2025 Metafile Legend

Two data files, meta.txt and rmeta.txt, the former for new releases, the latter for reissues, compilations, vault music. Fields separated by '|':

  1. Points: Make does a numeric sort on this field as first key.
  2. Artist: Last name '_' first name, such that make can do an alpha sort on this as second key.
  3. Title: Album title.
  4. Label: Label; may be preceded by dates (e.g., 1972 or 1972-74) and comma; may be followed by format (e.g., EP, or 2CD).
  5. Release date: Written as MM-DD, including '0' to pad to two digits. "-16" indicates a 2016 release date.
  6. Flags: Used to specify genre, also whether I have heard the record. More than one may be set:
    • 1: I own a hard copy of the album (could be CDR).
    • 2: I've heard the record from a streaming or download source.
    • 3: I've done limited sampling of the record, or I'm grading a reissue from an earlier release.
    • B: Blues/Gospel/R&B
    • C: Country/Americana/Folk
    • E: Electronica
    • H: Hip-Hop/Rap
    • J: Jazz
    • K: Classical
    • M: Metal
    • W: World, both pop and folk, including Latin
  7. Data: Multiple segments, each separated by comma (','), preferably sorted alphabetically. Each segment consists of a key (alpha abbreviation), optionally followed by colon (':') and a number, which is the rank position of the record on the list, or a plus ('+'), which indicates an unranked point, or '*N' for N points. There are two series of data: one from major sources which are scored 5 (1st place), 4 (2-5th), 3 (6-10th), 2 (11-20th), 1 (anything above 20th); then following a semicolon, one from minor sources which are generally scored 3 (1st place), 2 (2-5th), 1 (anything above 5th). The keys are listed in the legend data file (legend-data.txt). Ties aren't marked this year (in previous years they were marked '*'; sorry, I screwed up). If a list contains multiple records in a numeric slot (often by same artist), each are credited (subject to notes below). The distinction between major and minor is somewhat arbitrary, but long lists tend to count as major (even if by idiots), and short and/or unranked lists as minor.
  8. Comment: Anything else considered a comment. These appear in the output, but aren't counted.

The legend-data.txt file also consists of fields separated by '|'. They are:

  1. Key: The key for the list, used in data above.
  2. Type: How the list is counted, if any rank in the list gets more than one point: empty means everything gets one point; extra points are noted by the cutoff rank, with comma separating each tier -- e.g., "20,1" gives 2 points to everything ≥ 20 except 3 points ≥ 1.
  3. Name: The plain name for the list.
  4. URL: Where to find the list (often just the top of the list.
  5. Alt URL: An alternate (unofficial) source for the list (often these are easier to work with than the actual URL.)
  6. Comment: Any additional comments. Within this the following subfields (comma-separated) are noted:
    • RX:# Robert Christgau letter grades (points: A:5, A-:4, B+/***: 3, **: 2 *:1, B or less: 0)
    • TH:# Tom Hull letter grades (points same as RC)

Since I don't have corresponding lists to work off of, and since I value their reviews highly, I've decided to score RC, MT, and TH as: A/A+ 5, A- 4, B+/*** 3, ** 2, * 1; omitting the 2014 (and earlier) releases. I haven't sucked up all of TH's letter grades -- only those mentioned by others.

Some general guidelines on which lists were counted (and which not):

  • Where separate "international" and "national" lists are provided, only "international" is counted. Similarly, "local" (state or city) lists are not counted.
  • Most genre lists are counted, except classical, soundtracks, Christian. I have virtually no interest in metal but have almost always counted metal lists.
  • Honorable mentions or unranked extras added to lists are generally counted, with '+' instead of rank numbers. Same for unranked lists (although unless explicitly stated, unnumbered lists are generally assumed to be top-down).
  • Format-specific lists (e.g., EPs, mixtapes) are usually ignored. EPs occurring in general lists are counted, but singles are generally not.
  • Don't bother with lists that are aggregates of other lists, figuring they're just approximations of this aggregate. Also don't bother with reader polls (although I make a couple exceptions).

Lists

The following lists have been counted:

  1. [45] The Forty-Five [UK] (45,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27:2)
  2. [AAJ] All About Jazz () -- 4+ stars (06-15)(09-13?)
  3. [AD] The Arts Desk () -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  4. [Al] Albumism (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24)
  5. [Alt] The Alternative (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  6. [AMG] Angry Metal Guy () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  7. [AV] AV Club [US] () -- AOTY 80+(03-24), mid-year
  8. [BB] Billboard (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  9. [Blb] Blabbermouth.net () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  10. [BPM] Beats Per Minute (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-23)
  11. [BS] Bitter Southerner (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  12. [BV] Brooklyn Vegan (55,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  13. [BV_i] Brooklyn Vegan: Indie Basement () [link]
  14. [BV_r] Brooklyn Vegan: Rap (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  15. [C] Crack [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24:1)
  16. [Ch] The Chorus.fm [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  17. [Cl] Clash [UK] (60,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-23)
  18. [ClR] Classic Rock [UK] () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  19. [CM] Chris Monsen (Perfect Sounds Forever) (,,10,5,1) -- + 04-16 list
  20. [Cmp] Complex [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  21. [Cmp_U] Complex [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  22. [CS] Consequence [of Sound] [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24), mid-year
  23. [D] Dork (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+
  24. [DB] Downbeat () -- editor picks {8}
  25. [Db] Decibel [US] (40,20,10,5,1) [link]
  26. [DiS] Distorted Sound () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  27. [DIY] DIY (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-23)
  28. [DJ] Double J [Australia] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  29. [DJM] DJ Mag (50+) [link]
  30. [DS] Drowned in Sound [UK] (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  31. [DW] Dan Weiss [Riot Riot] () -- Yes: **; Maybe: * [04-13]; mid-year
  32. [Dz] Dazed [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  33. [Em] Earmilk (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(09-28)
  34. [Ev] Evening Standard () -- AOTY 80+(03-24:3)
  35. [EW] Entertainment Weekly [US] (,,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  36. [EWi] Expert Witness (Facebook group) (50,20,10,5,1) -- + for 2+ votes
  37. [Ex] Exclaim! [Canada] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24)
  38. [Fa] Fader (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  39. [Fld] Flood [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  40. [FO] Far Out [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  41. [G] Guardian [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-25), but not all classical
  42. [GB] Gorilla Vs Bear [US] (37,20,10,5,1) [link]
  43. [Gl] Glide [US] (20) [link] -- scored ++
  44. [GQ] GQ [UK] (20) [link] -- ++ each
  45. [GTV] God Is in the TV (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24)
  46. [HG] Hip-Hop Golden Age () [link] -- ongoing file
  47. [HP] Hot Press [Ireland] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+()
  48. [HV] Humanizing the Vacuum [US]: Alfred Soto () -- mid-year
  49. [I] The Independent [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-25)
  50. [IT] The Irish Times () -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  51. [JC] Jazz Critics Poll (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- eveything else +
  52. [JC_r] Jazz Critics Poll (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- eveything else +
  53. [JW] Jazzwise [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [ref link]
  54. [K] Kerrang! (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  55. [KC] KCRW (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  56. [L] Louder () -- AOTY 80+(09-15)
  57. [LAT] Los Angeles Times (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  58. [LBF] The Line of Best Fit [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  59. [LQ] Loud and Quiet [UK] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  60. [LW] Louder Than War [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  61. [Mg] Magnet [US] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  62. [MH] Metal Hammer () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  63. [MI] Metal Injection () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  64. [Mj] Mojo [UK] (75,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27), mid-year
  65. [MO] MusicOMH [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(09-24)
  66. [MSuk] Metal Sucks () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  67. [Ne] The Needle Drop (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-23)
  68. [Ni] Nialler9 (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  69. [NME] NME [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-25),mid-year
  70. [NPR] NPR Music (12) [link]
  71. [NR] No Ripcord [UK] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-25:2)
  72. [NT] Northern Transmissions [CAN] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24)
  73. [O] The Observer () -- AOTY +80(03-25); see g_e (Kitty Empire)
  74. [Oo] Oor [Netherlands] (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  75. [Ov] Overblown () -- AOTY 80+(03-25)(09-28)
  76. [P] Paste (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24), mid-year
  77. [Pf] Pitchfork (50,20,10,501) [link] -- AOTY 80+(10-22)
  78. [PM] PopMatters () -- AOTY 80+(03-23)(08-30),mid-year
  79. [PO] Phil Overeem (25,20,10,5,1) [link] -- monthly lists
  80. [Prg] Prog () -- AOTY 80+ (05-13)
  81. [PW] Passion of the Weiss (50,20,10,5,1) [link]
  82. [Qt] The Quietus [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  83. [RC] Record Collector [UK] () -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  84. [Ri] The Ringer (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  85. [RR] RapReviews () -- AOTY 75+(05-24)(09-15)
  86. [RS] Rolling Stone [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(09-15), + mid-year
  87. [RSh] Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone) (,20,10,5,1) [link]
  88. [RSUK] Rolling Stone [UK] (25) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24:3), unranked but ++
  89. [RT] Rough Trade [UK] (100,20,10,5,1) [link]
  90. [S] Spin [US] () -- mid-year
  91. [SC] Spectrum Culture (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  92. [Sg] Stereogum [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- + mid-year
  93. [Sk] The Skinny [UK] (,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-25)
  94. [Sl] Slant [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24), mid-year
  95. [SLi] Still Listening (50,20,10,5,1) -- AOTY 80+(03-31)
  96. [Sp] Spill () -- AOTY 80+(03-25)
  97. [Spk] Sputnik Music [US] () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  98. [SpL] Semipop Life (Brad Luen) () -- min A- (**), min * (*) {}
  99. [ST] Sidney Terano (The Mortifying Ideal): Non-Jazz () -- A-List ++, HM + (3)
  100. [STi] The Sunday Times (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  101. [T] The Telegraph [UK] (,,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-25)
  102. [TL] Tom Lane (,20,10,5,1) -- email, also see tl_r
  103. [TN] Tim Niland [JCP] () -- mentions on various social media
  104. [TO] Time Out (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  105. [Tr] Treblezine [US] (50,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  106. [Tu] Turn [Japan] (30,20,10,5,1) [link]
  107. [U] Uncut [UK] (80,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-27)
  108. [Up_sh] Uproxx: Steven Hyden (26,20,10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  109. [UR] Under the Radar [US] (100,20,10,5,1) [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-26)
  110. [W] The Wire (50,20,10,5,1) [ref link] -- MC 80+
  111. [WX] WXPN (Philadelphia) (25,20,10,5,1) [link]
  112. [XCI] Christian Iszchak () -- min A- (**), min * (*) {5/25,7/11}
  113. [XJD] PJRP: Joey Daniewicz (25,20,5,1) [link]
  114. [XSN] XS Noize [IRL] () -- AOTY 80+(03-28)
  115. [am] AllMusic [US] () [link] -- AOTY 80+(03-24)(05-24); skip most classical 80
  116. [am_a] AllMusic [US]: alternative/indie () [link]
  117. [am_b] AllMusic [US]: blues () [link]
  118. [am_c] AllMusic [US]: country () [link]
  119. [am_e] AllMusic [US]: electronic () [link]
  120. [am_h] AllMusic [US]: rap/hip hop () [link]
  121. [am_j] AllMusic [US]: jazz () [link]
  122. [am_k] AllMusic [US]: rock/metal () [link]
  123. [am_l] AllMusic [US]: Latin & global () [link]
  124. [am_p] AllMusic [US]: pop () [link]
  125. [am_r] AllMusic [US]: r&b () [link]
  126. [am_s] AllMusic [US]: singer/songwriter () [link]
  127. [am_z] AllMusic [US]: archival releases () [link]
  128. [ap] Alternative Press (50) [link]
  129. [asp] The Associated Press (10) [link]
  130. [atl] The Atlantic (10,5,1) [link]
  131. [bb6] BBC Radio 6 [UK] () [link]
  132. [bc_j] Bandcamp Daily: Jazz [Dave Sumner] () [link]
  133. [bi] Business Insider (20,5,1) [link]
  134. [bl] Bleep [UK] () [link]
  135. [cos] Cosmopolitan () [link]
  136. [dc] Deep Cuts (Oliver Kemp) (20,5,1) [link]
  137. [e] Esquire [US] (10) [link]
  138. [ec] The Economist (10) [link]
  139. [# # #em] Earmilk () -- AOTY 80+
  140. [g_e] Observer: Kitty Empire (10,5,1) [link]
  141. [hb] Harper's Bazaar (12,5,1) [link]
  142. [hpo] Huffington Post () [link]
  143. [jbbr] JCP: Bill Brownlee (10,5,1)
  144. [jcb] JCP: Chris Barton (10,5,1)
  145. [jfk] JCP: Fred Kaplan [Slate] (10,5,1) [link]
  146. [jgy] Gene Seymour (10,5,1) [link]
  147. [jha] JCP: Hrayr Attarian (10,5,1)
  148. [jjbc] JCP: Joe Bebco [The Syncopated Times] (10,5,1)
  149. [jlb] JCP: Larry Blumenfeld (10,5,1)
  150. [jlbi] JCP: Larry Birnbaum (10,5,1)
  151. [jma] JCP: Mirian Arbalejo (10)
  152. [jmb] JCP: Marcela Breton (10,5,1)
  153. [jmbo] JCP: Mike Borella (10,5,1)
  154. [jnc] Nate Chinen [The Gig] (10,5,1) [link]
  155. [jpa] JCP: Paul Acquaro (10,5,1)
  156. [jpb] JCP: Philip Booth (10,5,1)
  157. [jsa] JCP: Scott Albin (10,5,1)
  158. [jsb] JCP Stuart Broomer (10,5,1)
  159. [jse] JCP: Shannon Ali (Shannon J Effinger) (10,5,1)
  160. [n_ap] The New Yorker: Amanda Petrusich (15,5,1) [link]
  161. [npr_ap] NPR [US]: Ann Powers (10,5,1) [link]
  162. [npr_as] NPR [US]: Anamaria Sayre (10) [link]
  163. [npr_bc] NPR [US]: Bobby Carter (10,5,1) [link]
  164. [npr_fc] NPR [US]: Felix Contreras (10,5,1) [link]
  165. [npr_hc] NPR [US]: Hazel Cills (10) [link]
  166. [npr_lg] NPR [US]: Lars Gotrich (10) [link]
  167. [npr_nc] JCP, NPR [US]: Nate Chinen (10,5,1) [link]
  168. [npr_rc] NPR [US]: Rodney Charmichael (10,5,1) [link]
  169. [npr_rh] NPR [US]: Robin Hilton (10,5,1) [link]
  170. [npr_sp] NPR: Sheldon Pearce (10) [link]
  171. [npr_st] NPR: Stephen Thompson (10) [link]
  172. [npr_th] NPR [US]: Tom Huizenga (10) [link]
  173. [ny_c] New York Times [US]: Jon Caramanica (17,5,1) [link]
  174. [ny_s] New York Times [US]: Hank Shteamer (Jazz) (10,5,1) [link]
  175. [ny_z] New York Times [US]: Lindsay Zoladz (10,5,1) [link]
  176. [nyl] Nylon [US] (10) [link]
  177. [pi] Philadelphia Inquirer (10,5,1) [link]
  178. [scm] Saving Country Music (3,1) [link] -- 8.0+(03-28); ++ nominees/most essential; + essential
  179. [sg_c] Stereogum [US]: Country [Marissa R Moss/Natalie Weiner] (,5,1) [link]
  180. [sg_e] Stereogum [US]: Electronic [Ted Davis] (10,5,1) [link]
  181. [sg_hc] Stereogum [US]: Hardcore [Tom Breihan] (10,5,1) [link]
  182. [sg_j] Stereogum [US]: Jazz [Phil Freeman] () [link]
  183. [sg_m] Stereogum [US]: Metal [Ian Chainey] (10,5,1) [link]
  184. [sg_r] Stereogum [US]: Rap [Peter A Berry] (10,5,1) [link]
  185. [sg_s] Stereogram [US]: Shoegaze (10,5,1) [link]
  186. [sg_x] Stereogum [US]: Experimental [Christopher R Weingarten] (10,5,1) [link]
  187. [sl] Slate (Carl Wilson) () [link] -- ++, + for runners up
  188. [so_d] Sound Opinions: Jim DeRogaitis (25,5,1) [link]
  189. [so_k] Sound Opinions: Greg Kot (25,5,1) [link]
  190. [std] The Standard (10,5,1) [link]
  191. [tl_r] Tom Lane: reissues (,5,1) -- email
  192. [usw] Us Weekly () [link]
  193. [v_ja] Variety: Jem Aswad (10,5,1) [link]
  194. [v_sh] Variety: Steven J Horowitz (10,5,1) [link]
  195. [v_tg] Variety: Thania Garcia (10,5,1) [link]
  196. [vce] Chuck Eddy [PJRP] (10,5,1)
  197. [vew] PJRP: Eric Weisbard (10,5,1) -- +HM
  198. [vg] Vogue (45) [link]
  199. [vgb] PJRP: Glenn Boothe (10,5,1)
  200. [vu] Vulture: Craig Jenkins (10,5,1) [link] -- mid-year
  201. [wp] Washington Post (10,5,1) [ref link]
  202. [xde] PJRP: David Everall (10,5,1)
  203. [xdr] PJRP: David Rawson (10,5,1)
  204. [xjd] PJRP: Joey Daniewicz (10,5,1) [link]
  205. [xjdc] Jeffrey D Callahan () -- FB recent listening reports, min B+ {5-6}
  206. [xpb] PJRP: Philip Brasor (10,5,1)
  207. [xwb] PJRP: William Boyd () -- + reissues

Sources