2016 Album Releases

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

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

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 

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

You got this one pegged!

David Bowie - Blackstar 

Gandalf's Fist- "The Clockwork Fable"


Edited by omphaloskepsis - Yesterday at 06:28

David_D wrote: When talking about David Bowie, I liked him in my early teenage years.

Implying that your tastes evolved, matured perhaps, and moved on from him? That has happened to me with lots of music although I still "respect" the music I liked as a young teen and pre-teen. While I have considered my tastes evolving and changing over time and going in different directions as the wind blows, ultimately those qualities that appealed to as a young child, what my personality identified with, have remained much the same. While I have gone into different things, I likely would not phrase it as my tastes have evolved or matured so much now. In fact as I got older I got kind of nostalgic so my tastes might have devolved somewhat in a way.

Bowie was one of the first non-classical music artists that I recall liking. My eldest brother who I was very close to played me the compilation Changes One when I was a child, and I loved music off it. Then when I was a tween and young teen and would watch music videos, a favourite of mine was "Ashes to Ashes" by Bowie. And the Cat People movie remake was a fave of mine featuring Bowie music. Then as a later teen and in my early 20s, I was very into various David Bowie films -- especially The Man Who Fell to Earth, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and The Hunger. I have liked music by Bowie since I was six. . I would continue to hear music of his I enjoyed on the radio after that.

When David Bowie was being added to Prog Archives, I explored much more of his music, including his Berlin trilogy. Heroes, Low, Hunky Dory and The Man Who Sold the World became my personal favourites at the time. But it was really with Blackstar that my respect for Bowie as a musical artist and more importantly in a way as a conception of a person was very strongly cemented. I hold it in extremely high regard, not just an album but as a sort of artistic culmination of a life. and provokes a strong emotional reaction. This is an album that speaks to me so strongly and affects me so much emotionally, and well, I went into it in the OP. I don't believe that it would speak to anyone else in quite the same way as it does to me, and try to share those feelings is hard.

Perhaps I should try to write a review at some time of Blackstar, but it's one where my personal emotional connection to it so strong, causes such a kind of empathetic reaction, so many associations with it, baggage related to it, and words just don't cut it. Death and loss, regret, joy... As said, I appreciate passion (provided it's not harmful), and having that passion come out in words which evokes passion in like-minded people, to emotionally connect with others through words, is something that I wish I was much better at. Music is amazing in how it can touch the proverbial soul, I mean so can poetry and other art. It can be so numinous and transcendental, and each person reacts differently and brings in their own associations. Blackstar is an album that touches me to the core.

By the way, my son's best friend's name is Bowie named after the singer. Was good to have Bowie's (son's friend) parents to talk with after David Bowie died. Aside from Robert Wyatt, whose Rock Bottom touches me deeply, Sufjan Stevens music in another that can provoke a similar strong emotional reaction in me. I wouldn't recommend it to you, David. I love various forms of art pop.

Anyway, great year twas 2016 for many tastes.

Wow, after that not really cathartic release, time for some Glowing Man.



Music can be the best medication.

Edited by Logan - 21 hours 30 minutes ago at 10:10

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth

We don's share the same regard on Blackstar, but I'm glad we agree on liking this.

Prefer to focus on and explore commonalities than differences commonly. The world needs more "love", and so do I Ms. Mering...





Speaking of passion...

Tired of feeling so bad
Giving away everything
Gonna learn to take the pain
I know that your love stings
Passion is the only thing
Passion must mean everything
I felt your body scream to be set free
From the pain of what's gone
I'll move you along

Edited by Logan - 21 hours 5 minutes ago at 10:35

David_D wrote: When talking about David Bowie, I liked him in my early teenage years.