2016 Album Releases

NSRO > Radiohead, Swans, Bent Knee, Gosta Berling Saga

I'll go with "Other" and pick Terminal Redux by Vektor. Incredible sci-fi prog-thrash album that often recalls Voivod and (prog/tech-era) Death's best moments from the 80s/90s. Just a shame they haven't released an album since 

Bowie just ahead of La Bocca Della Verità. My brain is still in its pupal stage.

Okay, so much for waiting to put up the 2016 poll. Never say never.., I had planned to wait a week or so, but I was up early to take my son to a robotics tournament, and I could not get back to sleep.

2016 is I think a superb year, especially for David's Bowie's Blackstar, which I believe is a poignant masterpiece, a masterful culmination of a career, wonderful in how it draws on different periods of his life, find it suitably sentimental yet not too maudlin, and I find it to be a remarkable swansong. It deals with mortality is a sensitive, personal, fragile, sensitive, melancholy. but also ultimately courageous and I would say life-affirming way. This and Robert Wyatt's Rock Bottom is the album I have most defended against naysayers/ pooh-poohers.

I like to think that most with a heart and empathy would appreciate Blackstar in some way. When Blackstar was voted Collab album of the Year, one poster (not one who stuck around) claimed that we only voted it high because Bowie had died and the album does not deserve the praise. Very presumptuous. Not only a callous comment, but also very arrogant. That album has not at all diminished for me. If anything, I appreciate it more now than I did then and I have listened to it countless times. Fine not to enjoy something and say so, but, generally-speaking, not to tell others that they are being disingenuous or wrong to respect and appreciate something.

When there was push-back he never tried to defend his claim and happily he left the site. I don't think it was trolling. Anyway, I'm not generally a fan of saying how much others should appreciate something and it's important to realise that each person connects with art on an individual level. What resonates with one person might not with another. It's more than annoying when some lecture others about how and what they should think and feel. Say how you feel and understand that others will not share the same experience, and of course try to avoid assumptions about others. Now I'm lecturing, and ranting... I am passionate about Blackstar and passion is something that I value (provided it's not a passion that hurts others or leads to the harm of others).

Again this poll comes in three sections and an "other", and again multiple voting is not enabled.

The first eight are taken from the unfiltered, except by year, Prog Archives Top Album Chart for 2016. The second eight is taken from the Collab Album of the Year for 2017 topic. The third eight is from my top nine list at Awesome Prog for 2016. "Other" as a voting option is intended to use if none of the listed options have much appeal. That said, I would ask people to mention their favourites on and off the list. If your favourite on the list is Avenged Sevenfold's The Stage, but your actual favourite is The Trio Project (Hiromi) Spark, then I suggest voting for and mentioning Avenged Sevenfold in a post while mentioning Spark as being your actual favourite.

Sharing is caring and detailed posts are welcome (that can help with conversation). Mention as many of your favourites as you like, both and off the list. And feel free to mention what you don't like that is listed too, even if it is Blackstar. Fine not to like something, implying that others should not is often more problematic and there are ways to be tactful in how one does it.

Just using the default for the top Prog Archives charts for the year 2016. If I add the subgenre number for Prog Related to the url as by default Prog Related and Proto Prog are not included in the charts, then David Bowie's Blackstar is at number one.

The Top PA 2016 ALbum Chart

1. Universal Totem Orchestra - Mathematical Mother (Zeuhl)
2. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity (Psych/Space)
3. Neal Morse - The Neal Morse Band: The Similitude of a Dream (Symph)
4. La Bocca Della Verità - Avenoth (RPI)
5. Tony Patterson - Equations of Meaning (Crossover)
6. Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage (Prog Metal)
7. The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional (Crossover)
8. Thank You Scientist - Stranger Heads Prevail (Crossover)

The ProgArchives Collaborators’ Top Albums of 2016 prepared by the great and very much missed Dean.

1. David Bowie - Blackstar (Prog Related, would be #1 in the PA chart if Prog Related was automatically included)
2. Gosta Berlings Saga - Sersophone (Electic)
3. Bent Knee - Say So (Crossover)
4. The Winstons - The Winstons (Canterbury)
5. Ingranaggi Della Valle - Warm Spaced Blue (RPI)
6. Marillion - FEAR (Neo-Prog)
7. Seven Impale - Contrapasso (Eclectic)
8. Opeth - Sorceress (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal)     

From my top 9 at Awesomeprog

David Bowie - Blackstar (my actual number one, a stunning swan song, but already listed)
1. Swans - The Glowing Man (in PA, Post-Rock)
2. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool (in PA, Crossover)
3. Bruno Pernadas - Those Who Throw Objects at the Crocodiles Will Be Asked to Retrieve Them (not in PA, Art Pop, Jazz-Fusion, Space Age Lounge)
4. Xiu Xiu - Plays the Music of Twin Peaks (not in PA, Experimental Rock)
5. Niechęć - Niechęć (not in PA Jazz-Rock, Jazz Fusion, Post-Rock)
6. Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth (not in PA, Baroque Pop, Psychedelic Folk)
7. Kikagaku Moyo - House In The Tall Grass (in PA, Psych/Space)
8. North Sea Radio Orchestra - Dronne (in PA, Prog Folk)

This is my top 20 at this time at Awesome prog, but then, say, I have not listened to Mathematical Mother in years. I listened to the Kayo Dot album again today and that project continues to impress me -- so eclectic and talented, not a highly regarded album by many. Toby Driver used to be a much talked about name at PA, and, dont tell the wife, I have dated Mia Matsumiya in my dreams. It was all very wholesome, we had something to eat.

1. David Bowie - ★
    Dark Poetic Exp Prog Art Rock/Pop
2. Swans - The Glowing Man
    Ominous Epic Exp Prog Post Rock/Folk
3. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
    Melancholic Atmospheric Exp English Prog Post Rock/Electronic
4. Bruno Pernadas - Those Who Throw Objects at the Crocodiles Will Be Asked to Retrieve Them
    Warm Psych Neo Prog Art Pop/Psychedelia
5. Xiu Xiu - Plays the Music of Twin Peaks
    Ominous Atmospheric Exp Non-Prog Drone Punk/Electronic
6. Niechęć - Niechęć
    Prog
7. Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth
    Bittersweet Melodic Exp Celtic Non-Prog Folk Pop/Noise
8. Kikagaku Moyo - House In The Tall Grass
    Mellow Psych Prog-Adj Folk/Rock
9. North Sea Radio Orchestra - Dronne
    Acoustic Prog Chamber Rock/Folk
10. Klaus Morlock - Penumbra
    Dark Psych Exp Prog Post Electronic/Krautrock
11. Kayo Dot - Plastic House on Base of Sky
    Haunting Lush Prog Post RIO/Independent
12. Angel Olsen - MY WOMAN
13. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
    Energetic Psych Prog Space Rock/Soul
14. Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch
    Anxious Poetic Non-Prog Art Pop
15. Thee Oh Sees - A Weird Exits
    Psych Prog Space Rock
16. Emma Ruth Rundle - Marked for Death
    Melancholic Atmospheric Exp Non-Prog Contemporary Singer Songwriter/Folk
17. Klô Pelgag - L'étoile thoracique
18. Vanishing Twin - Choose Your Own Adventure
19. Gösta Berlings Saga - Sersophane
    Complex Exp Prog Rock/Metal
20. Universal Totem Orchestra - Mathematical Mother
    Symph Prog Zeuhl/Jazz[/QUOTE]



Edited by Logan - February 08 2025 at 11:44