Albums of the year 2016.

[tinnitus photography]

top 10 records of the year imo, and then the rest in alphabetical order.

1 Heron Oblivion - Heron Oblivion
2 Oranssi pazuzu - Värähtelijä
3 Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band - The Rarity of Experience
4 Kikagaku Moyo / 幾何学模様 - House in the Tall Grass
5 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
6 Mondo Drag - The Occultation of Light
7 Savages - Adore Life
8 Gate (aka Michael Morley) - Saturday Night Fever
9 Ulaan Passerine - Moss Cathedral; The Great Unwinding
10 Tales of Murder and Dust - The Flow In Between


11 a band called e - s/t
12 admiral sir cloudesley shovell ‎- keep it greasy
13 aluk todolo - voix
14 beak> - couple in a hole
15 black mountain - IV
16 blizaro - cornucopia della morte
17 blood ceremony - lord of misrule
18 bonnie prince billy - II and pond scum
19 carseat headrest - teens of denial
20 causa sui - return to sky
21 CFM - still life of citrus and slime
22 chook race - around the house
23 cavern of antimatter - void beats invocation trex
24 domkraft - the end of electricity
25 doug tuttle - it calls on me
26 drive-by truckers - american band
27 dungen - haxan
28 elephant tree - S/T
29 emma pollack - in search of harperfield
30 feral ohms – live in san francisco
31 glenn jones - fleeting
32 gozu - revival
33 guided bv voices - please be honest
34 haunted - s/t
35 iggy pop - post pop depression
36 holy sons - in the garden
37 kool keith - feature magnetic
38 kverlertak - nattesferd
39 kyle craft - dolls of highland
40 kyle dixon - stranger things OST
41 lord vicar - gates of flesh
42 mantar - ode to the flame
43 marisa anderson - into the light
44 minor victories - s/t
45 mogwai - atomic
46 mythic sunship - ouroborous
47 neurosis - fires within fires
48 nick millevoi - desertion
49 octagrape - aura obelisk
50 radiohead - moon shaped pool
51 rangda - heretic's bargain
52 roy montgomery - RMHQ
53 ryley walker - golden sings that have been sung
54 steve gunn - eyes on the line
55 subrosa - for this we fought the battle of ages
56 sunwatchers - S/T
57 thalia zedek - eve
58 the gotobeds = blood sugar secs traffic
59 thee oh sees - a weird exits
60 true widow - avvolgere
61 ty segall - emotional mugger
62 ultimate painting - dusk
63 whores. - gold
64 wilco - schmilco
65 william tyler - modern country
66 witchcraft - nucleus

also, there were some essential vinyl reissues from the likes of Jack Rose, Pink Floyd, This Heat and others, and these three got less press but are equally essential:
The Third Power - Believe
Agalloch - The Mantle
Various - Wake Up You! The Rise And Fall of Nigerian Rock 1972-1977 Vol. 1


and as always, i am sure that 2017 will have me finding plenty of overlooked records not on this list from 2016.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

To each their own but to lay down some sort of hard and fast rule that any album doesn't belong on any given list is bullshit. If I want to put what many consider the worst album of 2016 at #1 on my list I don't really give a fuck what anyone thinks. It means that particular album is important to me.

Point taken but it might be important to think about what kind of "list" is being produced on what kind of merits. There's something to be said about the difference between "what are the best albums of 2016" and "what are my personal favorite albums of 2016." There is definitely objectivity to the first question and that's what the title of this thread is asking for.

I've seen it place high on several "best of" lists as well but that doesn't really play into how I perceive the album. It is one of my favorite records of 2016 no matter how you slice it. To say it doesn't belong on "any best of list" is flatout bullshit.

[Clams]

To each their own but to lay down some sort of hard and fast rule that any album doesn't belong on any given list is bullshit. If I want to put what many consider the worst album of 2016 at #1 on my list I don't really give a fuck what anyone thinks. It means that particular album is important to me.

Point taken but it might be important to think about what kind of "list" is being produced on what kind of merits. There's something to be said about the difference between "what are the best albums of 2016" and "what are my personal favorite albums of 2016." There is definitely objectivity to the first question and that's what the title of this thread is asking for.

I've seen it place high on several "best of" lists as well but that doesn't really play into how I perceive the album. It is one of my favorite records of 2016 no matter how you slice it. To say it doesn't belong on "any best of list" is flatout bullshit.

Cut the guy some fucking slack, Kudzu. He's got 16 posts and he's relatively new. You're gonna scare people away if you don't chill out.

[Iowan]

Point taken but it might be important to think about what kind of "list" is being produced on what kind of merits. There's something to be said about the difference between "what are the best albums of 2016" and "what are my personal favorite albums of 2016." There is definitely objectivity to the first question and that's what the title of this thread is asking for.

I've seen it place high on several "best of" lists as well but that doesn't really play into how I perceive the album. It is one of my favorite records of 2016 no matter how you slice it. To say it doesn't belong on "any best of list" is flatout bullshit.

Cut the guy some fucking slack, Kudzu. He's got 16 posts and he's relatively new. You're gonna scare people away if you don't chill out.

Dude, the internet is serious.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Indeed. No matter his post count, it's not like I've said anything insulting, I just find broad generalizations of this nature baffling, particularly when Real has appeared on several year end best of lists. Then again, maybe it's Clams' fault.

[bellevillemusic]

2016
Using the Alphabetical Star System

5-Stars
alejandro escovedo – burn something beautiful
the cactus blossoms – you’re dreaming
drive-by truckers – american band
the jayhawks - paging mr proust
peter bruntnell - nos dos comrades
wilco – schmilco

4-Stars
the dexateens – teenage hallelujah
the I don't cares - wild stab
kyle craft - dolls of highland
look park – look park
lydia loveless – real
the nines – alejandro’s visions
richmond fontaine – you can’t go back if there’s no one to go back to
ryley walker – golden sings that have been sung

3-Stars
m.ward - more rain
scott hylbert – campfire songs & hymns
teenage fanclub – here
tim easton – american fork
willie nile - world war willie

2-Stars
hayes carl - lovers and leavers
hillbilly moon explosion – with monsters and gods
leonard cohen – you want it darker
lucinda williams - the ghosts of highway 20
nada surf - you know who you are
seratones – get gone

[beantownbubba]

Bonjour, belleville. Always a pleasure to read your contribution to the year end list.

I haven't heard the Kyle Croft album, but did like what I heard when he & his band opened for DBT.

I forgot to include World War Willie on my list. I'd say you have it about right, though I did see him put on a terrific live show featuring the world's greatest (or perhaps most unusual) backup singers*.

*Mr. & Mrs. Headhunter.

[bellevillemusic]

Bonjour, belleville. Always a pleasure to read your contribution to the year end list.

I haven't heard the Kyle Croft album, but did like what I heard when he & his band opened for DBT.

I forgot to include World War Willie on my list. I'd say you have it about right, though I did see him put on a terrific live show featuring the world's greatest (or perhaps most unusual) backup singers*.

*Mr. & Mrs. Headhunter.

Thank you, BTB !
I missed Kyle Craft live but the record received many spins with his Dylan meets the NY Dolls vibe.
Mr & Mrs Headhunter, huh ? Funny, but that's Willie !

[Zip Up to Michigan]

Indeed. No matter his post count, it's not like I've said anything insulting, I just find broad generalizations of this nature baffling, particularly when Real has appeared on several year end best of lists. Then again, maybe it's Clams' fault.

I think one has to take a look at himself if he feels insulted on an Internet message board, but you did chose to use vulgar language and that kind of immaturity diminishes the weight an opinion can hold...but hey, that's just my opinion.

Out of sheer curiosity, could you provide the link(s) of the year end best of lists this album is scoring high on? I'm genuinely interested in knowing what publications are ranking it so high, and what else they have at the top of their list. Thanks!

[Tequila Cowboy]

Indeed. No matter his post count, it's not like I've said anything insulting, I just find broad generalizations of this nature baffling, particularly when Real has appeared on several year end best of lists. Then again, maybe it's Clams' fault.

I think one has to take a look at himself if he feels insulted on an Internet message board, but you did chose to use vulgar language and that kind of immaturity diminishes the weight an opinion can hold...but hey, that's just my opinion.

Out of sheer curiosity, could you provide the link(s) of the year end best of lists this album is scoring high on? I'm genuinely interested in knowing what publications are ranking it so high, and what else they have at the top of their list. Thanks!

AV Club has it at 15

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/669- ... s-of-2016/

American Songwriter has it a t 26

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/669- ... s-of-2016/

It's on Glide's top 20

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/629- ... s-of-2016/

#14 on No Depression Reader's Poll

http://nodepression.com/article/your-50 ... lbums-2016

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Dude, the internet is serious.

Rage Kage don't play

[beantownbubba]

I missed Kyle Craft live but the record received many spins with his Dylan meets the NY Dolls vibe.

Ha! IIRC, I described his sound as out of the Bowie/Mott school, so we're definitely on the same page there. But I went on to say that he also reminded me of Nick Gilder, who does not earn many comparisons to Dylan (though to be fair I was talking more about look and feel than the music)

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

I missed Kyle Craft live but the record received many spins with his Dylan meets the NY Dolls vibe.

Ha! IIRC, I described his sound as out of the Bowie/Mott school, so we're definitely on the same page there. But I went on to say that he also reminded me of Nick Gilder, who does not earn many comparisons to Dylan (though to be fair I was talking more about look and feel than the music)

[Smitty]

He gave me a Ryan Adams vibe. Only blonde.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Indeed. No matter his post count, it's not like I've said anything insulting, I just find broad generalizations of this nature baffling, particularly when Real has appeared on several year end best of lists. Then again, maybe it's Clams' fault.

I think one has to take a look at himself if he feels insulted on an Internet message board, but you did chose to use vulgar language and that kind of immaturity diminishes the weight an opinion can hold...but hey, that's just my opinion.

Out of sheer curiosity, could you provide the link(s) of the year end best of lists this album is scoring high on? I'm genuinely interested in knowing what publications are ranking it so high, and what else they have at the top of their list. Thanks!

AV Club has it at 15

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/669- ... s-of-2016/

American Songwriter has it a t 26

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/669- ... s-of-2016/

It's on Glide's top 20

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/629- ... s-of-2016/

#14 on No Depression Reader's Poll

http://nodepression.com/article/your-50 ... lbums-2016

Thanks, TC because I most certainly wouldn't have done the legwork. If someone is going to claim that an album shouldn't be on any best of list, it should be up to that person to confirm this sort of information. I can also appreciate the irony of someone taking me to task for the use of profanity on a motherfuckin' Drive-By Truckers message board. Nicely done.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

2016
Using the Alphabetical Star System

5-Stars
alejandro escovedo – burn something beautiful
the cactus blossoms – you’re dreaming
drive-by truckers – american band
the jayhawks - paging mr proust
peter bruntnell - nos dos comrades
wilco – schmilco

4-Stars
the dexateens – teenage hallelujah
the I don't cares - wild stab
kyle craft - dolls of highland
look park – look park
lydia loveless – real
the nines – alejandro’s visions
richmond fontaine – you can’t go back if there’s no one to go back to
ryley walker – golden sings that have been sung

3-Stars
m.ward - more rain
scott hylbert – campfire songs & hymns
teenage fanclub – here
tim easton – american fork
willie nile - world war willie

2-Stars
hayes carl - lovers and leavers
hillbilly moon explosion – with monsters and gods
leonard cohen – you want it darker
lucinda williams - the ghosts of highway 20
nada surf - you know who you are
seratones – get gone

Thanks for this as our tastes are so similar. It will help me narrow down some tough choices on how to spend an Amazon gift certificate I got for Christmas. Also, I'm pretty sure I was unaware that Peter Bruntnell had released a new record this year.

[linkous]

1) Bowie - Blackstar
2) A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here....
3) Run The Jewels - RTJ3
4) Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
5) DBT - American Band
6) Chance The Rapper - Colouring Book
7) Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
8) Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
9) Frank Ocean - Blonde
10)The I Dont Cares - Wild Stab

[Zip City]

1) Bowie - Blackstar
2) A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here....
3) Run The Jewels - RTJ3
4) Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
5) DBT - American Band
6) Chance The Rapper - Colouring Book
7) Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
8) Frank Ocean - Blonde
9) The I Dont Cares - Wild Stab
10)Lambchop - Flotus

I thought Future was your hands down album of the year

[tinnitus photography]

Biggest disappointments of the year for me were Real and Heads Up. And likely the PJ Harvey record too but it needs more plays

[linkous]

1) Bowie - Blackstar
2) A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here....
3) Run The Jewels - RTJ3
4) Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
5) DBT - American Band
6) Chance The Rapper - Colouring Book
7) Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
8) Frank Ocean - Blonde
9) The I Dont Cares - Wild Stab
10)Lambchop - Flotus

I thought Future was your hands down album of the year

Came out too early.

Actually forgot about Radiohead Have amended list

[Zip Up to Michigan]

AV Club has it at 15

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/669- ... s-of-2016/

American Songwriter has it a t 26

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/669- ... s-of-2016/

It's on Glide's top 20

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/629- ... s-of-2016/

#14 on No Depression Reader's Poll

http://nodepression.com/article/your-50 ... lbums-2016

Thanks, TC! I appreciate the links. Kind of surprising to me but I'm glad so many are digging this one. Lydia is a great artist who deserves recognition, I just didn't see greatness in this one.

Thanks, TC because I most certainly wouldn't have done the legwork. If someone is going to claim that an album shouldn't be on any best of list, it should be up to that person to confirm this sort of information. I can also appreciate the irony of someone taking me to task for the use of profanity on a motherfuckin' Drive-By Truckers message board. Nicely done.

The burden of proof is usually (and rightfully so) on the person making the claim. The truckers selectively and effectively use profanity in song and dialogue. Seems to me like you're using it because you think your some kind of big shot on an internet message board but that's none of my business.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

The burden of proof is usually (and rightfully so) on the person making the claim. The truckers selectively and effectively use profanity in song and dialogue. Seems to me like you're using it because you think your some kind of big shot on an internet message board but that's none of my business.

I only entered the conversation because you said Real wasn't deserving of being on any best of list. I'm no big shot or tough guy and I only use profanity because that's how I speak, my father used it like poetry so maybe I just come by it natural. I'm just a music fan just like you, only difference is, I made no such claim about this or any other record. Happy fucking New Year to you and yours. I sincerely mean that. Peace out.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

I only entered the conversation because you said Real wasn't deserving of being on any best of list. I'm no big shot or tough guy and I only use profanity because that's how I speak, my father used it like poetry so maybe I just come by it natural. I'm just a music fan just like you, only difference is, I made no such claim about this or any other record. Happy fucking New Year to you and yours. I sincerely mean that. Peace out.

if KG had thrown in a "bless your heart" and a mic drop that would be POTY

[Gang Green]

My input for 2016. The stuff I liked the best...

DBT - American Band (I mean, you know)
Richmond Fontaine - You Can't Go Back...
Lydia Loveless - Real
Mount Mariah - How to Dance
Seratones - Get Gone
Leland Sundries - Music for Outcasts
Texoma - The Prospect
Elizabeth Cook - Exodus in Venus
Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter
St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Sea of Noise
Dexateens - Teenage Hallelujah
The Silks - Turn me On
Fantastic Negrito - Last Days of Oakland
Hard Working Americans - Rest in Chaos
Sturgill Simpson - Sailer's Guide...
PJ Harvey - Hope Six Demolition Project
Parquet Courts - Human Performance
Tijuana Panthers - Ghost Food
Mudcrutch- 2

By the way, I liked Real as much as, if not more than the previous Lydia albums, and I love the song "Heaven", okay, I got that off my chest, so shoot me.

Need more time with:
Alejandro Escoveda
Hiss Golden Messenger
Car Seat Headrest
Terry Allen
Aaron Lee Tasjan
Todd Snider

[Zip City]

We really should be making these lists in March. I have at least a dozen albums I'm trying to give serious listens to and I'm running out of time

[beantownbubba]

We really should be making these lists in March. I have at least a dozen albums I'm trying to give serious listens to and I'm running out of time

The thread will still be here. IIRC, many people have either posted original lists or amended previously posted lists well after the end of a given year.

[dime in the gutter]

inpo

dbt-american band: among their best ever.
brad armstrong-empire: dexateens guitarist. formerly fronting the band 13ghosts. armstrong plays all instruments (not banjo or drums). reminds of lucero dude's last pale light in west. except better and louder.
natural child-okey dokey: another stone cold classic. freaky deaky hawkwind styings and freedom rock sounds abound.
sturgill simpson-sailor's guide: third in a trifecta of brilliant surprises.
mondo drag-occulation of light: door's/deep purple mash up.
earthless: acid crusher: expert long board riders of slow moving plasma colored monster waves. don't care for harsh toke 1/2 of lp.
causa sui-return to sky: stoner jam masters from denmark.
car seat headrest-teens of denial: i dig.
dexateens-teenage hallelujah: shake it.


i am recently grooving to lydia/real.

looking forward to hearing hiss golden messenger. i looove the first half of chris forsyth record.

i'm sure to be missing many, many, many.

[Clams]

brad armstrong-empire: dexateens guitarist. formerly fronting the band 13ghosts. armstrong plays all instruments (not banjo or drums). reminds of lucero dude's last pale light in west. except better and louder.

I love Last Pale Light, so definitely need to check that out.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

natural child-okey dokey: another stone cold classic. freaky deaky hawkwind styings and freedom rock sounds abound.

[scotto]

Due to life changes, etc., I probably bought less music in 2016 than I have in 25 years. I heard a lot of stuff that I really liked, just haven't bought yet (but plan to).
I did have quite an impressive list, until I looked closer and realized that it all came out in 2015--man, life's been something of a blur. So my list is fairly paltry. But it includes, in purely alphabetical order:
Car Seat Headrest
DBT
Lydia Loveless
Mount Moriah
Angel Olsen
Warpaint
Whitney (ex-Smith Westerns)
Lucinda Williams
Honorable mention for that Dylan set Best of the Cutting Edge--I know it came out late '15, but I think the vinyl didn't come out until 2016. That counts as far as I'm concerned.
Lots more I'm looking to get.
So here's to a better new year for one and all.
Cheers, y'all!