Hey folks!

The seventeenth week of the Best Album of 2001 is over! Once again, all the expected winners won. The only bit of drama was the #31 CHANGE vs. #34 BRIGHT FLIGHT match, where BRIGHT FLIGHT, the underdog, was ahead for nearly the entire match, at one point by 11 votes. But then, with 90 minutes left, CHANGE tied it up, and then proceeded to lunge ahead, finishing 8 votes up. Why? I dunno. Well-timed Bluesky reposting from some flounder? Who’s to say.

THE BEST ALBUM OF 2001 PREDICTION BRACKET TOP 20

Here’s Week #4 of the Prediction Bracket Top 20 with 21 brackets in 19 positions! You heard me.

For the fourth week running, The Revenge Of Flimsy Steve holds the #1 position. However, the rest of the Top 3 has changed, as ALL RESEARCH AND SUCCESSFUL DRUG POLICY SHOWS THAT TREATMENT SHOULD BE INCREASED AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DECREASED WHILE ABOLISHING MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES moves up 3 notches back to its previous high of #2, and PARTY HARD moves up 3 to a new high of #3. We don’t have a big mover this week, but we do have a big fall: Two Hundred Thousand and One Years Ago drops 11 notches down to #18.

We have two debuts this week, with one being a redebut. Say hello again to DRINK MILK, which, after falling off the chart last week, comes roaring back at #11, which is also a new high for the bracket. And say hello to brand new bracket Winning Argument, also debuting at #11. Welcome!

We gained two new brackets so that means we lost… just one. (If you’re looking for a consistent Top 20, you’ve come to the wrong chart.) Say goodbye, for now, to I'm Bookish and Indie Rock Coded AND I VOTE, which falls from #14 last week to #25 this week. Hope to see you again!

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

On Monday, #21 Le Tigre, FEMINIST SWEEPSTAKES defeated #85 Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros, GLOBAL A GO-GO, 105-67-1. (173 total votes, +38)

On Tuesday, #2 The Strokes, IS THIS IT defeated #66 Shakira, LAUNDRY SERVICE, 183-86. (269 total votes, +97)

On Wednesday, #31 The Dismemberment Plan, #31 CHANGE defeated #34 Silver Jews, BRIGHT FLIGHT, 103-95-3. (201 total votes, +8)

On Thursday, #15 Aaliyah, AALIYAH defeated #79 Fennesz, ENDLESS SUMMER, 90-50-5. (145 votes, +40)

On Friday, #18 Stephen Malkmus, STEPHEN MALKMUS defeated #47 Death Cab for Cutie, THE PHOTO ALBUM, 103-73-2. (178 votes, +30)

NEXT WEEK’S MATCHES

Monday, July 20th: #7 Gorillaz, GORILLAZ vs. #58 Stereolab, SOUND-DUST.

Tuesday, July 21st: #26 Jimmy Eat World, BLEED AMERICAN vs. #39 Guided By Voices, ISOLATION DRILLS.

Wednesday, July 22nd: #10 The Shins, OH, INVERTED WORLD vs. #74 Super Furry Animals, RINGS AROUND THE WORLD.

Thursday, July 23rd: #23 Drive-By Truckers, SOUTHERN ROCK OPERA vs. #42 Ladytron, 604.

Friday, July 24th: #3 The White Stripes, WHITE BLOOD CELLS vs. #67 Mogwai, ROCK ACTION.

We currently have a Designated Cheerleaders for GORILLAZ, BLEED AMERICAN, ISOLATION DRILLS, RINGS AROUND THE WORLD, SOUTHERN ROCK OPERA, 604, WHITE BLOOD CELLS, ROCK ACTION and that’s it. (That’s it? That’s almost all of them! Great job, everyone!) If you’d like to write one for one of the other albums, which are SOUND-DUST, and OH, INVERTED WORLD (or even another for one of those other eight), send it to kentmbeeson@hey.com. Thanks!

Best,

Kent