Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #01 - Bayside "Vacancy"

As I mentioned, Bayside's "Vacancy" was released in August of 2016. If you've ever spent any amount of time on this blog, you know that Bayside and I have had an on-going love story. Dailyvault.com posted my review of "The Walking Wounded" on 2/6/2007. Today is 1 month, 1 week, 1 day shy of a decade since that review was posted. I only mention that because of the way that review includes these statements:
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This CD arrived in my mailbox on a Thursday. I listened to it five times in a row... 
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and
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Vocalist/guitarist Anthony Raneri sings the lyrics in an engaging style, implying that he really believes what he is saying.
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Not a lot has changed for me. I listened to "Vacancy" three times on the day it was released. It is highly probable to be a popular choice when I am choosing music in the years to come. Anthony Raneri and crew have assembled a powerful and emotional roller coaster of tunes. It is an audio documentary for Raneri's recent divorce and the fallout that followed. While my marriage is not on the same trajectory as Raneri's, I found a lot of subtle advice I can use to improve upon my role as husband.

Undoubtedly, my favorite track is "The Ghost" with its opening declarations of "I will change, I will change / Just tell me what to do." I listened to this release in the truck on the way to and from Elkader.


One time, Karen asked who it was, I replied Bayside, and she responded with as glowing of an endorsement as I think she can give when she said, "They're not bad."

Like Metallica's release, I do not think there is a sub-par song on the release. However, just because this is the album I listened to the most doesn't mean it is perfect. When I reach track 11, "It's Not As Depressing As It Sounds," I often feel like he's cheating as he dismisses all of the pain he has spent the previous 10 tracks. It's like he's saying, "I just told you about all the hell I've been through, but hey, it's okay." It certainly doesn't sound "okay" during the other 10 tracks!



I'm not saying I skip the tune when I listen to this album - I'm just maybe finding a small imperfection in an otherwise brilliant and flawless album.



Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #02 - Metallica "Hardwired ... To Self-Destruct"

One major reason I am putting this album at number 2 is because it was released in November and the album I will reveal as my number 1 was released in August. That means, just because of the timing, this release didn't get as much time in my ears as the number 1. Had they been released on the same day or closer, I can safely speculate that the line between numbers 1 and two would be much more fine. I am constantly humming the melodies to "Now That We're Dead," "Halo On Fire," and "ManUNkind." It's unsurprising to me that I like the tunes that most commenters online bemoan as being the worst. I chuckle because I liked "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" and "The Shortest Straw" on the "And Justice for All" album before they were cool. I'm sure, someday, those three songs will be more highly regarded than they are presently.



Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
  1159 - 1
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #03 - Black Sabbath "Paranoid"

I went on an old-school kick for a major part of 2016, listening to Bill Ward's magic on the drums, Ozzy's vocals, Tony Iommi's guitar wizardy and Geezer Butler's bass rumblings. Black Sabbath went on their Farewell tour and while I would have loved to see them in concert, it didn't work out. The closest they played to my home was Omaha, NE, and (I think) it was on a night when I had other commitments. The other newsworthy item about the band in 2016 is that there was a feud between Bill Ward and the other 3 members. Sharon Osbourne was involved and it all went to hell. Listening to "Paranoid" was my way of ignoring all the bad words being flung at each other by the four members. It was really sad for me because, with all the great musicians that have passed away, here was Black Sabbath, with all 4 original members "still alive" and they were unable to figure out how to go on a farewell tour together.

I would argue that I am not really a Black Sabbath "fan" because, frankly, outside of this album, I know very little of the band's material. I know I have spot-checked some of the band's other releases, but probably because I heard this album first, it is my favorite Black Sabbath release. Maybe some day, in the future, I will ingest the rest of the band's material and be able to judge, perhaps more fairly, where this album fits into their catalog. For 2016, though, I am content to say it is the BEST Black Sabbath album they ever released.

Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details.
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #04 - Count the Stars "Never be Taken Alive"

This album has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it in 2003. If this was a cassette instead of a CD, it would be worn out three times due to the number of times I've listened to it. I adore the lyrics, the smart drumming, the arrangements, the vocals, and the riffs. I don't think I left any element out, did I? It is the total package - the best 13 songs on a single album that I've heard. It always pains me when I realize that I feel like I am on an island because they never got the recognition that was deserving of their talent. I don't have a favorite song on this release and I don't have a single song that I cannot listen to "again" or "one more time." This release was on my cell phone for the majority of 2016.

Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details.
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
  1159 - 1
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #05 - Uncle Rico "Live at the Iowa City Elks Club"

As noted in items number 9, 8, and 7, I spent a lot of time listening to bands in preparation for an audition to play drums in a band. Because of the frustration I often felt when a band or situation fell through, I found myself listening to the recordings from the lone gig I played with Uncle Rico the Band in the summer of 2014. I know it seems like a cop-out but, authentically, I listened to what I sounded like frequently. I can safely say that I played my ass off at those gigs. No, of course, I was not perfect, but honestly, I don't think my tempos wavered. I used these recordings as a way to reassure myself that I have talent as a drummer. Being rejected repeatedly was a bruise to my ego so these recordings help heal the bruise.

Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
  1159 - 1
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #06 - Concert Prep Mix

One of the highlights of 2016 was attending concerts with Alex, my son. I attended two concerts with him, both at the 7 Flags Center in Clive, IA (near Des Moines). The first concert was headlined by Bring Me the Horizon while the second concert was headlined by Pierce the Veil. For both of those concerts, I listened to a lot of tunes by those bands. This was also when I was introduced to the bands I Prevail and Neck Deep. I didn't create a playlist for the prep I did for these concerts but if you go to youtube.com, enter "Bring Me the Horizon 10 Best Songs" and "Pierce the Veil 10 Best Songs," you're likely to get at least a few of the songs I listened to while doing my research for those concerts. I wouldn't have listed this as an item except that I listened to these bands a lot while I mowed the yard... and I sometimes mowed the yard twice a week.

Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #07 - Rockabilly Mix"

In the summer of 2016, I learned a band was auditioning drummers via the Iowa City Craigslist Musicans page. The poster wanted to put together a rockabilly-style band and through an email dialogue, I realized I was desparately unfamiliar with the artists he wanted to cover. Thus, to prepare for an audition, I began listening to the songs and artists the poster had mentioned. Unfortunately, the conversation ended by the poster not replying to my emails. I will not allow myself to beat myself up about it any more because, well, God knows what He is doing.

This is the playlist I made for my audition prep, which includes the following tunes:



Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album was to be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28, with this schedule, but sometimes "life" takes away plans.
  1159 - 1
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #08 - Huggie Tree Mix

In the summer of 2016, I learned a band from Iowa City was auditioning drummers. I was one of a handful that auditioned. I auditioned on a Monday night and thought the audition went well. I listened to the recording I made of the audition on the way home and felt reconfirmed. Unfortunately, no, I wasn't selected. I will not allow myself to beat myself up about it any more because, well, God knows what he is doing. To prepare for that audition, I listened to all of the songs on the band's set list, living and breathing those tunes. It is a setlist which Karen absolutely despised - she thought the tunes were only ones that a tree hugger would like. Because this band did not have a name and because of Karen's description, for my own purposes, I named them "Huggie Tree" so I could just call them "something" when writing about them.

This is the playlist I made for my audition prep, which includes the following tunes:

1. Dead Flowers Rolling Stones
2. Son Volt - Windfall
3. So Sad About Us - The Who
4. Jackson - Lucinda Williams
5. (Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Elvis Costello
6. The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
7. Jayhawks - Settled Down Like Rain
8. John Wesley Harding - Save A Little Room For Me

Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album will be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28. This is the schedule:
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #09 - Avery Riot Mix

In the spring of 2016, I learned a band from Cedar Rapids named Avery Riot was auditioning drummers. I was one of a handful that auditioned. I auditioned on a Monday night and thought the audition went well. I listened to the recording I made of the audition on the way home and felt reconfirmed. Unfortunately, no, I wasn't selected. I will not allow myself to beat myself up about it any more because, well, God knows what he is doing. To prepare for that audition, I listened to all of the songs on the band's set list, living and breathing those tunes. It is an excellent setlist and a part of me wishes I was playing drums in Avery Riot.

This is the playlist I made for my audition prep:



Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album will be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28. This is the schedule:
  1159 - 1
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Ten Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016: #10 - Adelitas Way "The Getaway"

I am only including this on the list because I listened to it a lot when I mowed this summer. It was a release I specifically requested so that I could review it for dailyvault.com and because of that, I felt a duty to spend a lot of time with it. You can read the review later. In general, my final comments about this album would be that I didn't care much for it. My review of it was (eventually) published after a lot of thought and contemplation about how to write the review. It's one of those albums I really wanted to like and to write positive words about, but ultimately, I couldn't do that and live with myself.

Adelitas Way Review

Notes from the Editor:

• Including an album in this Top Ten list should not imply an endorsement of the album as being "good" - nothing in the title of these posts states that these are "Ten GOOD Albums I Listened to A Lot in 2016". Pay attention to details. 
• Also, this is a post in a series of 10 that began being published at 7:30 PM on 12/28. The #1 album will be posted at 11:59 PM on 12/28. This is the schedule:
  1159 - 1
  1129 - 2
  1059 - 3
  1029 - 4
  0959 - 5
  0929 - 6
  0859 - 7
  0829 - 8
  0759 - 9
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