Hey folks!

We now close the book on Week #5 of the Best Album of 2000 tournament. A huge thanks to all my voters, followers and subscribers for making this tournament a success.

All of last week’s matches went as the seeds said they would, with the exception of Monday’s, when Lou Reed’s #96 seed ECSTASY snuck up from behind and overtook Eminem’s #36 seed THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP literally at the last second. This is, I’m sure, the closest match of the tournament so far. (I’m going to build a spreadsheet this week with all of these details so I can actually keep track of data like this.) Also, new information for new voters and a reminder to old ones: in the case of a tie, the higher/better seed wins (so if that match had tied, Eminem would’ve won).

On Tuesday, we very nearly had another upset, as #13 FOLD YOUR HANDS CHILD, YOU WALK LIKE A PEASANT won over #116 DOGS by only 3 votes. Despite its defeat, I think Nina Nastasia’s debut made several new fans.

On Thursday, MAMA’S GUN kind of stomped on TWO AGAINST NATURE, winning by 74 votes — which is just one shy of the current record holder, STANKONIA over CRYSTAL GAZING LUCK AMAZING.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

On Monday, #93 Lou Reed, ECSTASY defeated #36 Eminem, THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP, 60-59-1.(120 total votes, +1)

On Tuesday, #13 Belle & Sebastian, FOLD YOUR HANDS CHILD, YOU WALK LIKE A PEASANT defeated #116 Nina Nastasia, DOGS, 63-60-1. (124 total votes, +3)

On Wednesday, #52 Lambchop, NIXON defeated #77 Mclusky, MY PAIN AND SADNESS IS MORE SAD AND PAINFUL THAN YOURS, 66-32-1. (99 total votes, +34)

On Thursday, #20 Erykah Badu, MAMA’S GUN defeated #109 Steely Dan, TWO AGAINST NATURE, 96-22-1. (119 total votes, +74)

On Friday, #45 Cat Power, THE COVERS RECORD defeated #84 Linkin Park, HYBRID THEORY, 66-52-2. (120 total votes, +14)

NEXT WEEK’S MATCHES

Monday, September 24th: #5 Yo La Tengo, AND THEN NOTHING TURNED ITSELF INSIDE-OUT vs. #124 Nelly, COUNTRY GRAMMAR.

Tuesday, September 25th: #60 The Go-Betweens, THE FRIENDS OF RACHEL WORTH vs. #69 Emmylou Harris, RED DIRT GIRL.

Wednesday, September 26th: #28 Peaches, THE TEACHES OF PEACHES vs. #101 Sinéad O’Connor, FAITH AND COURAGE.

Thursday, September 27th: #37 Jurassic 5, QUALITY CONTROL vs. #92 Erin McKeown, DISTILLATION.

Friday, September 28th: #12 D’Angelo, VOODOO vs. #117 Sheena Ringo, SHŌSO STRIP.

If you haven’t heard these 10 albums, let’s get to it. See you Monday!

Kent