Best Ever Albums

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

baystateoftheart — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 19:54:57 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 07/26/2021 23:54

What's Your Pleasure? defeats Dream Or Don't Dream 11-4 to advance to the sweet sixteen.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

cestuneblague — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 11:00:05 GMT

Author: cestuneblague

Posted: 07/22/2021 15:00

The Ware album is a mighty impressive mix of immaculate production and confidient performance, but it always leaves me very cold- and not in that appealing European New Wave kind of way. It's pretty much a coin toss though with Kestrels, I'll give the underdog a shot I guess.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

travelful — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 08:27:59 GMT

Author: travelful

Posted: 07/22/2021 12:27

Kestrels album was solid. It can be tough to find quality shoegaze nowadays and this is a good enough album to recommend to fans of the genre. But honestly it isn't groundbreaking and doesn't hold up against Jessie Ware. You know 2020 was a great year for Dance Pop when even I have two albums from the genre in my top 25 of the year. I typically don't enjoy the genre but Ware does an excellent job creating a lush soundscape that is quite refreshing to me. I still prefer Sawayama by a decent bit though for 2020 Dance Pop. Anyway, relatively easy vote for Jessie Ware

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

baystateoftheart — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 14:12:55 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 07/10/2021 18:12

I'm guessing Dream Or Don't Dream is getting a lukewarm reception because people aren't looking for an indie rock album that leans heavily on guitar heroics in 2020. But I thought it was quite a good record, and it gets a 3.5/5. However, What's Your Pleasure? was already one of my favorite albums of the year, and it only grew on me with another listen. The brightest star of the ongoing disco revival, and it wins my vote handily with a high 4/5.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

kokkinos — Fri, 2 Jul 2021 11:41:19 GMT

Author: kokkinos

Posted: 07/02/2021 15:41

Despite the understandable reservations expressed by some of you regarding the songs that made the cut, What's Your Pleasure? remains one of the most thoroughly entertaining 2020 albums.
Dream Or Don't Dream was a pleasant surprise, especially the guitar work. It had a relatable and nostalgic quality that allowed me to enjoy it even when it got too heavy for me, whcih didn't happen more than once or twice.
What's Your Pleasure? gets my vote, but it was closer than expected, cool matchup all around.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

Fischman — Thu, 1 Jul 2021 18:45:23 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 07/01/2021 22:45

Wasn't at all enthused by Jessie Ware. Not my thing.
At least Kestrels can give us a guitar solo.

...but...

After a couple extra listens, Jessie Grew on me and with each pass I had less use for Kestrels.

Ended up voting Jessie despite myself. Surprises are fun.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

Hayden — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:56:42 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/30/2021 22:56

EyeKanFly wrote:

Hayden wrote:

I've yet to listen to the Kestrels record, but it'll have to be quite something to usurper my vote.

Just a quick reminder Ware's deluxe edition of the record just dropped, and it has some absolute bangers of b-sides to check out. Wish one or two made the original cut.

Some of the rejected songs are phenomenal, I'm surprised the base album wasn't longer with some of the tracks.

(Not to bash my nom), but I would have replaced Read My Lips with either Please, Hot N Heavy, or Pale Blue Light. Maybe even Eyes Closed. It's truly a very good handful of bonus tracks. (Read My Lips feels like an obvious dip for me).

Please definitely should have made the original cut. Would have fit fantastically dab smack in the middle. Right after Save A Kiss or somewhere around there.

Such a shame that an album of bangers came out at a time they couldn't bang.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

EyeKanFly — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:35:42 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 06/30/2021 22:35

Hayden wrote:

Some of the rejected songs are phenomenal, I'm surprised the base album wasn't longer with some of the tracks.

Really wasn't a fan of that Kestrels album, sorry dihansse.

Re: Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

Hayden — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 18:04:59 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 06/28/2021 22:04

I've yet to listen to the Kestrels record, but it'll have to be quite something to usurper my vote.

Just a quick reminder Ware's deluxe edition of the record just dropped, and it has some absolute bangers of b-sides to check out. Wish one or two made the original cut.

Round 1: Jessie Ware v. Kestrels

baystateoftheart — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 17:57:58 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 06/28/2021 21:57

Seed #4:

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What's Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware

Nominated by: Hayden
Genres [RYM]: Dance-Pop, Disco

Seed #15:

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Dream Or Don't Dream by Kestrels

Nominated by: dihansse
Genres [RYM]: Indie Rock, Shoegaze

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 twenty-eight days. See Tournament Spreadsheet for the full bracket.