2005 Music Bloggregate - Main

Intro                                         Main                                        Chart                                        Links

For an introduction as to why the list was compiled, go here.

Do you have a list, or know of one not included?  E-mail it to me.  See below.

The Rules:

Points:

• Records on ranked lists are given the following, weighted points:
• #1=15 points, 2=14, 3=13, 4=12, 5=11, 6=9, 7=8, 8=7, 9=6, 10=5
• For any list featuring two #1 CDs, both #1 choices were given 14 points.
• Records on unranked lists are all given 10 points.
• “Total Score” represents a sum of all the points.
• “List Mentions” includes both ranked and unranked lists.
• “Average Vote” represents the average ranking given on ranked lists; and “###” nonsense in this column means the album was only included on unranked lists.
• “First Place Votes” gives the # of lists on which that particular album was ranked first.

Sources:

• The prime qualification for inclusion:  Having a published, online Best Albums of 2005 list to which I can link.
• Lists either need to be ranked or limited to ten CDs.  Only ten CDs from any one contributor will be included.
• For ranked lists, the top ten choices are included here; it’s fine if these are spread out over more than one entry; I’ll link to the highest-ranked entry.
• Unranked lists must have ten (or fewer) entries; otherwise, I will not know which of the ten to include.

Other qualifications: 

• I’m open, here.  I was going to make this blog-only, but lines blur.  Besides, given the undue influence Pitchfork wields, it would be wrong not to include them.  And thus followed other online “magazines.”  This presents a problem I’m not going to pretend I’ve solved:  Magazine lists are themselves consensus lists, eliminating all the tasty personal favorites this bloggregate was designed to include.  But to include the top ten lists from every member of a magazine would, at this stage, overwhelm the results; if forty people work for Xmag, suddenly Xmag accounts for 1/4 of the survey.  Thoughts?
• Also not quite sure what to do with lists, featured on blogs and online mags, made by guest musicians.  I know I really should give a shit about what Shirley Manson loves; she should start a blog and post her list there.  Band’s own blogs are fine as long as they're posted outside of myspace.  And yes, I’m a bit saddened John Darnielle didn’t include a list on his.
• One list/person.  Contributors from group blogs that publish separate lists can all be included. I'm flexible, but my gut says to limit group blogs to four entries.  At some point a group blog turns into a magazine with staff.  If there's a consolidated Top 10 on a blog/mag site, that's the one that will get used.
• I don’t care whose blog it is.  It doesn’t have to be a music blog, just a person with an opinion.  Similarly, professional music critics who keep blogs can be included.  No one’s opinion counts more than anyone else’s.  Not even mine.
• No record execs looking to pimp their shit.  This isn’t for that.  No blogs on label sites. 
• No NSFW links.
• My gut says:  No LiveJournal, no Myspace, just to eliminate the OMGLOLZ! contingent.  You must be x tall to get on this ride.  Am willing to rethink this, though.  Actually, I'm all for the OMGLOLZ contingent.  Why not?  But myspace makes it too easy to ballot-stuff; just bulk-mail all your "friends" and ask them to put X on their top ten list.  I have similar qualms with LJ communities and private posts.  In that vein:  Established blogs only.  And:  No splogs, no blogs that post full CDs. 
• Yo hablo Englais.  I’m not looking to be xenophobic, and there are some foreign-language blogs on the chart already (most of which were mentioned on Indie for Dummies’ list), but I’m wary about the inclusion of some foreign material.  Because I can’t read Korean.  While there are other cans of worms involved, like release dates, material unavailable in the domestic U.S., the prime concern is that Ten Worst Album lists will be included just because I can’t recognize anything on a page beyond the cover photos.
• Though the present list is overwhelmingly indie-rock flavored, everything is welcome.  Please.  Right now the list simply reflects the circles in which I surfed; it warmed the cockles of my cockles to see Willie Nelson crop up.  That said...

The Albums:

• ...we’re keeping this to lists of “popular” music.  That can include Rock, Country, Hip-Hop, R&B.  Please do.  I’m not worried about some huge influx of Top40 Radio stuff; because of the nature of this list, everything retains its context, and that’s what counts.
• It’s fine if someone includes a Jazz or Classical CD on their list, but this is not an effort to compile lists exclusively from those fields.
• EPs are fine.  But you only get one list, not one for LPs, and one for EPs.
• NO LISTS OF SONGS.  Compiling something like that would put me in the madhouse.  You want one?  You make one.
• This is a list for 2005 releases, but I’m not going to be a real hard-ass about it.  Again, there’s the matter of international release dates, etc.  So, yes, Arcade Fire is on some peoples’ lists; other folks have jumped the gun and included some 2006 stuff.  I’m compiling, here, and I’m not policing... and not telling people to perform do-overs.  But:  I don’t care if this was the first year in which you heard Dark Side of the Moon and had to include it on your list.  It doesn’t belong here.
• Likewise, while it may be inevitable that a reissue slips through, but  whole lists of these are out.  Yes, that Girl Group Sounds box set is awesome.  But if you only buy records from Rhino, you should probably be reading this chart, not contributing to it.
• And:  Do try to keep your 2006 releases for next year’s list.  I do realize this isn’t appearing until late January, but let’s try to stick to the calendar year.
• That Demo Someone Left on Your Car Windshield.  Sure, why the hell not, if you really really love it?  That’s what this is all about.

I want to make this perfectly clear, I MAKE MISTAKES!  I AM HUMAN!  If you notice any*, please let me know.  I’m also almost completely unskilled with a computer.  Ideas, input always welcome.  E-mail me at the address below.

Include Your List:

The more, the merrier.  If you have a list published online – or know of one that should be included – e-mail me the link to that entry.  Do not send me links to front pages; I’m done with the digging, and if I cannot link directly to an entry, it cannot be included.

Again:  Lists must either be ranked, or limited to ten albums.  “My Favorite 57 CDs in Alphabetical Order” cannot be included... unless the “ten best” have been designated somehow.

E-mail links, with the subject heading “Top 10,” to: heartonastick (at) gmail (dot) com.

I’ll update as I can, so don’t keep e-mailing the same link over and over.  If, for some reason, I cannot include your list, I’ll explain why.

*Real mistakes.  Not ones like, “You’re wrong b/c Sufjan sux!”

tags: music bloggregate  best of 2005  best music  best of lists  bloggergate  

links: digg this    del.icio.us    reddit