(7) A Western Sun - 06/17/2025 vs. (10) Earthling or Alien? - 02/10/2025

AWS is nothing special. I am digging the EoA. It is definitely a "typical" EoA jam- groovy, spacey, reminds me of Iowa 2024, which is a version I absolutely love. Voted for EoA.

This is a great matchup, maybe my favorite so far. A true toss-up. I had AWS a few spots higher on my playlist, but realized with a head-to-head relisten that I would much rather go back to the EorA. I love when they find this kind of experimental, vibey space and it doesn't happen often. The (relative) uniqueness of this jam pushes it over the top, but barely. They abandon the jam like 5 minutes early which nearly convinced me to vote for this exceptional AWS, a wild ride of diverse jamming and energy. I'm smashing the Cherrono button, hoser.

Fun matchup. Beautiful song with a rager jam vs. Goofy song with a spacey exploratory jam. I love Western Sun but voted for EoA

Earthling sounds like a typical Earthling Jam - that they've done better so many times (see SPAC and the Cap from recent years). I also love the bliss peak of Western Sun here

earthling is way better. I'm going to have to sit through that western sun again?

Hardest one yet… the AWS was fantastic but I got to give the edge to EoA

Rick goes absolutely NUCLEAR on that Western Sun

Well there goes my perfect bracket

It only took five days but I just voted against my own bracket.
The Floyd teasers finally got me!

Best AWS since Dillon and probably the #3 all-time version.

This is a genuinely good EorA and I don't say that very often. But this matchup isn't even remotely close IMO. AWS all day!

How TF is this E or A not winning!? 🤯

The Western Sun totally surprised me and blew me away, that raging funk carries a ton of weight but the end felt kinda like a race to the finish type jam..

Meanwhile this Earthing is otherworldly. Super unique jamming, very Floyd-esq while maintaining a super low key and danceable groove. Vote EoA here!

This SHOULD be the closet matchup yet due to the polarity of these jams. I love both of these jams, but at the end of the day, the airy space in EoA is more captivating and interesting than the fiery shred fest in AWS. Tricky matchup, and ultimately, I’m happy with any of these jams moving forward.

Hardest matchup yet. Both of these beat out potentially higher seeded entries.

T’s EoA bass groove might be his best in the catalog, and he takes it for a real satisfying James Brown slow walk here. Inspired atmospherics in what follows, but maybe loses a little direction at the end run.

AWS is pure machine gun hose replete with the wristy chop to start it off. Pure ‘90s phish in a way they don’t often let allow themselves to do.

Split decision: I’m gonna agree with the “more of this” EoA take directionally, but still give the edge to AWS on merit.

Who doesn’t love a vibey, atmospheric E or A? This Western Sun is lots of fun, but I’m going with the vibes

isn’t this the quintessential Western Sun?! 800-thread count 🇪🇬 cotton bed sheets at an Outer Banks beach house

Great matchup but the saints tease is gonna get me every time

Both jams here are about evenly matched for me, but I prefer the E or A just a bit. Cotter's technical drumming ability is on full display here and I like the funk 1st half into a spacey 2nd half. Kind of a fun combo. Seems to me that spacey jams aren't faring too well in the tournament so far. I really like the layered psychedelic droning that Goose is capable of creating, especially when used as a device to launch into a fiery conclusion. Sadly this E or A doesn't really launch into much, but still good!

Who can resist Pink Floyd! The perfect tease for EOA. Thanks, Peter.

I really do like this Western Sun. It finds a wonderful Phishy groove that is fantastic… and I love seeing songs that don’t usually have as many entries in the bracket getting some love (despite A Western Sun winning it all back in what… ‘21?). I love how it drops down into a more majestic/driving jam around the 7:00 mark, transitions into something faster that has hints of Llama and/or Maze around 13:00, and finally wraps up with a small nod to Saints Go Marching In and a lot of energy. Definitely worthy of its spot in the tournament.

All that said… this E or A gets my vote this round, and knocks this AWS out for the second upset of the Royal Region. Just a wonderful, spacey, dark version that.. despite starting off a little out of tune, is superb! Trevor settles them into a pretty deep funk groove quickly, after which Peter takes over with that whole pitch-bending thing he does so well… and just sends this one to outer space.

Easy Earthling for me. Even though both of these jams are not Goose at their best, EA does more fun experimenting than the swamprock AWS goes for.

Listen y'all, this EoA is stellar, one of the best jams they've ever done of this song. Western Sun, always a barn burner, but we've never had an Earthling like this in the bracket. Western has had its day in the Sun (womp womp), vote EoA!!

I probably have some attendance bias on this one, but I had this Western Sun pretty high on my submitted playlist and I actually think it's a bit underrated. It's really good.

I get some of you championing this EoA, it kicks ass, I like it a lot. But I can't get behind the idea that this AWS is "mid". It goes to some really interesting places imo.

Good to see yall giving Wilmington some love after the disappointing showing for EDMpress yesterday but I guess I'm more of a vibes guy and think the EoA is more outstanding and unique in this years' pool vs a very very good AWS. I love @6R0M7's take, "No bad days when these are your options." Spot fucking on

EOA is sold but the sun shouldnt/doesnt set today, keep it going

I have no clue how an average yet good AWS is beating (let alone remotely coming to close to) this really unique and unbelievable EoA at the moment. This EoA is spectacular!

Damn didn’t really think AWS was going to handle this matchup. IMO it’s pretty mid. Whereas this EOA is unique and amazing.

This AWS is a BEAST. Channeling big Madhuvan ending energy at 17:00 min and beyond. Truly a standout of 2025. Getting my vote!

Really don’t get the love for AWS here. To my ear I could pick out hundreds of goose jams that sound exactly like it. It’s the improv equivalent of Indy Tumble. E or A is unique and sounds fucking sick. Need more spaces like this because when they get there they always kill it.

ILM AWS is the only jam I listen to

As Neal said, two VERY different jams and I think this is a great close matchup

That said, I'm going AWS - all about that breakneck edge-of-your-seat groove

Scorcher vs. vibes. I chose vibes. This EoA is just gorgeous, and the stuff I want to hear more of from the band. Dig the Floyd motif and little Slipknot! nod.

Use. Negative. Space. More.

But also what a damn great AWS. No bad days when these are your options.

EoA is one my most listened to jams, unbelievable vibes. The kind of fun and easily listened to jam you play for normie friends to get them into Goose. But it’s not a JOTY. Western just has that mindblowing insanity factor that will take it far in these matchups.

Going with AWS which was 26 on my playlist, EorA was 38.

Another good Toronto jam. Some say Toronto is the showhio of Canada.

Western Sun gets the vote here but don’t sleep on this good EoA.

Western suuuuunnnnnnrise over the turquiose mountains,
messenger birds in sight.
vs.
Shine on You Crazy Vegan

The energy of these two jams couldn't be more different. Frenetic and Llama-like AWS vs the airy and psychedelic vibe of the EoA. Both are excellent listens!

If you pick anything that goes up against this AWS, you do not know ball. Plain and simple. JOTY no contest.

Oof. Going Earthling or Alien here, but I think both of these jams are under-seeded and deserve to be in the round of 32. I had them both as 5-seeds in my rankings (nos. 19 and 20 overall). The AWS is a multi-part beast with incredible pace and diversity that really blasts off towards the end. Incredible interplay and variety.

I'm giving the nod to the EorA though because I think it's probably the best soundscape of the year. The effects are otherworldly (living up to the song's name). The Shine On You Crazy Diamond segment is unlike anything I've heard by the band before. My favorite jams are often those that explore new shapes and themes, and this EorA does that in spades.

Hydrogen Bomb vs Coughing Baby

AWS JOTYOTY

I had this AWS much higher ranked and EoA jams just never reach a special place for me. AWS wins this one and it isn't very close for me.

Only AWS in the running for 2025, and you can see what made this one special.. it cooks and keeps on building, blistering to an almost frantic tempo to close. In the Toronto EoA, Peter leads the jam through funky clav work (Earthling) into deep Space Panther vibes (Alien) to create a singular jam. Sorry AWS, I'm much more fond of this EoA than I'd like to admit, its not you its me