Fantasy football has nothing on the competition between this fall’s albums. On the left, Massachusetts locals gear up to throw some punches. On the right, national acts sharpen their teeth to take a bite out of the competition. All are worthy competitors, but only one will be left standing—and our predictions will certainly hold up.

LOCALS

Ian Aware Ian Aware EP | RELEASE DATE: Out now | NEXT SHOW: TBA

Funeral Advantage Body Is Dead | RELEASE DATE: Out now | NEXT SHOW: 9.25 @ Out of the Blue Too Gallery

Nina Ryser / Nathan Ventura Jerry Blindfold split | RELEASE DATE: 9.21 | NEXT SHOW: TBA

Sam Moss Pitkin County Morning EP | RELEASE DATE: Out now | NEXT SHOW: 9.28 @ House Concert

Dutch Rebelle Kiss Kiss | RELEASE DATE: 9.21 | NEXT SHOW: TBA

Defeater Abandoned | RELEASE DATE: Out now | NEXT SHOW: 10.11 @ Middle East Downstairs

Michael Christmas What A Weird Day | RELEASE DATE: TBA | NEXT SHOW: 12.17 @ House of Blues

Camino Don’t Believe the Height EP | RELEASE DATE: Out now | NEXT SHOW: TBA

LOCALS ROUND ONE

Ian Aware vs Funeral Advantage = Funeral Advantage

The flawless guitar tones and lush production of Funeral Advantage’s Body Is Dead are too comforting to not override Ian Aware’s slow-roll psychedelics.

Nina Ryser / Nathan Ventura vs Sam Moss = Sam Moss

Lo-fi experimental songs are perfect for the fall, but the timeless acoustics of Sam Moss and his Fleet Foxes-like guitar are even more of a shoe-in.

Dutch Rebelle vs Defeater = Dutch Rebelle

Two of the fiercest acts in the city battle it out with a no-shit attitude, but Dutch Rebelle’s unstoppable confidence see her raps conquer the hardcore punk of local staple Defeater.

Michael Christmas vs Camino = Michael Christmas

Even though both Michael Christmas and Camino slip groove into their sound, Camino’s sample-based electronic funk can’t keep up with the humor and wit of Christmas’ hip-hop.

LOCALS ROUND TWO

Funeral Advantage vs Sam Moss = Funeral Advantage

Funeral Advantage’s LP doesn’t lose its charm. Instead, it explores the stretch between romance, adventure, and unlimited jubilance through relatable identity. Sam Moss, although talented behind a guitar in his own right, doesn’t run the gamut quite as well.

Dutch Rebelle vs Michael Christmas = Michael Christmas

Dutch Rebelle spits just as many words, if not more, into her verses than Michael Christmas, but the freshly minted 21-year-old figured out his style quicker than Rebelle. For Christmas, it’s all about self-deprecation, smug smiles, and humor that isn’t in your face, aka the perfect combination.

LOCALS ROUND THREE – WINNER!

Funeral Advantage vs Michael Christmas = Michael Christmas

Funeral Advantage’s LP wakes you up in the morning and keeps you fueled during breezy fall days. A single song off Michael Christmas’ LP (like “Who?”) gets you amped in the morning, pumps up your work break, and latches your crew in a friendly headlock come nighttime.

NATIONALS

Car Seat Headrest Teens of Style | RELEASE DATE: 10.30 | NEXT SHOW: 12.4 @ Lizard Lounge

Alex G Beach Music | RELEASE DATE: 10.9 | NEXT SHOW: TBA

EL VY Return to the Moon | RELEASE DATE: 10.30 | NEXT SHOW: 11.15 @ The Sinclair

Ought Sun Coming Down | RELEASE DATE: 9.18 | NEXT SHOW: 9.30 @ Great Scott

CocoRosie Heartache City | RELEASE DATE: 9.18 | NEXT SHOW: TBA

Julia Holter Have You In My Wilderness | RELEASE DATE: 9.25 | NEXT SHOW: TBA

Joanna Newsom Divers | RELEASE DATE: 10.23 | NEXT SHOW: TBA

Deerhunter Fading Frontier | RELEASE DATE: 10.16 | NEXT SHOW: 12.10 @ Royale

NATIONALS ROUND ONE

Car Seat Headrest vs Alex G = Car Seat Headrest

Post-collegiate angst gets old if you don’t mold it just right. Car Seat Headrest writes for a crowd while Alex G gets stuck in his own head a little too often.

EL VY vs Ought = EL VY
Ought’s winding, emotional post-punk is unbeatable, until it faces the catchy hooks of the National’s Matt Berninger and Menomena’s Brent Knopf as their new project EL VY.

CocoRosie vs Julia Holter = Julia Holter

Francophile freak folk duo CocoRosie’s new album is a return to its old sound, all snug and simple, yet Julia Holter pulls ahead by going even more bare on her upcoming LP.

Joanna Newsom vs Deerhunter =Joanna Newsom

No matter how much reinvention Bradford Cox and his crew go through on their upcoming LP, Joanna Newsom’s return from a five-year silence gives Divers phenomenal volume.

NATIONALS ROUND TWO

Car Seat Headrest vs Julia Holter = Julia Holter

Newcomers Car Seat Headrest put up a solid fight that can’t hold up to the veteran status of Julia Holter and her mastermind production work on Have You In My Wilderness.

EL VY vs Joanna Newsom = Joanna Newsom

Writing a jovial indie rock hook is fun. Writing a jovial folk art hook with hidden innuendos, witty wordplay, and fantastical imagery is even more fun—especially when done on the harp.

NATIONALS ROUND THREE – WINNER!

Julia Holter vs Joanna Newsom = Joanna Newsom

There’s no shortage of creativity here in any aspect. What Holter lacks, though, Newsom boasts: a breadth of escapism still light enough to land you back on your feet when you want to return to planet Earth.

LOCAL VS. NATIONAL FINAL WINNER!

Michael Christmas vs Joanna Newsom = Michael Christmas

They couldn’t be more different—a heavy, barely legal rapper and a petite, 33-year-old harpist—or entertaining in their own rights, but the head-to-head battle leans in our favor. Newsom’s record prizes self-exploration and whimsy with gold, but Michael Christmas’ release encourages all listeners to gather round, hold on to one another, and seize a sense of community no matter how shitty or shining times are. Not even hubby Andy Samberg could give Newsom as much swagger as Christmas flaunts on a weird day.

We started off with eight great local acts and eight well-known nationals, but the time has come for only one to rise to the top. He’s got a puff of smoke lingering around his hair and he’s too busy laughing to get a jump start from the beginning, but Michael Christmas comes speeding around with surprising ease. Watch as he passes the charming sample-based funk and grooves of Camino, dribbles past colleague Dutch Rebelle, and makes a perfect basket against Funeral Advantage. By the time he reaches the top, Christmas has enough speed to just barely pass the national status of Joanna Newsom, a queen rarely dethroned, but side-stepped just this once to let a rising star get his proper time in the spotlight.