As I did the last two editions I'm going to include some stats about the nominated albums:
a) RYM Rating:
Year after year I tell that "the perfect definition of "Moderately Acclaimed Album" could be an album with a RYM rating between 3,00 and 3,99." This year is not different with the 94,75% of the albums falling in this category (with the 72,65% between 3,51 a 4,00). And again we have a mean value of the RYM rating almost identical to the past years (now
3,6553125 with 3,65265625 in 2016 and 3,65503937 in 2015). So we had the best rating of the last three years but with a minimal difference.
But we had this year slightly more dispersion than the last two years, with a standard deviation of
0,237220024 and eight albums outside the limits (less than 3.00 and higher than 4.00) while in 2016 we had only two and in 2015 we had 5 albums. So this year we have two albums with a ranking lower than 3 and six albums with a ranking higher than 4. Anyone want to have a guess? Like the previous years I got some clues to help you:
a) These 8 albums are from 4 different nations.
b) 5 of these 8 albums are not sung/written in English.
c) 2 of these albums can be filed under Metal genre.
d) The two albums with higher ratings are Soundtracks.
e) One album got as main styles on RYM Indie Rock and Post-Rock.
Any takers?
b) Year of release:
This year we had a slightly "older" selection of albums, with a mean value of
1991 (the last two years it was 1992) with a more balanced distribution by decades. The decade most represented this year is the 1990s (closely followed by the 2000s).
c) Nationality:
Last year I did not take nationalities into account, but in 2015 we had albums from 22 different nationalities. This year we had "only" 15, showcasing again the open-minded attitude of the forum participants. Again we had USA and UK as the most represented nations. On the following graphic you will find the countries with more than two albums on the game. The rest of the countries included Germany, Ireland and Sweden with two albums and Denmark, Norway, Austria and Italy with one album.
My votes for Round 2.1:
3.
The Jam - Sound Affects (1980)
vs.
6. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle (2009)
8. Garbage - Version 2.0 (1998)
vs.
1.
Novos Baianos - Acabou chorare (1972)
4. Nilsson - Aerial Ballet (1968)
vs.
2.
Almendra - Almendra (1969)
7. Mitski - Retired from Sad, New Career in Business (2013)
vs.
5.
Fishmans - Long Season (1996)
