My criteria: Complete albums that are new to me (not buying a digital version of something I have, or filling out an album I only had partial). I included all formats: digital downloads, CDs, Vinyl.... bought new or used. I also decided to go 12/1/2018 though 11/30/2019, because I didn't feel like waiting till January. Also, I used the date added to iTunes / iPod, there's sometimes some lag with getting albums ripped.
So here you go, with start with some raw numbers:
Over the year, I obtained something like 32 albums. Most on vinyl, but some on CD and via digital downloads.
Here's a few standouts:
- CYRIL - The Way Through. 2019 release from German Prog band. This was a gift from my son. Really great stuff, in regular rotation. I need to do a review. (digital)
- Wishbone Ash - Argus. 1972. I picked this up on a whim, primarily because they seem to play this complete album in concert about 1/yr at the Wildey. I was familiar with the name from way back when, but didn't know the music. One of the year's especially pleasant surprises for me. (used vinyl)
- Rusty Young - Waitin' For The Sun. 2017 release from one of the founding members of Poco. I picked this up at the "merch" table when I saw Poco in November, got it signed by the band. I plan to do a review. (new vinyl)
- Tommy Tutone 2 - 1981 - I've had Tommy Tutone's 1980 debut album since it was current, but never dove deeper. Perhaps since 867-5309 (Jenny) was so overplayed. But it is, frankly, a great song, and the first album is super solid. So I decided to try this one out. And it is quite good. (used vinyl)
- Cannonball Adderly - Somethin' Else. 1958. I've been listening to more jazz this year but mostly from my existing collection, or streaming services. I only picked up a couple of albums, and tis one is by far my favorite. I looked into it based on reviews of a couple of "best Jazz Album" lists on the internet. (digital)
- Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Men From Earth. 1976 release from OMD. Purchased used (vinyl) from Attic Records, in Millvale, PA. Reviewed here.
- Watershed - The More It Hurts, The More It Works. I picked up this 2002 release after reading the book "Hitless Wonder" by Joe Oestreich (bass and vocals). Some really great songs, and overall solid. (digital)
- Marquise Knox - Black and Blue. 2017 live album from the St. Louis bluesman. I picked this up at his merch table, after seeing him at the Wildey. (CD)
- Beethoven - Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 56: Beethoven Piano Sonatas Opp. 13, 27/2, 57, 81a - I only picked up a couple of classical pieces this year, this is my favorite. (digital)
- Outlaws - Playing to Win. 1978. I actually had this on cassette back in late '78, but it's been gone long enough that I didn't remember the music. I was on an Outlaws kick, and listened to it streaming, then picked it up used vinyl. This was the first Outlaws (studio) album without guitarist Henry Paul, and marks a pivot away from the country influences in their previous records. Not as good as their previous albums, but better than the subsequent ones. IMHO, at least.
I really need to do reviews of some of these albums, I only did one of them so far...
So that's my list. What did YOU discover in 2019 that we should know about?
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