10 February 2017

The 2016 Grampies

It's a bit later in the New Year (2017) already than I had intended or would have preferred, but I'm still ahead of the Grammys in publishing my list of the 2016 Grampies.  Here follows the compilation of my favorite albums of this past year across a variety of genres.  In fact, I've further diversified my classifications, as compared to previous years, dividing the vast span of country music into two different categories (the first comprising tradition and modern, mainstream and retro country, and the second covering ground from folk to Americana), and creating a niche for music spanning progressive rock and symphonic metal.

Noting that "country" (even with a second category) still covers a broad span of music, I've provided a long list of albums under the main "Country" heading, almost twice as many as in the others.  But the reality is that "Pop," "Rock," "Metal," and "Alternative" have a fair amount of overlap between them, and any number of albums could conceivably be categorized in a variety of these ways.  I've had to make decisions, some of which are inevitably arbitrary and subjective.  But it is my list, after all, and making those hard choices is part of the challenge and part of the fun of doing this each year.

As in the past, my thanks to Spotify and Amazon, to my local public library, to Fireworks and Powerplay rock and metal magazines, to Rolling Stone Country, to the Rate Your Music (rym) and the Album Of The Year (aoty) sites, and to my buddy, Rev. Erich Fickel, with whom I got to see Sturgill Simpson in concert this past year, and whose thoughts on music are encouraging.

To my ears, 2016 was a great year for music of all kinds, and I enjoy the chance to share my favorite discoveries with others.   So, then, without any further ado, here are the 2016 Grampies:


D. Rick’s Album Top 50

1. Theocracy - Ghost Ship (Metal)

2. Sister Hazel - Lighter in the Dark (Pop)

3. Green River Ordinance - Fifteen (Country)

4. The Avett Brothers - True Sadness (Folk/Americana)

5. Andy Black - The Shadow Side (Alternative)

6. Volbeat - Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie (Metal)

7. The Roosevelts - The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn (Rock)

8. Parker Millsap - The Very Last Day (Folk/Americana)

9. Lori McKenna - The Bird & the Rifle (Folk/Americana)

10. Rachel Platten - Wildfire (Pop)

11. Brian Fallon - Painkillers (Rock)

12. Dori Freeman - Dori Freeman (Folk/Americana)

13. The Roomsounds - Elm St. (Rock)

14. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth (Alternative)

15. Brandy Clark - Big Day in a Small Town (Country)

16. Simple Plan - Taking One for the Team (Alternative)

17. Alter Bridge - The Last Hero (Metal)

18. Dream Theater - The Astonishing (Progressive)

19. Nordic Union - Nordic Union (Rock)

20. Brothers Osborne - Pawn Shop (Country)

21. Tremonti - Dust (Guitarist)

22. Miranda Lambert - The Weight of These Wings (Country)

23. Bon Jovi - This House Is Not for Sale (Rock)

24. Panic! at the Disco - Death of a Bachelor (Alternative)

25. Maren Morris - Hero (Country)

26. Rick Springfield - Rocket Science (Pop)

27. Poets of the Fall - Clearview (Alternative)

28. Joe Bonamassa - Blues of Desperation (Guitarist)

29. Treat - Ghost of Graceland (Rock)

30. Wigelius - Tabula Rasa (Rock)

31. Jorn - Heavy Rock Radio (Rock)

32. Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter (Country)

33. Elton John - Wonderful Crazy Night (Pop)

34. Twin Atlantic - GLA (Alternative)

35. Holy Grail - Times of Pride and Peril (Metal)

36. Serenity - Codex Atlanticus (Progressive)

37. Black Stone Cherry - Kentucky (Rock)

38. Austin Allsup - This Weary Land (Country)

39. The Head and the Heart - Signs of Light (Alternative)

40. Aubrie Sellers - New City Blues (Country)

41. Lindsey Stirling - Brave Enough (Alternative)

42. BJ Barham - Rockingham (Folk/Americana)

43. Keith Urban - Ripcord (Guitarist)

44. Ryan Beaver - Rx (Country)

45. Eliza and The Bear - Eliza and The Bear (Alternative)

46. Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct (Metal)

47. Dommin - Beautiful Crutch (Alternative)

48. Dare - Sacred Ground (Rock)

49. Sabaton - The Last Stand (Metal)

50. Megadeth - Dystopia (Metal)


Country  (Traditional and Modern, Mainstream and Retro)

1. Green River Ordinance - Fifteen

2. Brandy Clark - Big Day in a Small Town

3. Brothers Osborne - Pawn Shop

4. Miranda Lambert - The Weight of These Wings

5. Maren Morris - Hero

6. Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter

7. Austin Allsup - This Weary Land

8. Aubrie Sellers - New City Blues

9. Ryan Beaver - Rx

10. Loretta Lynn - Full Circle

11. Dianna Corcoran - In America

12. The Honeycutters - On the Ropes

13. Florida Georgia Line - Dig Your Roots

14. Ward Thomas - Cartwheels

15. Casey Donahew - All Night Party

16. The Warhorses - The Warhorses

17. Thorne Hill - No More Holding Back

18. Jared Deck - Jared Deck

19. Paul Cauthen - My Gospel

20. Frankie Ballard - El Río

21. Cody Johnson - Gotta Be Me

22. Seth James & Jessica Murray - A Million Miles of Love

23. Drake White - Spark

24. Reckless Kelly - Sunset Motel

25. Garth Brooks - Gunslinger

26. Derek Hoke - Southern Moon

27. Randy Rogers Band - Nothing Shines Like Neon

28. Wynonna & The Big Noise - Wynonna & The Big Noise

29. Jamestown Revival - The Education of a Wandering Man

30. Kenny Chesney - Cosmic Hallelujah

31. Cody Jinks - I'm Not the Devil

32. Zane Williams - Bringin' Country Back

33. Levi Parham - These American Blues

34. Phil Vassar - American Soul

35. Whiskey Myers - Mud

36. High Valley - Dear Life

37. Kane Brown - Kane Brown

38. Martina McBride - Reckless

39. Jamie Kent - All American Mutt

40. The Cactus Blossoms - You're Dreaming

41. Shane Owens - Where I'm Comin' From

42. Shannon Labrie - War & Peace

43. The Cadillac Three - Bury Me in My Boots

44. Willie Nelson - For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price

45. The Shires - My Universe

46. Ronnie Dunn - Tattooed Heart

47. Jon Pardi - California Sunrise

48. Mark Chesnutt - Tradition Lives

49. William Michael Morgan - Vinyl

50. Karen Jonas - Country Songs


Country Folk ~ Rustic Americana

1. The Avett Brothers - True Sadness

2. Parker Millsap - The Very Last Day

3. Lori McKenna - The Bird & the Rifle

4. Dori Freeman - Dori Freeman

5. BJ Barham - Rockingham

6. Flatland Cavalry - Humble Folks

7. The Stray Birds - Magic Fire

8. Brent Cobb - Shine on Rainy Day

9. Hayes Carll - Lovers and Leavers

10. Shovels & Rope - Little Seeds

11. Sarah Jarosz - Undercurrent

12. Sara Watkins - Young in All the Wrong Ways

13. Mary Chapin Carpenter - The Things That We Are Made Of

14. Courtney Marie Andrews - Honest Life

15. Aoife O'Donovan - In the Magic Hour

16. John Prine - For Better, or Worse

17. Dylan LeBlanc - Cautionary Tale

18. Darrell Scott - Couchville Sessions

19. Amanda Shires - My Piece of Land

20. Kate Rusby - Life in a Paper Boat

21. Lee DeWyze - Oil & Water

22. case / lang / veirs - case / lang / veirs

23. Jason Eady & Courtney Patton - Something Together

24. Kelsey Waldon - I've Got a Way

25. The Time Jumpers - Kid Sister

26. Robbie Fulks - Upland Stories

27. Mandolin Orange - Blindfaller

28. The Lumineers - Cleopatra

29. Dwight Yoakam - Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars...

30. Amos Lee - Spirit

31. Seth Lakeman - Ballads of the Broken Few

32. Paper Bird - Paper Bird

33. John Paul White - Beulah


Pop

1. Sister Hazel - Lighter in the Dark

2. Rachel Platten - Wildfire

3. Rick Springfield - Rocket Science

4. Elton John - Wonderful Crazy Night

5. American Authors - What We Live For

6. Anthony D'Amato - Cold Snap

7. Parachute - Wide Awake

8. Jace Pawlak - Promise

9. Britt Nicole - Britt Nicole

10. Colbie Caillat - The Malibu Sessions

11. Regina Spektor - Remember Us to Life

12. Passenger - Young as the Morning Old as the Sea

13. Jacob Whitesides - Why?

14. Lewis & Leigh - Ghost

15. OneRepublic - Oh My My

16. Sia - This Is Acting

17. Muddy Magnolias - Broken People

18. Dawes - We're All Gonna Die

19. Gavin DeGraw - Something Worth Saving

20. Jimmy Barnes - Soul Searchin'

21. Andrew Leahey & The Homestead - Skyline in Central Time

22. Lake Street Dive - Side Pony

23. Meghan Trainor - Thank You

24. Josh Kelley - New Lane Road

25. KT Tunstall - KIN

26. Lights - Midnight Machines

27. Roxette - Good Karma

28. Tegan and Sara - Love You to Death

29. Sabrina Carpenter - EVOLution

30. Britta Phillips - Luck or Magic

31. The Candles - Matter + Spirit

32. Audrey Spillman - Thornbird

33. BROODS - Conscious


Rock  (Rock ‘n’ Roll, Classic Rock, Retro Radio Rock, Modern Rock)

1. The Roosevelts - The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn

2. Brian Fallon - Painkillers

3. The Roomsounds - Elm St.

4. Nordic Union - Nordic Union

5. Bon Jovi - This House Is Not for Sale

6. Treat - Ghost of Graceland

7. Wigelius - Tabula Rasa

8. Jorn - Heavy Rock Radio

9. Black Stone Cherry - Kentucky

10. Dare - Sacred Ground

11. Epic - Like a Phoenix

12. 3 Doors Down - Us and the Night

13. Wolfmother - Victorious

14. Blackfoot - Southern Native

15. Rival Sons - Hollow Bones

16. Letters From the Fire - Worth the Pain

17. The Record Company - Give It Back to You

18. Blackberry Smoke - Like an Arrow

19. The Answer - Solas

20. Kings of Leon - Walls

21. The Black Moods - Medicine

22. Inglorious - Inglorious

23. Tim Montana and The Shrednecks - Tim Montana and the Shrednecks

24. Grand Slam - A New Dawn

25. Rob Moratti - Transcendent

26. Angels or Kings - Go Ask the Moon

27. Glenn Hughes - Resonate

28. Handful of Rain - Three Days to Come Back

29. Mudcrutch - 2

30. Nemesea - Uprise

31. Overland - Contagious

32. First Signal - One Step Over the Line

33. The Radio Sun - Outside Looking In


Progressive Rock ~ Symphonic Metal

1. Dream Theater - The Astonishing

2. Serenity - Codex Atlanticus

3. Avantasia - Ghostlights

4. Epica - The Holographic Principle

5. Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage

6. Delain - Moonbathers

7. Sonata Arctica - The Ninth Hour

8. DGM - The Passage

9. Rhapsody of Fire - Into the Legend

10. Sirenia - Dim Days of Dolor

11. Redemption - The Art of Loss

12. Insomnium - Winter's Gate

13. Opeth - Sorceress

14. Of Mice & Men - Cold World

15. Lacuna Coil - Delirium


Hard Rock & Heavy Metal

1. Theocracy - Ghost Ship

2. Volbeat - Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie

3. Alter Bridge - The Last Hero

4. Holy Grail - Times of Pride and Peril

5. Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct

6. Sabaton - The Last Stand

7. Megadeth - Dystopia

8. Eden's Curse - Cardinal

9. Amaranthe - Maximalism

10. Amon Amarth - Jomsviking

11. Rage of Angels - The Devils New Tricks

12. Pretty Maids - Kingmaker

13. Trapt - DNA

14. Freedom Call - Master of Light

15. Michael Sweet - One Sided War

16. Evergrey - The Storm Within

17. Stitched Up Heart - Never Alone

18. Striker - Stand in the Fire

19. Tyketto - Reach

20. Gemini Syndrome - Memento Mori

21. Myrath - Legacy

22. Innerwish - InnerWish

23. Last in Line - Heavy Crown

24. Primal Fear - Rulebreaker

25. Serious Black - Mirrorworld

26. HammerFall - Built to Last

27. Sixx:A.M. - Prayers for the Blessed Vol. 2

28. Resurrection Kings - Resurrection Kings

29. In Flames - Battles

30. Shakra - High Noon

31. Obscura - Akróasis

32. Wovenwar - Honor Is Dead

33. Killswitch Engage - Incarnate


Ambiguous Alternatives

1. Andy Black - The Shadow Side

2. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth

3. Simple Plan - Taking One for the Team

4. Panic! at the Disco - Death of a Bachelor

5. Poets of the Fall - Clearview

6. Twin Atlantic - GLA

7. The Head and the Heart - Signs of Light

8. Lindsey Stirling - Brave Enough

9. Eliza and The Bear - Eliza and The Bear

10. Dommin - Beautiful Crutch

11. The Wild Feathers - Lonely Is a Lifetime

12. James McCartney - The Blackberry Train

13. As Vultures Circle - Human Conditions

14. Skillet - Unleashed

15. Drive-By Truckers - American Band

16. Needtobreathe - Hard Love

17. Switchfoot - Where the Light Shines Through

18. Good Charlotte - Youth Authority

19. Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere

20. Nothing But Thieves - Nothing But Thieves

21. Yellowcard - Yellowcard

22. Jimmy Eat World - Integrity Blues

23. The Jayhawks - Paging Mr. Proust

24. Fitz & the Tantrums - Fitz & the Tantrums

25. Weezer - Weezer [White Album]

26. Lacey Sturm - Life Screams

27. Phish - Big Boat

28. Goo Goo Dolls - Boxes

29. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - PersonA

30. Savages - Adore Life

31. Deftones - Gore

32. Taking Back Sunday - Tidal Wave

33. Young Guns - Echoes


Guitarists

1. Tremonti - Dust

2. Joe Bonamassa - Blues of Desperation

3. Keith Urban - Ripcord

4. Wolf Hoffmann - Headbangers Symphony

5. Scotty Bratcher - That Album

6. Zakk Wylde - Book of Shadows II

7. Vince Gill - Down to My Last Bad Habit

8. Tedeschi Trucks Band - Let Me Get By

9. Gary Hoey - Dust & Bones

10. Jeff Beck - Loud Hailer

11. Steffen Schackinger - Fire Dance

12. Rik Emmett & RESolution9 - RES 9

13. Punky Meadows - Fallen Angel

14. Ace Frehley - Origins Vol. 1

15. Bonnie Raitt - Dig in Deep

16. Ana Popovic - Trilogy

17. Steve Wariner - All Over the Map

18. Monte Pittman - Inverted Grasp of Balance

19. Animals as Leaders - The Madness of Many

20. Stefan Berggren - Stranger in a Strangeland

21. Joanne Shaw Taylor - Wild

22. Andy Timmons - Theme From a Perfect World

23. Polyphia - Renaissance

24. Peter Frampton - Acoustic Classics

25. Kee Marcello - Scaling Up

26. Eric Clapton - I Still Do

27. Oz Noy - Who Gives a Funk

28. Eric Johnson - EJ

29. Paul Gilbert - I Can Destroy

30. Yngwie Malmsteen - World on Fire

31. Santana - Santana IV

32. Jack White - Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016

33. Neil Young - Peace Trail

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