Best Ever Albums

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

baystateoftheart — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 21:39:03 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 06/28/2021 01:39

The Balladeer defeats No Favours 12-10 to advance to round one.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

mickilennial — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 23:38:03 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 06/16/2021 03:38

Generally speaking I will pick a folk album over a grime album every time. It's just preference. Grime doesn't really speak to me on the same level, even if it is quite engaging which, yes, No Favours, was quite engaging but lyrically and sonically it just isn't quite at McKenna's level for me. I'll give it a few more listens but The Balladeer meant a lot to me as much as the first listen as the sixth and twelfth listen and that is not likely to happen here.

I want to make it clear that I don't give five or four and a half ratings often and The Balladeer was one of those such albums. Lyrically engrossing, sentimental, nostalgic, but also world weary. The taste of rustic Americana with feminine pain and longing. It's Tanya Tucker meets Emmylou Harris. There is no weak song here and the evocative storytelling always makes me be sure to listen carefully and with precision.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Hayden — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 23:29:58 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/16/2021 03:29

Footsie.

Both very good picks though.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

baystateoftheart — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 23:20:24 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 06/16/2021 03:20

No Favours has some major positives going for it: the production is dope, and Footsie brings a high level of energy throughout. No shortage of bangers here. For weaknesses, the album has its share of iffy lyrics and poor hooks, and there's a real lack of variety in subject matter and approach. I'm not sure how much is front-loading and how much me tiring of repetition, but the songs seem to get increasingly cookie-cutter toward the end. A pretty good record overall, but not one that makes my top 100 for the year. There are a few highlights that would definitely enhance a playlist though. 3/5.

As for The Balladeer, the vocals and instrumentals are both very good, and as a side note I appreciate that she's a fellow Bay Stater (although that makes the twang... strange). But while vocal and instrumental chops are necessary prerequisites, at its core this is a stripped-down album that lives and dies on its songwriting. The results are mostly positive - there are a couple great songs, and the others are largely quite nice. This album is sappy as hell, but for the most part sappy in a good way. I can totally understand someone who doesn't much appreciate lyrical sentimentality giving this a low score, but for me it works. 3.5/5.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

EyeKanFly — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 07:44:06 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 06/14/2021 11:44

Had to go with Footsie, definitely one of the best hip hop albums I heard last year. The Balladeer was solid also, just not as strong all the way through IMO.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Luigii — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 18:31:06 GMT

Author: Luigii

Posted: 06/13/2021 22:31

Both of these albums are quite great. But The Balladeer had two tracks that were really phenomenal tracks like The Dream and Two Birds that if the album retain that style, I could see this grade be more higher. The rest is quite solid. While No Favours is also quite solid. The bars have a lot of energy and sound wise is quite good of how it dabbles into more electronic territory. Though that is a usual staple for grime in general. Should really dig deeper for the genre. But I wouldn't say there was a track that hit those absolute highs. But still great stuff.

No Favours:80
The Balladeer:85

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Skinny — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:20:59 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 06/10/2021 20:20

Footsie has long been massively underrated, suffering from what I like to call “Big Boi syndrome”: being one half of a legendary duo - in this case Newham Generals - yet overshadowed by his partner, D Double E (widely regarded as one of the greatest of all-time in their given genre). Regardless, Footsie has long been a personal favourite of mine, and his debut album proper, whilst heavily indebted to a sound from a bygone era, does not disappoint. Full of nostalgia-inducing, neck-snapping beats and laugh-out-loud quotables, it’s my favourite grime album in years, probably since Chronik’s last. I just love it.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

kokkinos — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 15:54:54 GMT

Author: kokkinos

Posted: 06/10/2021 19:54

The Balladeer was decent, better than expected at least. Folk/country is not exactly my cup of tea, but I find this somewhat poppy, ear-pleasing branch of it surprisingly tolerable. Another good thing is it doesn't compromise too much in order to achieve this sound, it has enough personality to avoid getting anywhere near generic.
Still, it's a no contest, No Favours get my vote.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Mercury — Wed, 9 Jun 2021 22:31:42 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 06/10/2021 02:31

Well, this is an interesting match up. I have played an album like this Footsie album maybe 5 times in my life. Just has never been a genre I've explored. But albums within the genre and style of The Balladeer is in the hundreds upon hundreds. THAT is a a style I know and love. As a result I can say with some confidence Lori McKenna has done it again with another warm, wise and beautiful country rock and folk singer/songwriter album. I feel fully what she is writing and she does such a great job writing these narratives from her perspective with nice details and stirring sentiments. The instrumentals are consistently crisp and warm folk americana pieces and the little instrumental details are subtle and beautifully done. She is, like I mentioned earlier, one of the best and most consistent americana songwriters of the 21st century.

But...No Favours is a buffet of sounds and styles that I am completely unfamiliar with. There is a pulse and power and swagger and intoxicating vibe on display. The whole album just has an incredibly badass style and flow. The little electronic details are awesome and the vocals are so kick ass. Makes me wish I had been paying more attention to Grime all these years. The bass lines and beats are so physical and groovy. I really enjoy this sound.

In the end these 2 albums are strange to compare. I suppose my bias in the direction of Lori McKenna the artist and what style she works in is what won in the end. I think I like The Balladeer slightly more and it is just such a human expression and I am a sucker for americana songwriters and acoustic guitars and shit. So The Balladeer wins for me but not because Footsie wasn't good.

THE BALLADEER GETS THE VOTE

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Repo — Wed, 9 Jun 2021 18:24:29 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 06/09/2021 22:24

I favour Footsie. 😁

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Repo — Wed, 9 Jun 2021 14:59:54 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 06/09/2021 18:59

Nice matchup! This is already going to be a tough one!!!

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

kokkinos — Wed, 9 Jun 2021 14:48:56 GMT

Author: kokkinos

Posted: 06/09/2021 18:48

Probably the easiest matchup of the play-in mini tournament for me.
No Favours is my favourite 2020 album and the one I would have nominated hadn't it already been picked.
That being said, I'll try to give The Balladeer a fair shot, but it would take a monumental effort to turn this around.

Re: Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

Mercury — Wed, 9 Jun 2021 14:01:50 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 06/09/2021 18:01

Lori McKenna is a beast and one of the best singer/songwriters going and I look forward to FINALLY checking out her latest album for this match. Never heard No Favours by Footsie. Will get to a listen to these soon.

Play-In: Footsie v. Lori McKenna

baystateoftheart — Tue, 8 Jun 2021 23:29:18 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 06/09/2021 03:29

Seed #29A:

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No Favours by Footsie

Nominated by: Skinny
Genres [RYM]: Grime

Seed #29B:

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The Balladeer by Lori McKenna

Nominated by: Gowi
Genres [RYM]: Singer/Songwriter, Country, Americana

Instructions:

If you have not already, please listen to both albums in full before voting. Share your thoughts and/or your vote in this thread. This poll will be tallied in no fewer than fourteen days. See Tournament Spreadsheet for the full bracket.