Joe’s Top 16 of ’16

*

Another year, another “Best Of” list. Anyone reading this knows I spend all year listening to as many albums as possible, compiling an ever changing list of all my personal favorites so I can submit a record of history to the internets to inevitably look back on with bewilderment and longing. I take it way too seriously and stress out over it for absolutely no reason what so ever and YET I love doing it and I’ll never stop. I have realized though that the older I get, the less in line I am with Pitchfork and Rolling Stone and various other music publications that provide solid year end lists so as always, “grain of salt”, “personal preference”, yada yada yada. That being said, I am including a mini list of albums everyone else loved this year that I’m just not connecting with for whatever reason because as history has shown, time can put great albums into perspective (Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange) and I might regret not giving certain albums a second or third listen (Solange, Chance the Rapper, Life Of Pablo). Regardless, all 16 of these albums spoke to me on a deep enough level to proclaim to the world how great I think they are and share them with you fine upstanding citizens and degenerates alike. RIP 2016. Smell ya later.

1. Beyoncé – Lemonade 
2. Anderson .Paak – Malibu 
3. David Bowie – Blackstar 
4. Bon Iver – 22, a Million 
5. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool 
6. Jim James – Eternally Even 
7. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here…Thank You For Your Service 
8. Jack Garratt – Phase 
9. Savages – Adore Life 
10. Frank Ocean – Blond 
11. Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered 
12. Phantogram – Three 
13. Band Of Skulls – By Default 
14. Mutemath – Changes 
15. The Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You’ve Come To Expect 
16. Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide To Earth 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Getaway
2. Rolling Stones – Blue And Lonesome
3. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
4. The Joy Formidable – Hitch
5. Lake Street Dive – Side Pony

ALBUMS I MAY REGRET OVERLOOKING

1. Solange – A Seat At The Table
2. Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
3. Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo
4. Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Denial
5. Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker