(4) Dustin Hoffman - 05/28/2025 vs. (13) Earthling or Alien? - 09/24/2025

Dustin is dominant

This one is a toss up of mid-bracket type jams for me. Went with EorA because I'm not here to make friends

I felt this E&A vibe so hard in Louisville, especially with the Trev groove. But this Dustin has so much vibe working all at the same time, takes me here, there, and everywhere and then drops me back home before midnight with a kiss on the cheek. ;)

This is the vibiest match in six years of JOTYs.

Really nice EoA... better Dusty. Voted the actor!

Motion to nickname it “The Hoff” (or just “ Hoff” if brevity is your thing), rather than “Dusty.”

Dustin will win but I’m voting Earthling just because I enjoy the patience and acid drenched payoff. Sickening.

Dustin Hoffman was one of my keepers from summer playlists. Surprised to see how high ranked. But nice chill groove. Got my vote easily. Maybe JOTY.

The more I listened to this Dustin the higher I kept moving it up on my playlist, it may not be the deepest improv but I just really love this bliss peak, it's so damn re-listenable. I also love this Earthling, I had it as a higher seed than this and may have voted for it in a different matchup, but I've gotta go DH here.

I’m very surprised by the polarity between this Hoffman and Fiddler’s Green Hoffman. I expected them to be much closer, considering both having a similar jam, and the heavy attendance at Fiddler’s Green in comparison to SF. I don’t think this Hoffman warrants all the hype it is getting. Its bliss section is nice, but it doesn’t feel deep enough improv wise to be a 4 seed imo. I think what really shines in this jam is the delivery. It flows really well and hits a perfect balance of the two jams it has.

When relistening to this Earthling, I find I enjoy it more than I remembered from being in the venue, which I found surprising. Despite this, I feel like it never really hits a strong or memorable moment. It’s a nice gradual build, but it feels like it left more to be desired, which is why I’m rolling with Hoffman.

The more I listen to this Dustin Hoffman, the higher I wish I would have ranked it in my picks (I think I had it at 18). One of my favorite songs from the "new batch", and probably the best one they've played thus far. I love the Phishy Moma/Ghost vibe they find... and how long they embrace it.

Love this E or A as well, but Mr. Hoffman is moving on...

Great Dusty that will be hard to beat - love the EoA groove a ton, so threw it a vote so it’s optically more like 40-22 final score then a 40-6 (actual non garbage time TDs) beat down like last year’s KO of the Chiefs/Taylor Swift in the Super Bowl - go birds

This Dustin Hoffman is my JOTY and I’m surprised it is not more people’s. Suprised the Philly tumble crowd from last year didn’t latch onto this jam as well, top tier rick bliss at the end that gives goosebumps every time. The build up to that is also perfect. I’ll save the paragraphs for a later round

This is a cool EorA vibe jam, with Trevor doing some cool stuff reminiscent of Summer '97/'98 Mike Gordon (think Star Lake Gumbo, for example).

But it's completely outmatched by this DH. This is my personal favorite Dusty of the year. It's not the BEST Dusty of the year (that's Fiddler's, IMO) but it is easily one of my top 5 most-listened-to-jams of 2025 because I love it so much.

Truthfully, it's just a glorified extended Dragonfly jam. If you loved what the Red Rocks '23 Factory Fiction did, you'll love what this Dusty does. Because it's very similar. Check it out...

https://goosetheband.bandcamp.com/track/factory-fiction-14

I don't have Dusty very high in my rankings but I'm excited it will sail through to round 2 so I'll get to listen at least one more time during this JOTY.

I really like that both of these jams have spacey sections, but I think the Dustin does a better job of it. The recycling droning sounds that Peter uses here feels like something is humming inside my brain. It resolves itself into clarity quite nicely and then transitions into the next song exceptionally well. This is a very good jam and should progress a few more rounds at least.

My personal favorite Hoff against an EoA that I was present for but didn't even consider it for my bracket. I've listened to it a number of times and I mean no disrespect to it, but by the last 1/3 my mind is always wandering. That can't be a good thing. Hoff it is, and that matchup next round with the Madhuvan is going to be a doozy.

Going Dustin here (my no. 38 overall). I don't have it ranked as high as the crowd, but I have it higher than this Earthling (my no. 57 overall). I think this Dustin is fantastic. I've mentioned this before, but the top jams from early summer are so patient and confident. The jam has two distinct sections (one groovy, one blissful). And in both cases, they don't rush or force anything. They stay in the pocket and let the jam rise naturally.

I'm glad this Earthling made the bracket. It's a sick jam - it reminded me a bit of the second jam in the Grand Rapids Dripfield. I also like how it stays focused as it builds. No wasted space or guitar hero.

This shouldn't be close. I have this DH as my JOTY.

Not sure why this EoA is even in the bracket. DH all the way here

This DH is a bit overrated in my opinion but it’s still very enjoyable. I don’t have much to say about this EoA.

Anyone else getting super similar vibes between these two?

Dustin gets the nod for feeling more spiritual vs the fun and groovy EoA

The best Huffman they've played so far. Love the groove they find in this one, very relistenable. Solid Earthling, but it doesn't come close to sniffing its opponent

I love both of these jams a lot. Earthling is such a funky groove and the lick Rick finds is so good. Really sick work from Big T and Cotter too! Also get some cool synth work from Peter.
The Hoffman starts with a fun groove but turns into something that makes me feel very reflective and emotional. I went with the Dustin because of the powerful things it’s made me feel.

I was at both of these shows
So there is equal attendance bias
Both deserve to be in bracket
I’m going with Dustin here

Not my fave Dustin to date (hi Fiddler's) but a really great flowing bliss jam - don't skip listening to this Earthling before you vote against it, though

Don’t hassle the Hoff!

This beautiful dusty, groovy and blissful Hoffman hits all the right notes. By far best Hoffman of year and hope we get more big Hoffman jams this year!

Anti west coast bias is back for 2025 with this seeding! Hope everyone really gives this Dustin a listen, it's special in a year with a lot of new songs but only a few like Dustin got some real work done... it’s prob the best Dustin they've played to date.