Underground Listmaker

The top half.  Some interesting (to me, at least) facts and statistics about this list:  My #1 album changed from last year. There was slightly less movement in the top 25 than last year, but still a few changes. Below that there were quite a few shifts and newcomers. The highest ranked newcomer to the list is  19. Arca - Arca (2017).  Percentage of male vocalists  - 54%, female vocalists - 29.2%, instrumental - 10.8%, male + female vocalists - 6%. Top sub-genres   - Experimental Rock, Indie Rock, Art Pop, Post-Punk, Trip Hop, Electronic, Contemporary Folk. Oldest album on the list -  204.  Miles Davis - Ascenseur pour l'échafaud    (1958). Most obscure:  171. Denali - The Instinct (2003). Least obscure:  213. The Be atles - Abbey Road (1969). Artists with the most mentions on this half of the list: Radiohead - 4,  Björk - 4,   Chelsea Wolfe - 3, Talking Heads - 3, Miles Davis - 3, Charles Mingus - 3, David Bowie - 3...

*Phew...* this was a hard list to put together! I decided to break this into two parts, as I wanted a longer list than I posted last year but need it to be manageable (doin' school at the same time).  This was meticulously put together and thought out. To some it may seem counter-intuitive to rank music, but over time I've developed systems to compare and rate albums based on enjoyment and the impact they've had on me. Nevertheless, this sort of extensive list is very hard to do. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of making it. A couple of little factoids about this half of the list: Percentage of male vocalists - 50%; female vocalists - 27.2%; male + female vocalists - 12.4%; instrumental - 10%; non-binary - 0.4%. Top sub-genres - Alternative Rock, Post-Punk, Indie Rock, Trip Hop, Art Pop, Industrial. Oldest album on the list -  Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus (1957). The format: #. Artist - Album   ||  genres  ||  Release Year...

I admittedly listen to few live albums compared to studio recordings. The reason for this is that production and precision are important to me...nevertheless, there are some really fantastic live albums that I thought I'd share here. A few of these are not for the weak of heart...read the descriptors and genres when deciding which of these to try. Format is:  Artist - Album Name   ||  Genres  ||  Release Year  ||   Country   ||  two descriptors  ||   Rating 15. Radiohead -   I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings  ||  Alternative Rock, Electronic, Experimental Rock  ||  2001  ||  UK  ||  cryptic, cold  ||  9/10 14. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds -  Distant Sky: Live in Copenhagen  ||  Art Rock, Post-Punk  ||  2018  ||  Australia  ||  energetic, melancholic  ||  9.5/10  13. Miles Davis - Dark Magus...

Trip hop is bliss. A genre that came to prevalence during the early-to-mid 1990s in Bristol, UK, trip hop typically features smooth, dark production, laid back downtempo beats, either instrumental or with classy vocals (usually female), sung, not rapped (though there are very notable exceptions). It often includes a distinct psychedelic element as well, hence the name. Trip hop is often considered to be synonymous with downtempo electronic, but there are a few differences; that said, I've included downtempo albums here that are close enough to trip hop. Over the years, trip hop has become one of my very favorite genres of music; in fact, I would say it's as near to musical "comfort food" as I come. In this box set, I list some of the trip hop albums that I consider the best. These are in alphabetical order by artist. This box set is mostly for my own reference, but I'm glad to share it with anyone who might be interested. You can listen to my "Trip Hop Essent...

Industrial music is an experimental genre that pulls from punk, electronic, and rock music. Industrial was popularized in the 1980s by bands such as Coil and   Einstuerzende Neubauten, who were known for an abrasive, cold and mechanical texture and flavor that for some was off-putting, but to others intriguing and aesthetically pleasing. Some of it can be quite disturbing, if we're being honest (of course, that's part of the appeal to some listeners, including me). Post-industrial and related genres came much later. They typically feature a less abrasive, smoother sound, with more embellished and polished production, while still retaining a cold and sometimes aggressive aesthetic and energy. Industrial rock, metal, and hip hop, on the other hand, typically stick with a punk ethos and jagged rawness. I know this style doesn't appeal to everyone, but for me, industrial and its subgenres and offshoots (particularly post-industrial) hold great appeal for me. In this box set, I...