1. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
AMSP took a little while to sink its claws in, but as with many Radiohead albums, it's only gotten better and better with each listen. The 2-3-4-5-6 combo punch of Daydreaming, Decks Dark, Desert Island Disk, Ful Stop, and Glass Eyes is one of the strongest 5 song sequences in recent memory (not that I often remember five song sequences). Even the two songs I didn't like at first, Identikit ("an even shittier Alt-J song") and the True Love Waits rework ("a bit of a snoozefest") have grown on me, especially True Love Waits, which is an absolutely perfect closing song for this magnificent album.
AMSP took a little while to sink its claws in, but as with many Radiohead albums, it's only gotten better and better with each listen. The 2-3-4-5-6 combo punch of Daydreaming, Decks Dark, Desert Island Disk, Ful Stop, and Glass Eyes is one of the strongest 5 song sequences in recent memory (not that I often remember five song sequences). Even the two songs I didn't like at first, Identikit ("an even shittier Alt-J song") and the True Love Waits rework ("a bit of a snoozefest") have grown on me, especially True Love Waits, which is an absolutely perfect closing song for this magnificent album.
2. Oliver Wilde - Long Hold Star an Infinite Abduction
I’m having tons of issues classifying this album, so I’ll just say this: it’s a classic “Sam” album. British? Check. Drums unique and a decent level in the mix? Check. Vocals I can hardly understand? Check. Give it a listen...
3. Working for a Nuclear Free City - What Do People Do All Day?
It's been really hard to find information on this album online - it took me a while to determine whether or not it actually came out in 2016 (it did, I’m 95% sure), since it appears this band is no longer (the lead singer moved to America and now fronts the band American Wrestlers). Run might be my song of the year. The band pulls from a wide range of influences, keeping this long album interesting throughout.
It's been really hard to find information on this album online - it took me a while to determine whether or not it actually came out in 2016 (it did, I’m 95% sure), since it appears this band is no longer (the lead singer moved to America and now fronts the band American Wrestlers). Run might be my song of the year. The band pulls from a wide range of influences, keeping this long album interesting throughout.
4. Autolux - Pussy's Dead
When you release music once every six years, you create a bit of a higher expectation for each release. While Autolux may never top Future Perfect, their debut, Pussy's Dead is a fantastic effort and an enjoyable listen. As usual, Carla Azar stars behind the kit and propels the music forward unlike many other drummers in modern “indie” rock music.
5. David Bowie - Blackstar
An amazingly well put together album, with every musician standing out in their own right. Individual song standouts are 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore and Dollar Days. Obviously, Bowie's death puts the album into perspective and really adds a ton of meaning to it.
6. Zula - Grasshopper
Early Coldplay (come on, stop kidding yourself and admit that they were good) with a bunch more soul and a fantastic rhythm section. This album has been a steady grower since its release.
Early Coldplay (come on, stop kidding yourself and admit that they were good) with a bunch more soul and a fantastic rhythm section. This album has been a steady grower since its release.
7. Money - Suicide Songs
A huge album full of soaring emotional songs with ever so slightly overdrawn titles like You Look Like a Sad Painting on Both Sides of the Sky. It can be a bit of a slog towards the middle/end (Night Came), but there are some real gems on here, specifically I'm Not Here.
A huge album full of soaring emotional songs with ever so slightly overdrawn titles like You Look Like a Sad Painting on Both Sides of the Sky. It can be a bit of a slog towards the middle/end (Night Came), but there are some real gems on here, specifically I'm Not Here.
8. Solange - A Seat at the Table
The production/musicians is/are top notch, and Solange has a beautiful voice. The guest artists all have good cameos that aren't necessarily overpowering - they still feel like Solange songs and fit in with the rest of the album, but the guests still get their own unique voice.
Overall it's just a beautiful sounding album, simple as that. Reading through the lyrics to this album was a pretty moving experience. As another white person I was talking to about the album said, "I don't feel like I'm supposed to be listening to this album." But she loved the album, and was glad she heard it. She was moved by it. On the one hand, I understand that sentiment. But on the other hand, I can't help but think that it's important for everyone to listen and take in something like this, where the message is so powerful and straightforward. As a white person in America I think it's important to try and at the very least understand the frustration and the weariness (the feelings & where they are coming from), as Solange sings about, of black people in this country. An important first step is listening, and Solange's album helps deliver a message to a wider audience.
9. Leapling - Suspended Animation
The best way to describe this album is: it's a really pleasant listen. Dan Arnes' voice, the chord progressions, the drum beats, the guitar - everything is well crafted. This is a pop album (not in the Top 40 sense of the word) with an appropriate Exploding in Sound twist. I Decide When It Begins, Suspended Animation, and Time Keeps Tickin' stand out.
10. Suuns - Hold/Still
Top 5 moment of 2016: seeing Suuns live in Amsterdam, brownie consumed just beforehand. Surely this inflates their ranking a bit, but this is a solid album with Translate and Paralyzer being the two absolute standouts. The album does drag on a bit, unfortunately.
11. exmagician - Scan the Blue
A very 90s sounding album. The band name is less than ideal, but these Irish dudes can write a good song. My favorites: Bend with the Wind, Smile to the Gallery, Plan Retrieval, and Scan the Blue.
12. BADBADNOTGOOD - IV
Some of the best drumming on this list, and if you know me, you know I love good drumming. Jazzy and thoroughly interesting, this is a great album to soundtrack your 3 AM car ride through an empty city.
13. Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered.
A fantastic collection of songs that gets better towards the middle/end. If you know me, you know I don’t listen to a ton of hip hop, but there’s no possible way to listen to Kendrick Lamar’s music and not appreciate how good it is.
14. Anderson .Paak - Malibu
A detailed, atmospheric R&B/soul/funky album. The first two songs are the best - but what docks this album is that it just goes on a bit too long (it clocks in at just over an hour). Some of the songs are so, so good, but I have trouble finishing the whole thing.
A detailed, atmospheric R&B/soul/funky album. The first two songs are the best - but what docks this album is that it just goes on a bit too long (it clocks in at just over an hour). Some of the songs are so, so good, but I have trouble finishing the whole thing.
15. De Rosa - Weem
An absolutely gorgeous album by these Scots that have been around since 2001 and are involved with the Chemikal Underground label (Mogwai, The Delgados, Arab Strap, etc.).
16. Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
Like Bowie, this one’s even greater given the context.
17. Steve Mason - Meet the Humans
Track two (Alive) is a bit cringe-worthy, but the rest of the album is solid. Mason is the singer/songwriter behind The Beta Band, whom you certainly know from "High Fidelity". Despite the rocky start, the album really picks up in the middle. Another Day is a fun track and To a Door is gorgeous.
18. Andrew Bird - Are You Serious
For whatever reason, I’ve never listened to much Andrew Bird. This album might change things, though.
19. Ryley Walker - Golden Sings That Have Been Sung
Walker’s back with another set of really solid British folk-influenced acoustic tunes. Nothing that will necessarily get stuck in your head, but a perfect Sunday morning album.
20. Throws - Throws
One of the more "fun" albums on my list (by my standards). A dance-y version of Bon Iver if he liked 80s music but not so much that the music sounded like shit. Punch Drunk Sober and High Pressure Front stand out. The guitar in Learn Something is a The King of Limbs ripoff - it bothers me every time.
21. Cate Le Bon - Crab Day
Cate Le Bon is fabulously weird. Catch her live if you can - the album is better in that context, but it’s still quite good.
22. Katrine Stochholm - Danser Til Radio
A little monotonous, but a good album nonetheless. Like Steady Holiday (#24), there’s some Broadcast-y vibes to Stochholm’s music.
23. Cian Nugent - Night Fiction
Shadows is one of my favorite songs of 2016.
24. Steady Holiday - Under the Influence
Good songs but suffers from uniformity. Big Broadcast influence here.
25. Nonkeen - Oddments of the Gamble
An atmospheric album from Nils Frahm’s band - diving platform is an absolutely gorgeous song and one of my favorites of the year.
26. Wye Oak - Tween
Not Wye Oak’s best effort, but in a long list of solid albums from this band, Tween fits right in.
27. The Low Anthem - Eyeland
Easily the hardest album on my list to describe. The first half is stronger than the second half.
28. Marissa Nadler - Strangers
A really good sounding album. It’s not higher on this list because the whole record could be one or two songs and I might not notice. Just a little switch up of tone, pace, etc. here and there would make this a truly fantastic album.
A really good sounding album. It’s not higher on this list because the whole record could be one or two songs and I might not notice. Just a little switch up of tone, pace, etc. here and there would make this a truly fantastic album.
29. Film School - June (EP)
Short and sweet EP from these veteran shoegazers.
30. Mauno - Rough Master
A Canadian Krill. Something is missing here, but I can't quite figure out what.
HONORABLE MENTION
A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service
It's good. I need to give it some more listens before I form stronger opinions on it, though.
Bon Iver - 22, a Million
Creeks is, quite frankly, an embarrassing song. That said, there are definitely some good tracks here.
Creeks is, quite frankly, an embarrassing song. That said, there are definitely some good tracks here.
Leapling - Killing Time (EP)
More good Leapling songs.
La Sera - Queens (EP)
Fun lil’ EP. The guitar playing is particularly impressive.
Sad13 - Slugger
There are some great songs in here. One of the more “political” albums on the list.
1. Hard agree on the Steady Holiday album. I wanted to love it but it just got monotonous.
ReplyDelete2. Need to listen to Leapling again
3. I'm gonna come back to this list when I'm in the mood for some 'sam music' cause that's a thing I crave sometimes now apparently and I've listened to very few of these
4. I'm PERSONALLY offended you described a band as "Canadian Krill" and didn't tell me about them.