10. M83 – Junk
Even when you learn to expect the unexpected, and album
like Junk is unexpected anyways, sounding unrecognizably different that M83’s
all-time great previous album, yet being quite good nonetheless.
9. High Highs – Cascades
Cascades crafts a mood—dreamy, atmospheric, wondrous—from
front to back.
8. Local Natives – Sunlit Youth
Local Natives made one of the peppiest albums with
Gorilla Manor, one of the saddest with Hummingbird, and they split the
difference on Sunlit Youth. It doesn’t carry the same overall strength as an
album, but it’s an outstanding collection of tracks.
7. The 1975 – I like it when you sleep, for you are so
beautiful yet so unaware of it
I could write a whole post on the potential of The 1975,
who seem to possess both the ability to be a below average teen heartthrob band
or to be one of the most interesting sounding bands in the world. When they are at their best—Somebody
Else, Paris, A Change of Heart—they absolutely excel.
6. Bon Iver – 22, A Million
This is Bon Iver’s worst album of the three, and it’s
wonderful. Justin Vernon stretches the listener’s patience with pretentious
indie noises, but it’s still glistening with Bon Iver’s signature sound and
very high highs.
5. The Lumineers – Cleopatra
Here’s the surprise album of the year. Mostly known for “Ho,
Hey!”, The Lumineers put out a fantastic album this year with Cleopatra,
complete with outstanding storytelling and an overall vibe front to back. Don’t
overlook it.
4. Band of Horses – Why Are You OK
Sigh of relief. Band of Horses’ last album Mirage Rock
was bad and crushingly disappointing. Ben Bridwell regrouped and learned to
write about life as a happy family man, and delivers another smashing success
with Why Are You OK.
3. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
It’s always a treat to get a full-fledged Radiohead
album, something that happens only every four to five years. A Moon Shaped Pool
does not disappoint from string-tinged opener of “Burn the Witch” all the way
to the longtime deep cut “True Love Waits”.
2. Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues
There was a time once, near when this blog started in
some other form, when Jimmy Eat World was coming off releasing their best album,
Futures, before following it up with the also-great Chase This Light. Since
then there have been decent songs, but no good albums, and I confess I didn’t
believe there ever would be again. But Integrity Blues was the album I needed
at the perfect time and their best album in a decade.
1. Bear’s Den – Red Earth & The Pouring Rain
On their sophomore album, the British band Bear’s Den
releases a sweeping album full of
storytelling, imagery, and emotion. There’s an earnestness here. Bear’s Den
sings from the heart, and unashamedly so. “Red Earth and the Pouring Rain” kicks it off
on a high note, with a soaring, 80’s-influenced anthem that’s among the year’s
best. Bear’s Den has a special talent for making you see what they are
describing. On “Napoleon” it’s a father with “a tall glass of Napoleon and an
off-white leather chair”. “Greenwoods Bethlehem” borrows its name from an
Indian guesthouse on the Arabian Sea, while the title track was based on a poem
found in the guest room there. The result is the year’s best album.
Honorable Mentions:
Anderson .Paak – Malibu
Animal Collective – Painting With
Blind Pilot – And Then Like Lions
The Boxer Rebellion – Ocean by Ocean
Frank Ocean – Blonde
NEEDTOBREATHE – H A R D L O V E
Phantogram – Three
Rogue Wave – Delusions of Grand Fur
William Fitzsimmons – Charleroi: Pittsburgh, Vol. 2
Young the Giant – Home of the Strange
I particularly enjoyed Dull Times/The Moon from the Band of Horses LP. Radiohead album felt like fanservive and I liked it too. Cleopatra by The Lumineers was a nice find from your list! I just posted my top 10 a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteTop Ten Albums of 2016, Woah such a great collection of 2016 hit songs, even I agree with this post.Thank you for making my weekend a more amazing one.
ReplyDeleteI notably enjoyed the way of expressing your views. The songs collection you shared were beautiful. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete