Top 79 Music Albums of 2016 by 
Skinny 
After #41 this is a complete mess (obviously I like all of these records, but they're in no kind of order whatsoever, largely because I haven't yet figured out how much I like them). Will get it sorted properly when I have the time (maybe).
- Chart updated: 06/18/2016 11:15
- (Created: 01/07/2016 17:41).
- Chart size: 79 albums.
There are 5 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 79 Music Albums of 2016 has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 7 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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It's not a genre I typically have a lot of time for, but there's something about The Hotelier's effortlessly anthemic emo - with its mature, world-weary lyrics, bright, clean production, and undeniable pop sensibilities - that I find extremely appealing. Their music feels earnest and vital, as though totally unencumbered by cliche or cloying self-awareness, recalling the heart-on-sleeves rock of The Replacements or The Hold Steady as much as any of their more obvious generic forebears. It's smart without feeling superior, ambitious without feeling self-important, nostalgic without feeling like an exercise in retrofetishism. Goodness fits alongside Mitski's Puberty 2 as an intelligent, emotionally transparent indie rock record in 2016 that doesn't need to rely on quirky, artsy flourishes to provide its thrills (not that there's anything inherently wrong with that), and the payoff is massive; this is their best yet.
[First added to this chart: 06/18/2016]
1
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More ramshackle folk-rock in the vain of Let England Shake, although this album has received far less acclaim. I guess some of the lyrics are a bit more heavy-handed here (or maybe just not removed enough from their source material), but never distractingly so. In fact, at its best, this album is catchier and more vibrant, if not quite as powerful from start to finish. Loving this particular version of Polly, however.
[First added to this chart: 06/18/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
469
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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Despite containing absolutely nothing that remotely resembles even the most subtle or tenuous of original ideas, there's something extremely comforting about this record. Nods to The Band, Neil Young, and that sort of chunky, warm, soulful, educated working class, long drives on sunny days, effortless and ever-so-slightly drunken country-tinged rock music that seemingly every bearded male in America used to specialise in just prior to punk, music that could soundtrack the cliched freewheeling early scenes of a fake rock band biopic, before all the drugs take over and the whole thing takes a decidedly darker turn. Been listening to this quite a lot in the last couple of days, especially in social situations, because it's very much a summer record, and because it seemingly pleases everybody, probably due to that wonderful familiarity that appears to put people immediately at ease. I'm not usually a fan of these sorts of earnest retro romps, but there's something completely loveable about this.
[First added to this chart: 06/18/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
971
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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This is gloomy, organic, borderline ambient electronic ish that kind of sounds like Nils Frahm reimagined by Actress. Lots of oscillating drones buzz underneath, sounding not unlike treated cello, whilst the percussion here is earthy and drenched in reverb, giving the whole album a tribal feel. This album is at its best when its compositions are given a bit of oomph, though the slower passages help to cultivate a vaguely ominous feeling that something bad is going to happen. Not much space is left as various distorted whirs and thuds are stacked atop each other, but it never feels as though things are getting out of control. In spite of everything going on they are always able to construct something tangible out of the rubble, and it makes for a beautifully warped collection of trip-hop-leaning tunes.
Label: Other People [First added to this chart: 02/17/2016]
Label: Other People [First added to this chart: 02/17/2016]
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On which our heroes GO POP!, eschewing their previously oblique compositions in favour of something genuinely catchy, adding synthetic 808 beats, clear female vocals, and cello to their unholy mix. They are still The Body, and this is still pretty antisocial stuff (as a brief foray into overwhelming power electronics proves), largely defined by all-encompassing, soaring doom metal chords and thundering drums, as well as by their now-trademark rooster-esque shrieking, but gone are the forays into dark, structureless, drone passages and angular, almost rhythm-less improvisations, replaced by more recognisable structures. It would be easy to miss the more outwardly experimental nature of earlier works if this wasn't so fucking good. It is harsh and lonely and extremely dynamic, and it stands as my favourite album by the group so far - an entirely unexpected success.
Label: Thrill Jockey [First added to this chart: 02/15/2016]
Label: Thrill Jockey [First added to this chart: 02/15/2016]
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Improvised ambient jams, recorded straight to tape, that take in elements of Basinski's rotting loops and '80s gothic pop at its most desolate. There's a feeling of isolation that pervades throughout, like being lost in the ocean of sinister shoegazey reverb that makes up much of the album's canvas. Its most arresting moments are when fragments of melodies start to flicker through the blinds, and when the crudely buried, disembodied vocals arrive, giving the album a feeling of unfeeling, a numbness that suggests apathy. That's not to say that the album isn't hopeful or human, though, and the final track builds itself up in layers that feel like an overwhelming sunrise or waking from paralysis. It's a wonderful journey that balances dark and light very successfully.
Label: Blackest Ever Black [First added to this chart: 02/04/2016]
Label: Blackest Ever Black [First added to this chart: 02/04/2016]
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Post-DJ Mustard, West Coast party rap, but a bit less neon lighting and more skeletal g-funk kinda thing. She has an infectious confidence, and crafts immediately catchy hooks with consummate ease. This is super accessible - it's my girlfriend's favourite album of the year outside of Lemonade (and, surprisingly, Konnichiwa), and she hates most of the things I listen to - and is perfect for soundtracking barbecues.
[First added to this chart: 06/18/2016]
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Howes uses modular synths to make these really calm, quasi-ambient tracks that kind of flirt with house and techno but aren't necessarily targeted towards dancefloors. His stuff has a really homely, close vibe, which may come from the fact that he records from his synths straight onto cassette, and something about it feels really personal. It's melodic without putting too much emphasis on being easy to cling to, kind of stuck in purgatory between the sort of thing Caribou deals in (i.e. warm, fuzzy electronica that appeals to indie fans) and the more experimental, warped side of the house music spectrum (i.e. the resignedly dirty beats that Kassem Mosse and the rest of the Workshop crew peddle), but it has a certain homespun charm that certainly appeals, and a tinny, relatable tone that makes it extremely accessible.
Label: Melodic Records [First added to this chart: 02/04/2016]
Label: Melodic Records [First added to this chart: 02/04/2016]
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Urheim has this American primitivist guitar thing going on, but with a much more kosmische bent. There's a couple of loveably goofy vocal tracks here, but he really shines when he's crafting laidback, slowly unfurling soundscapes with a variety of gently meowing string instruments.
[First added to this chart: 06/18/2016]
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Quiet, considered, piano/sax duo that snake in and out of each other tastefully and craft some really subtle, gorgeous tunes. There are some more jarring, idiosyncratic moments throughout, especially during the latter half of the record, but they are always done in a disciplined manner and never get in the way of the album's vibe. It could be argued (semantically, at least, though it's clearly not true) that tightly controlled free jazz is something of an oxymoron, but I think the description applies here.
[First added to this chart: 06/18/2016]
Total albums: 79. Page 3 of 8
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Top 79 Music Albums of 2016 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Boosie Badazz | 4 | 5% | |
| Future (Rap) | 2 | 3% | |
| Drake | 1 | 1% | |
| Sophia Loizou | 1 | 1% | |
| Paint | 1 | 1% | |
| The Body | 1 | 1% | |
| Gallant | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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41 | 52% | |
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15 | 19% | |
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8 | 10% | |
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3 | 4% | |
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3 | 4% | |
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2 | 3% | |
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2 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 79 Music Albums of 2016 chart changes
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Other year charts (from the 2010s) by Skinny
Top 100 Music Albums of 2019 by Skinny (2019)Top 40 Music Albums of 2018 by
Skinny (2018)Top 50 Music Albums of 2017 by
Skinny (2017)Top 100 Music Albums of 2015 by
Skinny (2015)Top 100 Music Albums of 2014 by
Skinny (2015)Top 79 Music Albums of 2016 ratings
87/100 (from 7 votes)
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N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 7 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
85/100  | 06/30/2017 20:21 |  bobbyb5 | | 90/100 |
75/100 | 02/10/2017 18:22 | dgarr22 | | 89/100 |
95/100 | 12/27/2016 02:55 |  phantom1305 | | 92/100 |
 70/100 | 06/08/2016 18:08 |  mickilennial | | 77/100 |
| 95/100 | 05/05/2016 14:59 |  RockyRaccoon | | 90/100 |
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Top 79 Music Albums of 2016 comments
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85/100
From bobbyb5 06/30/2017 20:22
bobbyb5 06/30/2017 20:22
Gold Panda!!!! Mr. Fingers!!!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
75/100
From dgarr22 02/10/2017 18:21
(I usually end up rating year lists lower, but I just don't see some of my favs here, like A Tribe Called Quest, or the other fantastic rap albums this year, or say carseat headrest
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
cestuneblague 07/19/2016 02:51
cestuneblague 07/19/2016 02:51
Yeah delectable as always for the endless stream of great recs and all the groovy jives my homie, anyways can't wait for the next update as well as your thoughts on Centres, and of course FDT
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
GeevyDallas 02/16/2016 23:22
GeevyDallas 02/16/2016 23:22
seen in your log you were looking for recs. skee mask and gunnar haslam's albums are both sick and worth checking out. cadell's album too.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
meccalecca 02/16/2016 16:40
meccalecca 02/16/2016 16:40
I will be coming here to pilfer frequently
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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