Here are my favorite 33 songs released in 2016 and some anecdotal quips attempting to trick you into giving them a chance. The songs are presented in alphabetical order by artist, because number ones are for toilets.
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Animals As Leaders – The Brain Dance Theoretically instrumental progressive music is right up my alley, but as a whole album this is like trying to read Infinite Jest while also listening to an audiobook of The Three-Body Problem. Point being it’s probably brilliant, but also overwhelming. There are great flourishes and very heavy energetic moments, all interspersed with what sound like Eastern European news show opening themes, far more intricate than what is to follow. The Brain Dance is one of the few songs that I enjoyed all the way through and out of the context of the album gains some genuine emotion.
ANOHNI – Marrow The solo effort from the singer of Antony and the Johnsons which is a band that never really worked for me. In a way this album was a pleasant surprise. Obviously if you don’t like the vocals you won’t like this, the electronic instrumentals on this are by Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never which was what got me to check it out. I think overall the whole album is worth a listen, though I can’t blame anyone for thinking it’s a bit cringy and on the nose. If you enjoy Marrow I suggest trying Why Did You Separate Me from the Earth? which gives you a good range of the sound of the album.
BADBADNOTGOOD - Confessions Pt II (featuring Colin Stetson) & In Your Eyes (feat Charlotte Day Wilson) Not sure how to describe it, perhaps Confessions Pt II is heavy cyclical jazz and In Your Eyes is a soul throwback. From the very first album where BBNG did covers of James Blake electronic/trip hoppy wanderings, I’ve been intrigued. On their third album they almost sounded like a stripped down Tortoise with the track CS60. It’s difficult to explain why they appeal to me, but they continue to use simple materials to produce interesting diverse results. This was also the first time I heard Charlotte Day Wilson, possibly the best vocalist without an album of her own.
case/lang/veirs – Atomic Number Neko Case, K.D. Lang, and Laura Veirs, coming together to make one of my favorite albums of the year and this was the first song I heard and sold me instantly. The album also has great replay value and is something you can put on during a casual dinner with rich friends in your million dollar bungalow by the ocean.
Charlotte Day Wilson – Work She didn’t release a full album, but she did put out a digital EP and collaborated with several other artists, like froyo ma, IGLOOGHOST, and BBNG. This is a fairly simple trip hop track, it basically rests on her voice and melody both of which are superb and invite me to put it on repeat. I will give anything she does a listen.
David Bowie – Girl Loves Me Bowie put out one of my instant favorite albums of the year and then days later died, this song is stuck in my head, because he specifically sings; “ Where the fuck did Monday go?” Monday was the day he died or at least the day I found out he did. It really was a gut punch at the very beginning of the year. I actually wasn’t able to listen to the album for well about a year after that or any of his music. I finally at the very end got my dad the album and then re-listened to it, this song still makes me emotionally compromised. I think it’s that he didn’t put out that sad folk album that many older musicians are expected to produce, he put out an aggressive progressive electronic melodic monster. For those that do enjoy the album, they just put out an EP that has three bonus songs, one of which is maybe heavier than anything on Blackstar.
Devin Townsend – Time Overload (demo) This track appears on the bonus CD of Devin’s album Transcendence, it’s all supposed demos, though his standards are so high that how can you possibly tell. Although the actual album has great tracks on it, this demo stuck out to me as just about the catchiest pop metal track I’ve heard in a long time. There is a kind of almost industrial edge to it, but it’s basically a sing along pop song, that also scares the elderly.
DJ Shadow Feat RunTheJewels – Nobody Speak I’ve heard about RTJ for a while and obviously Killer Mike’s endorsement of Bernie was yet another highlight of the year, but somehow I hadn’t heard their music. This was the first exposure, in this case produced by DJ Shadow in a reworked take of Ol’ Man River by Caterina Valente. The video is glorious and cathartic and the lyrics are pure poetry: “Flame your crew quicker than Trump fucks his youngest” Overall it’s just a fun bouncy rap track.
Flume - Take a Chance (feat. Little Dragon) I’ve made mixes previously of just Little Dragon contributing vocals to other artists. I will give anything Little Dragon does a chance. In this case this is an almost dub stepy electro pop track, it’s a great contrast as she brings the coldness of the instrumental back to melody.
Goblin Cock – Bothered Rob Crow came back with an vengeance in 2016, he dropped a Goblin Cock album plus EP that I have yet to hear and then two Anal Trump releases with 40 songs totaling 3:36min. I just wish I’d gotten the chance to see them live, maybe next year I will be less destitute. They also get the award for the best album title, Necronomidonkeykongimicon. EDIT I totally forgot that Rob Crow also released You’re Doomed. Be Nice. as Rob Crow's Gloomy Place. That bastard is a prolific monster that makes the rest of us look like lazy sods.
hyphyskazerbox - Not As Punk Rock Electronic wonderment, I really don’t know anything else about the artist here, just that the album is sometimes difficult and sometimes engaging and worth a listen if you like electronic wizardry.
James Blake - I Need A Forest Fire (feat. Bon Iver) I really wanted to like the album, but it just felt unfocused and often too brittle even for me. There were however some very strong highlights. There is a great EP in this album, that’s what I would say. Overgrown was a way more satisfying listening experience overall, so if you’re new to James, I’d start there.
Kaada/Patton – Papillon Mike Patton puts out so much material it’s impossible to listen to all of it, but when I get a chance there is always something worth my time. This collaboration with Kaada produced a track that belongs on a soundtrack if it isn’t already.
Kaytranada - WEIGHT OFF (feat. BADBADNOTGOOD) Yes BBNG is back again, this time in a collaboration with a producer, who also on the same album collaborates with Little Dragon. It’s a short and simple groove with textures, that’s all it is just a catchy bit of analog drum n bass, but it got a whole lotta play in 2016.
M83 – Time Wind (featuring Beck) This song got me looking deeper into Becks catalog, I don’t know how I even came across this song. It’s basically 80’s electro pop, which isn’t a search I’ve ever done.
Maggie Rogers – Alaska I’m guessing I wasn’t the only person that saw her play this track for Pharrell Williams while she was still in music school. I was just as intrigued or perhaps it’s the hope that the next crop of pop artists will be more interesting and not insipid marketing hype.
Melt Yourself Down – Jump the Fire Kushal Gaya’s vocals are mesmerizing, whether it’s in Melt Yourself Down or in Zun Zun Egui, there is an energy that I highly appreciate. Whatever the style and the styles are varied, there is a frenetic force always keeping me interested. There is also a kind of punk sensibility to what they do, if you see a live performance, they basically seem like super energetic street musicians.
Metá Metá - Toque Certeiro Ever since I did a deep dive into the Jorge Ben discography I’ve been coming across more Brazilian musicians that speak to me, even if I don’t understand what they are saying. In this case when I heard this track I realized I already knew the singer Juçara Marçal, having fallen hard for her track Candombe, where she collaborates with Cadu Tenório. Also I’d already heard some of her solo album Encarnado, which has a distinct punky math rocky edge, but without drums, instead other instruments and her voice doing interesting noodly gymnastics. Metá Metá however is a heavier Brazilian jazz fusion band at least on their third album.
Mick Jenkins ft. BADBADNOTGOOD – Drowning Yes BBNG is my MVP of the year. They did the music to this eerie song that I can’t listen to without seeing the police kill Eric Garner. I’m not sure if the song is directly referencing that, but that’s what I get from it and on top of that it’s a good song.
Moniker – Ricky Runs I will find music wherever I can, in this case I saw the movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople in a tiny theater in Montgomery, AL and found my self captivated by the soundtrack. This song reminds me of the post rock band 35007 or at least the drumming does. The movie is also very good, Rhys Darby cosplays about the most convincing bush I’ve ever seen.
Opeth - Will O The Wisp I think Mikael has been listening to lots of Jethro Tull. I’ve tried to enjoy the whole album, but I continue to fail, it’s actually similar in some ways to the James Blake album, in that I think there is a great EP here. I’m sure I will be excited and look out for whatever he does next, but this just didn’t hit me the way I wished, it may just take some time to grow on me as a whole. Also very oddly one of my favorite tracks called The Ward ended up as a bonus track, why Mikael, why?
Oranssi Pazuzu - Vasemman Käden Hierarkia This might be my favorite black metal album in a long time, I’m not sure I can even call it black metal, but unlike others that tread that line it’s not folk either. I would say this album is more progressive and possibly doomy at times. This track is actually the most traditionally black metal, with a really sexy repeating riff grooving along. As a bonus it comes back near the end slower and heavier and it’s highly satisfying, like taking a journey. Just in general it’s less trebly and more crushing in a warm bassy way.
Radiohead - Burn The Witch Well the bastards did it again, put out an excellent album, and this one is very approachable while still pushing sound combinations and bringing it all together in a satisfying way. This album also feels more organic than some recent things they have been playing with.
Reza Safinia - The Train Another soundtrack song, this one from a movie called The Trust about a caper of sorts, bonus being that Nic Cage screams in Frodos face. Actually a good soundtrack, that isn’t just a variation on John Williams or Harry Gregson-Williams or Hans Zimmer or whoever we’re supposed to pretend is oh so very good.
Run The Jewels - A Report To The Shareholders : Kill Your Masters Just before the year ended RTJ pushed out their third album and it’s a monster. The second half starting at Don't Get Captured really takes off into some political and deeper thoughts that speak to me. This particular track ends the album and really it’s two tracks, oh and then at the very end Zack shows up and brings the anger. I highly appreciate the sentiments and I’m glad there is a band with this much exposure that is stepping into these subjects.
Swans - When Will I Return? I didn’t even hear the rest of the album, but I have a feeling this was probably the most upbeat, poppy of the lot. I will get to it eventually, but for now this enough to remind me of that mood that SGM & Art Bears would deliver.
Sylvan Esso – Radio They were on the radar already, I’d heard some tracks from their eponymous album. There was an interesting track called Dress that stuck with me, possibly because it reminded me a bit of Harriet Ohlsson of Oh, Harry And Hellsongs. Anyhow the point is that Radio is another example of what Pop music could be if only there were some discerning brave purveyors of popular consumable media.
Tor – Myth Pretty sure the intro guitar bit is taken from the Motorcycle Diaries soundtrack. It’s just chill relaxing groovy stuff that will no doubt end up on Coffee Shop Grooves Vol 34. I’m not trying to dismiss it, I dig music that isn’t assaulting me at every turn just as much as I like music that challenges me. This fits neatly somewhere with Bonobo or Tycho.
Tortoise - Shake Hands With Danger Another case of me thinking it would be a brilliant album, but it kind of didn’t materialize. Again this may be me not getting it at the moment, maybe five years from now I will love it. Until then though, there are some strong stand out tracks, this one being probably my favorite just for how unrelenting and heavy the beat is. Having seen them live and knowing just how heavy they are, this would no doubt punch a hole in my chest. Other tracks on this album that tickled my fancy Gesceap and Ox Duke.
A Tribe Called Quest - The Space Program An enjoyable track and album, like RTJ highly respected musicians speaking up and addressing things that somehow sound less authentic coming from Makelmore.
Tycho – Division Possibly the heaviest Tycho song, which should give you an idea of how not heavy the band generally tends to be. I’ve liked them for a while, their songs have this spacey driving quality, make me feel like driving through the Arizona canyons.
Woods - Can't See At All They get the award for having the worst album cover of the year. I also don’t think I could handle a whole album worth of his voice, but this track has a nice retro groove.
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