Randy McStine - Mutual Hallucinations VS. Circe Link & Christian Nesmith - Arcana
Randy McStine - Mutual Hallucinations
I think both of these albums are equally great, but I found myself drawn to the more contemporary prog sounds offered up by Mutual Hallucinations over the borderline retro-prog approach to Arcana, as well as a few devastatingly relatable lyrics.
The Bee Gees - Main Course VS. XTC - Black Sea
XTC - Black Sea
Very tough choice, but fair from a certain perspective. Both these albums show an incredible songwriting team on the brink of evolving into their most realized form. This is the era of XTC that I have really been looking for, though. The band’s energy is still angular and live, but the nuances of songwriting haven’t entirely been integrated into the florid production that the band’s later work would be known for. In short, they have great energy, great songs, and great performances on Black Sea. I can’t ask for much more than that.
Ghost - Skeleta VS. System of a Down - Toxicity
Ghost - Skeleta
Easily the most contentious showdown in this run. Despite its arguable status as a historically important metal album, I have no personal or nostalgic connection to Toxicity or System of a Down. I really came to love it, however, over the course of the Spring. The band’s unique chemistry and the subtle Armenian flavors of their music were a quick sell, and their Bush-era political overtones feel particularly relevant right now. Ghost’s pervasive melodicism and deference for the AOR arena rock of days gone by kept Skeleta planted firmly in my mind’s ear, though. It may seem socially irresponsible to give them the win, but, kicking and screaming, they’ve won me over.
Girlfriends and Boyfriends - Fallacy of Fairness VS. The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
A quick listen will make it apparent as to why these albums ended up in a showdown together. I’ve had Fallacy of Fairness in my wishlist for quite a while, and its clear reverence for gothy new wave made it a logical match for The Cure’s most recent album. Songs of a Lost World, however, shows the band aging extremely well, weaving alluring melodies within lush textures.
Mount Eerie - Night Palace VS. Devin Townsend - Powernerd
Mount Eerie - Night Palace
Poor Devy just can’t get a break with me. I have a HUGE amount of respect for him, both as a musician and a person, and I would really like to see him make it onto the Top 20 some year. I really had hoped that the more straightforward approach to Powernerd would have provided an opportunity, because I really, really like its positive energy. He got stuck up against several weird contenders this Spring, however, in a field with an unusually pronounced number of metal-adjacent albums (Dream Theater, Opeth, Tongue of Eden, and System of a Down, to name a few). This environment didn't allow Powernerd to quite get the traction that it probably deserved. Ending up against this uniquely intimate and arresting album from Mount Eerie was the final straw.
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You VS. David Gilmour - Luck and Strange
David Gilmour - Luck and Strange
While Luck and Strange probably doesn’t touch the deep wells of creativity present in Pink Floyd’s most notable work, I think it is comparable to the Gilmour years, especially The Division Bell. That is, in my estimation, more than enough to award it a win over We WIll Always Love You.
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Midnight Tangerine VS. Timecop1983 - Night Drive
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Midnight Tangerine
Night Drive is an excellent example of the stylistic intentions of synthwave. It very clearly and articulately outlines the aesthetics of mainstream 80s music and nostalgically renders them in a current production setting. The downside of this is that it succeeds too well at sounding like other successful synthwave projects. For folks trying to deepen their understanding of the style, it feels like the album has already been done by groups like FM-84 and Gunship. Death’s Dynamic Shroud, in comparison, includes and transcends synthwave standards by reaching for a more distinctively nuanced and melodramatic aethsthetic.
Marvelous 3 - The Hey! Album VS. Elvis Costello - This Year’s Model
Marvelous 3 - The Hey! Album
Probably the most controversial take of the bunch, particularly considering the historical importance of This Year’s Model to Elvis Costello’s career. Certainly, as is often the case with showdowns like this, it is necessary to acknowledge the contributions of one album to the other. The Hey! Album would most likely not exist in the same form without This Year’s Model. Costello’s intention to keep things spontaneous and energetic came at a melodic cost, however, and melodicism happens to be the overriding strength of The Hey! Album.
Viewer’s Choice Results
Randy McStine - Mutual Hallucinations VS. Circe Link & Christian Nesmith - Arcana
Circe Link & Christian Nesmith - Arcana
The Bee Gees - Main Course VS. XTC - Black Sea
XTC - Black Sea
Ghost - Skeleta VS. System of a Down - Toxicity
System of a Down - Toxicity
Girlfriends and Boyfriends - Fallacy of Fairness VS. The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
Mount Eerie - Night Palace VS. Colin Stetson - The Love It Took To Leave You
Mount Eerie - Night Palace
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You VS. Prince - Controversy
Prince - Controversy
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Midnight Tangerine VS. Timecop1983 - Night Drive
Timecop1983 - Night Drive
Marvelous 3 - The Hey! Album VS. Elvis Costello - This Year’s Model
Elvis Costello - This Year’s Model
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