Year in Review 2008

Top Ten Artists:

1. Ulver (708 plays)
The only thing I regret about listening to Ulver is that I downloaded almost everything I have by them. I recently bought Shadows of the Sun (after having it on my computer for nearly a year), and it's been my favorite purchase of the year. I've yet to hear a band which has been so diverse without ever seeming pointless or ever losing the spark which makes me go "wow". They dominated the year. Well deserved.

2. Devin Townsend (348 plays)
I just wish Terria still had that element of mystery it used to have. It's such an incredible album. It's still my favorite album. And Ocean Machine is another one I'd place in my top five. His other stuff is good, albeit a bit hit and miss (I tire of the silly stuff rather quickly). He didn't release anything this year, so his numbers were rather modest compared to last year, but that could all change with the tentatively titled Ki due to be released in 2009.

3. Mike Oldfield (340 plays)
I think I'm finally making up for only owning his "epic" albums (Tubular Bells, Ommadawn, Hergest Ridge, Incantations, and Amarok) and the low play count which came with them. I gave Five Miles Out plenty of spins and added The Songs of Distant Earth and Crises. Now, I'm known for not being a fan of pop music, but damn, Mike Oldfield knows how to write a pop song.

4. Primordial (315 plays)
They would be a lot higher, but I usually listened to To The Nameless Dead on the road. Still, they held up well, and they are solidifying themselves in my heart. They've been vying for the no. 1 overall spot with Devin Townsend all year, and it's still close. Ulver will probably take both of them over within the next couple of months, however.

5. Neurosis (309 plays)
I only bought A Sun That Never Sets this year, but I rediscovered Times of Grace. It's crushing, absolutely stunning in it's delivery, and ultimately, passionate. I'd say they are analogous to Primordial within the Sludge scene regarding their honest approach. They really take their work seriously, and it's something I respect greatly.

6. 16 Horsepower (258 plays)
Dark, brooding country. While they weren't the first, these are the guys who front-lined the "Denver Sound", mixing the backwater, hard-nosed bluegrass-gospel with gothic atmospherics and a wide assortment of flavorful instruments. It's truly great stuff, and they add something which I feel is severely lacking in modern folk, and that is pure energy.

7. Pain of Salvation (240 plays)
Eh, not much to say here. Just replaying their old stuff hoping they can redeem themselves after the lackluster Scarsick.

8. Rush (232 plays)
I simply cannot fathom how they mustered under 240 plays. I've loved Rush ever since I was a kid, and even this year I purchased A Farewell to Kings, which I am tempted to name as my favorite they do. I own 13 full albums, and this is what I have to show for it? I am truly ashamed...

9. Woven Hand (229 plays)
Like 16 Horsepower (obviously, since it's the same frontman), but they feel more personal. The lyrics are roughly similar, the musicianship is just as organic, but their work just feels closer to home. Ten Stones had a bit more of a rock vibe, and it proved to be fantastic at parts, especially with "Kicking Bird", but I know they can do better.

10. Faith No More (218 plays)
Their B-sides, which I keep randomly collecting, keeps them in my head, so I'm always going back to listen to these guys. Just wish they had a larger catalogue with Patton. He's a phenomenal singer, and added that experimental touch (or more of a slap in the face) that pushed their sound to the edges of modern rock.

The Next Ten:

11. Jay Munly (217 plays) - What a wonderful discovery! The best story-teller I've heard, and he tells some pretty twisted stories. Energetic gothic country, with female choirs and lots of fiddle.

12. Arcturus (204 plays) - All other praise aside, I have to point out Sverd's keyboard work. Phenomenal.

13. Sigh (177 plays) - If only I could find their stuff for cheap, I'd have everything they've done. Avant-Garde metal from Japan that doesn't run out of ideas.

14. Antonin Dvorak (174 plays) - The first classical artist I got into last year has remained in my liking. His symphonies are grand, colorful, and realistic, they way they should be.

15. Opeth (149 plays) - If I had bought Still Life four years ago, I might have cited it as my favorite Opeth album. But everything they've done since sounds similar, so I just couldn't appreciate it to what it deserved.

16. Queensrÿche (143 plays) - I'll always have a place in my heart for them, but I just don't listen to them enough anymore.

17. Drudkh (137 plays) - Finally learned to appreciate The Swan Road. Now I have to get Forgotten Legends.

18. Rome (134 plays) - Interesting Martial Industrial. The tracks are all diverse, but each one feels like just a loop with vocals on top. Could've been so much more.

19. Frédéric Chopin (133 plays) - He's only here because I don't own enough of Franz Liszt's work. Both are phenomenal, by the way.

20. Edvard Grieg (128 plays) - As far as classical goes, I almost wrote him off as a one-hit wonder with the Peer Gynt Suites. His Piano Concerto in A-Minor has proven me wrong.

Top Ten Albums:

1. Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots (216 plays)
I really, really love this album. 15 tracks strong, and not a damn one I'd do without. It's sick, demented, and, well, catchy. Honestly, this inspired me to buy a violin, and now I want a banjo. And thanks to it's warm atmosphere, it's the perfect summer road album.

2. Ulver - Shadows of the Sun (157 plays)
Last year, the album never scrobbled right, but it randomly decided to start working. And guess what? I'm still loving and learning about this album. And aside from a few studio tricks, the album is REAL. Those are real strings, real drums, real horns. The theremin is gorgeous as well. It's absolutely stunning. No words will ever do this album justice. Just listen to it.

3. Ulver - Blood Inside (153 plays)
This is Ulver on acid. People talk about how this is a more of a "rock" album, but that's about the most misleading statement I've heard in a long while. It's truly unique in terms on composition, style, and penmanship. People pigeonhole the group as "electronic", but this isn't your bleeps and bloops that you'd expect. It's Ulver, and the most extreme example of Ulver yet.

4. Neurosis - Times of Grace (152 plays)
Well, this has been a "quiet" 152 plays for Neurosis. I never power-listened to them (like I do with Ulver). Just an album spin a week on average. More often than not, that album is this, however. It's crushingly intense when it's heavy, and intensely heart-crushingly when it's soft, and dare I use the cliche "beautiful"? I dare.

5. Ulver - Perdition City (140 plays)
Sometimes I wonder what would happen if Ulver stayed with this nihilistic Jazz-Trip-Hop territory. They have mastered mastering. I mean, I have never felt so pulled into the same level of reality as an albums as I have with this. Yes, it sounds cheesy, but while I'm driving at night with this on, the world around me turns into a dead city, and it's haunting, as "death lurks in dark corners". Plus, it has "Nowhere/Catastrophe". Now, the song is definitely more "normal" than what Ulver usually does, but they've proven that even when it comes to simple verse-chorus structures, nobody does it better than Ulver.

6. Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors (138 plays)
Sverd's keyboard work is my favorite thing about the album. as I noted before. It's not typical metal keys either (which tend to be either simple harmonies or indiscernable modal sweeps). He's either pulling out enchanting classical-influenced passages or truly trippy carnival romps. Oh yeah, and the albums also has everything else going for it, too; the production is incredible, the drums drive the album like I've never heard, and Garm takes the songs to new heights. But I just can't get enough of the keys!

7. Rome - Nera (132 plays)
It puts you in a crumbling world, and you're alone. And there is no hope. But it doesn't matter, because it never mattered in the first place. Yet the vocalist just doesn't try hard enough to evoke the desparation. It works, but I feel like he's restraining himself. Still a fantastic record.

8. Mike Oldfield - The Songs of Distant Earth (126 plays)
Well, I like it, but it's really new-agey. It's mystical and at times I would say it transcends, but I very well aware that I'm listening rather than experiencing. Except for the final track. That hit me like a wall, and I couldn't be more grateful.

9. Breaks Co-op - The Sound Inside(120 plays)
A random download has led to me falling in love with this group. It's nothing more than laid-back R&B, but it's just so relaxing. I can imagine getting a massage while listening to this. The song writing is top-notch, as well, and I don't think I'll ever forget "Settle Down". It's a shame it never left New Zealand.

10. 16 Horsepower - Folklore (118 plays)
Well, I love their "original stuff", but this collection of covers and variations blows it all out of the water. They do it all in their signature style, but everything sounds like it fits. The Tuvan-influenced "Horse Head Fiddle" is reminiscent of Huun-Huur-Tur's best work.

Top Ten Songs:

Note: I'm only allowing two songs per artist. Ulver would dominate this list otherwise.

1. Ulver - Shadows of the Sun (24 plays)
As if it were a secret, I love grand piano. It's the most beautifully resonant instrument, and one of the few which can carry a song by itself. And that's what it does here. The interlude remains one of my all-time favorite piano passages in all of music.

1. Ulver - Nowhere/Catastrophe (24 plays)
It's not that I hate the idea of simple songs, it's just that very few artists know how to make it work. Ulver does (the few times they try to), and does so beautifully. The lyrics are incredible, the production is astoundingly deep, the chorus is POWERFUL. Oh man, it's just so good.

3. Arcturus - Nightmare Heaven (22 plays)
One of the "carnival" tracks of the album. I'll stop sucking-up to Sverd now. The guitars are thick, really thick. If you sliced them in half with a sabre, they'd still be thick enough to scare Nile away. And yet my favorite thing about this track is Garm's vocals. He really pushed himself on this record, and it paid off with large dividends.

4. Arcturus - Kinetic (21 plays)
Now that I think about it, Garm did just as good a job as Sverd. Damn, I wish Garm never left the band. This song has the power, the emotion, the creativity, and the energy to beat out almost every other metal song. The song feels like it's in motion, You can't listen to it and stay put.

5. Franz Liszt - Mephisto Waltz #1 (20 plays)
Well, he finally shows his face. Liszt has become my favorite composer, and this is a prime example of his vision. The reason it works is because it feels alive. The bass techniques are beyond anything I've heard before, and when you mix personal favorites of waltz-timings and the grand piano, you're bound to hit my soft spot.

5. Neurosis - The Last You'll Know (20 plays)
I normally don't like screamers. It just makes the music feel too angsty. But here, the feel real. This isn't some whiny kid complaining about the unfairness of his suburban life. This is real, honest, passionate screaming, as if he was pouring his soul into the song. That's why I love this song (an the rest of the album). They aren't trying to fool anyone.

7. Jay Munly - A Gentle Man's Jihad (19 plays)
I'm picturing myself in a historic town center in 19th century Denver, on those rooftops, blinded by the sunset, blinded by the blood, blinded by the sin. This ain't your preachy gospel music. It's twisted, and yet, it's all more real.

8. Mike Oldfield - Amarok (18 plays)
I love it just as much as I always have. And now I have it on Vinyl! Wahoo!

8. Bedřich Smetana - Vysehrad (18 plays)
I bought Ma Vlast for "Vltava", but the opening poem's harp introduction mesmerized me. The passage is meant to portray the majesty of a castle along the river, and one would expect it to be a fanfare. Smetana had a different idea, a better idea, and gave us this gorgeous work.

8. Jay Munly - Amen Corner (18 plays)
To tell you the truth, this one feels like Halloween. You see, Halloween has always been a favorite holiday of mine. The ghosts and ghouls mythology behind it is so vastly interesting, and any manifestation of the sounds it portrays is fine by me. Don't know if that was Munly's intention, but it works wonders.

8. Mike Oldfield - Orabidoo (18 plays)
From Five Miles Out, this is Oldfield at a rather experimental edge. It still retains the light-hearted, poppy feel, but the 13-minute trip through Oldfield's mind is exotic and strange. Then ending is simply gorgeous.

Complete Stat Breakdown:

Weekly Winners:

Jan 6, 2008: Ulver
Jan 13, 2008: Neurosis
Jan 20, 2008: Ulver
Jan 27, 2008: Ulver
Feb 3, 2008: Devin Townsend
Feb 10, 2008: Ulver
Feb 17, 2008: Ulver, Fantomas, Mike Oldfield
Feb 24, 2008: Neurosis, Mike Oldfield, Queensrÿche
Mar 2, 2008: Rik Emmett
Mar 9, 2008: Faith No More
Mar 16, 2008: Type O Negative
Mar 23, 2008: Ulver
Mar 30, 2008: 16 Horsepower
Apr 6, 2008: Mike Oldfield
Apr 13, 2008: 16 Horsepower
Apr 20, 2008: 16 Horsepower
Apr 27, 2008: Pain of Salvation
May 4, 2008: Devin Townsend
May 11, 2008: Mike Patton
May 18, 2008: Pain of Salvation
May 25, 2008: Mechanical Poet
Jun 1, 2008: Mechanical Poet
Jun 8, 2008: Devin Townsend
Jun 15, 2008: Ulver
Jun 22, 2008: Ulver
Jun 29, 2008: Ulver
Jul 6, 2008: Ulver
Jul 13, 2008: Bedrich Smetana
Jul 20, 2008: Ulver
Jul 27, 2008: Frederic Chopin
Aug 3, 2008: Ulver
Aug 10, 2008: Jay Munly
Aug 17, 2008: Jay Munly
Aug 24, 2008: Ulver
Aug 31, 2008: Jay Munly
Sep 8, 2008: Jay Munly, Pain of Salvation
Sep 14, 2008: Ulver
Sep 21, 2008: Arcturus
Sep 28, 2008: Ulver
Oct 5, 2008: Neurosis
Oct 12, 2008: Antonin Dvorak
Oct 19, 2008: Primordial, Borknagar
Oct 26, 2008: Woven Hand
Nov 2, 2008: Woven Hand
Nov 9, 2008: Shadow Gallery
Nov 16, 2008: Rush
Nov 23, 2008: Electric Light Orchestra
Nov 30, 2008: Peter Broderick
Dec 7, 2008: Jackson Browne
Dec 14, 2008: Amorphis
Dec 21, 2008: Jackson Browne

Total Weekly Wins:

Ulver - 15
Jay Munly - 4
Mike Oldfield - 3
Devin Townsend - 3
16 Horsepower - 3
Pain of Salvation - 3
Neurosis - 3
Woven Hand - 2
Mechanical Poet - 2
Jackson Browne - 2
Fantomas - 1
Rush - 1
Amorphis - 1
Electric Light Orchestra - 1
Primordial - 1
Shadow Gallery - 1
Borknagar - 1
Arcturus - 1
Antonin Dvorak - 1
Frederic Chopin - 1
Bedrich Smetana - 1
Peter Broderick - 1
Faith No More - 1
Mike Patton - 1
Queensrÿche - 1
Type O Negative - 1
Rik Emmett - 1

Most Consecutive Weekly Wins (4 Weeks):
Ulver

Most Artist in a Week (52):
March 2, 2008

Most Artist Plays (53):
Mike Oldfield (Apr 6, 2008)

Total Top Ten Appearances:

Ulver - 35
Primordial - 23
Devin Townsend - 21
Neurosis - 20
Mike Oldfield - 18
16 Horsepower - 16
Rush - 15
Woven Hand - 14
Faith No More - 14
Sigh - 13
Pain of Salvation - 13
Jay Munly - 11
Opeth - 10
Breaks Co-op - 9
Kamelot - 9
Lunaris - 8
Arcturus - 8
Antonin Dvorak - 8
Queensrÿche - 8
Virus - 8
Type O Negative - 7
Drudkh - 7
Peter Broderick - 7
Edvard Grieg - 7
Atheist - 7
Mr. Bungle - 6
Frederic Chopin - 6
Rome - 6
Huun-Huur-Tur - 6
Wolves in the Throne Room - 5
Mechanical Poet - 5
Shadow Gallery - 5
Tool - 5
Fleurety - 5
Bedrich Smetana - 5
Talib Kweli - 4
Falkenbach - 4
Franz Liszt - 4
Portishead - 4
Bohren & der Club of Gore - 4
Tool - 4
Agalloch - 4
Borknagar - 4
Diablerie - 4
Rik Emmett - 4
Ved Buens Ende - 4
Death - 3
Alcest - 3
Fates Warning - 3
Jeff Buckley - 3
Bedrich Smetana - 3
Fantomas - 3
Jackson Browne - 3
Emperor - 3
Tenhi - 3
Conception - 3
Alamaailman Vasarat - 3
Elend - 3
Coil - 3
Marty Friedman - 2
Yngwie Malmsteen - 2
Moonsorrow - 2
Dream Theater - 2
OSI - 2
Megadeth - 2
Kurt Weill - 2
Boston - 2
Extreme - 2
Tomahawk - 2
Symphony X - 2
Steve Vai - 2
Cocteau Twins - 2
Alchemist - 2
Gojira - 2
Gioacchino Rossini - 2
Mike Patton - 2
Enslaved - 2
Low - 2
Maurice Ravel - 2
Orphaned Land - 3
Billy Joel - 2
Jean Sibelius - 2
Electric Light Orchestra - 2
Finntroll - 2
Diablo Swing Orchestra - 2
King Crimson - 2
Van Morrison - 1
Garth Brooks - 1
Big & Rich - 1
Duke Ellington - 1
Immortal - 1
Johannes Brahms - 1
Mirrorthrone - 1
Ayreon - 1
Sonata Arctica - 1
Amorphis - 1
Green Carnation - 1
Ludwig van Beethoven - 1
Whiskeytown - 1
Miles Davis - 1
Live - 1
raison d'être - 1
Nobuo Uematsu - 1
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - 1
Disturbed - 1
John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess - 1
Voivod - 1
Iced Earth - 1
SingleTrac - 1
Marduk - 1
Melechesh - 1
Therion - 1
U2 - 1
Journey - 1
Savatage - 1
Styx - 1
Porcupine Tree - 1
Akercocke - 1
Isis - 1
Strapping Young Lad - 1
Soundgarden - 1
Cynic - 1
Kevin Moore - 1
Mael Mordha - 1
Muse - 1
Enslaved - 1

Album of the Week:

Jan 6, 2008: Ulver - Blood Inside, Neurosis - Times of Grace
Jan 13, 2008: Neurosis - Times of Grace
Jan 20, 2008: Virus - Carheart
Jan 27, 2008: Ulver - Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Feb 3, 2008: Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine: Biomech
Feb 10, 2008: Ulver - Blood Inside
Feb 17, 2008: Fantomas - The Director's Cut
Feb 24, 2008: Type O Negative - World Coming Down
Mar 2, 2008: Tenhi - Maaäet
Mar 9, 2008: Shadow Gallery -Tyranny
Mar 16, 2008: Type O Negative - October Rust
Mar 23, 2008: Whiskeytown - Pneumonia
Mar 30, 2008: 16 Horsepower - Folklore
Apr 6, 2008: Mike Oldfield - The Songs of Distant Earth
Apr 13, 2008: 16 Horsepower - Sackcloth & Ashes
Apr 20, 2008: Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
Apr 27, 2008: Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane
May 4, 2008: Kurt Weill - Die Dreigroschenoper
May 11, 2008: Diablerie - Seraphyde, Mike Patton - A Perfect Place
May 18, 2008: Opeth - Still Life, Pain of Salvation - 12:5
May 25, 2008: Mechanical Poet - Woodland Prattlers
Jun 1, 2008: Mechanical Poet - Woodland Prattlers
Jun 8, 2008: Devin Townsend - Synchestra
Jun 15, 2008: Ulver - Perdition City
Jun 22, 2008: Ulver - Perdition City
Jun 29, 2008: Fantomas - The Director's Cut
Jul 6, 2008: Shadow Gallery - Tyranny
Jul 13, 2008: Bedrich Smetana - Ma Vlast
Jul 20, 2008: Portishead - Dummy
Jul 27, 2008: Portishead - Dummy
Aug 3, 2008: King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King
Aug 10, 2008: Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Aug 17, 2008: Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Aug 24, 2008: Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Aug 31, 2008: Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Sep 8, 2008: Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Sep 14, 2008: Jean Sibelius– Pelléas Et Mélisande
Sep 21, 2008: Rome - Nera
Sep 28, 2008: Rome - Nera
Oct 5, 2008: Neurosis - A Sun That Never Sets
Oct 12, 2008: Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Oct 19, 2008: Borknagar - For the Elements
Oct 26, 2008: Woven Hand - Ten Stones
Nov 2, 2008: Woven Hand - Ten Stones
Nov 9, 2008: Ayreon - The Final Experiment
Nov 16, 2008: Rush - A Farewell to Kings
Nov 23, 2008: Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music
Nov 30, 2008: Peter Broderick - Float
Dec 7, 2008: Jackson Browne - Running On Empty
Dec 14, 2008: Amorphis - Tales from the Thousand Lakes
Dec 21, 2008: Jackson Browne - Running on Empty

Most Consecutive Album Wins (5 Weeks):
Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots

Most Overall Album Wins (6 Weeks):
Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots

Most Album Plays (45 Plays):
Mike Oldfield - Songs of Distant Earth (Apr 6, 2008)

Song of the Week (Minimum 2 plays, no more than one tie)

Jan 20, 2008: Ulver - It is Not Sound
Feb 3, 2008: Ulver - Let the Children Go, Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
Feb 24, 2008: Neurosis - A Season in the Sky
Mar 2, 2008: Mr. Bungle - Quote Unquote
Mar 16, 2008: Type O Negative - Red Water (Christmas Mourn), Type O Negative - Die With Me
Mar 23, 2008: Wolves in the Throne Room - (A Shimmering Radiance) Diadem of the Twelve Stars
Apr 6, 2008: Mike Oldfield - Let There Be Light, Mike Oldfield - In the Beginning
Apr 13, 2008: 16 Horsepower - Red Neck Reel, 16 Horsepower - American Wheeze
Apr 27, 2008: Edvard Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King
May 4, 2008: Devin Townsend - Red Tomorrow
May 18, 2008: Opeth - The Moor, Opeth - Benighted
May 25, 2008: Antonin Dvorak - Scherzo vivace-poco meno mosso, Antonin Dvorak - Allegro
Jun 1, 2008: Mechanical Poet - Old Year's Merry Funeral, Mechanical Poet - Natural Quaternion
Jun 15, 2008: Ulver - Nowhere/Catastrophe
Jun 22, 2008: Ulver - Nowhere/Catastrophe
Jun 29, 2008: Ulver - Nowhere/Catastrophe
Jul 13, 2008: Bedrich Smetana - V. Tabor
Jul 20, 2008: Portishead - Roads
Jul 27, 2008: Frederic Chopin - Polonaise in A Flat Major, Op. 53, "Heroique"
Aug 3, 2008: King Crimson - I Talk to the Wind
Aug 10, 2008: Coil - The Dreamer is Still Asleep
Aug 17, 2008: Jay Munly - Jacob Dumb
Aug 31, 2008: Jay Munly - A Gentle Man's Jihad
Sep 21, 2008: Rome - Das Unbedingte, Arcturus - Nightmare Heaven
Oct 5, 2008: Rush - Subdivisions
Oct 19, 2008: Arcturus - Radical Cut, Arcturus - Star Crossed
Nov 9, 2008: Franz Liszt - Mephisto Waltz #1
Nov 16, 2008: Rush - A Farewell to Kings

Most Track Wins (3 weeks):
Ulver - Nowhere/Catastrophe (3 Weeks)

Most Total Track Plays (339 plays):
Dec 7, 2008

Most Single Track Plays (6 plays):
Ulver - Nowhere/Catastrophe (Jun 22, 2008)

No. 1 Singles

Ulver - 4
Arcturus - 3
Type O Negative - 2
Mike Oldfield - 2
Rush - 2
16 Horsepower - 2
Opeth - 2
Antonin Dvorak - 2
Mechanical Poet - 2
Jay Munly - 2
Neurosis - 1
Franz Liszt - 1
Mr. Bungle - 1
Wolves in the Throne Room - 1
Edvard Grieg - 1
Devin Townsend - 1
Bedrich Smetana - 1
Portishead - 1
Frederic Chopin - 1
King Crimson - 1
Coil - 1
Rome - 1