Let's not kid ourselves, tis the season for lists. And so, I will indulge in another. It's easier than ever to assemble an arsenal of music. Below is a quick-hitting account of my favorite songs of 2016. Enjoy.
Twice yearly, I do my best to assemble a quality list of music. My aim is to break it down by late summer and right around Thanksgiving (gobble gobble). I confine this process to albums only, sorry compilations, reissues and live releases. With that said, I drink in music willfully and with a measure of pride—I like music that makes me move, makes me think, or inspires me to do or think more, and go beyond my norm. Most of the time I try to digest these offerings as they are released, other times, it takes time. Enough about that, now onto the goods.
Anderson .Paak - Malibu
Released: January 15
His lyricism is dynamic throughout. Properly mixed portions of funky soul and hip hop advance his art beyond the typical noise pushed by other contemporaries. Malibu is filled with storytelling and unique characteristics, such as, paying homage to sound-scapes of the past while simultaneously carving out something fresh. There are too many dope tracks to name them all, just go listen to it.
"Celebrate"
Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter
Released: March 25
Margo had previously made my honorable mention. Her album has since become a staple—purchasing Midwest Farmer's Daughter on vinyl was paramount to my revelation. The first track, "Hands of Time," and the final cut, "World's Greatest Loser," are painful stories from her personal life. Both of those songs haunt, spilling almost too much truth. The honky-tonk number, "Hurt'n (On The Bottle)," is a tale most of us can relate to. Thanks for keeping country 100.
"Hurt'n (On The Bottle)"
Frank Ocean - blond
Released: August 20
Random notes as I continued to absorb this record: I can't stop listening to it. It makes me consider myself; the what-ifs and what am I's. In sharing his world, he reveals how disconnected we are. The real shit, personal and intimate. It's beautiful and a little scary. He presses into the soul, heart and mind...the interludes, snippets of reality and manufactured minimalism of the sound intensify his honesty. Ocean affirms the grandeur of love, it's power to uplift or tear down, the value of it being returned. The personal intimacy of this album isn't draped in camouflage. Thanks Frank.
Banks & Steelz - Anything but Words
Released: August 26th
Paul Banks from Interpol and RZA make a unique duo to say the least. I seem to stand in the minority, but I really dig this record. I previously reviewed this album. My partner in crime and I caught their live performance the day after Anything But Words had dropped. Bobby Digital has gone steel.
"Point of View"
Phantogram - Three
Released: October 7
Phantogram's latest record delights on first listen. Three stimulates with it's rhythmic and modern pulse, it makes you listen with its words. The single gets all the air-time, but make no mistake, the B-side's where it's at. "You're Mine," and "Answer," are tracks that skillfully tether sonic elements to the bang of sharp lyrics. Other highlights include, "Cruel World," "Run Run Blood," and "Calling All." Pip also loves this record, which means, it rocks.
A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here...Thank you 4 your service
Released: November 11
ATCQ captives and educates us once again. Enlightened minds make inspiring art, hopefully their message resonates with you. From the jump, they bring the heat. "Space Program," (with it's sick ass sample of the real cinematic Wonka) and "We the People," punch with straightforward truth. Shaheed blends Elton John remnants into, "Solid Wall of Sound," he crushes the beats throughout. "Black Spasmodic," jabs at you, setting up the hard hitting accuracy of, "The Killing Season." Kendrick and .Paak follow each other on songs that shine later on. The finale, "The Donald," features sick mixing and wordplay, it may also be too real to be true. We Got It From Here... fills two discs with pure hip hop genius and a grip of guest spots. I'm truly thankful for this record. RIP Phife.
"We the People" | Official Video
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My personal favorites from 2016 include those listed above, as well as, the albums I reviewed earlier this year. Check out So Far So Good for the complete list. The BESTY's, an annual account of my favorite live performances, are coming soon. Thanks for tuning in.
Second-half honorable mentions include: M.I.A. - AIM, Lewis Del Mar - self titled, Twin Limb - Haplo,
Music's important, it seems a necessity. Emotions and creativity intersect through the sounds of our favorite songs. The first half of this year has been pretty damn good. I began the process of dissecting music on a biannual basis back in 2013. I like to get a feel for the albums recorded until June. Then, as in the past, I give a rundown of the records released in the second half of the calendar year. We should digest the soundtracks to our live's thoughtfully. So without further blather, here are my choices at the halfway point. Hello summer.
Cactus Blossoms | You're Dreaming
Release date: January 22
Thanks to The Mississippi, and the talent residing in an artistically nurturing metropolitan, better known as the Twin Cities; The Cactus Blossoms have achieved the constant ebb of old music while flowing into our modern consciousness (No More Crying the Blues). Tooled with great words, their vocals deliver and harmonize all too well (Mississippi). Their sound can conjure many names of yesteryear if you must mine them (Change Your Ways or Die). It's better in my opinion to just let their timeless rhythm stream over you—it leaves you almost river drunk. They make the most of their AM radio-friendly narratives (listen below). "Stoplight Kisses"
Santigold | 99¢
Release date: February 26
In many ways this is the antithesis to the above mentioned. Santigold came in and delivered a modern pitch, one I wanted to hear. The hit on this record has a direct message, playful and snappy with confident honesty (Can't Get Enough of Myself). The pace changes from track to track, a good example is (Who Be Lovin Me), featuring one of two guest spots. My personal favorite from 99¢ is the track below (Chasing Shadows). Earlier praise can be found here. "Chasing Shadows"
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down | Man Alive
Release date: March 4
Get down and stay down, Man Alive moves me. Thao's latest is truly an offering. She serves up incredibly honest tales that can only be summarize as perceptive and personal. Man Alive might be my favorite album thus far. Maybe what I'm about to say is too simplistic, but the main course is the middle of this record. Track five (Nobody Dies) has taken on a completely new meaning for me as of late—it's almost too harsh in its seemingly kind reminder...what to say? There's a type of persistence to this record, it wants to affect you. I identify with the songs, the words, the music. It all works for me. Feeling brave enough to say things, must feel good (Guts). Aided by the rallying of their leader, the band's playing encourages me to partake, to yell along with (Fool Forever). Smashing into me are the lyrics and lullaby of dropping all the bullshit, the effort it takes to tell it like it is (Millionaire). "Nobody Dies"
Sturgill Simpson | A Sailor's Guide to Earth
Release date: April 15
The overall sound is robust, navigating differently, yet remaining true. A Sailor's Guide to Earth definitely rocks when the time is right (Keep It Between the Lines). Sturgill Simpson has followed up an otherworldly record with another mystifying contribution. I want more. A beautiful cover from my youth is given new life, literally (In Bloom). Sometimes there's no good to cling to, but there is, and he reminds us of it (Brace For Impact). Greasy times call for a different set of rules. He outlines the struggle quite poignantly on the final track (Call to Arms). Sturgill's a good guide. "Call To Arms" (live)
Kevin Morby | Singing Saw
Release date: April 15
Wavering sounds coax you in on the first track from Singing Saw (Cut Me Down). Lessons come in many forms, there are also warnings, sometimes they're one in the same (I Have Been to the Mountain). Kevin Morby can paint with his words, and this time there's a bit more punch, more heft. Other voices, horns, and an organ's hum smear the edges of his story, a sort of sonic apprehension. I like the images he chooses to share with us on certain cuts (Dorothy). I also feather in some of my own. Connections are made when I hear Kevin Morby's music (Ferris Wheel). I like that.
"I Have Been to the Mountain"
Beyoncé | Lemonade
April 23 Lemonade is everything without being diluted. It encompasses almost too much, but is singular; the message is sharp and honest. It feels as though, she is free. The sound-scape is a cornucopia of genres, swirled cohesively to create visions of reggaeton dance hall (Hold Up), hit them boat horns yo. Then it becomes deep soul and hip hop in one track (Freedom). It's also country (Daddy Lessons). There are elements of rock (Don't Hurt Yourself). And amazing pop power with a helpful sample (All Night). Then there's the beast that Bey dropped at the Super Bowl halftime. "Formation" is its own thing—with that old school Asian sounding string being bent over new school beats. How'd she get away with that show? She's slay'n, just drop'n it harder and more direct, way to be Beyoncé. Lemonade is pure nectar from pain.
Honorable Mention: Lucius | Good Grief - The Jayhawks | Paging Mr. Proust - Margo Price | Midwest Farmer's Daughter - Lucinda Williams | The Ghost of Highway 20
PS. Thanks for tuning in, I know I've been a bit absent recently. Things happen.
