Hey folks!

In case you missed it, we had the 2001 Guessing Game this past Sunday. The Guessing Game is a game we play on Bluesky after the initial entrants into the tournament have been announced, and people have one chance to guess the top three vote-getters in the right order. It was particularly difficult this time around, as there were actually four albums (two tied for 3rd) and many, many people assumed — not without reason — that Wilco, YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT would be part of the that top tier. In fact, it was so difficult, I had to restart the round and give Mastermind-style clues, like “2 of your 4 guesses are correct, but only 1 is in the right place,” which actually doesn’t quite work when you have four answers and only three correct places. Anyway! The correct answer was:

First place: The Strokes, IS THIS IT (77 nomination votes)

Second Place: The White Stripes, WHITE BLOOD CELLS (72 nomination votes)

Tied for Third Place: Björk, VESPERTINE/Daft Punk, DISCOVERY (70 nomination votes apiece)

The winner was @mattoqp.bsky.social, who gets to pick any eligible 2001 release to enter into the tournament. Congratulations, @mattoqp.bsky.social!

Oh, before we go any further, I need to announce that while I named 115 albums entered into the Best Album of 2001 tournament, another album has been entered. It’s The Detroit Cobras, LIFE, LOVE AND LEAVING.

This means we have 116 slots filled, leaving 12 slots. Three of those slots have now been officially filled: @mattoqp.bsky.social for winning the 2001 Guessing Game, @somejerkoff.bsky.social for winning the 1989 Prediction Bracket, and @yourbf.bsky.social for winning the 1989 Prediction Bracket, Longevity Points Division. That leaves 9 slots open. However! I am also handing out two slots, one to @putnam39.bsky.social for coming in second place in Longevity Points, and one to the owner of Deep Dark Truthful Bracket for coming in 3rd place in the Prediction Bracket proper. (3rd place because the 2nd place winner was @yourbf.bsky.social, who was 1st in Longevity Points. Only one award per Prediction Bracket contest!) Also! I’m giving myself (at least) one Editor’s Choice pick. Now we’re down to 6 slots. How will those be distributed? Still working on that! Some kind of mini-tournament is likely, but so is me just tossing them out to people like Johnny Bracketseed. Nevertheless, nothing can start until I figure it out, so figure it out soon I will.

So what happens next? When all of the slots have been filled,[1] I will put together the 2001 Seed Voting form, and you’ll have a week to vote for the albums to determine seeding. Once that’s done, you’ll have a week to fill out a Prediction Bracket form, if you wish, Then, then, the Best Album of 2001 tournament will commence.

We’re getting there! Talk to you again real soon because we have another YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT-esque situation to deal with. (Fun!)

Kent

[1]: One of the contest winners has already named the album they want, and I know what my (first?) Editor’s Choice is, but I’m saving that for a future newsletter.