Top 25 Albums of 2016
Nathan K
While ooking over the releases from 2016 to prepare this list, I was struck by the wealth of great music that has come out over the course of the past two years. Although I still believe that 2015 has the overall edge, 2016 may have had a deeper bench. It took me quite a bit of time to mull over what my final selections would be. Although I very well may have missed some things (I know for a fact I did with my 2015 list) the following are (at least currently) my 25 favorite albums of 2016.
25) Daniel Markham- Disintegrator
Kicking off the list is Daniel Markham, for me a local artist based in Denton, TX. This album is full of melodic music that sounds like a modern take on great acts from the past. Artists like Markham show that sometimes some of the best music comes from artists who are not known on a national level. The strength of this record throughout makes me hopeful that someday this won’t necessarily be the case for Markham.
24) Wet- Don’t You
Wet is a very modern sounding electronic band. The music is full of different keyboard and electronic percussion sounds. I saw them live last year and they are a unique and fascinating band to catch life. Piercing through the eclectic electronic sounds is the strong voice of Kelly Zutrau, vocalist for the Brooklyn based band. The standout track is album closer “These Days”, actually the sparsest production wise on the album. This for Zutrau’s emotional and haunting vocals to take center stage, providing a moving and effective way to close out their debut album.
23) Warpaint- Heads Up
Warpaint should be classified with their own label: “Dance Music For the Indie Crowd.” They provide a steady groove across most of the twelve tracks on this album, jam chalked with great guitar riffs and vocals. Maintaining this mix of different music styles over the course of an entire album is not an easy task, but one that Warpaint shows they can do.
22) Tacocat- Lost Time
Tacocat are signed to the Hardly Art music label, associated with a lot of the DIY musical acts in the Seattle music scene. They’ve been putting out a lot of the most exciting/fun new releases the past few years. Last Time lives up to a lot of the high expectations people associate with the label. The album is packed full of fast paced/short punk tunes pairing sharp riffs with catchy vocals and harmonies. Although the vocals may be pretty they also carry great biting lyrics. The best case of this is “Men Explains Things to Me”, a great take down of chauvinistic mansplaining.
21) Santigold- 99 Cents
This is the only album on my list that would fit into the “pop” category. Santigold has a broad appeal that reaches beyond the typical pop music fan due to her unique vocal delivery and willingness to use more experimental and wide ranging musical styles to accompany her vocals. Apple took notice and used the terrify “All I Got” in an ad space last year.
20) Twin Peaks –Down in Heaven
From the opening notes of album opener “Walk to the One You Love” it obvious to the listener that they are in for a Messy/ramshackle/fun music experience. Twin Peaks bring back the boisterous and raucous sound that was alive and well in countless garage bands of the early sixties. They serve as a reminder that great music doesn’t have to be a pretty or polished. The raw energy of this record is something that more modern rock bands need to take account of and incorporate into their own releases.
19) Band Of Horses- Why are you Ok?
Although Band of Horses have been a household name for years their last few releases prior to this one did not garner that much attention. This album rightly returns them to the spotlight. Their trademark dueling guitars and vocal harmonies are present, especially in the infectious single “Casual Party.” Although there is plenty of flash throughout real winner that puts the album over the top is the sensitive and simple coming of age ballad “Country Teen”.
18) LVL Up- Return to Love
LVL up bring the guitar fuzz and lo fi noise in a way that is reminiscent of indie icons Neutral Milk Hotel and Pavement. Although comparison to those legendary bands may be a little lofty these guys know what they are doing. The use of lo fi style lyrics helps bring the background up to the front, without completely washing out the vocals. A great overall record for any fan of early nineties indie rock music.
17) Parquet Courts- Human Performance
The New York by way of Texas band has quickly become one of the more notable and prolific indie rock bands. With their bombastic and unrelenting force and wide-ranging musical output, they have accrued a following of listeners who have a passion for early experimental rock groups such as the original pioneers The Velvet Underground. You can hear a lot of influence from the group itself, especially in the poignant ballad “Steady On My Mind.” Although this is the case Parquet Courts take it their own way, but still possess the unique capability to both exhilarate and touch listeners within the confines of the same album.
16) Radiohead- A Moon Shaped Pool
One of the most consistent bands of the modern music era continues to impress time and time again. Thom Yorke and the rest of the band are masters of creating dark, moody music that evokes emotional responses from their litany of loyal listeners. Kicking off with the chilling “Burn the Witch” Radiohead sets the tone early and don’t back down from there. Although the songs all sound different, Radiohead albums always seem like an intricate puzzle with different pieces that fit together to make a cohesive whole.
15) Car Seat Headrest- Teens Of Denial
Last year Car Seat Headrest (stage name for artist Will Toledo) released the terrific Teens Of Style. While do sometime release albums in back to back years, the change in contrast and production is what makes these two so unique. Style was a very raw record that didn’t lean as heavily on production, while Denial sounds like a much for polished and refined. Although I prefer the latter, both are full of great songs and show that Toledo has a lot of fertile talent to offer.
14) Norah Jones- Day Breaks
After releasing a few great albums that lean towards more of a mainstream sound, this album serves as a return to the piano based jazz genre that won Jones’ debut the Grammy for album of the year. As much as I enjoyed the other albums, it is also a very welcome return. Often artists start to branch out and foray into different types of music, but it is nice to see albums like this where they make a triumphant return to their roots. There is also a lot of great jazz instrumentation in the background that punctuate the piano based tunes. The standout on the album is “Tragedy” which provides the perfect showcase for Jones’ remarkable jazz vocals.
13) Thao & the Get Down Stay Down- A Man Alive
A powerful album whose subject matter is based around singer Thao Nguyen’s relationship with her father, with whom she had an often distant and difficult relationship with in the years following her parents splitting up. The album serves as sort of a reflection and cathartic release concerning her feelings towards him as he has since passed. Thao navigates these feelings of anger, sadness, and forgiveness with wonderful complexity. This is especially the case on the standout track “Nobody Dies.”
12) Pools-Porches
This is a band that I discovered by accident as I went to see them play with Alex G on a trip I made out to Orlando. I enjoyed their synth and electronic based music live at the time I saw it, but it was in reflecting on it later and buying the album that I really appreciated how unique it is. Pools is unique in that it almost seems to mold together as one big song, with all the songs evoking the same mood. Aaron Maine’s mournful vocals meld perfectly into the electronic background, making the album a perfect late night soundtrack.
11) Wilco- Schmilco
A year after the release of the superb surprise release of Star Wars Wilco came back with another album born from these sessions. Like the previous album, it a short offering of simple and pretty songs. Some people label Wilco as “Dad Rock”, a term I can’t stand as it comes off as a knock on a great band. People should instead acknowledge how great it is that Wilco have amassed such a big audience without pandering to popular musical trends. The lead single “If I Was Ever a Child” rightfully got the attention of many, but I think the standout is the opener “Normal American Kids.” It is a very soft and touching ode written from the perspective of someone young who does not feel that they fit in with the “normal” kids. The poignant lyrics in the song were easily my favorite of any song from 2016.
10) Bat For Lashes- The Bride
This album probably takes on the most ambitious concept of any album on this list. It is a concept album from the perspective of a bride who is at the altar waiting for her husband, only to find that he has perished in a car wreck on the way to the wedding. Natasha Kahn uses this concept to construct powerful songs that analyze and dissect the grieving process that people go through when they lose a loved one. Although this is a heavy concept, through this story she depicts beauty within the sadness. One of the most unique and thought provoking albums I have heard in a long time.
9) Quilt- Plaza
Quilt are a throwback psychedelic band featuring dueling male/ female vocals reminiscent of the Jefferson Airplane Classic Surrealistic Pillow. What they add to a lot of their songs is lush orchestration that fits neatly into the background, providing support instead of overtaking the whole show. Although the whole album is superb the stand out track “Roller” is an absolute must hear. An emotional tale spun gorgeously by Anna Rochinski it depicts someone trapped within the restricting confines of a relationship with a selfish person. Throughout the song takes a variety of random and bizarre turns, each as catchy as the next. This will easily go down as my favorite song of 2016.
8) Sturgill Simpson- A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
The 3rd album by Simpson continues to push the limits of country he set forth with his breakthrough Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. This time Simpson serves up an album intended as a love not to his young son. The album is a lot heavier, especially the powerful track “Brace for Impact (Live a Little)”. What remains is Sturgill’s powerful country vocal delivery, much more true to the roots than the Nashville country acts. Sturgill may be an outsider in the Nashville scene but he has certainly made a name for himself with his recent Grammy nomination for album of the year. Going to his concerts are fascinating because you would be hard pressed to find a more evenly distributed country vs/ indie music fan base.
7) Fruit Bats- Absolute Loser
After abandoning the stage name Fruit Bats several years back do everything singer/songwriter Eric Johnson has made a triumphant return with this album. Johnson has always been known to wear his heart on his sleeves (making him a must see live) and this album showcases this, as well as his uniquely sensitive vocal delivery. Throughout Absolute Loser Johnson addresses sadness and loss head on, especially on the title track and “From a Soon-To-Be Ghost Town.” However, within these songs there are also elements of optimism, addressing that while things can be rough it is important to always hope and strive for better times.
6) Against Me!- Shapeshift Me
Two years ago, Against Me! released the bold and superb album Transgender Dysphoria Blues detailing lead singer Laura Jane Grace coming out as a transgender women. Several of the tracks (including the title track) proved how serious social issues could be addressed within super infectious songs. That album was their major statement. However, as with any daring statement the question always is: What happens afterwards? Shapeshift Me answers this and serves as a great predecessor detailing life after the transition, maybe even better than the last album did. Grace never shies away, discussing the isolation she feels in “Delicate, petite, and Other Things I”ll Never Be”, but the album still permeates with a sense of hope. This shines brightest in the final track “All This (And More)” where Grace acknowledges her past, but gives off a sense that she has confidence in her future.
5) David Bowie- Blackstar
Released only a few days before his death from cancer Blackstar serves as the perfect goodbye from one of the greatest musical artists that ever lived. Although the public was unaware, Bowie knew that his time was short. The most infamous music chameleon of all time took this as an opportunity to put together a dark and powerful album as his last goodbye. On the somber track “Lazarus” Bowie even seems to come to terms with it, discussing how he was going to “look down from heaven.” It is a rare insight into the mind of an incredible artist as they process their own fading mortality. What strikes me the most about the album is how great Bowie’s vocals sound despite his failing health. This is a finale that most artists could only dream of.
4) Savages- Adore Life
Savages are one of the most intense and exciting bands out there today. Adore perfectly showcases the power this band possesses. While the music is blistering, Savages hits you as much on an emotional level as anything else. Every track seeps with raw nerves and intensity. This is a rarity, as a lot of bands seem bent on being loud for being the sake of loud. The slow building, brooding track “Adore ” serves as the perfect anthem for what Savages represent. They are also a must see live. I got to see them twice live this year, and I can honestly say I don’t know if I’ve seen a performer who shows more love and passion for performing then their lead singer Jenny Beth.
3) The Dandy Warhols- Distortland
The Dandy Warhols are the ultimate indie band in that people always seem to forget about them, yet they never go away. Together with almost the entire original cast in place they have been in existence for over 20 years now. However, the vast majority of people can’t name a song of their songs that does not start with the word “Bohemian.” Luckily, they have procured a loyal fan base that seems to have encouraged them to continue making great music as evidenced as this (criminally ignored) 2016 release Distortland. This album finds that Dandys as weird and gloriously disjointed as ever. They shift tone and style constantly from song to song, yet it still fits together perfectly. From the clear voiced Salinger nod in “Catcher in the Rye” to the indistinguishable (but gorgeous) vocals of “Doves” this album is superb. “STYGGO” is the best track from the album that offers singer Courtney Taylor’s distinct whisper vocals over one of the coolest and catchiest lead guitar riffs I’ve heard in years. With output like this hopefully they will be around another 20 years.
2) A Tribe Called Quest- We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
It is sad when a band releases their first album in 18 years and it will be their last. This is unfortunately the case for legendary, and in my opinion, the best hip hop group of all time. This is due to the loss of legendary member Phife Dog this past year. Fortunately, he could contribute to this terrific comeback before his untimely passing. Even though this album was recorded earlier on it covers a lot of timely topics. Instead of staying with the format they gloriously established over 20 years ago. They instead take social issues head on in the albums strongest tracks “We the People” and “Whateva Will Be.” Both tracks showcase how different rappers contributing their own distinct verses to a song allow for the unique opportunity for different approaches and voices to contribute to one unified cause. This approach is used masterfully in a variety of different ways throughout the whole album. I hope this release will influence a new influx of hip hop groups that will embrace the group format that is not seen as much in the modern hip hop scene. If this is truly the end for this legendary group, they certainly went out the right way.
1) Kyle Craft- Dolls Of Highland
In 2016 we lost the ultimate glam rock icon in David Bowie. In a way, it is fitting that we get a short time later we got the debut album from Kyle Craft. Craft’s debut offers a bold new take on the classic genre. Craft, a Louisiana native, injects an element of southern music that has never been explored before. The result is an album full of music that resonates with a distinct and unique style that is unlike anything I have heard before. It is hard to even pick out stand out tracks from the album because the entire thing is so good. If pressed, I would probably say my favorite tracks from the album are “Balmorhea” and “Future Midcity Massacre.” These tracks show his range with the former being a pretty/slow harmonica laced track, while the latter carries a tone of southern rock boogie . Both show of Craft’s incredible vocal range. I got the chance to see Craft live in front of a small live audience, and the quality matched the record perfectly. I am shocked and disappointed that Craft did not get more notice for this classic debut. Hopefully, word of mouth will catch on and he will get the audience he deserves in the future.
Those were my Top 25 albums of 2017.
Check out Chad’s list here.
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