2016 Favorites: Music

Honorable Mentions:

Beatles Live at the Hollywood Bowl- even in the remaster it's still rough but it captures the spirit of Beatlemania perfectly, PainKillers- Brian Fallon, Sing Street (original soundtrack)

10. Hardwired... To Self Destruct- Metallica

The band's first album to lack any 'Power Balladry' since Kill 'Em All; unfortunately, the album could have benefited from a bit of variety.  The songs sort of bleed into one another--- not a lot of stand out tracks but pretty good for when you need something loud, fast, and hard. Possibly their thrashiest since And Justice For All...  Key Tracks: "Hardwired.... To Self Destruct", "Moth to a Flame", "Now that We're Dead", "ManUNkind"

9. Weezer (the white album)-Weezer

I think, overall, Everything Will Be Alright in the End is a much stronger album and neither really manages to match the band's earliest masterpieces but, at the end of the day, Cuomo is talented tunesmith and at least a few of the songs will be stuck in your head for days. Key Tracks: "(Girl We Got a) Good Thing", "Thank God For Girls", "Endless Bummer"

8. Revolution Radio- Green Day

Green Day's least ambitious project in a while. Overall, a bit more of the polished sound from 21st Century Breakdown but with a less ambitious overall theme. Still, the album's best tracks aim toward the more epic side of things.   Billie Joe Armstrong can still turn a clever phrase here and there and has an undeniable gift for melody and killer hooks.  Key Tracks: "Bang Bang", "Revolution Radio", "Still Breathing", "Forever Now"

7. Loud Hailer- Jeff Beck

Eric Clapton once said that Beck was the better player but he just lacked the tunes to go along with his chops.  That still remains true, however, he comes closer to achieving a unified 'band' sound here more than his other recent work. Not content to be an oldies act, Beck looks into the more recent past and manages to evoke a White Stripes/Dead Weather vibe throughout. Key Tracks: "Live in the Dark", "O.I.L.", "The Ballad of the Jersey Wives"

6. Good Times!-The Monkees

Pure nostalgia. Rivers Cuomo saved his best tune of the year for the surviving members of the Pre-Fab Four with "She Makes Me Laugh". The strongest track, the Neil Diamond penned "Love to Love", is, of course, from the band's heyday. Key Tracks: "She Makes Me Laugh", "You Bring the Summer", "Me & Magdalena", "Love to Love"

5. Death of a Bachelor- Panic! at the Disco

Part of me will always wonder what the band would have been like if Ryan Ross (the original principle songwriter) had stuck around.  As it is, the band has become Brendan Urie's own personal Nine Inch Nails. Urie's lyrics still lack Ross's bite but he may have finally nailed the punch of the hooks. Although, it is telling that the best track relies on a pretty blatant sample of the guitar riff from "Rock Lobster" Key Tracks: "Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time", "Victorious" "Crazy = Genius"


4. A Moon Shaped Pool- Radiohead

Radiohead's least ambitious release in years is also their best since In Rainbows (which basically means it's better than King of Limbs). It's my understanding that much of the album was culled from previously recorded material, however, it doesn't affect the album's ability to hold together quite well.
Key Tracks: "Burn the Witch", "The Numbers", "Present Tense"

3. Day Breaks- Norah Jones

Hailed as a return to her Jazz roots following a detour into more mainstream pop on her last two albums, the truth is it is more a fusion of those roots with her more recent pop excursions. The effect is probably her most satisfying work since her first two records.  Key Tracks: "Burn", "Day Breaks", "Fluriente Africaine (African Flower)"

2. Awaken! My Love- Childish Gambino

Donald Glover ditches Rap for Funk and R & B (real R &B) for his most successful musical project yet.

Key Tracks: "Me and Your Mama", "Boogieman", "Zombies"

1. Blackstar- David Bowie

A giant of the industry produces a fitting eulogy for himself with songs that meditate on mortality and never has there been a better final statement from an artist than "I Can't Give Everything Away". Even the album's brevity is a welcome feature in an era when albums tend to outstay their welcome by half a dozen songs. Farewell and godspeed to the man once known as Davy Jones.....
Key Tracks: "Blackstar", "Lazarus", "I can't Give Everything Away"








Favorite Tunes 2016:
The Iron Maiden/Monkees mash-up of "I'm a Believer"/"The Trooper"---- yes, I know it didn't come out this year but it is when I discovered it and it is one of my favorite things!
"She Makes Me Laugh"- The Monkees
"You are the Sunshine of My Life"- Jack White and the Muppets
"Drive it Like You Stole it"- Sing Street (the perfect lost hit from the summer of '85)