Best Ever Albums

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 21:47:08 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/31/2025 02:47

My bets for round #12 last week.
Album
Юнсн [Yunsn] - �...ранители маленьки�... принцесс (12/XII-2025/50) (Album)

�...ранители маленьки�... принцесс (2025) by Юнсн [Yunsn]

The album took first place in my round rating. It's the release of the week. For me, it's the most important album of the year.
My first encounter with this artist in 2022 piqued my interest.
I eagerly awaited her debut album, which was released in 2024.
I was very disappointed when I didn't find anything on it for my weekly playlist.
Therefore, her second album in December 2025 was met with less than enthusiastic reception.
However, it did contain three interesting singles, previously released.
I listened to the entire album as background music while I was busy designing the tournament.
The thing is, the singing style obscures certain phrases and entire sentences.
So I found the lyrics to the last song, which I knew well.
After all, it was released as a single back in March 2024, but for some reason it wasn't included on the debut album.
Only after that did I understand why this album feels like it's written in a whisper.
Because that's how mothers usually wake their children up in the morning for school.

я не слышу ваши голоса и не вижу солнца,
оно растаяло в зимни�... небеса�...
как тебе там жив�'тся?
а без шарфа голос потерять не составит труда мне,
буду босиком стоять, сливаться с прудами слезами
и ждать весны, скучать по маме
и видеть с ней сны
I don't hear your voices and I don't see the sun,
it melted into the winter skies.
How are you doing there?
And without a scarf, losing my voice won't be hard for me.
I'll stand barefoot, merging with the ponds with my tears.
And wait for spring, missing my mother.
And see dreams with her.
(Track - ждать весны)

Юнсн [Yunsn] - ждать весны (20/III-2024/12) (Single)

Link

Track
Two-Man Giant Squid - Don't Go To Snareworld (7/III-2025/10) (Track)

Link

The track took first place in my round rating.
This was my first encounter with the band, and it happened the week of the album's release in 2025.
The band's releases aren't available on YouTube in Russia. So I learned about the album from the Bandcamp newsletter.
I rejected the album, but kept this track in my playlist.
Then, as we all know, follows the tale of Cinderella, who conquered them all.
But not this time. The track didn't even make it into the top five songs of the week.
At the tournament, I find out that this track is a candidate from another team.
I even start working on the details of the application.
Meanwhile, I listen to the song, and I start to like it more.
But then I discover there's another song with more views.
The other song is clearly inferior, and I'm upset, but rules are rules.
Suddenly, another song wins the right to an additional bet in the very first draw.
I'm stunned, promising that now everyone will know about this double Cinderella.
But again, it turns out there's another candidate with more views.
I'm completely losing hope, but I promise to reveal this song after the tournament.
Unexpectedly, I lose the right to my pre-prepared track in the final round.
With neither the energy nor the time left, I think this unfortunate track could have been a replacement.
But I still have doubts and start checking it again.
At the same time, I remember the entire album and start listening to the release in its entirety.
After a few replays, I can't decide which song on the album I like best.
It sounds like my favorite Swedish band, This Is Head, which I miss so much.
All three of their albums are on my list of the best releases of all time.

Two-Man Giant Squid - Two-Man Giant Squid (7/III-2025/10) (Album)

Two-Man Giant Squid (2025) by Two-Man Giant Squid

Music Video
Mollie Elizabeth - Doe Eyes (10/VII-2025/28) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating is also the release of the week.
This was my first encounter with the singer.
It happened thanks to a YouTube newsletter, which I can no longer access.
From memory, I can say there were gorgeous close-ups.
Very expressive facial features, which are usually reserved for actresses.
Plus, the dynamic and melodic song is the only interesting one on her 2025 EP.

Mollie Elizabeth - Dirty Blonde (27/VI-2025/26) (EP) (Apple)

I can't say this video is significantly better than the other contenders.
There's also no amazing story that would make it special.
Let's just say he was lucky enough to remain on the top 50 list of the year and also to finish this diary.

Happy New Year, thank you all!

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 08:52:56 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/30/2025 13:52

The final round of the 2025 tournament has concluded. As usual, I promise myself that this tournament will definitely be my last. Various technical difficulties are already actively helping me with this.
In this regard, I'm especially pleased by how many interesting releases have made it here, despite the fact that this year has clearly not been the richest in good music.
None of this would have happened if it weren't for the unique capabilities of the BEA website and the participants' charts.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #12, which ended on December 29th.
Album
Nourished By Time - The Passionate Ones (22/VIII-2025/34) (Album)

The Passionate Ones (2025) by Nourished By Time

The album began its journey in the tournament four rounds ago. Three rounds ago, the album ranked 11th overall. In this round, the album achieved star status, finishing fourth. My rating for this album has always been above average.

I know this artist well. At the 2023 tournament, I also supported his debut album, which ultimately reached number 22.
This year's success was entirely expected for me. All three singles from 2025 made it onto my weekly playlists.
On the downside, as always, I miss the build-up of emotions, both in individual tracks and throughout the album.
Despite the quality of the tracks, most of the hits are concentrated in the first half of the album, which doesn't contribute to long-term interest in the release as a whole.
But for 2025, this release is definitely one of the most memorable.

Nourished By Time - Max Potential (7/V-2025/19) (Single)

Link

Track
Little Simz - Flood (ft. Obongjayar & Moonchild Sanelly) (26/II-2025/09) (Single)

Link

The track began its journey just two rounds ago, finishing 7th overall. In this round, it achieved star status, finishing 5th. I've never supported or opposed this track.
I also haven't had any reason to include this artist's singles in my weekly playlists. Firstly, it's not my favorite genre, and secondly, this content has been blocked on Russian YouTube, as far as I remember.

But this is another artist I know well from the final tournaments. 2021 was memorable for me because the number of bets on this artist determined the outcome. This subsequently changed the rules of the game. Already in 2022, a limitation was introduced: one valid bid per nomination per album.
I think I can guess why this artist is so popular. In any case, the translation of this song's lyrics seemed quite relevant to me.

Music Video
Little Simz - Young (14/V-2025/20) (Video)

Link

The video also began its journey just two rounds ago, finishing in 8th place overall. In this round, the video achieved star status, finishing in 7th place.
It's a rare occurrence at a tournament when the song entered in the "Video" category isn't the same as the song entered in the "Tracks" category.
But the reasons I missed out on this music are the same.
I never supported, but I also didn’t speak out against this video.
Although I must admit, at times I felt the urge to downvote this repulsive image on screen.
Now I have a good reason to check out the translation of these lyrics.
And again, I see multi-layered metaphors that everyone can interpret differently.
It's an interesting style, with humor and unexpected twists. Although I haven't felt the urge to watch the video again.

Little Simz - Lotus (6/VI-2025/23) (Album)

Lotus (2025) by Little Simz

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:47:27 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/27/2025 11:47

Below are new applications for the current round, which ends on December 29. December 27 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Frost Children - Falling (1/VII) Electro House
2. Internet Girl - I Changed (I'm Up) (25/XI) Punk Rap
3. Jim Legxacy - stick (10/IV) UK Hip Hop
4. Mollie Elizabeth - Doe Eyes (10/VII) Art Pop
5. Oneohtrix Point Never - Lifeworld (20/X) Progressive Electronic
6. Richard Dawson - Gondola (14/I) Progressive Folk
7. Sister Ray Davies - Aidan (23/VI) Shoegaze
8. The New Eves - Cow Song (11/VI) Folk Punk

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Feu! Chatterton - Allons Voir (6/VI) Art Pop
2. Frost Children - Radio (ft. Kim Petras) (12/IX) Electro House
3. Jim Legxacy - stick (10/IV) UK Hip Hop
4. Oklou - take me by the hand (ft. Bladee) (15/I) Electronic
5. Oneohtrix Point Never - Lifeworld (20/X) Progressive Electronic
6. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Idiot Box (7/II) Indie Rock
7. The New Eves - Cow Song (11/VI) Folk Punk
8. Two-Man Giant Squid - Don't Go To Snareworld (7/III) Progressive Pop
9. бойзак [boyzak] - кепки дедов (20/VI) Avant Punk

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Annie & the Caldwells - Can't Lose My (Soul) (21/III) Progressive Soul
2. Feu! Chatterton - Labyrinthe (12/IX) Art Pop
3. Frost Children - Sister (12/IX) Electro House
4. Guerilla Toss - You're Weird Now (12/IX) Neo-Psychedelia
5. My Morning Jacket - is (21/III) Indie Rock
6. Oneohtrix Point Never - Tranquilizer (21/XI) Progressive Electronic
7. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory (7/II) Indie Rock
8. Порез на Собаке [Porez na Sobake] - Предъявы Свер�...у (18/XII) Pop-Punk
9. Юнсн [Yunsn] - �...ранители маленьки�... принцесс (12/XII) Art Pop

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:01:23 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/25/2025 20:01

November, and especially December, isn't the time to have much choice even among new singles, let alone albums. 2025 turned all the usual patterns upside down. At the end of September, at the beginning of the tournament, I rejected 99% of the released albums. In fact, at that point, there wasn't a single album that interested me in its entirety.
Only after the tournament began did interesting new releases begin to appear simultaneously, while older releases began to be discovered. But the most unexpected thing was that every week in December a new album was released that was better than all the previous ones, and not just from 2025. So all my combinations were in vain. The only caveat is that all these releases are in Russian.

My (August) bets for round #8* last week.
Album
Диктофон [Diktofon] - Диктофон (1/XII-2025/49) (Album)

Диктофон (2025) by Диктофон [Diktofon]

In my round ranking, the album took first place. It's the release of the week. And it's one of the best albums of the year released in December. So, the August release gave way.
It's interesting that my first bet in the tournament was for August. And it’s fate, otherwise that album by the group Мать Тереза [Mat Tereza] would never have been revealed to me. In September, I thought my August bet would be either Wetsuit or The Black Keys. Where are those bets now…

This is a project by a musician named Anton Makarov. I've long been a fan of this artist. But previously, his success on my hit lists was limited to individual tracks. Moreover, his music has become less interesting to me lately. So, this album was waiting for its turn on my list of new releases.
There was a hint. It's considered the sixth album in the band's discography. And yet, the album shares its name with the band. Which, of course, surprised me.
However, it took me several listens before I agreed with the musicians that this is a landmark release for the band. I admit, I was hampered by the fact that most of the album is recorded in a major key, with lyrics to match. So it's hard for me to pinpoint specific phrases that really touched my soul. But musically, this is definitely one of the best Russian albums of recent times.

Диктофон [Diktofon] - Начало Рабочего Дня (16/XII-2025/51) (Video)

Link

Track
skuzland - Poor Choices (28/VII-2025/31) (Single)

Link

The track took first place in my round ranking.
This was my first encounter with the band, and it happened a week late. Therefore, the release wasn't included in the competition for first place in its week. It just so happens that the single is also competing in this tournament for a later month. Of the additional music I saw, I was only interested in one other song.
skuzland - Rockstar Baby (5/VI-2025/23) (Single) (YouTube)

I can't say I'm thrilled with the video. But in this case, the melody of the music helps me avoid being too picky about it. Again, it feels like an alternative to artificially promoted, non-melodic pop music.
For some reason, I was reminded of this single from my youth:

The Rocksteady Crew - (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew (1983) (Single)

Link

Music Video
Mirrorball - The Hour (11/VIII-2025/33) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating is also the release of the week.
The only release that performs in its month of August. However, the song itself was released as a single a month earlier:
Mirrorball - The Hour (18/VII-2025/29) (Single) (Bandcamp)

I'm more than a week late again. The song has followed the same fate as another best song of the year:
BC Camplight - Two Legged Dog (ft. Abigail Morris) (8/IV-2025/15) (Single)

I left the track on the week's playlist. However, it was out of competition, as the single had already skipped its week. Gradually, the song pushed aside all the other contenders. I had to go back to the previous week, where it also had no equal.
I was delighted when a video for the song was released a month later, although it didn't really stand out in any way. But I had fallen so deeply in love with the song that I unhesitatingly named it the winner of the week.
At the tournament, the same thing happened. Due to a shortage of videos, the artist was forced to compete in the Video category again. It was all because of my own self-imposed limitations.
As far as I remember, my acquaintance with the performer began with a single:
Mirrorball - Take a Shot (8/III-2024/10) (Single)

Then there was the single, which also became the release of the week in 2025:
Mirrorball - Crystal Doorknob (29/I-2025/05) (Single) (Bandcamp)

However, there's a small, perhaps unnoticeable detail to the track "The Hour." The third verse is performed in a unique way. And apparently, that was enough for me to enjoy the gradual buildup of emotion in anticipation of this rise each time.
PS: It's sad that in my lifetime no one has a chance against Taylor Swift.

Mirrorball - Take a Shot (7/III-2024/10) (Video)

Link

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:46:40 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/24/2025 14:46

It's fair to say that this year's tournament ended prematurely. One round before the end, it is already clear which team will ultimately come out on top.
There are still three formal awards in the categories that won't have any impact.
Moreover, in the last rounds the winners in the nominations simply change places.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #8*, which ended on December 19th.
Album
CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VIII-2025/35) (Album)

Euro-Country (2025) by CMAT

The album began its run at 16th place overall. It took five rounds to win the 4th place award. My assessments were always neutral.
I've already mentioned my feelings about the artist twice in relation to her previous awards for the track and video of the same name. Not the best choice for promotion, in my opinion.
Overall, I like her work. But there were more interesting candidates for the top ten.
At the same time, most of her singles regularly made my weekly playlists.
The album is also cleverly divided into two equal parts for vinyl records. At the end of each, the emotions build with the corresponding singles.
However, the emphasis was on the first part, which is usually typical for commercial projects.

Track
Viagra Boys - Man Made of Meat (23/I-2025/04) (Single)

Link

The track started its journey in 7th place overall. It took five rounds to earn the 6th place award. My ratings for the track were always negative.
I already mentioned the indifference to this song when I analyzed the success of the video of the same name.
I didn't read the translation of the lyrics, as the video was quite eloquent. I was also worried that the result wouldn't necessarily benefit anyone. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. But lyrics are also valued for the melody of their rhymes, which Google can't capture. This is where I give up.

PS: Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, demanded that the Ukrainian band "VIA Gra" change its name. According to the band's producer, no one dared to challenge Pfizer. Therefore, the band has several names.

�'ИА Гра [VIA Gra] - ЛМЛ (VI-2006) (Single)

Link

Music Video
Wednesday - Elderberry Wine (21/V-2025/21) (Video)

Link

The video started its journey in 17th place overall. It took five rounds to earn the 6th place award. My ratings of the video have always been neutral.
This artist differs from the previous two in that the entire album hasn't yet achieved star status. But the final round is still ahead, and the likelihood is very high.

I don't know if English conveys the essence of this day of the week. In Russian, it means "middle," and the adjective is "medium," meaning ordinary, unnoticeable. Not at all like the album or single cover. There is a clear tendency towards artificial exaggeration here.

I've already criticized the track of the same name. I didn't hear anything that made this song stand out. However, I know there are very melodic country ballads.
Unfortunately, I'm ready to repeat the same thing about the video. Very weak storyline, random people drinking in a bar.
There are so many interesting video clips with plots. For some reason, I remembered a clip where they show a moving car for a long time at the beginning. And this is no accident, because the videos are so short.

Nighttime - Curtain is Closing (6/XII-2022/49) (Video)

Link

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:57:12 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/17/2025 15:57

Due to my internet issues, the tournament schedule has already been pushed back a day. I'm still hoping there won't be a complete communications blackout, at least not until the tournament ends.
Below are new applications for the current round, which ends on December 19. December 17 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Misket (ft. Ensemble Resonanz) (3/X) Anatolian Rock
2. Juana Aguirre - Tormenta (29/I) Folktronica
3. Little Simz - Young (14/V) UK Hip Hop
4. Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Regresar / Recordar (1/VII) Psychedelic Rock
5. Mirrorball - The Hour (11/VIII) Art Pop
6. Rosalía - Berghain (ft. Björk & Yves Tumor) (27/X) Latin Alternative
7. The Chameleons - Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing (29/V) Post-Punk

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Direne Direne (14/III) Anatolian Rock
2. Little Simz - Flood (26/II) UK Hip Hop
3. Rosalía - Berghain (ft. Björk & Yves Tumor) (27/X) Latin Alternative
4. skuzland - Poor Choices (28/VII) Glam Pop
5. The Chameleons - Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing (29/V) Post-Punk

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out (11/VII) Gangsta Rap
2. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek - Yarın Yoksa (14/III) Anatolian Rock
3. Little Simz - Lotus (6/VI) UK Hip Hop
4. Oklou - choke enough (7/II) Electronic
5. The Chameleons - Arctic Moon (12/IX) Post-Punk
6. Диктофон [Diktofon] - Диктофон (1/XII) Art Pop

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 13:05:35 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/14/2025 18:05

There are only two rounds left until the finish. And I'm starting to have internet problems. It would be a shame if the tournament had to be stopped. However, for some this may come as a relief.

My (July) bets for round #7* last week.
Album
Zior Park - A Bloodsucker (18/VI-2025/25) (Album)

A Bloodsucker (2025) by Zior Park

The album took first place in my round ranking.
I admit, this isn't the first time this year I've wanted to present this album as the best album of the year. But things change so quickly. So I initially held back this release, and now I have to include it outside of the schedule.
This artist, whom I mentioned here some time ago. Before this year, I was very pleased with two singles that came out at different times and belonged to different releases.
I really wanted to hear an album that would be interesting for more than just its singles.
In 2025, this happened: a release came out without any singles at all, as far as I know. But for the first time, this album was interesting to listen to in its entirety.
For my weekly playlist, I always choose the best of the album's previously unreleased tracks. First, it was the second track, then the eighth. And at the very end of the week, I unexpectedly discovered that this track was the penultimate one – "Masochist." This suggests that the album unfolds gradually, as it should ideally.

Zior Park - Keep Out! (22/X-2025/43) (Video)

Link

Track
мишаневич. [mishanevich.] - Кидалт (20/VII-2025/29) (Track)

Link

The track took first place in my round ranking, and it's also the release of the week.
As far as I know, this Moscow musician is currently living in China on a student visa.
He's a little-known artist in Russia. But since 2022, I've regularly included his releases in my final lists. Unfortunately, in 2025, the impressions from the entire album haven't yet reached the necessary level. But the musician's signature style is clearly evident in this track.
The song continues to explore the tournament's topic of rethinking values.
This led me to the discovery of a previously unknown concept – Кидалт (Kidult).

Даже в мультика�... было больше души,
Чем во вс�'м, для чего предлагают жить.
Свою комнату с трудом я покидал,
Мне уже 30 лет, и я кидалт.
…
Свою комнату с трудом я покидал,
Управляем корпорациями кидал.
-----------------------
Even cartoons had more soul,
Than anything they tell us to live for.
I barely left my room,
I'm already 30 years old, and I'm a kidult.
…
I barely left my room,
Under the control of fraudulent corporations.

мишаневич. [mishanevich.] - Кайф-Лайф (20/VII-2025/29) (Album)

Music Video
Bold Love - Feel You Close (23/VII-2025/30) (Video)

Link

First place in my round rating, it is also the release of the week.
This was my first encounter with the band. I don't rule out the possibility that the video itself influenced my enthusiastic response to this song, as I'm not a big fan of that kind of indie music.
I really liked both the camerawork and the editing. Lots of close-ups, a creative approach to camera angles. Almost natural landscape as a backdrop. The calm and solemn atmosphere of the museum halls.
The spiritual faces, modest costumes and reserved behavior of the main performers.
All of this literally provides a relief from the modern madness on film sets, and at the same time, it blends harmoniously with the music.

Bold Love - Dancing & Loving (17/X-2025/42) (EP)

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:59:21 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/13/2025 18:59

Professional teams continue to win prizes in various categories.
The team competition has finally become unpredictable again. The gap between the two leaders was less than one point.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #7*, which ended on December 11th.
Album
Viagra Boys - viagr aboys (25/IV-2025/17) (Album)

Viagr Aboys (2025) by Viagra Boys

The album started its run at 7th place overall. It took four rounds to earn the 5th place award. The album never scored any points in my ratings.
I've already commented on the award-winning video for this release. There are many interesting visual flourishes, but empty music for me.
I can't say there isn't a single interesting track on the album. But they're at the very beginning. These are literally the second and third songs to be released as singles, just like the first.
Perhaps the album's popularity is due to its lyrics.
But in structure, this is a purely commercial project, aimed at quickly making a profit while the impressions from the advertised singles are still fresh.
I also admit that destructive sound is the goal of some tracks. But this goes against my inner tone.
This music is good for marching, working on a conveyor belt, or breaking something, but definitely not for dancing.
However, any music that is positioned as dance looks quite advantageous against this background.

Track
CMAT - Euro-Country (22/VII-2025/30) (Single)

Link

The track advanced four rounds from 9th place and received the 5th place award. My ratings were always neutral.
I've previously spoken out about the award-winning video for this track.
The artist's complex relationship with imperialism was a common thread at the time.
Perhaps for this same reason, the main version of the video is not available in Russia.
I want to reassure anyone who's worried about Russian residents' unauthorized access to beautiful things from abroad. This issue is under control.

I can't believe that a week ago when I checked the translation of the song lyrics, there were no explanations.
But I only just now read the footnotes about what the author might have meant.
And that didn't make me feel any better. On the contrary, I was bombarded with information about current political issues. This is an opposition song that receives awards from a corrupt society.
So be it. But it still bothers me that this song is as uninviting to dance as the Viagra Boys.

CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VIII-2025/35) (Album)

Euro-Country (2025) by CMAT

Music Video
Big Thief - Words (8/IX-2025/37) (Video)

Link

After the unexpected breakthrough of the entire album, the video wasn't long in coming.
The award for 6th place, after 9 rounds.
My ratings were both positive and neutral, just like in the last round. Although I'm not particularly thrilled with the song or the video.
At this point, as usual, I delved into the lyrics translation and...
I must admit that these words resonate with me and resonate with me. Especially the last word, after which there should probably be a question mark.
But the video is unprofessional. It's overloaded with various incongruous shots, as well as cheap amateur video effects.
Maybe that's why it's allowed to be watched in Russia.
I'm always amazed at how imaginative musicians can be when writing lyrics, and how banal they can be when they see it on screen. If a song is about fire, then fire should appear on the screen at that point. If the lyrics depict someone walking down the street, then everyone should see it on the screen, too.
However, perhaps if the song had been more melodic, I wouldn't have been so picky about the details on the screen.

Big Thief - Double Infinity (5/IX-2025/36) (Album)

Double Infinity (2025) by Big Thief

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 06:07:17 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/09/2025 11:07

Below are new (returned) applications for the current round, which ends on December 11. December 9 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Annie & the Caldwells - Wrong (15/I) Progressive Soul
2. Antony Szmierek - Angie's Wedding (22/I) UK Bass
3. Bold Love - Feel You Close (23/VII) Indie Rock
4. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American (30/I) Hardcore Punk
5. Doves - Cold Dreaming (8/I) Indie Rock
6. Feu! Chatterton - Allons Voir (3/VII) Art Pop
7. Foxwarren - Deadhead (27/V) Indie Folk
8. Jade - Plastic Box (20/VI) Electropop
9. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Idiot Box (7/II) Indie Rock

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Antony Szmierek - Angie's Wedding (22/I) UK Bass
2. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American (30/I) Hardcore Punk
3. Doves - Saint Teresa (10/II) Indie Rock
4. Foxwarren - Deadhead (27/V) Indie Folk
5. Los Thuthanaka - Awila (22/III) Latin Electronic
6. Octotrip / Leïla Martial / Anisssa Nehari - Les ailes de la chèvre (4/IV) Avant Garde Jazz
7. Roj Osa meets Rob Mazurek - Stone Sage (11/XI) Avant Garde jazz
8. Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band - New Threats From The Soul (7/V) Alt-Country
9. мишаневич. [mishanevich.] - Кидалт (20/VII) Art Pop

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Antony Szmierek - Service Station At The End Of The Universe (28/II) UK Bass
2. Dead Pioneers - Po$t American (11/IV) Hardcore Punk
3. Doves - Constellations for the Lonely (28/II) Indie Rock
4. Earl Sweatshirt - Live Laugh Love (22/VIII) Experimental Hip Hop
5. Foxwarren - 2 (30/V) Indie Folk
6. Mandrake Handshake - Earth-Sized Worlds (21/II) Psychedelic Rock
7. Octotrip / Leïla Martial / Anisssa Nehari - Atrahasis (4/IV) Avant Garde jazz
8. Roj Osa meets Rob Mazurek - Beton Kino (11/XI) Avant Garde jazz
9. Shearling - M**********r, I am Both: "Amen" and "Hallelujah"... (1/V) Experimental Rock
10. Zior Park - A Bloodsucker (18/VI) Art Pop

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 03:00:25 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/08/2025 08:00

The tournament is gradually coming to an end. Only three rounds remain. The number of teams is growing, and the time for introspection is correspondingly decreasing.

My (June) bets for round #6* last week.
Album
Joey Joesph - Soul Crossing (13/VI-2025/24) (Album)

Soul Crossing (2025) by Joey Joesph

The album took first place in my round-up.
The reason is mainly due to my fondness for 80s dance music.
The album evokes associations with famous hits of that era. For example, with David Bowie's song "Modern Love."
Upon closer examination, it turns out this is no coincidence. The musician admits that my favorite Pink Floyd (1979) and Bowie (1972) albums had a big influence on him.
It's hard to find any super hits here, but overall the album is quite consistent in sound.
However, the second half, in my opinion, is a bit more interesting.
It’s hard for me to understand now why YouTube and Spotify don’t provide links to this album.
Information is only available on Apple Music and Bandcamp.

Track
meg elsier - sportscar (18/VI-2025/25) (Single)

Link

The track took first place in my round rating, and it's also the release of the week. This is my first encounter with the artist.
It turns out this track was supposed to be released with the 2024 album. But for some reason, this song was rejected.
It was released as a standalone single only in 2025 and accompanied the 2024 album reissue.
I tried listening to the album and couldn't find anything interesting.

Music Video
quinnie - paper doll (4/VI-2025/23) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating. I subscribed to the artist's YouTube channel before 2025.
Three videos were released this year, each of which could have been a contender for a spot on the year's list.
But it turned out that the June window of opportunity was wide open.

Following the previous tour, I shared how I almost missed the album due to the lack of an announcement.
Recently, I learned that I missed Quinnie's 2025 album after all.
Moreover, the album title coincided with the June video.
After checking the lyric translation, I decided the choice was entirely justified.
It's a pity that without singles the album hasn't interested me yet.

quinnie - paper doll (24/VII-2025/30) (album)

Paper Doll (2025) by Quinnie

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sun, 7 Dec 2025 03:34:09 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/07/2025 08:34

As I expected, professional teams are gradually taking over the top five, plus winning prizes in various categories.
A round that once again changed the leader in the team standings. The gap is large, but not yet critical.
It's all because of an album that has been waiting for an award for a long time.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #6*, which ended on December 4th.
Album
Geese - Getting Killed (26/IX-2025/39) (Album)

Getting Killed (2025) by Geese

The album began its journey from 7th place in the overall standings. It took six rounds to secure the 2nd place award. The album usually doesn't score well in my lists, and that was the case in the last round.
I've already had to comment on the best track and video from this release. I deliberately refrained from giving the album a full rating so as not to have to repeat myself in the next round. Now I regret it, because the emotions have somewhat faded.
I understand the reason for its popularity. As usual, I attribute it to the progressive structure.
The perfect intro gradually introduces the album's atmosphere. Two waves, comparable in length to one side of the record.
The release sounds like one song with its highest peak hidden far at the end.
You can listen to all the tracks individually as much as you want and still not appreciate their beauty.
But once you fall in love with this main hit, the entire album begins to sound completely different.
Variations lasting 45 minutes with a half-minute catharsis that is constantly in the subconscious.

Maybe I could be completely immersed in this sound too. But something is still getting in the way.
I can only guess - these are the lyrics of the main hit, which is remembered for its suicidal rhymes
Or the record cover, where the sunlight hides the barrel of a gun pointed at my eyes.
I also have a concern that the lyrics of the entire album might further alienate me from interesting music.

Track
Wednesday - Elderberry Wine (21/V-2025/21) (Single)

Link

The track made it through three rounds from 16th place and received the 4th place award.
In my lists, the track was either in the no-score zone or received downvotes, as in the previous round.
I'm sorry I have to mention this so often. I downvote when something irritates me. But I downvote even more often when a sweet, innocuous release is close to winning an award, and it's completely undeserving.
I hear dozens of new songs like this every day. They're indistinguishable. And yet, country music isn't a death sentence for me.

Wednesday - Bleeds (19/IX-2025/38) (Album)

Bleeds (2025) by Wednesday (US)

Music Video
CMAT - Euro-Country (22/VII-2025/30) (Video)

Link

The video made it through three rounds, starting from 9th place, and received the 4th place award. My ratings were always neutral.
I clearly remember what a pleasant surprise it was for me when this artist debuted.
Very vibrant and memorable songs were supported by equally dynamic videos.
Perhaps there have been too many of these videos. But my emotions haven't reached the level necessary for a year-end review. That being said, I'm still interested in some of the songs on the latest album.

The only thing I understood from Google Translate is that the artist has a bone to pick with imperialism.
The original video isn't available in Russia. But there's a low-budget, accessible version with lyrics.
I found the version with lyrics more interesting.

CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VII-2025/31) (Video)

Link

CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VIII-2025/35) (Album)

Euro-Country (2025) by CMAT

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 04:38:10 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 12/02/2025 09:38

Below are new (returned) applications for the current round, which ends on December 4. December 2 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Alex G - Afterlife (29/V) Indie Folk
2. Earl Sweatshirt - Tourmaline (22/VIII) Abstract Hip Hop
3. Jeanne Cherhal - Jean (4/III) French Pop
4. Nourished By Time - Baby Baby (29/VII) Alternative R&B
5. quinnie - paper doll (4/VI) Indie Pop
6. Water From Your Eyes - Life Signs (4/VI) Art Rock

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Alex G - Afterlife (29/V) Indie Folk
2. Coco Bryce - Noches Sephardies (28/XI) Modern Jungle
3. Mandrake Handshake - Hypersonic Super-Asterid (4/II) Psychedelic Rock
4. meg elsier - sportscar (18/VI) Dream Pop
5. Nourished By Time - Max Potential (7/V) Alternative R&B
6. Rialto - No One Leaves This Discotheque Alive (13/I) Britpop
7. Water From Your Eyes - Life Signs (4/VI) Art Rock

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Joey Joesph - Soul Crossing (13/VI) Psychedelic Pop
2. Nourished By Time - The Passionate Ones (22/VIII) Alternative R&B
3. Rialto - Neon & Ghost Signs (25/IV) Britpop
4. Water From Your Eyes – It’s A Beautiful Place (22/VIII) Art Rock

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:22:46 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/30/2025 18:22

A rare coincidence between the calendar plan and the order of rounds at the tournament.
November is certainly not December, but the likelihood of hearing anything interesting this month drops sharply. This is especially true for albums.
Accordingly, I already had some rough candidates that could replace releases in all categories. However, all my bets for this round turned out to be from November. So, you could say I was very lucky.

A little bit about my (November) bets for round #11 last week.
Album
Amanzi - The Village (14/XI-2025/46) (Album)

The Village (2025) by Amanzi

The album took first place in my round rating. Another YouTube Cinderella story.
First, I came across an interesting video from an unknown artist, and I subscribed to the YouTube channel. Then another video came out, which also piqued my interest.
That could have been the end of it. Because there's no standard. You might be warned about an album release several months in advance, or you might not be warned at all.
Especially in the context of the worsening chaos in some terrestrial parts of the universe.
The first two singles were released without an album announcement. I learned about the third single's release only after the fact. And yet, on the day of the album's release, YouTube notified me of a couple of songs.
Neither single performed particularly well in my weekly playlists. But the album itself was named Release of the Week, perhaps for the first time all year, beating out both individual songs and videos.

I'd like to draw attention to the album's structure again. It's very close to perfect. The first song shouldn't be called an intro, but it's desirable for it to gradually ease into the release. The album does both.
The first and main single, which many even well-known musicians place first, is placed first from the end.
The second single, which is also usually placed as close to the beginning of the album as possible, is placed third from the end.
The third single is positioned roughly where the first side of the record should end.
Why so confident? Just listen to her voice. She can easily sing along to a single rhythm section.

And a bit of mysticism, just the way I like it. In the last round, my bet on the album also ended with the lead track, which was called - в деревне (In the Village).

Amanzi - Go Where You’re Wanted (2/VII-2025/27) (Video)

Link

Track
АукцЫон [Auktsyon] - Мусульманин (21/XI-2025/47) (Track)

Link

First place in my round rating, and the title of last week's release.
This song wasn't released as a single. I also only learned about the album at the last minute.
The band is among the pantheon of legendary Russian bands from the twilight years of the USSR.
As far as I know, they are one of the few bands that have achieved any recognition outside of Russia.

There isn't a single album by this band that I would single out or recommend. But there are some very good songs. Usually, there are no more than two or three per album. This year was no exception.
The song doesn't have the usual division into verses and choruses. It's a figurative poem with hidden metaphors, set to music.
I myself have to admit that not everything is clear, especially in the title.
Perhaps the authors are concerned about the next turn in our history at the crossroads of civilizations.
The musical score matches the authors' anxious mood. The second half of the song consists of instrumental variations.
Below are the first and last quatrains.

Теперь я стану не собой
И всякий спросит: кто такой?
Я стану глупый и другой
Now I won't be myself
And everyone will ask: who are you?
I'll become stupid and different
…
И много есть таки�... на свете
Я вижу, как стареют дети
Одной рукой держу �'осток
A в другой руке цветок.
And there are many like me in the world
I see children growing old.
In one hand I hold the East.
And in the other, a flower.

АукцЫон [Auktsyon] - Мусульманин (30/XI-2025/48) (Video)

Link

Music Video
Oneohtrix Point Never - Cherry Blue (3/XI-2025/45) (Video)

Link

First place in my round rating and the title of release of the week.
I can't say this is my first encounter with the band. But the band had never featured on my popularity lists before.
A very atmospheric video, filmed for an equally successful single.
It's very rare for me to fall in love with a track without vocals. But this time, the music was every bit as good as the vocal-backed contenders.
Every frame can be analyzed into obvious and hidden images.
It is also very remarkable that the point of catharsis on the track is combined with the quintessence of the video series.

Oneohtrix Point Never - Tranquilizer (21/XI-2025/47) (Album)

Tranquilizer (2025) by Oneohtrix Point Never

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 09:52:13 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/29/2025 14:52

The round was supposed to be the most boring. Because for the first time this year, not a single new participant joined the game. But by chance, it turned out to be less noticeable.
Ahead of us lies the pre-New Year rally or the December finish line.
And I still haven't given up hope that the battle in the team standings will finally resume.
As for the nominations, this round was a battle between Suede and Viagra Boys.
In the previous round, Viagra Boys had already won the video award, which helped Suede secure a set of awards in three categories simultaneously. This year, only Pulp has managed such a hat trick.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #11, which ended on November 27th.
Album
Suede - Antidepressants (5/IX-2025/36) (Album)

Antidepressants (2025) by Suede

The album began its awards journey in 12th place overall. It took five whole rounds to get the 4th place award.
In my lists, the album was either in the positive zone or didn't score any points, like in the previous round.
If releases like this one don't have a place in my top ten, then I can't complain about the quality of the albums that are presented at the tournament.
I've already compared the achievements of Suede and Pulp in the tournament.
I have roughly the same opinions about the work of these bands.
And I can echo almost all the criticisms I previously directed at Pulp.
I'm certainly familiar with this band, but I find it difficult to listen to entire Suede albums.
This year, the story repeated itself. Long, similar songs, none of them huge hits.
After the third song, the decline begins for me. However, the band saved a couple of interesting tracks for the end, and that's a definite plus for the album as a whole. But the tracks themselves aren't particularly creatively structured.

Yes, I'm not particularly enthusiastic about these bands. Whenever the conversation turns to music from the 90s, I'm tempted to provocatively say, "Was there music in the 90s, too?" Because for 15 years, roughly from 1992 to 2008, I didn't have time for that passion.

Track
Suede - Disintegrate (19/V-2025/21) (Single)
The track, like the album, went through the same five rounds from 14th place and received the award for 6th place.
In my lists, the track was also either in the positive zone or scored no points, as in the previous round.
It would be difficult for me to distinguish most Suede songs from each other without knowing what they were about.
So, I checked the translation of this song, as much as Google currently allows.
My peer's reflections on the nearness of death are relevant to me. But I'm not sure I've figured out all the metaphors.

Music Video
Suede - Disintegrate (19/V-2025/21) (Video)

Link

The video also made it through five rounds and received the fifth-place award. My ratings were both positive and neutral, just like in the previous round.
I carefully watched the video again after translating the lyrics. Black and white colors and dynamically changing images no longer looked so harmless.
Unlike the text, which I found confusing, the author of the song was clearly dissatisfied with the speed at which the bouquet in the intro faded.

All these contradictions bothered me, so I continued digging. I followed one link after another until I read something that was addressed to me personally. Perhaps this alone was worth organizing the tournament in 2025. Much has received its logical explanation, and now I will have to blush for a much smaller volume of inappropriate nonsense.
--------------------------------------
P.S. In the last round, I mentioned a track that would likely appear at the tournament, barring Armageddon. Armageddon didn't happen, unless you count an unexpected virus attack on my computer. But I was wrong in my expectations again. Now I'll likely only be able to reveal this track after the tournament ends.

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:30:11 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/25/2025 04:30

Below are new (returned) applications for the current round, which ends on November 27. November 25 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Heartworms - Extraordinary Wings (9/I) Darkwave
2. Maruja - Look Down On Us (9/V) Post-Rock
3. Oklou - take me by the hand (ft. Bladee) (16/I) Electronic
4. Oneohtrix Point Never - Cherry Blue (3/XI) Progressive Electronic

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Lael Neale - Tell Me How To Be Here (20/II) Neo-Psychedelia
2. Maruja - Saoirse (10/VII) Post-Rock
3. The Stargazer Lilies - Perfect World (8/VIII) Shoegaze
4. АукцЫон [Auktsyon] - Мусульманин (21/XI) Art Rock

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Amanzi - The Village (14/XI) Soul
2. Earl Sweatshirt - Live Laugh Love (22/VIII) Experimental Hip Hop
3. Mandrake Handshake - Earth-Sized Worlds (21/II) Psychedelic Rock
4. Maruja - Pain To Power (12/IX) Post-Rock
5. Shearling - M**********r, I am Both: "Amen" and "Hallelujah"... (1/V) Experimental Rock
6. Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson - Bone Bells (14/III) Avant-Garde Jazz
7. The Stargazer Lilies - Love Pedals (22/VIII) Shoegaze

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:26:35 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/23/2025 07:26

A little bit about my (May) bets for round #5* last week.

Album
лиза голицына [liza golitsyna] - девочка (16/V-2025/20) (Album)

Девочка (2025) by Лиза Голицына [Liza Golitsyna]
The album took first place in my round ranking.
Few people in Russia know this name. I only learned about it thanks to the album's release.
I thought about saving the album for the final round. I liked including the best Russian album in the final chart of the tournament. Who else would do that if not me? At least, that's how it used to be.

Structurally, the album is reminiscent of Ariel Pink (2025).
The first song is also more interesting than the second, «a wave of its own». But here, this is justified, since the artist is little known.
The album also has two main emotional peaks, with a later peak higher than the first.
I also can’t say that I like all the songs without exception.
But the album is interesting to listen to from the first to the last song, because the penultimate track is the best, and the last one is practically an afterword, a cappella.
The cover resembles a child's drawing. The album title, Girlie, supports this assumption. But the lyrics help us understand that the songs are more philosophical observations, in which life is presented through the pure eyes of a child. And the cover is both a guidebook and a rebus.

Я не могу сказать ч�'тко, громко
Сколько ещ�' терпеть – долго, долго
Завтра я сделаюсь страшным волком
Сколько ещ�' терпеть – долго, долго.
I can't say it clearly, loudly
How much longer must I endure—a long, long time
Tomorrow I'll become a terrible wolf
How much longer must I endure—a long, long time
[Track - много (долго)]

�' деревне �...орошо одной, речка, лодочка
Снизу плещется река, свер�...у плыв�'т облачко
�' деревне иду за водой, машут из окошечка,
Жалко больше не со мной моя кошечка.
It's nice to be alone in the village, a river, a boat
The river splashes below, a cloud floats above.
I go to the village for water, they wave from the window.
It's a shame my kitty is no longer with me.
[Track - в деревне]

лиза голицына [liza golitsyna] - в деревне (16/V-2025/20) (Track)

Link

Track
BC Camplight - Two Legged Dog (ft. Abigail Morris) (8/IV-2025/15) (Single)

Link

First place, hands down. True, I had to borrow a song from another month.
In the last round, I let it slip that I was saving April's best track for the final round. It just so happens that these plans will no longer come to fruition. Please love and favor it, this is that very track! I still think it's the best track of the year, along with maybe two or three others.
This song's fate is complicated. I didn't get it as a single in April, or rather, I suspect it didn't interest me.
In June, the band released an album, which also didn't interest me. But I still kept this song on the playlist for the week. However, it was out of competition because it turned out that it had already missed its week as a single in April.
Gradually, this song pushed aside all the other contestants. I had to return to April, where it also found no equal.
What's the reason for my fascination? At first, nothing out of the ordinary happens. But in the second part of the song, the female vocals repeat the same thing, and the level of the song instantly soars to the sky.
And I don’t even need translation, everything is perfectly audible.

I could have gone into more detail. But while I was thinking about this topic it dawned on me, that the female voice was a guest. Yes, unfortunately, sometimes I'm not very attentive. Especially when it comes to unfamiliar foreign names. And 99% of them are.
And then I suddenly wanted to know if this vocalist sings elsewhere. I type her name into YouTube, and they offer me some amateur concert footage. I'm overcome with excitement, as if my fascination with her voice is about to blossom into something even more.
And then I suddenly realize that the girl's appearance seems familiar.
I try to find information on Wikipedia. And then it dawns on me that she's the vocalist of a band that was eventually blocked from airing in Russia. That's why there are no professional videos of her available to the public. But I couldn't miss all those videos. I was terribly disappointed with the way this band was promoted, even though they hadn't recorded a single interesting song.
Furthermore, they released another album this year, which is also empty. I feel very sorry for this girl. Her voice may be alive, but she needs to find a good songwriter ASAP.
At least, that's the advice I would give my daughter. It's good that the stars limited me in this.

BC Camplight - A Sober Conversation (27/VI-2025/26) (Album)

A Sober Conversation (2025) by B.C. Camplight

Music Video
Haute & Freddy - Shy Girl (13/V-2025/20) (Video)

Link

First place in my round-rating, the title of release of the week, and my first encounter with the band.
In the comments under the video, everyone was talking about Cyndi Lauper. I was searching in vain for someone to suggest the name of another band. The singer there was also swaying his hips and had a slightly unkempt hairdo.
If I'd known the language, I certainly would have found the band right away based on the lyrics. In any case, I remembered the melody very well.
I had to break my principles and dig into my locked archives.
I don't know why, but to me, back in the '80s, it reminds me more of a video like this.

Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (XI-1984) (Single)

Link

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 02:33:24 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/22/2025 07:33

As I expected, the game changed after three professional final charts appeared at the tournament. So far, the pros and cons are roughly equal.
Cons:
A clear leader has emerged, and the game has become more predictable.
For the first time in the tournament, one team has received a super bet prize twice. And it's unclear whether this part of the tournament will bring back any more intrigue.
In this regard, I'd like to reiterate that I'm not opposed to the success of Pulp's releases. But a double advantage over third place is clearly too much. It's good that the rules limit the receipt of duplicate awards in categories.
Pros:
In this round, one of the teams finally got the maximum number of marks in their nomination rating. But this team turned out to be amateur, not professional. And I'm glad that this time my prediction was wrong.
For the first time this year, all four round awards went to different teams. And, in my opinion, all three category victories were well-deserved.

My thoughts on the releases that won prizes in the nominations following Round #5*, which ended on November 20th.
Album
Big Thief - Double Infinity (5/IX-2025/36) (Album)

Double Infinity (2025) by Big Thief
Following the previous round, the album ranked 13th with 13 points. In this round, thanks to the efforts of professional music critics, the album doubled its score to 26, placing third in the category and earning the award.
Throughout all rounds, this release ranked in the middle of the positive spectrum for me. This time, the album also received a 5-point rating, placing it sixth.
I can't recall any albums featuring Adrianne Lenker ever reaching very high positions in my charts. But there were a few songs that deserved attention. I also found her lyrics interesting more than once. I didn't encounter any breakout hits this year. But the album itself turned out to be more conceptual, with virtually no duds.
I was also pleased that the second half of the album felt stronger than the first. I certainly wouldn't call the last song an unnecessary addition, especially since it wasn't released as a single.

Big Thief - How Could I Have Known (5/IX-2025/36) (Track)

Link

Track
Richard Dawson - More Than Real (14/II-2025/07) (Track)

Link

This round was the track's debut, which culminated in fourth place overall and a prize. I gave it 5 points for sixth place.
It was very surprising, and for me, it was also a bit mystical.
In fact, another track was originally supposed to represent this team, one I really liked.
But at the last moment I found a mistake in my calculations and was even upset when I realized that another, less impressive candidate was getting through.
Now, thanks to the bonus additional bet, barring another Armageddon, the tournament may also feature a song that was left out.
Of course I like the Richard Dawson song, otherwise it wouldn't be on my playlist of the week.
Another thing that speaks in this track's favor is that it wasn't released as a single. Plus, it's located at the very end of the album, which, in my opinion, makes the release more progressive.

Richard Dawson - End of the Middle (14/II-2025/07) (Album)

End Of The Middle (2025) by Richard Dawson

Music Video
Viagra Boys - Man Made of Meat (23/I-2025/04) (Video)

Link

The video debuted in this round, taking third place and an award.
I've placed this video in the no-score zone.
The artistic component certainly deserves attention for its expressiveness and dynamism.
The allusion to one of my favorite films, The Big Lebowski, also didn't go unnoticed.
But the song itself is so musically alien to me that this is the best I could do given the discrepancy. However, it looks like I'll have to comment on the music of Viagra Boys here more than once.
The irony is that at the end of the video, the hero demonstratively renounces his undeserved status as a famous artist. But in real life, thanks to his alternative credo, he is considered a popular musician.

Viagra Boys - viagr aboys (25/IV-2025/17) (Album)

Viagr Aboys (2025) by Viagra Boys

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:23:01 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/18/2025 00:23

Below are new (returned) applications for the current round, which ends on November 20. November 18 is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.

Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. CMAT - Euro-Country (22/VII) Country Pop
2. Earl Sweatshirt - Tourmaline (22/VIII) Abstract Hip Hop
3. Haute & Freddy - Shy Girl (13/V) Synthpop
4. Viagra Boys - Man Made of Meat (23/I) Art Punk
5. Wednesday - Elderberry Wine (21/V) Alt-Country
6. Wet Leg - catch these fists (1/IV) Indie Rock

Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. BC Camplight - Two Legged Dog (ft. Abigail Morris) (8/IV) Art Pop
2. CMAT - Euro-Country (22/VII) Country Pop
3. Gelli Haha - Bounce House (19/III) Synthpop
4. Mandrake Handshake - Hypersonic Super-Asterid (4/II) Psychedelic Rock
5. Richard Dawson - More Than Real (14/II) Progressive Folk
6. Titanic - La Dueña (21/VII) Experimental Rock
7. Viagra Boys - Man Made of Meat (23/I) Art Punk
8. Wednesday - Elderberry Wine (21/V) Alt-Country

Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. CMAT - Euro-Country (29/VIII) Country Pop
2. Viagra Boys - viagr aboys (25/IV) Art Punk
3. Wednesday - Bleeds (19/IX) Alt-Country
4. лиза голицына [liza golitsyna] - девочка (16/V) Art Pop

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 15:59:32 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/16/2025 20:59

A little bit about my (April) bets for round #4* last week.

Album
Созвездие Отрезок [Sozvezdie Otrezok] - +7 495 296 296 1 (18/IV-2025/16) (Album)

+7 495 296 296 1 (2025) by Созвездие Отрезок [Sozvezdie Otrezok]
This was the most difficult choice for me in the entire tournament. I didn't confirm all three bets until the very last minute. Seconds before publication, I stopped and again changed yet another disappointing album. And yet, this choice took first place in my round rankings. How could this have happened?
And again, it's hard for me to explain such swings.
This album was one of the most anticipated, but it was not even included in the list of contenders.
The contradictions in the release begin with the title itself. No one hid the fact that it was a Moscow phone number. The band even encouraged everyone to call it.
It's not customary to write numbers that way. Here's the standard spelling:

+7 495 296 29 61

This is exactly how the album cover is designed. More precisely, on the cover, the last two digits are shifted to the very bottom third line, which makes it even more difficult to see the symmetry of the number.
The album's online title contained a magical number, while on the paper cover the guys decided to play hide-and-seek. But after that, all the magic under the cover disappeared somewhere too.
The band is respected, and in 2024 they released two excellent singles. I was confident the album wouldn't disappoint. However, after the first song, I lost all interest. The language in which the rest of the material was recorded was encrypted, just like the phone number on the cover. The magic of the music was gone. The code was repulsive teenage slang, superimposed on childish lyrics. Just one obscene word in the entire album also sounds unnatural and alien.
Apparently, at some point, I finally managed to immerse myself in a true trance, enjoying the full density and dynamics of this music. The last digit of the number remained alone again. And through the noise of linguistic interference, the true nature of loneliness emerged.
Once again, I was convinced that you can love any album, you just need to find the right key.

Созвездие Отрезок [Sozvezdie Otrezok] - Редкая Птичка (14/V-2024/20) (Single)

Link

Track
забей, лерочка [zabey, lerochka] - Это Любовь (ft. Перемотка) (11/IV-2025/15) (Single)

Link

In April, one of the best tracks of the year was released. But I decided to save it for the final round. To give the tournament's ending a bit of a progressive edge, just the way I like it.
After these adjustments, the remaining tracks seemed roughly on par again. Ultimately, a little-known bet won again, albeit with a backstory.
The band Перемотка [Peremotka] has only attracted attention with one song since 2018. On it, they used endless repetitions to immerse listeners in their pop. This time, they're achieving the same effect in their collaboration.
The title "zabey, lerochka" translates as "Forget it, Lerochka." Lerochka is the name of the vocalist. I don't know anything more interesting about her than that. I'll also add that the sweet but vague vocals only contribute to the immersion in their pop.
A love song in which lovers try to hide their feelings. I had to give them the highest score too.

Перемотка [Peremotka] - Здравствуй (11/V-2018/19) (Single)

Link

Music Video
Yıldız Tilbe - Belli mi Olur (12/IV-2025/15) (Video)

Link

I also couldn’t decide for a long time which video was the best in April.
There was no clear leader or performer with whom I could associate myself through any past achievements.
This time, my score was 8 points, which equates to 3rd place.
About two years ago, I stumbled upon a wonderful dance song in Turkish by chance. I've been interested in this genre ever since. I can't say I find it very often, but it's worth it.
By the way, the other day, I also stumbled upon an amateur video on YouTube featuring an amazing dance at a Kurdish wedding. And it looks even more exciting thanks to the high-quality dance music.

kurdish wedding

Link

Re: 2025 Rating Tournament Diary

musicoed — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 19:00:04 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 11/16/2025 00:00

The tournament has reached its midpoint. It is symbolic that three more professional teams will now join the game. The number of such teams will grow with each subsequent round. And this will, of course, be reflected in the results. Music publications' ratings are usually more thorough. They typically always find a place for the year's significant releases. Because these publications are the ones who determine which releases are significant. These teams' ratings quickly reach a maximum amplitude of 15 points. Competing against them is practically impossible.

My thoughts on the releases that won awards in the nominations following the results of the #4* tour, which ended on November 13th.
Album
Miki Berenyi Trio - Tripla (4/IV-2025/14) (Album)

Tripla (2025) by Miki Berenyi Trio
The album competed for this award through all six rounds and won, finishing fourth in the overall round rankings. I've previously shared my thoughts on the award for best track and the accompanying video.
I gave it a minus two points, meaning I voted against it. But I'm not against this album being on the list of the best. I just think there were more deserving candidates for a spot in the top five.
There are many albums I wouldn't want to see on the list at all, and with each round, there will be more and more of them.

Track
Panda Bear - Praise (28/II-2025/09) (Track)

Link

The track also competed for this award through six rounds and won it, finishing third in the overall round ranking. It's the opposite story here. In the very first round, the entire album won the prize, which I criticized for its lack of real hits and the empty spaces between the singles.
I gave the track an 8, placing it third in my round ranking. Perhaps because the song wasn't released as a single and didn't have time to become boring. The second (obvious) reason is the lack of strong competition in the tournament. The third (not obvious) reason is that I've lost my hearing and am judging by secondary criteria.

Panda Bear - Sinister Grift (28/II-2025/09) (Album)

Sinister Grift (2025) by Panda Bear

Music Video
Eerie Indiana - Kino (30/V-2025/22) (Video)

Link

The history of this bet in the tournament spans only four rounds. The prize was awarded for sixth place overall. Obviously, this round was the last chance. I don't think anyone knows who these musicians are, including me. When I first heard this song, I was very surprised why no one pointed out that it was Nik Kershaw's music.
However, I was mistaken, and the question was raised in the comments under the video, to which the musicians responded very confidently and favorably toward the original artist.
My contribution to this victory was also significant. I gave it a perfect score of 10. Because in 2025, she still has few competitors. Moreover, the vocalist's voice and attractive appearance only added points to the video.