Showing posts with label Best of 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best of 2016. Show all posts
February 26, 2017
February 25, 2017
February 24, 2017
February 23, 2017
February 22, 2017
QCM's "Best of 2016" Playlists (Playlist 1: Best of the Best)
As before, we asked QuickCrit's illustrious annual survey takers to list their favorite songs from their favorite albums. The result is a quirky, eclectic "Best of the Best" playlist clocking in at just over seven hours. This mind-numbingly awesome playlist can be accessed via Spotify below:
Also consistent with past years, to spice things up, we asked survey takers to submit a song or two that falls under some colorfully entitled category. Those playlists will be posted in the following days.
Of course, if you have any suggested additions to the playlists, please leave recs in the comments section below.
Of course, if you have any suggested additions to the playlists, please leave recs in the comments section below.
Happy listening!
February 2, 2017
Jesse's Favorite Albums from 2016
Fully realizing their breathtaking potential. So many layers
of art pop awesomeness.
Cranking up this album makes any day feel like Friday night
and every beer taste like a High Life.
3. Frightened Rabbit -
Painting Of A Panic Attack
Their mastery of celebratory self-loathing is peerless.
Just packed with killer dreamy shoegaze. And as you'd hope,
it's fantastically noisy live.
They draw me in with their popping duets, but deceptively
clever in their quirkiness.
Buzzing surf pop that is both harder and catchier than the
last one you heard. Playing it loud and often.
Two absolutely stunning singles of c86-style indie pop.
A personal & potent EP from the Summer Cannibals' bad
ass, renaissance bassist. Easily one of my favorite EPs this year.
Their tightest, funkiest, and most dynamic songs to date.
And so silky smooth.
Binging hard on this shimmering and banging alt. pop. So
good.
12. Mo Troper - Beloved
Youthful, testy, and dimed out power pop, reminiscent of
Superdrag classics.
13. Augustines - This
Is Your Life
Pull me along on their stumbling late night anthems in a way
that U2 and their ilk never could. Take a shot, spread your arms, and soar.
Art pop masters let their identical hairdos down and get
noisy.
Long anticipated and stellar collection of slacker surf pop.
16. Sturgill Simpson
- A Sailor's Guide to Earth
Driving straight past his Nashville ascendance, this
Waylon-loving iconoclast headed west to Memphis for a countrified soul epic.
Damn, these songs are explosive. Feeling this righteous
anger more than ever.
18. The Record
Company - Give It Back to You
Only knock against this great retro soul/blues album is I
started rocking half the songs so long ago that they sound fresh again.
Luckily, the new songs are some of the best.
I hear some Fleet Foxes in these guys, just smelling less of
campfire, which could mean they both just build on sweet Beach Boy indebted
harmonies.
I dig TV Girl's pursuit of pop alchemy, floating their wry
observations over DJ scratches and an organ riff, and punching it all up with
sampled hooks. Like adding an indie pop twist to classic singles by the
Avalanches or Wiseguys.
Eric’s Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack
Love me some Frightened Rabbit. The National's Aaron
Dessner's fingerprints are all over this album, and the partnership is a
hauntingly beautiful one. Somehow, this album is both deeply sad and uplifting
at the same time. Seeing this album performed live flawlessly was also an
amazing experience.
2. Paul Cauthen - My
Gospel
Great throwback country album; cut from the same cloth as
Merle and Waylon. This album probably benefitted the most from being released
late in the year, because its been front of mind for the last few weeks, and I
can't stop listening.
3. Augustines - This
is Your Life
Of course, by now I'm super predictable with my Augustines
love, but even after nearly a decade of Augustines/Pela fandom, I still find
the passion and emotion in their songs to be nothing short of addicting. If
they are truly calling it quits for good, I will forever miss putting their
albums in my top ten lists.
4. Sturgill Simpson -
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
Another country throwback who can channel the great ones
with his own creativity. Clearly, the album is revered in and out of the
country music scene and its really not surprising why.
5. Photo Ops -
Vacation
I think most people needed a good feel-good album during
this rather dark 2016, and Vacation was that album for me. Echoing the
harmonies and patience of Pet Sounds, this album washes over you like a warm
summer day and lifts the spirits like an ice cold High Life.
6. Michael Kiwanuka -
Love & Hate
One of the more thought-provoking and emotional albums of
the year for me. Kiwanuka gives his powerful tracks time to develop, which may
turn some people off, but damn does he do a good job of capturing the mood.
This is a brilliant album.
7. Lake Jons -
Explore EP
I don't usually put EPs on my top ten albums list, but this
one did an exception job of winning me over with just six stellar tracks. Watch
out world, Finland's coming!
8. The Record Company
- Give It Back To You
Rock and roll, people, doesn't lie. The Record Company gets
down to business with some bluesy, rockin' tracks that come straight at you
like some of the best bands from the 70s.
9. Kings of Leon -
WALLS
KoL bounces back from the mailed-in Mechanical Bull album
with WALLS. Do I love WALLS beginning to end? No. However, the 7 or 8 tracks
that I do like are good enough to carry this album into the Top 10 for me. What
can I say, I just like Kings of Leon.
10. The Bones of J.R.
Jones - Spirit’s Furnace
Folksy, bluesy, and catchy... you put this on, and people
will want to know who it is, how you found him, and when he's coming to town.
11. Pete Yorn -
ArrangingTime
"She Was Weird" was my favorite track, but there
are a lot of memorable songs packed into this album. A very pleasant collection
of organized, multifaceted tracks.
12. The Cave Signers
- Banchee
One of favorite "acquired taste" bands. I kept
forgetting about and then remembering this album, and listened to it a ton at
work. The Cave Signers are certainly not for everyone, but this album works for
me.
13. Daniel Ellsworth
& The Great Lakes - Bemidji
Another EP! "Always/Never" is the track that drew
me end, but the rest of the album makes you want to stay. I definitely
over-listened to this album.
14. Kishi Bashi -
Sonderlust
I am a huge Kishi Bashi fan and love his live show. This album
dropped off a little bit for me from his prior releases, but his talent and
songwriting are still astounding.
15. Kaleo - A/B
The best tracks off this album have been out as singles for
quite some time, so I didn't feel as excited by the full album when it dropped.
With a little more polish, this band should be able to do amazing things in the
upcoming years.
Larson’s Favorite Albums of 2016
1. Beyonce - Lemonade
My wife said “I want to watch Beyonce’s Lemonade” one Friday
evening. I was like I don’t know really what that’s all about but I heard it’s
potentially about marital drama… and you know. Maybe it is. I watched the video
having only previously heard “Formation” months prior. I’m not even going to
attempt to write about how fucking good this is. So I’ll do what I do best…
talk about me. When I was younger I felt it was important to be anti-MTV
because you know… it’s mainstream and I was punk rock. However, that whole time
I watched MTV constantly and was in love with the combination of music and
video. The Lemonade film is the most amazing example of music and video I have
ever seen. I am 100% not afraid to say that I cannot watch/listen to it without
tearing up. Hey man… I’m sensitive as fuck. Additionally, I think that it is
the women of the world who are going to get us out of some of the terrible
bullshit going on these days. I’m with HER.
2. Avalanches - Wild
Flower
I had no idea this was coming. I listened to Since I Left
you so much that I was honestly fine if nothing else ever came out of the
Avalanches camp. Their ability to create familiarity out of that which is
unfamiliar is astonishing.
3. Kanye West - The
Life of Pablo
So much to say and so little to say. I’m not going to argue
with anyone. I will say this though. The first time I listened to it I wasn’t
feeling it. It was far from an immediate click. However, I’m a fan of the long game. I’m a pretty mellow guy
for the most part. However, if you try to tell me this isn’t art I hope you’re
ready for me to talk at you for an hour.
4. Martha - Blisters
In The Pit Of My Heart
I am in love with the trend of new young bands playing 90s
style music with more technique and production. I have never been afraid of
production. Lo-Fi is great but when you can see a bands ideas fully realized
through production it is magic to me. I’m not usually a fan of comparisons
(maybe cuz I’m just not that good at it) but this band reminds me of a mash-up
of Hefner and Idlewild. Now I know that might seem like a pretty deep cut
bullshit comparison but it’s true. Idlewild lyrics and fury with Hefner
complexity and Boy/Girl vocals. I’m probably not helping my case but whatever.
I love this album.
5. King Gizzard &
The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
I saw these Australian weirdos play in an in-town venue that
is not known for having good shows. It felt at times like the place was going
to explode. The non-stop energy of this band combined with zero fucks given of
the crowd made for an incredible experience. They have songs with names like
"Gamma Knife" and "Evil Death Roll"!!! Plus the album
sequenced to play in a loop. Do it.
6. Sheer Mag - III
Not an album. I know right?! These guys can do in 4 songs
what it takes some bands 4 albums to do. If you aren’t moved by “Worth The
Tears” I doubt you and I have much to talk about.
7. Låpsley - Long Way
Home
Another album that came out of nowhere to me via Vinyl Me
Please. I had no idea what to expect and was still a bit befuddled when I first
started listening. The first time I hit track #5 entitled “Operator" I was
super dupes confused. What is this stuff? Why is it all over the place. Why
does it seem so familiar yet so new? From there on this album was on regular
rotation in our house.
8. Bat For Lashes -
The Bride
I listened to this album while trying to fall asleep on
Tuesday November 7th 2016, or what I like to refer to as the worst night of
sleep ever. It helped.
9. Manatee Commune -
Manatee Commune
The song “Second Guess” was a standout track in a late night
KEXP listening session. I’m not a big fan of genre’s and a don’t really know
what this genre is. I just know that I’m into it. So clean and chilled out and
technical without losing the human element. If it sounds like I don’t know what
I’m talking about then your right. Listen to it start to finish and I bet
you’ll want do it again.
10. DJ Shadow - The
Mountain Will Fall
I have routinely listened to "Nobody Speak" really
loud while dropping my kids off to school (Kindergarten and First Grade). I
suggest you do the same.
11. La Sera - Music
For Listening To Music To
Serena's Favorite Albums of 2016
1. Beyonce-Lemonade
If you have not watched Lemonade, stop what you are doing
and do so. You can come to my house and watch it. Be warned that I cry every
time I watch.
2. Solange-A Seat at
the Table
3. Kanye West-Life of
Pablo
Name one genius that ain't crazy, amirite!?
4. The
Avalanches-Wildflower
Worth the wait!! Also the video for Because I'm Me is a
joyful celebration of black bodies, I recommend it
5. Manatee
Commune-Manatee Commune
6. Bat For Lashes-The
Bride
7. Common-Black
America Again
8. Glass Animals-How
to Be a Human Being
9. A Tribe Called
Quest-We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service
10. DJ Shadow-The
Mountain Will Fall
JT's Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Margo Price -
Midwest Farmer's Daughter
It's country because it's classified that way, and because
it has to be when the singer lived in a trailer, lived in a tent, went to jail,
grew up on her daddy's farm before he lost it, and mentions whiskey in more
than half the songs. But it's also country by way of stellar songwriting, a Sun
Records recording, and Jack White producing. If any of those are your cup of
tea, you may listen to it over and over. And if you ever wondered what Loretta
Lynn would have sounded like if she recorded a disco funk song with BB King
cutting a solo in the middle of it, then check out "Four Years of
Chances."
2. The Head and the
Heart - Signs of Light
Major label signing and a major directional shift for Head
and the Heart. Some folks didn't dig the transition from moody Northwest folk
of the 2010s to sunny SoCal harmonies of the 1970s. (They even walked on stage
at the show I saw to The Eagles) It took me about a half dozen listens before
it clicked, but once it did, I was hooked.
3. Sturgill Simpson -
A Sailor's Guide to Earth
A throwback concept album that's not nearly as _fun_ as
Sturgill's "Metamodern Sounds" but probably even better from an
artistic standpoint. Nods to Motown are throughout, but there's really not a
single sound to pin down, it's truly an album worth listening to in order, in
its entirety. And his Nirvana cover kicks serious ass.
4. Shovels & Rope
- Little Seeds
I’ve loved everything from Shovels & Rope, but I really
like the first half of this album as much as anything they've done. Overall, I think
it's a big step forward from their last one ("Swimming Time") which
seemed a little rushed to capitalize on their "O' Be Joyful"
breakout. There's a lot here that invokes the White Stripes and the Kills.
5. The Lumineers -
Cleopatra
Ian's Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Kiiara- Low Kii
Savage LP
I bought the album cause I liked the Gold single, was one of
my favorites of the year, but the album was really good.
2. Bad Religion- True
North
One of my favorite all time bands, totally rocked this
album, still going after all these years
3. Santigold- 99 Cents
There some really really good songs on this record
Nesto’s Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Islands - Taste
2. Frightened Rabbit
- Painting of a Panic Attack
On heavy rotation.
3. Kishi Bashi -
Sonderlust
Everybody wants a honeybody someday.
4. The Dandy Warhols
- Distortland
Dandy's still rule, ok?
5. Miike Snow - iii
More i's please!
6. Lost Dawn - Fever
For those about to rock, we salute you.
7. Radical Face - The
Family Tree: The Leaves
A second "d" is optional.
8. Paul Cauthen - My
Gospel
Is most listened to in Houston, Stockholm, Manhattan, and
Austin. Win.
9. The Lumineers -
Cleopatra
10. Augustines - This
is Your Life
An appropriate finale scene.
11. Peter, Bjorn, and
John - Breakin' Point
*umlaut
12. Blind Pilot - And
Then Like Lions
Dan’s Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Anderson Paak,
Malibu
L.A restuvus festuvus atbestu..
2. Baauer
think homies canadia: newfound respek...but just for him
3. go go hello adele
covers
D.C (mambo, whatnot...)
4. DJ Shadow
no words diks, right
5. oddisee
6. yuksek
7. the get down
michael kiwanuka,
janelle monae; leon bridges and kamasi washinton
8. adele's hello
covers
9. trudy and the
romance
10. the tossers
played at kennedy center: bad brains; more than a Minor
Threat ;)
11. young rapids and
paperhaus
basecamp whiteboyz can play a bit
12. Nag Champa
dope DC, Future and dem
13. Lee Scratch Perry
live
February 1, 2017
Paul's Favorite Albums from 2016
1. The 1975 - I like
it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
Of all the albums released in 2016, this was the one that
caught me off guard. It's 80s synth-pop-influenced but it combines that sound
with an alternating mix of mean-spirited cynicism and beautiful bare sincerity.
Whatever it was about this album, it got its hooks in me and stayed on repeat
for at least a month... and now I'm listening to it again. I regret nothing.
2. Radiohead - A Moon
Shaped Pool
The relentless driving strings on Burn The Witch may make
for the best opening to an album in 2016, but get past that and you'll find a
quieter album that is content to lurk in the background without overwhelming
the listener. The quiet allows the impassioned singing of Thom Yorke to shine
in a way that somehow gets lost on more complex Radiohead albums. This is truly
one of their best.
3. Beyonce - Lemonade
All hail Queen Bey! A surprise album drop full of deeply
personal but instantly catchy songs? Yeah, that was pretty damn cool, but did
you see that video??? That thing is stop-you-in-your-tracks beautiful. Oh, and
Jay-Z, you better watch yourself or you're going to end up with a six-inch heel
stuck in your back.
4. Tegan and Sara-
Love You To Death
Check your cynicism at the door for this one. Love You To
Death is an album full of songs about the best parts of love, told through
synthesizers with a distinctly 80s Madonna vibe. If listening this album
doesn't give you that new-relationship feeling, you may be broken inside.
5. Frank Ocean -
Blonde
It's quiet. It's experimental in the way the best Kanye West
albums can be. It's beautiful. I'm not sure anything could have ever topped
Channel Orange but this comes damn close. Of everything that came out in 2016,
this is the album I feel like I'll get the most out of by listening to it
again.
6. Radiation City -
Synesthetica
Oh, Radiation City, you've gone and made an amazing album!
Beautifully paced; it holds back just enough to allow those moments when it
lets loose with the soaring vocals to truly stand out. How will you ever top
this? Oh, you're going to breakup and never make another album together? Yeah,
seems reasonable.
7. Frightened Rabbit
- Painting of a Panic Attack
No one sells depression and pain better than Scott
Hutchinson. If you need richly toned songs about lives half-lived, crumbling
relationships, and regrets, this album should be your first stop.
8. Candace - New
Future
The perfect amount of reverb. Crunchy and droning guitars.
Vocals that almost fade into the background. This is shoegaze at its best.
9. Summer Cannibals -
Full Of It
Fast, fierce, and over in 33 minutes.
10. Tove Lo - Lady
Wood
This is dark pop that hits hard. If I went out to a club and
True Disaster or Cool Girl, I'd wonder what the hell was wrong with DJ.
11. Kanye West - The
Life of Pablo
Tex's Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Polica - United
Crushers
Great spaced-out electronic pop that sizzles in all the
right place.
2. Flock of Dimes -
If You See Me, Say Yes
New project from Jenn Wasner, the voice of Wye Oak. She could literally screech into a hole in
the ground and I would love it. Catchy,
creative and bold album.
3. Midnight Faces -
Heavenly Bodies
Their website describes their sound as something like
futuristic outlaw hot rodder music. The
album paints a very pretty picture in this vein.
4. Aesop Rock - The
Impossible Kid
A great personal regret for 2016 is and will be missing this
show when Aesop Rock came through town.
This one may be his best yet.
5. Caveman - Otero
War
Pitchfork gave this album a pretty bad review, saying that
Caveman is about 10 years behind the times.
Pitchfork can go fuck itself.
This album is great.
6. Wild Nothing -
Life of Pause
I've been half listening to this band for years, but from
the first moments of this album, it had me on the hook.
7. Blood Orange -
Freetown Sound
This album is the perfect snapshot of life in America in
2016. Topical, moving, and just bursting
with talent.
8. The Avalanches -
Wildflower
I'll be unpacking this album for all of 2017 too. Dense with carefully curated samples and
something like 14 years in the making.
9. Niki and the Dove
-Everybody's Heart is Broken Now
Equal parts nostalgic and fresh sounding, with a dynamic
range of styles.
10. Sulk - No
Illusions
Connor's Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Saor - Guardian
Scottish Highland metal with huge, epic soundscapes mixing
in traditional instrumental music. About four minutes into the last track Tears
of a Nation, it breaks into a wall of bagpipes and metal, closing track of the
year.
2. Thrawsunblat -
Metachthonia
Perfect album from maybe the best metal band to come out of
Canada so far, just killer from start to finish.
3. Moonsorrow -
Jumalten Aika
Another sweeping, cinematic epic from Moonsorrow. These guys
are a very special band, and their dense, long format songs are packed end to
end with great moments.
4. Alcest – Kodama
Prog/post-rock shoegaze from France. These guys kind of
slept on their last couple albums, but this one is the real deal.
5. Insomnium -
Winter's Gate
Winter’s Gate is basically a single 40 minute track/concept
album, about a band of Vikings searching for a fabled island with winter fast
approaching. So pretty much an instant classic.
6. Wardruna -
Runaljold Ragnarok
If you watch Vikings, Wardruna contributes a lot of music to
the show. Really fucking cool traditional Scandinavian folk played with ancient
instruments. This album is good, their last album Yggdrasil is great.
7. Skuggsjá
A side project created by Einar Selvik from Wardruna and
Ivar Bjørnson from Enslaved. A single piece of music originally commissioned to
celebrate the 200th anniversary of Norway’s constitution. Super interesting
arrangements of folk music, ambient, spoken word, etc. Not really a casual
listen, but definitely rewarding.
8. Mare Cognitum -
Luminiferous Aether
Spacey/cosmic atmospheric black metal…created by a one man
band from Orange County of all places.
9. Harakiri for the
Sky - III: Trauma
Blackened post-rock, heavy on melancholy atmosphere,
extremely melodic.
10. Winterfylleth - A
Dark Hereafter
Classic atmospheric black metal from England. Winterfylleth
isn't breaking new ground, but they are really good at what they do.
11. Witchery - In His
Infernal Majesty's Service
Classic party thrash, the kind of album that sounds
exponentially better with every beer you crack open. Riffs on riffs, shreddy solos abound. Best
track: The Burning of Salem
12. Vindland - Hanter
Savet
Heavily influenced by Windir, buckets of riffs, incredibly
catchy, folky interludes, bouncy leads, lots of radness. Best track: Treuzwelus
13. Morthus - Over
the Dying Stars
Raw, thrashy, old school death metal at it’s best, killer
production, big riffs, crushing drums. Best track: Revelation Hunt is brimming
with radness, one of the best tracks of the year
14.High Spirits -
Motivator
Classic anthem rock inspired by the best the 80s.
15. Skyforest - Unity
Weirdly infectious mashup of post-rock, pop, and black metal
from Russia. The kind of album that
shouldn’t work, but somehow pulls it off. Best track: The Swan
Rain’s Favorite Albums from 2016
1. Mohammad -
Pèkisyon Funebri
Stony greek doom cello. Need I say more?
2. Zomes - Near
Unison
Immediately recognizable when it comes on. Also, it's a FACT
that listening to this album will make you forget that it's only Tuesday and
your state of mind will change to a chiller, happier, more carefree weekend
mode.
3. Mark Korven – The
VVitch (original soundtrack)
Witchy as fuck! Your mom, your wife and your cats will hate
it but it's spell will completely overcome you.
4. Johann Johannsson
- Arrival (original soundtrack)
It makes you aware of every cell in your body. You can feel
your folicles, the blood beneath you eyelids, your calcified fontinel. This is
a GOOD thing.
5. The Caretaker -
Everywhere At The End Of Time
"You've always been the caretaker. I should know,
sir." Know this: The Caretaker creates imagined soundtracks for the
ballroom in The Shining. It's spooky and lovely.
6. Nick Cave &
The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
A true dirge that fucking breaks my goddamn hardened heart.
7. Mogwai - Atomic
Every song is an anthem that should be played while you walk
in slow motion away from life's successes and high points.
8. Tobacco - Sweatbox
Dynasty
I'm gonna suck out your eyeball.
9. Lustmord - Dark
Matter
Embrace the dark abyss.
10. Banks &
Steelz - Anything But Words
Skinny ties. Pointy shoes. Gin 'n' juice.
11. The Stargazer
Lilies - Door To The Sun
I'm always a sucker for shoegaze and this hits the sweet
spot.
12. Moonsicles - Bay
Of Seething
This album makes me wish I smoked weed.
13. Operators - Blue
Wave
Dance your ass off while making waffles for the kids on a
Saturday morning? Don't mind if I do.
14. Your Friend -
Gumption
If I could go back 30 years and fall in love with someone
for the first time, I'm sure this would be "our album".
15. David Bowie -
Black Star
I didn't like this album. I loved the man. I listened to this
album more times than ANY other album this year and it's the only album that
made me cry again and again...
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