[baystateoftheart]

Seed #5:

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How I'm Feeling Now by Charli XCX

Nominated by: mdbaxter
Genres [RYM]: Electropop, Hyperpop, Bubblegum Bass

Seed #30:

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Velika Praska by Valentino Bošković

Nominated by: LedZep
Genres [RYM]: Neo-Psychedelia

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.
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[kokkinos]

Many tough matchups, so I'll get the easy ones out of the way first to gain some momentum.
I 've already talked about Velika Praska during the play-in mini tournament, nothing new to add and no reason to repeat myself.
How I'm Feeling Now is an album that has 2020 written all over it, which is something I really appreciate. It's cool, refreshing, challenging even, but sadly I struggle to find anything likeable here. I'd say it's one of those records that make me think I'm too old for today's pop.
Velika Praska gets my vote - and it's not even close.
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[LedZep]

Not that long ago, I wasn't keen on Charli and her style (as seen in the 2019 tourney). This album has been my gateway into her music after years of struggling, it's one of the best pop albums of the year and I'm really happy to report that I still love it, despite the themes being relevant pretty much only for those early COVID moments in 2020. That being said, Velika Praska is probably in the top 3 of my most played 2020 albums, and just a more interesting musical experience overall. Not every experiment works (and that's true for both of these albums), but it doesn't take away from the quality and fun imo. I wrote a lot about Valentino Bošković in the last round. In the future I'll be quietly voting for it over anything bar 2-3 picks.
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Overall chart
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2020s

[EyeKanFly]

These are both flawed but lovely albums. Charli XCX was a good listen but I wouldn't really see myself coming back to it again, I don't think I enjoyed it as much listening again for this contest.

So, Velika Praska it is. Great album, happy to have listened to it a few times.
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51 Washington, D.C. albums!

[Fischman]

Pretty much zero tolerance for Charli. Valentino Bošković could win simply by default, but I did enjoy it as well, so an easy vote.

[cestuneblague]

Like all Charli albums, this is hit and miss, but I can't deny it can get downright raptorous at it's best. That'll be enough for the vote over the more consistient Valentino, which is a lot of fun but doesn't quite... i guess, "light the fire under the listener" jeezus effin christ what am I talking about

[baystateoftheart]

After listening to both of these again, my opinions and scores are unchanged. How I'm Feeling now is a great album, and one of the best of 2020. However, I'm beginning to get pessimistic about whether she'll ever approach the stratospheric heights of Pop 2 again. Still, a strong 4/5 for a record I considered nominating. A couple tracks on Velika Praska grew on me and a couple grew off me with this listen, but it remains a fun, buoyant, nostalgic pop album with a strong 3.5/5.
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[travelful]

Voted Charli but honestly it was close and coulda went either way.
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Griselda, by Fashion Rebels
2020's Hip-Hop
2020's Country

[baystateoftheart]

How I'm Feeling Now defeats Velika Praska 10-6 to advance to the sweet sixteen.
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