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1. Bluecoats. I haven't loved a show this much in a long time. Still humming that Blackbird/Dear Prudence mash and the crushing She's So Heavy bit. 2. Crown. Wasn't my favorite CC theme, but wow that hornline was fabulous. Best ballad by far, and a hugely enjoyable show overall. 3. BAC. We're gonna see these guys with gold medals on before too long. That guard was just amazing. Great theme elements all around. 4. SCV. Reee-diculous drumline, just wow. If they had kept the first seven minutes of energy to the end, they might have threatened a repeat. Not a fan of the costuming this year, just a little too sloppy for me. 5. Blue Knights. Wow, what a beautiful show! That drumline was amazing too. Massive dynamics and a really creative book unlike, well, everyone else's. Gorgeous. 6. BD. It was a well-conceived show, performed with the outstanding achievement we have come to expect from Devs. I just didn't fall in love with it. Loved the wall prop. 7. Crossmen. Best DM by a mile. Great show, great guard, excellent theming. Really enjoyed this show. 8. Spirit. Admittedly biased (SOA vet), but this year's show was such a crowd reaction machine. They've shown three years running of solid improvement, and I expect it'll continue. 9. Cavaliers.Really nice thematic elements. Great achievement on a difficult book. Great hornline. Good drumline, if not the chart-toppers they were in the 90s-00s. 10. Mandarins. Surprised me with how generally excellent and consistent they are becoming. Liked this year's show, maybe not as much as last year, but still very good. 11. PR. They made HUGE strides from the dumpster fire they showed us at Preview, and that trombone thing was a highlight. 12. Cadets. Killer drumline let down by a middle-of-the-road program. They had some amazing performers, and I'm happy to see them recovering from the post-GH era, but I wasn't excited about the show this year. It was just, fine. 13. Blue Stars. Great ensemble, and I'm loving that they embrace their themes 100%, but I didn't love the show nor the costuming. Better than Bob the Builder, but meh? Great corps though. 14. Academy. Second best version of Bridge Over Troubled Water this season. Had some moments, but so forgettable, I had to look up their show again writing this. 15. Colts. Tired theme, and some elements felt very, um, unfinished? Wanted to like this show more than I did, and appreciate where they are and are going.

1989 Blue Devils playing Sammy Nestico's "Ya Gotta Try"