2016 ratings (so far)

[Geoff]

 

 

Okay guys, here it is. My summary of the year in music, that was 2016:

 

 

 

My index is itching me for deleting this quote.

 

2016 Track compilation or it didn't happen!

 

 

Didn't you see my post in the top songs of 2016 thread? It had my top 13 songs. You want the next 5 to complete what would be a compilation for 2016?

[Nightrain]

THE YEAR OF 2016

last updated : 22 January 2017

 

Total 116 albums evaluated and the top 100 consists of :

>= 85% = 10 albums

81%-84% = 45 albums

<= 75% = 45 albums

 

Average rating for the top 100 is 75.88%

 

RANK 1 - 20

 

FIRST SIGNAL One Step Over The Line Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 91.4%
VEGA Who We Are [JAP] Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 89.5%
WHITE WIDDOW Silhouette AOR AOR Heaven 88.1%
NORDIC UNION s/t Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 87.9%
DEFIANTS, THE s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 87.9%
TED POLEY Beyond The Fade Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 87.7%
PALACE Master of The Universe AOR Frontiers Records 86.9%
WIGELIUS Tabula Rasa [JAP] AOR AOR Heaven 85.9%
CRY OF DAWN s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 85.0%
SEVEN Shattered [JAP] AOR Escape 85.0%

MAVERICK Big Red Hard Rock Metalapolis Records 84.8%
PARIS The World Outside AOR MelodicRock Records 83.9%
TREAT Ghost of Graceland Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 83.5%
RICK SPRINGFIELD Rocket Science Pop Rock Frontiers Records 83.5%
RADIO SUN, THE Outside Looking In Melodic Rock MelodicRock Records 83.2%
ANGELS OR KINGS Go Ask The Moon! Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 82.7%
PINEAPPLE THIEF, THE Your Wilderness Crossover Prog Kscope 82.4%
THEANDER EXPRESSION, THE Wonderful Anticipation AOR AOR Heaven 82.2%
JACE PAWLAK Promise AOR Kivel Records 82.0%
MAGIC DANCE Haunting Me AOR / Synthwave indie 82.0%

RANK 21 - 100

 

TESTAMENT Brotherhood of The Snake Thrash Metal Nuclear Blast 81.9%
BUSTED Night Driver Pop East West Records 81.8%
CRUZH s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 81.4%
ROB MORATTI Transcendence AOR Escape 81.3%
ANDY ROCK This Time AOR Lionspride Music 81.1%
BULLETRAIN What You Fear The Most Sleaze / Hard Rock indie 80.5%
MEGADETH Dystopia [JAP] Thrash Metal Tradecraft 80.5%
PRIMAL FEAR Rulebreaker Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 80.4%
NITERAIN Vendetta Sleaze / Hard Rock indie 80.4%
CATALANO Dark Skies Hard Rock indie 80.3%

MICHAEL SWEET One Sided War Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Rat Pak Records 80.2%
CHRIS OUSEY Dream Machine Hard Rock Escape 80.2%
MIDNIGHT, THE Endless Summer Synth Pop indie 80.0%
HARDLINE Human Nature Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 79.9%
HELL IN THE CLUB Shadow of The Monster Hard Rock Scarlet Records 79.8%
STEVEN TYLER We're All Somebody From Somewhere Country / Blues Rock Dot Records 79.7%
PRETTY MAIDS Kingmaker Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 79.6%
SUNSTRIKE Ready To Strike Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 79.5%
DARE Sacred Ground AOR Legend Records 79.4%
NIVA Atmospherical [JAP] Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 79.3%

DYNAZTY Titanic Mass Power / Heavy Metal Spinefarm 79.0%
SABATON The Last Stand [JAP] Power Metal Nuclear Blast 78.8%
KARMAKANIC DOT Prog Rock Inside Out 78.6%
DREAM THEATER The Astonishing (2CD) Symphonic / Prog Metal Roadrunner 78.6%
HAKEN Affinity Melodic / Prog Metal Inside Out 78.5%
ETERNITY'S END The Fire Within' Neoclassical Power Prog 78.4%
EXUMER The Raging Tides Thrash Metal Metal Blade 78.3%
FATES WARNING Theories of Flight Prog Metal Inside Out 78.0%
3 DOORS DOWN Us And The Night Alternative / Pop Rock Republic Records 77.8%
MECCA III AOR MelodicRock Records 77.8%

RECKLESS LOVE InVader Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 77.6%
WICKMAN ROAD After The Rain AOR AOR Heaven 77.5%
KING COMPANY One For The Road Hard Rock Frontiers Records 77.3%
PHANTOM 5 s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 77.0%
TYKETTO Reach Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 76.9%
TIGERTAILZ Blast Sleaze / Hard Rock indie 76.5%
BLACKRAIN Released Sleaze / Hard Rock UDR Music 76.5%
DION BAYMAN Don't Look Down Pop Rock indie 76.4%
SUNSTORM Edge of Tomorrow AOR Frontiers Records 76.3%
GOO GOO DOLLS Boxes Pop Rock Warner Bros 76.1%

VIOLET JANINE Between Red and Blue Melodic Rock Lionspride Music 76.0%
AVANTASIA Ghostlights Symphonic / Power Metal Nuclear Blast 76.0%
WILD ROSE 4 [JAP] AOR Victor 75.8%
SHAKRA High Noon Hard Rock AFM Records 75.8%
MISS BEHAVIOUR Ghost Play Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 75.6%
SIXX A.M Prayers For The Blessed Vol.2 Modern Hard Rock Eleven Seven 75.6%
ROTH BROCK PROJECT s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 75.6%
CHRIS ANTBLAD Age of Concord : On The Radio AOR indie 75.5%
KEE MARCELLO Scaling Up Hard Rock Frontiers Records 74.8%
DANGER ZONE Closer To Heaven Hard Rock Pride & Joy Music 74.7%

A.B.O Bucket List Instrumental / Hard Rock Mighty Music 74.7%
HUMAN ZOO My Own God Melodic Rock Fastball Music 74.6%
RAGE OF ANGELS The Devil's New Tricks Melodic Rock Escape 74.5%
MARILLION F.E.A.R Neo Prog earMUSIC 74.2%
BON JOVI This House Is Not For Sale Pop Rock Island 74.1%
GRAND SLAM (SWE) A New Dawn Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 73.5%
NEW ROSES, THE Dead Man's Voice (+4 bonus tracks) Hard Rock Napalm Records 73.5%
METALLICA Hardwired .. To Self-Destruct Thrash Metal Blackened 73.4%
DGM The Passage Prog / Power Metal Frontiers Records 73.4%
CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD Mouthful Sleaze / Hard Rock Perris Records 73.3%

TREATMENT, THE Generation Me Hard Rock Frontiers Records 73.3%
AXEL RUDI PELL Game of Sins Heavy Metal SPV 73.3%
TOXICROSE Total Tranquillity Heavy Metal Rubicon 73.2%
MYRATH Legacy Prog Metal Verycords 72.9%
CIRCUS MAXIMUS Havoc [JAP] Prog / Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 72.9%
REDEMPTION The Art of Loss Prog / Power Metal Metal Blade 72.8%
METAL CHURCH XI Heavy Metal Rat Pak Records 72.7%
DRIVE SHE SAID Pedal To The Metal AOR Frontiers Records 72.1%
RESURRECTION KINGS s/t Hard Rock Frontiers Records 71.7%
VEKTOR Terminal Redux Thrash Metal Earache 71.2%

OPETH Sorceress Prog Rock Nuclear Blast 70.8%
CHANGE OF HEART Last Tiger AOR Escape 70.7%
E19 All's War In Love And Fair Hard Rock indie 70.6%
DEAD DAISIES, THE Make Some Noise Sleaze / Hard Rock eOne Music 70.1%
NEAL MORSE BAND, THE The Similitude of A Dream (2CD) Prog Rock Radiant Records 68.9%
ANTHRAX For All Kings Thrash Metal Nuclear Blast 68.8%
SIXX A.M Prayers For The Damned Vol.1 Modern Hard Rock Eleven Seven 68.2%
BIG BIG TRAIN Folklore Prog Rock English Electric 68.0%
DAN REED NETWORK Fight Another Day AOR Frontiers Records 67.7%
LEE AARON Fire and Gasoline Hard Rock Big Sister Records 67.5%

INGLORIOUS s/t Hard Rock Frontiers Records 65.9%
HARDREAMS Countdown Time AOR Perris Records 65.8%
BONEYARD DOG Bluesbound Train Blues / Hard Rock AOR Heaven 65.4%
MITCH MALLOY Making Noise Hard Rock indie 65.3%
LAST IN LINE Heavy Crown Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 63.9%
LOADED GUN s/t Hard Rock indie 63.5%
ROXETTE Good Karma Pop Warner Bros 63.1%
TWILIGHT FIELDS Further Up Further In! Acoustic / Pop Rock indie 62.5%
SOTO Divak Modern Hard Rock earMUSIC 57.9%
OBSCURA Akroasis Technical Death Metal Relapse Records 56.6%

RANK > 100

 

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Sunrise To Sundown Stoner / Hard Rock Inside Out 56.5%
HEADSPACE All That You Fear Is Gone Prog Metal Inside Out 56.2%
CHEAP TRICK Bang Zoom Crazy Hello Classic / Pop Rock Big Machine 55.7%

EXTENDED PLAY (EP)

STEVEN WILSON 4 ½ Prog Rock Kscope 78.2%

 

RE-RECORDING / COMPILATION WITH NEW TRACKS / COVER VERSION

FM Indiscreet 30 (2CD) AOR Frontiers Records 85.5%

 

LIVE ALBUMS

TESLA Mechanical Resonance Live Hard Rock Frontiers Records 83.7%

 

 

[Geoff]

Nice list. Some similarities to my thoughts on the year, but surprised to see Paris and Nordic Union above Treat. A bit harsh, but to each their own.

[Glen]

Paris is weak, but Nordic Union absolutely should be above Treat......belter of an album

[Geoff]

Paris is weak, but Nordic Union absolutely should be above Treat......belter of an album

 

Wowser... I wouldn't put Nordic Union anywhere near Treat, or Pretty Maids.

[Glen]

 

Paris is weak, but Nordic Union absolutely should be above Treat......belter of an album

 

Wowser... I wouldn't put Nordic Union anywhere near Treat, or Pretty Maids.

 

 

I really don't get your dislike of Nordic Union.....virtually every song is killer hard rock to me, with big punchy choruses.

 

Everyone else thinks so too as it appears in virtually everyone's top 5

 

Treat is a great album too, but NU is defo better than PM who have only managed hit and miss this time round...........

[kourosofsteel3]

THE YEAR OF 2016

last updated : 22 January 2017

 

Total 116 albums evaluated and the top 100 consists of :

>= 85% = 10 albums

81%-84% = 45 albums

<= 75% = 45 albums

 

Average rating for the top 100 is 75.88%

 

RANK 1 - 20

 

FIRST SIGNAL One Step Over The Line Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 91.4%

VEGA Who We Are [JAP] Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 89.5%

WHITE WIDDOW Silhouette AOR AOR Heaven 88.1%

NORDIC UNION s/t Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 87.9%

DEFIANTS, THE s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 87.9%

TED POLEY Beyond The Fade Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 87.7%

PALACE Master of The Universe AOR Frontiers Records 86.9%

WIGELIUS Tabula Rasa [JAP] AOR AOR Heaven 85.9%

CRY OF DAWN s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 85.0%

SEVEN Shattered [JAP] AOR Escape 85.0%

 

MAVERICK Big Red Hard Rock Metalapolis Records 84.8%

PARIS The World Outside AOR MelodicRock Records 83.9%

TREAT Ghost of Graceland Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 83.5%

RICK SPRINGFIELD Rocket Science Pop Rock Frontiers Records 83.5%

RADIO SUN, THE Outside Looking In Melodic Rock MelodicRock Records 83.2%

ANGELS OR KINGS Go Ask The Moon! Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 82.7%

PINEAPPLE THIEF, THE Your Wilderness Crossover Prog Kscope 82.4%

THEANDER EXPRESSION, THE Wonderful Anticipation AOR AOR Heaven 82.2%

JACE PAWLAK Promise AOR Kivel Records 82.0%

MAGIC DANCE Haunting Me AOR / Synthwave indie 82.0%

 

RANK 21 - 100

 

TESTAMENT Brotherhood of The Snake Thrash Metal Nuclear Blast 81.9%

BUSTED Night Driver Pop East West Records 81.8%

CRUZH s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 81.4%

ROB MORATTI Transcendence AOR Escape 81.3%

ANDY ROCK This Time AOR Lionspride Music 81.1%

BULLETRAIN What You Fear The Most Sleaze / Hard Rock indie 80.5%

MEGADETH Dystopia [JAP] Thrash Metal Tradecraft 80.5%

PRIMAL FEAR Rulebreaker Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 80.4%

NITERAIN Vendetta Sleaze / Hard Rock indie 80.4%

CATALANO Dark Skies Hard Rock indie 80.3%

 

MICHAEL SWEET One Sided War Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Rat Pak Records 80.2%

CHRIS OUSEY Dream Machine Hard Rock Escape 80.2%

MIDNIGHT, THE Endless Summer Synth Pop indie 80.0%

HARDLINE Human Nature Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 79.9%

HELL IN THE CLUB Shadow of The Monster Hard Rock Scarlet Records 79.8%

STEVEN TYLER We're All Somebody From Somewhere Country / Blues Rock Dot Records 79.7%

PRETTY MAIDS Kingmaker Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 79.6%

SUNSTRIKE Ready To Strike Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 79.5%

DARE Sacred Ground AOR Legend Records 79.4%

NIVA Atmospherical [JAP] Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 79.3%

 

DYNAZTY Titanic Mass Power / Heavy Metal Spinefarm 79.0%

SABATON The Last Stand [JAP] Power Metal Nuclear Blast 78.8%

KARMAKANIC DOT Prog Rock Inside Out 78.6%

DREAM THEATER The Astonishing (2CD) Symphonic / Prog Metal Roadrunner 78.6%

HAKEN Affinity Melodic / Prog Metal Inside Out 78.5%

ETERNITY'S END The Fire Within' Neoclassical Power Prog 78.4%

EXUMER The Raging Tides Thrash Metal Metal Blade 78.3%

FATES WARNING Theories of Flight Prog Metal Inside Out 78.0%

3 DOORS DOWN Us And The Night Alternative / Pop Rock Republic Records 77.8%

MECCA III AOR MelodicRock Records 77.8%

 

RECKLESS LOVE InVader Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 77.6%

WICKMAN ROAD After The Rain AOR AOR Heaven 77.5%

KING COMPANY One For The Road Hard Rock Frontiers Records 77.3%

PHANTOM 5 s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 77.0%

TYKETTO Reach Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 76.9%

TIGERTAILZ Blast Sleaze / Hard Rock indie 76.5%

BLACKRAIN Released Sleaze / Hard Rock UDR Music 76.5%

DION BAYMAN Don't Look Down Pop Rock indie 76.4%

SUNSTORM Edge of Tomorrow AOR Frontiers Records 76.3%

GOO GOO DOLLS Boxes Pop Rock Warner Bros 76.1%

 

VIOLET JANINE Between Red and Blue Melodic Rock Lionspride Music 76.0%

AVANTASIA Ghostlights Symphonic / Power Metal Nuclear Blast 76.0%

WILD ROSE 4 [JAP] AOR Victor 75.8%

SHAKRA High Noon Hard Rock AFM Records 75.8%

MISS BEHAVIOUR Ghost Play Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 75.6%

SIXX A.M Prayers For The Blessed Vol.2 Modern Hard Rock Eleven Seven 75.6%

ROTH BROCK PROJECT s/t Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 75.6%

CHRIS ANTBLAD Age of Concord : On The Radio AOR indie 75.5%

KEE MARCELLO Scaling Up Hard Rock Frontiers Records 74.8%

DANGER ZONE Closer To Heaven Hard Rock Pride & Joy Music 74.7%

 

A.B.O Bucket List Instrumental / Hard Rock Mighty Music 74.7%

HUMAN ZOO My Own God Melodic Rock Fastball Music 74.6%

RAGE OF ANGELS The Devil's New Tricks Melodic Rock Escape 74.5%

MARILLION F.E.A.R Neo Prog earMUSIC 74.2%

BON JOVI This House Is Not For Sale Pop Rock Island 74.1%

GRAND SLAM (SWE) A New Dawn Melodic Rock AOR Heaven 73.5%

NEW ROSES, THE Dead Man's Voice (+4 bonus tracks) Hard Rock Napalm Records 73.5%

METALLICA Hardwired .. To Self-Destruct Thrash Metal Blackened 73.4%

DGM The Passage Prog / Power Metal Frontiers Records 73.4%

CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD Mouthful Sleaze / Hard Rock Perris Records 73.3%

 

TREATMENT, THE Generation Me Hard Rock Frontiers Records 73.3%

AXEL RUDI PELL Game of Sins Heavy Metal SPV 73.3%

TOXICROSE Total Tranquillity Heavy Metal Rubicon 73.2%

MYRATH Legacy Prog Metal Verycords 72.9%

CIRCUS MAXIMUS Havoc [JAP] Prog / Melodic Rock Frontiers Records 72.9%

REDEMPTION The Art of Loss Prog / Power Metal Metal Blade 72.8%

METAL CHURCH XI Heavy Metal Rat Pak Records 72.7%

DRIVE SHE SAID Pedal To The Metal AOR Frontiers Records 72.1%

RESURRECTION KINGS s/t Hard Rock Frontiers Records 71.7%

VEKTOR Terminal Redux Thrash Metal Earache 71.2%

 

OPETH Sorceress Prog Rock Nuclear Blast 70.8%

CHANGE OF HEART Last Tiger AOR Escape 70.7%

E19 All's War In Love And Fair Hard Rock indie 70.6%

DEAD DAISIES, THE Make Some Noise Sleaze / Hard Rock eOne Music 70.1%

NEAL MORSE BAND, THE The Similitude of A Dream (2CD) Prog Rock Radiant Records 68.9%

ANTHRAX For All Kings Thrash Metal Nuclear Blast 68.8%

SIXX A.M Prayers For The Damned Vol.1 Modern Hard Rock Eleven Seven 68.2%

BIG BIG TRAIN Folklore Prog Rock English Electric 68.0%

DAN REED NETWORK Fight Another Day AOR Frontiers Records 67.7%

LEE AARON Fire and Gasoline Hard Rock Big Sister Records 67.5%

 

INGLORIOUS s/t Hard Rock Frontiers Records 65.9%

HARDREAMS Countdown Time AOR Perris Records 65.8%

BONEYARD DOG Bluesbound Train Blues / Hard Rock AOR Heaven 65.4%

MITCH MALLOY Making Noise Hard Rock indie 65.3%

LAST IN LINE Heavy Crown Heavy Metal Frontiers Records 63.9%

LOADED GUN s/t Hard Rock indie 63.5%

ROXETTE Good Karma Pop Warner Bros 63.1%

TWILIGHT FIELDS Further Up Further In! Acoustic / Pop Rock indie 62.5%

SOTO Divak Modern Hard Rock earMUSIC 57.9%

OBSCURA Akroasis Technical Death Metal Relapse Records 56.6%

 

RANK > 100

 

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS Sunrise To Sundown Stoner / Hard Rock Inside Out 56.5%

HEADSPACE All That You Fear Is Gone Prog Metal Inside Out 56.2%

CHEAP TRICK Bang Zoom Crazy Hello Classic / Pop Rock Big Machine 55.7%

 

EXTENDED PLAY (EP)

STEVEN WILSON 4 ½ Prog Rock Kscope 78.2%

 

RE-RECORDING / COMPILATION WITH NEW TRACKS / COVER VERSION

FM Indiscreet 30 (2CD) AOR Frontiers Records 85.5%

 

LIVE ALBUMS

TESLA Mechanical Resonance Live Hard Rock Frontiers Records 83.7%

 

 

 

 

Bro, are you pictured in this meme?

 

[Geoff]

 

 

Paris is weak, but Nordic Union absolutely should be above Treat......belter of an album

 

Wowser... I wouldn't put Nordic Union anywhere near Treat, or Pretty Maids.

 

 

I really don't get your dislike of Nordic Union.....virtually every song is killer hard rock to me, with big punchy choruses.

 

Everyone else thinks so too as it appears in virtually everyone's top 5

 

Treat is a great album too, but NU is defo better than PM who have only managed hit and miss this time round...........

 

 

I definitely don't dislike, it, but I do think it's extremely over-rated and the songs just don't really gel with me.

 

Like I said at the start, I have no problem with Martensson writing songs for muppets who can no longer write good songs, or never could. But Ronnie Atkins is not such a person, and I prefer Ronnie Atkins' songs, easily, and there's just something that sounds out of place hearing him sing someone else's songs... when they're not as good as his own.

 

I seriously believe the new PM album is far better, and as you'd expect, perfectly suited to Atkins and his voice. Much to your delight, I think the ballad on the NU album is excellent - 'True love never dies,' is it? Killer ballad, and sounds a lot like a PM ballad - maybe that's why I like it. But stuff like 'Falling,' which all y'all dudes are mad for... sounds so banal and middle-of-the-road to me. Sounds like something Martensson wrote in the shower or something.

 

I dunno. Like I said, it's a competent album and maybe would have sounded better to me which a chump like Hitchcock on vocals, who can't write his own songs. But not an accomplished song writer who consistently writes better songs himself.

[Glen]

 

 

 

Paris is weak, but Nordic Union absolutely should be above Treat......belter of an album

 

Wowser... I wouldn't put Nordic Union anywhere near Treat, or Pretty Maids.

 

 

I really don't get your dislike of Nordic Union.....virtually every song is killer hard rock to me, with big punchy choruses.

 

Everyone else thinks so too as it appears in virtually everyone's top 5

 

Treat is a great album too, but NU is defo better than PM who have only managed hit and miss this time round...........

 

 

I definitely don't dislike, it, but I do think it's extremely over-rated and the songs just don't really gel with me.

 

Like I said at the start, I have no problem with Martensson writing songs for muppets who can no longer write good songs, or never could. But Ronnie Atkins is not such a person, and I prefer Ronnie Atkins' songs, easily, and there's just something that sounds out of place hearing him sing someone else's songs... when they're not as good as his own.

 

I seriously believe the new PM album is far better, and as you'd expect, perfectly suited to Atkins and his voice. Much to your delight, I think the ballad on the NU album is excellent - 'True love never dies,' is it? Killer ballad, and sounds a lot like a PM ballad - maybe that's why I like it. But stuff like 'Falling,' which all y'all dudes are mad for... sounds so banal and middle-of-the-road to me. Sounds like something Martensson wrote in the shower or something.

 

I dunno. Like I said, it's a competent album and maybe would have sounded better to me which a chump like Hitchcock on vocals, who can't write his own songs. But not an accomplished song writer who consistently writes better songs himself.

 

 

Strange that your thoughts are not shared by the man himself, as Atkins publicly voiced his love for the songs and said he wouldn't have been involved had he not felt that connection.

 

For your info, yes 'True Love Never Dies' is probably my least fav on the album, and I defo prefer Every Heartbeat which is HUGE.

 

Personally I think Atkins sounds perfect on these songs, esp the hard hitters like 21 Guns, Point of No Return, Death is Calling...............

 

When comparing this album to the latest Pretty Maids, the reason I like this better is quite simple - hooks. I can easily recall in my head every song on Nordic Union whereas with Maids, its a big struggle to remember any. I like the album, but aside from 2 or 3 songs its a way short of the excellence of Motherland and Pandemonium.

 

But hey to each their own.

[kourosofsteel3]

Too easy:

 

Latest Treat > Nordic Union > Latest Pretty Maids (I think papa Atkins is slowly progressing to a Landrace goat )

 

 

And probably Cry Of Dawn is better Find Me than latest First Signal ( I really can't stand the first 2 almost flower power metal songs. Perhaps I should follow Glen's & Night's example and don't rate them at all. ).

[Glen]

Only if there are more than 12 songs sonny Jim. No point penalising a band for value for money.

 

Anyway i dont rate anymore....not enough time.

[CureTheSane]

Not sure hoe you guys listen to so much music.
I used to do a lot of country trips which helped me out, and now I get to listen to music on planes a lot and even more in non English speaking countries, but stil only get through maybe 30 to 40 albums a year. That includes EP's

 

It takes me around 5 to 7 listens to properly assess new music - to give it a change to eat into my brain and take hold.

Often the songs I instantly like, I tire of quickly, and the songs I thin k of as average on first listen turn out to be great.

 

I have a "new music" folder when I store albums which I haven't heard enough. The is way over 100 in there.

Once I feel I can pick the best songs I move it to my albums folder and copy the best tracks to another folder for a future compilation.

[Glen]

I probably 'listen' to about 100 albums a year but easily half of those get discarded on first listen (or first skip through even ) as i know they will be miles less than a 7/10. I might save the odd track to a playlist.

 

So in all i reckon i digest around 25-30 of what i consider to be the best releases in any one year.

 

This year the top 15 were very good to excellent, after that the quality dropped off a cliff.

 

If im honest i rarely revisit anything outside of my top 10-15 albums in any given year.

 

2017 will be much better in terms of volume of great albums. I hope

[CureTheSane]

Yeah, I can understand that, and I do it as well sometimes.

But then I remember a Joey C Jones album which I bought and was pretty average on the first spin.

Then I listened to it a few times and started to like The Role You Know So Well which I still listen to every now and then.

Never would have happened if I hadn't persisted.

 

But then again it can be a slow process to luck in to a few good songs on some average discs.

May have to try and be more like you and flip them after a spin or two.

Lately all the bands who you'd always play a lot regardless of the first spin have dwindled.

All the 80's band still going do a CD every 3 or 4 years, and the rest are wither gone or completely different.

Hardcore Superstar is the perfect example of a band who would normally be guaranteed non stop playing of a new CD< but then we got the pile of shit that was their last offering.....

[heavyharmonies]

Just a tease that I plan to post the official "Best of 2016" lists from Mike, Pete, Jez, Terry, and myself this weekend.

 

Other than one solitary album that appears in the top 5 of four of or lists, there is ZERO crossover. We're all over the map. No consensus at all.

 

I guarantee that no one will agree with my top 5, let alone my pick for album of the year.

 

That said, at least for me personally there was no easy standout album, or even separating a "top 5" from most of the honorable mentions. The exact ordering of my top 5 changed any number of times, and still could depending on the day of the week. Lots of very strong albums, but no "blow your doors off" albums that separated themselves from the rest of the pack in 2016.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Just a tease that I plan to post the official "Best of 2016" lists from Mike, Pete, Jez, Terry, and myself this weekend.

 

Other than one solitary album that appears in the top 5 of four of or lists, there is ZERO crossover. We're all over the map. No consensus at all.

 

I guarantee that no one will agree with my top 5, let alone my pick for album of the year.

 

That said, at least for me personally there was no easy standout album, or even separating a "top 5" from most of the honorable mentions. The exact ordering of my top 5 changed any number of times, and still could depending on the day of the week. Lots of very strong albums, but no "blow your doors off" albums that separated themselves from the rest of the pack in 2016.

I've been looking forward to this. However, all these Top Lists are killing me. Not buying any music to save money is dumb. I've heard so little last year, and this year will likely be the same.

[Glen]

Spotify

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Spotify

Haha. You're so predictable.

[Glen]

 

Spotify

Haha. You're so predictable.

And correct.

[Jez]

 

Just a tease that I plan to post the official "Best of 2016" lists from Mike, Pete, Jez, Terry, and myself this weekend.

 

Other than one solitary album that appears in the top 5 of four of or lists, there is ZERO crossover. We're all over the map. No consensus at all.

 

I guarantee that no one will agree with my top 5, let alone my pick for album of the year.

 

That said, at least for me personally there was no easy standout album, or even separating a "top 5" from most of the honorable mentions. The exact ordering of my top 5 changed any number of times, and still could depending on the day of the week. Lots of very strong albums, but no "blow your doors off" albums that separated themselves from the rest of the pack in 2016.

 

I doubt anyone will agree with most of my list bar the odd few. I had loads of Non HH related albums that were way better and played much more often than quite a few on my final HH listings. Bar my top 5, there were some good releases, but non that really blew my doors off, so it was pretty hard narrowing them all down. I hope 2017 is better in general for MR/AOR

[KarpetRydOFunk]

 

 

Just a tease that I plan to post the official "Best of 2016" lists from Mike, Pete, Jez, Terry, and myself this weekend.

 

Other than one solitary album that appears in the top 5 of four of or lists, there is ZERO crossover. We're all over the map. No consensus at all.

 

I guarantee that no one will agree with my top 5, let alone my pick for album of the year.

 

That said, at least for me personally there was no easy standout album, or even separating a "top 5" from most of the honorable mentions. The exact ordering of my top 5 changed any number of times, and still could depending on the day of the week. Lots of very strong albums, but no "blow your doors off" albums that separated themselves from the rest of the pack in 2016.

 

I doubt anyone will agree with most of my list bar the odd few. I had loads of Non HH related albums that were way better and played much more often than quite a few on my final HH listings. Bar my top 5, there were some good releases, but non that really blew my doors off, so it was pretty hard narrowing them all down. I hope 2017 is better in general for MR/AOR

I'd like to know what those were.

[Geoff]

My list was all about me saying how there was no distinct stand-out in 2016, so on that you guys are correct. But as you undoubtedly differ to my list, I regret to inform you that you are incorrect in your thoughts on 2016. But I look forward to seeing how far off the truth you guys are.

[Glen]

Id say there were 2 clear standouts. Defiants & Vega.

[PeterS]

First Signal ahead of those.

[heavyharmonies]

... and 2 of the 3 above made my honorable mentions...