Albums of the Year Coming Soon

I can't be certain if it'll be this week or sometime say, before Thanksgiving.

But good chance it'll be quite soon as I am getting pretty close to finished doing my review/relistening work.

Sure, there's many albums that will be listed that I either didn't listen to, listened to only once, or only heard 1 or 2 tracks from, etc. That my feeling is, trying to check them out just doesn't seem too warranted. Perhaps at a later time (like St.Vincent's new album for example). But then perhaps not, or by later time, it could mean 10 years from now, lol.

But sadly, I can say with pretty good certainty, 2016-2017 has been one of the thinnest (if not WEAKEST) years in recent memory. Just for the fact among all the records I will include and do enjoy, it's hard to find even 1 that seemed pretty addictive.

Now, as I know (come to learn and expect) there very likely will be records in the not too distant future from 2016-2017 that I have not heard yet, and may not hear for many years. I hope at least some of those will show up by the end of 2019 when I likely will make my Decade list (or say the Summer of 2020).

But as for now, yeah, I am struggling to find a year 2016-2017 (2017) was better than in recent years. I was thinking 2013, but no, not really.

But in making the Albums Calendars, it seems every decade there's usually 1 or 2 somewhat thin or lackluster in some ways, years that happen. I dunno, maybe just on pure odds.

At the same time, it's not like there haven't been some good albums this year, many of them I ended up buying physical copies of course, which for the most part, I don't regret.

I guess that also makes me that more optimistic for 2017-2018 per many albums that I anticipated are, or are very likely to come out (Ours just to name 1).

But at any case, yeah, the list, MY LIST which most publish in December and/or early January, should be showing up very soon. Maybe later this week in fact. And the hope is to make a video or 2 of course, which many are long overdue, but when and more importantly where is still are still the biggest obstacles with my living in limbo. My things in Storage and living with my wife's mother.

Plus I've been consumed by Stranger Things and the World Series and picking out Wedding Photos among other things.

But once I put 2016-2017 to bed, I can start to focus on some other ongoing projects besides 2017-2018 albums; Albums Calendar, RIYL/FFO, etc. And 2 others likely stand alone lists: Modern Musicians/Songwriters (could be 50 or more), and a somewhat long overdue feature on Chamber/Baroque Pop/Rock list.

Top 10 Musicians (per That Drummer Guy)

My friend Josh aka That Drummer Guy it appears is starting a new series of podcasts/recordings of LISTS. And he's totally right about LISTS and how everyone loves them...although as I have said way too many times to remember, I actually happen to not LOVE them, or rather MAKING THEM, choosing something I enjoy over another thing I enjoy.

But they are a necessary evil, and can't deny enjoy reading others and even reading my own after I make them.

Of course if I'm gonna post this in any timely fashion right now, Blurbs ain't happening.

Afa That Drummer Guy's list, I could have predicted most of it, but not 100% A little surprised Steven Wilson wasn't in there, but I suppose he would have come close.

10. James Hetfield
9. Ihsahn
8. Gene Hoglan
7. Daniel Gildenlow
6. Tom Englund
5. Arjen Lucassen
4. Dan Swano
3. Mikael Akerfeldt
2. Mike Portnoy
1. Devin Townsend



The ole gun-to-my-head, pick 10:

Peter Gabriel
Annie Haslam
Craig Minowa
Steve Rothery
Daniel Gildenlow
Mike Portnoy
Jim Matheos
Jimmy Gnecco
Casey Crescenzo
Kevin Gilbert


Choosing 1 member from a collective unit that BANDS are sucks, which again goes back to the whole choosing 1 over another, as there are literally 50 or more musicians/singers I could have picked after the 1st 3 or 4 (where the fuck is Jeff Buckley?..of course with only 2 albums of recorded work, it's hard to justify over others, but jeez, I regard him as one of my favorites certainly).

The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost (2017-2018)

Release date is December 1st.

1st single and Preorders on Halloween.

Cautiously optimistic. Loved Akeldama their debut album.

Planetary Duality not so much

Autotheism?..After hearing this, I was of the feeling to forget about them.

But then they put up that amazing track "The Spiraling Void" in 2015, which ever since, renewed my interest.

December 1st..doesn't surprise me it comes out after my Halloween deadline per Halloween is only 12 days away, lol. But it just adds more to an already enticing new year/season for albums in 2017-2018.

Will bump when the preorder and new song comes on Halloween. Meanwhile, the track list I think is correct below, although the font doesn't allow it to be 100% crystal clear on some of the spellings ("breath"?)

edit: They released "Black Star" this past summer which I don't recall if I even saw anything about.

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1. In Becoming a Ghost
2. Digging the Grave
3. Black Star
4. Cup of Mephistopheles
5. The Spiraling Void
6. Share the Disease
7. I am
8. Ghost Reprise
9. (Instru) Mental Illness
10. The Terminal Breath

TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB RIP 11/22/17

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After 19 years of business, The Triple Rock will be closing after November 22nd.
We are proud to have been part of an amazing time in the Twin Cities Music scene. We have had more than our fair share of legendary performances and events, watched numerous local artists get their start on our stage, and hosted the Minneapolis debuts of countless national acts.
We want to thank all the customers, bands, and artists who have been a part of this place over the years.
Most of all we want to thank our current staff and those who have worked here in the past. We could not have done it without you!
We still have a lot of great events coming up, so come on down and celebrate The Triple Rock!

2 days late, and not enough time to rant about this right now, but I wanted to share it and I did spend time instead researching most if not all of the shows I attended at The Triple Rock Social Club.

This REALLY REALLY SUCKS, but at least it sounds like the reason is for the best.

I just hate the fact there's not really a venue in town now I consider a favorite for Rock Shows, that definitely is preferable to First Avenue, and really, their whole MONOPOLY of venues. But maybe something will pop up.

The once great,  Varsity Theater is supposedly coming back soon, so that may help, but I still hate the way Dinkytown has become all about Corporate Housing for students and the environment feels less intimate.

maybe more l8tr.

20 shows, and other than having my cc taken per an IPhone App at 1 (as many others did, including the Merch guy himself), and an issue or 2 (Horse the Band's exceeding stage time/cutting into BTBAM's set?), nearly every show was an enjoyable experience. As I've said, many other venues could learn from The Triple Rock, but I question whether they will. Even down to the way many people in the crowd at other shows never seem to shut up during the opening acts. I don't have any memory of that EVER happening at The Triple Rock, which for 20 shows, says a lot.



2007
Between the Buried and Me
The Receiving End of Sirens
Russian Circles

2008
Baroness/Genghis Tron

2009
The Dear Hunter/Felix Culpa

2010
Brooke Waggoner (with Timbre)

2011
Deerhoof
The Book of Right On
The Dear Hunter
The Besnard Lakes/Malajube
East of the Wall/Iron Thrones/Earthrise

2012
Menomena/PVT

2013
Field Mouse

2014
Agalloch
NOMIA
The Red Paintings

2015
Bubblemath 
The Dear Hunter/CHON
Mew/The Dodos

2017
Bubblemath

The Year 1985 Albums Calendar and Rankings

1985: the Mid 1980's, and the age of Pop/Synth-Pop/Pop-Rock/New Romantic/New Wave among other styles.

Thrash Metal, Blue Eyed Soul, supergroups and songs getting played on MTV of course.

1985, while probably not the best year of the 1980's, still has a lot of depth. The 80's hits were possibly around if not at their peak. My wife may look at the artists from this year that were big as 1 of her favorites. Prince, Robert Palmer, Power Station, Whitney Houston, Sade, Laura Branigan, Corey Hart, Sheila E, Sheena Easton.

As for my favorites, Misplaced Childhood was the 1st Marillion album I ever heard and while maybe among their perfect albums, I put it 3rd or 4th, it still is a lifer record for me. Power Windows, while not my favorite Synth-era Rush album, still holds up and has a bunch great deeper tracks (Middletown Dreams). I will say, a few years back, I found in revisiting it, the synths to be a little dated at points, to the point I probably prefer some of the other synth/80's Rush more for that reason (Hold Your Fire namely, which I at 1 time saw as slightly worse, but now feel the opposite).

And of course Rush and Marillion toured the US right around this time, in 1986? Had I known them and been into the music I am now, back then as a 8-9 y/o, I likely would have ranked them 1 and 2 then like now.

The 1st proggy Fates Warning album The Spectre Within, and 1 that gets overshadowed by the album that followed.

Songs from the Big Chair from Tears for Fears certainly holds up and compares very favorably to many of the best albums of the 1980's, especially in Pop/Pop-Rock and music that was mainstream enough.

1. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
2. Rush - Power Windows
3, Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
4. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
5. Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack
6. The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock
7. Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
8. Prince - Around the World in a Day
9. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
10. Annie Haslam - Still Life
11. a-ha - Hunting High and Low
12. INXS - Listen Like Thieves
13. Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
14. Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
15. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
16. "Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to Be Stupid
17. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
18. Peter Gabriel - Birdy
19, The Power Station - The Power Station
20. Savatage - Power of the Night
21. Heart - Heart
22. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required




Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
rel January 25, 1985


Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
rel February 2, 1985


Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
rel February 14, 1985


Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
rel February 25, 1985


Roy Harper and Jimmy Page - Whatever Happened to Jugula?
rel March 4, 1985


Alexander O'Neal - Alexander O'Neal
rel March 8, 1985


Peter Gabriel - Birdy
rel March 18, 1985


The Power Station - The Power Station
rel March 25, 1985


Paul Young - The Secret of Association
rel March 25, 1985


Katrina and the Waves - Katrina and the Waves
rel March 1985


The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock
rel April 1, 1985


Prince - Around the World in a Day
rel April 22, 1985


Freddie Mercury - Mr. Bad Guy
rel April 29, 1985


Richard Thompson - Across a Crowded Room
rel April 1985


Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
rel May 13, 1985


Savatage - Power of the Night
rel May 20, 1985


a-ha - Hunting High and Low
rel June 1, 1985


Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles
rel June 1, 1985


Talking Heads - Little Creatures
rel June 10, 1985


Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
rel June 12, 1985


Corey Hart - Boy in the Box
rel June 14, 1985


Jerry Goodman - On the Future of Aviation
rel June 16, 1985


Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
rel June 17, 1985


"Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to Be Stupid
rel June 18, 1985


Heart - Heart
rel July 6, 1985


Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack
rel July 8, 1985


Laura Branigan - Hold Me
rel July 15, 1985


Miami Sound Machine - Primitive Love
rel August 13, 1985


The Family - The Family
rel August 19, 1985


Sheila E - Romance 1600
rel August 26, 1985


Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
rel September 16, 1985


Jane Siberry - The Speckless Sky
rel September 24, 1985


Hall and Oates - Live at the Apollo (with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick)
rel September 30, 1985


Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
rel October 5, 1985


INXS - Listen Like Thieves
rel October 14, 1985


Iron Maiden - Live After Death
rel October 14, 1985


Rush - Power Windows
rel October 15, 1985


Simple Minds - Once Upon a Time
rel October 21, 1985


Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party
rel October 28, 1985


Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
rel October 1985


Sade - Promise
rel November 4, 1985


Hawkwind - The Chronicle of the Black Sword
rel November 11, 1985


Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal
rel November 25, 1985


Mr, Mister - Welcome to the Real World
rel November 27, 1985


Sheena Easton - Do You
rel November 1985


Robert Palmer - Riptide
rel November 1985


Blue Canoe - Blue Canoe
rel 1985


Boiled in Lead - Boiled in Lead
rel 1985


Jerry Goodman - On the Future of Aviation
rel 1985


Annie Haslam - Still Life
rel 1985


Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue
rel 1985


Stanley Jordan - Magic Touch
rel 1985


Pat Metheny - The Falcon and the Snowman
rel 1985


Oregon - Crossing
rel 1985


Ozric Tentacles - Erpsongs
rel 1985