Tag Archives: Album of the Year

Powderfinger: Vulture Street

Leave a comment

On July 4, 2003, “Universal Music” label released “Vulture Street”, the fifth Powderfinger studio album. It was recorded in 2003, and was produced by Nick DiDia and Tony Reyes. The album won three “ARIA Music Awards”, including “Best Rock Album”, “Album of the Year”, “Best Cover Art”, and Powderfinger won the award for “Best Group”. “Vulture Street” was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”.

Personnel:

  • Bernard Fanning – vocals, guitar
  • Darren Middleton – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ian Haug – guitar, backing vocals
  • John Collins – bass guitar
  • Jon Coghill – drums, percussion
  • Tony Reyes – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
  • Shauna Jensen, Maggie McKinney – backing vocals
  • Lachlan Doley – Hammond organ, piano
  • Nick DiDia – tambourine, anüsaphone, engineer
  • Anton Hagop – additional engineer
  • Catherine Claire – engineer assistant
  • Brendan O’Brien – mixing
  • Steven Gorrow – art direction
  • Christopher Morris – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Collins, Ian Haug, Bernard Fanning, Jon Coghill and Darren Middleton

  1. Rockin’ Rocks
  2. (Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind
  3. Since You’ve Been Gone
  4. Love Your Way
  5. Sunsets
  6. Don’t Panic
  7. Stumblin’
  8. Roll Right by You
  9. How Far Have We Really Come?
  10. Pockets
  11. A Song Called Everything

Switchfoot: The Beautiful Letdown

Leave a comment

On February 25, 2003, “Columbia” label released “The Beautiful Letdown”, the fourth Switchfoot studio album. It was recorded in 2002, at “Sage and Sound” in Mansfield Lodge and at Jon Foreman’s home, and was produced by John Fields, Charlie Peacock, Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler and Jerome Fontamillas. In 2003, “The Beautiful Letdown” won an “Album of the Year” award at the “San Diego Music Awards”.

  • Jon Foreman – vocals, guitar, remix
  • Jerome Fontamillas – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, remix
  • Tim Foreman – bass, backing vocals, remix
  • Chad Butler – drums, percussion, remix
  • John Fields – keyboard, FX, percussion, tasty bit, recording, mixing, remix
  • Stephan Hovsepian – violin
  • Ameena Maria Khawaja – cello
  • Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Jack Joseph Puig – mixing 
  • Erin Familia – assistant
  • Ted Reiger – assistant
  • Dorian Crozier – computers
  • Mike Buzbee – computers
  • Aaron Redfield – drum tech
  • Mary Maurer – art direction
  • Kevo Sassouni – design
  • Matthew Welch – photography

Track listing:

All tracks are written by Jon Foreman, except where noted.

  1. Meant to Live – Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman
  2. This Is Your Life
  3. More Than Fine
  4. Ammunition
  5. Dare You to Move
  6. Redemption
  7. The Beautiful Letdown
  8. Gone – Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman
  9. On Fire – Jon Foreman, Daniel Victor
  10. Adding to the Noise – Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman
  11. Twenty-Four

Anathema: The Optimist

Leave a comment

On June 9, 2017, “Kscope” label released “The Optimist”, the eleventh Anathema album. It was recorded 2016 – 2017, at “Attica Audio” in Donegal, Ireland, “Castle Of Doom Studios” in Glasgow, Scotland, and was produced by Tony Doogan. The Optimist won “Album of the Year” at the 2017 “Progressive Music Awards.”

Personnel:

  • Daniel Cavanagh– vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass
  • Vincent Cavanagh– vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, bass
  • Jamie Cavanagh – bass
  • John Douglas – drums, keyboards, programming
  • Lee Douglas – vocals
  • Daniel Cardoso– drums

Track listing:

  1. 63n 117.14w (intro) – Daniel Cavanagh, Vincent Cavanagh, John Douglas
  2. Leaving it Behind – Vincent Cavanagh, John Douglas
  3. Endless Ways – Daniel Cavanagh
  4. The Optimist – Daniel Cavanagh
  5. San Francisco – Daniel Cavanagh, Vincent Cavanagh
  6. Springfield – Daniel Cavanagh
  7. Ghosts – Daniel Cavanagh
  8. Can’t Let Go – Vincent Cavanagh, John Douglas
  9. Close Your Eyes – Daniel Cavanagh
  10. Wildfires – Daniel Cavanagh
  11. Back to the Start (ends at around 7:30, a hidden songbegins after 3 minutes of silence) – Vincent Cavanagh, John Douglas

Porcupine Tree: Fear of a Blank Planet

Leave a comment

On April 16, 2007, “Roadrunner” label released “Fear of a Blank Planet”, the ninth Porcupine Tree studio album. It was recorded October – December 2006, in London and Tel Aviv, and was produced by Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin and Gavin Harrison. In 2007, “Fear of a Blank Planet” won the “Album of the Year” award at “Classic Rock” magazine awards. In 2015, “Rolling Stone”  ranked it at number 39 on its list of the “Best Progressive Rock Albums of all Time.

Personnel:

  • Steven Wilson– vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, mixing, audio mastering, string arrangements
  • Richard Barbieri– keyboards and synthesizers
  • Colin Edwin– bass guitars
  • Gavin Harrison– drums
  • Alex Lifeson– guitar solo
  • Robert Fripp– soundscapes
  • John Wesley– backing vocals
  • Orchestra – London Session Orchestra
  • Dave Stewart– string arrangements
  • Steve Price – engineer
  • Lasse Hoile– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Steven Wilson, except where noted.

  1. Fear of a Blank Planet
  2. My Ashes – music by Richard Barbier, Steven /Wilson
  3. Anesthetize
  4. Sentimental
  5. Way Out of Here – music by Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, Gavin Harrison, Steven Wilson
  6. Sleep Together

The Thrills: So Much For The City

Leave a comment

On May 27, 2003, “Virgin” label released “So Much for the City”, the debut Thrills album. It was recorded October 2002 – March 2003, and was produced by Tony Hoffer. “So Much for the City” won ‘Album of the Year’ at the Irish national music awards.

Personnel:

  • Conor Deasy – vocals, guitar, harmonica
  • Daniel Ryan – guitar
  • Padraic McMahon – bass, guitar, harmonica
  • Ben Carrigan – drums, percussion
  • Kevin Horan – background vocals, organ, piano, synthesizer
  • Jay Dee Maness, JayDee Mannes – pedal steel
  • David Woodford, Nicholas Lane, Nick Lane, Steve Madaio – horn
  • David Campbell – horn and string arrangements
  • Charlie Bisharat, Joel Derouin, Berj Garabedian, Suzie Katayama, Sara Perkins – violin
  • John Hayhurst – viola
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Ben Drury – logo, design

Track listing:

All tracks by Conor Deasy, Daniel Ryan, Padraic McMahon, Ben Carrigan and Kevin Horan.

  1. Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)
  2. Big Sur
  3. Don’t Steal Our Sun
  4. Deckchairs and Cigarettes
  5. One Horse Town
  6. Old Friends, New Lovers
  7. Say It Ain’t So
  8. Hollywood Kids
  9. Just Travelling Through
  10. Your Love Is Like Las Vegas
  11. ‘Til the Tide Creeps In / Plans (hidden track)

Stan Getz & João Gilberto: Getz / Gilberto

Leave a comment

In March 1964, “Verve” label released “Getz / Gilberto”, album by Stan Getz and João Gilberto. It was recorded in March 1963, at “A&R Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Creed Taylor. The artwork was by artist Olga Albizu. In 1965, “Getz/Gilberto” received “Grammy Awards” for “Best Jazz Instrumental Album”, “Individual or Group and Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical;” and “Album of the Year”. It is considered to be the album that popularized bossa nova worldwide. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 447 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Stan Getz– tenor saxophone
  • João Gilberto– vocals, guitar
  • Antônio Carlos Jobim– piano
  • Astrud Gilberto – vocals
  • Sebastião Neto – double bass
  • Milton Banana– drums, pandeiro

Track listing:

  1. The Girl from Ipanema – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Norman Gimbel
  2. Doralice – Antônio Almeida, Dorival Caymmi
  3. Para Machucar Meu Coração – Ary Barroso
  4. Desafinado – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça
  5. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) – Antônio Carlos Jobim
  6. Só Danço Samba – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes
  7. O Grande Amor – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes
  8. Vivo Sonhando – Antônio Carlos Jobim

Norah Jones: Come Away With Me

2 Comments

On February 26, 2002, “Blue Note” label released “Come Away with Me”, the debut Norah Jones album. It was recorded in 2001, at “Sorcerer Sound” in New York City, “Allaire Studios”, in Shokan, New York, and was produced by Jay Newland, Arif  Mardin, Craig Street and Norah Jones. The album won “Grammy Awards” for “Album of the Year”, “Best Pop Vocal Album”, “Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical”. The song “Don’t Know Why” won “Song of the Year” and “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”, 11 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, 2 x Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”, 2 x Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”, Platinum in Brazil by “PRO Musica Brazil”, Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”, 3 x Platinum in Denmark by “IFPI Denmark”, Diamond in France by “SNEP”, 2 x Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”, 3 x Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”, 11 Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, 2 x Platinum in Poland by “ZPAV”, Platinum in Spain by “PROMUSICAE”, Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”, 3 x Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”, 8 x Platinum in UK by “BPI’ and Diamond in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Norah Jones – vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Kevin Breit– acoustic guitar, National guitar, electric guitar
  • Bill Frisell– electric guitar
  • Jesse Harris, Adam Levy– acoustic and electric guitar
  • Adam Rogers– guitar
  • Tony Scherr– slide and acoustic guitar
  • Rob Burger– pump organ, accordion
  • Sam Yahel– Hammond B-3 organ
  • Lee Alexander– bass guitar
  • Brian Blade– drums, percussion
  • Kenny Wollesen– drums
  • Jenny Scheinman– violin
  • Jay Newland,  Husky Höskulds – engineer
  • Mark Birkey, Dick Kondas, Brandon Mason, Todd Parker – engineer assistant
  • Arif Mardin, Jay Newland – mixing
  • Todd Parker – mixing assistant
  • Jay Newland – remixing
  • Ted Jensen, Mark Wilder – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Know Why – Jesse Harris
  2. Seven Years – Lee Alexander
  3. Cold Cold Heart – Hank Williams
  4. Feelin’ the Same Way – Lee Alexander
  5. Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
  6. Shoot the Moon – Jesse Harris
  7. Turn Me On – John D. Loudermilk
  8. Lonestar – Lee Alexander
  9. I’ve Got to See You Again – Jesse Harris
  10. Painter Song – Lee Alexander, JC Hopkins
  11. One Flight Down – Jesse Harris
  12. Nightingale – Norah Jones
  13. The Long Day Is Over – Norah Jones, Jesse Harris
  14. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington

The Rolling Stones: Blue & Lonesome

Leave a comment

On December 2, 2016, “Polydor” label released “Blue & Lonesome”, the 23rd Rolling Stones album. It was recorded in December 2015, at “British Grove Studios” and was produced by Don Was and The Glimmer Twins. It is the band’s first album to feature only cover songs. The album won “Album of the Year” at the “2017 Jazz FM Awards”. “Blue & Lonesome” was certified Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”; Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”; 2 x Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Poland by “ZPAV”, and Platinum in UK by “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • Mick Jagger– vocals, harmonica
  • Keith Richards– electric guitar
  • Ronnie Wood– electric guitar
  • Charlie Watts– drums
  • Eric Clapton– slide guitar; lead electric guitar
  • Darryl Jones– bass
  • Matt Clifford, Chuck Leavell– keyboards
  • Jim Keltner– percussion
  • Andy Cook, Jason Elliott, Derrick Stockwell – enginer assistant
  • Krish Sharma – engineer, mixing
  • Stephen Marcussen, Ron McMaster – mastering
  • Pierre de Beauport – crew chief
  • Don McAulay – drum technician
  • Richard Havers – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Just Your Fool – Buddy Johnson
  2. Commit a Crime – Howlin’ Wolf
  3. Blue and Lonesome – Little Walter
  4. All of Your Love – Magic Sam
  5. I Gotta Go – Little Walter
  6. Everybody Knows About My Good Thing – Miles Grayson, Lermon Horton
  7. Ride ‘Em on Down – Eddie Taylor
  8. Hate to See You Go – Little Walter
  9. Hoo Doo Blues – Otis Hicks, Jerry West
  10. Little Rain – Ewart G.Abner Jr., Jimmy Reed
  11. Just Like I Treat You – Willie Dixon
  12. I Can’t Quit You Baby – Willie Dixon

Angel Olson: My Woman

Leave a comment

On September 2, 2016, “Jagjaguwar” label released “My Woman”, the third Angel Olson studio album. It was recorded in 2016, at “Vox Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Justin Raisen and Angel Olson. In November 2016, UK record chain “HMV” named “My Woman” their album of the year.

Personnel:

  • Angel Olsen – vocals, inside photography
  • Stewart Bronaugh – vocal
  • Emily Elhaj – guitar, bass
  • Seth Kauffman – guitar
  • Justin Raisen – keyboards, engineer
  • Joshua Jaeger – drums
  • Michael Harris – engineer
  • Collin Dupuis – mixing
  • Emily Lazar- mastering
  • Lisa Nance – cover painting
  • Miles Johnson – design
  • Amanda Marsalis- cover photography, inside photography
  • Chris Allgood – assistant
  • Lawrence Rothman – additional production

Track listing:

All tracks by Angel Olsen.

  1. Intern
  2. Never be Mine
  3. Shut Up Kiss Me
  4. Give It Up
  5. Not Gonna Kill You
  6. Heart Shaped Face
  7. Sister
  8. Those Were the Days
  9. Woman
  10. Pops

Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool

Leave a comment

On May 8, 2016, Radiohead digitally released “A Moon Shaped Pool”, band’s ninth studio album.  CD and LP releases followed in June 2016 on “XL Recordings”. Through its website, the band also sold a special edition containing two extra tracks and additional artwork. The album material was recorded 2014-2016, at “La Fabrique Studios”, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, and “RAK Studios” in London, and was produced by Nigel Godrich, Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway and Thom Yorke. “A Moon Shaped Pool” was voted album of the year by “Exclaim”, “Slant Magazine” and “The Sunday Times”.

Personnel:

  • Thom Yorke – vocals, rhyth guitar, piano, artwork, design
  • Jonny Greenwood – lead guitar, keyboards
  • Ed O’Brien – guitar, backing vocals
  • Colin Greenwood – bass guitar, synthesizers
  • Philip Selway – drums, percussion
  • Clive Deamer– additional drums
  • Hugh Brunt– conductor
  • London Contemporary Orchestra and Choir– strings, choir
  • Nigel Godrich– mixing, engineer
  • Maxime LeGuil – assistant engineer
  • Sam Petts-Davies – engineer
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • Stanley Donwood – artwork, design

Track listing:

All tracks by Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway and Thom Yorke.

  1. Burn the Witch
  2. Daydreaming
  3. Decks Dark
  4. Desert island Disk
  5. Ful Stop
  6. Glass Eyes
  7. Identikit
  8. The Numbers
  9. Present Times
  10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief
  11. True Love Waits