A little bit about my (January) bets for round #1* last week.
Album Sophie Jamieson - I still want to share (17/I-2025/03) (Album)
I Still Want To Share (2025) by Sophie Jamieson
I placed the album at number four in my tour rankings. But I could easily have secured the top spot for this release. The singer's vocals are so rich in overtones and unique nuances that the songs only grow more charming with each subsequent listen. Until last year, I didn't know or even notice this artist. The first single, "I Don't Know What to Save," also didn't stand out from the other contenders of the week, but ultimately emerged as the best.
Sophie Jamieson - I don't know what to save (18/IX-2024/38) (Video) (Single)
First place in my tour rating. It's also the release of the week and the best track on the album. The ending of the whole album sags a bit, but it still deserves a place among the best albums of the year. Once again, I'm delighted by the vocal style, the magnificent shifts in intonation and mood.
Music Video Hamilton Leithauser - Knockin’ Heart (8/I-2025/02) (Video)
First place in my tour rating. And it's also the release of the week. It's a rare instance where the video actually adds energy to the song. You can watch it endlessly, the imagery changes so vividly, quickly, and appropriately. The entire album isn't very balanced, but it could also be a contender for a spot among the best of the year thanks to some great songs.
My thoughts on the first places in the nominations following the results of the #2* round, which ended on October 23.
Album Stereolab retained first place, but, as I already mentioned, the place that allowed a tournament participant to earn an additional bid in a nomination is more important.
Ariel Pink - With You Every Night (12/IX-2025/37) (Album)
With You Every Night (2025) by Ariel Pink
The release finished second, but received a star nomination and earned the team an additional bid. In my tour ratings the album was in 3rd place.
The artist released only two singles before the album. When listening to the entire album, these songs don't really stand out. On the contrary, some songs sound more interesting. Not everyone can afford such an approach when announcing. Overall, the album fits into an optimal two-wave progressive development diagram. However, there are some key deviations. The first track is too complex for such a structure. The album should have begun with a simpler second song and ended on track 10 (or 11, maximum).
But the album has too many tracks, which I can hardly blame the artist for. The result is an overload of four waves. The first wave consists of the first track alone. Everything after track 10 (or 11) can be perceived as an additional fourth wave (a deluxe addition), which also has its own slight rise on the last track. It's rare in 2025 when an album is engaging to listen to from the first track to the last. And I'm certainly biased, having followed the artist for over 15 years.
Track Geese - Taxes (8/VII-2025/28) (Single)
By the end of the tour, the track took first place by a huge margin of 7 points.
It was the first album single, released in mid-summer. I didn't know the artist. And it was the only one of the band's three singles that made it onto my weekly playlist. Surprisingly, a lot of interesting music was released that summer week, including Ariel Pink's first single.
The song's structure is perfectly progressive with a slightly drawn-out ending. But, among other things, I didn't like the timbre of the voice. And of course, there were no lyric translations or album art at that time. Even when I published the tour bids, I had no idea what was behind the song. It was only later that I had to find a larger image of the cover for the submissions page and search for a translation of the song to understand why young people were so enthusiastically cheering the musician on at live performances, which I also needed for the YouTube presentation of the album.
I don't want to hide behind mysticism, as I did in the Beatles thread. But at some point, I had to examine all the details of the album cover and learn the song's translation to put two and two together. But for now, we're only analyzing the single's success. And I'm already worried about the missionary imagery depicted on the single's cover. It's hard to see any resemblance to an angel. More like a crusader's faithful companion, punishing the infidels.
The video took second place, but earned a star, which provided an additional bid in the category. I placed the video in the no-points zone. While the song was interesting, the video sequence repulsed me. Incidentally, the latter also influenced my initial reaction to the track. I saw young people losing their humanity alongside the prophetic image of the vocalist.
Getting Killed (2025) by Geese
Here are the new (returned) bids for the current tour, which ends on October 30rd. October 28st is the last day for chart changes for the current tour.
Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Detective Jones - Predivni luzeri (24/X) Art Pop
2. Suede - Disintegrate (19/V) Glam Rock
3. 박지하 [Park Jiha] - Grounding (14/II) Ambient
Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Suede - Disintegrate (19/V) Glam Rock
2. Titanic - La Dueña (21/VII) Experimental Rock
3. Tuvaband - It doesn't get much better than this (24/X) Hypnagogic Pop
4. 박지하 [Park Jiha] - Grounding (14/II) Ambient
Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Amalfitano - Sono morto x 15 giorni ma sono tornato perché l'amore è (24/X) Italo Dance
2. Claire Rousay & More Eaze - No Floor (21/III) Ambient
3. Earl Sweatshirt - Live Laugh Love (22/VIII) Experimental Hip Hop
4. Suede - Antidepressants (5/IX) Glam Rock
5. Протоприкус [Protoprikus] - Бычье Лыко (22/VI) Alternative Dance
A little bit about my (February) bets for round #2* last week.
Album Горечь [Gorech] - Плохие Тигры (28/II-2025/09) (Album)
Плохие Тигры (2025) by Горечь [Gorech]
I'm not an expert on genres, but Dream Punk, in my opinion, would explain a lot. Philosophical, figurative lyrics...
Город спит холодной грудой кирпичей
The city sleeps like a cold pile of bricks
(track - Микродозинг)
Я укроюсь одеялом из цветов, пусть мне снятся насекомые
I'll cover myself with a blanket of flowers, let me dream of insects
(track - Мигрень)
...plus some profanity. Here, disaster is called the way ordinary people call it.
I placed the album at number 4 in my tour rankings. It's a long-awaited release from musicians I've been following since their promising 2018 debut. Unfortunately, I've had to wait seven years for their follow-up LP. I have mixed feelings about this album. And again, I turn to the album's structure.
For me, there are two axioms. If a band is unknown and has only one hit, it should be first. But self-respecting artists can't put a weak song last.
On the other hand, I understand that my rules are limited by differences in taste. I might assume Ariel Pink deliberately hid his best songs until the main release. But in reality, only I might like those songs.
And so, in this case, the band released a single and then a video for the song - Только Хуже (Only Worse). The masks on the faces in this video explain both the title Плохие Тигры (Bad Tigers) and the album cover. Plus, this song closes the album, just the way I like it. There's just one detail, in my opinion: this is the weakest song on the album. I have no complaints about the lyrics overall, but musically, the last track ruins the whole experience.
The next worst track is the penultimate track. In other words, while I like albums where the musicians build tension from song to song, here it's the opposite. From the first, the best, to the last, the weakest. It's a classic regressive album.
However, if you recall the chorus of this iconic final song, you might suspect the musicians of deliberate sabotage.
С каждым годом только хуже всем
Every year, things only get worse for everyone
(track - Только Хуже)
Track Бонд с Кнопкой [Bond s Knopkoy] - Кухни (27/II-2025/09) (Single)
Unfortunately, I don't know this artists at all. I can't even remember a single one of his songs.
One of the best songs of the year and a well-deserved first place in my tour rankings. It's also the release of the week and the best track (single) on the album, which was released very recently (October 17th). The only track on the album that interested me was this one, which turned out to be the very last of the 12 songs. Self-respecting musicians, I thought. It's a shame it hasn't worked out yet. Or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.
The secret to the single's success is that the band managed to capture despair and a lack of faith. Perhaps they didn't intend it that way, but the song leaves a longing for a dream that will never be realized.
Всё могло быть не плохо
Everything could have been not bad
Бонд с Кнопкой [Bond s Knopkoy] - Кухни (Live) (22/VI-2025/25) (Video)
Third place in my tour ranking. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a decent video from February of this year, so I borrowed one from March.
Also unknown to me or forgotten performer. Here, the song followed the video, rather than the other way around, as is usually the case. I even wanted to know the translation of the lyrics underneath the video.
After I read about the metaphor of keys fitting a burning door, my respect for the song and video's creators reached an even higher level.
My thoughts on the releases that won awards in the categories following the results of the #10 tour, which ended on October 30th.
Album John Maus - Later Than You Think (26/IX-2025/39) (Album)
Later Than You Think (2025) by John Maus
I placed the album at the top of my tour rankings, with four of the top spots roughly tied. I really wanted the artist to receive a star in the category. And that's exactly what happened. The gap between the two contenders was only two points. In fact, the album only took third place in the category, but the first two releases had already received their awards.
I can't say I was thrilled with entire album Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today (2010), but the track "Fright Night (Nevermore)" reset my appreciation for this genre of music. And now I don’t miss a single release from these musicians. This time, it was interesting to learn that both albums were released in the same year, the same month, and with 16 tracks.
That's why I checked Wikipedia again today. Maybe it happened by accident, just the way I like it. Unfortunately, that's probably not the case. Plus, I learned why links to these artists' releases aren't available on some platforms.
Does politics influence my attitude toward music? I don't remember the music I like being written by people I didn't like back then. And people change, no one denies that. Otherwise, the world is in chaos, making it difficult to distinguish truth from lies. Some eat at dumpsters to avoid getting dirty, others engage in outrageous behavior. Performers were forced to answer the challenge, and it benefited their music.
It's interesting to compare these two albums; they could easily have been released under the same cover.
For me, the first track and the transition to the second are always important. This is the first introduction. Usually, the listener has a lot of patience, so the first track can be weak and drawn-out, like John Maus. But from track 2, there's a buildup to the peak on track 4. This immediately gives a head start that lasts until the very end.
Ariel Pink's first track is better than the second; this dip is usually painful. For example, like Panda Bear. But Ariel Pink pulls it off with a more vibrant peak on track 4.
John Maus begins a second wave with a long buildup on track 7, which also reaches a peak three tracks later on track 10. Track 9, the intermediate track, is weak. Bat, the momentum doesn't have time to drop significantly; there's already a reserve of momentum.
After track 10, John Maus, like Ariel Pink, begins a deluxe addition, which has its advantages, but it loses the progressive feel of the entire album. There are no dips on the album. The tracks flow seamlessly and don't have time to become boring due to their short length. Like Ariel Pink, there are significant peaks on tracks 4 and 10, which weren't released as singles. The quality of these hits is lower, but the rest of the material is more consistent.
And of course, there are many surprises within the album's tracks themselves.
Track Miki Berenyi Trio - 8th Deadly Sin (14/I-2025/03) (Single)
The song took second place and won the award. It was a long journey of 4 rounds. At the finish, I didn't interfere or help, and the track ended up in my zero-scoring zone. This is a band I'm unfamiliar with. Not a single single caught my interest, and it wasn't on my weekly playlist.
Once again, I had to turn to Wikipedia for help. In short, I already read this story two rounds ago, when I was trying to share my impressions of Stereolab's achievements. As usual, I'm immediately drawn to the mystical element of these coincidences. Just now I compared two albums; now I'll compare two songs, and then two videos.
Stereolab's song also ended up with zero-scoring for me. I had to compare the lyric translations. Another coincidence. The topical themes of protecting the environment from consumer society and plastic bottles are relevant. These are the right songs, with the right melodies. But they're boring to listen to. Even though they're truly the best songs on their respective albums. And I find it hard to blame anyone for the lack of exciting hits. For the lack of creativity, for the lack of young talent. Because it's hard to find, or the earth hasn't produced it.
Music Video Miki Berenyi Trio - 8th Deadly Sin (14/I-2025/03) (Video)
The video took fourth place and won the prize, beating Ariel Pink by one point. I also gave no points for this video.
The same technique was used here as with Stereolab. They try to keep the main characters out of sight. In one case, everyone is hidden behind surrealist fantasies, in the other, behind special effects that shroud everything in fog. This is the surest way to discourage any interest in what's happening on screen. Show the main characters from behind or make them indistinguishable silhouettes. I can't explain this other than that same musical sabotage.
The tournament calendar coincided with the actual tour number. Waiting until the last day for new releases always adds an adrenaline rush. This is how it should be, although it usually leads to mistakes due to fuss.
A little bit about my (October) bets for round #10 last week.
Album Amalfitano - Sono morto x 15 giorni ma sono tornato perché l'amore è (24/X-2025/43) (Album)
Sono Morto X 15 Giorni Ma Sono Tornato Perche L'amore E (2025) by Amalfitano
The album ended up second on my tour list. I learned about the release completely by accident, just a few hours before the submission deadline.
I really like this musician; I'd compare his level to Matia Bazar. It's clear he's also deeply concerned about what's happening in Russia. It was surprising to hear Russian spoken before the track: "Vai a costruire le campane" (Go build the bells). It's a fragment from Tarkovsky's film "Andrei Rublev."
Во многой мудрости много печали
И кто умножает познание, умножает скорбь
In much wisdom is much grief.
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
And this is a hint that Amalfitano's songs aren't exactly danceable, or perhaps not danceable at all. Discussing the album's structure is difficult, as it's so diverse and jam-packed with hits. Most of the songs deserve separate analysis, as do the album title and its cover. I'm always surprised when musicians can't settle on shorter titles.
Sono morto x 15 giorni ma sono tornato perche l'amore e
Я умер на 15 дней, но вернулся, потому что любовь и
I died for 15 days but I came back because love and
I thought the cover was a bad guy, but the AI suggested it was:
Quote:
A faun is a creature from Roman mythology, usually described as more goat-like (with horns, hooves, and hairy legs), a kind and merciful being associated with nature, who can predict the future and communicate with people in dreams.
The track took third place in my tour rating. And it was like a hallucination.
In the 10th round, a familiar story happened. I was pressed for time, but I couldn't move. I couldn't come up with the best track for October.
Gradually, I narrowed it down to two songs. One of them had a much better chance, as it was Long Time No See from Molly Nilsson's album, which was also a contender for Album of the Month. The second song was also from Scandinavia and very similar to the first.
Ultimately, I again chose a lesser-known artist. And then it turned out that the link to this song, which I had been posting on various public pages for the past week, was incorrect.
Because when choosing the best track from the album, which was released on October 24th, I also hesitated for a long time and leaned towards another, still unknown track. But at the last minute, I changed the song title and forgot to change the link.
In turn, due to the promising single Galloping Chest, I was looking forward to album Tuvaband - Seven Ways of Floating (24/X), but I was disappointed when I heard it, and at first I didn't want to remember it at all in the playlist of the week.
What's the reason for the track's success? It's hard for me to explain. This track lacks anything that usually attracts me. There's no bright melody, no danceable rhythm. On the contrary, from the very first seconds, I fall into some kind of dream with angelic voices. It seems like a direct manifestation of senile dementia.
The video took first place in my tour rankings. It instantly became the release of the week. And it was like a gift.
Because less than a week before the end of the month, I also had no candidates for the best video of October. In the end, all my bets came on the last possible Friday release day. And none of them were from English-speaking countries. And not even from Russia.
Google suggests they're a Croatian alternative pop band. I know nothing else and was encountering their work for the first time. The video and the song's title hint that the main characters may be the cause of the world's descent into chaos. However, I not only enjoyed watching it, but also felt a sense of envy.
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Last edited by musicoed on 11/16/2025 21:08; edited 1 time in total
Here are the new (refunded) bids for the current tour, which ends on November 6th. November 4th is the last day for chart changes for the current tour.
Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Earl Sweatshirt - Tourmaline (22/VIII) Abstract Hip Hop
2. Lucio Corsi - Volevo Essere Un Duro (Live) (4/III) Pop Rock
3. Pulp - Spike Island (10/IV) Art Rock
4. The Stargazer Lilies - Shining Yellow (22/VIII) Shoegaze
5. Titanic - La Dueña (21/VII) Experimental Rock
6. Wetsuit - Midwest Dream (13/III) Dream Pop
Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. 1,000 UK Artists - The (25/II) Field Recordings
2. Bria Salmena - Backs of Birds (28/III) Indie Rock
3. Pulp - Spike Island (10/IV) Art Rock
4. The Stargazer Lilies - Perfect World (8/VIII) Shoegaze
Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant (7/III) Folk Rock
2. Pulp - More (6/VI) Art Rock
A very simple round. All the prizes went to one performer. It's not that this has never happened before. But this year is a first.
My thoughts on the releases that won awards in the nominations following the results of the #3* tour, which ended on November 6th.
The album took second place in the overall tour rankings. In mine – 10th place, meaning it was in the positive zone.
Of course, I know this band from several hits in the '90s. But I haven't had the chance to listen to entire Pulp albums. This year, the story repeated itself. A long album with long songs, none of which are huge hits. It reminded me of Panda Bear's success at the very beginning of the tournament.
Only with Panda Bear, the peaks are spread throughout the album right up until the last song. With Pulp, the decline begins after the fourth song.
However, for the 2025 level, this is quite enough to decorate the final lists.
Track Pulp - Spike Island (10/IV-2025/15) (Single)
The song took fourth place in the overall tour rankings. In mine – 9th place.
The track was released as a single, which ended up on my playlist of the week. It's also the album's opening song.
I read the translated lyrics. It was interesting to learn that the song contains so many hints at non-obvious circumstances.
If I understand correctly, many who have felt the onset of old age experience similar feelings. And I'm no exception.I would also like to fix something very important.
Music Video Pulp - Spike Island (10/IV-2025/15) (Video)
The video took second place in the overall tour rankings. In my opinion, it received no points.
The song is quite capable of lifting any video from a negative. But I'd like to share the diametrically opposed emotions I experienced when confronted with such “derivative” videos. When it concerned the memories of ordinary acquaintances, I was understanding. But as soon as people very close to me were “brought to life” from photographs, It gave me an unpleasant feeling.
A little bit about my (March) bets for round #3* last week.
Album Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant (7/III-2025/10) (Album)
Curious Ruminant (2025) by Jethro Tull
The album took first place in my round rating.
My feelings about the band are rarely reconsidered, because I never have the time. Ian Anderson's solo album, Walk into Light (1983), was a revelation for me. The next level of appreciation for the band as a whole was reached with Jethro Tull's Roots to Branches (1995). Both albums are at the top of my all-time list, and the group is one of the top ten favorites.
Now, every new release by the band is primarily a news event for me. But this year, nothing stopped me from putting the album first, albeit a stop-gap, on my tour.
It’s just a pity that on Russian screens, once again, just like 40 years ago, instead of Jethro Tull - Malevich’s Black Square.
Jethro Tull - Over Jerusalem (7/III-2025/10) (Track)
The track took first place in my round rating. The song wasn't released as a single. I wasn't familiar with the artist's work until this year. The story of how she conquered my Olympus is very typical of recent years. First, I was intrigued by a video I stumbled upon: Bria Salmena - Hammer (25/II-2025/09) (Video).
I entered the album's release date into my spreadsheet. When the album came out, I had a hard time finding a track that would fit my weekly playlist. Gradually, the track edged out other contenders and became the release of the week.
When it came time to choose the track of the month for the tour, I again grew tired of the many similar contenders and chose a lesser-known artist.
I must admit that throughout the year I don't have time to enjoy listening to only the best songs. When it comes time to sum things up, I have to listen to a lot more good music. Because of this, my scale naturally increases in scale. This happens every year and makes it very difficult to find new releases that are released during this time, parallel to the tournament. It also makes it difficult for me to compare songs that aren't contenders for the top spots on the best of the year list. This is how I explain it to myself.
The video took first place in my round rating. I'd never heard this musician before, and I probably never will. I tried checking his album, but I didn't find anything else interesting.
This song represented Italy at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. But the video shows the performance at the San Remo contest. On holidays, fragments of this show were sometimes shown on TV screens in the USSR as an exception. This is my childhood, just like the tape reels with Jethro Tull.
Here are the new (returned) bids for the current round, which ends on November 13th. November 11th is the last day to make changes to the current round's charts.
Music Videos: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles - Stranger (18/III) Chamber Folk
2. -M-, Toumani Diabaté, Sidiki Diabaté, Fatoumata Diawara - Je suis Mali (13/III) French Pop
3. Yıldız Tilbe - Belli mi Olur (12/IV) Turkish Pop
Tracks: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles - Stranger (18/III) Chamber Folk
2. Earl Sweatshirt - Tourmaline (22/VIII) Abstract Hip Hop
3. -M-, Toumani Diabaté, Sidiki Diabaté, Fatoumata Diawara - Je suis Mali (11/II) French Pop
4. забей, лерочка [zabey, lerochka] - Это Любовь (ft. Перемотка) (11/IV) Indie Pop
Albums: Guide (A-Z) (NEW)
1. 1,000 UK Artists - Is This What We Want? (25/II) Field Recordings
2. Alan Sparhawk & Trampled By Turtles - Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles (30/V) Chamber Folk
3. Heartworms - Glutton For Punishment (7/II) Darkwave
4. -M-, Toumani Diabaté, Sidiki Diabaté, Fatoumata Diawara - Lamomali Totem (25/IV) French Pop
5. Shearling - M**********r, I am Both: "Amen" and "Hallelujah"... (1/V) Experimental Rock
6. Созвездие Отрезок [Sozvezdie Otrezok] - +7 495 296 296 1 (18/IV) Art Rock
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