2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 5

So I fell WAAAAAY behind on weekly updates of the 2023 bracket progression, so much so that we just finished Tier 5 this week and I have not posted a single result.  This post should serve as a catch-up on all of the albums clearing Tier 5 and heading into Tier 6 for the next couple of months.   For the sake of brevity, I am only posting the continuing albums with no discussion.  I would be interested in posting a video response on these results, however, for anyone that is interested.

I also have the Viewer’s Bracket results below, which also includes a playlist of the winners.  Those folks deserve a little something for their engagement in this process.

Dr. Spin’s Tier 5 Results

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Ayer, & Shahzad Ismaily – Love in Exile
Miles Davis – Big Fun
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony
Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood – Jarak Qaribak
Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine
Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals – King Cobra
Ekiti Sound – Drum Money
Beauty Pill – Blue Period
Weyes Blood – And in Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman
Crown Lands – Fearless
Soup – Visions
Yes – Mirror to the Sky
Panchiko – D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L
Squid – O Monolith
Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
Nordic Giants – Build Seas, Dismantle Suns
Sleep Token – Take Me Back to Eden
Jantra – Synthesized Sudan
Floating Points – Eleania
Sun Ra Arkestra – Living Sky
HHY & the Kampala Unit – Lithium Blast

Viewer’s Choice Tier 5 Results

Paul Chambers – Bass on Top
Miles Davis – Big Fun
Brendan Eder Ensemble – Therapy
The Lemon Twigs – Everything Harmony
Sault – Untitled (God)
Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine
Ekiti Sound – Drum Money
Mong Tong – Tao Fire
Steve Reich – Runner/Music for Ensemble and Orchestra
Weyes Blood – And in Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman
Crown Lands – Fearless
Ziemba – True Romantic
Yes – Mirror to the Sky
Panchiko – D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L
Charlotte Wessels – Six Feet Under v. 1&2
Aiming for Enrike – Empty Airports
Alvvays – Blue Rev
Adventures of Jet – Part 3: Coping With Insignificance
Sleep Token – Take Me Back to Eden
Jantra – Synthesized Sudan
Frank Sinatra – Watertown
Sun Ra Arkestra – Living Sky
HHY & the Kampala Unit – Lithium Blast

Suzanne Vega's 99.9 F°: The Crimson Frame

 A flashback from the age of Nirvana - Suzanne Vega's 99.9 F

Keep track of the Top 20 with me!

2023 Album Roundup Series: August Tier 6 Contenders

A summary of the music I have had in rotation during August 2023, including:

Sigur Ros - Atta (2023) Black Country, New Road - For the First Time (2021) Drums and Tuba - Box Fetish (1997) Frank Ocean - Blond (2016) Khruangbin - Mordechai (2020) Faye Webster - I Know I'm Funny HaHa (2021)

And, of course, the ever-expanding 2023 Radio Playlist

2023 Summer Listening: New Music Stimulus Package

This massive post documents all the music playing during vacation this summer, including:

Artooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, & Shahzad Ismaily - Love in Exile (2023) Beauty Pill - Blue Period (2023) Crown Lands - Fearless (2023) David + David - Boomtown (1986) Miles Davis - Big Fun (1972) Vilhjálmur Einarsson - Lög við ljóð (2022) Ekiti Sound - Drum Money (2023) Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night (1987) Gentle Giant - In'terview (1976) Haken - Virus (2020) Jantra - Synthesized Sudan (2023) The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony (2023) Midwife & Vyva Melinkolya - Orbweaving (2023)

Mong Tong - Tao Fire (2023) Moor Mother - Jazz Codes (2022) Nakibembe Embaire Group - Nakibembe Embaire Group (2020) Panchiko - D-E-A-T-H-M-E-T-A-L (2000) Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine (2023) Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman (2023) Sleep Token - Take Me Back to Eden (2023) Squid - O Monolith (2023) SQURL - Silver Haze (2023) Jonny Greenwood & Dudu Tassa - Jarak Qaribak (2023) Yes - Mirror to the Sky (2023)

Join in the fun!

And presenting - the return of the Ever-Expanding 2023 Radio playlist

2023 Spring Album Favorites: Viewer's Choice Top 12

Its finally here - the Viewer's Choice Top 12.  Curated by you, the viewership - and what a solid set of albums it is!  Check it out....

Anyone interested in contributing in the Fall, please click on the link below and subscribe to my Patreon.  The cost of a cup of coffee will get you more new music than you will know what to do with.

2023 Mid-Year Favorites: 12 Albums From the Road!

I am excited to share my Mid-Year Top 12 list!  

Keep your ears to the ground for the Viewer's Choice list in the next week.  Or even better - join up for the Fall bracket!  Click below for more info.

2023 Album Showdown Results: Spring Mix 4

Aiming for Enrike – Empty Airports VS. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca

Aiming for Enrike – Empty Airports

For listeners who amuse themselves by trying to disentangle the various parts and structure of musical performance, Aiming for Enrike is a treat.  Their mastery of looping, effects, and raw musicianship make Empty Airports a feast for the ears, and probably one of the few albums from this season that could reasonably beat out the Dirty Projectors in their prime.

 

Sloan – Steady VS. Nnamdi – Please Take a Seat

Sloan – Steady

On the one hand, I have praised Nnamdi for his eclecticism and distinctive musical voice, but when up against the clarity of Sloan's experience and songcraft, his colorful approach worked against him.

 

Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever VS. Wet Leg – Wet Leg

Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever

By now, you know the drill with me and Soccer Mommy.  I just love her music, and the production on this album really lets it shine.  Wet Leg is good and actually quite trendy, but they can’t take out Sometimes, Forever.

Algiers – Shook! VS. P.O.S. – Chill, Dummy

Algiers – Shook!

Algiers has emerged as the big sleeper from this season, and one that would most likely have been overlooked had I not been so meticulous. 

 

Laurie Anderson – Big Science VS. Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

Actually a pretty even match here, both in terms of clarity of vision and overall musical effectiveness.  Xenia’s impassioned vocals put her over the top here.

 

Brendan Eder Ensemble – Therapy VS. Consider the Source – You Are Literally a Metaphor

Consider the Source – You Are Literally a Metaphor

This is also another even match, although the styles are quite radically different.  Both of these albums represent the investment of hardworking independent musicians deserving of much wider attention.  Consider the Source’s live show still rings in my ears when I listen to You Are Literally a Metaphor, however, which gives it a bit of an edge in my auditory imagination.

 

Viewer’s Choice

Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods VS. The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention

Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods

 

Big Star - #1 Record VS. Bronze Gods - 私​た​ち​は​ロ​ボ​ッ​ト​を​ク​ソ​で​す​か ? !

Big Star - #1 Record

 

Soup – Visions VS. Wet Leg – Wet Leg

Soup – Visions

 

Tyler, The Creator – Igor VS. P.O.S. - Chill, Dummy

Tyler, The Creator – Igor

 

Laurie Anderson – Big Science VS. Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

Xenia Rubinos – Una Rosa

 

The Weeknd – Dawn FM VS. Consider the Source – You Are Literally a Metaphor

The Weeknd – Dawn FM

Join in the fun!