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.

OT: October Update/Projected Schedule

Colonoscopy: done.
Weekend in Duluth for the Anniversary: done.
Move/Storage: done
Bills/Budget: close to done?

The Colonoscopy I just had yesterday went good I think. I need to see my doctor though per they found no Hemorrhoids; i.e. for the last 6 months I've been totally wrong? They said I need to drink more water and take in more fiber like Metamucil, lol.

I swear it's a broken fucking record with More water/more fiber, etc In other words, I can't win (the water part goes back to this Neverending battle with Kidney Stones I've had since 2015). \

But I'm now scheduled to see my Primary doctor on Tuesday the 10th.

I just can't take lightly delaying/dealing with something for 6 months, and of course going through the crap of 3 days of Prep more less, for the 2nd time in less than 4 years (I had one at the end of 2013), and then the answer I get is not close to what I expected. They did remove 3 polyps, but even that is/was the source of my issue since March, that actually may require I get another Colonscopy within a year or 2.

And I'm 41 years old.

Most people don't have even 1 Colonoscopy until they're 50, yet I've now had 2, and may have to have 1 or more?

I may be overly paranoid, and I guess I'll find out more when I talk to my doctor next week.

During the prep, to kill time, I did finally watch/finish

Mew: and the Glass Handed Kites documentary
Victoria (per Netflix)

good stuff. The Mew thing in particular, learning about that album, the producer, and just reading a little more about the in-s and out's of the band. Visuals is a good record, but I have come to grips with it is not at the level of their others, including Plus/Minus.

I think Bo Madsen's presence is missing, but he may never return, so I'm kind of reevaluating how I look at their future music. I hope they come back with a classic album next, but I'm not sure if that will occur.

Upcoming concerts:
Michael McDonald (October)
Ne Obliviscaris (November)
Cloud Cult (April)

Maybe:
Robert Plant (February)

unlikely:
The Dear Hunter+The Family Crest in Chicago (December)
Marillion in Atlanta (February)

2016-2017 End of Year Albums:
the hope is to get going on it and finish it in the coming weeks.

Lots of albums to revisit and some of course coming in late (Small Leaks Sink Ships namely).

And of course 2017-2018 is looking to start out quite well with Galactic Cowboys and Kimbra albums already confirmed. The Reign of Kindo and some of the unclears looking more like 2017-2018 rather than 2016-2017 (Sculptured, Soundscape, In Vain and some others better make an announcement soon per Halloween is what? now 4 weeks away).

Videos?..almost made 1 this weekend but Colonoscopy prep doesn't really allow it. I wasn't even able to spent 30 minutes to watch the premiere of Ghosted on the FOX network.

Tonight though: missing the Black-ish Season premiere, and The Mayor premiere for Dean Magraw finally again at Black Dog. I'm going to also try and Stream the Twins/Yankees Wildcard game.

I expect them to lose, but looking at this, I think it may be their best chance to beat the Yankess per it is only 1 game/sudden-death, etc.

Albums to re-listen to soon and (some) upcoming albums for Anticipation

There may be a few others like Broken Social Scene and the Planetarium project, that I mean to, but it has hit me recently how with less than 2 months left, the end of year stuff isn't far away and I should start doing some cramming.

Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
Major Parkinson - Blackbox (per Kickstarter)
Steven Wilson - To the Bone
SikTh - The Future in Whose Eyes?
Timmy Sean - Weeks
Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Hotel Junk Box
Subterranean Masquerade - Vagabond
Anathema - The Optimist
Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day
Ramona Falls - Coils
Solstafir - Berdreyminn
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana (and maybe Murder of the Universe)
Mutemath - Play Dead


other than Mutemath, there's not a ton of new albums I am certain to anticipate: just scanning the Calendar:

Small Leaks Sink Ships
The Contortionist
Ne Obliviscaris
Bend Sinister (both an EP which is certain, and full-length?)
Nordic Giants
Diablo Swing Orchestra
Godspeed You Black Empeoror
Sons of Apollo


Unclear:
In Vain
Native Construct
Soundscape
Sculptured

Likely 2017-2018
Galactic Cowboys
Ours - Spectacular Sight
Tiny Giant
Typhoon
The Reign of Kindo
Fjokra
Pepe Deluxe
Karnivool
Neverending White Lights

Steven Wilson - To the Bone (2016-2017)

6/9/17 12:21PM
Haven't heard it, but here's another new song, more electronic I guess.
"Song of I" Stream 

Official Video Stream 

6/2/17 10:45 PM

"The Same Asylum as Before" Streaming Here

It's also streaming on YouTube.

Very good track. Reminds me of some of the more riffy yet catchy Porcupine Tree.



5/8/17 10:51PM-5/9/17 10:36AM

edit: official site's details including cover and some Tour dates (Europe so far)


Per the below link, the title is To the Bone and will be released on August 18th.

The image below I don't believe is a confirmed cover art, but who knows, maybe it'll end up being the cover or in the artwork for the album.

The video below is for "Pariah" and as noted, features Ninet Tayeb whose been working with Steven now for a few years (and was on Hand.Cannot.Erase if I recall).

There's also a little clip linked below from Facebook that show the track list.


5/9/17 10:30AM
Also among other details about this album (progressive pop in the vein of Peter Gabriel's So as noted in the link below), Andy Partridge of XTC (who recently wrote a great tune "You Bring the Summer" for The Monkees last album), co-wrote 2 songs I guess on this album. Which the description of "progressive pop" seems fitting in a lot of ways.

"progressive Pop" when done well, is actually one of my favorites kinds of music; and Steven has good history in that style with many songs from Porcupine Tree, Blackfield and his Solo records at times.

Also the title. It's odd how there's a lyric I recall in the new Pain of Salvation album that uses that? and also years ago, Oceansize used that phrase on Everyone into Position I recall. Common phrase, I know, but those 2 come to mind.

prog-sphere sitory




1. To the Bone
2. Nowhere Now
3. Pariah
4. The Same Asylum As Before
5. Refuge
6. Permanating
7. Blank Tapes
8. People Who Eat Darkness
9. Song of I
10. Detonation
11. Song of Unborn


Short clip




This is the track ‘Pariah’, a duet with the wonderful Ninet Tayeb.

Clip of the title track.

2016-2017 Midseason Albums Videos

So I crammed in all the titles for the most part, from the lists on the entry I posted like a week ago.

I didn't include the Offa Rex thing and only included a bit about the Steven Wilson album at the end of the 2nd video.

But, anyway, somewhat par for my course, We'll see how, when the end of the year stuff happens given these will be the last videos for this current years music as lists, that I can make at my apartment.

2016-2017 Midseason Albums List

So 2016-2017, while a year that has had a fair number of albums come out, and many more of course anticipated, I guess at this point, being midseason, has only seemed like a luke warm year thus far.

I mean there have been some good albums certainly, if you look at the rankings below. Anakdota, Pain of Salvation and 22 all are albums I have listened to and plan to keep listening to as the rest of the year goes on and further.

Mew as well as those The Reign of Kindo songs, which I'm including just purely on numbers and quality. I suspect the band will put them into some actual, proper release of some kind, and it may ultimately get released after Halloween 2017, per within this years best releases, it won't likely remain. But for now, it seems like it should be included, just purely on how much I've been listening to all 5 of those songs.

As far as the list below it, it's as I point out, a list of records I either have not gotten to checking out, or meant to, but have shyed away per reviews, priorities and expectations. But I would likely have included the albums from Esperanza Spalding and Bent Knee last year into that as well, so I'm not ruling out and/or may still end up spending some time and be surprised.

Then there's the scheduled releases, which to be frank, stuff like Bubblemath and now even Anathema I have heard and do enjoy quite a bit; per they would likely find their way into this rankings mix if they already were released, and quite likely will place pretty high come early November.

And of course the ones I've bolded are currently the biggest hopes for that I'm certain will be released. The Ours album obviously is a big deal to me given my love and appreciation for them.

And of course the anticipation list which has some very likely titles, and then a lot of thinking/hoping will come, but no guarantee even in 2017, let alone by Halloween.

All in all though a decent, but not incredible 1st half of the year, but like pretty much every year, there's both a lot of potential albums that will raise that bar for the entire year. And of course many records I have not spent time with, or enough time, or heard yet as well. It could be from a band I've never even heard of yet of course.

Also to note, like it has been in many recent years, my full attention and ability/interest to listen to a lot of new albums at work has not been what it was at 1 time. It does go through phases, and this current year has been very busy with life things like health, moving, taxes, plus of course listening to older music or of course podcasts, talk radio and youtube audio rips. I guess things may settle down both outside of and at work come July/August/September, devoting a little more time to the new releases may happen for me and some of even the albums on my list below may be seen differently and higher/better, etc.

edit: Also time permitting, I'll try and make a video or 2 about this of course.


1. Anakdota - Overloading


2. Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day


3. 22 - You Are Creating: Limb 1


4. Mew - Visuals


5. The Reign of Kindo: Patreon Songs

City of Gods 6:13
Human Convention 3:34
One in a Million 4:09
Smell of a Rose 3:50
About Love 4:49


6. Persefone - Aathma


7. Big Wreck - Grace Street


8. Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar


9. The Family Crest, - Prelude to War [EP]


10. Tuxedo - Tuxedo II


11. Blackfield - V


12. Moonloop - Devocean


13. Rachel Flowers - Listen


14. The Barnum Meserve - When All is Lost

 
15. Waaktaar and Zoe - World of Trouble


16. Umphrey's McGee - Zonkey


17. Black Map - In Droves


18. Radical Face - SunMoonnEclippse [EP]


19. Thundercat - Drunk


20. Klimt 1918 - Sentimentale Jugend

Singles:
1. Fjokra - Sick Kids
2. 1000Faces - Sleeping for Dreamers (ft. Jimmy Gnecco)
3. Bend Sinister - Get Along
4. Kimbra and Young Dreams - Oban (Rework/Remix)
5. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Electric City Rivalry
6. For the Imperium - We Cannot Face It


Listened to Once and was not all that into/Haven't Listened to Yet but mean to/Am shying away from per reviews and general interest in the band's recent music/But may get around to before the end of the year

Cloud Caverns - Collective Memory
Cynic - Uroboric Forms: The Complete Demo Recordings
KXM - Scatterbrain
Mastodon - Empire of Sand
Meridian Incident - Istology
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
Minus the Bear - VOIDS
Mute Gods, The - …tardigrades will inherit the earth
New Pornographgers, The - Whiteout Conditions
Nova Collective - The Further Side
Peter Silberman - Impermanence
Temples - Volcano

Scheduled Releases:

May
5: At the Drive-In - in·ter a·li·a
19: Bullet Height - No Atonement
19: Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions
19: The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
19: Scale The Summit - In A World Of Fear
19: Roger Waters - Is This the Life We Really Want?
26: Bubblemath - Edit Peptide
26: Solstafir - Berdreyminn


June
2: SikTh - The Future in Whose Eyes?
9: Anathema - The Optimist
9: Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly and James McAlister - Planetarium
23: Bent Knee - Land Animal
27: Ours - Spectacular Sight



Confirmed Titles:
Antemasque - Saddle on the Atom Bomb
Broken Social Scene - Halfway Home
Chic - It's About Time
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
Joey Eppard - Word to the Wise
Dave Kerzner - Static
Fish - Weltschmerz
Sculptured - The Liminal Phase
Textures - Genotype
U2 - Songs of Experience

Confirmed/Likely to be Released (but no Title or Release Date Yet)
Barren Earth
Bend Sinister (2 albums coming, 1 may be an EP, the other full-length)
Flying Colors
For the Imperium
Galactic Cowboys (Fall)
In Vain
Live
Major Parkinson: (I just backed their already successful Kickstarter)
George Michael
Native Construct
Pillorian (John Haughm, ex-Agalloch)
Reign of Kindo, The
Small Leaks Sink Ships
Soundscape
Spock's Beard
Subterranean Masquerade
Tiny Giant
Typhoon

------------------------------

*speculation/hope*


Bruce Peninsula
Capital Cities
Chromeo
Disillusion
dredg
East of the Wall
Extreme
The Faceless
Fjokra
Godspeed You Black Emperor
Hotel of the Laughing Tree
Jazzkamikaze
Journal
Karnivool
Kimbra
Spencer Ludwig
Mutemath
Ne Obliviscaris
Neverending White Lights
Pepe Deluxe
Ramona Falls
Red Paintings, The
Sigur Rós
System of a Down
Tears for Fears
Steven Wilson

2016-2017 New Releases Calendar (W/ Frequent Updates in 2017)

2/19/17

March 24
Moonloop - Devocean

2/3/17 12:00PM

March 3
Minus the Bear - VOIDS

March 24
22 - You Are Creating-Limb 1


1/25/17 9:10PM





April 28
Mew - Visuals

March 31 
Mastodon - Emperor of Sand

June 27
Ours - Spectacular Sight

12/30/16 12:30PM-1/1/17

Added

Confirmed Title:
Barnum Meserve, The - When All is Lost FB link
February
24: Waaktaar & Zoe - World of Trouble



12/17/16 6:03PM

Okay, so this Year, I've decided to do things a little differently.

This entry is going to include CONFIRMED Titles and preferably Release Dates (and artwork, etc).

This will be updated/bumped regularly. I would date it October 31, 2017, except I don't like having a stickied entry hurting other new entries attention.

As far as the stuff to anticipate/speculate, etc. I will link soon another new entry there, That entry is almost ready to be published as well. And like this entry, it will obviously also be bumped/updated regularly.

It's a bit of back and forth, I know, but at least this more officially confirmed scheduled entry won't seem so cluttered at the bottom with dozens of names and often never edited/confirmed. It will mean I'll have to try to be more dedicated about doing this stuff, but at worst, I'll try and update it once every week or 2 at the least.

But, okay as far as the stuff on the Calendar right now, Anakdota and Klimt 1918 are the biggest release already out.

Then Pain of Salvation, Big Wreck, 22, Blackfield and Persefone are among my biggest anticipations.

It's already a pretty good list, but of course there's a lot more coming soon. I guess just from an early speculation, Anakdota, Pain of Salvation, 22 and Blackfield are all bluechips of a kind.

Unfortunately, I can't say that much about the Klimt 1918 album, but I need to give it more time.

And just among the confirmed titles below, Ours new album III is of course a huge release for myself and all Ours fans out there. The Sculptured album and Textures also are pretty high, especially Sculptured given like Klimt 1918 and 22, its been so many years since their last album (2008).

Blurbs? dunno, unlikely. But I will be making a Video or 2 about the new year, that in now thinking about it, 1 Video might be the list below, and the other is a likely/speculation/hope video.

November


4: Anakdota - Overloading


11: Umphrey's McGee - Zonkey


18: Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct


25: Rachel Flowers - Listen

December


2: Klimt 1918 - Sentimentale Jugend



4: Cloud Caverns - Collective Memory

January

13: Pain of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day

February


3: Big Wreck - Grace Street


10: Blackfield - V


24: The Mute Gods - …tardigrades will inherit the earth


24: Persefone - Aathma


24: Peter Silberman - Impermanence

24: Waaktaar and Zoe - World of Trouble

March


3: Minus the Bear - VOIDS


10: Nova Collective - The Further Side




24: 22 - You Are Creating-Limb 1
Bandcamp Preorder 


24: Steve Hackett - The Night Siren


Moonloop - Devocean


31: Mastodon - Emperor of Sand

April


7: Deep Purple - Infinite


28: Mew - Visuals


June


27: Ours - Spectacular Sight

Confirmed Titles:
Barnum Meserve, The - When All is Lost
Joey Eppard - Word to the Wise FB 3's FB  3's Tw
Dave Kerzner - Static FB Tw

Moonloop - Devocean FB Tw (Spring)
Ours - III  FB Tw (Spring)
Radical Face - SunnMoonnElippse [EP] FB Tw
Sculptured - The Liminal Phase (Early) FB
Textures - Genotype FB Tw
U2 - Songs of Experience FB Tw

2016-2017 New Album Anticipation/Spec (Frequent Updates in 2017)

12/17/16 6:34PM

So like the actual Calendar with confirmed titles, release dates and artwork, this entry will be frequently bumped/updated.

The 1st list below is a list of artists who it seems very likely will be releasing a new album, but it's not been confirmed with the date/month or even the title yet. But the recent evidence points towards that information could be right around the corner.

The 2nd list is more of artists that either have talked about writing new music in the last few years and they seem due for one.

Of course this list, even more than the Calendar Entry, is a work-in-progress per there's likely dozens if not more artists I am not remembering at this point.

There also may be removals for various reasons (breakups, artists mentions a new album coming in a few years, etc).

And like the Calendar Entry, I should make a new video about the stuff from this entry. Speculation, etc.

As far as the Bluechips: Fjokra and Pepe Deluxe still stand out the most. The Reign of Kindo also, but receiving 1 track every so often per their Patreon is already happening, it's just officially release and hopefully a physical copy, etc will hopefully come, likely in the Spring.

Kimbra, Subterranean Masquerade, Galactic Cowboys, In Vain, Small Leaks Sink Ships,  are among the biggest likely to come out. Tiny Giant and Bullet Height from ex-Pure Reason Revolution members also have me intrigued.

Anathema, dredg, The Family Crest are some of the other hopefuls that will be a big deal if/when they come out.

And that's hardly all of the stuff I am hoping for, as I'm sure I'll be remembering many others to add in here soon (and removing, and adding to The Calendar Entry).

Confirmed/Likely to be Released (but no Title or Release Date Yet)
Ayreon FB
Bent Knee FB Tw
Bullet Height (Spring) FB Tw
Diablo Swing Orchestra FB Tw
Flying Colors FB Tw
Galactic Cowboys FB Fan Pg Tw
In Vain FB
Kimbra  FB Tw
Major Parkinson FB Tw (low activity)
George Michael FB Tw (low activity)
Native Construct FB Tw

Reign of Kindo, The FB Tw

Small Leaks Sink Ships FB Tw
"Small Leaks Sink Ships will release their forthcoming album (their first on vinyl) next year via Lefse Records"
Solstafir (1st Half) FB
Spock's Beard
Subterranean Masquerade FB
Tiny Giant FB Tw
Typhoon FB Tw

------------------------------

*speculation/hope*
Anathema FB Tw
Arch / Matheos FB Tw
Barnum Meserve, The FB Tw
Bend Sinister FB Tw
Brice Plays Drums FB Tw
Broken Social Scene FB Tw
Bubblemath FB Tw (last update 2014)
Capital Cities FB Tw
Chromeo FB Tw
Disillusion FB Tw
Dissociatives, The FB (Paul Mac) Tw (Paul Mac)
dredg FB Tw
East of the Wall FB Tw
Faceless, The FB Tw
The Family Crest FB Tw
Fjokra FB Tw
Godspeed You Black Emperor FB (last update 2015)
House of Fools FB Tw (not updated since 2015)
Jazzkamikaze FB Tw
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (Post-Humous) FB Tw
Journal FB
Karnivool FB Tw
Live FB Tw
Spencer Ludwig  Tw
Mastodon FB Tw
Mew FB Tw
Mutemath FB Tw
Ne Obliviscaris FB Tw
Neverending White Lights FB Tw
Pepe Deluxe FB Tw (not updated since 2012)
Ramona Falls FB Tw
Red Paintings, The  FB Tw
RisingSide Tw
Sigur Rós FB Tw
SikTh FB Tw
System of a Down FB Tw
Roger Waters Tw
Steven Wilson FB Tw

I'll believe it when I hold it in my hand
Guns N Roses
Tool

Anakdota - Overloading (2016-2017)

Well this is a pleasant surprise, to a point.. I of course only have listened "Girl Next Door" "Late" and "Different Views" which from a percentage basis, kind of sucks to only have 5 news songs, but I can't complain tho given they have so much potential and I really love all 3 of those tunes.

Great to see them put out their debut album finally!

Anakdota, the Israeli jazzy tinged college-prog band.

This album just was released, so of course being after Halloween, goes on 2016-2017's list, which is both good and bad. Good because it may be the leader in the clubhouse early on. Bad in that it won't measure up to the 2015-2016 list, etc.

But given I haven't spent much time with it yet, it's probably for the best.

Album of course is free to stream on the bandcamp link here:



1. One More Day 07:03
2. Different Views 05:42
3. Late 04:20
4. Mourning 05:28
5. Overloading 07:08
6. Staying Up Late 08:24
7. Girl Next Door 05:01
8. End of the Show 05:58