2021 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 '|':
- Points: Make does a numeric sort on this field as first key.
- Artist: Last name '_' first name, such that make can do an
alpha sort on this as second key.
- Title: Album title.
- 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).
- Release date: Written as MM-DD, including '0' to pad to two
digits. "-2016" indicates a 2016 release date.
- 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
- 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.
- 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:
- Key: The key for the list, used in data above.
- 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.
- Name: The plain name for the list.
- URL: Where to find the list (often just the top of the
list.
- Alt URL: An alternate (unofficial) source for the list
(often these are easier to work with than the actual URL.)
- Comment: Any additional comments. Within this the
following subfields (comma-separated) are noted:
- RC:# Robert Christgau letter grades (points: A:5, A-:4, B+/***: 3, **: 2 *:1, B or less: 0)
- 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:
- [25] 25 Years Later (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [3v] 3voor12 [Netherlands] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [45] The Forty-Five [UK] (45,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [AAJ] All About Jazz () -- +4 stars (11-15)
- [ACL] A Closer Listen [US] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [AD] The Arts Desk () -- AOTY 80+(11-27)
- [Al] Albumism (100,20,10,5,1) -- AOTY 80+(00-00)
- [Alt] The Alternative (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [AS] American Songwriter [US] () -- AOTY 80+(11-19)
- [AV] AV Club [US] (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [AZ] AZCentral (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [BB] Billboard (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [BBN] BBC News (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Bc] Bandcamp () [link] -- ++ for unranked best 25, + for albums in linked articles (Bodies in Motion, Psychedelic Visions, Working Together, Future History)
- [BIB] Bill's Indie Basement (Brooklyn Vegan) (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [BPM] Beats Per Minute (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [Bq] Banquet Records [UK] (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [BS] Bitter Southerner (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Bt] The Boot (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- not numbered, order implicit
- [Btz] Blitz [Portugal]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [BV] Brooklyn Vegan (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [BV_p] Brooklyn Vegan: Punk (45,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [BV_r] Brooklyn Vegan: Rap (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [C] Crack [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-05)
- [Ch] The Chorus.fm [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Cl] Clash [UK] (60,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-01)
- [CM] Chris Monsen (Perfect Sounds Forever) (,10,5,1) [link] -- PJRP
- [Cmp] Complex [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Cmp_U] Complex [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Cos] Cosmopolitan (34,20,10,5,1) [link] -- "so far" list appeared Nov. 1
- [Crh] Crash Records Leeds [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) -- MC 1-10
- [Crz] Crazy Minds [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [CS] Consequence of Sound [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [CX] CapitalXtra [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [D] Dork (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [DaB] Dansende Beren [BE]: international (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [DB] Downbeat () -- +4 stars (11-12), editor's picks {1-11}
- [Di] Discogs: blog (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [DIY] DIY (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-05)
- [DJ] Double J [Australia] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [DJM] DJ Mag () [link]
- [Du] Dummy [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [DW] Dan Weiss (85,20,10,5,1) -- Facebook
- [Dz] Dazed [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Ec] Echoes (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [EE] Efe Eme [Spain]: International (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [EW] Entertainment Weekly [US] (,,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [EWi] Expert Witness (Facebook group) (50,20,10,5,1) -- copied from Brad Luen's Facebook post
- [Ex] Exclaim! [Canada] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(00-00)
- [Fa] Fader (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [FJ] Free Jazz Collective () -- *4 stars (11-18) - didn't check multiple reviews or 2020; ++ for top 15 albums
- [Fld] Flood [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [FO] Far Out [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [G] Guardian [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(11-21)
- [GB] Gorilla Vs Bear [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [GC] Genius: Community (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Gf] Gaffa [Sweden] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Gf_D] Gaffa [Denmark] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Gg] Google (51,20,10,5,1) -- 'best records 2020 [2022-01-30]
- [Gg_h] Google: hip-hop (51,20,10,5,1) -- list of 2021 hip-hop album [2022-02-15]
- [Gg_j] Google: jazz (51,20,10,5,1) -- music albums/2021/jazz [2022-02-23]
- [Gl] Glide [US] (40,20) -- two ranks: top 20 (++), HM 20 (+)
- [GMA] Good Morning America (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [GTV] God Is in the TV (100,20,10,5,1) -- {100-51} AOTY 80+(00-00)
- [Gw] Gigwise [UK] (51,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [HDX] HipHopDX [US] (1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20); only one ranked, ** for main list, * for HM
- [HG] Hip-Hop Golden Age (60,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Hi] Hipersonica [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [HNH] Hot New Hip Hop (30,20,10,5,1)
- [HP] Hot Press [Ireland] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [HV] Humanizing the Vacuum [US]: Alfred Soto (35,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [I] The Independent [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-05)
- [Ins] Insider (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [IR] In Review Online [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
- [IS] Indie Style [Belgium]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [JC] Jazz Critics Poll (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [JC_r] Jazz Critics Poll (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [JDC] Jeffrey D Callahan (70,20,10,5,1) -- PJRP
- [Joe] Joe [Ireland] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Jp] Jenesaispop [Spain] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [JT] JazzTimes (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [JW] Jazzwise [UK] (,20,10,5,1) -- x{+4 stars(11-27)}
- [K] Kerrang (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [L4] Live4ever [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [LAT] Los Angeles Times (,,10,5,1) [link]
- [LBF] The Line of Best Fit [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [LI] Les Inrocks [France] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [LQ] Loud and Quiet [UK] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Lt] Laut [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1)
- [LW] Louder Than War [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(-)
- [Mc] Metacritic: best-reviewed (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- sampled 2022-01-30
- [Mg] Magnet [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Mgn] Magnetic [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Mj] Mojo [UK] (75,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+ (11-20)
- [MO] MusicOMH [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [Ms] Mondosonoro [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Mw] Mowno [France] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [Mx] Mxdwn (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Mz] Muzikalia [Spain]: International (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [NBH] NBHAP (Nothing But Passion And Hope) [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [ND] No Depression (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [ND_r] No Depression: readers (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Ne] The Needle Drop (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-01)
- [Ni] Nialler9 (30,20,10,5,1)
- [NME] NME [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(00-00)
- [No] Norman Records [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [NPR] NPR (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [NPR_l] NPR: Listeners (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [NR] No Ripcord [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-01)
- [NT] Northern Transmissions [CAN] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [OC] Our Culture (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Okp] Okayplayer (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [On] Ondarock [Italy] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [Oo] Oor [Netherlands] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [P] Paste (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+ (11-20)
- [PAM] Pan African Music (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [PB] PopBuzz [UK] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Pc] Piccadilly Records [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Pf] Pitchfork (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-19)
- [Pf_r] Pitchfork [US]: reader poll (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [PJ] Pazz & Jop Rip-Off Poll (,,10,5,1)
- [Plt] Plattentests [Germany] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [PM] PopMatters (75,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [PO] Phil Overeem (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mentions in any list, top 50 from link
- [PO_r] Phil Overeem: archaeological digs (25,20,10,5,1) -- originally tracked as PO
- [Pu] Punktastic (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [PW] Passion of the Weiss (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Qt] The Quietus [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [RC] Record Collector [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [RC_v] Record Collector [UK]: vaults (25,20,10,5,1)
- [Rev] Revolver [US] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Rf] RIFF Magazine (108,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [RM] Resident Music [UK] (,10,5,1) [link]
- [RS] Rolling Stone [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [RS_c] Rolling Stone [US]: Country/Americana (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [RS_D] Rolling Stone [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [RS_h] Rolling Stone [US]: hip-hop (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [RSh] Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [RT] Rough Trade [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [RTU] Rough Trade [US] (,20,15,1) [link]
- [Rx] Robert Christgau: Dean's List (71,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [S] Spin [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [link] -- MC +80(11-04)
- [Sbd] Stereoboard [UK] (80,20,10,5,1) [link] -- implicit rank
- [SC] Spectrum Culture (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Sg] Stereogum [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Si] Soundi [Finland]: International (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [Sk] The Skinny [UK] (,,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-01)
- [Sl] Slant [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(11-20)
- [Snv] Soundvenue [K]: International (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [So] Sonic [Sweden]http://sonicmagazine.com/2021/12/08/2021-ars-basta-album/ (25,20,10,5,1)
- [SoT] Sea of Tranquility [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Spk] Sputnik Music [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [SR] Sister Ray [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [STi] The Sunday Times (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [T] The Telegraph [UK] (,,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-05)
- [Tab] The Tab [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [TL] Tom Lane (85,20,10,5,1) -- email
- [TL_r] Tom Lane: reissues (22,20,10,5,1) -- email
- [TN] Tim Niland [Music & More] (,,10,5,1) -- no grades, but everything he reviews is notable (2022-01-12); JCP
- [Top] Tonspion [Germany] (30,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [Tr] Treblezine [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Trk] Truck Music Store [UK] (50,20,10,5,1)
- [U] Uncut [UK] (75,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- 80+ [11-15]
- [UCR] Ultimate Classic Rock (40,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [Up] Uproxx (50) [link]
- [UPC] Uproxx Critics Poll (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + up to 150
- [UR] Under the Radar [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [VF] Vinyl Factory (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [Vi] Visions [Germany] (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [Vib] Vibe [US] (21,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [W] The Wire (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [WG] What's Good (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [WHP] The Wild Honey Pie (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [WS_j] Wicked Sound: jazz (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [XSN] XS Noize [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [YF] Young Folks (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(12-05)
- [YW] Ye Wei Blog (Jason Gross) (,20,10,5,1) [link]
- [YW_r] Ye Wei Blog: reissues (54,20,10,5,1)
- [Zf] Zundfunk [Germany] (73,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
- [1l] 1live [Germany] (20,5,1) [ref link]
- [33] 33third.org (10) [link]
- [afg] Afterglow (10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
- [afh] Ambrosia for Heads: rap (14) [link]
- [am] AllMusic [US] () [link]
- [am_a] AllMusic [US]: alternative () [link]
- [am_b] AllMusic [US]: blues () [link]
- [am_c] AllMusic [US]: country () [link]
- [am_e] AllMusic [US]: electronic () [link]
- [am_f] AllMusic [US]: folk/Americana () [link]
- [am_h] AllMusic [US]: rap/hip hop () [link]
- [am_i] AllMusic [US]: indie pop/indie rock ()
- [am_j] AllMusic [US]: jazz () [link]
- [am_k] AllMusic [US]: rock () [link]
- [am_l] AllMusic [US]: Latin & global () [link]
- [am_p] AllMusic [US]: pop () [link]
- [am_r] AllMusic [US]: r&b () [link]
- [am_s] AllMusic [US]: singer/songwriter () [link]
- [am_z] AllMusic [US]: archival releases () [link]
- [ap] Alternative Press () [link]
- [aqd] Aquarium Drunkard () [link]
- [atl] The Atlantic () [link]
- [atw] Atwood () [link]
- [aur] AURN (Amerian Urban Radio Networks): hip-hop (11,5,1) [link] -- +HM
- [av_am] AV Club: Alex McLevy (20,5,1) [link]
- [av_bk] AV Club: Baraka Kaseko (20,5,1)
- [av_cp] AV Club: Clayton Purdom (20,5,1)
- [av_cs] AV Club: Cameron Scheetz (20,5,1)
- [av_da] AV Club: David Anthony (20,5,1)
- [av_gs] AV Club: Gabrielle Sanchez (20,5,1)
- [av_lm] AV Club: Lily Moayeri (20,5,1)
- [av_mf] AV Club: Max Freedman (20,5,1)
- [av_nh] AV Club: Nina Hernandez (20,5,1)
- [av_tt] AV Club: Tatiana Tenreyro (20,5,1)
- [azr] Arizona Republic: Ed Masley (10,5,1)
- [bb_h] Billboard: hip-hop (20,5,1) [link]
- [bb6] BBC Radio 6 [UK] (10,5,1)
- [bbc] BBC Culture [UK] (10) [link]
- [bc_a] Bandcamp Daily: Ambient () [link]
- [bc_b] Bandcamp Daily: Beat Tapes () [link]
- [bc_c] Bandcamp Daily: Club Music () [link]
- [bc_e] Bandcamp Daily: Electronic () [link]
- [bc_h] Bandcamp Daily: Hip-Hop () [link]
- [bc_j] Bandcamp Daily: Jazz [Dave Sumner] () [link]
- [bc_p] Bandcamp Daily: Punk () [link]
- [bc_r] Bandcamp Daily: Reissues () [link]
- [bc_s] Bandcamp Daily: Soul () [link]
- [bc_x] Bandcamp Daily: Experimental () [link]
- [bg] Boston Globe () [ref link]
- [bg_g] JCP/(Boston Globe)?: Jon Garelick (10,5,1)
- [bh] Boston Herald: Jed Gottlieb () -- MC
- [bl] Bleep [UK] (10,5,1) [link]
- [blw] The Bulwark (Tim Miller) (15,5,1) [link]
- [boj] Best of Jazz () [link]
- [bv_j] Brooklyn Vegan: jazz () [link]
- [bz] Benzine [France] (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [ca_d] Columbus Alive (Andy Downing) (10,5,1) [link]
- [ca_o] Columbia Alive (Joel Oliphint) (10,5,1) [link]
- [cab] Cabbages: hip-hop (25,5,1) [link]
- [cdm] Coup de Main [NZ] (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [cl] Cleveland Plain Dealer [US]: Troy L Smith (10,5,1) [link]
- [crm] Critical Minded: hip-hop () [link]
- [cw] PJRP: Carl Wilson (10,5,1)
- [da] Dancing Astronaut (10,5,1) [link]
- [daq] Daquan: hip-hop (21,5,1) [link]
- [dcs] Diario Critico [Spain] (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [dg] Digg (14,5,1) [link]
- [dik] Diamond KUT: hip-hop (15,5,1) [link] -- +HM
- [do] Dallas Observer: Vincent Arrieta (10,5,1) [link] -- + for other writer lists
- [dtm] The Dartmouth (10,5,1) [link]
- [dw] PJRP: Dan Weber (10,5,1)
- [e] Esquire [US] () [link]
- [ec] The Economist () [link] -- MC
- [edmt] EDMTunes (10,5,1) [link] -- MC
- [fd] JCP: Francis Davis (10,5,1) [link] -- +HM
- [g_e] Guardian/Observer: Kitty Empire (10,5,1) [link]
- [gcn] Gay City News (10,5,1) [link]
- [ghj] JT/JCP: Geoffrey Himes (10,5,1)
- [gl_j] Glide [US]: jazz (20) [link] -- ++ for top 20, + for HMs
- [gw] Guitar World (20,5,1) [link]
- [hc_d] Houston Chronicle: Andrew Dansby (10,5,1) -- MC
- [hc_g] Houston Chronicle: Joey Guerra (10,5,1) -- MC
- [hpo] Huffington Post () [link]
- [hyb] HypeBeast (15) [link]
- [i] I (Kate Solomon) (10,5,1) [link]
- [ia] Inverted Audio (10,5,1) [link]
- [ii] Irish Independent (John Meagher) (10,5,1) -- MC
- [it] Irish Times [Ireland] () [link]
- [jaa] JT: AD Amorosi (10,5,1)
- [jad] JCP: Alain Drouot (10,5,1)
- [jag] JT/JCP: Andrew Gilbert (10,5,1)
- [jah] JCP: Aaron Cohen (10,5,1)
- [jahk] JCP: Andrey Henkin (10,5,1)
- [jak] JCP: Amar Kalia (10,5,1)
- [jal] JCP: Art Lange (10)
- [jas] JCP: Adam Shatz (10,5,1)
- [jasi] FJC: Anthony Simon (10,5,1)
- [jbbr] JJA/JCP: Bill Brownlee (10,5,1)
- [jbm] JJA: Bill Milkowski (50,5,1) [link]
- [jbs] JCP: Bret Saunders (Denver Post) (10,5,1)
- [jbu] JCP: Bill Beuttler (10,5,1)
- [jbw] JCP: Bob Weinberg (10,5,1)
- [jcah] JJA: C Andrew Hovan (10,5,1) [link]
- [jcb] JCP: Chris Barton (10,5,1)
- [jcjw] JT: Chris J Walker (10,5,1)
- [jcmb] AAJ: C Michael Bailey (8,5,1) [link]
- [jda] JCP: David R Adler (10,5,1)
- [jdb] JT/JCP: Dan Bilawsky (10,5,1)
- [jdbs] JCP: Dan Buskirk (10,5,1)
- [jdg] JCP: David A Graham (10,5,1)
- [jdh] AAJ: Doug Hall (11,5,1) [link]
- [jdku] JCP: David Kunian (10,5,1)
- [jdl] JCP: Devin Leonard (10,5,1)
- [jdm] AAJ: Dan McClenaghan (10) [link]
- [jdo] JCP: Dan Ouellette (10,5,1)
- [jdr] JCP: Derk Richardson (10,5,1)
- [jdsu] JCP: Dave Sumner (10,5,1)
- [jdt] JCP: Derek Taylor ()
- [jeh] FJC: Eyal Hareuveni (10,5,1)
- [jek] JCP: Elzy Kolb (10,5,1)
- [jel] JCP: Eugene Holley Jr (10,5,1)
- [jff] JCP/Jazz Trail: Felipe Freitas (10,5,1)
- [jfk] JCP: Fred Kaplan (10,5,1)
- [jfn] Fotis Nikolakopoulos (10,5,1)
- [jga] AAJ: Glenn Astarita (10,5,1) [link]
- [jgc] FJC: Gary Chapin (10,5,1)
- [jgg] JCP: George Grella (10,5,1)
- [jgm] FJC: Gregg Miller (10,5,1)
- [jgt] AAJ: Geno Thackara (10,5,1)
- [jgy] JCP: Gene Seymour (10,5,1)
- [jgz] JCP: George Kanzler (10,5,1)
- [jha] JCP: Hrayr Attarian (10,5,1)
- [jhm] JJA: Howard Mandel (10,5,1)
- [jhs] Hank Shteamer (10,5,1)
- [jin] JCP: Ivana Ng (10,5,1)
- [jip] AAJ: Ian Patterson (10,5,1)
- [jjbw] AAJ: Jack Bowers (15,5,1)
- [jjc] JCP: John Chacona (15)
- [jje] JCP: John Ephland (10)
- [jjha] JCP: James Hale (10,5,1)
- [jji] JCP: John Litweiler (10,5,1)
- [jjm] JCP: Jim Macnie (Lament for a Straight Line) (10,5,1)
- [jjmk] FJC: Jim Marks (10,5,1)
- [jjo] JCP: John Frederick Moore (10,5,1)
- [jjs] JJA/JCP: John Szwed (10,5,1)
- [jjsh] JCP: John Sharpe (10,5,1)
- [jjsn] JT/JCP: Jackson Sinnenberg (10,5,1)
- [jjw] JCP: Jerome Wilson (10,5,1)
- [jjwd] JCP: Josef Woodard (10,5,1)
- [jjws] JCP: Jason Weiss (10,5,1)
- [jjz] JCP: Jordannah Elizabeth (10,5,1)
- [jka] JJA: Karl Ackermann (19,5,1)
- [jkd] JCP: Ken Dryden (10,5,1)
- [jkf] JCP: Ken Franckling (10,5,1)
- [jkg] JCP: Kurt Gottschalk (10,5,1)
- [jkm] JCP: Ken Micallef (10,5,1)
- [jkp] FJC: Keith Prosk (10,5,1)
- [jkw] JCP: Ken Waxman (10,5,1)
- [jkws] JCP: Ken Weiss (10,5,1)
- [jla] JCP: Larry Appelbaum (10,5,1)
- [jlb] JCP: Larry Blumenfeld (10,5,1)
- [jlbi] JCP: Larry Birnbaum (10,5,1)
- [jlc] JJA: Luis Cubells () [link]
- [jld] JCP: Laurence Donohue-Greene (10,5,1)
- [jlg] AAJ: Ludovico Granvassu (10,5,1) [link]
- [jlm] JCP: Lee Mergner (10,5,1)
- [jlre] FJC: Lee Rice Epstein (10,5,1)
- [jls] JCP: Lloyd Sachs (10,5,1)
- [jlv] JCP: Ludwig vanTrikt (10,5,1)
- [jmc] JCP: Mark Corroto (18,5,1)
- [jme] JT/JCP: Morgan Enos (10,5,1)
- [jmj] JT/JCP: Martin Johnson (10,5,1)
- [jmja] JCP: Michael J Agovino (10,5,1)
- [jmju] AAJ: Mike Jurkovic (16,5,1) [link]
- [jmk] JCP: Mark Stryker (10,5,1)
- [jmm] JCP: Milo Miles (10)
- [jmmz] Matt Merewitz (35,5,1) -- Facebook
- [jmn] JCP: Michael G Nastos (10,5,1)
- [jmr] JT: Mac Randall (10,5,1)
- [jms] JCP: Mike Shanley (10,5,1)
- [jmsc] FSC: Martin Schray (10,5,1)
- [jmsu] AAJ: Mark Sullivan (10,5,1) [link]
- [jmt] JCP: Michael Toland (10,5,1)
- [jmu] JCP: Michael Ullman (10,5,1)
- [jmw] JT: Michael J West (10,5,1)
- [jmy] JCP: Michael Coyle (10,5,1)
- [jnm] FJC: Nick Metzger (10,5,1)
- [jno] FJC: Nick Ostrum (10,5,1)
- [jnt] JCP: Neil Tesser (10,5,1)
- [jpa] FJC: Paul Acquaro (10,5,1)
- [jpb] JT: Philip Booth (10,5,1)
- [jpf] JCP: Patrick Frisco (10,5,1)
- [jpq] JCP: Peter Quinn (10,5,1)
- [jpl] JCP: Phillip Lutz (10,5,1)
- [jpm] JCP: Peter Margasak (10,5,1)
- [jra] JCP: Robert Ham (10,5,1)
- [jrb] JCP: Robert Bush (10,5,1)
- [jrd] JCP: Raul da Gama (10,5,1)
- [jrh] JCP: Rob Hoff (10,5,1)
- [jri] JCP: Robert Iannapollo (10,5,1)
- [jrk] JCP: Richard Kamins (10,5,1)
- [jrm] JJA/JCP: Ralph Miriello (10)
- [jrmi] JCP: Rick Mitchell (10,5,1)
- [jrmu] JCP: Russ Musto (10)
- [jrsc] Rich Scheinin (10,5,1)
- [jry] JCP: Ron Wynn (10,5,1)
- [js] PJRP: John Smallwood (10,5,1) -- + another 10
- [jsa] JCP: Scott Albin (10,5,1)
- [jsb] FJC/JCP: Stuart Broomer (10,5,1)
- [jsbg] JJA: Stephen Braunginn (30,5,1) [link]
- [jsd] JT/JCP: Shaun Brady (10,5,1)
- [jse] JCP: Shannon Ali (Shannon J Effinger) (10,5,1)
- [jsf] JCP: Steve Feeney (10,5,1)
- [jsg] JCP: Steve Greenlee (10,5,1)
- [jsgj] FJC: Stef Gijssels (10,5,1)
- [jsgr] FJC:Steve Griffith (10,5,1)
- [jsj] JCP: Sanford Josephson (10,5,1)
- [jsk] JCP: Stuart Kremsky (10,5,1)
- [jsl] JCP: Slim (10,5,1)
- [jslo] JCP: Suzanne Lorge (10,5,1)
- [jsp] Sergio Piccirilli (10,5,1)
- [jss] JJA/FJC: Sammy Stein ()
- [jssm] JCP: Stewart Smith (10,5,1)
- [jsw] Seth Colter Walls (10,5,1)
- [jsy] JCP: Scott Yanow (10,5,1)
- [jtb] FJC: Tom Burris (10,5,1)
- [jtc] JCP: Troy Collins (10,5,1)
- [jtd] FJC/JCP: Troy Dostert (10,5,1)
- [jtn] JT/JCP: Thomas Conrad (10,5,1)
- [jwj] JCP: Willard Jenkins (10,5,1)
- [jyk] JPC: Yoshi Kato (10,5,1)
- [jyo] Ysi Ortega (10,5,1)
- [jzf] Jazz FM () [link]
- [kc] KCRW (21,5,1) [link]
- [key] The Key WXPN [US] () [link]
- [kf] Knack Focus [Belgium] (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [lar] Jeremy D Larson (25,5,1) [link]
- [les] London Evening Standard () -- MC
- [m_jh] Medium: Jeffrey Harvey ()
- [men] Men's Health (15,5,1) [link]
- [a# #mg_j] Magnet: Jazz (Bill Meyer) (10,5,1) [link]
- [min_m] The Minimalists: Joshua Fields Milburn (10,5,1) [link]
- [mw] Metro Weekly (10,5,1) [link]
- [n_ap] The New Yorker: Amanda Petrusich (10,5,1) [link]
- [n_sp] The New Yorker: Sheldon Pearce (30) [link]
- [nat] The Nation: David Hajdu (10,5,1)
- [ncpr] NCPR Beat Authority (11,5,1) [link] -- +HM
- [npr_ap] NPR [US]: Ann Powers (10,5,1)
- [npr_as] NPR [US]: Anamaria Sayre (10,5,1)
- [npr_bb] NPR [US]: Bob Boilen (10,5,1) [link]
- [npr_cs] NPR [US]: Cat Sposato (10,5,1)
- [npr_e] NPR [US]: Electronic Music () [link]
- [npr_fc] NPR [US]: Felix Contreras (20,5,1)
- [npr_fo] NPR [US]: Fi O'Reilly (10,5,1)
- [npr_hc] NPR [US]: Hazel Cills (10,5,1)
- [npr_h] NPR [US]: Hip-Hop () [link]
- [npr_lg] NPR [US]: Lars Gotrich (10,5,1)
- [npr_lh] NPR [US]: LaTesha Harris (10,5,1)
- [npr_ma] NPR [US]: Mitra I Arthur (10,5,1)
- [npr_ml] NPR [US]: Marissa Lorusso (10,5,1)
- [npr_nb] NPR [US]: Nikki Birch (10,5,1)
- [npr_nc] NPR [US]: Nate Chinen (10,5,1) [link]
- [npr_oh] NPR [US]: Otis Hart (10,5,1)
- [npr_r] NPR [US]: R&B () [link]
- [npr_rc] NPR [US]: Rodney Charmichael (10,5,1)
- [npr_rh] NPR [US]: Robin Hilton (10,5,1)
- [npr_sh] NPR [US]: Stefanie Fernandez-Simeonidis (10,5,1)
- [npr-sm] NPR [US]: Suraya Mohamed (10,5,1)
- [npr_st] NPR [US]: Stephen Thompson (10,5,1)
- [npr_th] NPR [US]: Tom Huizenga (10,5,1)
- [ns] Nashville Scene: local critics poll (10,5,1) [link]
- [nst] New Statesman [UK] () [link]
- [nti] The Nocturnal Times (10,5,1) -- MC
- [ny_c] New York Times [US]: Jon Caramanica (13,5,1) -- + 27 unranked
- [ny_p] New York Times [US]: Jon Pareles (10,5,1) [link] -- +15
- [ny_u] New York Times [US]: Giovanni Russonello (Jazz) (20,5,1) [link] -- +20
- [ny_z] New York Times [US]: Lindsay Zoladz (11,5,1)
- [nyl] Nylon [US] () [link] -- short lists by staff members, max ++
- [nzh] (10) [link] [ref link]
- [ob] Offbeat (10,5,1) [link]
- [otw] Ones to Watch () [link]
- [p] People (10,5,1) [link]
- [p_c] Paste [US]: Country (10) [link]
- [p_e] Paste [US]: Electronic (20) [link]
- [p_h] Paste [US]: Hip-Hop (40) [link]
- [p_k] Paste [US]: Punk (20) [link]
- [p_p] Paste [US]: Pop (40) [link]
- [p_r] Paste [US]: Rock (40) [link]
- [p106] Power 106 FM (12,5,1) [link]
- [pc_c] Piccadilly Records [UK]: compilations (20,5,1)
- [pc_r] Piccadilly Records [UK]: reissues/collections (20,5,1)
- [pf_e] Pitchfork [US]: electronic () [link]
- [pf_j] Pitchfork [US]: jazz/experimental () [link]
- [pf_k] Pitchfork [US]: rock () [link]
- [pf_p] Pitchfork [US]: progressive pop () [link]
- [pf_u] Pitchfork [US]: underrated () [link]
- [pg] Postgenre (10,5,1) [link]
- [pg_ad] Postgenre: Anthony Dean-Harris (25,5,1) [link]
- [pg_rs] Postgenre: Rob Shepherd (25,5,1) [link]
- [ph] JCP: Peter Hum (10,5,1)
- [pi] Philadelphia Inquirer: Dan DeLuca (10,5,1) [link]
- [pm_b] PopMatters: Ambient (11,5,1) [link]
- [pm_bp] PopMatters: Brazilian Pop (10,5,1) [link]
- [pm_c] PopMatters: Country (10,5,1) [link]
- [pm_e] PopMatters: Electronic (20,5,1) [link]
- [pm_f] PopMatters: Folk (15,5,1) [link]
- [pm_g] PopMatters: Global (10,5,1) [link]
- [pm_h] PopMatters: Hip-Hop (20,5,1) [link]
- [pm_ip] PopMatters: Indie Pop (15,5,1) [link]
- [pm_ir] PopMatters: Indie Rock (15,5,1) [link]
- [pm_j] PopMatters: Jazz (13) [link]
- [pm_k] PopMatters: Prog Rock/Metal (10,5,1) [link]
- [pm_kp] PopMatters: K-Pop (20,5,1) [link]
- [pm_p] PopMatters: Pop (20,5,1) [link]
- [pm_r] PopMatters: album reissues (35) [link]
- [pm_s] PopMatters: R&B/Soul (15,5,1) [link]
- [ppg] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Scott Mervis (10,5,1) -- MC
- [pr] Prog (20,5,1) [link]
- [ra] Resident Advisor (,1) [link]
- [rc_j] Record Collector [UK]: jazz (10,5,1)
- [rc_r] Record Collector [UK]: reggae (10,5,1)
- [rc_s] Record Collector [UK]: soul (10,5,1)
- [rf_h] Riff Magazine: Hip-Hop (20,5,1) [link]
- [ri] The Ringer (10,5,1) [link]
- [rmr] RMR [Respect My Region]: hip-hop (21,5,1) [link]
- [rrv] Rap Reviews (Patrick Taylor) () [link]
- [rsbs] RS: Brittany Spanos (10,5,1)
- [rsch] RS: Christian Hoard (10,5,1)
- [rsjb] RS: Jon Blistein (10,5,1)
- [rsjd] RS: Jon Dolan (10,5,1)
- [rsjh] RS: Joseph Hudak (10,5,1)
- [rshs] RS: Hank Shteamer (10,5,1)
- [rssv] RS: Simon Vozick-Levinson (10,5,1)
- [rte] RTE [Ireland]: Jim Carroll (25,5,1) [link]
- [rte_k] RTE [Ireland]: John Kelly () [link]
- [rtv] Revolt TV [US]: Rap (11) [link]
- [rut] Ruta 66 [Spain]: international (15,5,1) [ref link]
- [scm] Saving Country Music () -- + for essential, ++ for most essential, +++ for album of year nominees
- [sdu] San Diego Union Tribune: George Varga (10,5,1)
- [sg_c] Stereogum [US]: Country (10,5,1) [link]
- [sg_e] Stereogum [US]: Electronic (10,5,1) [link]
- [sg_h] Stereogum [US]: Rap (10,5,1) [link]
- [sg_j] Stereogum [US]: Jazz [Phil Freeman] (10,5,1) [link]
- [sjm] San Jose Mercury News: Jim Harrington (10,5,1) -- MC
- [sk_s] The Skinny [UK]: Scottish (10,5,1) [link]
- [sl] Slate (10) [link] -- ++ for top 10, + for rest
- [sl_e] Slant: electronic (10) [link]
- [sl_h] Slant: hip-hop (15) [link] -- +HM
- [so_d] Sound Opinions: Jim DeRogaitis (20,5,1) [link]
- [so_k] Sound Opinions: Greg Kot (20,5,1)
- [sol] Songlines () [link]
- [sr] The Spokesman-Review [Spokane]: Ed Condran (10,5,1) [link]
- [st_b] Star Tribune (Minneapolis): Jon Bream (10,5,1) -- MC
- [st_r] Star Tribune (Minneapolis): Chris Riemenschneider) (10,5,1) -- MC
- [std] Stanford Daily: hip-hop (25,5,1) [link]
- [stu] Stay Up: hip-hop (22,5,1) [link]
- [svr] Sveriges Radio (SE) (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [tbm] The Blue Moment (Richard Williams) (25,5,1) [link]
- [tg] JRC: Ted Gioia [US] (10,5,1)
- [tgl] Tone Glow () [link]
- [ti] Time [US] (10,5,1) [ref link] -- +++ for 5 votes, ++ for 4 votes, + for 2-3 votes
- [tm] The Music [Australia] () [link]
- [tms] The Times: Will Hodgkinson () -- MC
- [tr_e] Treblezine [US]: Electronic (20) [link]
- [tr_h] Treblezine [US]: Hip-Hop (20) [link]
- [tr_j] Treblezine [US]: Jazz (20) [link]
- [tr_u] Treblezine [US]: great albums you might have missed () [link]
- [tss_e] This Song Is Sick: electronic (20,5,1) [link]
- [tss_h] This Song Is Sick: hip-hop (20,5,1) [link]
- [tv] Teen Vogue () [link]
- [ud] The Undefeated () [link]
- [up_h] Uproxx: Rap () [link]
- [up_i] Uproxx: Indie () [link]
- [up_p] Uproxx: Pop () [link]
- [up_r] Uproxx: Rhythm & Blues () [link]
- [up_sh] Uproxx: Steven Hyden (20,5,1) [link]
- [ust_m] USA Today: Melissa Ruggieri (,5,1) [link]
- [ust_p] USA Today: Patrick Ryan (,5,1)
- [v_cw] Variety: Chris Willman (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [v_ja] Variety: Jem Aswad (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [vad] JCP: Anthony Dean-Harris (10,5,1)
- [vaz] AV Club: Annie Zaleski (20,5,1)
- [vbc] JJC: Brad Cohan (10,5,1)
- [vbr] JCP: Britt Robson (10,5,1)
- [vce] PJRP: Chuck Eddy (10,5,1)
- [vcwi] PJRP: Carl Wilson (10,5,1)
- [vdh] PJRP: Dave Heaton (10,5,1)
- [vew] PJRP: Eric Weisbard (10,5,1)
- [vfk] Frank Kogan (6,5,1) [link] -- + pt 1 mentions
- [vg] Vogue: Amel Mukhtar (8,5,1)
- [vgb] PJRP: Glenn Boothe (10,5,1)
- [vjc] JCP: J.D. Considine (10,5,1)
- [vjk] PJRP: Jennifer Kelly (10,5,1) -- +HM
- [vjo] PJRP: Josh Langhoff (10,5,1)
- [vjso] JCP: Jon Solomon (10,5,1)
- [vjt] JCP: Jeff Tamarkin (10,5,1)
- [vma] PJRP: Michael Azerrad (10,5,1)
- [vmp] Vinyl Me, Please [US] () [link]
- [vrg] JCP: Richard Gehr (10,5,1)
- [vrj] PJRP: Regina Joskow (10,5,1)
- [vsd] JCP: Steve Dollar (10,5,1)
- [vwl] JCP: Will Layman (10,5,1)
- [vu] Vulture: Craig Jenkins (10,5,1) [link]
- [wi] Wired (8) [link]
- [wk] The Week [UK] () [link] -- mentions, -classical
- [wla] Warp.la [Mexico] (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [wp] Washington Post: Chris Richards (10,5,1) [ref link]
- [ws_b] Wicked Sound: beats (20,5,1) [link]
- [ws_c] Wicked Sound: compilations (20,5,1) [link]
- [ws_f] Wicked Sound: funk (20,5,1) [link]
- [ws_r] Wicked Sound: reissues (20,5,1) [link]
- [ws_s] Wicked Sound: soul (20,5,1) [link]
- [wsj] Wall Street Journal: Mark Richardson (12) [ref link]
- [wwl] Wonderwall (21) [link]
- [wyep] WYEP 91.3 (25,5,1) [link]
- [xbl] PJRP: Brad Luen (10,5,1)
- [xbw] PJRP: Barrett Whitener (10) -- unranked 10, so ++, plus HM +
- [xci] PJRP: Christian Iszchak (10,5,1)
- [xco] EW: Clifford Ocheltree (10,5,1)
- [xde] PJRP: David Everall (10,5,1)
- [xem] EW: Eric Marcus (10,5,1)
- [xhs] PJRP: Hardin Smith (10,5,1)
- [xjc] PJRP: Jimmy Cook (10,5,1)
- [xjd] Joey Daniewicz (25,5,1) [link] -- +50
- [xjl] PJRP: Jon R LaFollette (10,5,1)
- [xjlu] PJRP: Joe Lunday (10,5,1)
- [xjsp] Expert Witness: John Speranza ()
- [xjy] PJRP: Joe Yanosik (10,5,1)
- [xkb] PJRP: Kevin Bozelka (10,5,1)
- [xmb] Expert Witness: Michael Biggs (10,5,1) -- +HM
- [xmr] PJRP: Mark Rosen (10,5,1)
- [xnf] PJRP: Nick Farrugia (10,5,1)
- [xpb] EW: Philip Brasor (10,5,1)
- [xph] Expert Witness: Paul Hayden ()
- [xrt] PJRP: Rod Taylor (10,5,1) -- + "favorite albums" from blog
- [xrw] Expert Witness: Rodney Welch (10,5,1)
- [xsc] EW: Scott Coleman (10,5,1)
- [xscw] EW: Sidney Carpenter-Wilson (20,5,1)
- [xsm] EW: Sam Mac (25,5,1)
- [xtw] EW: Thomas Walker ()
- [xwb] PJRP: William Boyd (10,5,1)
- [xxl] XXL [US] () [link]
- [yal] PJRP: Anna Lowrey (10,5,1)
- [yb_h] Yardbarker: hip-hop (22,5,1) [link]
- [yb_r] Yardbarker: r&b (25,5,1) [link]
- [ycc] PJRP: Chris Crowson (10,5,1)
- [yclw] PJRP: Christopher Lee White (10,5,1)
- [ycp] PJRP: Chris Pace (10,5,1)
- [yds] PJRP: Deb Sprague (10,5,1) -- +HM
- [yh] Yahoo [US] (10,5,1) [link]
- [yjc] PJRP: Jason Cherkis (10,5,1)
- [yng] PJRP: Noah Goodbaum (10,5,1)
- [yns] PJRP: Nate Smith () -- ++ for top 10, + for rest
- [ypg] EW: Peter Gorman (10,5,1)
- [ysp] PJRP: Steve Pick (10)
- [yti] PJRP: Thomas Ivey (10,5,1) -- HM +
- [yzp] PJRP: Zach Phillips (10,5,1)
Sources
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