2016 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. "-2014" indicates a 2014 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.
    • 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:
    • RC:# Robert Christgau letter grades (1-3 stars are divisions of B+)
    • MT:# Michael Tatum letter grades (same)
    • TH:# Tom Hull letter grades

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. [405] The 405 [UK] (30,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  2. [ABC] ABC News: Allan Raible (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  3. [ACL] A Closer Listen (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  4. [Af] Afisha [Russia]: International (,20,10,5,1) -- ILXOR
  5. [AJ] AJC (David O'Brien) (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  6. [Al] Albumism (30,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  7. [AP] Allston Pudding (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  8. [AS] American Songwriter [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  9. [ATH] Austin Town Hall (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  10. [AV] AV Club [US] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  11. [AYP] All the Young Punks (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  12. [BB] Billboard (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  13. [Bc] Bandcamp (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  14. [Bf] Beardfood (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  15. [BG] Bearded Gentlemen Musics (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  16. [BIW] Bird Is the Worm (Mark Sumner) (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  17. [Bk] Boomkat [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  18. [Blr] Blare [Canada] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  19. [Bq] Banquet Records [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  20. [BS] Bitter Southerner (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  21. [BtL] Born to Listen (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  22. [Btz] Blitz [Portugal]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  23. [BV] Brooklyn Vegan (45,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  24. [Bw] Brainwashed: reader poll (99,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  25. [C] Crack [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  26. [CB] Close'N'Beats [Brazil] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  27. [Ch] The Chorus.fm [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  28. [Cl] Clash [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  29. [ClR] Classic Rock [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- + genre lists
  30. [CM] Chris Monsen (Perfect Sounds Forever) (55,20,10,5,1) [link] -- sampled 2017-01-03
  31. [Cmp] Complex (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  32. [Crh] Crash (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  33. [Crg] Craig Reviews Music (101,20,10,5,1) [link]
  34. [CS] Consequence of Sound [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  35. [CV] Cultured Vultures: Shaun Sypher (45,20,10,5,1) [link]
  36. [D] Dazed (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  37. [DaM] Dangerous Minds: Graham Duff (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  38. [Db] Decibel [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  39. [Df] Diffuser (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  40. [DJ] Double J [Australia] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  41. [Dr] Drift Record Shop [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  42. [DS] Drowned in Sound [UK] (,16,10,5,1)
  43. [DSp] Digital Spy [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  44. [Du] Dummy (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  45. [Dv] Dagsavisen [Norway] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  46. [DW] Dan Weiss [Ask a Guy Who Likes Fat Chicks] (81,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + HM
  47. [Eb] Earbuddy [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  48. [EM] The End of All Music (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + HM, reissues
  49. [Esq] Esquire [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  50. [EW] Entertainment Weekly [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  51. [Ex] Exclaim! [Canada]: Pop/Rock (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  52. [F] Fact (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  53. [FB] Fast 'n' Bulbous (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + genre lists (if not in 100)
  54. [FF] 5:4 [Five Against Four] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  55. [FK] The Finest Kiss (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  56. [FL] Faster Louder [Australia] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  57. [Fld] Flood (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  58. [Flp] Flipside (52,20,10,5,1) [link]
  59. [FN] The Fire Note (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  60. [Fp] Fopp [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  61. [FPE] Fragile or Possibly Extinct: The Silent Ballet (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  62. [FR] rRoots (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- critics poll
  63. [FTW] For the Win (USA Today Sports): Nate Scott (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  64. [Fu] Fuse (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  65. [G] Guardian [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  66. [GB] Gorilla Vs Bear [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  67. [GC] Genius: Community (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  68. [Gf] Gaffa [Sweden] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  69. [Gf_D] Gaffa [Denmark] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  70. [Gf_N] Gaffa [Norway] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  71. [Gg] Google (50,20,10,5,1) -- search for 'best records 2016'
  72. [Glm] Glamour (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  73. [Got] Gothamist (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
  74. [GTV] God Is in the TV (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  75. [Gw] Gigwise [UK] (51,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  76. [HDX] HipHopDX [US] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  77. [HG] Hip-Hop Golden Age (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  78. [Hi] Hipersonica [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  79. [HS] Highsnobiety (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  80. [Huh] Huh [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  81. [HV] Humanizing the Vacuum [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  82. [HyB] HypeBeast (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  83. [I] The Independent [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  84. [In] Intro [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  85. [Int] The Interns (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  86. [Is] Indiestyle [Belgium] (52,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  87. [IT] Irish Times: Jim Carroll (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  88. [JB] The Jazz Breakfast (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  89. [JC] NPR Jazz Critics Poll (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  90. [JC_r] NPR Jazz Critics Poll: Reissues (40,20,10,5,1)
  91. [JG] Jason Gubbels (200,,10,5,1) [link] -- rank from P&J
  92. [Jp] Jenesaispop [Spain] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  93. [JW] Jazzwise [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  94. [Kp] Kalporz [Italy] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  95. [KS] KSDB (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  96. [LA] LA Music Blog (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  97. [LBF] The Line of Best Fit [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  98. [LP] Lex Pretend (30,20,10,5,1) -- ILXOR
  99. [LQ] Loud and Quiet [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  100. [LR] Les inRocks [France] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  101. [Lt] Laut [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  102. [LW] Louder Than War [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- ACL has different list, records on it but not on website list counted +
  103. [Mc] Metacritic: best-reviewed (40,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + best-reviewed fewer reviews, reissues/box sets
  104. [Mg] Magnet [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  105. [MHR] MeHaceRuido [Mexico]: International (45,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  106. [Mix] Mixmag [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  107. [Mj] Mojo [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  108. [MN] Music-News.com [UK] (28,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  109. [MO] Music OMH [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  110. [Ms] Mondosonoro [Spain]: International (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  111. [Mu] Musikexpress [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  112. [Mw] Mowno [France] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  113. [Mz] Muzikalia [Spain]: International (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  114. [N] Noisey (Vice) (100,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  115. [Nc] Narrowcast (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  116. [Nd] Newsday: Glenn Gamboa (25,20,10,5,1) [link] -- says "so far" but updated Dec. 22
  117. [Ne] The Needle Drop (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  118. [NH] Nicky Heisenberg (71,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + B+
  119. [Ni] Nialler9 (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  120. [NME] NME [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  121. [NN] New Noise [France] (85,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  122. [No] Norman Records [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  123. [NoD] No Depression: readers poll (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  124. [Noj] Nojesguiden [Sweden]: International (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  125. [NPR] NPR (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  126. [NR] No Ripcord [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  127. [NZH] New Zealand Herald (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  128. [Ob] The Obelisk (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- ILXOR
  129. [On] Ondarock [Italy] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  130. [Oo] Oor [Netherlands] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  131. [Or] The Oregonian: David Greenwald (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  132. [OS] Obscure Sound (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- only [11-50]
  133. [OTR] Off the Record Version 5.1 (67,20,10,5,1) [link]
  134. [P] Paste (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  135. [PA] Pretty Much Amazing [US] (60,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  136. [Pax] Pass the Aux (25,20,105,1) [link]
  137. [Pc] Piccadilly Records [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  138. [PCr] Pop Crush (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  139. [Pf] Pitchfork (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  140. [Pf_r] Pitchfork [US]: reader poll (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  141. [Pg] Pigeons & Planes [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  142. [Ph] Phonica (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  143. [Ph_c] Phonica: Compilations (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  144. [Ph_r] Phonica: Reissues/Collections (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  145. [Plt] Plattentests [Germany] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  146. [PM] PopMatters (70,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  147. [PM_r] PopMatters: Reissues (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  148. [PO] Phil Overeem (40,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + best of the rest
  149. [Ps] Popsugar (,18,10,5,1) [link]
  150. [Pu] Punktastic (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  151. [PW] Passion of the Weiss (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  152. [Q] Q [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  153. [Qt] The Quietus [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  154. [Qt_r] The Quietus: Reissues (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- skipped podcasts
  155. [RA] Resident Advisor [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  156. [RB] Red Bull [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  157. [RB_A] Red Bull [Australia] (21,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  158. [Rdx] Rockdelux [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  159. [Re] Recorder [Hungary] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  160. [Rev] Revolver [US] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  161. [RM] Resident Music [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  162. [Ri] Rise Records [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  163. [Ro] Rockerilla [Italy] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  164. [RS] Rolling Stone [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  165. [RS_A] Rolling Stone [Australia] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  166. [RS_Ar] Rolling Stone [Argentina] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  167. [RS_B] Rolling Stone [Brazil] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  168. [RS_c] Rolling Stone [US]: country (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  169. [RS_D] Rolling Stone [Germany] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  170. [RS_F] Rolling Stone [France] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  171. [RS_r] Rolling Stone: Rap (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  172. [RSc] Radio Scorpio [Belgium] (106,20,10,5,1) -- ILXOR
  173. [RSh] Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  174. [RT] Rough Trade [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  175. [RU] Rap-Up (20,5,1) [link]
  176. [Rum] Rumore [Italy] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  177. [Rx] Robert Christgau: Dean's List (86,20,10,5,1) [link]
  178. [S] Spin [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  179. [S45] Super 45 [Chile] (45,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  180. [SBR] Sounds Better With Reverb: shoegaze and dream pop (60,20,10,5,1) [link]
  181. [SC] Spectrum Culture (,20,10,10,5,1) [ref link]
  182. [Scr] Screenagers [Poland] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  183. [SE] Stephen Thomas Erlewine (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  184. [Sg] Stereogum [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  185. [Sg_h] Stereogum [US]: rap (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  186. [Si] Soundi [Finland]: International (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  187. [Sk] The Skinny [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  188. [Sl] Slant [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  189. [So] Sonic [Sweden] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  190. [SOp] Sound Opinions (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  191. [Sp] Spex [Germany] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  192. [Spk] Sputnik Music [US]: staff (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  193. [SR] Sister Ray [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) -- ILXOR + "Sister Ray Ace"
  194. [SS] Sound & Silence (90,20,10,5,1) [link]
  195. [St] State [Ireland] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  196. [Te] Terrorizer (50,20,10,5,1) -- ILXOR
  197. [TG] Ted Gioia [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  198. [Th] Thump (33,20,10,5,1) [link]
  199. [Thr] Thrillist (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  200. [TL] Tom Lane (62,20,10,5,1) -- email
  201. [TMT] Tiny Mix Tapes (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  202. [TN] Time Out New York (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  203. [TO] Time Out London [UK] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  204. [Top] Tonspion [Germany] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  205. [Top] Top Songs [Brazil] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  206. [Tr] Treble [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  207. [Trk] Truck Music Store [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  208. [TS] The Times/Sunday Times [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- source (unreadable) implies 100 long
  209. [Tsu] Tsugi [France] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  210. [Tx] Textura [Canada] (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  211. [U] Uncut [UK] (75,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  212. [Upr] Uproxx: The Smoking Section (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  213. [Upr_c] Uproxx: Country (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  214. [Upr_h] Uproxx: Stephen Hyden (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  215. [UR] Under the Radar [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  216. [V] Vibe (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  217. [Va] Variance [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  218. [VF] Vinyl Factory (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  219. [VF_r] Vinyl Factory: Reissues (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  220. [Vi] Visions [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  221. [VL] A Voir, a Lire [France] (45,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  222. [VMP] Vinyl Me, Please (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  223. [W] Wire (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  224. [Wat] Waterloo Records [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  225. [WHP] The Wild Honey Pie (30,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  226. [Yam] Yam: Camiele (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  227. [YF] Young Folks (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  228. [YW] Ye Wei Blog (76,20,10,5,1) [link]
  229. [YW_r] Ye Wei Blog: reissues (52,20,10,5,1)
  230. [Zf] Zundfunk [Germany] (80,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  231. [2db] 2DopeBoyz () [link] -- on 5 lists: +++, 3-4 lists: ++, on 1-2 lists: +
  232. [3v] 3vor12 [Netherlands] (10,5,1)
  233. [a_b] Austin 360: Peter Blackstock (10,5,1)
  234. [a_s] Austin 360: Deborah Sengupta Stith (10,5,1) [link]
  235. [a_w] Austin 360: Eric Webb (10,5,1)
  236. [ab] Amoeba Blog () [link] -- unsorted genre lists
  237. [ac] Austin Chronicle (10,5,1) -- MC
  238. [ad] Arctic Drones (50) [link]
  239. [af] Ad Fontes: Patrick Schreiner (9,5,1) [link]
  240. [afp] Afropop (Stocking Stuffers) (31) -- ILXOR
  241. [ah] AdHoc (21) [link]
  242. [al] Argus Leader: Matt Zimmer (10,5,1) [link]
  243. [am] AllMusic [US] () [ref link]
  244. [aol] AOL (10,5,1) [ref link]
  245. [ap] Alternative Press (30) [ref link]
  246. [ap_f] Associated Press: Mesfin Fekadu (10,5,1)
  247. [aqd] Aquarium Drunkard () [link] -- unranked
  248. [ard] Artist Direct (10,5,1) [link]
  249. [at] The Attic () [link]
  250. [atl] The Atlantic (10,5,1) [ref link]
  251. [av] Avant Music News () [link] -- records of the year: 3, best of: 2, HM: 1
  252. [avr] Avalanche Records (20,5,1) [link]
  253. [ax] AXS (14,5,1) [link]
  254. [ax_a] AXS: Americana (15,5,1) [link]
  255. [az] AZcentral (12,5,1) [link]
  256. [azr] Arizona Republic: Ed Maskey (10,5,1)
  257. [b_a] The Boot: Americana, Alt-Country and Folk (10,5,1) [link]
  258. [b_c] The Boot: Country (10,5,1) [link]
  259. [bb_d] Billboard: Dance/Electronic (10,5,1) [link]
  260. [bb_r] Billboard: R&B (10,5,1) [ref link]
  261. [bb1] BBC Radio 1: Annie Mac (12,5,1) [link]
  262. [bb6] BBC Radio 6 [UK] (10,5,1) [ref link] -- top 10 + HMs
  263. [bbn] BBC News (20,5,1) [link] -- aggregate of 20 lists
  264. [bc] Baltimore City Paper: Nonlocal (10,5,1)
  265. [bf] BuzzFeed: Reggie Ugwu (17,5,1) [link]
  266. [bg_b] Boston Globe: Julian Benbow (10,5,1) [link]
  267. [bg_g] Boston Globe: Jon Garelick (10,5,1) [link]
  268. [bg_j] Boston Globe: Maura Johnston (10,5,1) [link]
  269. [bg_m] Boston Globe: Siddhartha Mitter (10,5,1) [link]
  270. [blg] Bruce Lee Galanter (DMG) () [link]
  271. [bl] Bleep [UK] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  272. [bp] Berkeley Place (10,5,1) [link]
  273. [bu] Blow Up [Italy] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  274. [bum] Bullet Music (20,5,1) [link]
  275. [cau] Cambridge Audio () [link]
  276. [cho] Charlotte Observer (10,5,1)
  277. [col] The Coli: Hip Hop (10,5,1) [link]
  278. [cos] Cosmopolitan (15,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  279. [cr_e] Crave: Electronic (6) [link]
  280. [cr_h] Crave: Hip Hop (7) [link]
  281. [cr_r] Crave: Rock (7) [link]
  282. [crk] Jordan Cronk (30,5,1) [ref link]
  283. [cst] Country Standard Time (20,5,1) [link]
  284. [ct] Chicago Tribune [US]: Greg Kot (20,5,1) [link]
  285. [ct_j] Chicago Tribune [US]: Howard Reich (10,5,1) [link]
  286. [cu] Country Universe (20,5,1) [link]
  287. [d_bd] Dusted: Ben Donnelly ()
  288. [d_im] Dusted: Iam Mathers () [link]
  289. [d_jb] Dusted: Joseph Burnett () [link]
  290. [d_jc] Dusted: Justin Cober-Lake (10,5,1) [link]
  291. [d_jk] Dusted: Jennifer Kelly (10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
  292. [db] Downbeat () -- from Jan. 2007 issue: 3 *****, 2 ****(*), 1 (****)
  293. [db_s] Daily Beast: Marlow Stern (10,5,1) [link]
  294. [df] The Digital Fix (30) [ref link]
  295. [diy] DIY (16) [ref link]
  296. [dm] De Morgen [Belgium] (10) [link]
  297. [ds_a] Sean Adams (Drowned in Sound) (20,5,1) [link]
  298. [dys] Dying Scene (10,5,1)
  299. [e_uk] Esquire [UK] (20,5,1) [ref link] -- unnumbered but looks ordered
  300. [ew_c] Entertainment Weekly: country (10,5,1) [ref link]
  301. [ex_c] Exclaim [Canada]: Folk and Country (10,5,1) [link]
  302. [ex_e] Exclaim [Canada]: Electronic (10,5,1) [link]
  303. [ex_h] Exclaim [Canada]: Hip-Hop (15,5,1) [link]
  304. [ex_i] Exclaim [Canada]: Improv/Avant-Garde (10) [link]
  305. [ex_m] Exclaim [Canada]: Metal/Hardcore (10,5,1) [link]
  306. [ex_r] Exclaim [Canada]: Soul/R&B (15,5,1) [link]
  307. [ex_u] Exclaim [Canada]: Underrated (10) [link]
  308. [exp] Exposed [UK] (20) [ref link]
  309. [fa] Fader (24) [ref link]
  310. [fd] Francis Davis (10,5,1) [link] -- + other mentions
  311. [fg] Faded Glamour (10,5,1) [link]
  312. [fj] Free Jazz Collective (10,5,1) [link]
  313. [fl] Fly (39) [link]
  314. [fo] Far Out ()
  315. [fr_r] fRoots: reissues/compilations (20,5,1)
  316. [fra] Fractured Air (16,5,1) [link]
  317. [fru] Fred Rudofsky (Nippertown) (27,5,1) [link]
  318. [fw] Flavorwire [US] (10) [ref link]
  319. [fws] Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Preston Jones (10,5,1)
  320. [g_e] Guardian/Observer: Kitty Empire (10,5,1) [link]
  321. [gd_p] Goute Mes Disques [France]: pop/rock (15,5,1) [ref link]
  322. [ge] Go Erie: Dr Rock (Dave Richards) (10,5,1) [link]
  323. [gig] GIGsoup (13,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  324. [gl] Glide [US] (h,a) [ref link] -- alphabetical, ++ for main list, + for honorable mentions
  325. [glm] Glamour (10,5,1)
  326. [go] Go (Omaha World Herald: Kevin Coffey) (10,5,1) [link]
  327. [gq] GQ (10,5,1) [link]
  328. [hb] Harper's Bazaar: Erica Gonzales (10,5,1)
  329. [hhm] Hip Hop N More (10,5,1) [link]
  330. [hic] High Clouds () [link]
  331. [hnh] Hot New Hip Hop (20,5,1) [link]
  332. [hp_c] Houston Press: Country (10,5,1) [link]
  333. [hs] Headstuff (10,5,1) [link]
  334. [hu] Humo [Belgium] (15,5,1) [ref link]
  335. [id] Idolator (15,5,1) [ref link]
  336. [ie] Irish Examiner (10,5,1) [link]
  337. [in] Insider: Calley Gleeson (10,5,1) [link]
  338. [is] InStyle (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  339. [it] Irish Times [Ireland] (10,5,1) [link]
  340. [jadh] Nextbop: Anthony Dean-Harris (10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
  341. [jad] JJA: Alex Dutilh (10) [link]
  342. [jap] FJC: Antonio Poscic (10,5,1)
  343. [jbk] AAJ: Budd Kopman () [link]
  344. [jbs] Bret Saunders (Denver Post) (10,5,1) [link]
  345. [jc] Juice [Germany]: international (10,5,1) [ref link]
  346. [jcah] AAJ: C Andrew Hovan () [link]
  347. [jcb] Clive Davis (Sunday Times) (10,5,1) [link]
  348. [jcg] FJC: Colin Green (10,5,1)
  349. [jcg] FJC: Chris Haines (10,5,1)
  350. [jcmb] AAJ: C Michael Bailey () [link]
  351. [jd] Joey Daniewicz (10,5,1) [link]
  352. [jda] JJA: David R Adler (10,5,1) -- + debuts, historical, other important releases
  353. [jdb] AAJ/JCP: Dan Bilawsky (10,5,1) -- 1-10 order from JCP
  354. [jdm] AAJ: Dan McClenaghan () [link]
  355. [jdme] FJC: David Menestres (10,5,1)
  356. [jds] FJC: Dan Sorrells (10,5,1)
  357. [jdt] Dusted: Derek Taylor () [link] -- JCP rank
  358. [jeh] FJC: Eyal Hareuveni (10)
  359. [jel] FJC: Eric McDowell (10,5,1)
  360. [jfk] Fred Kaplan (Stereophile/Slate) (10,5,1) [link]
  361. [jgg] George Grella (Big City Blog) (10,5,1) [link]
  362. [jgt] AAJ: Geno Thackara () [link]
  363. [jha] JJA: Hrayr Attarian (13,5,1) [link] -- +AAJ
  364. [jhm] JJA: Howard Mandel (12,5,1) -- + historical, etc
  365. [jhs] Hank Shteamer (10,5,1) -- JCP rank
  366. [jja] Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe: Judy Adams () [link]
  367. [jjb] AAJ: Jakob Baekgaard () [link]
  368. [jjc] John Chacona (10,5,1) [link]
  369. [jjh] J Hunter (26,5,1) [link]
  370. [jjl] JJA: Joe Lang () [link]
  371. [jjn] AAJ: James Nadal () [link]
  372. [jjs] JJA: John Szwed (18,5,1) [link]
  373. [jjsh] AAJ: John Sharpe () [link] -- JCP order
  374. [jjw] AAJ: Jerome Wilson () [link]
  375. [jka] AAJ/JJA: Karl Ackermann (10,5,1) [link] -- + historical, etc
  376. [jkf] Ken Franckling (10,5,1) [link] -- + historical, etc
  377. [jlre] FJC: Lee Rice Epstein (10,5,1)
  378. [jly] JJA: Linda Yohn (16,5,1) [link]
  379. [jma] JJA: Mirian Arbalejo (10,5,1) [link]
  380. [jmas] Michael Asimos (10,5,1) [link]
  381. [jmb] JJA: Marcela Breton (11,5,1) [link]
  382. [jmc] AAJ: Mark Corroto (10,5,1) -- rank JCP
  383. [jmr] AAJ: Michael Ricci () [link]
  384. [jms] AAJ:Mark Sullivan () [link]
  385. [jmsc] FSC: Martin Schray (10,5,1)
  386. [jmt] AAJ: Mark F Turner () [link]
  387. [jna] JJA: Nancy Barell (10) [link] -- unranked
  388. [jnd] AAJ: Nick Davies () [link]
  389. [jng] AAJ: Nenad Georgievski () [link]
  390. [jnn] AAJ,FJC: Nicola Negri () [link]
  391. [jpa] FJC: Paul Acquaro (10,5,1)
  392. [jpb] AAJ: Phil Barnes () [link]
  393. [jpm] Peter Margasak: Chicago Reader (10,5,1) [link]
  394. [jrb] SounDiego: Robert Bush (10,5,1) [link]
  395. [jrj] JJA: Reuben Jackson (10,5,1) [link]
  396. [jrm] JJA: Ralph Miriello (26) [link]
  397. [jrn] Jazz Right Now (20,5,1) [link]
  398. [jrs] JJA: W Royal Stokes (*,10) [link] -- *2, + "notable 2016 releases"
  399. [jsf] JJA: Steve Feeney (10,5,1) [link]
  400. [jsg] FJC: Stef Gijssels (11,5,1)
  401. [jtb] FJC: Tom Burris (10,5,1)
  402. [jtc] AAJ: Troy Collins (10,5,1) [link]
  403. [jtd] AAJ/FJC: Troy Dostert () -- JCP rank
  404. [jtm] JJA: Tony McGee (20,5,1) [link]
  405. [jtr] JJA: Travis Rogers Jr (Jazz Owl) ()
  406. [jy] Joe Yanosik (10,5,1) -- on facebook
  407. [k] Kerrang (10,5,1)
  408. [kc] KCRW (10,5,1) [ref link]
  409. [kf] Knack Focus [Belgium] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  410. [kq] KQED (20) [link]
  411. [la_a] Los Angeles Times: August Brown (10,5,1) [link]
  412. [la_b] Los Angeles Times: Jazz [Chris Barton] (10,5,1) [link] -- + "worth listening to"
  413. [la_k] Los Angeles Times: Gerrick Kennedy (10,5,1) [link]
  414. [la_l] Los Angeles Times: Randy Lewis (10,5,1) [link]
  415. [la_m] Los Angeles Times: Todd Martens (10,5,1) [link]
  416. [la_r] Los Angeles Times: Randall Roberts (10,5,1) [link]
  417. [la_w] Los Angeles Times: Mikael Wood (10,5,1) [link]
  418. [lfl] Live for Live Music () [link] -- Tier 1: +++, Tier 2: ++, Tier 3 + rest: +
  419. [lhb] Largehearted Boy (11) [link] -- ++ for favorite
  420. [ljs] Lincoln Journal Star: L Kent Wolgamott (10,5,1)
  421. [lw] LA Weekly: LA albums (20,5,1) [link]
  422. [lwr] Loudwire (10,5,1) [link] -- From MC (10/20)
  423. [ma] Mashable (10,5,1) [link]
  424. [mac] Maclean's: Adrian Lee (10) [link]
  425. [mc_u] Metacritic: Users Poll (15,5,1) [link]
  426. [mf] The Music Fix () [ref link] -- looks like same as Digital Fix
  427. [mh] Metal Hammer (10,5,1) -- MC
  428. [mi] Metal Injection (10,5,1) -- MC
  429. [mic] Mic: Jordan Appugliesi (11,5,1) [link]
  430. [mj] Mother Jones: Jon Young () -- MC
  431. [mut] Music Times: Ryan Middleton (10,5,1) -- MC
  432. [mw] Metro Weekly (10,5,1) [link]
  433. [n_a] Napster: Alternative (10,5,1) [link]
  434. [n_c] Napster: Country (10,5,1) [link]
  435. [n_h] Napster: Hip-Hop (10,5,1) [link]
  436. [n_k] Napster: Rock (10,5,1) [link]
  437. [n_p] Napster: Pop (11,5,1) [link]
  438. [n_r] Napster: R&B (10,5,1) [link]
  439. [nat] The Nation: David Hajdu (10) [link]
  440. [nb] Nextbop (10,5,1) [link]
  441. [now] NOW (Toronto) [Canada] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  442. [npr_b] NPR [US]: Bob Boilen (10,5,1) -- MC
  443. [npr_d] NPR [US]: David Dye (10,5,1) [link] -- MC
  444. [npr_f] NPR [US]: Folk Alley () -- MC
  445. [npr_h] NPR [US]: Robin Hilton (10,5,1) -- MC
  446. [npr_o] NPR [US]: Recommended Dose: Piotr Orlov (10) -- MC
  447. [npr_p] NPR [US]: Ann Powers (10) [link]
  448. [npr_s] NPR [US]: Stephen Thompson (10,5,1) -- MC
  449. [npr_t] NPR: Ken Tucker () [link]
  450. [nrd] Nerdist (15,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  451. [nt] Northern Transmissions (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  452. [nw] Newsweek (20,5,1) [ref link]
  453. [ny] New York Magazine: Craig Jenkins (15,5,1) [ref link]
  454. [ny_c] New York Times [US]: Jon Carmanica (15,5,1)
  455. [ny_ch] New York Times [US]: Nate Chinen (10,5,1)
  456. [ny_p] New York Times [US]: Jon Pareles (10,5,1) [link]
  457. [nyl] Nylon (10,5,1) -- MC
  458. [nyo_h] New York Observer: Hip-Hop (10,5,1) [link]
  459. [nyo_j] New York Observer: Jazz (20,5,1) [link]
  460. [nyo_r] New York Observer: R&B (10,5,1) [link]
  461. [okp] Okayplayer (16) [link]
  462. [owl] The Owl (20) [ref link] -- unranked
  463. [p] People: Jeff Nelson (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  464. [pb] Philip Brasor (10,5,1) [link]
  465. [pbl] Pop! Blerd () [link]
  466. [pf_e] Pitchfork [US]: electronic (20) [link] [ref link]
  467. [pf_k] Pitchfork [US]: rock (20) [ref link]
  468. [pf_p] Pitchfork [US]: pop/r&b (20) [ref link]
  469. [pf_r] Pitchfork [US]: rap (20) [ref link]
  470. [pf_x] Pitchfork [US]: experimental (20) [ref link]
  471. [ph] Peter Hum (Ottawa Citizen) (23,5,1) [link] -- + other mentions
  472. [phe] Pop Heart Etc (20,5,1) [link]
  473. [phw] Phawker (21,5,1) [link]
  474. [pi] Philadelphia Inquirier: Dan DeLuca (10,5,1) [link]
  475. [pj] PJ Media (15,5,1) [link] -- +HM
  476. [ple] Pledge Music () [link]
  477. [pm_a] PopMatters: Americana (15,5,1) [link]
  478. [pm_e] PopMatters: Electronic (20,5,1) [link]
  479. [pm_g] PopMatters: Shoegaze and Dream Pop (10,5,1) [link]
  480. [pm_h] PopMatters: Hip-Hop (15,5,1) [link]
  481. [pm_i] PopMatters: Indie Pop (10,5,1) [ref link]
  482. [pm_j] PopMatters: Jazz (10,5,1) [link]
  483. [pm_k] PopMatters: Prog Rock/Metal (10,5,1) [ref link]
  484. [pm_m] PopMatters: Metal (20,5,1) [ref link]
  485. [pm_p] PopMatters: Pop (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  486. [pm_s] PopMatters: R&B/Soul (15,5,1) [link]
  487. [pm_v] PopMatters: Avant-Garde/Experimental Music (10,5,1) [link]
  488. [pm_w] PopMatters: World (12) [link]
  489. [pn] Pop News [France] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  490. [poj] Popjustice () [link]
  491. [pol] The Politician (10,5,1) [link]
  492. [por] Porcys [Poland] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  493. [pr] Prog (10,5,1) -- MC
  494. [ps] Plastic Sax: from elsewhere (10,5,1) [link] -- +Kansas City
  495. [psj] Piero Scaruffi: Jazz (17,5,1) [link]
  496. [qt_j] The Quietus: Jazz [Stewart Smith] (10,5,1) [link]
  497. [rc] Record Collector [UK] (36,11) [ref link] -- top 11 ++, rest +
  498. [rec] Redeye Chicago: Josh Terry (30) [link]
  499. [rf] Rock&Folk [France] () [ref link]
  500. [ri] The Ringer: Lindsay Zoladz (10,5,1) [ref link]
  501. [rks] Rock Sound (10,5,1) [link]
  502. [rp] Reverb Party () [link]
  503. [rs_a] Rolling Stone [US]: Avant (20,5,1) [link]
  504. [rsp] Resonant Space (20,5,1) [link]
  505. [rx] Radio X (25) [link]
  506. [sa] Sentire Ascoltare [Italy] (310,5,1) [ref link]
  507. [sal] Salon: Max Cea (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  508. [sc] Squidco: best sellers (25) -- email
  509. [sc_k] Squidco: Carl Kruger (25)
  510. [sc_z] Squidco: Phil Zampino (25)
  511. [scm] Saving Country Music (6) [link] -- +++ for "album of the year nominees"; ++ for "most essential"
  512. [sd] Shindig! [UK] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  513. [sdu] San Diego Union Tribune: George Varga (16,5,1) [link]
  514. [sf] Stuff () [link]
  515. [sfj] Sasha Frere-Jones () [ref link] -- "exceptional": ++; "stayed with me": +
  516. [sg_c] Stereogum [US]: Country (20,5,1) [ref link]
  517. [sg_j] Stereogum [US]: Jazz (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  518. [sjm] San Jose Mercury News: Jim Harrington (10,5,1) [link]
  519. [sl] Southern Living (20) [link]
  520. [sl_w] Slate: Carl Wilson (15,10) [link] -- 10 ++, 15 more +
  521. [sln] Soundslike Nashville (16,5,1) [link]
  522. [smh] Sydney Morning Herald: Bernard Zuel (10,5,1) -- MC
  523. [sms] We Eat So Many Shrimp (20,5,1) [link]
  524. [spt] Splice Today (10,5,1) -- MC
  525. [stt] Star-Telegram [Preston Jones] (10,5,1) [link]
  526. [syf] Syffal () [link] -- staff top-5 lists, capped at ++
  527. [tbt] Tampa Bay Times: Jay Cridlin (10,5,1) -- MC
  528. [tc] Taste of Country (10,5,1) [link]
  529. [te] Telerama [France] () [ref link] -- unranked genre lists
  530. [tel] Telstra () [link]
  531. [ti] Time (10,5,1) [ref link]
  532. [tn] Tim Niland [Music & More] (10,5,1) [link]
  533. [tns] The Tennessean: Nashville (17) [link]
  534. [tr_e] Treble [US]: Electronic (10,5,1) [link]
  535. [tr_h] Treble [US]: Hip-Hop (10) [link]
  536. [tr_j] Treble [US]: Jazz (10,5,1) [link]
  537. [tr_m] Treble [US]: Metal (10,5,1) [ref link]
  538. [tr_p] Treble [US]: Pop (7,,1) [link] -- others +
  539. [tw] Thomas Walker (10,5,1) -- on facebook
  540. [tx_r] Textura [Canada]: Reissues (10,5,1) [link]
  541. [ub] Underground Bee (10,5,1) [link] -- + runners up
  542. [ucr] Ultimate Classic Rock (20,5,1) [ref link]
  543. [usw] Us Weekly: Ian Drew (,5,1) -- MC
  544. [v] Variety (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  545. [v_m] Village Voice: "music we missed" () [link]
  546. [vw] Vue Weekly [Canada] () [ref link]
  547. [vu] Vulture (15,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  548. [wi] Wired (12,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- title says 12, but 18 in list
  549. [wi_u] Wired (16,5,1) [ref link]
  550. [wp] Washington Post: Chris Richards (10,5,1) [link]
  551. [wsj] Wall Street Journal: Jim Fusilli () -- MC
  552. [ww] Westword: jazz (Jon Solomon) (10,5,1) [link]
  553. [wx] WXPN/The Key (Philadelphia) (15,5,1) [link]
  554. [xlr] XLR8R () [ref link]
  555. [yh] Yahoo [US] (10,5,1) [link]
  556. [AY] Album of the Year: ratings average (200,20,10,5,1) -- sampled 2017-03-11
  557. [V] Village Voice Pazz & Jop (*,20,10,5,1)

Sources