#223 The "Best of 1989" Mini-Tournament!
Hey folks!
I’ve made my decision and the final album to be entered into the Best Album of 1989 bracket will be determined by a mini-tournament!
The most popular choices from the survey the other day was a mini-tournament and Editor’s Choice — that is, me just picking the album. I’ve combined the two, where you get your chance to choose with a tournament, but I’ve selected the eight albums in the tournament. I’d be happy with any of these albums making the final cut.
Thing about a tournament is that it loses some meaning if people haven’t actually heard the albums in question, so please attempt to listen to as much as you can before Thursday, May 8th. I know not everybody’s got time to sit around and listen to eight albums when seven won’t end up mattering, so, towards that, I’ve indicated 1-5 tracks from each that you should prioritize in order to sample an album. These are the tracks that I consider the best, which is not necessarily the same as representative. Nor should they be considered the only good tracks; I tried to show some restraint. Furthermore, the number of tracks listed for each album should not be taken as an indication of quality or enthusiasm of said album.
Here are the eight albums entered into the mini-tournament:
The Creatures, BOOMERANG (Best tracks: “Standing There,” “You!,” “Simoom,” “Venus Sands,” “Untiedundone”) 56 minutes.
Gorilla Biscuits, START TODAY (Best tracks: “Degradation,” “Things We Say,” “Start Today,” “Competition”) 24 minutes.
Keith Jarrett, CHANGELESS (Best track: “Dancing”) 48 minutes.
Morbid Angel, ALTARS OF MADNESS (First 10 tracks only. Best tracks: “Chapel of Ghouls,” “Immortal Rites,” “Visions from the Dark Side”) 39 minutes.
Nitzer Ebb, BELIEF (Best tracks: “Control I’m Here,” “Hearts and Minds,” “Captivate”) 38 minutes.
Tad, GOD’S BALLS (First 10 tracks only. Best tracks: “Behemoth,” “Sex God Missy,” “Satan’s Chainsaw”) 38 minutes.
Caetano Veloso, ESTRANGEIRO (Best tracks: “O Estrangeiro (The Stranger),” “Jasper,” “Outro Retrato (Another Portrait),” “Meia-Lua Inteira”) 39 minutes.
Xymox, TWIST OF SHADOWS (Best tracks: “Evelyn,” “Obsession,” “Blind Hearts”) 46 minutes.
Total album running time: 328 minutes (5 hours, 28 minutes).
Total running time of selected tracks: 1 hour 46 minutes 13 seconds.
Here’s how this is going to work. There will be two rounds, one on Thursday May 8th, and one on Friday May 9th. In the first round, you will rank three of the albums, 1st through 3rd. Those votes will be weighted (1st=3 points, 2nd=2 points, 3rd=1 point), and the three albums with the most points go the second round. (If there are any ties, tied albums get to move on as well.) In the second round, it will be straight voting — pick one. The album with the most votes is entered into the Best Album of 1989 tournament. If there’s a tie… you know what? I know exactly how I’ll break a tie, but I’m not telling you right now. Don’t let there be any ties, please.
Okay! If you have any questions, let me know in the usual ways (responding to this email, Bluesky, opening your window and shouting).
Get busy listenin’, or get busy not-listenin’,
Kent