Aoty 2023 Results Discussion

Less than 18 hours to submit your favorite releases of 2023 ... if you haven't already, now is the time. So far 18 collabs and 28 regular forum members have participated - you can do it, too! Even if you only have one favorite release of 2023, your contribution still counts and can make a difference!

Edited by MikeEnRegalia - February 01 2024 at 04:46

Yes, I designed the polls to be an ongoing thing. In just about 9 hours registration will close for the "official" PA Aoty 2023, and the results will then be posted here in the forum. But the poll will remain open and I'll implement weekly/monthly views which highlight the changes (how releases moved up and down the chart over time).

^ Well, the people have spoken. Those last two lists put the Agusa release in the top position, but it was already at #2 the day before:

Thanks Mike! Awesome job with everything.

In the end, it doesn't matter to me when votes came in. It is about participation and bringing attention to all the great and varied music that's out there. Both the Zopp and Agusa albums are great prog albums.

Thanks to Greg for getting this opened up to forum members and promoting throughout.

On another note, I've listened to a bit more than 50 prog albums (present on PA) released in 2023 and I must say - even to my standards (whatever they are) - that there are many very good albums between those. A good year for prog indeed.

There always was the potential for some serious vote-rigging. We have seen people manipulating top albums and even, quite ridiculously, a fanclub joining up just to support their fave to win in a Prog polls "tournament". I worry about promoters and the like. That said, this seems to be fine. I don;t think it really matters which is in top position of the top ones, of if an album as at 8 or 10, or 73, or 196. For me the ultimate position of a singular collected work is not of much interest. What I like is the collaborative aspect of this of site/forum members (that's a reason why I like the Interactive Polls). I also am interested in looking at the individual lists of users. The ranking is not that important to me. My rankings felt so arbitrary and could change significantly at the drop of a hot. Some days or even moments I am more into some kinds of things than others. I guess for the longer run, the ones that interest me most are the ones that I have not yet heard that intrigue me from the lists.

It worked out really well, but if this becomes bigger still or known in future years as words gets around -- and of course I hope it does, which will be great for both PA (Prog Archives) and AP (Awesome Prog) -- I could see attempts to manipulate and there are ways to lessen that like limiting it to people who joined before such-and-such a date. On the other hand, if it brings traffic and interest, that could be good for this site as well as AP.

^ That 40 points requirement was implemented for voting in polls after the poll competition shenanigans. But I don't think we should require that for participating in the AOTY because we have reviewers and other long-term members who just are not forum users or big forums users that I still would like to participate (even if they choose not to post much here). And maybe there could be an announcement for this AOTY on the home/front page if M@x gets involved. That on the other hand likely would lead to attempts at abuse, so need some system/ criteria in place. I think been a member for a certian time, perhaps have made posts and multiple reviews....

Edited by Logan - February 01 2024 at 10:46

Thanks Mike for running this in an innovative manner that worked out quite well!

^Yeah, Agusa is a three-star (at most) release for me. Retro bluesy flute jams. There is so much I prefer in 2023. Not in my top 50 either.

^ this sounds a bit like the general feeling when IQ won the 2019 poll with Resistance. I do think that us calling anything 'safe' is very different to the wider world of music that cares very little for art based rock music. That is all prog is really. The Norwegian scene dominated the year and it is strongly 'retro' in feel but still captures that freedom and sheer musical brilliance that is our beloved genre. I think actually Seven Impale's album is the least 'retro' of the top albums. A lot more edgy . My top 3 was Zopp, Seven Impale and Agusa.