KUCI Presents: 2016′s Top 10 Albums
With 2016 at a close, we wanted to reflect on the albums that came out this year. This top 10 list in particular is based on all the responses that were sent in from various KUCI DJ’s.
Read until the end because we have a list of 12 honorable mentions as well!
10) Helado Negro – Private Energy (Tie)
- Miguel Ochoa: “Coming from Ecuadorian heritage, Roberto Lange’s (Helado Negro) solo experimental project is probably the most soothing album I’ve heard all year. From the soft celestial voice, to the visual “Tinsel Mammals” when he performs his live character as half singer-songwriter, half dream wizard (featured on the cover of his album). This album was exquisitely produced, and I can only wait to hear where his musical direction goes from here. Favorite Tracks: “Obra Tres”, “It’s My Brown Skin”, “Lengua Larga.”
- Richard Estrada: “Artist Roberto Lange has changed his stage name yet again to Helado Negro mixing obscure electronic beats and fuzz with lyrics in both Spanish and English. Through his release you can feel his longing to belong and be accepted for who he is, but even he isn’t sure who that is. From his tracks “Runaround” to “Transmission Listen” you get a sense he is out there; exploring not only soundscapes but himself. “Young, Latin and Proud” along with “It’s My Brown Skin” share the confusion and fondness of being of Latin descent in a time of political unease, simply wanting to connect with anybody who cares to listen. So will you?”
10) Thrice - To Be Everywhere is To Be Nowhere (Tie)
- Chris Torrey: “Thrice hit a home run this year after a 4 year hiatus, bringing everything they’ve learned from previous releases and evolving yet again. Fans new and old have embraced TBEITBN and the significant socio-political themes present in numerous tracks, as well as a more aggressive sound throughout. Without a doubt, despite all being family men, the OC boys of Thrice are back in full-force ready.”
- Brandon Alvarado: “This is a closer to their latest albums which were a raw, bare-bones rock and roll phase in their discography. The range of Dustin Kensrue’s vocals has decreased, but his midrange is more powerful than ever. My favorite songs on this album include: “Hurricane”, “The Window”, and “Black Honey.”
9) Solange – A Seat at the Table
- Savannah Peykani: “Solange’s highly anticipated release is a musical patchwork, a concept album that explores the politics and pride in being a black woman in America. From her brilliant featuring artists, to the touching sound bites of her friends and family, A Seat at the Table is a welcoming celebration of Solange’s community, inviting those with open ears and open hearts to have a seat too.”
- Savannah Peykani: “After months of teasing and false alarms, Frank Ocean finally released his follow-up to Channel Orange, and cemented his place as one of the most influential artists of our generation. Blonde combines humor with heartbreak in such a seamless way that listeners find themselves bopping along at one moment and on the verge of tears in another. This is Ocean’s mastery, his ability to capture the ever-changing cycle of human emotion, embracing its fluctuations and allowing himself to just feel.”
- Stephen Masnyj: “After the overwhelming success of Channel Orange, Frank Ocean could have gone anywhere. He could have leaned more into the pop world the Grammy’s pushed his toes in, or released an expansion of his modern R&B sound that he made his name on. Instead we were given this; a collection of airy, personal anecdotes that open up his meticulously calculated public image. It is Frank Ocean’s world, and we should be happy to have the opportunity to live in it.”
7) Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
- David Santana: “In a year full of devastating headlines, Coloring Book serves as a beacon of hope. Chance certifies his breakthrough to the mainstream with this memorable record full of blessings and celebrations that are infectious for the human spirit. His reaffirming vision on life is what will lead him to become a larger than life personality in the media, but his ability to weave technicality, storytelling, and songwriting in such a positive vein will keep him relevant in hip hop forever. My favorite line in the album: “I’m at war with my wrongs, I’m writing four different songs/ I never forged it or forfeited, I’m a force to be reconciled / They want four minute songs/ You need a four hour praise dance performed every morn.”
- T.J. Bingamon: “With genres filled with negatives, Chance was able to find the good things in life and give a beautiful vision of hope for those that feel lost.”
6) From Indian Lakes – Everything Feels Better Now
- Brandon Alvarado: “From Indian Lakes has always changed their sound from album to album, but they’ve outdone themselves with Everything Feels Better Now. This album is more electronic, which allows previously unexplored textures and effects to push songs to their full potential. That isn’t to say From Indian Lakes has lost the best aspect of their sound because of it - the combination of beautiful vocal melodies backed by driving guitar rhythms and energetic drumming still exists and works greatly on EFBN. Album highlights include: “Blank Tapes”, “American Dreams”, and “Nome.”
- Jeremy Bibeau: “Everything Feels Better Now is the definition of artist evolution. While From Indian Lakes has always been sure to create an entirely new and unique experience with each album, EFBN shows a true step towards maturity for the band. The album features a largely electronic instrumentation with ambient vocals, while keeping the same driving guitar and drums that exists in each FIL release. Possibly the most entrancing aspect of the album is the thoughtful lyrical content that touches upon themes rarely heard in modern day music.”
- Miguel Ochoa: “I listen to a lot of jazz and I haven’t heard jazz like this in a long, long time. It had something modern I can’t really describe with words, but it doesn’t disrespect the genre. Rather it gives it a sturdy nod and it adds to it. Dreamy and blessed, this project is a mature but playful piece. The features don’t overpower the instrumentals as they work together to produce an intoxicating vibe. The more abstract tracks also have sax solos that would make Fela Kuti proud. My favorite tracks: “Time Is Slow”, “In Your Eyes”, “IV.”
- Jason Pulaski: “This is the fourth studio album from Canadian jazz/hip hop quartet BadBadNotGood. This time they add guest vocalists to a number of their tunes, making for yet another incredible album. But, to have the true BBNG experience you have to see these guys perform live.”
4) Anderson .Paak – Malibu
- Leslie Alvarado: “You might remember Paak from his six features in Dr.Dre’s Compton album. Yet, 2016 catapulted Paak to stardom. It was a long and arduous road and you can hear this in Malibu, a masterpiece full of lyrics about his childhood, his family, love, and his journey as an artist. From the gentle track “The Bird” to “Come Down” (which will undeniably get you groovin). Anderson Paak is able to weave soul, R&B, and hip hop in a way that each track flows in an effortless manner. His honesty, and lyrical transparency connect you to his world. His attention to detail can be heard with each layer of sound. Malibu and his collaboration with Knxwledge (NxWorries) later in the year, proves that 2016 was the year for Anderson .Paak, and this is only the beginning.”
- Chris Santiago: “2016 was a grandiose year for west coast singer Anderson .Paak. With many notable features on tracks from various artists, Paak released Malibu. His fame quickly grew this year as his distinct and raspy voice hums tunes over soothing melodies. His previous work (O.B.E. Vol. 1) under the name Breezy Lovejoy was apparently “too heavy” for his audience, so he “got lean like codeine and pills” with Malibu. Each track is rooted in soul and the diversity of genre flexibility. An amazing 16 track project with at least one song you will enjoy, Malibu becomes a staple in Paak’s style, which was refined with his collaboration with Knxwledge (NxWorries) for the release Yes Lawd! later in the year.”
3) Angel Olsen – My Woman
- Shay Mehr: “As Angel Olsen gains traction with audiences, she’s learning to be more meticulous about how she presents herself and her art to audiences. With her release, My Woman, Olsen has made several public statements about perceptions of her; either being dubbed “a sad-sack lost in a forest” folk singer or being frank about the direction of her music videos. One thing fans can be sure of is that Olsen wants to present herself in a cheeky manner. Olsen’s on-the-verge-of-tears-but-still-ready-to-clock-you sound combined with her compelling stories is honest and addicting. My Woman is best described as this cheeky new force presenting her true self in her most authentic work yet.”
- Stephen Masnyj: “My Woman is a memorably powerful record, both an indictment of anyone who would dare stand in Olsen’s way and a wistful look back to the way things once were or could have been.”
2) Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo
- Miguel Ochoa: “A man truly worthy of his follower’s love and the media’s hate, no one can deny the influence Kanye West has had on music. 2016 was no different. The culmination of his life’s work personified into his release, titled appropriately The Life Of Pablo. This oxymoronic project delves into topics such as faith, friendship and the game of fame. Abstract yet cohesive, egotistical yet vulnerable. This record inspired countless beats, diss tracks, and memoirs. It introduced us to Desiigner, turned millions of ears to Chance the Rapper, and helped resurrect Frank Ocean. Worship him or despise him, I dare someone to name an album that had more of an impact on 2016 than The Life Of Pablo. Go ahead, I’ll wait.”
- Stephen Masnyj: “Kanye West has always been a mercurial figure in public, but his music has always shone a light on the inner workings of his increasingly frantic mind. This time around, it only takes 30 seconds for him to deliver his mission statement: “This is everything.”
1) Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
- Stephen Masnyj: “The songs in A Moon Shaped Pool can be described as skeletal in both structure and atmosphere. “Identikit” is the leanest rock song in the band’s discography and is paradoxically the biggest “rock” moment on this record with its dynamic percussion arrangement. Furthermore, the mood of these songs is akin to a graveyard; a place where only the bones of what was full of life remain.”
- Nathalia Fagundes: “When I first heard the album, I didn’t know if I liked it or not. I was expecting something that was more like The King of Limbs, but by the second full listen of this album, I knew it was special on its own. Thom Yorke gave me lyrics that really helped me during the difficult dark times of 2016. Jonny Greenwood with his arrangements made me breathe easier. Radiohead came together to give fans more despite thinking we were done with them. Yet this is exactly what we needed.”
- Mark Collinson: “An obvious and inevitable selection. This isn’t Kid A but a song like “The Numbers” reaches up there.”
- Miguel Ochoa: “The gorgeous production, artfully matched features, and sonic diversity on this album makes it one of the best albums of the year. Gathering the likes of Anderson .Paak, BadBadNotGood, Little Dragon, and AlunaGeorge; putting them into one cohesive album, and making it sound as great as it did is not easy. Favorite tracks: “You’re the One”, “Weight Off”, “Together.”
- T.J. Bingamon: “To call Kaytranada a “house producer” is disrespectful. No genre is safe when he is in the studio, and this album proves that.”
2) James Blake - The Colour in Anything
- Leslie Alvarado: “The week of May 2nd, 2016 brought forth Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool, Kaytranada’s 99.9%, and The Colour in Anything. Three incredible artists, who I’ve been listening to for years and years. Yet I couldn’t stop listening to The Colour in Anything. James Blake has a voice that alone can evoke pain, sadness, and more than anything it is the center and driving force of every track on this album. Just listen to the first track, “Radio Silence” and you will know what I am talking about. Accompany this with his incorporation of post dub, electronic music, soul, R&B, and his keen awareness of how to make it all sound cohesive - well that’s The Colour in Anything (sorta). Sonically it mirrors the cloudy grey clouds on the album’s cover art and it evokes a state of solitude. Listening to it you feel like no one else is around and it’s a beautiful feeling when music can do that to you. An artist like James Blake who delivered one of the best debut albums, and an incredible follow-up album goes to show that he is only expanding from here and who knows what is to come next. Favorite tracks: “Timeless”, “Always”, “Radio Silence.”
3) Touché Amoré - Stage Four
- Tommy DeSilva: “Touché Amoré has been a band who has always been known for the deeply emotional and introspective nature of their lyrics. Stage Four is no exception to this aspect of the band’s reputation. A little over two years ago, Touché Amoré’s frontman Jeremy Bolm lost his mother to cancer. In what many have described as a lyrical masterpiece, Touché Amoré’s newest album Stage Four describes in great detail the struggles that Jeremy has gone through as he has attempted to cope with the loss of his mother. Stage Four doesn’t just give you a case of “the feels.” It makes you really feel something. It had been quite some time since I had ever been as moved by someone else’s words as much as I was when I first listened to this album. This album is bittersweet for me. Lyrically, it is pretty sad and can really bring you down depending on your mood/circumstances. On the other hand, musically, this album is a banger and has helped create a number of opportunities for a great band who deserve to be recognized for all of the hard work that they have put in over the years.”
- Fernando Castro: “A highly sophisticated electronic album with world music sounds used in a smart way to create a massive musical experience. You will have your spirit lifted by this great release of Théo Le Vigoureux. Yes, forget about his complicated last name, he has the talent to prove that great melody lines accompanied with great vocals can make you swing back and forth just as the ocean waves.”
5) Balance and Composure - Light We Made
- Tommy DeSilva: “Believe it or not, I was not that big of a Balance And Composure fan when they were on the rise. Fast forward to the year 2016. The band that I once felt faded into the mix of similar sounding bands (in my opinion) has surpassed most of their competition by releasing their best and most complete record to date. Light We Made is without a doubt a very important record because it removes any and every boundary that Balance And Composure’s competition has put on themselves in terms of how far they are able/allowed to experiment. No longer should bands that have been a part of the scene that some used to refer to as “the wave” be afraid to experiment with new sounds and think outside the box. This album is also important because it forces fans within the scene to grow and accept new types of music. Yes, some fans probably just scoffed and disowned Balance And Composure after this release, while others did exactly what Will Yip (producer of album) challenged them to do; live with this record. I went through this process myself. If you would have told me 3 years ago when I spent most of my time listening exclusively to pop punk and hardcore that I would someday listen to a shoegaze/dream pop album whose sound was derived from bass, drum machines, and special effects, I would have told you to go away. But here we are; it is 3 years later and I haven’t listened to pop punk on purpose in over a year, and Light We Made is my favorite album of 2016.”
- Shay Mehr: “Savages, for me, are more than just one of the best rock bands to see live. They are the incarnation of defiance against a feminine norm. And since they’ve decided to take a break for the unforeseeable future (can you tell I’m heartbroken?) we’ll have to thoroughly enjoy this year’s release, one of only 2 albums put out by the group. Adore Life, as you probably could guess by the title, sends out an affirmative message for loving life. It’s less frantic than their debut album and subsequent performances, but with no less grit. It’s a set of dark and mysterious love songs, in which the band aimed to “write the loudest songs ever.” Savages have essentially added a slight human warmth to their previously dark and frantic sound.”
7) The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It
- Caitlin Ison: “The long awaited sophomore album of the British alternative band was released earlier this year, and definitely did not disappoint to the public. The band went through a huge transition from rock to pop which surprised their huge cult following. It was a risky move, but they wanted to bring back the good vibes of fun 80s pop music. For me, this album made me love The 1975 even more and let me see a completely different side of their sound. From the transition of their self titled track into “Love Me” to the funky beat of “UGH!” to the heartfelt ballad of “Somebody Else”, each track takes you into the world of The 1975. This LP made its mark on 2016 and truly showed the progress of this band, their abilities as artists, and the potential they have to grow even more in the future.”
- Fernando Castro: “Imarhan is an Algerian Tuareg band that incorporates jazz, funk and rock in their music. They can turn a song into a hypnotic musical journey. I recommend listening to Moscoman’s remix of Imarhan as well. It is an example of fusion at its highest level - electronic music and a guitar that makes you want to get up and dance. Once you listen to the first track, you will want to discover more.”
- Mark Collinson: “This is the new album from the former Antony and the Johnsons leader. If you could hear Boy George ripping his own skin off it would sound like this.”
10) A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
11) A Bu- Butterflies Fly in Paris
12) Dissociate - Parse/Process
Thank you to everyone at KUCI for making this list possible. Whether you sent in your list, or sent in your thoughts on these albums, or both. You made this list come to life with your contribution. Also, thank you to everyone at KUCI who continue to share personally curated playlists each week at the station.
Last but not least, thank you to All the musicians (on this list and beyond this list) who illuminate the world of music and our lives daily.
- Leslie Alvarado (KUCI Music Director)
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