2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 6 Week 4

Below are the results of the final week of Tier 6 showdowns. Next week, I will post the Tier 7 results, which will produce the Fall Top 12!

Curling - No Guitar VS. The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony

The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony

Curling’s twisty, turny approach to power pop required some time to sift through, but in the end it's a ingenious and listenable album.  Despite its success in the face of its own ambition, it can’t unseat the Album of the Year feels I get from Everything Harmony.  

Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts VS. Artooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, & Shahzad Ismaily - Love in Exile

Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts

Love in Exile is mesmerizing, with unbelievably deep improvisational interactions between three profoundly accomplished musicians. Vulfpeck would be mischaracterized as mesmerizing, but they do push the upper levels of musicianship in a similar, and perhaps more fun, way. 

 

Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex VS. Soup - Visions

Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex

Tough, tough choice, because I will always advocate for Soup’s distinctly melodic progressive/post rock approach, but this Steven Wilson album is just something else.  Another big contender for Album of the Year.

Gunship - Unicorn VS. The Weeknd - Dawn FM

Gunship - Unicorn

Dawn FM has weathered quite a bit of competition this year and has come out on top surprisingly often. I have a real soft spot, however, for Gunship’s neon-tinged goth synthwave, and I think that Unicorn is an excellent example of their best work.

Trevor Rabin - Rio VS. Yes - Mirror to the Sky

Trevor Rabin - Rio

A very difficult choice, because it hits so close to home.  Yes’ catalog stands as a pillar in my musical pantheon, and I would advocate for either of them to the established fan. Both of these albums, however, have some cringey moments that are buoyed by many standout high points. Rabin ended up in front only because the electrifying single Push makes my hairs stand on end, whereas the textured nuance of the title track from Mirror to the Sky merely hits me in the feels.  In other words, the high points on Rio are just a BIT higher than the high points on Mirror to the Sky.

Chouk Bwa & the Angstromers - Somanti VS. HHY & the Kampala Unit - Lithium Blast

HHY & the Kampala Unit - Lithium Blast

I have a huge appreciation for the way that both of these projects innovate on traditional music from the African diaspora.  The collaboration between Chouk Bwa & the Angstromers is evolving, but as it does so, it sees the two entities falling into the more comfortable roles of production and performance.  Lithium Blast blurs these lines, allowing production and performance to coincide in a very innovative way.  

VIEWER'S CHOICE 

Curling - No Guitar VS. The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony

The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony

Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts VS. Paul Chambers - Bass on Top

Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts

Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex VS. Ziemba - True Romantic

Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex

Gunship - Unicorn VS. Brendan Eder Ensemble - Therapy

Gunship - Unicorn

Trevor Rabin - Rio VS. Yes - Mirror to the Sky

Yes - Mirror to the Sky

Chouk Bwa & the Angstromers - Somanti VS. HHY & the Kampala Unit - Lithium Blast

Chouk Bwa & the Angstromers - Somanti

2023 Album Roundup Series: November Tier 6 Contenders

The last set of albums that will be eligible for consideration in the 2023 Favorites list - and its a doozy!

Steven Wilson - The Harmony Codex (2023)

Trevor Rabin - Rio (2023)

Gunship - Unicorn (2023)

Vulfpeck - Thrill of the Arts (2015) 

     (Audio cue for this track removed due to copyright limitations)

Chouk Bwa & the Angstromers - Somanti (2023)

Curling - No Guitar (2023)

Not much more growth left in this ever-growing 2023 playlist!  Check it out!

2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 6 Week 3

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

2023 Album Roundup Series: October Tier 6 Contenders

Just a bit of music I have been listening to lately, such as:

88Kasyo Junrei - SYG88 (2011) Astronoid - Radiant Bloom (2023) Slowdive - Everything is Alive (2023) Colin Hay - Going Somewhere (2001)

Lisa Bella Donna - Destinations (2019) Death Grips - Government Plates (2013)

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Then check out the ever-expanding 2023 playlist below.

2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 6, Week 2

Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine VS. Frank Ocean - Blonde

Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine

Perhaps it's heresy to be too critical of a well-respected and loved album like Blonde, and in reality I am not.  I think the album is both challenging and brilliant.  Arlo Parks, however, has a palpable ease to her music that carries the same emotional weight as Ocean’s but that also allows for accessible stylistic experiments.  Granted, My Soft Machine doesn’t push boundaries in quite the same way as Blonde, but it's a more inviting and engaging listen overall.

Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman VS. Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II

Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II

Talk about a dead heat.  Both of these albums are outstanding examples of contemporary hard rock.  In this case, one must weigh swagger over precision.  If In Times New Roman is a napalm attack, then Mammoth II is a guided missile.  They both get the job done.  I can’t help, however, but be swayed by Wolfagang Van Halen’s immense aptitude and commitment to the musical ideals his father passed on to him.

Panchiko - D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L VS. Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy

Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy

The Panchiko album is surprisingly good - a throwback to year 2000 electropop in both form and function.  Its backstory as an album that was effectively brought back to life from a single CD copy found in a used bin is also of interest.  In practice, however, the collection is a bit marred by inclusion of the “authentic” version of the album.  The incongruous distortion on the version found in the second half has generated some conspiratorial discussions in some circles, and although I do find it interesting, I also feel like in practice it's a bit redundant and irritating.  Ultimately, the clarity, energy, and overall entertaining tone of Anamanaguchi’s 8-bit inspired chiptune style garners just a bit more support from me.

Squid - O Monolith VS. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time

Black County, New Road - For the First Time

Squid is great.  They’ve got stellar musicianship and a killer drummer who is also the lead singer (always bonus points for having a singing drummer).  Their singular flaw is the way that they navigate dynamics.  They certainly have a more restrained, quiet side that many mathy post-punk projects do not.  When they tap into more intense realms, however, rather than get stronger, they just get noisier, and I feel like that lessens the impact.  Black Country, New Road, on the other hand, deftly handles all dynamic extremes effectively while navigating a wide range of styles and textures.

Viewer’s Choice

Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine VS. Frank Ocean - Blond

Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine

Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman VS. Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II

Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II

Panchiko - D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L VS. Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy

Panchiko - D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L

Charlotte Wessels - Tales from Six Feet Under v. 1&2 VS. Black County, New Road - For the First Time

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

2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 6, Week 1

Miles Davis – Big Fun VS. Drums and Tuba – Box Fetish

Drums and Tuba – Box Fetish

In short bursts, Miles Davis might have won out here in terms of sheer innovation.  As a whole, however, Big Fun is a compilation of recordings that, when taken as a whole, is a taxing listen at over two hours long.  Granted, of course, that Box Fetish most likely wouldn’t have existed without the trailblazing work represented by Big Fun, it still comes off as more, well, fun – while still posing a significant challenge to the genres that birthed it.

Dudu Tassa & Jonny Greenwood – Jarak Qaribak VS. Khruangbin – Mordechai

Khruangbin – Mordechai

I love and appreciate Jarak Qaribak as both an artistic success and cultural statement.  Jonny Greenwood’s ability to tastefully interact with non-Western styles and enhance them with his unique brand of 21^st century musicianship is endlessly engaging. Mordechai’s Thai-influenced chill-funk is just too seductive, though, and won out due to the familiarity generated through endless repeats during our Summer travels.

 

Ekiti Sound – Drum Money VS. WITCH – Zango

Ekiti Sound – Drum Money

This one was the most difficult choice in this set.  Zango has a classic, vintage 70’s African psychedelic feel that really resonates with me personally.  Close inspection, however, gives me the feeling that not as much substance lies beyond its patina as it might seem.  Drum Money, on the other hand, seems to reveal increased layers as I inspect it closer.  It functions effortlessly as both a compelling contemporary Afropop album and a textured DJ-inspired release. 

Gentle Giant – In’terview VS. Hooray for Earth – Fantasy Something

Gentle Giant – In’terview

I was very pleasantly surprised by Fantasy Something.  It’s an impressive step in the sonic evolution of Hooray for Earth.  Musical director Noel Heroux takes lots of chances and they all pay off.  I can’t, however, in all good conscience ignore the insane musicianship and taste of Gentle Giant at what might be the height of their powers.  With one foot still planted in their deep progressive roots, they continue to streamline the approach they took on this album’s predecessor (and my favorite Gentle Giant album), Free Hand. 

 

Viewer’s Choice

Miles Davis – Big Fun VS. Drums and Tuba – Box Fetish

Miles Davis – Big Fun

 

Sault – Untitled (God) VS. Khruangbin – Mordechai

Khruangbin – Mordechai

Ekiti Sound – Drum Money VS. WITCH – Zango

WITCH – Zango

Frank Sinatra – Watertown VS. Hooray for Earth – Fantasy Something

Frank Sinatra - Watertown

2023 Album Roundup Series: September Tier 6 Contenders

Here's a round of albums up for your consideration, including:

Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II (2023) WITCH - Zango (2023) Anamanaguchi - Endless Fantasy (2013) Robert Plant - Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar (2014) Hooray for Earth - Fantasy Something (2023) Beverly Glenn Copeland - The Ones Ahead (2023)

And, you guessed it, the ever-growing 2023 Radio Playlist: