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
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)
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
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 21st 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
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)
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
Viewer’s Choice Tier 5 Results
Paul Chambers – Bass on Top