3 vs 3 - Ted-Era Spock's Beard VS Pattern-Seeking Animals

[The Letter M]

Roughly 2 months after the release of P-SA's third album in under 3 years, I've revisited Only Passing Through and it got me wondering - for fans who've heard both bands, which do you like more? The three albums from SB with Ted Leonard as their front man, or the first three albums by SB-adjacent band Pattern-Seeking Animals?

As much as I love all eras of SB, I'd have to give the edge to P-SA given just how fresh some of the music feels, and the playing is just top notch. I think I've listened to Pattern-Seeking Animals more in the last 2-3 years than I have any of the Ted-Era SB albums, even though BNADS still holds up really well to this day!

In another year or so, P-SA will likely release a fourth album, so they'll be making more music than Ted had with SB, which is a shame because I personally enjoyed NF, especially with NDV behind the drums, but if that ship has sailed, at least we can thank John Boegehold for putting his band together to continue music in a similar vein.

-Marc.

[HOF]

I haven’t been able to get into PSA at all, even though I generally like the Ted era of Spock’s. Though I’d say I mostly only listen to Noise Floor of those three SB albums. So I guess I can’t really vote, but by default I’d have to go with the SB run.

[RoeDent]

Pattern Seeking Animals, definitely. Only one of the Spock's albums is top tier for me whereas at least two of the PSA ones are.

[hefdaddy42]

PSA for sure, although I definitely prefer Te-Era SB to the non-Ted non-Neal SB era.

[Kwyjibo]

On the strength of BNADS I have to give it to Spock's Beard although the last two PSA were really strong records.

[Nick]

I think Brief is the best of the bunch, but PSA has been consistently awesome with every album and they get my vote.

[gzarruk]

Tough one for me. If I had to come up with a quick answer, I'd probably pick PSA, but that's only because, since their latest was released not so long ago, they've been in my rotation lately. I haven't listened to the Ted's Beard albums in a while, but I seemed to enjoy those a lot last time I gave them a spin.

[Mladen]

This was actually close. P-SA are already very consistent with all three albums being equally good. SB, on the other hand, did release a kind of a dud with Noise floor. However, Brief nocturnes is just fantastic and my favorite of the bunch, so I ended up going with SB.