2016/17 Review of the Year

A year ago I started this blog and I'm pleased it's still going. It has had its highlights where I was inspired and the writing came easily, yet some weeks where I barely did more than just list the music. Some weeks the music changed wholesale, many weeks it stayed more or less the same with only one or two changes. Some new stuff has been bought and discovered and many old CDs have been dusted off and rediscovered. Most the old favourites made an appearance - but not all (probably suggesting a temporary sabbatical rather than a permanent change in taste).

Neil Young for example I don't think made an appearance until late in the year but then inspired by his new Hitchhiker release he came good in the end with On the Beach and Rust Never Sleeps. I never go long without listening to Bob Dylan or Van Morrison (I doubt there has ever been a year where they have not featured at all).

So it's time to reveal the winners.

It's that time of the year when the votes are cast and counted and the winners are revealed. 

The figures are slightly distorted in that an artist that has more than one album in a week is still only counted once. For example one week I had a full spread of six Led Zeppelin albums in the magazine - this equated to just one log entry for the band that week. Therefore the count shows how many weeks an artist has featured at all (whether one album or more). Some categories are based on pure stats, others are my gut feeling!

1. Most Played Artist: Whitest Boy Alive

Whitest Boy Alive appeared 10 times this year just pipping Afro Celts and Van Morrison on 9. The latter I'm not surprised about but Whitest Boy Alive were a fairly new discovery and Afro Celts a surprising rediscovery (boosted by a live gig last Autumn they raced into the early lead).

Further down the list (as indicated by the blog Labels below) the core of the Whitest Boy Alive group appear again as Kings of Convenience.

Surprise showings include Radiohead who I thought I'd grown out of 20 years ago and Jill Scott who isn't really of my usual taste.

Another surprise was a high up entry for the Doobie Brothers, who I had never played prior to this year, on the strength of their The Captain and Me album and in particular the Long Train Runnin' track.

Some artists' showing is due to just one album in my possession and Whitest Boy Alive have only two. For more established artists like Dylan, Van Morrison, and Led Zeppelin, the listening has been across numerous albums although favourites have often revealed themselves.

2. Best Band: Whitest Boy Alive

Following on from snatching top spot in plays I congratulate Whitest Boy Alive as my favourite band this year too.

The Whitest Boys Alive

3. Best New Band: The Felice Brothers

Although actually not appearing much in the plays listings (I think I spent a lot of time at work listening to their live youtube footage) The Felice Brothers were my favourite new discovery this year. I was so disappointed their UK Tour in January was cancelled.

The Felice Brothers - The Greatest Show on Earth

4. Most Unexpected Rediscovery: Afro Celts

Afro Celts came from nowhere. Having had all but their first and last albums on the shelf for many years I actually started playing them just before and after seeing them live. I also purchased their first and last albums to complete my set and I believe they were the first artist of the year to achieve the clean sweep of all 6 slots in the player one weekend!

Afro Celts Sound System - 2016 core

Other rediscoveries this year have included Calexico, Iron and Wine, Laura Marling, Talk Talk, Budgie and Cocteau Twins.

5. Best Album: Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams

As far as I know there are only two Whitest Boy Alive albums and they are both superb pop masterpieces. Dreams just pips Rules.

6. Best Live Band: Afro Celts

The Afro Celt Sound System came to Brighton last Autumn and played a fantastic feel good gig that reignited my interest in their albums. Also in joint runner up positions a mention for three young bands I came across this year - Sam Jordan and the Dead Buoys, The Goat Roper Rodeo Band, and The Robocobra Quartet.

7. Most Read Blog Post: (B)Log #11 - Who Were Those Roxy Music Cover Girls?

This one is way out in front. It focuses more on the covers of the Roxy Music albums than the actual music. Of course it has pictures of sexy cover girls too in particular that country life one.

In runner up position we have my small piece on The Boards of Canada, followed by my review of the Kraftwerk gig in Brighton.

8. Most Read Review

Actually my most read review was for a book. It's from the superb 33 1/3 series and is the Led Zep IV edition by Erik Davis. Read it here >> http://6albumsunday.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/frankly-bonkers-but-entertaining-take.html

Most read music review was for T Bone Walker's Good Feelin' album.

9. Most Surprising Non Appearance: Miles Davis

Many of my favourite artists only made one appearance including Captain Beefheart, Brian Eno, Bonnie Prince Billy, Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk and Aphex Twin. Miles Davis just pips them all to top surprise spot with zero appearances - a surprise as his albums are usually ones I consider turning to on a mellow Sunday afternoon or as background listening during dinner, but evidently not this year! I'm sure he'll make a comeback in 2017/18. Other prominent no shows were recorded by The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Santana, Beck, Nick Cave and Nick Drake.

Where've you been this year Miles?

10. Head To Head: Led Zep v Pink Floyd

Two behemoths of classic rock. Not particularly similar but often both at the top of every school boy from the 70s list of favourite bands (unless you threw all pre 1977 music out on the advent of punk). Floyd's music was more measured and progressive. Zeppelin were more down to earth. My gut feeling and my playlist this year suggests I prefer (currently) Led Zeppelin! Debate settled (for now).  

Gilmour v Page, better guitarist, better band?