THE BEST OF 2017 IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOHN BOMMARITO
As in previous years, it's just one
man's opinion, mine. Any disagreements
are irrelevant because food, movies, music, etc. are all a matter of personal
taste. I'm a music fan with my own
tastes and I won't apologize for them.
I'm a sucker for a good pop tune (as evidenced by this year's #1) or a
catchy melody. I can recognize
well-crafted songs and appreciate someone who can actually sing.
Each year my lists are calculated
by rating each song on each album on a 1-10 scale. Simple division gives each
album a score, then the releases are broken into categories. It wouldn't be fair to have a album full of
familiar covers on the same list as an album of all originals. Same goes for a live album or an album full
of acoustic interpretations of previously released songs. Christmas albums are essentially covers
albums for the most part, so again, they are separated from the pack. EPs also are separate. Not having as many songs mathematically increases
their odds of a high rating over a full length.
I realize every year it's still not a perfect system. An album could have two great songs on it,
but 8 forgettable songs and actually place in the top 50. Meanwhile an album
that had 10 songs that were all very listenable - perhaps even more likable,
but not many that stood out might end up near the bottom of the list. See, not perfect, just like me. The flaw might be that a song could get a
rating of 5 on a 10 scale and that counts the same in the calculation as a 5+
(which to me is a song that I don't dislike, but I wouldn't play it on a free
form radio program).
There were about 25 more CDs in my
pile to review from this year and there are several on the list I wanted to go
back and re-listen to, but I'm out of time.
It is what it is, so here is this year's best of list:
BEST CHRISTMAS ALBUM
CATEGORY-RANKING-ARTIST-TITLE
CHRISTMAS -
1-SLEEPING AT LAST-CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
VOLUME ONE
CHRISTMAS -
2-TOM CHAPLIN-TWELVE TALES OF CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS -
3-DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS-20TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS (BARNES & NOBLE
EDITION)
CHRISTMAS -
4-LINDSEY STIRLING-WARMER IN THE WINTER (TARGET EDITION)
CHRISTMAS -
5-SIA-EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS -
6-SULTANS OF STRING-CHRISTMAS CARAVAN
HONARBLE
MENTION CHRISTMAS EP -JON MCLAUGHLIN-RED & GREEN
---
BEST
EP (EP Defined as less than 8 songs)
CATEGORY-RANKING-ARTIST-TITLE
EP - 1-VAN WILLIAM-THE REVOLUTION EP
EP - 2-SWEET
WATER WARBLERS-WITH YOU
EP - 3-TFDI-BEGGARS
AND BALLERS
EP - 4-NEEDTOBREATHE-HARDCUTS:
SONGS FROM THE HARDLOVE SESSIONS
EP - 5-PEN
PALS (HEATH MCNEASE & JETTY RAE)-I DISAPPEAR
EP - 6-SCARS
ON 45-TROUBADOUR EP
EP - 7-LUKE
PRESTON -FALL TOUR '17 BOOTLEG EP
EP - 8-DEPECHE
MODE-COVER ME (REMIXES)
EP - 9-DELTA
RAE-A LONG AND HAPPY LIVE
EP - 10-DEPECHE
MODE-GOING BACKWARDS (REMIXES)
EP - 11-JADE
BIRD-SOMETHING AMERICAN
EP - 12-CHARLOTTE
CARDIN-MAIN GIRL EP
EP - 13-COLDPLAY-KALEIDOSCOPE
EP
EP - 14-BROTHER
BROTHERS-TUGBOATS EP
EP - 15-ERIK
KOSKINEN-CRUSIING PARADISE
BEST
LIVE ALBUM
CATEGORY-RANKING-ARTIST-TITLE
LIVE - 1-CHRIS DUPONT-LIVE IN ANN ARBOR
LIVE - 2-STEPHEN
KELLOGG-TOUR DE
LIVE - 3-DAVID
GRAY-LIVE AT THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL, DUBLIN SEP 5 2017
LIVE - 4-COLLECTIVE
SOUL-LIVE
LIVE - 5-ERICK
BAKER-LIVE AT THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB
LIVE - 6-JAMES
BAY-CHAOS & THE CALM (LIVE)
LIVE - 7-VERVE
PIPE-VILLAINS (LIVE AND ACOUSTIC)
LIVE - 8-STEVE
WINWOOD-GREATEST HITS LIVE
LIVE - 9-KENNY
LOGGINS-LIVE ON SOUNDSTAGE
LIVE - 10-MICHAEL
MCDONALD-LIVE ON SOUNDSTAGE
---
BEST
COVERS ALBUM (This year reinterpretations of an artist's own work got counted
as covers - i.e. Roy and Richard)
CATEGORY-RANKING-ARTIST-TITLE
COVERS - 1-VARIOUS-COVER STORIES-BRANDI CARLILE
CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF THE STORY
COVERS - 2-PAULA
COLE-BALLADS
COVERS - 3-SEAL-STANDARDS
(DELUXE EDITION)
COVERS - 4-ROY
ORBISON WITH THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA-A LOVE SO BEAUTIFUL
COVERS - 5-JILLIAN
EDWARDS-COVERS
COVERS - 6-2CELLOS-SCORE
(JAPANESE EDITION)
COVERS - 7-LISA
LOEB-LULLABY GIRL
COVERS - 8-JOAN
OSBORNE-SONGS OF BOB DYLAN
COVERS - 9-DIANA
KRALL-TURN UP THE QUIET
COVERS - 10-WILLIE
NILE -POSITIVELY BOB
COVERS - 11-BARENAKED
LADIES/THE PERSUASIONS-LADIES & GENTLEMEN: BARENAKED LADIES AND THE
PERSUASIONS
COVERS - 12-SHOVELS
& ROPE-BUSTED JUKEBOX
COVERS - 13-RICHARD
THOMPSON-ACOUSTIC CLASSICS II/ACOUSTIC RARITIES
BEST
COVERS EP
CATEGORY-RANKING-ARTIST-TITLE
COVERS EP -
1-LAITH AL-SAADI-A 75TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
TO JIMI HENDRIX
COVERS EP -
2-PENTATONIX-VOL IV
COVERS EP -
3-TYRONE WELLS-COVERS TWO
COVERS EP -
4-JOAN OSBORNE-LIVE DYLAN EP
COVERS EP -
5-STRAIGHT NO CHASER-SIX PACK VOL. 3
BEST
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR (TIES GET THE SAME RANKING)
CATEGORY-RANKING-ARTIST-TITLE
1-ED SHEERAN-DIVIDE (DELUXE EDITION)
2-JOSHUA DAVIS
3-SERENA
RYDER-UTOPIA
4-SETH
GLIER-BIRDS
5-THEO
KATZMAN-HEARTBREAK HITS
5-ALAN
DOYLE-A WEEK AT THE WAREHOUSE
7-JD
MCPHERSON-UNDIVIDED HEART AND SOUL
7-CURRENT
SWELL-WHEN TO TALK AND WHEN TO LISTEN
8-MAY
ERLEWINE-MOTHER LION
9-U2-SONGS
OF EXPERIENCE (JAPANESE DELUXE EDITION)
10-IMELDA
MAY-LIFE. LOVE. FLESH. BLOOD (JAPANESE EDITION)
11-JASON
ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT-THE NASHVILLE SOUND
11-CHASTITY
BROWN-SILHOUETTE OF SIRENS
11-LINDSEY
BUCKINGHAM & CHRISTINE MCVIE-LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM & CHRISTINE MCVIE
14-JOHN
MAYER-THE SEARCH FOR EVERYTHING
14-COLD
TONE HARVEST-AFTER YOU
14-DARDEN
SMITH-EVERYTHING
14-NATIONAL-SLEEP
WELL BEAST
18-JONATHAN
COULTON-SOLID STATE
19-JOSHUA
RADIN-THE FALL
20-SAM
SMITH-THE THRILL OF IT ALL (TARGET SPECIAL EDITION)
20-SOUNDTRACK-INDOOR
GARDEN PARTY - THE MUSICAL
22-RAG N
BONE MAN-HUMAN (DELUXE)
23-DAVID
LUNNING-RESTLESS
23-AIMEE
MANN-MENTAL ILLNESS (JAPANESE EDITION)
25-MANCHESTER
25-KILLERS-WONDERFUL
WONDERFUL (TARGET EDITION)
25-MAROON
5-RED PILL BLUES (TARGET EDITION)
25-SHERYL
CROW-BE MYSELF (TARGET EDITION)
25-REBECCA
LOEBE-BLINK
25-MASTERSONS-TRANSIENT
LULLABY
25-RUSTON
32-JETTY
RAE-CAN'T CURSE THE FREE
32-PASSENGER-THE
BOY WHO CRIED WOLF
32-WAR ON
DRUGS-A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING
32-BECK-COLORS
36-BARNS
COURTNEY-THE ATTRACTIONS OF YOUTH
37-PETER
BRADLEY ADAMS -A FACE LIKE MINE
37-ALEX
DEZEN-ALEX DEZEN II
39-SLEEPING
AT LAST-ATLAS: SPACE
39-DREW
HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS-SOUVENIR
41-MAGIC
GIANT-IN THE WIND
41-JUDITH
OWEN-SOMEBODY'S CHILD
41-DEPECHE
MODE-SPIRIT (DELUXE EDITION)
44-PUSH
STARS- RECORDINGS FROM 1995-2005-GREATEST MISSES
44-SPOON-HOT
THOUGHTS
44-LONE
BELLOW-WALK INTO A STORM
44-VERVE
PIPE-PARACHUTE
44-WEEZER-PACIFIC
DAYDREAM
44-KID
ROCK-SWEET SOUTHERN SUGAR
50-ACCIDENTALS-ODYSSEY
50-COLIN
HAY-FIERCE MERCY
52-JAKE
BUGG-HEARTS THAT STRAIN
52-ZZ
WARD-THE STORM
52-WILL
HOGE-ANCHORS
55-COLD WAR
KIDS-LA DIVINE
55-NEWTON
57-EMILY
SALIERS-MURMURATION NATION
58-KASEY
CHAMBERS-DRAGONFLY
58-MAVERICKS-BRAND
NEW DAY
60-ALISON
KRAUSS-WINDY CITY (DELUXE TARGET EDITION)
60-KENNY
WHITE-LONG LIST OF PRIORS
60-VAN
MORRISON-ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES
60-THE
CORRS-JUPITER CALLING
60-HEAD AND
THE HEART-STINSON BEACH SESSIONS
65-NICOLE
ATKINS-GOODNIGHT RHONDA LEE
65-FASTBALL-STEP
INTO LIGHT
65-LORDE-MELODRAMA
65-SHINS-HEARTWORMS
65-BRUCE COCKBURN-BONE ON
65-NOAH
GUTHRIE-THE VALLEY
65-TWISTED
PINE-TWISTED PINE
72-ROSE
COUSINS-NATURAL CONCLUSION
72-RYAN ADAMS -PRISONER
72-WAR AND
TREATY-DOWN TO THE RIVER
72-PAUL
KELLY-LIFE IS FINE
76-ST.
VINCENT-MASSEDUCTION
76-JOSH
RITTER-GATHERING (DELUXE EDITION)
78-STEEL
WHEELS-WILD AS WE CAME HERE
78-PORTUGAL
THE MAN-WOODSTOCK
78-DAVID
RAMIREZ-WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE
78-TIMBRE
OF CEDAR-RESTORING THE LIGHT
78-THE XX-I
SEE YOU
78-HA HA
TONKA-HEART-SHAPED MOUNTAIN
78-KAYE
HOFF-THE STUFF IN MY HEAD
85-ANDREW
MCMAHON IN THE WILDERNESS-ZOMBIES ON BROADWAY
85-WILLY
PORTER & CARMEN NICKERSON-BONFIRE TO ASH
85-DUSTBOWL
REVIVAL-THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL
85-UKELELE
KINGS-THREE COOL CATS
85-CHRIS
THILE & BRAD MEHLDAU-CHRIS THILE & BRAD MEHLDAU
90-STEVE
MARTIN AND THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS-THE LONG-AWAITED ALBUM (BARNES & NOBLE
EDITION)
90-WESLEY
STACE-WESLEY STACE'S JOHN WESLEY HARDING
90-JESSE
COOK-BEYOND BORDERS
90-JAYMES
YOUNG-FEEL SOMETHING
94-WAIFS-IRONBARK
95-HIPPO
CAMPUS-LANDMARK
95-CHEAP
TRICK-WE'RE ALL ALRIGHT (DELUXE)
97-ELBOW-LITTLE
FICTIONS
97-SWEETBACK
SISTERS-KING OF KILLING TIME
99-NAHKO-MY
NAME IS BEAR
100-ED
DUPAS-TENNESSEE
100-WILD
REEDS-THE WORLS WE BUILT
102-KORBY
LENKER-THOUSAND SPRINGS
103-TRAIN-A
GIRL A BOTTLE A BOAT (TARGET EDITION)
103-PETER
MULVEY-ARE YOU LISTENING?
105-LIVINGSTON
TAYLOR
106-BNQT-VOLUME
ONE
106-SOHN-RENNEN
106-LIZZ
WRIGHT-GRACE
106-ALISON
MOYET-OTHER
106-LEIF
VOLLEBEKK-TWIN SOLITUDE
106-NEIL
FINN-OUT OF SILENCE
112-BILLYKING-HERE
WE ARE
112-JULIAN
LAGE & CHRIS ELDRIDGE-MOUNT ROYAL
112-MORRISSEY-LOW
IN HIGH SCHOOL
115-PENNY
& SPARROW-WENDIGO
116-PAUL
WELLER-A KIND REVOLUTION (SPECIAL EDITON)
117-GEORGE
WINSTON-SPRING CAROUSEL
117-TORI
AMOS-NATIVE INVADER (DELUXE EDITION)
117-ANNA NALICK-AT
NOW
117-MATTHEW
SWEET-TOMORROW FOREVER
117-YO-YOMA,
CHRIS THILE, EDGAR MEYER-BACK TRIOS
117-CHRIS
ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD-BEAREFOOT IN THE HEAD
117-OH
WONDER-ULTRALIFE
117-STYX-THE
MISSION
117-CHEY
HALLIWELL-REWIND
