2024 Album Showdown Results: Tier 1, Week 2

boygenius - the record VS. Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight

boygenius - the record

While the boygenius album is impressively written and performed, I wouldn’t suggest sleeping on the Oki album.  Its biggest issue is consistency, which is a by-product of its status as a curated compilation of his independently released albums.  Its more traditional moments feel a bit shallow, but a full album of the more psychedelic moments would resonate a bit more clearly.  As it is, it lacks cohesion, where the record is a very clear, holistic statement.

Nick Hakim - Cometa VS. Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST

Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST

Cometa is another one that grew on me, but it couldn’t overtake Sato’s soundtrack. Godzilla Minus One does have moments of ambient wandering.  It's more attention-grabbing moments, however, really resonated with me.

Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond VS. Ora the Molecule - Human Safari

Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond

This one wins the tricky showdown of the week award, mainly because both albums are consistently good, but also have minor flaws.  I could make a very compelling argument for Human Safari’s clear melodic strengths, but the Black Puma’s production has just the right balance of clarity and grit, not to mention some infectious hooks delivering positive vibes.  Need more of that these days, I think.

Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot VS. Anteloper - Pink Dolphins

Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot

I am becoming a diehard advocate of the clear musicality and creativity of Death’s Dynamic Shroud.  The shades of Bitches Brew that underpin the first half of Pink Dolphins, however, very well could have caused a big upset here.  The second half, however, loses clarity, allowing Death’s Dynamic Shroud to continue its ascendency.

Viewer’s Choice Results

boygenius - the record VS. Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight

Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight

Nick Hakim - Cometa VS. Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST

Nick Hakim - Cometa

Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond VS. Ora the Molecule - Human Safari

Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond

Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot VS. Anteloper - Pink Dolphins

Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot

2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 1, Week 1

And so the journey begins.....

Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix) VS. Maria BC - Spike Fields

Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix)

Although not without flaw, Gabriel’s most recent work stands up incredibly well against the output of his peers and far above the standard of most contemporary work.  As interesting and conceptually engaging as Spike Fields is, i/o (Dark Side Mix) is the clear winner here.

Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt VS. Altin Gun - Ask

Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt

Every week has a showdown that is particularly troublesome, and for this round, this is the one.  Giving it to Hamasyan is a bit of an upset, because going in, Altin Gun’s exotic, psychedelic jams appeals to a very distinct niche in my listening.  However, it's been a while since I was genuinely drawn to an album of jazz standards, and Hamasyan’s creativity won out upon related listens.

K Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis - K. Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis VS. Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

K. Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis - K. Frompong w/ Vis-a-Vis

Another tough one, to be honest, but classic West African High Life is also a style in which  I have some subjective interest.  Young Fathers has slowly gained some ground with me, but not quite enough to win out here.

Mo Troper - Trooper Sings Brion VS. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps

Mo Troper - Trooper Sing Brion

Troper Sings Brion is another one that’s going to be tricky to knock out.  Brion’s wry wit and emotive chord choices wear well under Troper’s quirky renderings.  Any Other Way is my current favorite anthem.

Viewer’s Choice Results

Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix) VS. Maria BC - Spike Fields

Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix)

Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt VS. Altin Gun - Ask

Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt

K Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis - K. Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis VS. Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

Mo Troper - Trooper Sings Brion VS. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps

Mo Troper - Trooper Sings Brion

2024 Album Preview Series: Tier 1, Part 11 of 12

Home stretch on this deluge of fresh listening, including music from:

The Smile - Wall of Eyes (2023) Brian Eno w/ Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno - Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks (1983) Subsignal - A Poetry of Rain (2023) Zombi - Surface to Air (2006)

And the ever-growing playlist

2024 Album Preview Series - Part 10 of 12: The All-Japan Episode

This episode features artists from Japan, including:

88Kasyo Junrei - ◯△☐ (2012) The Yoshida Brothers - Hishou (2006) Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST (2023) Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight (2022)

Here's a few words on the Space Battleship Yamato OST.

Aaand the ever-present Dr. Spin's 2024 Radio playlist

2024 Album Preview Series: Tier 1 - Part 9 of 12

Loving all the new suggestions? I got more love to give...

Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond (2023) Ora the Molecule - Human Safari (2021) Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt (2022) Anteloper - Pink Dolphins (2022)

2024 Album Preview Series: Tier 1 - Part 8 of 12

Pour this in your earholes and thank me later: Death's Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot (2023) Madlib - Sound Ancestors (2020) Polyphia - Remember That You Will Die (2023) Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)