2016 Magna Cum Laude Albumns

Here is the next batch. Some really great albums, and these aren't even my Summas. Again, not rank ordered.

Against the Current   In Our Bones
From Poughkeepsie, NY.  This is their first full (non EP) album.




Anouk    Queen for a Day

I have long been a fan of this Dutch singer.   Never really all that well known in the US for some reason.




Blondfire   True Confessions

Singer Erica Driscoll is from Michigan. Currently based in LA.



Soundcloud link -> Sex, Lies, and Destruction

Brooke Waggnoner    Sweven
Based in Nashville, Brooke Waggoner is an amazing talent.






Gabrielle Aplin   Miss You

This UK singer has established herself as one of my favorites.  Miss You is a small EP, but it makes my list anyway.







Garbage   Strange Little Birds
Been a huge fan of Shirley, Butch and company since the 90s.   This album shows they still got it.  And they seem to have captured their late 90s sound. Oh, and I still <3 Shirley









Green Day  Revolution Radio


Speaking of 90s bands that are still awesome. Is this the only male fronted act on my list? Sorry about that.





Groenland     A Wider Space
Canada consistently delivers bands I love. Here is another one. There is a lot of sophistication in this album. From Montreal.





Lucius    Good Grief

Third album from this New York (Brooklyn) band.







Marina Kaye   Homeless

This 18 year old French singer came to fame via the French version of "Got Talent" when she was 13. Another short EP that makes my list. (In case anyone cares, the EP came available in the US in 2016, so under my rules - which I break at my discretion anyway - it's a 2016 album)





Oathbreaker    Rhea

I just discovered this band from Belgium. May take some adjusting to, but I love the sound. Love it!




OnDeadWaves   OnDeadWaves

Polly Scattergood is one of my very favorite artists (UK based, big surprise). This is one of her side projects.







Rachel Curtis   Rachel Curtis

Out of Michigan. Great little EP.





Rïcïnn   Lïan

From France. I love this artist.







The Glass Child      Under Northern Skies


Charlotte Eriksson is (IIRR) an American living in Europe (Germany now though it London not that long ago). She puts out some really wonderful music.







The Joy Formidable  Hitch

This rock band from Wales puts out another great album.





Tove Lo    Lady Wood

What can I say about this Swedish pop singer? I really like this alubum







White Lung  Paradise

Hailing from Vancouver, I just discovered this band recently. Oh Canada, love you so much.





 

2016 - Cum Laude Albums

OK ,  I am so sorry to be so late.  Be here we go.   Anyway, as always, these are what I like.  I make to assertions what matters to anyone but me.  But I share because some like my music preferences.

And yes, it almost entirely female singers and female fronted bands. No apology for that.

Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude will come soon. The Cum Laude list is not rank-ordered.

Ash Koley - Elements

Love this Toronto act.



 

Colbie Caillat The Malibu Sessions
This California girl keeps putting out great stuff. Don't know why her popularity seemingly has fallen off (has it?). Don't care. She makes my list.


Daya   Sit Still, Look Pretty

From Pittsburgh, young and talented.

 


KT Tunstall   KIN 

Love this singer from the UK.  Saw her at the Cedar live a bit back; that was special.




Lera Lynn   Resistor

From Houston Texas.
 




Mother Feather Mother Feather
From New York




Nemesea Uprise
I never really get tired of bands from the Netherlands.



Rachel Platten Wildfire
From Massachusetts, most of you have heard a couple of her songs, this is a very nice album front to back.

Skarlett Riot Sentience
A damn good hard rock act from the UK.



Sonia Rao Meet them at the Door
This Indian-American singer has had music on over 35 TV shows. Based in Nashville.




Steady Holiday Under the Influence
Singer Dre Babinski is based in LA



Stitched Up Heart Never Alone
Another LA based act, but quite different from the one above. This band ROCKS!



The Coathangers Nosebleed Weekend
From Atlanta


The Droids Divide By Zero
Husband Wife duo from North Carolina



Weaves Weaves
Toronto just keeps giving me acts I love < br />

2015 Favorite Songs - Summa Cum Laude (top ten)

#10 Ship to Wreck by Florence + The Machine


#9 High by Zella Day


#8 Go by Gracie and Rachel


#7 Authority by Genevieve


#6 New Americana by Halsey


#5 Woman by Joy Williams


#4 Shadow Preachers by Zella Day


#3 Blood by ARCHIS


#2 Mayhem by Halestorm


#1 Used to be Mine by Sara Bareilles

2015 Favorite Songs - Magna Cum Laude

#25 -tie Written in Water by Gin Wigmore


#25 -tie Desire by Meg Myers


#24 Ghost by Ella Henderson


#23 Glow by Ella Henderson


#22 Oh My My by Little May


#21 Remedy by Adele (sorry once again, nothing to link to )

#20 Undo by Sanna Nielsen


#19 Fighter by Sumo Cyco


#18 Light Up the Dark by Gabrielle Aplin


#17 Ex's and Oh's by Elle King


#16 Lie Lie Lie by Metric


#15 Freak Machine by Fit For Rivals


#14 Gonna Get Mine by Halestorm


#13 Queen of Peace by Florence + The Machine


#12 Colors by Genevieve


#11 New Rush by Gin Wigmore

2015 Favorite Songs - Cum Laude

I've been holding back when linking songs from my top albums. But no more! What follows is some of the very best stuff!

The "cum laude" part of the list is not rank ordered. FYI
You Don't Like Dancing by Gabrielle Aplin


What Kind of Man by Florence + The Machine


Vaganbond by MisterWives


Stranger At My Door by Brandi Carlile


The Shade by Metric


Suicidal by Dead Sara


Sorry by Meg Myers


Smoke And Mirrors by Imagine Dragons


Roll Up your Sleeves by Meg Mac


Rescue by ZZWard


Never Ending Circles by Chvrches


Million Years Ago by Adele ( sorry, nothing I can link to right now. But this song is on this list)

Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding


Instigators by Grace Potter


I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons


Hello by Adele


Dear Daughter by Halestorm


Blue Skies by Lenka


Black Water by Of Monsters and Men


Black Eye by ARCHIS


Apocalyptic by Halestorm


Alive Tonight by Grace Potter

2015 Summa Cum Laude Albums - part II (top 5)

Woot! Here they are.

#5 Light Up the Dark by Gabrielle Aplin.

I admit, UK women do well with me. Even so, this album deserves to be here. And maybe higher.

Sweet Nothing


Skeleton


Fool's Love


#4 Midnight by Grace Potter

To paraphrase a review I saw recently: There are two kinds of people, those that love Grace Potter; and those that have never seen here live.

Hot to Touch


Your Girl


Empty Heart


Delirious



#3 How Big How Blue How Beautiful By Florence + The Machine

Such a privilege to have seen this act at ACL in 2015.
Delilah


How Big How Blue How Beautiful St. Jude


Third Eye



#2 Kicker by Zella Day

This 20 year old from Arizona has blown me away. Love, love this album!

Sweet Ophelia


Jameson


Mustang Kids


1965



#1 Into The Wild Life by Halestorm

I loved this album from the word go, and every time I listened to it, it got better. and better. and better. I love Lzzy Hale

Amen


I am the Fire


Sick Individual


What Sober Couldn't Say


I Like it Heavy


Note: You may think I skipped some of the best songs on many of these albums. I did that on purpose. First, so I could put them in my top song without repeating songs. And second, because a great album isn't carried by just one or two hits.
So stay tuned! There is lot's of really great music to come.

2015 Summa Cum Laude Albums - Part I

There are my 10 favorite albums of 2015. Rank ordering them was tough.

#10 Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Nightwish

This Finnish band is the quintessential symphonic metal act. Their 2015 album is a tribute to the theory of evolution and Darwin.

Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Élan


The Greatest Show on Earth


#9 Smoke and Mirrors by Imagine Dragons

Who doesn't like this band?

Gold


Polaroid


Friction
Trouble


#8 Love Stuff by Elle King

I was planning to include Elle King on my list somewhere. But every time I listened to this album, it went higher up my list. Oh, and I only recently found out who her father was, so that had no influence on me.

America's Sweetheart


Where the Devil Don't Go


Make You Smile


#7 Chapter One by Ella Henderson
What an amazing young talent! The UK just keeps bringing stars in this genre.

Mirror Man


Hard Work


Yours


#6 25 by Adele

Did I just say something about the UK? I suppose the only surprise here is that it's only #6. It's very, very good.

Now, there is not a lot out there yet I can link to, so just trust me on this album .

When We Were Young