THE BEST OF 2017 IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOHN BOMMARITO

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

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            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 FORTY (GREATEST HITS SO FAR) LIVE

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

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            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-THE WAY BACK HOME

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 ORCHESRA-A BLACK MILE TO THE SURFACE

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 KELLY-HALLOWEEN

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 FAULKNER-HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

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 BONE

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 NIGHT

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-SAFE HOME

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