2024 Metafile Legend

Two data files, meta.txt and rmeta.txt, the former for new releases, the latter for reissues, compilations, vault music. Fields separated by '|':

  1. Points: Make does a numeric sort on this field as first key.
  2. Artist: Last name '_' first name, such that make can do an alpha sort on this as second key.
  3. Title: Album title.
  4. Label: Label; may be preceded by dates (e.g., 1972 or 1972-74) and comma; may be followed by format (e.g., EP, or 2CD).
  5. Release date: Written as MM-DD, including '0' to pad to two digits. "-16" indicates a 2016 release date.
  6. Flags: Used to specify genre, also whether I have heard the record. More than one may be set:
    • 1: I own a hard copy of the album (could be CDR).
    • 2: I've heard the record from a streaming or download source.
    • 3: I've done limited sampling of the record, or I'm grading a reissue from an earlier release.
    • B: Blues/Gospel/R&B
    • C: Country/Americana/Folk
    • E: Electronica
    • H: Hip-Hop/Rap
    • J: Jazz
    • K: Classical
    • M: Metal
    • W: World, both pop and folk, including Latin
  7. Data: Multiple segments, each separated by comma (','), preferably sorted alphabetically. Each segment consists of a key (alpha abbreviation), optionally followed by colon (':') and a number, which is the rank position of the record on the list, or a plus ('+'), which indicates an unranked point, or '*N' for N points. There are two series of data: one from major sources which are scored 5 (1st place), 4 (2-5th), 3 (6-10th), 2 (11-20th), 1 (anything above 20th); then following a semicolon, one from minor sources which are generally scored 3 (1st place), 2 (2-5th), 1 (anything above 5th). The keys are listed in the legend data file (legend-data.txt). Ties aren't marked this year (in previous years they were marked '*'; sorry, I screwed up). If a list contains multiple records in a numeric slot (often by same artist), each are credited (subject to notes below). The distinction between major and minor is somewhat arbitrary, but long lists tend to count as major (even if by idiots), and short and/or unranked lists as minor.
  8. Comment: Anything else considered a comment. These appear in the output, but aren't counted.

The legend-data.txt file also consists of fields separated by '|'. They are:

  1. Key: The key for the list, used in data above.
  2. Type: How the list is counted, if any rank in the list gets more than one point: empty means everything gets one point; extra points are noted by the cutoff rank, with comma separating each tier -- e.g., "20,1" gives 2 points to everything ≥ 20 except 3 points ≥ 1.
  3. Name: The plain name for the list.
  4. URL: Where to find the list (often just the top of the list.
  5. Alt URL: An alternate (unofficial) source for the list (often these are easier to work with than the actual URL.)
  6. Comment: Any additional comments. Within this the following subfields (comma-separated) are noted:
    • RX:# Robert Christgau letter grades (points: A:5, A-:4, B+/***: 3, **: 2 *:1, B or less: 0)
    • MT:# Michael Tatum letter grades (points same as RC)
    • TH:# Tom Hull letter grades (points same as RC)

Since I don't have corresponding lists to work off of, and since I value their reviews highly, I've decided to score RC, MT, and TH as: A/A+ 5, A- 4, B+/*** 3, ** 2, * 1; omitting the 2014 (and earlier) releases. I haven't sucked up all of TH's letter grades -- only those mentioned by others.

Some general guidelines on which lists were counted (and which not):

  • Where separate "international" and "national" lists are provided, only "international" is counted. Similarly, "local" (state or city) lists are not counted.
  • Most genre lists are counted, except classical, soundtracks, Christian. I have virtually no interest in metal but have almost always counted metal lists.
  • Honorable mentions or unranked extras added to lists are generally counted, with '+' instead of rank numbers. Same for unranked lists (although unless explicitly stated, unnumbered lists are generally assumed to be top-down).
  • Format-specific lists (e.g., EPs, mixtapes) are usually ignored. EPs occurring in general lists are counted, but singles are generally not.
  • Don't bother with lists that are aggregates of other lists, figuring they're just approximations of this aggregate. Also don't bother with reader polls (although I make a couple exceptions).

Lists

The following lists have been counted:

  1. [45] The Forty-Five [UK] (45,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+()
  2. [AAJ] All About Jazz () -- +4 stars (); mid-year
  3. [AD] The Arts Desk () -- AOTY 80+(11-18)
  4. [Al] Albumism (50) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+
  5. [Alt] The Alternative (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  6. [AMG] Angry Metal Guy () -- AOTY 80+()
  7. [AS] American Songwriter [US] () -- AOTY 80+(06-05)
  8. [AV] AV Club [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year; AOTY 80+(06-10)
  9. [BB] Billboard (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year
  10. [Bc] Bandcamp ()
  11. [Blb] Blabbermouth.net () -- AOTY 80+()
  12. [BPM] Beats Per Minute () -- AOTY 80+
  13. [BV] Brooklyn Vegan (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year
  14. [BV_i] Brooklyn Vegan: Indie Basement (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  15. [BV_r] Brooklyn Vegan: Rap (30,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  16. [C] Crack [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) -- AOTY 80+()
  17. [Cl] Clash [UK] (60,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(06-05)
  18. [ClR] Classic Rock [UK] () -- AOTY 80+()
  19. [CM] Chris Monsen (Perfect Sounds Forever) (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  20. [Cmp] Complex [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year
  21. [Cmp_U] Complex [UK] ()
  22. [Cos] Cosmopolitan () -- mid-year [Samantha Olson]
  23. [CS] Consequence [of Sound] [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year 30 (top 10 ++)
  24. [D] Dork () -- AOTY 80+
  25. [Db] Decibel [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  26. [DiS] Distorted Sound () -- AOTY 80+() -- metal, skipped some early
  27. [DIY] DIY () -- AOTY 80+
  28. [DJ] Double J [Australia] (50,20,10,5,1)
  29. [DJM] DJ Mag (40)
  30. [DW] Dan Weiss [Riot Riot] () -- so far (05-29).
  31. [Dz] Dazed [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  32. [Em] Earmilk () -- AOTY 80+
  33. [Ev] Evening Standard () -- AOTY 80+()
  34. [Ex] Exclaim! [Canada] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year 25 (top 10 ++); AOTY 80+
  35. [Fa] Fader ()
  36. [Fld] Flood [US] ()
  37. [FO] Far Out [UK] () -- AOTY 80+
  38. [G] Guardian [UK] () -- AOTY 80+(06-16), but not all classical; mid-year
  39. [GB] Gorilla Vs Bear [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year (top 10 ++)
  40. [Gl] Glide [US] (20) [link] -- top 20: ++, HM: +
  41. [GTV] God Is in the TV () -- AOTY 80+
  42. [HDX] HipHopDX [US] () -- AOTY 80+(08-31)
  43. [HG] Hip-Hop Golden Age () -- mid-year [Oct 31]
  44. [HP] Hot Press [Ireland] ()
  45. [HV] Humanizing the Vacuum [US]: Alfred Soto () -- The best albums of 2024: Part 1
  46. [I] The Independent [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+()
  47. [IT] The Irish Times () -- AOTY 80+()
  48. [JC] Jazz Critics Poll (50,20,10,5,1)
  49. [JC_r] Jazz Critics Poll (,20,10,5,1)
  50. [JW] Jazzwise [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  51. [K] Kerrang! (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+()
  52. [KC] KCRW (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  53. [LBF] The Line of Best Fit [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+
  54. [LI] Les Inrocks [France] ()
  55. [LQ] Loud and Quiet [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+
  56. [LW] Louder Than War [UK] () -- AOTY 80+, mid-year
  57. [MH] Metal Hammer () -- AOTY 80+()
  58. [MI] Metal Injection () -- AOTY 80+()
  59. [Mj] Mojo [UK] (75,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+
  60. [MO] MusicOMH [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(06-05)
  61. [Ms] Mondosonoro [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1)
  62. [MSuk] Metal Sucks () -- AOTY 80+
  63. [Ne] The Needle Drop () -- AOTY 80+, mid-year
  64. [NME] NME [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+, mid-year
  65. [NPR] NPR (50) [ref link]
  66. [NR] No Ripcord [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+()
  67. [NT] Northern Transmissions [CAN] () -- AOTY 80+(), mid-year
  68. [O] The Observer () -- AOTY +80()
  69. [Okp] Okayplayer ()
  70. [Oo] Oor [Netherlands] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  71. [Ov] Overblown () -- AOTY 80+
  72. [P] Paste (100,50,20,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(06-11), mid-year
  73. [Pf] Pitchfork (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(06-05)
  74. [PM] PopMatters (80,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+, mid-year
  75. [PO] Phil Overeem () [link] -- to May 1, Oct. "very favorite"
  76. [PW] Passion of the Weiss ()
  77. [Qt] The Quietus [UK] () -- MC 80+, mid-year
  78. [RC] Record Collector [UK] () -- AOTY 80+
  79. [Rf] RIFF Magazine (35,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  80. [Ri] The Ringer ()
  81. [RS] Rolling Stone [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(06-11); + mid-year
  82. [RSh] Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  83. [RSUK] Rolling Stone [UK] () -- AOTY 80+
  84. [RT] Rough Trade [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- mid-year
  85. [S] Spin [US] () [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(11-03); "albums of the year" unranked, but only 7, so +++
  86. [SC] Spectrum Culture () -- AOTY 80+, mid-year
  87. [Sg] Stereogum [US] (50) [link] -- mid-year (++: 1-10; +: 11-50)
  88. [Sk] The Skinny [UK] () -- AOTY 80+()
  89. [Sl] Slant [US] () -- AOTY 80+(), mid-year
  90. [SLi] Still Listening () -- AOTY 80+(), mid-year
  91. [Sp] Spill () -- AOTY 80+
  92. [Spk] Sputnik Music [US] () -- AOTY 80+()
  93. [SpL] Semipop Life (Brad Luen) () -- min A- (**), min * (*) {5:19-7:14,11:03}
  94. [SSt] Shatter the Standards () -- mid-year
  95. [STi] The Sunday Times (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  96. [T] The Telegraph [UK] () -- AOTY 80+
  97. [TO] Time Out (250,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  98. [Tr] Treblezine [US] () [link] -- mid-year
  99. [U] Uncut [UK] (80,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+
  100. [UCR] Ultimate Classic Rock () -- mid-year
  101. [Up] Uproxx () [link] -- mid-year
  102. [Up_h] Uproxx: Hip-Hop () [link] -- mid-year
  103. [UR] Under the Radar [US] () -- AOTY 80+
  104. [V] Variety () -- mid-year (AOTY)
  105. [W] The Wire () -- MC 80+
  106. [WM] Written in Music (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  107. [WX] WXPN (Philadelphia) ()
  108. [XCI] Christian Iszchak () -- min A- (**), min * (*) {01:19-11:29}
  109. [XJS] John Smallwood (,20,10,5,1) -- Facebook "final edition" [12-31], also [09-29]
  110. [XSN] XS Noize [IRL] () -- AOTY 80+
  111. [am] AllMusic [US] (100) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+()
  112. [ap] Alternative Press ()
  113. [asp] The Associated Press (10) [ref link]
  114. [bb6] BBC Radio 6 [UK] () [ref link]
  115. [bi] Business Insider (20,5,1) [ref link]
  116. [bl] Bleep [UK] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  117. [bv_c] Brooklyn Vegan: country () -- mid-year
  118. [bv_f] Brooklyn Vegan: folk (10) [ref link]
  119. [bv_j] Brooklyn Vegan: jazz (10) [ref link]
  120. [bv_r] Brooklyn Vegan Indie Basement: Reissues & Box Sets () [link]
  121. [cmp] Complex [UK] () -- mid-year (++: 1-10; +: 11-25); folded into Cmp
  122. [dw] PJRP: Dan Weber (10,5,1)
  123. [e] Esquire [US] () -- mid-year
  124. [g_e] Guardian/Observer: Kitty Empire (10,5,1) [ref link]
  125. [hpo] Huffington Post () [ref link]
  126. [hyb] HypeBeast (10) [ref link] -- top ten ++
  127. [jcm] AAJ: Chris May () [link]
  128. [jdm] JCP/AAJ: Dan McClenaghan (10,5,1) [link]
  129. [jfk] JCP: Fred Kaplan [Slate] (10,5,1) [link]
  130. [jgy] JCP: Gene Seymour (10,5,1) [link]
  131. [jhs] Hank Shteamer (10,5,1) [link]
  132. [jjc] JCP: John Chacona (10,5,1) [link]
  133. [jlp] AAJ: Lawrence Peryer (10,5,1) [link]
  134. [jmc] AAJ: Mark Corroto (10,5,1)
  135. [jmju] AAJ: Mike Jurkovic () [link]
  136. [jmmz] Matt Merewitz () [link] -- top 20: ++, hm: +
  137. [jnj] Jazz Not Jazz [via Jazzism] () [ref link]
  138. [js] PJRP: John Smallwood (10,5,1)
  139. [n_ap] The New Yorker: Amanda Petrusich (20,5,1) [link]
  140. [ny_c] New York Times [US]: Jon Caramanica (17,5,1) [ref link]
  141. [ny_p] New York Times [US]: Jon Pareles (10,5,1) [link]
  142. [ny_s] New York Times [US]: Hank Shteamer (Jazz) (10,5,1) [link]
  143. [ny_z] New York Times [US]: Lindsay Zoladz (10,5,1) [link]
  144. [odb] Out Da Box Media () -- best hip hop/soul albums: top 1/3 (no EPs) {1-5}
  145. [p] People (10,5,1) [ref link]
  146. [ra] Resident Advisor () -- MC 80+
  147. [s_t] Spin: 10 Records You Should Have Heard but Didn't (10) [link]
  148. [scm] Saving Country Music () -- 8.0+
  149. [sl] Slate (Carl Wilson) () -- ++, + for runners up
  150. [so_d] Sound Opinions: Jim DeRogaitis (20,5,1) [ref link]
  151. [so_k] Sound Opinions: Greg Kot (20,5,1) [ref link]
  152. [ti] Time [US] (10,5,1) [ref link] -- + mid-year
  153. [tms_j] The Times: jazz () -- mid-year
  154. [vg] Vogue (36) [ref link]
  155. [vjk] PJRP: Jennifer Kelly (10,5,1) -- [no HM yet]
  156. [vma] PJRP: Michael Azerrad (10)
  157. [vrt] PJRP: Roy Trakin (10,5,1)
  158. [vu] Vulture: Craig Jenkins () [link] -- mid-year
  159. [wrti] WRTI [Greg Bryant] () -- mid-year
  160. [wp] Washington Post: Chris Richards (10,5,1)
  161. [xco] EW: Clifford Ocheltree (10,5,1) -- Facebook (07-01,10-08,11-30)
  162. [xde] PJRP: David Everall (10,5,1)
  163. [xgm] PJRP: Greg Morton (10,5,1) -- +EW
  164. [xhs] PJRP: Hardin Smith (10)
  165. [xhs_r] Hardin Smith: reissues (10,5,1) -- Facebook
  166. [xjao] EW: Joseph Albert Ofalt (10,5,1)
  167. [xjc] PJRP: Jimmy Cook (10,5,1)
  168. [xjd] PJRP: Joey Daniewicz (10,5,1) [link]
  169. [xjdc] PJRP: Jeffrey D Callahan () -- FB recent listening reports, min B+ {2-9,12}
  170. [xme] PJRP: Melody Esme (10,5,1)
  171. [xpb] PJRP: Philip Brasor (10,5,1) [link]
  172. [xrw] Expert Witness: Rodney Welch (10,5,1)
  173. [xsp] Expert Witness: Stan Piccirilli () -- recent listening ≥B+ {3-7}
  174. [xtj] PJRP: Tomand Jerry (10,5,1)
  175. [xtr] VV: Ray Troper (10,5,1) -- Facebook: ++ for top ten, + for HM
  176. [ybw] Bruce Warren (12,5,1) [link]
  177. [yjsc] Jeffrey St. Clair (10,5,1) [link]
  178. [ysp] Steve Pick () [link] -- {1-5}
  179. [yzp] PJRP: Zach Phillips (10,5,1)

Sources