Best of 2016
Bury it.
LP
Largely arbitrary rankings, as always; I’d be happy to call any of the below my Album of the Year, for whatever that’s worth. I guess something about the dour humor of the largely electronic Pheromoans just fit this year, though it could’ve easily been either of the dense/doomed albums by the Body or Lycus. Everything Bruit Direct Disques put out this year is worth hunting down, but the Klimperei/Chabert LP stood tall on account of Chabert’s inspired performance. Arthur Doyle’s somber and bracing free jazz set from 2012 was a latecomer but a very welcome addition. 75 Dollar Bill made a hypnotic album of gnarled guitar lines and homemade percussion, which was somehow topped by their show here in Knoxville. And Paradise Daily is a label to keep an eye on: Ela Stiles’ soothing and twisted LP was the surprise of the year for me.
10) Arthur Doyle, First House (Amish) listen
9) The Body, No One Deserves Happiness (Thrill Jockey) listen
8) Counter Intuits, Monosyllabilly (Pyramid Scheme) listen
7) Ka, Honor Killed the Samurai (Iron Works) listen
6) Klimperei & Éric Chabert, Dealings (Bruit Direct Disques) listen
5) Ela Stiles, Molten Metal (Paradise Daily)
4) Lycus, Chasms (Relapse)
3) Heron Oblivion, s/t (Sub Pop)
2) 75 Dollar Bill, WOOD/METAL/PLASTIC/PATTERN/RHYTHM/ROCK (Thin Wrist)
1) Pheromoans, I’m On Nights (Alter)
7″/12″/Cassette
Alphabetical, for your pleasure. Down Under is still ruling (Heart Beach’s “Counting” and the Rangoons’ “Cult of Thorns” and Primo!’s “Daphne” and…), ladies still produce the best hardcore, Chicago just got fuckin’ real with this Hogg 12″ and Richie Records is still the finest spot for American Guitar Music.
Alienation, 2016 EP 7″ (Warthog Speak) listen
Barcelona, Pueden Ser Ellos 7″ (La Vida Es Un Mus) listen
Heart Beach, “Counting” b/w “Relief” 7″ (Rough Skies)
Hogg, Solar Phallic Lion 12″ (Scrapes) listen
In School, Cement Fucker 7″ (Thrilling Living) listen
Mordecai, “Want to Be” b/w “Pictures of Her w/ Them” (Richie) listen
Mount Trout, s/t 7″ (Rough Skies)
Primo!, Primo Cassetto cassette (Hidiotic) [Not pictured, no idea how to find a physical copy.]
The Rangoons, “C.B.T. Asylum” b/w “Cult of Thorns” 7″ (Paradise Daily)
Watery Love, “Ned’s Dreamcatcher” b/w “Meg’s Dreamcatcher” 7″ (Richie) listen
Rap
Clearly falling off, but here goes anyway. Ten picks, most only available digitally, which is both silly and unfortunate. Shy Glizzy’s “You Know What” was my favorite song, YG’s Still Brazy was tied with Ka’s Honor Killed the Samurai for my favorite rap album. Boosie had a hell of a year but the first two mixtapes stood the test of time. Links to buy physical (or “official” download) if possible; otherwise look to your favorite digital music compressed file hellhole.
Bentley & Parallel Thought, Street Knowledge
Boosie Badazz, In My Feelings (Goin’ Thru It) & Out My Feelings (In My Past) (listen) & (listen again)
G Perico, Shit Don’t Stop (listen)
Ka, Honor Killed the Samurai
KD, Green Acres
Shy Glizzy, Young Jefe 2 (listen)
Tree, I.B. Tree
V/A, Deadicate Vol. 1
YG, Still Brazy (listen)
Reissues
Look in any direction and you’ll get buried in reissue cheese; here’s a few from the never-ending pile of outta nowhere long lost gems. Superior Viaduct had a great year (nice to have a clean copy of Hex Enduction Hour), but the long overdue reissue of John Bender’s first LP was a personal favorite. Sky Girl is a must, and Music of Morocco has some seriously ecstatic use of repetition. (See also: Sublime Frequencies’ excellent and more contemporary Burkina Faso box set.)
John Bender, I Don’t Remember Now/I Don’t Want to Talk About It (Superior Viaduct) listen
Tommy Jay, Tommy Jay’s Tall Tales of Trauma (Assophon) listen
Les Rallizes Denudes, France Demo Tapes (Bamboo) listen
V/A, Music of Morocco (Dust-to-Digital) listen
V/A, Sky Girl (Efficient Space) listen
