avant garde yet old-school approach to beats has caused it to emerge as an unlikely favorite.
Astronoid - Radiant Bloom VS. Sleep Token - Take Me Back to Eden
Astronoid - Radiant Bloom
I just love Astronoid. Their “Mew with blast beats” perspective on metal is consistently invigorating and inspiring.
88Kasyo Junrei - SYG88 VS. Crown Lands - Fearless
88Kasyo Junrei - SYG 88
I love Rush, and I stand by Crown Lands as the torchbearer for the sound of their High Progressive Period. When framed this way, Fearless is thrilling, to say the least, but I also find the way that it plays “guess that Rush lick” throughout the album a bit distracting. 88Kasyo Junrei, on the other hand, feels fresh and has me eagerly anticipating a deeper dive into their back catalog.
Slowdive - Everything is Alive VS. Beauty Pill - Blue Period
Beauty Pill - Blue Period
Everything is Alive is a beautiful, lush, and consistent album, but the songs are interchangeable. It requires an act of intention to distinguish one from the other. As a compilation, a case could be built against Blue Period due to the way it seems to conceptually wander through B-sides and alternate takes in the back half. Every one of the songs on the album, however, have a distinct character that clearly distinguishes one track from another. At the same time, there is a clear coherency due to the distinctive musical character of its members.
Lisa Bella Donna - Destinations VS. Jantra - Synthesized Sudan
Lisa Bella Donna - Destinations
Jantra was poised to be a 2023 favorite when I threw Destinations in front of Synthesized Sudan. I had no real idea about how brilliant a synthesist Lisa Bella Donna actually is when I did this, and the result has been one of the bigger upsets I have had so far this Fall.
Viewer’s Choice
Colin Hay - Going Somewhere VS. Aiming for Enrike - Empty Airports
Aiming for Enrike - Empty Airports
Mong Tong - Tao Fire VS. Death Grips - Government Plates
Mong Tong - Tao Fire
Astronoid - Radiant Bloom VS. Sleep Token - Take Me Back to Eden
Astronoid - Radiant Bloom
88Kasyo Junrei - SYG88 VS. Crown Lands - Fearless
Crown Lands - Fearless
Steve Reich - Runner/Music for Ensemble and Orchestra VS. Slowdive - Everything is Alive
Steve Reich - Runner/Music for Ensemble and Orchestra
Lisa Bella Donna - Destinations VS. Jantra - Synthesized Sudan
Lisa Bella Donna - Destinations
