Big names and new names generated great music. Several rules were re-written. We enjoyed surprise album releases and even surprise album formats (in the case of Beyoncé’s 65-minute ‘Lemonade’ film, launched on HBO). Genre lines were crossed. And some much-loved voices returned with solo projects. Here are some of my favorites from 2016.
This isn’t a ranked list. Songs are ordered as a playlist – so try listening from start to finish. For convenience, I’ve created “Favorite Music 2016” playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Enjoy! And please let me know what I missed via Twitter or the comments below.
1. Angel Olsen – “Shut Up Kiss Me” from the album ‘MY WOMAN’
This is a fantastic song from a truly enjoyable album. Olsen’s 2016 release is a lyrically-driven listener. Great writing fronts some real rock songs – gathering and intensifying the best elements of 2014’s ‘Burn Your Fire For No Witness’ album. “Never Be Mine” is another standout. But I particularly enjoy the heat of “Shut Up Kiss Me.”
2. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – “Nobody Dies” from the album ‘A Man Alive’
Beautiful vocals. Blazing rock. This is a perfect showcase song for a reliably enjoyable singer. Perfectly placed handclaps lighten the mood, ever so slightly.
3. Hinds – “Warts” from the album ‘Leave Me Alone’
This Spanish band, and this song in particular, dominated my 2016 listening. Really fantastic recordings and sugary hooks kept them on repeat.
4. Beyoncé – “Hold Up” from the visual album ‘Lemonade’
Nothing can be said about Beyoncé’s 2016 art that hasn’t already been written. The surprise release of a musical film — and the story it revealed — became immediately newsworthy. My first listen to ‘Lemonade’ came during its initial release. And late-night re-listens followed. It was exhilarating to watch the film, hear new songs, and spot the signatures of producers and favorite artists throughout. “Hold Up” was an early favorite from this album, alongside the Jack White-powered “Don’t Hurt Yourself.”
5. Kid Cudi – “Surfin’” (featuring Pharrell Williams) from the single ‘Surfin’’
This one stands on its own. Kid Cudi’s 2016 album was fairly unremarkable. But this track surfaced for me in the fall — and it quickly became a fun one to revisit.
6. Kevin Morby – “I Have Been to the Mountain” from the album ‘Singing Saw’
There’s a lot to like on this album. Morby is the former bassist from the band Woods. His solo work keeps pleasing. And his writing is fantastic.
7. Father John Misty – “Real Love Baby” from the single ‘Real Love Baby’
I’ve never particularly enjoyed Father John Misty. But this song took me by surprise. The immediate retro feel of this track’s sparse production, reverb, and flower-power/love-themed slow romp proved irresistible. It’s a great song that was an early release from album launched later.
8. Nice As Fuck – “Door” from the album ‘Nice as Fuck’
All credit goes to the robots of Apple Music. They suggested this track as one that I’d enjoy during the summer. Headphones on, walking down the street, I heard the unmistakable voice of Jenny Lewis. This song is the best of this multi-artist side project. It’s speedy and tight and perfectly fun.
9. DJ Shadow – “Nobody Speak” (featuring Run The Jewels) from the album ‘The Mountain Will Fall’
The bass lines are intoxicating. The lyrics are sinister. It’s just a great song.
10. Mura Masa – “Love$ick” (featuring A$AP Rocky) from the single ‘Love$ick’
Beautiful production from the British DJ, layering sounds you wouldn’t expect to hear together.
11. Blood Orange – “Best to You” from the album ‘Freetown Sound’
It’s hard not to enjoy this track — though the remainder of the 2016 album by this British singer and producer (his real name is Dev Hynes) isn’t nearly as enjoyable.
12. Frank Ocean – “Ivy” from the album ‘Blonde’
He filmed the construction of a staircase. He hatched a fascinating business arrangement with a his record label. And, eventually, Frank Ocean self-released a record.
13. Gucci Mane – “At Least a M” from the album ‘Everybody Looking’
Quite the year for Gucci Mane. His fascinating story included a release from prison in May and almost-immediate hits. Gucci’s “Black Beatles” collaboration with Rae Sremmurd topped charts. But the simplicity and absurdity of this relatively unpopular track kept my interest.
14. Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam – “A 1000 Times” from the album ‘I Had a Dream That You Were Mine’
A perfectly infectious song from an album that’s among the most enjoyable of the year. It’s creative and fun throughout. “Rough Going (I Won’t Let Up)” and “When the Truth Is…” are also fantastic songs.
15. Springtime Carnivore – “Raised by Wolves” from the album ‘Midnight Room’
Greta Morgan’s beautiful voice shines on this album — through songs that shift widely in mood. “Raised by Wolves” is particularly great. But the writing on other tracks shines too. Other favorites include “Face in the Moon” and “Midnight Room.”
16. Car Seat Headrest – “Destroyed by Hippie Powers” from the album ‘Teens of Denial’
A fantastic rock song on an album filled with others. “Vincent,” “Drugs with Friends,” and “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” are also perfect, if lengthy. The entire record is a joy.
17. Chance the Rapper – “No Problem” (featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz) from the album ‘Coloring Book’
A perfect album. Fun, critical, beautiful, and filled with familiar voices. This track with verses from Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz caps off a star-studded list of album-wide collaborations (Young Thug, Raury, T-Pain, Kirk Franklin, and even Justin Bieber pop up elsewhere).
18. Childish Gambino – “Me and Your Mama” from the album ‘Awaken, My Love!’
An unexpectedly solid soul record. Or something like that.
19. Ages and Ages – “They Want More” from the album ‘Something to Ruin’
Enjoyable pop. This is the only song I’ve heard from this Portland band. Terrible video though.
20. Amber Coffman – “All to Myself” from the single ‘All to Myself’
This track marked the solo debut for Amber Coffman, previously of the band Dirty Projectors. It’s weird and well-written in all the right ways. And I particularly love that sparse and steady drum beat.
21. Glass Animals – “Youth” from the single ‘Youth’
Well-produced and wonderful.
22. Klangstof – “We Are Your Receiver” from the album ‘Close Eyes to Exit’
This is the first song I recall hearing from this reliably ethereal Amsterdam-based band. It’s impossible for me to hear their material and not think fondly of the band Doves, a mellow favorite from the early 2000s.
23. Whitney – “No Woman” from the album ‘Light Upon the Lake’
This is a pleasant song with great musical depth. Horns, strings, and fantastic guitar work lie underneath unique vocals that have an almost androgynous quality. Fantastic music from a band that spun out of the group Smith Westerns.
24. Floating Action – “Split the Bill” from the album ‘Hold Your Fire’
Organs, handclaps, light funk, and vocals that are unmistakably a product of Floating Action. This is a solid song.
25. The Avalanches – “Because I’m Me” from the album ‘Wildflower’
Sixteen years passed between albums, but this Australian crew released a solid second record.
