2018 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. "-2016" 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.
    • 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:
    • Mc:#: Metacritic.com average score : no points.
    • AM:#: Acclaimed Music's Albums Spreadsheets Updates (Feb. 6, 2019): points 200,20,10,5,1.
    • RM:#: Robert Mitchum's Top Albums 2018 spreadsheet: points: 100,20,10,5,1.
    • RC:# Robert Christgau letter grades (1-3 stars are divisions of B+, B+ counts as ***)
    • 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] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  2. [ABC] ABC News/Good Morning America: Allan Raible (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  3. [Al] Albumism (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  4. [Alt] The Alternative (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  5. [Am_h] Amoeba Music: Hip-Hop (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  6. [Am_s] Amoeba Music: Brad Schelden (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  7. [AS] American Songwriter [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  8. [ATH] Austin Town Hall (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  9. [Atl] The Atlantic (24,20,10,5,1) [link]
  10. [AV] AV Club [US] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  11. [BB] Billboard (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  12. [Bc] Bandcamp (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  13. [BIW] Bird Is the Worm (Mark Sumner) (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  14. [Blr] Blare [Canada] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  15. [BS] Bitter Southerner (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  16. [Btz] Blitz [Portugal]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  17. [BV] Brooklyn Vegan (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  18. [BV_r] Brooklyn Vegan: Rap (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  19. [C] Crack [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  20. [Ch] The Chorus.fm [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  21. [Cl] Clash [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- [40-26] only
  22. [CM] Chris Monsen (Perfect Sounds Forever) (54,20,10,5,1) [link] -- sampled 2018-12-20
  23. [Cmp] Complex [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  24. [Cos] Cosmopolitan (,16,19,5,1) -- +M
  25. [Cpu] Counterpunch: Jeffrey St Clair (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  26. [Crh] Crash Records Leeds [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  27. [CS] Consequence of Sound [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  28. [CX] CapitalXtra [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  29. [D] Dazed [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  30. [Dag] Dagbladet [Norway] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  31. [Db] Decibel [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  32. [DJ] Double J [Australia] () [ref link] -- +M
  33. [DJB] DJBooth (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  34. [DJM] DJ Mag (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  35. [Dr] Drift Record Shop [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  36. [DS] Drowned in Sound [UK] (,15,10,5,1) [ref link]
  37. [DT] Digital Trends [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  38. [Du] Dummy [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  39. [Dv] Dagsavisen [Norway] (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  40. [DVk] De Volkskrant [Netherlands] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- skip "Klassiek"
  41. [E_UK] Esquire [UK] (50) [ref link] -- +M
  42. [E_US] Esquire [US] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  43. [Eb] Earbuddy [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  44. [EE] Efe Eme [Spain]: International (,20,10,5,1)
  45. [EW] Entertainment Weekly [US] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  46. [EWi] Expert Witness (Facebook group) (50,20,10,5,1) -- copied from Brad Luen's Facebook post
  47. [Ex] Exclaim! [Canada]: Pop/Rock (,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  48. [F] Fact (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  49. [FB] Fast 'n' Bulbous (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  50. [Fld] Flood [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  51. [FO] Far Out [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  52. [Fp] Fopp [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  53. [FR] fRoots (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  54. [FR_r] fRoots: Reissues/Compilations (,20,10,5,1)
  55. [Fu] Fuse [US] () [ref link]
  56. [Fw] Flavorwire [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  57. [G] Guardian [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  58. [GB] Gorilla Vs Bear [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  59. [GC] Genius: Community (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- +M
  60. [Gf] Gaffa [Sweden] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  61. [Gf_D] Gaffa [Denmark] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  62. [Gf_N] Gaffa [Norway] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  63. [Gg] Google (51,20,10,5,1) -- search for 'best records 2018' [2019-01-15]
  64. [GMg] Greg Magarian (50,20,10,5,1) -- Facebook
  65. [GTV] God Is in the TV (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  66. [Gw] Gigwise [UK] (51,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  67. [HDX] HipHopDX [US] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  68. [HG] Hip-Hop Golden Age (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  69. [Hi] Hipersonica [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  70. [HNH] Hot New Hip Hop (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  71. [HP] Hot Press [Ireland] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- only 1-10 so far
  72. [HS] Highsnobiety (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  73. [HV] Humanizing the Vacuum [US]: Alfred Soto (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + mid-year mentions
  74. [I] The Independent [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  75. [Id] Idolator [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  76. [Int] The Interns (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  77. [JC] NPR Jazz Critics Poll (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + rest of list
  78. [JC_r] NPR Jazz Critics Poll: Reissues (25,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + rest of list
  79. [JT] JazzTimes (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  80. [Ju] Jumbo Records (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  81. [JW] Jazzwise [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  82. [Kp] Kalporz [Italy] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  83. [L] Louder (50,20,10,5,1) -- +M
  84. [L4] Live4ever [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  85. [LBF] The Line of Best Fit [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  86. [LCA] Le Canal Auditif [CAN] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  87. [LLV] Long Live Vinyl [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  88. [LQ] Loud and Quiet [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  89. [LTL] Listening Through the Lens (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  90. [M_ha] Medim: Hanif Abdurraqib (47,20,10,5,1) [link]
  91. [Mc] Metacritic: best-reviewed (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  92. [Mg] Magnet [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  93. [Mix] Mixmag [UK] (50,20,10,5,1)
  94. [Mj] Mojo [UK] (75,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  95. [MO] MusicOMH [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  96. [Ms] Mondosonoro [Spain]: International (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  97. [Mu] Musikexpress [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  98. [Mup] Musicophilia (50,20,10,5,1) -- ilxor
  99. [Mx] Mxdwn (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  100. [Mz] Muzikalia [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  101. [N] Noisey (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  102. [NBH] NBHAP [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  103. [Nd] Newsday: Glenn Gamboa (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  104. [Ne] The Needle Drop (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  105. [Ni] Nialler9 (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  106. [NME] NME [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  107. [No] Norman Records [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  108. [Noj] Nojesguiden [Sweden]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- + Swedish albums (no adds: 8-10,12-13,16-17,20)
  109. [NPR] NPR (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- +M
  110. [NR] No Ripcord [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  111. [NS] Nashville Scene: Country Music Critics Poll (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  112. [NZH] New Zealand Herald (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  113. [Od] Odyssey (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  114. [On] Ondarock [Italy] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  115. [Oo] Oor [Netherlands] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- [1-10]
  116. [OS] Obscure Sound (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  117. [OTR] Off the Record (Phonica) (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  118. [P] Paste (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  119. [PA] Pretty Much Amazing [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  120. [PAM] Pan African Music (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  121. [PAM_r] Pan African Music: Reissues (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  122. [Pap] Paper (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  123. [PB] PopBuzz [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  124. [Pc] Piccadilly Records [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  125. [PCr] Pop Crush () -- +M
  126. [Pf] Pitchfork (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  127. [PM] PopMatters (70,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  128. [PM_r] PopMatters: Reissues (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
  129. [PO] Phil Overeem (25,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + lots more
  130. [PR] Planet Rock [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  131. [Ps] Popsugar [US] (27,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  132. [Pu] Punktastic (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  133. [PW] Passion of the Weiss (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  134. [Q] Q [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  135. [Qt] The Quietus [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  136. [RC] Record Collector [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  137. [Rdx] Rockdelux [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- + national (select)
  138. [Re] Recorder [Hungary] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  139. [Rev] Revolver [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  140. [Rf_h] RIFF Magazine: Max Heilman (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  141. [Rf_k] RIFF Magazine: Kyle Kohner (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  142. [RkS] Rock Sound [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  143. [RM] Resident Music [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  144. [Ro] Rockerilla [Italy] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  145. [RS] Rolling Stone [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  146. [RS_c] Rolling Stone [US]: Country/Americana (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  147. [RS_j] Rolling Stone [US]: Jazz (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  148. [RS_r] Rolling Stone: Hip-Hop (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  149. [RSh] Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  150. [RT] Rough Trade [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  151. [S] Spin [US] (51,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  152. [Sb] Soundblab [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  153. [SC] Spectrum Culture (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  154. [Sg] Stereogum [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- +M
  155. [Sk] The Skinny [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  156. [Sl] Slant [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  157. [So] Sonic [Sweden] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  158. [SOp] Sound Opinions () -- +M
  159. [SR] Sister Ray [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  160. [Thr] Thrillist (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  161. [TMT] Tiny Mix Tapes (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  162. [TNZ] Time Out (NZ) (,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  163. [Tr] Treblezine [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  164. [Trk] Truck Store [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  165. [U] Uncut [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  166. [Up] Uproxx (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  167. [UpC] Uproxx Critics Poll (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- full list runs to 628 albums, with 200 critic ballots
  168. [Ups] Upset (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  169. [UR] Under the Radar [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  170. [V] Village Voice Pazz & Jop (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  171. [VF] Vinyl Factory (50,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  172. [VMP] Vinyl Me, Please [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  173. [W] Wire (50,20,10,5,1) -- ilxor
  174. [WHP] The Wild Honey Pie (30,20,10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  175. [YF] Young Folks (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- +HM
  176. [YW] Ye Wei Blog (Jason Gross) (114,20,10,5,1) [link]
  177. [3v] 3vor12 [Netherlands] (12,5,1) [ref link] -- MC
  178. [ahh] AllHipHop (20) [link] [ref link]
  179. [am] AllMusic [US] () [link] [ref link]
  180. [am_b] AllMusic [US]: blues () [link]
  181. [am_bx] AllMusic [US]: box sets () [link]
  182. [am_c] AllMusic [US]: country () [link]
  183. [am_e] AllMusic [US]: electronic () [link]
  184. [am_f] AllMusic [US]: folk/Americana () [link]
  185. [am_h] AllMusic [US]: rap/hip hop () [link]
  186. [am_i] AllMusic [US]: indie pop/indie rock () [link]
  187. [am_j] AllMusic [US]: jazz () [link]
  188. [am_k] AllMusic [US]: rock () [link]
  189. [am_o] AllMusic [US]: compilations and reissues () [link]
  190. [am_p] AllMusic [US]: pop () [link]
  191. [am_r] AllMusic [US]: r&b () [link]
  192. [am_s] AllMusic [US]: singer/songwriter () [link]
  193. [am_w] AllMusic [US]: latin and world () [link]
  194. [an] Alternative Nation [US] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  195. [art] The Arts Desk (10) -- +M
  196. [asp] The Associated Press (10,5,1) [ref link]
  197. [av_c] AV Club: Country () [ref link]
  198. [av_e] AV Club: Electronic () [ref link]
  199. [av_h] AV Club: Hip-Hop () [ref link]
  200. [av_i] AV Club: Indie & Rock () [ref link]
  201. [av_k] AV Club: Punk and Hardcore () [ref link]
  202. [av_m] AV Club: Metal () [ref link]
  203. [av_p] AV Club: Pop () [ref link]
  204. [ax] AXS (10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  205. [bb_d] Billboard: Dance/Electronic (10,5,1) [ref link]
  206. [bb6] BBC Radio 6 [UK] (10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  207. [bc_j] Bandcamp Daily: Jazz () [link]
  208. [bg_b] Boston Globe: Julian Benbow (10,5,1) -- MC
  209. [bg_c] Boston Globe: Terence Cawley (10,5,1) -- MC
  210. [bg_j] Boston Globe: Maura Johnston (10,5,1) -- MC
  211. [bg_u] Boston Globe: Stuart Munro (10,5,1) -- MC
  212. [bh] Boston Herald: Jed Gottlieb (10,5,1) [link]
  213. [bl] Bleep [UK] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  214. [bsb] B-Sides and Badlands () [ref link] -- +M
  215. [bu] Blow Up [Italy] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  216. [cct] Cape Cod Times: Jim Sullivan (10,5,1) -- MC
  217. [cds] The Cornell Daily Sun [US] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  218. [cmp] Complex [UK] (15,5,1) [ref link]
  219. [cmt] CMT [US] () [link]
  220. [ct] Chicago Tribune [US]: Greg Kot (20,5,1) [link] -- +M
  221. [ct_j] Chicago Tribune [US]: Howard Reich (10,5,1) [link]
  222. [db_s] Daily Beast: Marlow Stern (10,5,1) [link]
  223. [dgc] The Daily Gamecock () -- +M
  224. [e_c] Esquire [US]: country (10,5,1) [ref link]
  225. [ei] El Intruso: writers (,7,1) [link]
  226. [ex_c] Exclaim [Canada]: Folk and Country (10,5,1) [link]
  227. [ex_e] Exclaim [Canada]: Electronic (10,5,1)
  228. [ex_h] Exclaim [Canada]: Hip-Hop (10,5,1) [link]
  229. [ex_m] Exclaim [Canada]: Metal/Hardcore (10,5,1) [link]
  230. [ex_s] Exclaim [Canada]: Soul/R&B (10,5,1)
  231. [ex_2] Exclaim [Canada]: Experimental and Modern Composition (10,5,1)
  232. [fd] Francis Davis (10,5,1) [link]
  233. [fj] Free Jazz Collective: Happy Ears () [link] -- critics + readers
  234. [fu] The Fulcrum [Canada] (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  235. [g_e] Guardian/Observer: Kitty Empire (10,5,1) [ref link]
  236. [gc] Guerrilla Candy [Travis Hay] (10,5,1) [link]
  237. [gl] Glide [US] (40,20) [ref link] -- ++ for main list (20), + for honorable mentions (20)
  238. [got] Gothamist () [ref link]
  239. [gq] GQ [US] () [ref link]
  240. [hc_d] Houston Chronicle: Andrew Dansby (10,5,1) -- MC
  241. [hc_g] Houston Chronicle: Joey Guerra (10,5,1) -- MC
  242. [hc_m] Houston Chronicle: Mike Damante (10,5,1) -- MC
  243. [hdx_r] HipHopDX: R&B (10,5,1) [ref link]
  244. [hhv] HHVMAG [Germany] () -- http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7059
  245. [hmv] HMV [UK] () [ref link]
  246. [hyb] HypeBeast (10) [ref link]
  247. [id] Idolator (15,5,1) [ref link]
  248. [ir] In Review [US] (10,5,1) -- MC
  249. [j_p] Jazz.pt: International (18,5,1) [link] -- + national, historical
  250. [jadu] FJC: Alexander Dubovoy (10,5,1)
  251. [jan] VV/JCP: Alex Henderson (10,5,1)
  252. [jap] FJC: Antonio Poscic (10,5,1)
  253. [jbm] JJA: Bill Milkowski (50,5,1) [link]
  254. [jc] Juice [Germany]: international rap (10,5,1) [ref link]
  255. [jcg] FJC: Colin Green (10,5,1)
  256. [jch] FJC: Chris Haines (10,5,1)
  257. [jcm] AAJ: Chris May () [link]
  258. [jcmb] AAJ: C Michael Bailey () [link]
  259. [jdc] AAJ: Doug Collette () [link]
  260. [jdb] AAJ/JCP: Dan Bilawsky (10,5,1) [link]
  261. [jdm] AAJ: Dan McClenaghan () [link]
  262. [jdme] FJC: David Menestres (10,5,1)
  263. [jdt] Dusted: Derek Taylor () [link]
  264. [jeh] FJC: Eyal Hareuveni (10,5,1)
  265. [jel] VV+JCP: Eugene Holley Jr (10,5,1)
  266. [jfk] Fred Kaplan (Slate) (10,5,1) [link] -- JCP
  267. [jfkz] AAJ: Friedrich Kunzmann () [link]
  268. [jfn] Fotis Nikolakopoulos (10,5,1)
  269. [jgl] FJC: Gustav Lindqvist (10,5,1)
  270. [jgm] FJC: Greg Millerl (10,5,1)
  271. [jgt] AAJ: Geno Thackara () [link]
  272. [jha] JJA/JCP: Hrayr Attarian (13,5,1) [link]
  273. [jhs] VV+JCP: Hank Shteamer (10,5,1) -- JCP rank
  274. [jjc] John Chacona (10,5,1) [link]
  275. [jjg] VV+JCP: Jason Gubbels (10,5,1)
  276. [jjk] AAJ: John Kelman () [link]
  277. [jjm] Jim Macnie (Lament for a Straight Line) (10,5,1) [link] -- unranked top-30, rank from JCP
  278. [jlre] FJC: Lee Rice Epstein (10,5,1)
  279. [jjsh] AAJ: John Sharpe () [link]
  280. [jjw] AAJ: Jerome Wilson () [link]
  281. [jkp] FJC: Keith Prosk (10,5,1)
  282. [jlb] VV/JCP: Larry Blumenfeld (10,5,1)
  283. [jmc] AAJ: Mark Corroto (10,5,1) [link] -- rank JCP
  284. [jmj] JCP: Martin Johnson (10,5,1)
  285. [jmju] AAJ: Mike Jurkovic () [link]
  286. [jms] AAJ:Mark Sullivan () [link]
  287. [jmsc] FSC: Martin Schray (10,5,1)
  288. [jnm] FJC: Nick Metzger (10,5,1)
  289. [jno] FJC: Nick Ostrum (10,5,1)
  290. [jpa] FJC: Paul Acquaro (10,5,1) [link]
  291. [jpm] Peter Margasak (20,5,1) [link]
  292. [jrsc] Richard Scheinin (25,10,5) -- from Facebook
  293. [jsb] FJC: Stuart Broomer (10,5,1)
  294. [jsg] FJC: Stef Gijssels (10,5,1)
  295. [jss] FSC: Sammy Stein (10,5,1)
  296. [jt_r] Jazz Times: Historical (10,5,1) [link]
  297. [jtb] FJC: Tom Burris (10,5,1)
  298. [jtd] AAJ/FJC: Troy Dostert (10,5,1) [link] -- JCP order
  299. [ju] Junkee (20) [ref link]
  300. [jvv] VV/JCP: Michael Agovino) (10,5,1)
  301. [jz] Jazziz () [link]
  302. [kc] KCRW (10,5,1) [ref link]
  303. [key] The Key WXPN [US] (15,5,1) [ref link]
  304. [la_l] Los Angeles Times: Randy Lewis (10,5,1) -- MC
  305. [la_w] Los Angeles Times: Mikael Wood (10,5,1) -- MC
  306. [lw_m] Loudwire: Metal (30,5,1) [ref link]
  307. [lw_r] Loudwire: Rock (20,5,1) [ref link]
  308. [maj] Maura Johnston () -- +M
  309. [mc] Marie Claire () -- +M
  310. [mc_u] Metacritic: Users Poll (15,5,1) [ref link]
  311. [mj] Mother Jones: Jon Young () [link]
  312. [mj_v] Mother Jones: Sam Van Pykeren (10,5,1) -- MC
  313. [mmg] Magnetic Magazine () [ref link] -- MC
  314. [mms] Music Musings and Such () [link]
  315. [naj] The New Yorker: Archival Jazz () [link]
  316. [nap] The New Yorker: Amanda Petrusich (10) [ref link]
  317. [nat] The Nation: David Hajdu (10,5,1)
  318. [nod] No Depression () [ref link] -- top 7: ++, rest +
  319. [now] NOW Magazine (Toronto) [Canada] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  320. [np] National Post (10,5,1) [link]
  321. [npr_b] NPR [US]: Bob Boilen (10,5,1)
  322. [npr_c] NPR [US]: Nate Chinen (10,5,1)
  323. [npr_m] NPR [US]: Lyndsey McKenna ()
  324. [npr_s] NPR [US]: Stephen Thompson (10,5,1)
  325. [npr_t] NPR: Ken Tucker ()
  326. [nt] Northern Transmissions (10,5,1) -- +M
  327. [nw] Newsweek (11) [link]
  328. [ny_c] New York Times [US]: Jon Caramanica (15,5,1) [ref link]
  329. [ny_p] New York Times [US]: Jon Pareles (10,5,1) [link]
  330. [ny_u] New York Times [US]: Giovanni Russonello (Jazz) (20,5,1) [link]
  331. [ny_x] New York Times [US]: Boxed Sets () [link]
  332. [nyp] New York Post () [ref link]
  333. [okp] Okayplayer (18,5,1) [ref link]
  334. [owh] Omaha World Herald: Kevin Coffey () -- +M
  335. [p] People (10,5,1) [ref link]
  336. [p_j] Paste [US]: jazz (10,5,1) [ref link]
  337. [pam_r] Pan African Music: Rap (15,5,1) [link]
  338. [pf_e] Pitchfork [US]: electronic () [ref link]
  339. [pf_k] Pitchfork [US]: rock () [ref link]
  340. [pf_r] Pitchfork [US]: rap () [ref link]
  341. [pf_x] Pitchfork [US]: experimental () [ref link]
  342. [pi] Philadelphia Inquirier (10) [ref link] -- ten unranked ++, 10 HM +
  343. [pm_a] PopMatters: Americana (20,5,1) [ref link]
  344. [pm_b] PopMatters: Ambient/Instrumental (10,5,1) [ref link]
  345. [pm_c] PopMatters: Country (10,5,1) [ref link]
  346. [pm_d] PopMatters: Shoegaze/Dream Pop (12,5,1) [ref link]
  347. [pm_e] PopMatters: Electronic (25,5,1) [ref link]
  348. [pm_f] PopMatters: Folk (20,5,1) [link]
  349. [pm_h] PopMatters: Hip-Hop (10,5,1) [ref link]
  350. [pm_i] PopMatters: Indie Pop (10,5,1) [ref link]
  351. [pm_j] PopMatters: Jazz () [link]
  352. [pm_k] PopMatters: Indie Rock (10,5,1) [ref link]
  353. [pm_p] PopMatters: Pop (15,5,1) [ref link]
  354. [pm_v] PopMatters: Avant-Garde/Experimental Music (20,5,1) [ref link]
  355. [pm_w] PopMatters: World (10,5,1) [ref link]
  356. [pmc] Portland Mercury () -- MC
  357. [por] Porcys [Poland] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  358. [ra] Resident Advisor () [ref link]
  359. [rak] Roads & Kingdoms () [link]
  360. [re] Relevant (10,5,1) [link]
  361. [ref] Refinery 29 (10,5,1) [ref link]
  362. [ri] The Ringer (10,5,1) [link] [ref link] -- +M
  363. [rs_a] Rolling Stone [US]: Avant (10,5,1) [ref link]
  364. [rs_p] Rolling Stone [US]: pop (20,10,1) [ref link]
  365. [rs_s] Rolling Stone [US]: R&B (10,5,1) [ref link]
  366. [rte] RTE [Ireland] (1) -- MC, 1 + unranked
  367. [rtv] Revolt TV [US]: Rap (11,5,1) [ref link]
  368. [rut] Ruta 66 [Spain]: international (15,5,1) [ref link] -- + select national
  369. [rx] Radio X (28) [ref link]
  370. [sa] Sentire Ascoltare [Italy] () [ref link]
  371. [scm] Saving Country Music () [link] -- +++ for aoty, ++ for essential, + for rest
  372. [scm_m] Saving Country Music: Mainstream country (9,5,1) [link]
  373. [sd] Shindig! [UK] (10,5,1) -- MC
  374. [sdc] San Diego City Beat () [link]
  375. [sdu] San Diego Union Tribune: George Varga (10,5,1) [link]
  376. [sfj] VV: Sasha Frere-Jones (10,5,1)
  377. [sg_c] Stereogum [US]: Country (20,5,1) [ref link]
  378. [sg_j] Stereogum [US]: Jazz (10,5,1) [link]
  379. [sg_r] Stereogum [US]: Rap (10,5,1) [link] [ref link]
  380. [sjm] San Jose Mercury News: Jim Harrington (10,5,1) [link]
  381. [sl] Slate: Carl Wilson () [ref link]
  382. [sln] Sounds Like Nashville () -- MC
  383. [smh] Sydney Morning Herald () [ref link]
  384. [so_d] Sound Opinions: Jim DeRogaitis (10,5,1) -- MC
  385. [so_k] Sound Opinions: Greg Kot (10,5,1) -- MC
  386. [sol] Songlines () [ref link]
  387. [st] Sunday Times (10,5,1)
  388. [st_j] Sunday Times: Jazz ()
  389. [stb] The Stingray Blog (10,5,1) [link]
  390. [sw] Seattle Weekly: Seth Sommerfeld (10,5,1) [link]
  391. [tbt] Tampa Bay Times: Jay Cridlin (10,5,1) -- MC
  392. [ti] Time [US] (10,5,1) [ref link] -- +M
  393. [tl] Tom Lane (10,5,1) -- email
  394. [tm] The Music [Australia] (10,5,1) [ref link]
  395. [tms] The Times () [link]
  396. [tn] Tim Niland [Music & More] (10,5,1) [link]
  397. [tns] The Tennessean: Nashville () [link]
  398. [ton] Time Out New York () [ref link]
  399. [tr_e] Treblezine [US]: Electronic (10,5,1) [link]
  400. [tr_h] Treblezine [US]: Hip-Hop (10) [ref link]
  401. [ts] Toronto Star (10) -- MC
  402. [ukv] UKVibe: Jazz (10,5,1) [link]
  403. [up_r] Uproxx: Rap (20,5,1) [ref link]
  404. [usw] US Weekly (10,5,1) [link]
  405. [ust] USA Today () [link]
  406. [v_ab] Variety: Andrew Barker (10,5,1) [ref link]
  407. [v_cm] Variety: Chris Morris (10,5,1)
  408. [v_cw] Variety: Chris Willman (20,5,1)
  409. [v_ja] Variety: Jem Aswad (20,5,1)
  410. [vab] VV: Andrew Bartlett (10,5,1)
  411. [vac] VV: Andrew Casillas (10,5,1)
  412. [vad] VV/JCP: Anthony Dean-Harris (10,5,1)
  413. [vae] VV: Anthony Easton (10,5,1)
  414. [vaf] VV: Alison Fensterstock (10,5,1)
  415. [vah] VV: Aaron Hillis (10,5,1)
  416. [vahm] VV: Andrew Hamlin (10,5,1)
  417. [vak] VV: Andy Kellman (10,5,1)
  418. [val] VV: Alan Light (10,5,1)
  419. [valo] VV: Anthony Lombardi (10,5,1)
  420. [vamp] VV: Alex Macpherson (10,5,1)
  421. [vao] VV:Arsenio Orteza (10,5,1)
  422. [vaph] VV: Amy Phillips (10,5,1)
  423. [vapw] VV: Ann Powers (10,5,1)
  424. [var] VV: Alan Ranta (10,5,1)
  425. [vas] VV: Alfred Soto (10,5,1)
  426. [vasl] VV: Anders Smith Lindall (10,5,1)
  427. [vaz] VV: Annie Zaleski (10,5,1)
  428. [vbb] VV: Brent Burton (10,5,1)
  429. [vbbo] VV: Brian Boone (10,5,1)
  430. [vbc] VV: Brad Cohan (10,5,1)
  431. [vbcr] VV: Byron Crawford (10,5,1)
  432. [vbo] VV: Brian Orloff (10,5,1)
  433. [vbr] VV: Britt Robson (10,5,1)
  434. [vbs] VV: Bud Scoppa (10,5,1)
  435. [vbw] VV: Barry Walters (10,5,1)
  436. [vca] VV: Charles Aaron (10,5,1)
  437. [vcb] VV: Christopher Barton (10,5,1)
  438. [vcc] VV: Carol Cooper (10,5,1)
  439. [vcca] VV: Craig Carson (10,5,1)
  440. [vck] VV: Caitlyn Kelley (10,5,1)
  441. [vcka] VV: Chaz Kangas (10,5,1)
  442. [vclw] VV: Crystal Leww (10,5,1)
  443. [vcm] VV: Chris Molanphy (10,5,1)
  444. [vcmj] VV: Christopher Matthew Jensen (10,5,1)
  445. [vcp] VV: Cam Patterson (10,5,1)
  446. [vcpa] VV: Christopher Payne (10,5,1)
  447. [vcr] VV: Corbin Reiff (10,5,1)
  448. [vcv] VV: Chuy Varela (10,5,1)
  449. [vcw] VV: Christopher R Weingarten (10,5,1)
  450. [vcwi] VV: Carl Wilson (10,5,1)
  451. [vdb] VV:Danilo Bortoli (10,5,1)
  452. [vdc] VV: Del Cowie (10,5,1)
  453. [vdca] VV: Dan Caffrey (10,5,1)
  454. [vdcm] VV: David Cooper Moore (10,5,1)
  455. [vdd] VV: Dan DeLuca (10,5,1)
  456. [vdf] VV: Dan Ferguson (10,5,1)
  457. [vdg] VV: Dave Gil de Rubio (10,5,1)
  458. [vdh] VV: Dave Heaton (10,5,1)
  459. [vdme] VV: David MacFadden-Elliot (10,5,1)
  460. [xdws] VV: Dan Weiss (10,5,1)
  461. [vej] VV: Ellen Johnson (10,5,1)
  462. [ves] Eric Swedlund (10,5,1)
  463. [vew] VV: Eric Weisbard (10,5,1)
  464. [vgc] VV: Gary Chun (10,5,1)
  465. [vgg] VV: Gillian Gaar (10,5,1)
  466. [vgt] VV: Greg Tate (10,5,1)
  467. [vgm] VV: Glenn McDonald (10,5,1)
  468. [vhg] VV: Hannah Giorgis (10,5,1)
  469. [vhgw] VV: Holly George-Warren (10,5,1)
  470. [vhh] VV: Hilary Hughes (10,5,1)
  471. [vib] Vibe [US] (25) [link] [ref link]
  472. [vis] VV: Ian Steaman (10,5,1)
  473. [vjb] VV: Jim Bessman (10,5,1)
  474. [vjc] VV/JCP: J.D. Considine (10,5,1)
  475. [vjcl] VV: Justin Cober-Lake (10,5,1)
  476. [vjco] VV: Jim Connelly (10,5,1)
  477. [vjd] VV: Jim DeRogatis (10,5,1)
  478. [vje] VV: Jill Ettinger (10,5,1)
  479. [vjh] VV: Jessica Hopper (10,5,1)
  480. [vjk] VV: Jennifer Kelly (10,5,1)
  481. [vjl] VV: Joe Levy (10,5,1)
  482. [vjlf] VV: Jon LaFollette (10,5,1)
  483. [vjm] VV: Jim Macnie (10,5,1) -- JCP separate
  484. [vjo] VV/JCP: Josh Langhoff (10,5,1)
  485. [vjp] VV: J Poet (10,5,1)
  486. [vjs] VV: John Seroff (10,5,1)
  487. [vjso] VV: Jon Solomon (10,5,1)
  488. [vjt] VV/JCP: Jeff Tamarkin (10,5,1)
  489. [vjte] VV: Jim Testa (10,5,1)
  490. [vjtr(10,5,1] (VV: Jim Tremayne)
  491. [vjty] VV: John Tryneski (10,5,1)
  492. [vkc] VV: Ken Capobianco (10,5,1)
  493. [vkj] VV: Kevin John (10,5,1)
  494. [vksj] VV: Katherine St Asaph (10,5,1)
  495. [vktb] VV: Kim Taylor Bennett (10,5,1)
  496. [vlb] VV/JCP: Larry Birnbaum (10,5,1)
  497. [vlk] VV: Larry King (10,5,1)
  498. [vma] VV: Michael Azerrad (10,5,1)
  499. [vmb] VV: Max Berry (10,5,1)
  500. [vmd] VV: Michael Deeds (10,5,1)
  501. [vmj] VV: Maura Johnston (10,5,1)
  502. [vml] VV (10,5,1) [link]
  503. [vmp_j] Vinyl Me Please: Jazz (10,5,1) [link]
  504. [vmr] VV: Matt Rice (10,5,1)
  505. [vmw] JCP+VV: Michael J West (10,5,1)
  506. [vnf] VV: Nick Farruggia (10,5,1)
  507. [vpbl] VV: Peter Blackstock (10,5,1)
  508. [vpf] VV: Phil Freeman (10,5,1)
  509. [vpg] VV: Phil Gallo (10,5,1)
  510. [vrb] VV: Rachel Brodsky (10,5,1)
  511. [vrc] VV: Robert Christgau (10,5,1)
  512. [vrg] VV/JCP: Richard Gehr (10,5,1)
  513. [vrh] VV: Rob Harvilla (10,5,1)
  514. [vrm] VV: Ryan Maffei (10,5,1)
  515. [vse] VV: Steven Thomas Erlewine (10,5,1)
  516. [vsh] VV: Steve Holtje (10,5,1)
  517. [vshg] VV: Stephen Haag (10,5,1)
  518. [vsk] VV: Steve Kiviat (10,5,1)
  519. [vsn] VV: Seth Mnookin (10,5,1)
  520. [vsp] VV: Scott Plagenhoef (10,5,1)
  521. [vspt] VV: Spencer Patterson (10,5,1)
  522. [vtc] VV: Ted Cox (10,5,1)
  523. [vtk] VV: Todd Kristel (10,5,1)
  524. [vti] VV: Thomas Inskeep (10,5,1)
  525. [vtl] VV: Tirhakah Love (10,5,1)
  526. [vwh] VV: Will Hermes (10,5,1)
  527. [vu] Vulture (15,5,1) [link] -- +M
  528. [vzl] Zeth Lundy (10,5,1)
  529. [vzs] Zach Schonfeld (10,5,1)
  530. [wo] Wonderland () -- MC
  531. [wp] Washington Post (10,5,1) [ref link] -- MC
  532. [wsj] Wall Street Journal: Mark Richardson () -- MC
  533. [xbl] Expert Witness/VV: Brad Luen (10,5,1)
  534. [xce] Expert Witness: Chuck Eddy (10,5,1)
  535. [xhs] Expert Witness: Hardin Smith (20,5,1)
  536. [xjd] Expert Witness: Joey Daniewicz (10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
  537. [xjdc] Expert Witness: Jeffrey D Callahan (47,5,1) -- + "strong B+"
  538. [xjl] Expert Witness: Jon R LaFollette (10,5,1)
  539. [xjsm] Expert Witness: John Smallwood (10,5,1)
  540. [xpb] Expert Witness: Philip Brasor (10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
  541. [xr] X-Radio [UK] () [link] [ref link]
  542. [xrt] Expert Witness: Rod Taylor (10,5,1) -- +HM
  543. [xlr] XLR8R () [link] [ref link]
  544. [xxl] XXL [US] (50) [ref link]
  545. [yh] Yahoo [US] (10,5,1) [ref link]

Sources