Kindo @ Skyway Theatre (Studio B) 8/9/19

Kindo/The Reign of Kindo played their 1st headlining show in Minnesota on Friday night at 1 of the smaller venues inside The Skyway Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.

I could be wrong, but the tour they are on is their 1st headlining tour of North America, at least outside the Northeast.

How many people were there? I would guess maybe 100-150, but I'm not certain. There are Kindo fans in Minnesota as I know from the 2 most recent shows they played here (April of 2019, and August of 2017). I also have found some of their cds at Half Price Books and even Cheapo perhaps.

So I must mention the openers, which were all good, enjoyable and music I would go for hearing more of. Maybe most in particular, Rocco of the Snow, the 1st band. Rocco DellaNeve is the keyboardist from Kindo, but he has some fantastic music of his own.

I enjoyed Rocco so much, I ended up buying his record Prime Mover (not a Rush or Ghost reference).

I took from Rocco's music to be very catchy, dreamy and electronic rock. Almost like a cross between The Apples in Stereo and Timmy Sean.

Very well written, melodic and moody. It almost fits in with the "Indietronica" stuff I've written about, and I talked to him after the show and he kind of likes that term for his stuff. I am really digging it, so much, I can definitely see myself writing something more about Rocco of the Snow soon in here.

Adrian Bellue (not to be confused with Adrian Belew of King Crimson, Zappa, Talking Heads) does this really cool multi-sustained electrified acoustic guitar. It's all just him. Lots of tones and effects. Similar to say Michael Hedges or Tim Reynolds. He was crazy good. And he is planning on playing Minneapolis again this Fall (October? I thought he said).

I actually messaged him a few months ago when he was named for this tour, about the Adrian Belew thing, and he told me he may try and do a Bellue plays Belew sometime.

Sirintip is what I would describe as a Female Singer/Songwriter, but maybe with a bit of a Jazz and Soul element? But her show on Friday was JUST HER. Ala Imogen Heap, or Kimbra at The Cedar a few years ago, or even St.Vincent many years back at The Walker.

It was her and an assortment of keyboards and microphone effects.

Very moody, atmospheric and electronic.

She reminded me of those above and even say Jessie Ware at points.

The highlight for me was a song she dedicated to a friend who had died recently. Very melancholic.

Her music might do well with film or television, as it has a cinematic quality I enjoyed. Although I wonder what it would be like with a full band, which she said this is the 1st tour she's done without one.

And as far as Kindo, it was another fantastically energetic show with many highlights.

I Hate Music maybe being my favorite as I can't ever get sick of that song. The funky/catchy bass rhythm from Jeff Jarvis, while repetitive, totally works with a sick groove. Maybe even better live than on the studio version.

Waiting on the Wind (not to be confused with Walking on the Wind from Spock's Beard), which is 1 of the Patreon tunes that has not been released, was another great part.

Impossible World, Flowers by the Moon, Something in the Way that You Are and and Just Wait were tunes I don't think I had heard them do be before.

Hold Out and The Moments in Between and of course Hero were others that always sound even greater live. Smell of a Rose, Return to Me and Human Convention also never fail to work well live. Kind of live staples from Happy However After.

Gerald Castillo who plays percussion (Djembe? and some others) really adds a lot to their live sound. He actually had this great drum-off with Kindo's drummer Kendall Lantz, during the encore during Just Wait. It was a really great way to end the show.

Also great to chat with members of Kindo, including Joey finally. I told him about my love the tune "Poor and Hungry Kings" ; how it's now become 1 of my 5 favorite tunes and how much I wish more fans (not on the Patreon) could hear it. But I didn't ask him about when the next album was coming, etc.

He did tell me they are planning on doing 1 of those in-studio videos for Human Convention which should be great to see.

But they have 15? or more songs that didn't get released on Happy However After, and there's more coming. And as great as HHA is (and it is, as I put it #2 on my list of favorite albums 2018), I think many of the strongest tunes from the last few years, from Patreon, have yet to be released. Besides Poor and Hungry Kings, stuff like Ladybug and Citizen of Nowhere namely. And that tune they did on Friday, Waiting on the Wind.

So depending on schedules, maybe their next record will come in 2020 or 2021?

I also talked about The Dear Hunter with them, and how Nick Crescenzo on a recent podcast mentioned being a huge fan. I think it's not IF but just WHEN they finally tour with TDH. Because I would estimate like 50% of the TDH fans are Kindo fans.

Also cool to see some local fans, 1 being Tom from the band Earthrise. He was animated the whole show, getting the fans into it in the front.

the other being Matt O'Leary who I found has a great YouTube Channel where he talks about prog and indie rock among other genres. He has even done collaborations with Notes Reviews in fact.

I was able to chat with him and his wife Nina about a number of topics, mostly music of course as they are both huge/passionate music fans (and musicians themselves, which I guess was the original intent of their channel).

We talked among other things, about Kindo and what we could do to try and help them sort of breakthrough because we know they could have a larger audience if given the amount of exposure. My friend Nate mentioned to me how with Kindo, their music is almost too diverse for the masses, as catchy and melodic as it can be. Like Keane goes Jazz-Rock.

But I still wonder, given the right tour or a hit single or something, they could find a larger audience. I suppose my fanboy bias is included in wanting that so much; but I have seen this happen many other times; King's X, Three, dredg, etc, etc....The Dear Hunter and Dream Theater have kind of been exceptions to an extent. Baby-steps at their own gradual pace?


Set List
Let Me Be
Hold Out
Impossible World
Human Convention
Waiting on the Wind
Bullets in the Air
Romancing a Stranger
Return to Me
Something in the Way That You Are
Flowers by the Moon
The Hero, the Saint, the Tyrant, and the Terrorist
Smell of a Rose
The Moments in Between

Encore:
Feeling in the Night
I Hate Music
Just Wait

Kindo @ The Amsterdam Bar w/ Thank You Scientist and ItPoW 4/25/19

I saw Kindo again last night, for the 2nd time in less than 2 years, at the same venue they played at in 2017, The Amsterdam Bar in downtown St.Paul.

The set list below I believe is correct as I found it on setlist.fm for other shows this tour.

Great show, great performance, yadayadayada of course. "Till We Make Our Ascent" was the biggest highlight for me as I still consider that my favorite track from them. I literally got goosebumps through much of it.

The band's lineup was a little different than from 2017, which I think largely was due to time. Steven Padin was not there, but new drummer Kendall Lantz . Also 2nd percussionist Geraldo Castillo also was not there either, but a really talented guy whose name I didn't catch either.

Kindo did announce they will be doing a Headline Tour this Summer which includes a show on Friday August 9 at The Skyway Theatre in Minneapolis.

I can't see missing that of course.

Kindo of course has their Patreon which I am a part of, receiving 1 new song nearly every month. They've released 15+ new songs that were not included on Happy However After, *however* in speaking with Jeff Jarvis and Kendall at the Merch booth, their next official album isn't likely to be coming out all that soon. I wonder if a lot of that has to do with the touring and also among those 15 tunes and what I would assume, is many not released songs, they aren't ready to release a group of them together yet.

I.e. I'm not expecting their next record for probably 2 years. But as a Patreon, I can't be unhappy about that given how many new songs I already have been able to hear of course.

And I did see Joey and sort of talked to him during Thank You Scientist's set, which was loud of course. He asked me if I could chat after the show, and I told him yes.

But unfortunately, I had to leave at 11PM. TYS was still playing, and a combination of:
-My back and maybe unexpectedly, MY RIGHT ANKLE were bothering me.
-My wife needed to go into work at 6AM (getting up at 5AM likely), so I really needed to get home and to bed. As it turns out, she didn't get up/go into work at that time.

I didn't get to chat with Joey more for that reason, but hopefully next time.

Kindo
Obsolete (abbreviated)
The Hero, the Saint, the Tyrant, and the Terrorist
Human Convention
Till We Make Our Ascent
Feeling in the Night
Symptom of a Stumbling
Return to Me
Nightingale
The Moments in Between

Estradasphere and RX Bandits? This was the 2nd time for me seeing Thank You Scientist. The below set list was taken from another show this tour on setlist.fm. I don't know their catalog well enough to know how accurate it may or may not be.

I can say, I enjoyed their performance more than the show I saw them open for Protest the Hero. They have some great moments in their music, and while I still can't avoid hearing their singer channeling Claudio Sanchez, at 1 point last night I almost thought he sounded like Chris Ruff from Kaddisfly (Buy Our Intention-era).

They even included some ethnic instruments and instrumental sections which were cool and fun.

They are kind of technical and staccato-happy, almost

Their drummer, honestly should form a band with the bassist from White Denim in that he looked like he was about 19, but he was rather good.

And I guess they are going to go on tour with Bent Knee later this year. which I can totally follow and if it hits MN I likely will go.

Their "new" or new album-songs I may have enjoyed more than anything else they did, and their new album coming on June 14th is a Double LP, and I probably will try and check it out (time permitting of course., and disciplining myself. Instead of at-work, I'll try and add to the flash drive in the car).

But I can't say I still have been won-over enough by TYS that I enjoy them enough to consider myself a fan yet. I went through a similar situation with The Contortionist, Leprous, Riverside and even RX Bandits even. But with all of those bands, I never got hugely into them, but they did release 1 album I went back to at least (and made my end of year album list).


Thank You Scientist
Wrinkle
FXMLDR (listed as 'Half Knuck' on the setlist)
Blood on the Radio
Son of a Serpent (listed as 'Serpent' on the setlist)
Absentee
Lo Mein (unofficial name from setlist)
The Amateur Arsonist's Handbook
Poop Magician (unofficial name from setlist)
Chromology (listed as 'Buc-ee's' on the setlist)
Shitballs (unofficial name from setlist)
Mr. Invisible
Terraformer

Encore:
Feed the Horses

This is not the exact set list as it was taken from another show on setlist.fm, and they did play a cover of Let's Go Crazy from Prince, and likely 1 or more of those other songs was not included.

As for them, I enjoyed moments in their music, probably some of the more proggy, technical parts. The Bass Guitar, not unlike other shows, was WAY TOO HIGH in the mix for me. At points it seemed like more or less all I was hearing.

Their singer both also sounded like he was doing his version of Claudio Sanchez, and also was too low in the mix I could barely hear him (on their 1st song).

But overall, their energy and busy moments I enjoyed.

In the Presence of Wolves
The One Who Fell to Earth
M.U.A. (Manipulation Under Anesthesia)
Let's Go Crazy (Prince Cover)
White Noise
Thalassas II: What Dwells Below (The Portal)
Man of the Times

Also it was neat to see some friends: Rob from Brice Play Drums/The Dang Ole Triole,
Nate and Heidi, 2 other local progrock fans.

I didn't see YouTuber Matt O'Leary nor Min Lee, but maybe next time.

2017-2018 Calendar/Projected Anticipated [AS OF SPRING 2018]

4/18/18

April
13: Josh Rouse - Love in the Modern Age
June
15: Chromeo - Head Over Heels

4/7/18-4/9/18

June
22: The Sea Within - The Sea Within
May
25: Bend Sinister - Foolish Games
Shown on Cordova Bay Records

4/5/18

May
18: Dream the Electric Sleep - The Giants' Newground



10/15/17 12:51PM
I post an entry like this every year or maybe 2-4 times a year, etc.

So I'm not sure if I'll bump this, or just post a few more of these over the next 3-6 mos.

The intention is to EDIT it and bump it; not *STICKIE* it per I don't desire to have 1 entry stuck at the top.

At any case, as the news, announcements, and speculation for new albums come up, this list will have more titles.

If any of the names get bumped up to be released before Halloween, obviously it'll be removed/posted likely separately. But given it's October 15th, the odds of that are not too high.

November
17: Galactic Cowboys - Long Way Back to the Moon
30: Harakiri - Alchemy Choir

December
1: The Dear Hunter - All is as All Should Be [EP]
1: The Faceless - In Becoming a Ghost
1: Nicholas Krygovich - In an Open Field
1: U2 - Songs of Experience
8: Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticuffs
8: The Gloomcatcher - Blade in the Belfry [EP]
16: Greg Herriges / StellaRoma - Revel and Ritual
Esperanza Spalding - Exposure (+Undeveloped)

January and later:

January
12: Typhoon - Offerings
12: Umphrey's McGee - it's not us 
18: Cloud Cult - The Great Alone (OST, instrumental)
26: In Vain - Currents
26: Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs

February
2: Field Music - Open Here
2: Long Distance Calling - Boundless
23: Gleb Kolyadin - Gleb Kolyadin
23: Grimus - Unmanageable Species

March
9: Between the Buried and Me - Automata I
9: Jeremy Messersmith - Late Stage Capitalism
15: Fjokra - Evening Lights [1B]
16: The Decemberists - I'll Be Your Girl


April
6: The Family Crest - The War: Act I
13: Kindo - Happy However After
20: Kimbra - Primal Heart
21: Inferi - Revenant
27: God is an Astronaut - Epitaph
27: Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer

April 2018-April 2019
Dirt Poor Robins - TBA 1 song per month
Josh King - Into the Blue (singer from House of Fools) 

May
18: Dream the Electric Sleep - The Giants' Newground
25: Spock's Beard - Noise Floor
25: Bend Sinister - Foolish Games 

June
15: Chromeo - Head Over Heels
22: The Sea Within - The Sea Within

Confirmed Titles:
Antemasque - Saddle on the Atom Bomb
Between the Buried and Me - Automata II
Chic - It's About Time
Joey Eppard - Word to the Wise
Fish - Weltschmerz
Ours - Spectacular Sight
Sculptured - The Liminal Phase
Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point

Confirmed/Likely to be Released (but no Title or Release Date Yet)

Flying Colors
Foals
For the Imperium
Genders
Gotye
Imogen Heap
Lehto and Wright
Live
Native Construct
Neverending White Lights
Shelter Red
Soundscape
Tiny Giant
Vennart

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

*speculation/hope*

Bruce Peninsula
Chroma Key
Disillusion
dredg
East of the Wall
Extreme
Fjokra
Jazzkamikaze
Journal
Karnivool
Spencer Ludwig
Pepe Deluxe
Red Paintings, The
Jessy Ribordy new band/project
Sigur Rós
System of a Down


I'll believe it when I hold it in my hand

Guns N Roses
Tool

Kindo - Happy However After (2017-2018) (The Reign of Kindo now just KINDO)

4/7/18
Preorder per Candyrat Records

Vinyl coming in May, but the CD is next Friday.


3/26/18

So the preorder and official track list is finally up. I'm totally happy to hear this of course in the coming weeks. And the track list appears to be all songs that were previously shared as part of the Patreon program.

It's just the MIXES and perhaps even arrangements may differ.

I guess I'll see what they are like in a few weeks.

I must admit, 1 of the tracks I hoped would be on the album, and thought was, even with a different mix/arrangement, "Poor and Hungry Kings," I'm a bit disappointed didn't make it. That song is fantastic, and perhaps my favorite of all the songs I've heard per the Patreon.

Just scanning the list of songs per the emails, I would say while I think every track is good and up to Kindo's standards, "Poor and Hungry Kings" and "About Love" are probably my 2 favorites. "One in a Million" and "Let Me Be" also stand out.

I suppose there may be multiple reasons for the track list they went with, and it seems like most of the songs are older, which may mean "Poor and Hungry Kings" will end up on another record soon after.

Anyway, we'll see. I guess the next new song per the Patreon is coming next week? from what I thought I heard Joey say on a live stream they did this evening on FB.

Patreon Songs:
Human Convention
City of Gods
One in a Million
Smell of a Rose
About Love
Return to Me
Catch the Gleam
Colder Than December
Obsolete
Let Me Be
Stolen Treasure
Poor and Hungry Kings
Blue Eerie Glow
Citizen of Nowhere
Ladybug


Digital Preorder (iTunes + Googleplay currently there)



1 Human Convention 3:34
2 Catch the Gleam 5:35
3 Let Me Be 5:11
4 One in a Million 4:08
5 Smell of a Rose 3:50
6 Return to Me 4:15
7 About Love 4:46
8 Colder Than December 3:27
9 Obsolete 5:22
10 City of Gods 6:11

10 Songs, 46 minutes
3/22/18

New album version of "Human Convention" there. Nice article from Jordan Blum.

https://www.popmatters.com/kindo-human-convention-premiere-2547579906.html 

3/6/18 11:50AM

Per the Patreon postings, this new album officially comes out on April 13th, but also will be available on their upcoming East Coast Mini-Tour with Little Tybee.

Digital and CD initially

180 gram 45 RPM Vinyl coming, will be in a few months (not surprising).

Track Listing should be announced soon.




1/26/18 10:57PM
So, this is kind of big news, The Reign of Kindo are now going to be called KINDO. 

I have mixed feelings about this.

Pros) 

-With a shorter, simpler name, it's easier to tell people and for new/unfamiliar fans to remember their name

-It still is distinct and it does retain part of their original name. Plus many fans like myself just refer to them as "Kindo" anyway.

Cons) 

-They've been around for over 10 years, and they have slowly but steadily built up a decent Cult following. And for those who are fans, or even were fans in the past, will likely always think of them as The Reign of Kindo or TRoK. And this change may take a bit to get used to.

-I was trying to think of examples of bands who changed their name, even partially, that ended up finding more success and even just making music at the same quality as when they used their previous name. Especially this far into their career, and I struggled. The closest thing I came up with this afternoon was "The Dixie Dregs" which between that name, "The Dregs" and "Steve Morse" and.or Steve Morse Band." But I kind of see those more like Pat Metheny vs Pat Metheny Group or Neal Morse vs Neal Morse Band, etc.

But with those thoughts aside, this upcoming album Happy However After there are a lot of other factors for my personal feeling.

I still ADORE this band and also the fact I've heard like a dozen or more of the new songs, many which may not even be included. And some that may but in different arrangements. But among the dozen or whatever it is, songs I've been loving per their Patreon, I naturally have very big hopes for this album.

In fact I would say there's a good chance, by default, it would already be in my top 5 albums of 2017-2018 just per knowing at least a percentage of it already in 1 form/arrangement. And had they released an album last year, it very well could have been my Album of the Year.

More details of course coming about this album, hopefully rather soon.

The 1st single "Return to Me" though is below to check out already, a track I've been enjoying for awhile already per the Patreon.

Relix.com article with stream

Buffalo- and NYC-based prog/pop-rock outfit The Reign of Kindo are back with a new album and a slightly altered moniker, as the band is now known as just Kindo and will release their new record, Happy However After. Today, we premiere the album's lead single, "Return To Me." 

Return to Me also can be found here

Dirt Poor Robins - TBA (2017-2019)

Dirt Poor Robins 20 Questions on FB Live

Neil talks about it in the Facebook Live video I finally got around to checking out in-full today.

Around the 35 or 40 min mark, he explains some of the details

This ENTIRELY NEW CONCEPT ALBUM will

1) have 1 song per month released starting in April 2018 all the way through April 2019

2) There will be a Podcast where Neil explains/talks about each song and/or lyrics and the concept each month I thought he said.

3) a Graphic Novel for this concept story is in the works and I'm not sure, but it may with this, told in poetic form (or he may have been referring to The Raven Locks story/graphic novel and possibly a stage production

The Raven Locks concept/story very well may be done, or on hiatus, I dunno.

Really good info none-the-less.

This very well also may be a Patreon thing like Kindo/TROK and Three did a few years back.

I'm really looking forward to it now. April ain't too far away!

Also another DPR note, Neil has ANOTHER band called No More Kings with Pete Mitchell of Interstates I believe, and it's pretty power-pop oriented. I haven't been able to check them out yet, but they have like 3 or 4 albums as well. I do like what I've heard.

aka Neil DeGraide is a musical genius!'

I also like some of the questions answered about The Dear Hunter and Jellyfish. 

November 2017 Videos: CDs, Vinyl, Collectibles

So I decided to upload and share these videos from November 2017 that I made in the Storage space (and of course not edited. I know YouTube does have an editing function that maybe I'll have to try and play around with soon).

I guess these and some of the others are kind of obvious why making videos isn't too easy for me (the space/situation and of course TIME among other reasons).

And my head does get cutoff frequently, but so be it, maybe I'm and even others don't mind or are used to it.

The 2nd video the LIGHTS GO OFF (turns black) per the hallway lights at the Storage space are on a timer and I think it's like 15 or 20 minutes, which I need to remind myself whenever I may be making videos there in the future.

Had that not happened, there likely would have only been 3 videos.

The 4th video is up so close, dunno why I didn't realize that, but again, so be it.

Also in reviewing these, I have a few more items still to show, namely Extreme and a Rush 7" I think from Black Friday Record Store Day. Maybe soon, perhaps when some of the other Vinyl I'm expecting come in (Subterranean Masquerade, Typhoon among others).



CDs
Team Me - To the Treetops
Mew - Visuals
Faith No More - Angel Dust [Deluxe]
Bend Sinister - The Other Way [EP]
Snarky Puppy - Culcha Vulcha
L.E.O. - Alpacas Orgling

VINYL
Nektar - A Tab in the Ocean
sElf - Porno, Mint & Crime
sElf - Ornament & Crime
Mutemath - Play Dead



VINYL
Oceansize - Effloresce
Major Parkinson - Blackbox




VINYL:
Major Parkinson - Blackbox
Team Me - Blind as Night
Pat Metheny Group - Pat Metheny Group
The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'Clock [EP]
East of the Wall - Farmer's Almanac
Scott Matthews - Elusive [7"]
Galactic Cowboys - Long Way Back to the Moon



Joey Secchiaroli (of The Reign of Kindo) - Answers to Questions You Never Asked (Book/Booklet)
The Crimson Cube (King Crimson Rubiks Cube)

X-Mas Albums: The Reign of Kindo and Timbre

among all the X-mas music I get bombarded with this time/week/day(s),

And I of course just posted that list the other day of favorite X-Mas songs, but I failed to include anything from either of these 2. I suppose partially why is per I haven't listened to them all that much, even though I own both.

Also the fact they are traditional X-Mas songs as opposed to originals, but the arrangements are still in Kindo and Timbre's style.

But in just listening to them tonight, I really should listen and know them better as they are both really good. I guess I'll have to try and remember to play them every year now knowing them a little better.




1. Merry Little Chirstmas (0:00)
2. Dreaming of a White Christmas (2:27)
3. What Child is This (5:06)
4. Oh Holy Night (8:37)
5. Winter Wonderland (15:28)
6. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (18:39)






1. Angelus 02:34
2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 04:11
3. Carol of the Bells 05:32
4. The Robin Red Breast 05:22
5. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence 04:38
6. Silent Night 07:07
7. O Little Town of Bethlehem 06:37
8. Silent Night (3 Year Old Timbre) 00:30
9. Joy to the World 04:08
10. What Child Is This? 06:12
11. Silent Night (Friends & Family) 01:15

2016-2017 Albums of the Year

Okay, this is the End of Year 2016-2017 countdown list.

The last few weeks I've come to grips with this year and what is good and disappointing about it. I think making the Albums Calendars has helped that, per there are many years I struggle to find a 5 or even 4.5-star album for whatever reason. Odds I guess.

Although in 2016 and 2017, compared to say 1979 or 1983, there are a ton more albums, but I also think as an invidual music listener, there are just going to be a Calendar year or 2 every decade, that I fail to find a decent chunk of amazing albums like other years.

That all  being said, I do think this has been a year of good albums and some comebacks. And like every year, some of these albums and albums not included (or included but not listened to much) that time may be more kind to them. Or just discovering them will happen in the near future.

#1 is interesting, as it is from a band I've loved for over 10 years, but have never finished in my Top 5 even I don't think, during that year. But it is nice to see them take the crown this year and finish so high. And I did buy the Deluxe Vinyl edition, which I'm glad I did now.

edit: moved Flying Microtonal Banana (King Gizzard) and Drunk (Thundercat) into the list. I have heard both a few times. King Gizzard especially, which for some reason originally (after I checked it out) I thought did not get released in this Calendar Year



Didn't check out
Crippled Black Phoenix - Horrific Honorifics
Cynic - Uroboric Forms: The Complete Demo Recordings
Deep Purple - Infinite
Gizmodrome - Gizmodrome
Steve Hackett - The Night Siren

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Sketches of Brunswick East
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Murder of the Universe
KXM - Scatterbrain
Leprous - Malina
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
Mastodon - Empire of Sand
Mastodon - Cold Dark Place [EP]
Marco Minneman - Borrego
Minus the Bear - VOIDS
The Mute Gods - …tardigrades will inherit the earth
The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic
The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions
Nova Collective - The Further Side
Scale The Summit - In A World Of Fear
Solstafir - Berdreyminn
Sons of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony
Styx - The Mission
Peter Silberman - Impermanence
St.Vincent - Masseduction
Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly and James McAlister - Planetarium
Roger Waters - Is This the Life We Really Want?
Tuesday the Sky - Drift

Listened to Once


At the Drive-In - in·ter a·li·a


Broken Social Scene - Hug of Thunder


Bullet Height - No Atonement


Klimt 1918 - Sentimentale Jugend


Krallice with Dave Ediwardson - Loum


Meridian Incident - Istology


The Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream (all live once, which was enough) 


Ne Obliviscaris - Urn


Offa Rex - The Queen of Hearts


Temples - Volcano


Waaktaar and Zoe - World of Trouble




46. Tuxedo - Fux with the Tux [EP]


45. Black Map - In Droves


44. The Ongoing Concept - Places


43. Jessie Ware - Glasshouse

 
42. Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions


41. The Barnum Meserve - When All is Lost


40. Umphrey's McGee - Zonkey


39. Radical Face - SunnMoonnEclippse [EP]


38.Thundercat - Drunk


37. Big Wreck - Grace Street


36. Capital Cities - Swimming Pool Summer [EP]


35. Blackfield - V


34. Danny Cavanagh - Monochrome


33. Tuxedo - Tuxedo II


32. Dave Kerzner - Static


31. Rachel Flowers - Listen


30. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana




29. Bubblemath - Edit Peptide


28. Childish Japes - After You're Born [EP]


27. The Family Crest - Prelude to War [EP]


26. The Contortionist - Clairvoyant


25. Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Hotel Junk Box


24. Red Planet with Bill Carothers - Red Planet with Bill Carothers


23. Ramona Falls - Coils


22. Mew - Visuals


21. Timmy Sean - Weeks


20. Persefone - Aathma


19. Moonloop - Devocean


18. Umi - World of Color [EP]



17. Bend Sinister - The Other Way [EP]


16. Ulver -  The Assassination of Julius Caesar


15. Beck - Colors


14. Subterranean Masquerade - Vagabond


13. Major Parkinson - Blackbox


12. Nordic Giants - Amplify Human Vibration (Soundtrack)


11. SikTh - The Future in Whose Eyes?


10. Steven Wilson - To the Bone

This album, while I have checked it out enough times to know, I think found its way this high on my list per the songwriting quality works. It has a handful of memorable, catchy, yet progressive tracks to support why I enjoy it and want to go back to it again.

Whereas I found Hand.Cannot.Erase the concept to be great, but the album itself didn't offer as much go-to tracks and ended up  being more mood-tracks.

I think this just came out in a lot of ways, what Steven Wilson intended. Clever/Sophisticated Pop. And even the fact some of it harkens back to mid-period Porcupine Tree "Same Asylum as Before" and I recall "People Who Eat Darkness."

Refreshing feeling about this album, although I think in a more deep year, I don't know if it would have finished this high, but I guess I almost find it at 4-stars which I can only say about 1 of his other solo records (Raven).



9. Anakdota - Overloading

Great piano-driven progressive college rock. Reminding me of The Reign of Kindo, The Woods Brothers and Gentle Giant namely, with a big jazz side.

The singles from a few years ago still hold up like "Late" and "Girl Next Door,"

Excellent musicianship, and technical enough. And quite catchy, including some female vocals at times.

This was my favorite record early on, but I can't put it up higher at this point per I wasn't as addicted to it, nor was it as memorable as I would have thought initially.

In fairness, it is a debut album, and it may just be a taste of what is to come, although I know this band is a side project of 1 or more of the members of another progressive rock band, ProjectRNL, so I'm not sure whether the band is a top priority necessarily.

Favorites: Late, Staying Up Late, Girl Next Door, One More Day, End of the Show



8. Godspeed You Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers
A bit of a surprising return to form for these guys, and maybe more surprising in that it lacks a lot of the annoying/filler Doomy/Drone that were present on their last 2 albums and much of their catalog.

Other than "Fam / Famine" this record doesn't include anything I'd remove. And the best moments in both the Bossess Hang (pt III) and Anthem for No State are among the best work they've ever done.

A record that reminded me why they live up to their hype of being one of the elite Post Rock bands enough, that I don't know if I can ever not check out their new music (even if a good amount of it I'm not as crazy about).

Love the use of trumpet on here by the way.


7. Anathema - The Optimist
Maybe Anathema's (or "Ana_thema" as it is written some places) most conceptual work, at least since some of their earlier records including A Fine Day to Exit which is it considered the sequel to I guess.

The Optimist has more of a cinematic element to it, yet it still includes a ton of the kind of songs that have been present on the previous 3 albums this decade.

"Endless Ways" is the biggest melancholy highlight for me. Lee Douglas' vocals and the lyrics along with another one of their trademark crescendos are what does it for me. Also the timing of when it really hit me, right around the time I moved out of my apartment, a place I was at for nearly a decade, it captured a lot of what I was going through.

I can follow why some may be not as into it, and if I had to rank their albums this decade, I may put it behind. But it has become enjoyable enough, and likely one I will continue to return to. I should check out A Fine Day to Exit just purely on the connection it shares with this album,


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

An album that seemed to refuel the interest in Pain of Salvation, despite so many different members in the band now, including Ragnar who did a good amount of the songwriting on here.

I found myself agreeing with many reviews about it reminding me of some of the older records, like Remedy Lane and The Perfect Element I, but also Scarsick in some ways.

The chugging riffs namely.

In revisiting it again recently, it is a pretty good album, and 1 at this stage I definitely like more than the 2 Road Salt albums. But overall, I don't look at it quite in the same category as those early albums (call me an old school fanboy).

But still, there's far too many songs on here that I enjoy to not include it high. "On a Tuesday" "Meaningless" "Full Throttle Tribe" "Reasons" "Taming of a Beast" (even with it reminding me of Cloud Cult's "Sleepwalker") among them.


5. 22 - You Are Creating-Limb 1

22  finally returned with this 2nd album of theirs, which is the 1st of more than 1 part of a series (Limb 1).

Every song is good, its just there are only 8 songs and the clock time is maybe 32 minutes?

I enjoyed this album when it came out, and still do, but I can't say I grew attached to it, even like their debut album from 7 years ago. Why, I guess was per length. It almost felt like a long EP for that reason

Favorites: Sum of Parts, Inspec, You Are Creating, Staying Embodied


4. Bent Knee - Land Animal

Like many on this list, Bent Knee seem to be as good and consistent of a progressive rock band making music today. 2016's Say So and 2014's Shiny Eyed Babies like this album, all work on many levels and ways. The songs are well crafted, even as schizophrenic and dynamic as they get.

There's so much going on and things to catch, that you have to listen to their songs many times before you understand how much went into them. So many layers of guitars, drums, keys, strings, vocals, etc.

It's a very densely produced record, yet it ends up not being overkilled.

Plus, the title track has that sad vocal melody that is so sad and epic, and then recalled on string, it just became one of my favorite songs of the year, easily.

Love these guys, even as diverse and avant-garde as they are. And this album, like their others, aren't short, or at least don't feel short. But they always leave me with a really rewarding feeling.

3. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream

Everything Everything continue to include a good majority of catchy, energy, and yet experimental songs that do border on progressive rock at times. Get to Heaven from 2015 I still find is my favorite, but this album may be a close 2nd now. Plus the title track is dreamy as hell as I can't get that echoing melody out of my head, even if it will always remind of a part of Fjokra's "Koi."


2. Small Leaks Sink Ships - Golden Calf

Not as breathtaking as the amazing 2015 release Face Yourself and Remove Your Sandals, but in many ways it shares the great flow and atmosphere that album has.

I think it is a bit of a grower and may continue to grow on me some through time. I guess though it is a classic case of a band whose previous album was so good, the odds of coming away loving it as much is nearly impossinble. But that classic case of the follow-up still being really good and should not be overlooked or forgotten.

Small Leaks Sink Ships do know how to create these great quirky, textured songs that have this surprising charm and energy to them. Like 2 of the bands I often am reminded of when hearing them, Menomena and Wolf Parade, yet still with their own distinct approach.

Favorites: Creepin, Dancing Devil, Drug Lord, Not Counterpoint, Dear John Connor.


1. Mutemath - Play Dead

A great record, that is marred by the fact Darren King and Roy Mitchell-Cardenas both left the band before it even came out. And it may be their last record with the band. I guess beyond many of the songs just have that great energy and vibe to them, this album both reminds me of the Mutemath of recent years, and their older work. Along with some new styles in a way.

The final 2 tracks "Achilles Heal" and "Marching to the End" for me put it over the top and make it stand out a little more than other records this year. They are both beautiful and melancholy, that I can't get them and the mood they give me out of my head afterwards.

I suppose in a way with this year being a bit more spotty and not finding too many albums that I loved a ton, makes this record stand out almost by default. But I do think it compares favorably in their catalog, placing higher than all of their other albums aside from possibly Odd Soul. Although for different reasons.

So that's a wrap (barring EDITS which I always do, so what you're reading now likely won't be identical as it is in a day or week from now).

But here's to looking forward to 2017-2018, which I'm sure will have a ton of albums to anticipate, many which will come out, but also some likely will not as what always happens. I suppose I can predict right now, 2017-2018 will have more 4.5 or better albums, and likely a little more depth. But, that does still remain to be seen.

The 1 other release or thing missing is The Reign of Kindo of course per I was listening to their Patreon songs all year and had they been released this year like I anticipated, it very likely would have found the Top 5. But a new release should come out next year, and knowing many of the songs already, I can probably say they are already the leader in the clubhouse, which bodes well for next year.

Also a Video or 2-3 should be made. When?..hopefully soon of course.