2022/23 Albums. Summa Cum Laude part II: Top 10

It was hard to rank these - but the upside was I had to keep listening to some of these over and over again. Some really, really, good stuff here. 10. Alice Mertons S.I.D.E.S

Born in Germany of Canadian and Irish descent. Based in the UK. Let's just call her awesome. How is she 30 already?













9. Birdy Portraits

A British Singer/Song-Writer who, while having been around for a long time, is still really young. I have been a fan for a long time.













8. Beyond The Black Beyond The Black

There are a lot of metal bands on my list. This album differentiated itself enough to make my list at #8 overall. Truly elite. From Germany.













7. Saint Agnes BLOODSUCKERS

A UK band. They are a bit edgy. Fine with me. I am so hooked on this band. Like, really hooked.













6. P!nk TRUSTFALL

This is not ranked here because I love P!NK (I do); It'e here because it is a very good album.













5. Olivia Rodrigo GUTS

From Southern California. I have nothing bad to say about his album - and lots of good things.













4. Holy Wars Eat It up Spit It Out

Another Los Angeles band. I never fail to rock out when listening to this album.













3. Xandria The Wonders Still Awaiting

A German based symphonic metal band. When their lead singer Dianne van Giersbergen left, I was not sure what we would get. But this album rates as the best symphonic metal band on my entire list. That says something.













2. Nina Nesbitt Älskar

I have been a fan of this Scottish Singer/Song-Writer for over a decade. I have to say, her song writing has matured into something more than pleasant - it's exquisite to me.













Bonus





1. Halestorm Back From the Dead

This is, in my opinion, the best live act going anywhere right now. And this is easily my favorite album for 2022-2023. From Pennsylvania.

2022/23 Albums -Summa Cum Laude Part I: 20-11

These are the best of the best. I really enjoyed putting this together.

20. Maggie Rogers Surrender

Singer/Song-Writer from Maryland.













19. Metric Formentera II

I can't even say how much I love this band. I have seen them live more than any other band - and there is a reason for that. They did two albums over the relevant span here. Did I mention that I love Toronto?













18. Metric Formentera I

Enough said.













17. Within Temptation Ritual

From the Netherlands. This symphonic metal band is one of the all time greats of the genre. This album demonstrates that they are as awesome as ever.













16. Icon For Hire The Reckoning

This band hits home with me emotionally. Chicago based.













15. Charlotte Wessels Tales from Six Feet Under Vol. II

Former lead singer from Dutch band Delain. Her solo career had been great. Love her.













14. Maisie Peters The Good Witch

A very recent find for me. I really enjoyed this album. Singer/Songer-Writer from the UK.













13. Tessa Violet My God!

Born in Chicago. New York based. A great singer/songer-writer.













12. Yonaka Welcome To My House

From Brighton, UK. This band has made me crazy about them. The only reason this is not top 10 is that it's not really an album (it's an EP). Don't care. So fucking good.













11. Edge of Paradise Hologram

This hard rocking band from LA is another recent discovery for me. Needless to say, I bought all their albums. Every time I listened to this album, I rated it higher. This is a really good band.

2022/23 Albums -Magna Cum Laude Part II: 30-21

30. Miley Cyrus Endless Summer Vacation

I think this is the first time a Miley Cyrus album has made my list. But this is a thoughourly enjoyable and well crafted album. It belongs here.













29. Miya Folick 2007

Saw her at Seventh Street Entry not long ago. She is a talent. From Los Angeles.













28. Pale Waves Unwanted

A truly great band from Manchester, UK.













27. Ruelle Somebody Else

Been a fan of this singer/song-writer for a while. Based in Nashville.













26. Dream Wife Social Lubrication

London based band. I really love their sound (and their lyrics)













25. Visions Of Atlantis Pirates

Austrian symphonic metal band. And a lot of fun live!













24. MONOWHALES Tunnel Vision

Toronoto is one of my favorite cities.













23. Grace Carter A Little Lost, A Little Found

Another singer/song-writer based in London. A fairly new discovery for me. Wow!













22. Halflives Inferno

Based in Paris. They are really good!













21. Ad Infinitum Chapter III - Downfall

Fronted by *super-talent* Melissa Bonny, the Swiss Symphonic Metal band is one of the very best.

2022/23 Albums -Magna Cum Laude Part I 40-31

Unlike the Cum Laude list, these are rank ordered.

40. DREAM NAILS Doom Loop

Imagine me liking an all girl punk band from London. Crazy stuff.













39. Regina Spektor Home, before and after

I so much love this artist. Born is Russia, raised in New York.













38. Eva Under Fire Love, Drugs & Misery

This is a good old fashioned bluesy rock band. From Detroit - which seems appropriate.













37. The Beaches Blame My Ex

Canadian bands and artists always seem to do well with me. This delightful band is no exception. From Toronto.













36. Therion Leviathon II

From Sweden. This band has seen some change over the years, but they continue to put out great albums.













35.DYLYN The Sixty90's

Singer/Songwriter from Canada (Toronto or Vancouver, depending on who you ask)













34. Florence + The Machine Dance Fever

Another great album from this artist. One of my all times.













33. Mother Mother Inside

A super band from Vancouver













32. Taylor Swift Midnights

Do I need to say anything here?













31. Grace Potter Mother Road

From Vermont, Grace Potter has been a favorite on mine for over a decade

2022/2023 Cum Laude Albums part III

Last batch before the Magnas Oryad Sacred & Profane

Listening to this awesome band, you might guess they were from Europe. Nope, Denver CO.









Panic Shack Baby Shack

A Welsh band makes my list. Imagine that.









Paramore This Is Why

I remember seeing No Doubt in 2009. The warm up act was this band with a crazy energetic and super-young lead singer. This band has stood the test of time. From Tennessee









Pvris Evergreen

Been a fan of this band from Massachusetts for some time. Their latest effort did not dissapoint.









Riverby Absolution

From Philly.









Sarah Kinsley Ascension

From California. Trained at Columbia University.









Scene Queen Bimbo Core

From New York.









Shaylon The Initiation of a Timeless Voyager

From San Francisco.









Suki Waterhouse I Can't Let Go

Singer/Song-writer from the UK









TAELA life's a bitch... but it gets better

From Missouri.









Tedeschi Trucks Band I Am The Moon: II. Ascension

From Jacksonville. This duo is a powerhouse.









The Dark Side of the Moon New Horizons

Melissa Bonny fronts this sort of "all star" symphonic metal band. Swiss, German, and Danish. Take your pick.









The Regrettes Further Joy

From Los Angeles. And underrated band I think.









The Soapgirls In My Skin

A sister duo from France/South Africa. Hard to believe they have been under my radar for so long.









Vonnie Kyle Imperfect Parts

I started following her when she was Minneapolis based. She has moved around a bit since then, but I still consider her "one of us"

2022/2023 albums - Cum Laude part II

Not rank ordered. G.E.M. REVELATION

Singer/Song-writer from Hong Kong









Gabrielle Aplin Phosphorescent

One of my favorite singers. From the UK.









GIRLI why am i like this??

OK, this is an EP. But I like it enough to include here. London based singer/song-writer









HAWXX Earth, Spit, Blood and Bones

London based band.









He Is We Treehouse

Duo from Tacoma, WA









Ignea Dreams of Lands Unseen

Great band from Ukraine.









Jessie Ware That! Feels Good!

London based singer/song-writer









Jewel Freewheelin' Woman

Does Jewel still have it? I have concluded that the answer is yes!









Kailee Morgue Girl Next Door

Singer/song-write from Phoenix, AZ









Katharina Nuttall The Garden

From Norway









Kayleigh Goldsworthy Learning to be Happy

From Syracuse, NY; based in Philly.









KOBURG Fables Part I

A wonderful act from the UK.









Kontrust madworld

This German band both rocks and cracks me up. Love them.









Lauren Daigle Lauren Daigle

From Louisiana. I find most Christian music acts to be syrupy and barely tolerable. This singer is certainly an exception.









Lila Blue Sweat Pea

Based in Brooklyn. A recent discovery for me.









Lissie Carviing Canyons

Currently based in Decorah, Iowa. She is one of my favorite singers <3









Mae Simpson Chandelier & Bloom

Minneapolis based. And terrific!









Maya Hawke MOSS

New York based. Probably best known for being in Stranger Things. But she is a talented singer/song-writer who caught my attention before I realized she was that girl.









Muna/b> MUNA

This great band from Los Angeles is such a great supporter of the LGBTQ commmunity.









Nova Twins Supernova

The juxtoposition is accidental. But I first heard the act as a warm up to Muna. They are outstanding in their own right. From the UK.

2022 and 2023 albums - Cum Laude Part I

It has been nearly two years since I posted to this blog. Last year was hard and while I had listened to a number of albums with the idea of making a list for 2022, I just didn't have the energy for it. So I decided to not make a list. I am now going to make a two year list. What follows are my top 93 albums from 2022 and 2023. The first 53 will not be rank-ordered (or this would take me forever). Enjoy!



Air Drawn Dagger Songs To Fight The Gods To



From Sheffield, UK.









Alex Lahey The Answer Is Always Yes



Singer-songwriter from Australia









Alix Page Goose



From Orange County, CA.









Blackbriar A Dark Euphony



A very talented metal band from The Netherlands.









BLACKPINK BORN PINK



Oh yeah, I like it. From Korea.









Bully Lucky for You



Based in Nashville. But Alicia Bognanno is "one of us". Grew up in Rosemount,MN









Butcher Babies Eye for an Eye/...'Til The World's Blind



A great Metal Band from Los Angeles. I put these two albums together. Strongly considered placing this in the Magna Cum Laude albums.









Caroline Polachek Desire, I Want To Turn Into You



Boy did this album get a lot of attention this year. I noticed it too. Currently based in LA (I think). Born in NY.









Charlotte Cardin 99 Nights



Singer/song-writer from Quebec









Charlotte Sands Love and Other Lies



Nashville based.









CIERN The Emperor Rx



This band describes themselves as a "post-punk" band form Berlin.









Danielle Allard INVADER



From Ottawa, Cananda. A former music teacher.









Dorothy Gifts From The Holy Ghost



A great and hard rocking band from Los Angeles.









Ebony Buckle MYTHS FROM THE MEGAVERSE



London based singer/song-writer.









Emiliana Torrini Racing The Storm



Many people remember her as a singer in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. From Iceland.









Emma Wallace Curiouser and Curiouser



I've long been a fan of this very talented singer/song-writer. Currently based in Orlando, FL.









Epica The Alchemy Project



Epica partners with various other artists to make this album. This band is so good. From the Netherlands.









Faye Webster Car Therapy Sessions



From Atlanta, GA.









More to come ...