Best Albums of 2015

The King's Flight to the Scots · Sun Dec 13, 2015 3:02 pm

On IRC last night, there was a discussion of people's favorite albums of 2015. I'd like to open this question to a larger audience with a bracket opening this Friday. Before I start, I'd like to solicit nominations from the forums. Fill out this form to submit your choices. You may nominate as many as you like, but I'll retain the final say. Unserious choices will be discarded. Thank you!

The King's Flight to the Scots · Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:59 pm

Here are the brackets. The vast majority of these albums were nominated by 3 or more people, so choosing them was pretty easy. I had to get creative to fill out the Horan Sectional, but I received enough outside-of-the-box submissions to make it work. Brackets and seeds are what I wanted them to be.

A couple notes:
1. Don't worry if you don't know most of the albums here. Do your reasonable best to make educated choices and move on.
2. When you post a vote, please explain your reasoning so that we can have an engaging discussion here. If you would rather not explain every single choice, pick a handful of contests that should be divisive and argue in favor of your choice.
3. Voting on the first round will continue until 12 AM Monday.

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8) vs. #8 Darkest Before Dawn (Pusha T, gotta look it up yourself)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg) vs. #7 Compton (Dr. Dre, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwFQFfzzLD8)
#3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRQHBz1Pf84) vs. #6 Sremmlife (Rae Sremmurd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cQSPRTdhg)
#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW3AMC6jUeo) vs. #5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Earl Sweatshirt, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ5Mu2gs-M8)

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 (Adele, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A) vs. #8 Purpose (Justin Bieber, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0)
#2 Hamilton cast recording (Lin-Manuel Miranda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vHMSq7K2ds) vs. #7 Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTuBuRdAyA)
#3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeccAtqd5K8) vs. #6 Vulnicura (Bjork, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHpoJT3qK4)
#4 In Colour (Jamie xx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M) vs. #5 Yeezer (Alex Hodowanec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2nl1FqAgsc)

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents (Tame Impala, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVE3sk9XjpA) vs. #8 New Bermuda (Deafheaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoGU6l88QA)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqy7KBuO7Y) vs. #7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (The Decemberists, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgZVE_UaCsU)
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-nr1nNC3ds) vs. #6 The Most Lamentable Tragedy (Titus Andronicus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dX6LL7b8Y0)
#4 No Cities to Love (Sleater-Kinney, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWc6knXULsw) vs. #5I Love You Honeybear (Father John Misty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48rkGcVt71c&index=6)

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGODTySH0E) vs. #8 Wildheart (Miguel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfm1EeW8wQ)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE) vs. #7 The Epic (Kamasi Washington, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQRBzSN9Vw)
#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xlgXqQKLA) vs. #6 Another Eternity (Purity Ring, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbqcXnTt-7o)
#4 Depression Cherry (Beach House, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0mt0N5-LLw) vs. #5 Every Open Eye (CHVRCHES, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9_0pxiDjY)

Adventure Temple Trail · Fri Dec 18, 2015 9:46 pm

I haven't listened to like 30 of these yet but if the Hamilton cast album doesn't win I'll disinherit you all or something.

ryanrosenberg · Post by **ryanrosenberg** » Fri Dec 18, 2015 10:30 pm

Here goes nothing. Haven't listened to a ton of music this year, but there were some albums that really grabbed me (as I'm sure you'll see in the voting).

Malik
To Pimp A Butterfly. At some point (probably not until after graduation), I'll have enough time to sit down with TPAB and really delve deeply into it. This is an album that requires (and rewards) many repeated listens, but there's more than enough just from surface listening to cruise through this matchup.

Compton. I don't like A$AP Rocky, so I'm going to write this off as a Lifetime Achievement Award for Dre.

Sremmlife. Biased because they came to UNC, but Rae Sremmurd is goddamn (I can say that in the high-school section, right?) catchy.

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late. It's good to see his basketball fame hasn't gone to Drake's head.

Horan
25. Hey, Adele is back! Like, back back. I don't know if you heard.

Hamilton cast recording. As anyone who follows me on Spotify knows, I listened to this a lot in the past three months. My album of the year for sure.

Emotion. Finally, I can express my secret like of Carly Rae Jepsen's music and not-so-secret dislike of Bjork in one tidy package!

In Colour. Enjoyed the posted song more.

Styles
Currents. Every time I listen to Tame Impala, I'm reminded that I should listen to more of them but never do.

Beat The Champ. Expected less, got more.

Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. The real lamentable tragedy is that these two albums were matched up in the first round.

No Cities to Love. This too.

Payne
Wildheart. Another "voting against an album I didn't like".

Art Angels. Not as fun as Visions, yet, but I need to listen to this more.

Divers. I feel like I should feel more strongly about Joanna Newsom than I do.

Depression Cherry. Negative votes coming in hard and fast.

Fri Dec 18, 2015 11:43 pm

Malik

To Pimp a Butterfly.
Compton
Summertime '06—this is one of the best hip-hop albums released in the past few years; I like it almost as much as TPAB.
If You're Reading This It's Too Late—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79AR0VC5wCA&t=1m47s

Horan

Purpose, because Adele is actively a negative force in music.
Hamilton. I haven't seen it live, but Daveed Diggs and Jonathan Groff are pretty great on the recording, even if a lot of the other performances/arrangements are a little cringe-y. I don't know what happened to The Weeknd since House of Balloons, but it's not good.
Vulnicura. Definitely the hardest choice here. Giving it to Björk because it's her best album since Vespertine, but Emotion is, for me, the most surprisingly good album of the year.
In Colour

Styles

Currents
Beat the Champ, although I think it's pretty mediocre as Mountain Goats albums go.
Sometimes I Sit and Think.... What a great album. I haven't been able to make it through all of the Titus record yet.
No Cities to Love—it's like they were never gone. Don't really get all of the Father John Misty love—his lyrics are funny, which is new, but he hasn't really advanced musically from the J. Tillman days.

Payne

Carrie and Lowell—I might've voted against Sufjan here if it'd been Jeremih instead of Miguel. But it's a good album. My mom likes it.
Art Angels. Another super-tough one. I'm going with the album that makes me hum involuntarily like eight times a day.
Divers
Depression Cherry. The CHVRCHES album is good, but this is just another fantastic album from Beach House.

Dirty Water · Post by **Dirty Water** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:31 am

Malik:

To Pimp a Butterfly. The instrumentation! The poem! The interview! Bilal! Kendrick's flow was the least impressive element of this album – and even that was far above what most people have been able to put out recently. You really can't omit this guy from the GOAT conversation anymore.

Compton, lifted almost solely by that beat on "Genocide" and the excellent use of Anderson .Paak.

Summertime '06.

If You're Reading This. Oh boy oh boy oh boy. I like angry Drake. Maybe as much as sad Drake. But my favorite track here is still probably Jungle.

Late write-in: The Documentary 2/2.5 was pretty damn good, and I'm not sure if it would've made the bracket had I known about it earlier, but I enjoyed it more than any of the non-TPAB albums above.

Horan:

This is really a tough one. Purpose probably had more of my favorite songs, but as an album as a whole, I'd have to go with 25.

Beauty Behind the Madness. I really really like the Weeknd, and to see him team up with Max Martin far exceeded my expectations. "In the Night" is probably one of my top five pop songs of the year, and the darker tracks were mostly polished versions of what I've come to expect from the dude with the hair. Hamilton was really enjoyable but after a while, it fell into this weird grey zone between hip-hop and theatre that I just had trouble digesting.

e•mo•tion was really really good and expectedly underrated. In its tradition of obliviousness, the Recording Academy just decided to not take a look at one of the best pop albums of the year.

In Colour.

Styles: I really don't feel justified in voting here. Maybe I'll come back after I've had a chance to listen to all of them, but I don't think that'll happen before Monday.

Payne:

Wildheart. I feel like Miguel is consistently inconsistent, but this was the stronger project.

Art Angels.

Divers.

Every Open Eye. I usually don't like CHVRCHES, but this album kinda got addictive. I'm still not sure why.

Muriel Axon · Post by **Muriel Axon** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:59 am

MALIK:
To Pimp a Butterfly -- TPAB is, yes, "important," but it's also both really fun and musically ambitious. For an album to be all of those things at once is incredible.
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP -- This was a tough one because I have no interest in either of these. I have noted with growing alarm the number of rappers named "A$AP [blank]" on my radar. But I'm even more skeptical toward Compton, the soundtrack to a movie that's straight hagiography.
Summertime '06 -- More me not liking Rae Sremmurd (how do you say that exactly?) than liking Vince Staples.
I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside -- I'm a sucker for this kind of spare, claustrophobic music. Drake is also fine, though.

HORAN:
25 -- Whatever.
Hamilton -- Look, the Weeknd is awful. He didn't become awful. He was awful when the indie kids fawned over his trilogy and he's still awful. He's an awful person and I hate his kind of half-hearted self-pitying braggadocio (see "Twenty-Eight"). The music was never that good, either -- just look at "House of Balloons" (the song), whose only good part came straight from Siouxsie and the Banshees. This only intensified in his latest few songs; "The Hills" is particularly bad. Also he sounds like what you get if you release the end of a filled balloon just a tiny bit until you get a persistent, whiny squeak, dubbed over Yoko Ono's "Fly," as reenacted by Andrew Hart.
Vulnicura -- The Carly Rae Jepsen album is surprisingly not bad, but Vulnicura just kind of tears you to shreds.
In Colour -- I don't have much to say here. In Colour is a very pretty album. I always found mashup albums to be kind of a gimmick.

STYLES:
New Bermuda -- I liked Lonerism just fine, but Currents just seems too diffuse and self-indulgent. I felt robbed after listening to "Let It Happen." Deafheaven's last album was not great, but this one is listenable. I suspect this is my most contentious opinion.
Beat the Champ -- Pitting Connor Teevens's favorite band against the rest of quizbowl's favorite band. I'm voting against Teevens. Sorry dude!
Sometimes I Just Sit... -- Two artists I've wanted to like but couldn't. Courtney Barnett has enough springy guitar lines and wry lyrics to put her on top.
No Cities to Love -- And Sleater-Kinney is another band I admire more than like. On the other side, I once commented that Father John Misty is like Nickelback -- he evidently has fans, but I sure as hell don't know any. Don't care for him one bit.

PAYNE:
Carrie & Lowell -- Easy choice.
Art Angels -- This one is tough. I have tons of respect for both, but I enjoy listening to Grimes much more. Between this and Divers for my favorite album in this tournament (though my favorite album of the year isn't in it).
Divers -- As Nigel Wilder said, Joanna Newsom for Nobel Prize in Literature. Purity Ring is fine but there was nothing exciting about this album. On the other hand, Joanna Newsom branched out into a whole new world of timbres on Divers. Hell, just listen really closely to "Sapokanikan."
Depression Cherry -- I found Every Open Eye disappointing. Beach House can be anodyne, but what I've heard from this album seems like a shift away from that.

The King's Flight to the Scots · Sat Dec 19, 2015 11:18 am

Just to clarify: despite being called Compton: A Soundtrack, the Dr. Dre album has very little to do with the Straight Outta Compton biopic.

Maury Island incident · Sat Dec 19, 2015 11:27 am

MALIK SECTIONAL:

To Pimp A Butterfly- An incredible album, any way you look at it.

Compton- A$AP Rocky can make singles (see "Everyday") but Compton was a deeper album overall. Seeing as this was a Dre album, the beats were top-tier.

SremmLife- By far the toughest decision I had to make here. Summertime '06 is fantastic and Vince Staples reminds me of a young Kendrick, but I'll balance this mostly heavy regional out with a party album.

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late- Drake's finest work, and I don't really like Earl Sweatshirt.

HORAN SECTIONAL:

25- Not a huge fan, but it's enough to advance.

Hamilton- This was fantastic. It's a crime against humanity that it has to face To Pimp A Butterfly in the semifinals.

Emotion- Surprisingly not terrible.

In Colour

STYLES SECTIONAL:

I'll abstain from this until I feel like I know it better.

PAYNE SECTIONAL:

Wildheart

Art Angels- Just discovered this while trying to vote in this regional, and it's not half bad.

Another Eternity- Purity Ring sounds a lot like Grimes, but I liked Grimes and therefore also must like Purity Ring.

Depression Cherry- Beach House's stronger album of 2015, certainly. Kind of unfortunate it drew CHVRCHES in the first round.

LHDoroschuk · Post by **LHDoroschuk** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 12:03 pm

Malik:

To Pimp a Butterfly - I love this album a little more every time I listen to it.
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP - Neither of these are in my top 5 hip hop all year. Or top 10 even. But Compton was more disappointing than anything, so I'm leaning A$ap.
Summertime '06 - It's a little bloated in my opinion, but when it's good it's GOOD. Like seriously, Norf Norf is Vince Staples best song ever. As for Rae Sremmurd, I just do not like the music whatsoever.
I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside - This one wins by a mile. I like the direction Earl has taken his music in the last two records. This probably wins my Piñata award (for my favorite album, not necessarily the best album).

Horan:

25 - Adele is talented and can put together a cohesive project worth listening to, which is more than I can say for the Biebs.
Hamilton - I hadn't heard this until now, but I like it. So there.
Vulcinura - Bjork wins this time, though this was probably the best showing so far by Carly-Rae Jepsen.
In Colour - I liked this album more than I liked Yeezer, mostly because I don't really like mashups.

Styles:

Currents - Neither of these really stood out to me. I'll go with Currents.
Beat the Champ - This album was incredibly entertaining. I appreciate the creativity.
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit - I loved this album when it came out. It's not album of the year, but it's a damn good debut from Courtney Barnett.
I Love You Honeybear - I quite liked this album when it came out and revisiting was good. I'm in Father John Misty's camp.

Payne:

Carrie and Lowell - I think this race is ultimately between Kendrick and Sufjan. This album turned me on to Sufjan Stevens and I will be eternally grateful for that.
The Epic - It's a really good jazz record. Which I can appreciate.
Divers - Joanna Newsom is weird, but in a good way. And this is a great album. I think this is the only album that approaches the TPAB and C&L tier.
Every Open Eye - I got turned on to CHVRCHES a little while back, and I liked this album, so I'll give it my vote.

(Quick Note: it looks like Payne is going to be a circle of death)

Cody · Post by **Cody** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 2:01 pm

I'm very disappointed you didn't take the chance to name this something like the Bollinger's Bands Battle. Anyway, I've only heard one album in this entire list, but it's so good I have to vote. If only Little Boots's Working Girl had made it in :(

Malik
#1 TPAB
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP. I'm voting for this album because I'm always convinced that A$AP Rocky did the rap parts on Lights's Siberia, which makes no sense, instead of Shad, which makes a lot of sense.
#3 Summertime '06
#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Horan
#1 25. As I noted in the best songs of 2015 thread, I'm constantly momentarily convinced that "Hello" is going to be followed by "Is it me you're looking for?"
#2 Hamilton. I've always thought that The Weeknd really should've gone all in and taken Th Wknd. Since he didn't, I'll go with the Matt Jackson favorite.
#6 Vulnicura. I'm not a huge Bjork fan and I am a pretty big Carly Rae Jepsen fan, but Jesu Christe: "Run Away With Me" is really bad. I'm listening to "Bulletproof" to cleanse my palate.
#4 In Colour. The xx is really awesome, so presumably Jamie xx can't be that bad.

Styles. I've only heard of like three of these artists.
#1 Currents. Currents is also the name of an album by Eisley, which is a great band everyone should check out. Anyway, with such illustrious lineage, how bad could it be?
#2 Beat the Champ
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
#4 No Cities to Love

Payne. This sectional has four artists I really like!
#1 Carrie and Lowell. I don't really like Sufjan Stevens, but, wow, Miguel. No.
#2 Art Angels. Obviously, this is my album of the year and I love everything about it. I also really enjoyed this article about Grimes's Art Angels. And, of course, no post about Grimes would be complete without mentioning the possibly-false story of her try to take a houseboat down the Mississippi in 2009 (original's been deleted by the Star-Tribune unfortunately).
#3 Another Eternity. This is not as good as Shrines, but still good.
#5 Every Open Eye. This was basically a coin flip; I'd forgotten about the Beach House album and hadn't realized CHVRCHES had a new album out. They're both really good but I can listen to CHVRCHES for a lot more consecutive time.

Rococo A Go Go · Post by **Rococo A Go Go** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 2:56 pm

I don't know why, but there weren't a lot of albums that jumped out to me this year. This bracket does have some good stuff in it though.

Malik
To Pimp a Butterfly: Kendrick gets the nod for being better than Pusha T, but I didn't enjoy TPaB all that much.

AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP: I actually like this album quite a bit.

Sremmlife: I didn't like either of these albums, both of which I found boring. Rae Sremmurd gets the nod because I felt it was less boring.

I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside: I also felt like these albums were boring. I didn't care for the Drake album at all, so Earl gets my vote.

Horan
25: Adele made a really great album. I have positive things to say about Hello elsewhere.

Hamilton: I enjoyed the Hamilton soundtrack quite a bit. The Weeknd is, quite frankly, terrible. I don't know why he's popular or why people like him. This album is just boring, whiny droning in his annoying voice.

Emotion: Neither of these albums are great, but Bjork is unlistenable in my opinion.

Yeezer: I disliked the Jamie xx album so much I'll pick the gimmick album instead.

Styles
Currents: Tame Impala is pretty good, although I liked their last album more than Currents.

What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World: I think this is a really great album that's going to get lost in the shuffle of its competition. The Mountain Goats are fine I guess, but I've never quite understood quizbowl's fascination with them.

Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit: I think Courtney Barnett can make an enjoyable song, but I don't particularly enjoy extended listens. That said, this album is still better than the Titus Andronicus album.

I Love You Honeybear: Count me as somebody who does like Father John Misty.

Payne
Carrie and Lowell: I'm not a huge Sufjan Stevens fan, but occasionally his albums have a few songs I enjoy, and this is one of them. Miguel is not worth consideration.

Art Angels: Grimes makes pretty good music, and I don't care for Jazz. Easy choice.

Another Eternity: The Purity Ring album is decent, and I also don't care for Joanna Newsom.

Every Open Eye: There's some good stuff going on for Beach House, but this CHVRCHES album is fantastic.

Post by **Auks Ran Ova** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 3:47 pm

MALIK
To Pimp a Butterfly
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
Summertime '06
I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside

HORAN
Purpose - Adele's boring. Fight me.
Hamilton - My heart soared while reading Shan's post. I fully endorse its Weeknd-related messages. Also, Hamilton is fantastic on its own, and ten thousand times more listenable than its competition.
Emotion
Yeezer - I am intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

STYLES
Currents - The Andrew Hart Memorial Vote.
Beat the Champ - My album of the year. So good.
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
No Cities to Love - I don't like Father John Misty at all, and I do like Sleater-Kinney! Sorry this opinion is not particularly insightful.

PAYNE
I have no opinion on all eight of these albums and will vote in this bracket in later rounds when there are fewer to learn about.

gyre and gimble · Post by **gyre and gimble** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 3:51 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly I don't even really like rap but this album is incredible.
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP Can't tell, just going with the higher seed.
#3 Summertime '06 Same thing.
#5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside A dumb music video isn't going to save Drake from his even dumber haircut. Plus I've actually listened to the Earl album more than once.

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 It kind of seems like a lot of people for some reason feel compelled to purchase Adele's new album because "it's the thing to do." Whatever.
#2 Hamilton Not really my taste, but voting because of the cultural phenomenon this has generated and also because The Weeknd sucks.
#6 Vulnicura Just because Pitchfork wants to take Carly Rae Jepsen seriously doesn't mean I have to.
#5 Yeezer Yeezer is super fun, if not as polished as Jaydiohead or the Grey Album. I'm curious to see how far it can go. Also the Jamie xx album just feels too lacking in effort, like it was done using the built-in sound effects on a $80 keyboard from Walmart. What others may call carefully controlled minimalism I call...meh.

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents Not into metal, don't know how to evaluate it.
#7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World I don't like either of these albums because they both underperform lyrically compared to the rest of Darnielle's and Meloy's work, but I'm going with the Decemberists because, to me at least, they've always relied less heavily on their lyrics to make good music.
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit One album in this matchup is good, the other is not.
#5I Love You Honeybear "Chateau Lobby #4" feels so heartfelt; the clarity of sound and warmth of voice that comes out of the song somehow turns the (delightfully) random lyrics into directly communicative glimpses of Josh Tillman's love for his wife. I think it's a song that can only be written honestly during a special window in one's life, and Tillman hit the spot. Also Wild Flag already outdid any possible Sleater-Kinney record that could be created after it.

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell Sufjan's most complete album. There's something especially touching about the frequent references to birds and the desire to project people onto them, as if it were easier to understand birdsong than complex emotions. "Should Have Known Better" also does something so unexpected and abrupt that so succinctly captures how an album about mourning refrains from being just about death: "My brother had a daughter, the beauty that she brings, illumination." My favorite line on the album.
#2 Art Angels Maybe I'll have something more interesting to say about this in a future round.
#3 Divers I've been talking about "Sapokanikan" for years, and the whole image of New Yorkers' hair standing on end to see their mayor leave for the war is chillingly beautiful. So imagine my delight when the full album comes out with lyrics like "daughter, when you are able / come down and join, the kettle's on" and makes electric guitars sound orchestral.
#4 Depression Cherry One of these is interested in using sound to create a space, and by extension, art. The other is just a well-produced indie pop record.

The Stately Rhododendron · Sat Dec 19, 2015 4:43 pm

Writing this paper isn't going well, so:

MALIK:
TPAB: at a campfire this summer, I heard a inspired cover of "the blacker the berry" based on the hotdogs we were cooking
ASAP
Summertime '06: walking back to my tent, I hear what is almost certainly a black bear. My headlamp is dead. I am scared. I open my laptop and start blasting "Get Paid." The bear stayed away.
IYRTITL

HORAN:
Look, I was in the woods a lot. Yale blocks the pirate bay. I haven't listened to a single one of these. EDIT: except for Jamie xx's which was awful! How can you ruin Young Thug like that!

STYLES:
New Bermuda: I've never "gotten" Tame Impala. deafheaven, on the other hand, I get. Adding a death metal growl was inspired.
Beat the champ: this was just alright, but the Decembrists are too much of a "dad" band for me
Haven't listned to either of these
No cities to Love: I agree with Shan

PAYNE:
Carrie & Lowell: so good, so sad
Art Angels: the shimmering keyboard in realiti gets me good
Divers: the only way I can connect with my sister is through you, Joanna
Depression Cherry: Beach House is from Baltimore. Go Baltimore!

Best album of the Next Year: Xtreme Now by Prince Rama. Nothing will beat this. Welcome to the Now Age.

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Sat Dec 19, 2015 5:49 pm

Some of these I don't have an opinion on, but I'll vote where I do:

Darkest Before Dawn. Do I actually think this is better than TPAB? Probably not, although since it came out literally yesterday I can't offer a complete opinion on it and doubt that anyone who nominated it could either. I mostly want to vote for it because on first impression, it's a solid album that doesn't deserve a matchup against a bulldozer, and partly because I think TPAB is highly overrated and disappointing compared to GKMC. It felt like Kendrick was trying too hard to make an artistic statement and forgot to make a listenable album - obviously, his bars are great, and it has some great songs, but on the whole, listening to it is 80 minutes of feeling depressed and hopeless with no release.

AT.LONG.LAST.ASAP. This album is pretty good, I wish you had linked to Everyday, which has a great Rod Stewart sample and is far and away my favorite track off it. Dre is an old man whose only path to relevance in 2015 is mentoring Kendrick Lamar and then featuring him on everything.

Summertime '06.

Abstain from a very uninspiring matchup

Nope.

Hamilton, I guess. I don't love it as much as everyone else, but I feel similarly to Shan (if slightly less strongly) about The Weeknd.

Emotion. I don't love CRJ, but I don't like Bjork.

In Colour. I don't have any strong opinions on this, just that it's pretty good.

Currents

I can't endorse either of these.

I've been on record really disliking Titus Andronicus since 2010, and seem to be the only person who's really bothered by Courtney Barnett's voice, so I'll pass again.

I Love You Honeybear. I guess Shan doesn't know me then, because despite being far inferior to Fear Fun, this is a solid album. Fear Fun is a good album.

Carrie and Lowell. This is one of the most brutal albums I can imagine, but, due to Sufjan's voice and the music, as well as a couple rays of light, you still feel alive after you listen to it despite a feeling of being punched in the gut. Probably the best album of the year, and possible the best since October 2010. This is a pretty annoying matchup, since the Miguel album was pretty solid too, but not even on the same level.

The Epic. I hadn't listened to this before, but it's good!

Another Eternity. Joanna Newsom has never vibed with me the whole time she's been around. Also this Purity Ring album is legit.

Every Open Eye

Off To See The Lizard · Sun Dec 20, 2015 4:35 am

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8) vs. #8 Darkest Before Dawn (Pusha T, gotta look it up yourself)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg) vs. #7 Compton (Dr. Dre, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwFQFfzzLD8)
#3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRQHBz1Pf84) vs. #6 Sremmlife (Rae Sremmurd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cQSPRTdhg)
#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW3AMC6jUeo) vs. #5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Earl Sweatshirt, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ5Mu2gs-M8)

It's a shame Surf by Donnie Trumpet and the SoX didn't make it into this sectional.

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 (Adele, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A) vs. #8 Purpose (Justin Bieber, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0)
#2 Hamilton cast recording (Lin-Manuel Miranda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vHMSq7K2ds) vs. #7 Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTuBuRdAyA)
#3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeccAtqd5K8) vs. #6 Vulnicura (Bjork, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHpoJT3qK4)
#4 In Colour (Jamie xx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M) vs. #5 Yeezer (Alex Hodowanec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2nl1FqAgsc)

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents (Tame Impala, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVE3sk9XjpA) vs. #8 New Bermuda (Deafheaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoGU6l88QA)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqy7KBuO7Y) vs. #7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (The Decemberists, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgZVE_UaCsU)
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-nr1nNC3ds) vs. #6 The Most Lamentable Tragedy (Titus Andronicus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dX6LL7b8Y0)
#4 No Cities to Love (Sleater-Kinney, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWc6knXULsw) vs. #5I Love You Honeybear (Father John Misty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48rkGcVt71c&index=6)

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGODTySH0E) vs. #8 Wildheart (Miguel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfm1EeW8wQ)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE) vs. #7 The Epic (Kamasi Washington, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQRBzSN9Vw)
#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xlgXqQKLA) vs. #6 Another Eternity (Purity Ring, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbqcXnTt-7o)
#4 Depression Cherry (Beach House, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0mt0N5-LLw) vs. #5 Every Open Eye (CHVRCHES, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9_0pxiDjY)

Ndg · Post by **Ndg** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 12:37 am

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #8 Darkest Before Dawn (Pusha T)... Butterfly held my attention like few other hip-hop albums have. Of course, it could simply have been because of everyone saying how Important it is.

#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #7 Compton (Dr. Dre) ... Compton was much better than I expected. At Long Last wasn’t. Maybe I’ll have something more interesting to say later if Compton wins and I give a closer listen.

#3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples) vs. #6 Sremmlife (Rae Sremmurd) ... Sremmlife was much to in-your-face for my tastes.

#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake) vs. #5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Earl Sweatshirt) ... Not to be too dramatic here, but I don’t understand how anyone could enjoy listening to If You’re Reading This, or really to Drake in general. His delivery is lifeless, the beats are so boring they border on nonexistent, and his voice feels like someone is shoving sandpaper down my throat. As for Mr. Sweatshirt… I probably won’t ever listen to this album again, but I don’t actively hate it.

Off To See The Lizard wrote:It's a shame Surf by Donnie Trumpet and the SoX didn't make it into this sectional.

Agreed. Would’ve nominated it if I had realized this bracket was going to be one-fourth hip-hop

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 (Adele) vs. #8 Purpose (Justin Bieber) … I love Adele’s voice. It’s just, I happen to hate everything she’s done with it. Let me know when 65 come out and she’s done whining. Purpose was fine and exceed my (low) expectations.

#2 Hamilton cast recording (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #7 Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd) … This is really just a vote against Mr. I’d-like-to-buy-a-vowel. As bad as the name and the hair are, though, they’re not the problem. There’s a possible world where Mr. Tesfaye uses his preternaturally smooth yet squeaky voice to make music I can actually enjoy. In this world though, nearly all of his melodies are just noodling around a pentatonic scale. It’s difficult to build any kind of momentum with such a limited palette --- one that makes even Lana Del Rey sound robotic --- and he isn’t up to the task. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “Can’t Feel My Face” and “In the Night”, which deviate most from this pattern, are by far the best songs on the album. I think there’s hope for The Weeknd, but this album is a pile of poo.

#3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen) vs. #6 Vulnicura (Bjork) … Impeccably produced. Emotion is everything you could want in a pop record… This is my album of the year.

gyre and gimble wrote:Just because Pitchfork wants to take Carly Rae Jepsen seriously doesn't mean I have to.

You don’t have to take her seriously to have tons of fun listening to it. I certainly don’t.

I’ve never quite been able to get on board with Bjork is doing on any of her albums. Sometimes I can convince myself I like her when the crazy harmonies distract me from the fact that her voice is kind of unpleasant.

#4 In Colour (Jamie xx) vs. #5 Yeezer (Alex Hodowanec) … Picking this by default because the other one is an

The King's Flight to the Scots wrote:Unserious choice

(guess I should have nominated Meow the Jewels after all?)

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #8 New Bermuda (Deafheaven) … Like most albums with a lot of fuzz or reverb, Currents took a few listens to sort out everything that’s going on sonically but was very rewarding once I did. I have nothing bad to say about New Bermuda, though.

Muriel Axon wrote:Deafheaven's last album was not great, but this one is listenable.

I'll echo this. I enjoyed New Bermuda more than a lot of the albums here, but in the end, I’m just not a fan of vocals this scream-y.

#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (The Decemberists) … I’m not sure why I would listen to World (other than trying to cast an informed vote). It has no distinguishing qualities. Never heard of the Mountain Goats before, but this album features a very wide range of instrumentations and moods --- which for me is a very good thing. Plus, I’m a sucker for baritone saxes (“Foreign Object”).

#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett) vs. #6 The Most Lamentable Tragedy(Titus Andronicus) … Ms. Barnett’s half singing, half deadpan chanting delivery, while not the kind of vocals I usually want to hear, is a perfect match for the lyrics and arrangements. In short, this album is exactly the sort of wacky music I can’t get enough of.

#4 No Cities to Love (Sleater-Kinney) vs. #5 I Love You Honeybear (Father John Misty) … Tracks 2-10 of Cities don’t get me particularly excited, but --- oh, man, “Price Tag” is one of the most flat-out-fun-to-listen-to songs I’ve ever heard. Those guitar riffs? It just doesn’t get much better than that. Honeybear didn’t do much to impress me (this self-styled “horny manchild momma’s boy” rubs me the wrong way), so I’m shamelessly voting on the basis of one track.

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #8 Wildheart (Miguel) … Decisive win for Mr. Stevens here, despite the fact that I usually don’t like “man and guitar” music very much. I’ve been listening to “Death with Dignity” a lot since this album came out; despite the somewhat cryptic lyrics, it’s very touching. Wildheart was a pleasant surprise. In terms of 2015 R&B albums, though, I’ll take Janet Jackson’s.

#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #7 The Epic (Kamasi Washington) … I haven’t had the time to give The Epic any kind of proper listen (or even make it through the whole album), but if I do, I doubt it’ll prove to be as bizarrely fun as Art Angels was. I suspect I’ll be coming back the latter for years to come.

#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom) vs. #6 Another Eternity (Purity Ring) … Another Eternity feels as if, after taking the best parts of themselves and making them gold, Chvrches gave the leftover boring parts to Purity Ring. Okay, maybe that’s harsh, but I can’t find a single thing to strongly like or dislike about it. I’d be hard-pressed to find an album more precisely mediocre than this one. As for Divers, there are more than a few albums here that would win a matchup against it, but I was intrigued enough by the lousy live footage on Youtube that I’d like to see it stay at least another round. In particular, I keep coming back to “Sapokanikan”, which leaves me with a greater sense of awe every time I listen to it.

#4 Depression Cherry (Beach House) vs. #5 Every Open Eye (CHVRCHES) … Wow, this was difficult. I actually nominated Every Open Eye, but not Depression Cherry. But I gave the latter another listen, and it was actually really moving once I put headphones on and let myself drift all the way into the world Beach House builds here. Lauren Mayberry has one of those voices I could listen to for hours, but I’ll give the edge to Cherry for working better as an album, not just a collection of some songs I really like.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:34 am

What I have learned is that I really wish this bracket was about the best albums of 1985. You kids enjoy yourselves; I'll be here on this porch.

Beevor Feevor · Post by **Beevor Feevor** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:07 am

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8) vs. #8 Darkest Before Dawn (Pusha T, gotta look it up yourself)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg) vs. #7 Compton (Dr. Dre, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwFQFfzzLD8)
#3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRQHBz1Pf84) vs. #6 Sremmlife (Rae Sremmurd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cQSPRTdhg)
#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW3AMC6jUeo) vs. #5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Earl Sweatshirt, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ5Mu2gs-M8)

It's a shame Surf by Donnie Trumpet and the SoX didn't make it into this sectional.

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 (Adele, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A) vs. #8 Purpose (Justin Bieber, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0)
#2 Hamilton cast recording (Lin-Manuel Miranda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vHMSq7K2ds) vs. #7 Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTuBuRdAyA)
#3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeccAtqd5K8) vs. #6 Vulnicura (Bjork, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHpoJT3qK4)
#4 In Colour (Jamie xx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M) vs. #5 Yeezer (Alex Hodowanec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2nl1FqAgsc)

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents (Tame Impala, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVE3sk9XjpA) vs. #8 New Bermuda (Deafheaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoGU6l88QA)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqy7KBuO7Y) vs. #7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (The Decemberists, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgZVE_UaCsU)
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-nr1nNC3ds) vs. #6 The Most Lamentable Tragedy (Titus Andronicus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dX6LL7b8Y0)
#4 No Cities to Love (Sleater-Kinney, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWc6knXULsw) vs. #5I Love You Honeybear (Father John Misty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48rkGcVt71c&index=6)

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGODTySH0E) vs. #8 Wildheart (Miguel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfm1EeW8wQ)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE) vs. #7 The Epic (Kamasi Washington, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQRBzSN9Vw)
#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xlgXqQKLA) vs. #6 Another Eternity (Purity Ring, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbqcXnTt-7o)
#4 Depression Cherry (Beach House, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0mt0N5-LLw) vs. #5 Every Open Eye (CHVRCHES, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9_0pxiDjY)

gimmedatguudsuccrose · Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:27 am

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8) vs. #8 Darkest Before Dawn (Pusha T, gotta look it up yourself)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg) vs. #7 Compton (Dr. Dre, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwFQFfzzLD8)
#3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRQHBz1Pf84) vs. #6 Sremmlife (Rae Sremmurd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cQSPRTdhg)
#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW3AMC6jUeo) vs. #5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Earl Sweatshirt, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ5Mu2gs-M8)

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 (Adele, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A) vs. #8 Purpose (Justin Bieber, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0)
#2 Hamilton cast recording (Lin-Manuel Miranda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vHMSq7K2ds) vs. #7 Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTuBuRdAyA)
#3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeccAtqd5K8) vs. #6 Vulnicura (Bjork, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHpoJT3qK4)
#4 In Colour (Jamie xx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M) vs. #5 Yeezer (Alex Hodowanec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2nl1FqAgsc)

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents (Tame Impala, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVE3sk9XjpA) vs. #8 New Bermuda (Deafheaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoGU6l88QA)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqy7KBuO7Y) vs. #7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (The Decemberists, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgZVE_UaCsU)
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-nr1nNC3ds) vs. #6 The Most Lamentable Tragedy (Titus Andronicus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dX6LL7b8Y0)
#4 No Cities to Love (Sleater-Kinney, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWc6knXULsw) vs. #5I Love You Honeybear (Father John Misty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48rkGcVt71c&index=6)

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGODTySH0E) vs. #8 Wildheart (Miguel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfm1EeW8wQ)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE) vs. #7 The Epic (Kamasi Washington, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQRBzSN9Vw)
#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xlgXqQKLA) vs. #6 Another Eternity (Purity Ring, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbqcXnTt-7o)
#4 Depression Cherry (Beach House, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0mt0N5-LLw) vs. #5 Every Open Eye (CHVRCHES, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9_0pxiDjY)

Habitat_Against_Humanity · Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:10 pm

Mafia Kraut Rights wrote:MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8) vs. #8 Darkest Before Dawn (Pusha T, gotta look it up yourself)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg) vs. #7 Compton (Dr. Dre, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwFQFfzzLD8)
#3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRQHBz1Pf84) vs. #6 Sremmlife (Rae Sremmurd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2cQSPRTdhg)
#4 If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Drake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW3AMC6jUeo) vs. #5 I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (Earl Sweatshirt, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ5Mu2gs-M8)

HORAN SECTIONAL
#1 25 (Adele, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A) vs. #8 Purpose (Justin Bieber, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_0jXPuIr0)
#2 Hamilton cast recording (Lin-Manuel Miranda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vHMSq7K2ds) vs. #7 Beauty Behind the Madness (The Weeknd, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTuBuRdAyA)
#3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeccAtqd5K8) vs. #6 Vulnicura (Bjork, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWHpoJT3qK4)
#4 In Colour (Jamie xx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNssEVlB6M) vs. #5 Yeezer (Alex Hodowanec, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2nl1FqAgsc)

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents (Tame Impala, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVE3sk9XjpA) vs. #8 New Bermuda (Deafheaven, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLoGU6l88QA)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lqy7KBuO7Y) vs. #7 What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (The Decemberists, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgZVE_UaCsU)
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-nr1nNC3ds) vs. #6 The Most Lamentable Tragedy (Titus Andronicus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dX6LL7b8Y0)
#4 No Cities to Love (Sleater-Kinney, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWc6knXULsw) vs. #5I Love You Honeybear (Father John Misty, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48rkGcVt71c&index=6)

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGODTySH0E) vs. #8 Wildheart (Miguel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfm1EeW8wQ)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9YoYCKNoE) vs. #7 The Epic (Kamasi Washington, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQRBzSN9Vw)
#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xlgXqQKLA) vs. #6 Another Eternity (Purity Ring, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbqcXnTt-7o)
#4 Depression Cherry (Beach House, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0mt0N5-LLw) vs. #5 Every Open Eye (CHVRCHES, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU9_0pxiDjY)

Being all correct choices, this is my vote as well.

bmcke · Post by **bmcke** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:26 pm

This is neat. All my votes are just based on singles and Youtube songs. To Pimp a Butterfly is the only album here that I actually heard in full.

MALIK SECTIONAL
To Pimp A Butterfly -- Really is that good.
no preference
Summertime '06
If You're Reading This It's Too Late -- For every song except "Hotline Bling."

HORAN SECTIONAL
Purpose -- Adele is boring.
Beauty Behind The Madness -- Scarborough!
Emotion -- Mostly for "Run Away With Me."
In Colour -- I have no interest in the pun album.

STYLES SECTIONAL
Currents
Beat the Champ -- Mountain Goats and Decemberists have the two worst voices on this poll.
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
No Cities to Love

PAYNE SECTIONAL
Wildheart
Art Angels
Divers -- Cult of Newsom.
Every Open Eye -- Fast music bias.

gimmedatguudsuccrose · Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:30 pm

bmcke wrote:
If You're Reading This It's Too Late -- For every song except "Hotline Bling."

You're in luck - "Hotline Bling" didn't appear on that tape.

bmcke · Post by **bmcke** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:19 pm

Heh, I don't listen to albums, here; I just vote for them.

The King's Flight to the Scots · Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:02 am

RESULTS

Every higher seed won.

Malik Sectional

To Pimp a Butterfly defeated Darkest Before Dawn 18-1
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP defeated Compton 11-7
Summertime '06 defeated Sremmlife 16-3
If You're Reading This, It's Too Late will not go running through the six with its woes, as it defeated I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside 11-7.

Horan Sectional

25 defeated Purpose 10-6, becoming the most disappointing 1 seed since last year's Atlanta Hawks
Hamilton outdueled The Beauty Behind the Madness 14-3
Emotion narrowly! beat Vulnicura 9-8, in pretty much the only exciting contest here, sadly
In Colour unjustly eliminated my homer pick, Yeezer, 13-5

Styles Sectional
Currents beat Deafheaven 14-2
Beat the Champ pinned What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World 13-2
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit beat Titus Andronicus 12-2
No Cities to Love beat I Love You Honeybear 9-7

Payne Sectional
Carrie and Lowell beat Wildheart 13-4
Art Angels beat Epic 13-4
Divers beat Another Eternity 12-5
Depression Cherry beat Every Other Eye 10-7

new brackets up tomorrow

The King's Flight to the Scots · Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:30 am

Sorry for the delay; Christmas stuff. Since it's the holidays, I'll leave this open until the New Year comes. Happy voting!

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples)

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom)

LHDoroschuk · Post by **LHDoroschuk** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 1:21 am

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples)

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom)

Post by **Auks Ran Ova** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 3:08 am

MALIK
Kendrick
Rocky

HORAN
Jamie xx
Hamilton - a devastating early-round matchup, but the choice is clear.

STYLES
Sleater-Kinney
Mountain Goats - still the best.

PAYNE
Sufjan - still owes me 48 albums, but is presumably less easily imitated by some trolls on a podcast (though that may say more about music journalists than the music itself)
[no choice] - how can I choose between Cody Voight and Will Nediger?

Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:45 am

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples)

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX)
#2Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom) - Almost voted for Grimes here, because I'm not a big fan of a lot of the instrumentation on Divers. But lyrically, it might be her best work, and certain songs—"Goose Eggs," "Sapokanikan," "Anecdotes"—are musically fantastic as well.

Rococo A Go Go · Post by **Rococo A Go Go** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 11:02 am

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake): Quite frankly, this is a matchup of a good album and a bad album.
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples): The Rocky album was my favorite in this section.

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX): "I would prefer to stop listening to this."--My attempt to get a second opinion of In Colour ended abruptly.
#2Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen): The Hamilton soundtrack was worth multiple listens.

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney): I can't bring myself to like Sleater-Kinney for whatever reason, so it's Currents by default.
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett): Courtney Barnett's music is interesting. I still think The Mountain Goats are fine, but have yet to find out why they hold so much sway in quizbowl.

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House): This was a tough choice between two albums I liked.
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom): I don't like Joanna Newsom, probably because I'm a knuckle-dragging caveman that's just too dumb to get it.

Off To See The Lizard · Sun Dec 27, 2015 3:24 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples) A$AP was good, but Vince killed it. Everything from "Lift Me Up" to "Señorita" to "Get Paid" is catchy, intense and exciting.

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX) In Colour was under seeded but I think this matchup may help it get as far as it is supposed to.
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
Currents was the album I was most excited for this year and it didn't disappoint. I was only momentarily expecting a sound similar to Lonerism but this was goooooood.
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom) Why is "California" so catchy?

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 7:16 pm

To Pimp a Butterfly, I guess
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP - This was actually a pretty tough call and you could make a reasonable argument for either of these

In Colour
Emotion

Currents
Still refuse to vote for either of these. Currents better make it out of this bracket y'all.

Carrie and Lowell
Art Angels

gyre and gimble · Post by **gyre and gimble** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:36 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar)
Abstain

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala)
#3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens)
#3 Divers (Joanna Newsom)

Adventure Temple Trail · Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:11 pm

abstain
abstain
Adele is probably better than the other thing
Hamilton
abstain
abstain
abstain
abstain

gimmedatguudsuccrose · Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:34 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples)

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom)

Maury Island incident · Sun Dec 27, 2015 9:48 pm

MALIK:
To Pimp a Butterfly
Summertime '06

HORAN:
25
Hamilton

STYLES:
Still abstaining

PAYNE:
Depression Cherry
Art Angels

women, fire and dangerous things · Sun Dec 27, 2015 10:37 pm

I'm not voting in this thing because there are a bunch of albums here I haven't listened to in full, but I do know what I like, and what I like is Joanna Newsom, so I thought I'd throw in some support for her here.

For anyone who's only listened to Divers one or two times, I'd encourage taking some time to really dig into it; it's one of the most lyrically intricate albums I've ever listened to, and really deepens on repeat listens. Newsom has always been one of the greatest lyricists out there, but she outdoes herself on Divers. It's a concept album, in the actual conceptual sense, not in the sense of an album that tells a coherent narrative. Newsom is proposing a non-linear way of thinking about time on this album, and so it's appropriate that the lyrical progression of the album is not linear, but cyclical: this thing circles back on itself, a la Finnegans Wake, which it quotes. And this is no gimmick: the Vico influence that Joyce displays in Finnegans Wake is deeply ingrained in Divers as well.

But Divers' preoccupation with time is no abstract metaphysical concern - in a sense, it's much more phenomenological. Like a lot of Newsom's earlier work, it's concerned with the experience of femininity, what it's like to be a woman in the world, but also what it's like to be in the world at all. "Sapokanikan" has been justly applauded for the deftness with which it juggles these themes, using its Ozymandian conceit.

Of course, this thread is about music, not just lyrics - so what about the music? Of course, it's a matter of taste, but I happen to love the textures of this album too. Newsom's expanded her instrumentation a lot - there's even electric guitars on "Leaving the City"! - but Divers somehow still feels like the harp-and-sometimes-piano Joanna Newsom of old. All of this is just to say that I think this is a deeply rewarding album, and one of the very few albums in the bracket which I think is likely to be remembered as an all-time great 50 years down the road.

On the other hand, Art Angels is probably my second-favorite album of the year, so I can't say Divers doesn't have a worthy opponent.

Beevor Feevor · Post by **Beevor Feevor** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 11:09 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples)

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom)

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Sun Dec 27, 2015 11:44 pm

Here's a question for discussion: why are people voting for 25 over In Colour? I'm not trying to be confrontational, just legitimately curious - I found 25 to be full of endless undifferentiated piano ballads with a lack of the variety from Rolling in the Deep or I'll Be Waiting that made 21 really good, while In Colour is full of danceable rhythm parts, and Young Thug.

Rococo A Go Go · Post by **Rococo A Go Go** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 2:36 am

Steeve Ho You Fat wrote:Here's a question for discussion: why are people voting for 25 over In Colour? I'm not trying to be confrontational, just legitimately curious - I found 25 to be full of endless undifferentiated piano ballads with a lack of the variety from Rolling in the Deep or I'll Be Waiting that made 21 really good, while In Colour is full of danceable rhythm parts, and Young Thug.

I can't speak for other people, but there's not much I relate to with Jamie xx. Maybe it's an issue of genre, but listening to In Colour feels like a chore, while 25 at least has a couple songs I like. Danceable rhythm parts are nice, but there's got to be more there for me to really care.

I apply a similar feeling towards Joanna Newsom's music, despite Will's impassioned defense of her work. It feels inaccessible and just doesn't have elements I particularly enjoy, although maybe my distaste for her music is veiled misogyny.

Both of these artists probably fit an objective sense of "good," but I feel like their competition (for the most part) does as well. Unless I'm finding music that I actually consider poorly crafted, I'm not skilled enough to vote on metrics much more advanced than my own enjoyment. The aggregation of our collective opinion may produce a better result that clashes with any of our specific tastes, something that I find interesting and worthwhile about a project of the sort we're engaged in.

gustavadolf · Post by **gustavadolf** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 10:36 am

MALIK SECTIONAL

#4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
abstain

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala)
abstain

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) (two best albums right here)
abstain

merv1618 · Post by **merv1618** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 2:59 pm

Adventure Temple Trail wrote:abstain
abstain
Adele is probably better than the other thing
Hamilton
abstain
abstain
abstain
abstain

this

Cody · Post by **Cody** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 4:22 pm

MALIK

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake). I know nothing about the albums in this sectional, but I find the title of To Pimp a Butterfly more amusing (I like to think it refers to the Palos Verdes blue butterfly, which Wikipedia boldly states “has one of the best claims to being the world’s rarest butterfly”.).
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples). Here I’ll continue to ride my sometimes-confusion of A$AP Rocky and Shad, the latter of whom is awesome.

HORAN

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX). I’ve now listened to a couple songs from In Colour and – wow – Jamie xx’s solo work is (stunningly) terrible. Plus, I found out this morning that this image exists.
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen). I may have been a bit unfair to Emotion in the previous round; I’ll give David Seal’s second-favorite the edge over Matt Jackson’s favorite here.

STYLES

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney). I was recently shocked to hear an Eisley song from Currents playing outside a Carrabba’s on 301. Carrabba’s sucks. I ordered a prosciutto arugula pizza there that had barely a single slice of prosciutto on it. The way it was arranged, 1/3 of my pizza was an arugula pizza. Three thumbs down. Also, for the past two weeks I thought Sleater-Kinney took their name from the Kinsey scale because I don’t know the names of things. Anyway, edge to Sleater-Kinney given recent events.
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett). I daren’t risk the wrath of Mt. Snap Wexley.

PAYNE

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House). Of the remaining albums, this is my second favorite of the year. Plus, Victoria Legrand (lead vocalist) is the niece of Michel Legrand, who did the scores for Une femme est une femme and Vivre sa vie—two of my top 5 films of. all. time.—as well as this wonderful scene in Bande à part (and the rest of the film).
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom). As before, Art Angels is my favorite album of the year; the Aristophanes rap on “SCREAM” slays me every time.

Thu Dec 31, 2015 5:02 pm

TPAB
Summertime '06

In Colour
Hamilton

Currents
Beat the Champ

Carrie and Lowell
Divers

Abstaining from these things to ballot-stuff your album of choice is pretty stupid, tbh

bmcke · Post by **bmcke** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 7:07 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake)
#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples)

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX)
#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen)

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney)
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett)

I am a huge Sleater-Kinney fan, but I'm voting against them. I think the reunion album was not as good as the albums they made with side projects while broken up.

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House)
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom)

The Divers vote is mostly on faith. I really like "Leaving the City" and all her other albums. I'll spend some time with Divers eventually.

Ndg · Post by **Ndg** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 8:15 pm

Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts wrote: Abstaining from these things to ballot-stuff your album of choice is pretty stupid, tbh

Yes, I hope those will be ignored.

MALIK SECTIONAL

#1 To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) vs. #4 If You're Reading This, It's Too Late (Drake) … This really isn’t a fair fight. I continue to find If You’re Reading This utterly devoid of artistic merit.

#2 AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (A$AP Rocky) vs. #3 Summertime '06 (Vince Staples) … I’m not going to pretend to care about this matchup. The result won't affect my vote next round.

HORAN SECTIONAL

#1 25 (Adele) vs. #4 In Colour (Jamie XX) … I still can’t see why the critics are slobbering over In Colour, but it’s growing on me. Not sure I’d call many of these beats danceable, but they’re all right. Adele, meanwhile, becomes more unpleasant with each listen.

#2 Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) vs. #3 Emotion (Carly-Rae Jepsen) …

As Romulus his Bee-like Cell wrote:Hamilton was really enjoyable but after a while, it fell into this weird grey zone between hip-hop and theatre that I just had trouble digesting.

I agree. This whole rap-musical idea sounded refreshing in theory but turned out to be pretty cringe-worthy in practice. Plus, I’m really not a fan of listening to musical soundtracks by themselves, and I’m not comfortable evaluating one against everything else in this bracket.

And Emotion is the best album of 2015 anyway.

STYLES SECTIONAL

#1 Currents (Tame Impala) vs. #4 No Cities To Love (Sleater-Kinney) … Both of these are good, but not great. Currents has more songs I like.
#2 Beat the Champ (The Mountain Goats) vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Courtney Barnett) … I meant to revisit these, but my wi-fi’s been acting up the past few days. Whatever.

PAYNE SECTIONAL

#1 Carrie and Lowell (Sufjan Stevens) vs. #4 Depression Cherry (Beach House) … A tough decision. I’m amazed at much Sufjan Stevens is able to do with a bare minimum of instrumentation.
#2 Art Angels (Grimes) vs. #3 Divers (Joanna Newsom) … Sad to see one of these go. Art Angels is just too much fun to vote against, though I’ve a nagging suspicion I’ll have changed my mind by this time next year.

ryanrosenberg · Post by **ryanrosenberg** » Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:56 am

TPAB
Summertime

25
Hamilton

No Cities to Love
Courtney Barnett

Depression Cherry
Art Angels

The King's Flight to the Scots · Fri Jan 01, 2016 8:22 pm

To Pimp a Butterfly defeated If You're Reading This It's Too Late 15-1
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP lost to Summertime '06 5-10

25 lost to In Colour 8-9. GAME. I CALLED GAME.
Hamilton defeated Emotion 12-5

Currents defeated No Cities to Love 13-3
Beat the Champ lost to Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit 5-8

Carrie and Lowell defeated Depression Cherry 11-4
Art Angels defeated Divers 10-5

The King's Flight to the Scots · Fri Jan 01, 2016 11:31 pm

MALIK SECTIONAL
#1 To Pimp a Butterfly vs. #3 Summertime '06

HORAN SECTIONAL
#2 Hamilton vs. #4 In Colour

STYLES SECTIONAL
#1 Currents vs. #3 Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

PAYNE SECTIONAL
#1 Carrie and Lowell vs. #2 Art Angels

Voting closes Monday night at 11:59 PM.