As the clock eclipses New Year's Eve, 2016 style, I feel compelled to once again post a list of my favorite albums from the past twelve months. Much has been said about the many losses and tragedies from this year, but here's what we did get: a new Franz lady named Paloma, a new look Prius and new music from Radiohead.
Here are my top ten from the past year, in alphabetical order except for my favorite, listed last.
Bon Iver, 22, A Million
Justin and his legion drop another collection, this time a bit shorter but still with all the warbly deeps and highs and esoteric lyrics that only Vernon himself understands.
David Bowie, Blackstar
What a farewell from this devastating creative force. Part tribute to his fans, part personal catharsis, all brilliant.
Car Seat Headrest, Teen of Denial
To think, I got to see these guys in The Valley Bar months before this album dropped. Lucky me. I'm not kidding.
DIIV, Is The Is Are
These guys self-describe as controversial. That's marketing. The music is still amazing, echoing Joy Division, New Order, Nirvana but wholly current, filled with a man's demons of addiction.
Glass Animals, How To Be A Human Being
This sophomore effort is not as deep in sticky jungle beats as their first great outing, but this is more relevant of now, bursting with references and sarcasm of the moment.
Jagwar Ma, Every Now & Then
Another amazing debut follow-up, this time from some Aussies who know how to make beats to wiggle your buttocks. These guys just generate flowy sounds.
Solange, A Seat at the Table
The lesser know Knowles sister made the superior album this year, and without an uber-hyped HBO special tie-in. This record plays like Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, Stevie Wonder's Innervisions or Prince's Sign of the Times - full of soul and conflict, moving a #blacklivesmatter conversation forward with beauty and grace.
STRFKR, Being No One, Going Nowhere
The boys from Portland - now featuring a new guitarist from Phoenix! - would be the house band for my end of the world party.
A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
One of the best rap bands ever, finishing as strong as Bowie. RIP Phife Dawg.
And my favorite of the year...
Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool
Sure, it may be a bit of a greatest hits collection of songs never before committed to an album, but what a glorious collection of sonic and lyric perfection it is. Fewer electronic production flares, richer and deeper orchestral and instrumental arrangement, these songs deal with disenfranchisement, distrust, loss, heartache, climate change and confusion. Every second is brilliant. Of course, my brother says these guys could fart and I'd think it was amazing, and he's probably right - but Thom, Jonny, Ed, Colin and Phil have more than earned that. This album is still sublime.
Aaaaannnnd...three bonus songs that killed:
Sylvan Esso, Radio
Beck, Wow
Childish Gambino, Redbone
2017 reportedly has new offerings from The National, Spoon, Beck, Vampire Weekend, Grizzly Bear, The Shins, Japandroids, Arcade Fire, Gorillaz and LCD Soundsystem, and who knows what else that will pop up and surprise us. Looks like I'm gonna need a bigger LP shelf.
