Best albums 2014!!!
17 Dec 2014, 09:55
Introduction
This time I'll start with a graph. I tried to make the effect of the albums release date smaller than it would be if only subjective feeling would have been used to make the list. The albums released earlier in the year tend to have more plays and some times also suffer by the moving interest towards the more recent releases.
Materials and Methods
In the graph:
X axis = tracks played from the album X average playing time of the tracks in the album (roughly speaking minutes played).
Y axis = the difference from the "very good album" subjective score given by the author. Weighed towards the current opinion (positive values -> better album).
non-linear regression line fitted to data, it would seem that grade does not increase linearly when plays are increased. Also the albums on the right and above line have retained their first impression of the grade better than those below the line.
So, I used this data to pick up my best albums, but I also decided to mix things up a bit more by doing the selection by genres. And of course I had to use something more solid than the genres created that the bands belong to...->
The categories below do not represent any genres in (metal) music, although these are much loved by many. They are based on authors feeling of the music, these bands (albums) compete against each other from my attention and time on a particular moment, e.g. I might choose between Solstafir and Triptykon when I can really concentrate on listening the music and not just keep it in the background.
The Results and Discussion
Finally it is time to announce the winners, first by categories:
Best album in its category (rocking): Tie between The Treatment - Running With The Dogs and Slash - World on Fire.
The Treatment. I knew nothing about this band before this record, a bunch of young boys from UK, like their correspond to our domestic trash/rock quartet Lost Society (they released a new album this year also, just listened it too few times to be ad
ded here). Considering that this was only their second album, they meet their ideals with heads held high.
Slash. A true rock album. Sometimes Myles ends up a bit too close to metalcore sounds, but I will forgive it for the good feeling that this recording gives overall.
Best album in its category (rolling): Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sunrunners up Brant Bjork - Black Power Flower , The Black Keys - Turn Blue.
Mastodon sneaked up from behind in the last moments of the competition. It was released at such a time that I listened it through a couple of times (and graded it for further listening) and then was forgotten. When I started to think again of compiling this list it bounced back and eventually was in my records the second best album of the year! I had to check what others are saying about this album and among appraisals there are some complaints (nillitystä in Finnish, a much more describing word) that this is yet again another Mastodon album going further away from their roots and true self. Letting aside the reasoning that the bands are supposed to evolve and "make music for themselves", I'll have to say that this is immediately recognisable as Mastodon album. No one else sounds like this. No one else can? If you are making a progressive metal (or whatever) why shouldn't you add catchy tunes if you can do and sound cheesy.
Brant put out an excellent album and a worthy follower for Gods & Goddesses. It will stay in my turntable for a long time.
The Black Keys. A late bloomer. At first it was just ok, but by the end had climbed into my list. A solid performer.
Best album in its category (dying):Ghost Brigade - IV - One with the Storm , runners up Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun , Crowbar - Symmetry In Black.
Ghost Brigade. In the beginning I thought that this was an ok album, but was sort of disappointed that it did not immediately sound perfect, like Isolation Songs. I should have known better, most of the best albums need to grow into you and are not immediately liked. Some days ago I started putting some of the songs in the latest GB album to last.fm "loved tracks" list, and ended up not loving two of the songs!
Insomnium. They are in a way to be Amorphis instead of Amorphis in my Top Artist list. Of course Amorphis puts out a hit records in the same pace, so it might not happen after all. But this record is again a premier example of the beauty that the songs of melodic death metal can accomplish. However, it is not just the beautiful melodies that makes this album so great, it is the variety of different songs that makes you appreciate the beautiful moments and heavier parts even more.
Crowbar. A worthy comeback from an old band (well, they have not retired entirely like some others from their era). A proper crunching from the beginning to the end.
Best album in its category (not easy listening): Solstafir - Otta, runners upTriptykon - Melana Chasmata, Vallenfyre - Splinters and Novembers Doom - Bled White.
Both best album in its category, but also my Record of the Year!
Sólstafir - Ótta
I loved it right from the beginning, I loved it in the middle, I love it still. I was waiting for Ghost Brigade to make the most atmospherically wholesome album this year, and although I very much liked GB, Sólstafir won the jackpot. It is melancholic, it is beautiful, it is heavy in a sense. I understand almost nothing what they are singing about, but I can feel all the things they want to tell. Especially morning and evening parts are very touching. Best track(s): Nón, after 3 minutes to the end of Midaftann (almost, I can deny this later) puts tears in my eyes and also a smile on my face.
Triptykon. Another album that needs concentration when listening, does not suit for background listening. The good thing with albums like this is that they last for long, there is enough to find something new every time and you will not easily listen it "too much" to get tired of it, it might even not be possible.
Vallenfyre. Almost the same comments than above, although not as complicated than the one above.
Novembers Doom. After their awesome previous album, this did not reach the same heights. When I got rid of a small disappointment and started treating this album as an individual the scores started rising. Might have risen at least above Vallenfyre with time, but since these runners up are not in order anyway, who cares?
Critical comments
In the end a list of albums left out from the list and some words about them.
Overkill - White Devil Armory I did not know in which category this album would be competing. Maybe in the first when it would have been very close to the two winners.
Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds I bought it, I liked it, just had not time to listen it enough. It deserves a mention here and more of my time.
Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways I have this also. I think that the first part of the record is really good, but did not love the end part that much. I really like the document of making the album and might regret later that I did not include the album in my list.
Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere I had completely forgotten the existence of this album, I'm sorry.
Opeth - Pale Communion I really don't know if I like this album or not. It made me like their previous album, but did not get into this one yet.
Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls Just too few tracks played. I did watch several good documentaries of the evolution of heavy metal and appreciate nowadays a lot the influence of Judas Priest.
Lenny Kravitz - Strut It seems that Lenny cannot miss a hit. After something like ten albums, I really think that there are only awesome and really good albums in his bio.
Sabaton - Heroes Forgot it sooner than I should have. I'm waiting for yet another good live performance with some of the tracks from this album.
Cavalera Conspiracy - Pandemonium The first impression was positive, I must remember to listen this more and because of that it is mentioned here, I will be using this list even if no one else isn't.
This time I'll start with a graph. I tried to make the effect of the albums release date smaller than it would be if only subjective feeling would have been used to make the list. The albums released earlier in the year tend to have more plays and some times also suffer by the moving interest towards the more recent releases.
Materials and Methods
In the graph:
X axis = tracks played from the album X average playing time of the tracks in the album (roughly speaking minutes played).
Y axis = the difference from the "very good album" subjective score given by the author. Weighed towards the current opinion (positive values -> better album).
non-linear regression line fitted to data, it would seem that grade does not increase linearly when plays are increased. Also the albums on the right and above line have retained their first impression of the grade better than those below the line.
So, I used this data to pick up my best albums, but I also decided to mix things up a bit more by doing the selection by genres. And of course I had to use something more solid than the genres created that the bands belong to...->
The categories below do not represent any genres in (metal) music, although these are much loved by many. They are based on authors feeling of the music, these bands (albums) compete against each other from my attention and time on a particular moment, e.g. I might choose between Solstafir and Triptykon when I can really concentrate on listening the music and not just keep it in the background.
The Results and Discussion
Finally it is time to announce the winners, first by categories:
Best album in its category (rocking): Tie between The Treatment - Running With The Dogs and Slash - World on Fire.
The Treatment. I knew nothing about this band before this record, a bunch of young boys from UK, like their correspond to our domestic trash/rock quartet Lost Society (they released a new album this year also, just listened it too few times to be ad
ded here). Considering that this was only their second album, they meet their ideals with heads held high.
Slash. A true rock album. Sometimes Myles ends up a bit too close to metalcore sounds, but I will forgive it for the good feeling that this recording gives overall.
Best album in its category (rolling): Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sunrunners up Brant Bjork - Black Power Flower , The Black Keys - Turn Blue.
Mastodon sneaked up from behind in the last moments of the competition. It was released at such a time that I listened it through a couple of times (and graded it for further listening) and then was forgotten. When I started to think again of compiling this list it bounced back and eventually was in my records the second best album of the year! I had to check what others are saying about this album and among appraisals there are some complaints (nillitystä in Finnish, a much more describing word) that this is yet again another Mastodon album going further away from their roots and true self. Letting aside the reasoning that the bands are supposed to evolve and "make music for themselves", I'll have to say that this is immediately recognisable as Mastodon album. No one else sounds like this. No one else can? If you are making a progressive metal (or whatever) why shouldn't you add catchy tunes if you can do and sound cheesy.
Brant put out an excellent album and a worthy follower for Gods & Goddesses. It will stay in my turntable for a long time.
The Black Keys. A late bloomer. At first it was just ok, but by the end had climbed into my list. A solid performer.
Best album in its category (dying):Ghost Brigade - IV - One with the Storm , runners up Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun , Crowbar - Symmetry In Black.
Ghost Brigade. In the beginning I thought that this was an ok album, but was sort of disappointed that it did not immediately sound perfect, like Isolation Songs. I should have known better, most of the best albums need to grow into you and are not immediately liked. Some days ago I started putting some of the songs in the latest GB album to last.fm "loved tracks" list, and ended up not loving two of the songs!
Insomnium. They are in a way to be Amorphis instead of Amorphis in my Top Artist list. Of course Amorphis puts out a hit records in the same pace, so it might not happen after all. But this record is again a premier example of the beauty that the songs of melodic death metal can accomplish. However, it is not just the beautiful melodies that makes this album so great, it is the variety of different songs that makes you appreciate the beautiful moments and heavier parts even more.
Crowbar. A worthy comeback from an old band (well, they have not retired entirely like some others from their era). A proper crunching from the beginning to the end.
Best album in its category (not easy listening): Solstafir - Otta, runners upTriptykon - Melana Chasmata, Vallenfyre - Splinters and Novembers Doom - Bled White.
Both best album in its category, but also my Record of the Year!
Sólstafir - Ótta
I loved it right from the beginning, I loved it in the middle, I love it still. I was waiting for Ghost Brigade to make the most atmospherically wholesome album this year, and although I very much liked GB, Sólstafir won the jackpot. It is melancholic, it is beautiful, it is heavy in a sense. I understand almost nothing what they are singing about, but I can feel all the things they want to tell. Especially morning and evening parts are very touching. Best track(s): Nón, after 3 minutes to the end of Midaftann (almost, I can deny this later) puts tears in my eyes and also a smile on my face.
Triptykon. Another album that needs concentration when listening, does not suit for background listening. The good thing with albums like this is that they last for long, there is enough to find something new every time and you will not easily listen it "too much" to get tired of it, it might even not be possible.
Vallenfyre. Almost the same comments than above, although not as complicated than the one above.
Novembers Doom. After their awesome previous album, this did not reach the same heights. When I got rid of a small disappointment and started treating this album as an individual the scores started rising. Might have risen at least above Vallenfyre with time, but since these runners up are not in order anyway, who cares?
Critical comments
In the end a list of albums left out from the list and some words about them.
Overkill - White Devil Armory I did not know in which category this album would be competing. Maybe in the first when it would have been very close to the two winners.
Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds I bought it, I liked it, just had not time to listen it enough. It deserves a mention here and more of my time.
Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways I have this also. I think that the first part of the record is really good, but did not love the end part that much. I really like the document of making the album and might regret later that I did not include the album in my list.
Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere I had completely forgotten the existence of this album, I'm sorry.
Opeth - Pale Communion I really don't know if I like this album or not. It made me like their previous album, but did not get into this one yet.
Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls Just too few tracks played. I did watch several good documentaries of the evolution of heavy metal and appreciate nowadays a lot the influence of Judas Priest.
Lenny Kravitz - Strut It seems that Lenny cannot miss a hit. After something like ten albums, I really think that there are only awesome and really good albums in his bio.
Sabaton - Heroes Forgot it sooner than I should have. I'm waiting for yet another good live performance with some of the tracks from this album.
Cavalera Conspiracy - Pandemonium The first impression was positive, I must remember to listen this more and because of that it is mentioned here, I will be using this list even if no one else isn't.
