ThePlanets

Wait can we look at sinnerman from the mandies and this guy from Camelot side by side

Wow. So clean. Love crownbrass 🤩

The crowd loves crown

The brass writing for this show is really good.

Not a crazy gap. I'm happy. Really hoping WC inflation is a thing because the last time CC or the Bluecoats met Boston the score gap was almost non existent

This right here. I became obsessed with DCI after 2012 finals because For the Common Good blew me away. That hornline pulled off Copeland in a way I never thought was possible. Then it didn't win. It just didn't make sense to me. I go home and look at the recap and 6th in percussion! 11 years and looks like nothing has changed on that front. Best hornline. Jaw dropping talent. Entertaining well written show. Percussion not keeping up.

Me too!

Because I remember everything (About) That one second Amazing powerful shows before the pandemic- they just never had the visuals- not that I noticed. BK is one of my top corps for audio replays.

I do love this ballad.

Yes. The meme is all to true though.

Oof. I hate to see crown in 4th again. But it's gotta be one of the top 4 and it's not going to be BD.

My favorite thing about BD this year is definitely the guard.

I'm expecting BD to win. I just hope the gap between 1 and 2 is small enough for the rest of the season to be interesting. 2015 and 2019 were exciting

The pattern has BAC at #1 Then maybe Phantom in 2025 to restart the pattern or it ends.

PC makes the top 12. That is the most likely new scenario to happen this year. Mandarins have to Crack the top 6 before they medal. Boston cracked the top 6 (then fell back) many many years before they medaled. BK and SOA have also been top 6 contenders without getting a medal. Crown and Bluecoats also cracked the top 6 before earning a medal. Cavaliers have been in the top 6 a few times but haven't earned a medal since 2011. With Boston earning 2nd last year it is much more likely that they will earn the championship first

It won't change when you see it live. I discovered last year that I am much more impressed with early season BD because they are so clean and good out the gate than finals week BD when most of the top 25 has cleaned and built on their shows.

BD is the most talented corps on the field this year. Their guard is top 2 Percussion is top 2 Brass is top 3 They move and play at a different level. I would have them at #1 but sticking with BAC because it was my original preseason prediction. If I had money on it I would bet BD for the win this year and move BAC to 4. Otherwise I'd keep the ordinals the same. I didn't say their show was the same- but they use a similar formula every year that works for them. They have been evolving this formula with DCI since the 1980s and they have been the only corps able to do that. I respect it I just overall think the design/theme- the cutouts is a little bland. The design of their show alone makes me hesitant to put them in their own tier at the top when the rest of the top 4 are all at an elite level and have great shows.

My prediction since I joined this sub in 2017 is Boston for this season (the 2021 season- since we missed 2 competitive years it's 2023) Looked like the pendulum is definitely swinging their way after finals last year too- So I stuck to my guns. They are trending in 4th place this year so far though but here we go. Tier 1 1. BAC- Should be their year. This show has the chops to do it but they have a lot of work to do to catch up to the rest of the top 4. Placement range 1-4 2. BD- stale show design, IMO, but it's a formula that works year after year after year for BD. Their guard and percussion are top notch and the hornline is certainly not a weakness either. They may not win a caption but they will get 2nd in most of them and have the most balanced group talent wise. Range 1-3 3. Crown- we all know this is their best show since 2016 and they deserve to medal for it. They will need to push the design until the end of the season and not let percussion be a weakness. Range 1-4 4. Bluecoats- this is a fun show with a beautiful ballad and percussion is rocking and rolling. Hornline sounds good but they need some development in the complexity of the brass book outside of the ballad to earn a medal. Range 1-4 Tier 2. 5. Phantom Regiment- wow this is the best they have looked and sounded in 10 years. Phantom is back baby. I am also a huge muse fan and Phantom is using their more symphonic pieces well to bring something fresh to the field without losing their identity. Range 5-7 Tier 3- this could go anyway and I feel they are closer than the top 4 but I will take a go at it 6. The Cadets- forget the uniforms- they look and sound very clean and the arrangements are awesome. Very enjoyable show. Percussion and brass are tight. Range 6-9 7. Mandarins- this design feels like Cadets 2011 meets a classic Madison Scouts jazz show meets the 18/19 dark and creepy Mandarins. I think they have some of the most creative designers in DCI and they can do better. This is a great group and they will place at their highest of all time- and will hopefully be a perennial top 10 qualifier and maybe even make the top 6 in the next few years. Range 5-9 8. Blue Stars- I love love love this hornline. They balance and blend so well together and sound amazing. The show design is a lot and not something I would expect from the Blue Stars but it still doesn't really excite me. Range 6-9 9. Cavaliers- This is a pretty canned and traditional 75th anniversary show. I'm glad their uniforms are tradition inspired and their music book gives a nod to their rich history. But if I am listening to music from 2001 I want them to move like they did in 2001 and they are not. Range 6-9 Tier 4 10. The troopers- have earned a top 12 repeat. Last year seemed more powerful at the end but this has the same potential. And no the western theme is not getting old- wait until they play 1883 next year. PS I love the tubas. Range 10-12 11. Colts- this is a really good corps this year not to be discounted. The design is meh- but the group looks good and scores well. Range 10-13 Tier 5 12. Blue Knights- this show has a long way to go but they are trending in 12th by a margin now. The ballad to close is great. I don't really feel the opener. Range 11-15 13. Madison Scouts- they are back! They look pretty good and sound great. Even though they are playing sound garden it feels like the old Madison Scouts. Range 12-16 14. Spirit of Atlanta- it doesn't matter where they score. If they keep their passion and enthusiasm this is the show of the year. Range 12-17 15. Pacific Crest- this is a great show with a great group. I like the beach prop. Fun design. Range 12-17 16. The crossmen- this isn't their year to bounce back. They probably have the most work to do of this Tier to make the top 12. I like the visuals though. Range 12-18 17. Academy- with a snowballs chance I will throw the Academy onto this Tier. They sound pretty good and have been competitive in the west. They are here because I feel the show has the weakest design of this large group. Range 12-19 Tier 6 18. Music City- they won't make BLL this year but they have some great brass arrangements and a fun to watch show as always. Range 16-20 (including OC at semis) 19. Genesis- great hornline. Underrated hornline. Boring show. Range 16-20 Tier 7 Yet to compete and probably not going to score higher than Genesis Seattle Cascades and Jersey Surf

After getting a feel for all 3 shows I would love for 2 of these 3 shows to make the top 12. I just love BK and their ballad is amazing and has the classic BK feel...but the rest of the show is a little scattered and hard to follow. I'm not on that deep thought provoking journey they usually take me on. Madison's show is so cool and they have a lot of power. Black hole sun is amazing. I think this is the strongest show currently of the ones being discussed. SOA really puts the "spirit" into ATL this year and this group is so full of heart and emotion- they are fun to watch. PCs show is good and I would like to see a new corps make the top 12 but it's 4th on my list of the ones competing for 12th. I usually like the crossmen but not feeling them or the Academy this year. The current top 12 show that I am just not feeling is the Colts. It was great to see them make finals after a drought last year but I'm just not into it. Wish them the best though.

This ballad is an instant top 5 Bluecoats ballad. I love it.

Yes. Before I read the title I thought we were in a city sewer gone terribly wrong. But it really is a neat show design...when you understand it better

Yeah good call. I really want to see BK. But tomorrow.

Chiming in for Blue Knights Going to watch them on Flo rebroadcast tonight- but they are a favorite of mine and the first corps I fell in love with

Nice choice with exogenesis. The wind is adding amazing GE tonight for Phantom too