Daniel's Top Albums Of 2016
Every year that I've released a Top 10 Albums post, I've included the caveat that there is so, so much good music out there that it's almost unfair to ask me to try and listen to all of them. So with that in mind, I hope you know this is not a definitive list of the best music of the year, but rather the top 2016 albums of those I actually listened to. So it's a strange mixture of artists/bands I already liked with some critically acclaimed albums I proactively sought out after reading about them.
It was a good year in music, not a great one. In terms of sheer quantity, I know there was tons of music that excited my peers this year, but unlike last year, 2016 was short on albums that wowed me, or seemed like an instant classic. But enough rambling; to the list!! First, a few that missed the cut, but not by much:
- untitled unmastered, Kendrick Lamar
- Amen & Goodbye, Yeasayer
- Hero, Maren Morris
- A Moon Shaped Pool, Radiohead
- Darkness and Light, John Legend
- A Sailor's Guide To The Earth, Sturgill Simpson
10. Keep It Together, Lily & Madeleine
Lily & Madeleine are the perfect example of musicians that pretty much do one thing, but do it extremely well. The sisters from Indianapolis don't do much to expand their harmonious, acoustic sound in their third full-length album, though Keep It Together might expose fans to slightly more production than usual. That does not take away from the simple beauty of their weaving harmonies and lyrical imagery.
Standout Track: "Hourglass"
9. The Life Of Pablo, Kanye West
(Talk about a tonal shift from the above album.) Say what you want about the man, but only Kanye the artist could make a mess of an album-- changing album names, release dates, tinkering with tracks even after they've been released, etc. --into one of the better records of the year. Sure, it lacks any of the cohesiveness of his previous work, and in some points seems like self-parody ("Freestyle 4", anyone?). But there are some bangers in this tracklist ("Famous", "Fade"), some terrific collaborations ("No More Parties in L.A.", "Ultralight Beam") and some sneaky emotional vulnerability ("Waves," Wolves").
Standout Track: "Famous"
8. Cleopatra, The Lumineers
The Lumineers, everyone's favorite faux-bluegrass are back with a 2nd album. Where their debut mostly hinged on a single radio hit and ensuing copycat tracks, Cleopatra offers more variety and a slightly darker tone than the cheery ground-stomping we became accustomed to. This, combined with their familiar energy and melody, is a very good place for them musically.
Standout Track: "Ophelia"
7. Coloring Book, Chance The Rapper
Let me start by saying I didn't fall in love with Coloring Book the way fans and critics alike did. That is simply personal preference, though; there's no denying the man's talent. Even the President said "Chance and Kendrick are the ones changing the game." One part hip-hop, another part gospel (truly), this album runs the gamut of "look-at-me-now" kiss-offs to record labels, unashamed religion, and difficulties created by upbringing. It, and he, deserve the attention and acclaim they have received.
Standout Track: "Finish Line/Drown"
6. Here, Alicia Keys
It felt as if Keys' album almost got drowned out this year-- to the point where I was not even aware of this album's release until reading a year-end list. And, in a year of terrific music in general, and game-changing music from black artists specifically, perhaps that's not surprising. After all, it's neither as personal nor as forceful as Solange and Beyoncé's endeavors. That being said, I found Here an extremely worthwhile listen. Alicia's lovely vocals lend themselves to pleasant fluidity, and the empowerment-themed tracks fall nicely on top of each other. Perhaps the most significant aspect of Here, though, are the recordings of eye-opening conversation between the artist and her friends interspersed throughout the album.
Standout Track: "Hallelujah"
5. 22, A Million, Bon Iver
Well, this was...different. Seriously, though Bon Iver's voice and overall style remain unmistakable, 22 A Million was a trippy ode to musical experimentation. Their 3rd album, and 1st in 5 years, was strange but every bit as biting and emotionally evocative as its predecessors. With lyrics centering around a theme of search for understanding, this record is a worthwhile journey.
Standout Track: "OVER S ∞ ∞ N"
4. Home Of The Strange, Young The Giant
Read my full review of this album here. And note that, as expected, I love this album much more now than I did upon its release.
Standout Track: "Art Exhibit"
3. A Seat At The Table, Solange
Read my full review of this album here.
Standout Track: "Weary"
2. Blonde, Frank Ocean
Read Jeremy Evans-Smith's take (who breaks down this album much better than I could have) on Blonde here.
Standout Track: "Pink + White"
1. Lemonade, Beyoncé
It is difficult to elaborate on what is undoubtedly the most-discussed album of the year. It's also difficult to free myself from the subjectivity of being a longtime Beyoncé fan, or the hyperbole that typically accompanies reactions to her work. So here is what I will say: Lemonade is not perfection, nor is it the total mind-blower that some recent Year's Best Albums were (channel ORANGE, Modern Vampires of the City, To Pimp A Butterfly). But here's what Lemonade is: an album that proves Beyoncé equally versatile in Pop, R&B, Rock, Hip-Hop and Country. An album in which nearly every song somehow simultaneously applies to personal heartbreak and the more widespread pain of being a black woman in America. An album that is somehow enhanced even more by the hour of Oscar-worthy music videos that accompany each track. And an album that features a mega pop star who has decided to eschew mindless appeasement of her fans in favor of actually standing for something. (You didn't think I'd go this whole music article without a shot at Taylor Swift, did you?) Lemonade is, without question, the winner of 2016.
Standout Track: "Freedom"