Best Of 2016... Year End

[K94]

Finally doneeee:

1. Hotter Than Hell – Dua Lipa
2. Into You – Ariana Grande
3. Formation - Beyonce
4. Work From Home – Fifth Harmony
5. I’m In Control – AlunaGeorge ft. Popcaan
6. Who Do You Think Of? – M.O.
7. That’s My Girl – Fifth Harmony
8. Sorry - Beyonce
9. Lush Life – Zara Larsson
10. Cruel – Snakehips ft. Zayn
11. You Don’t Know Love – Olly Murs
12. In Common – Alicia Keys
13. All Night - Beyonce
14. Kiss It Better - Rihanna
15. Cake By The Ocean - DNCE
16. Never Ever –Royksopp ft Susanne Sundfor
17. Cool Girl – Tove Lo
18. Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd
19. Drone Bomb Me - Anohni
20. Cranes In The Sky - Solange
21. Fuck Apologies – Jojo ft. Wiz Khalifa
22. Make Me (Ooh) – Britney Spears ft. G-Eazy
23. Like I Would - Zayn
24. Touch – Little Mix
25. Slumber Party – Britney Spears ft. Tinashe
26. False Alarm – The Weeknd
27. Ain’t My Fault – Zara Larsson
28. Blow Your Mind (Mwah) – Dua Lipa
29. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
30. I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
31. Sexual - NEIKED
32. Thinking of You - Mabel
33. NO – Meghan Trainor
34. Somebody Else – The 1975
35. Side To Side – Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj
36. Genghis Khan – Miike Snow
37. This Ain’t Over – Alex Newell
38. A Love Song - Ladyhawke
39. Work – Rihanna ft. Drake
40. Befour – Zayn
41. Tilted –Christine and the Queens
42. Hold Up - Beyonce
43. Starboy – The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
44. Drop – Chloe x Halle
45. Cheap Thrills – Sia ft. Sean Paul
46. Make Me (Cry) – Noah Cyrus ft. Labrinth
47. Cold Water – Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MO
48. Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
49. Be The One – Dua Lipa
50. Hymn For The Weekend - Coldplay

1-3 are pretty much interchangeable but some seriously great singles all-round!

 

[sfmartin]

I've been purposely ignoring this thread while I've been compiling and writing wanky pontification about my faves of the year, mostly because I already have enough of a backlog of things to listen to thankyouverymuch, and things I haven't listened to nearly enough yet to know how I truly feel about them. Hence the conspicuous absences of the likes of the Knowles sisters in my lists, I just haven't given Lemonade and A Seat at the Table and about 25-30 other albums enough time yet. So as of today, here and now these are my best of 2016 lists. I'll put them under spoiler tags because of how extra I've been.

ALBUMS:

Spoiler

1. ANOHNI - Hopelessness
Two artists in particular this year released albums about the state of the world at large. Whereas PJ Harvey's The Hope Six Demolition Project took a more journalistic point of view, Hopelessness went for the direct approach. ANOHNI channels her rage and disappointment at the likes of drone warfare and conflict, global warming and the Obama administration. Heavy going, were it not for the pristine and frequently beautiful electronic soundscapes fashioned around ANOHNI's bruised and often combative vocals by collaborators Hudson Mohawke and Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never).

Listen to: The whole thing.

2. Shura - Nothing's Real
A debut I'd eagerly awaited since hearing Touch and Just Once in 2014, Shura's Nothing's Real is the album I wish I'd had to clutch lovingly to my chest when I was a sexually confused, anxiety-riddled teen. If you've only room in your heart for one 80's pop indebted album this year, make it this one (sorry Tegan & Sara).

Listen to: The whole thing.

3. Chairlift - Moth
Melding Caroline Polachek's cut glass vocals and the duo's twitchy, angular songwriting to a mix of funk and pop has resulted in their strongest and most direct collection to date. You'd be hard pressed to find a better run of three tracks this year than the pure adrenaline rush of Romeo, clattering Ch-Ching and glittering celestial ballad Crying in Public.

Listen to: Romeo, Ch-Ching, Crying in Public, Moth to the Flame

4. Låpsley - Long Way Home
Holly Fletcher's Long Way Home is another debut long in the making (her first released recordings date back to 2013). An album of meticulously crafted, icy electronic ballads with flashes of big yearning pop moments. Also, Operator is THAT disco bop of the year.

Listen to: Hurt Me, Falling Short, Operator, Love is Blind

5. Kristin Kontrol - X-Communicate
I was never a huge fan of Dum Dum Girls. They always had an air of being too cool for school without strong material to back it up. So with lead Dum Dum Girl, Kristin (nee Dee Dee), announcing a solo album I wasn't the most excited to listen. But I'm glad I did. Otherwise I'd have missed out on an impeccably curated collection of New Wave-inspired gems.

Listen to: Show Me, X-Communicate, Skin Shed, Smoke Rings

6. The Jezabels - Synthia
After two albums of perfectly acceptable indie rock, Australian group add synths to their palette, make best work to date.

Listen to: Stand and Deliver, My Love is My Disease, Unnatural, Pleasure Drive

7. Sin Fang - Spaceland
With a little help from his friends, Iceland's Sindri Már Sigfússon creates sad and beautiful electro-pop song cycle.

Listen to: Candyland (feat. Jonsi), Not Ready For Your Love, Never Let Me Go (feat. Soley), Please Don't (feat. Farao)

8. Highasakite - Camp Echo
This year has been surprisingly bereft of rewarding Scandipop. Loreen, Robyn and iamamiwhoami, what's good? One album that did scratch that particular itch was Highasakite's third, Camp Echo. The warm nostalgic glow of previous album Silent Treatment is burnt out, all left in its place is a dark, uneasy heart. The impassioned vocals of frontwoman Ingrid sell the material, launching it skywards.

Listen to: Samurai Swords, Someone Who'll Get It, My Mind is a Bad Neighbourhood, I am My Own Disease

9. Emmy The Great - Second Love
Emma-Lee Moss's third album under the name Emmy The Great is a collection of gentle human studies with our relationship with modern technology a recurring theme. Her adding keyboards and electronic elements to her previously acoustic sound helps bring Second Love to life. Swimming Pool featuring the throaty warblings of Wild Beasts' Tom Fleming is an ethereal masterpiece.

Listen to: Swimming Pool, Algorithm, Constantly, Social Halo

10. Julia Jacklin - Don't Let The Kids Win
From the school of Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten comes Aussie Julia Jacklin's debut album. Guitar strapped to her waist, she takes wry looks at love, growing older and domesticity. So far, so standard, but her humourous and often poignant lyrics and emotive voice set her apart from other young singer/songwriters.

Listen to: Pool Party, Leadlight, Coming of Age, Motherland

11. Laura Mvula - The Dreaming Room
12. Rihanna - ANTi
13. Sia - This Is Acting
14. Nils Bech - Echo
15. Clare Maguire - Stranger Things Have Happened
16. The 1975 - i like it when you sleep etc etc
17. Nadia Nair - Beautiful Poetry
18. BROODS - Conscious
19. How To Dress Well - Care
20. JONES - New Skin

EPS:

Spoiler

1. Kitten - Heaven or Somewhere in Between
Like the soundtrack to a lost John Hughes movie, Kitten's Heaven or Somewhere in Between is shamelessly in thrall to the cooler parts of the 1980's. The same decade that has been plundered incessantly thousands of times already, but when it inspires tracks that sound as good as Fall on Me and Church, who cares?

Listen to: Fall on Me, Church

2. Anna Straker - Serious
3. Vera Blue - Fingertips
4. Chloe x Halle - Sugar Symphony
5. Diane Birch - NOUS
6. HANA - HANA
7. Lizzo - Coconut Oil
8. serpentwithfeet - blisters
9. Ta-ku & Wafia - (m)EDIAN
10. Kelsey Lu - Church

TRACKS:

Spoiler

1. Röyksopp - Never Ever (feat. Susanne Sundfør)

2. ANOHNI - Drone Bomb Me

3. Clare Maguire - Elizabeth Taylor

4. Austra - Utopia

5. Låpsley - Operator
6. Julia Jacklin - Pool Party
7. Beyonce - Formation
8. Shura - What's It Gonna Be?
9. BETSY - Wanted More
10. Kristin Kontrol - X-Communicate
11. Highasakite - Someone Who'll Get It
12. Pixx - Grip
13. Anna Straker - Serious
14. The Jezabels - Stand and Deliver
15. Sia - House on Fire
16. How To Dress Well - Lost Youth / Lost You
17. Lawrence Rothman - H
18. Rihanna - Kiss It Better
19. Alicia Keys - In Common
20. Blood Orange - Hadron Collider

Thank you so much for this list, for the last week I have been discovering so much amazing music that I wasn't aware of before! Flawless taste

 

[DJHazey]

What a panel of PJ voters decided were the Top 20 for 2016:

Songs:

1) Ariana Grande - Into You
2) Fifth Harmony - Work From Home
3) Beyoncé - Formation
4) Rihanna - Kiss It Better
5) Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion
6) Britney Spears - Do You Wanna Come Over?
7) Ariana Grande - Greedy
8) Carly Rae Jepsen - Higher
9) Shura - What's It Gonna Be?
10) Ariana Grande - Be Alright
11) Röyksopp ft. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
12) Britney Spears ft. Tinashe - Slumber Party
13) The 1975 - Somebody Else
14) Solange - Cranes In The Sky
15) Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
16) Beyoncé - All Night
17) Allie X - That's So Us
18) Tegan And Sara - Boyfriend
19) Britney Spears - Make Me...
20) Beyoncé - Sorry

Albums:

1) Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
2) Britney Spears - Glory
3) Beyoncé - Lemonade
4) Rihanna - ANTI
5) Fifth Harmony - 7/27
6) Shura - Nothing's Real
7) Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION Side B
8) Lady Gaga - Joanne
9) Zayn - Mind Of Mine
10) The Weekend - Starboy
11) Tegan And Sara - Love You To Death
12) Solange - A Seat At The Table
13) Tove Lo - Lady Wood
14) Frank Ocean - Blonde
15) Gwen Stefani - This Is What The Truth Feels Like
16) BANKS - The Altar
17) Mitski - Puberty 2
18) The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep...
19) SHINee - 1 Of 1
20) Delta Goodrem - Wings Of The Wild

 

[NecessaryVoodoo]

Thank you so much for this list, for the last week I have been discovering so much amazing music that I wasn't aware of before! Flawless taste

Ooh this is really nice, thank you! Me and my ego would very much like to hear about what you've discovered from my lists sometime xx

 

[Former member 21294]

Ooh this is really nice, thank you! Me and my ego would very much like to hear about what you've discovered from my lists sometime xx

I discovered Emmy The Great from your list and i really enjoyed her record.The song she did with the guy from Wild Beasts is completely mesmerizing.

 

[AshleyKerwin]

Here's my 2016 favorites list. I have a runner up list coming out soon but I'm still putting the order together. I wrote it on my blog first. I think there are a few run ons or no transitions in some paragraphs but anyway:

1) Rihanna- Anti
Before Anti, I thought the best thing Rihanna would put her name on was Reb’l Fleur, a perfume I tried out at Sears once (okay, her last three moments had fleeting moments of greatness that were undoubtedly the result of no quality control and rushing to get them out quickly). This campaign didn’t get any help at all from the bad pre album singles and the messy Diary whatever. When this album came out, and I heard that Tidal was giving it away for free, I was confused, rolled my eyes, and downloaded it anyway. I was in shock by how much I liked the album when I listened to it on my commute the next morning. Although very little was immediate, you could tell there was way more focus and effort on this. Even months later, awkward duds that could’ve sink Loud or Unapologetic like Sex with Me have grown and become enjoyable. I think what makes this album work the most, without a doubt, is the variety. I didn’t have to swap it out at all at any point in the year. While most of the songs are either about relationships or professional growth, the genres are everywhere. Dancehall, dub, doo wop, acoustic, psychedelic, 80’s power ballads, regular ballads, and neo soul all are found throughout the album, even on the same song.
2) Kristin Kontrol- X Communicate
This is the best of the 80’s inspired indie albums post Emotion. She’s probably between Carly Rae Jepsen and Kitten on the “dance vs indie” scale (so maybe Tegan and Sara?). Sure, Kristin is a Sub Pop musician with a background in indie rock, but this solo album has all her pop influences shining through. I can listen to the album constantly without getting bored. Also, if you have a chance to see her, you should definitely go. I’m biased because I did see her (lol) but we met her after the show and talked and she’s so nice and cool. It was my first meet and greet (can you call it that if that’s the merch stand?) but she talked with us and was enthusiastic and helped count my change lol. The title track, Skin Shed, and White Street (aka the Tom’s Diner of our generation) are my personal favorites.
3) Jessy Lanza- Oh No
Electronic whisper queen. Reinvents her sound through minimal 80’s inspire arcade noise bops. It’s hard to describe all the songs individually but this time she skipped the ballads and downtempo for something with more of a pulse. The title track, sarcastic VV Violence, and It Means I Love You are my personal stand out tracks.
4) Tinashe- Night Ride
My fall 2016 professional album. It chronicles her struggles at RCA throughout the making of Joyride with edgy, dark, electronic R&B. Lots of people say this but this is genuinely for her fans. This album consists of Tinashe coming to terms that combining artistic integrity and success will be more difficult than she initially imagined, through songs like C’est La Vie, Sunburn, Sacrifices, and You Don’t Know Me. She managed to find a home for all of the fake lead singles over the last year, like Party Favors, Ride of Your Life, and Company, but updated them to make it more relevant and at least serve us something a little more fresh (all the instant grat single people can learn from Tinashe). I even love High Speed Chase (she needs to make a full length version as a lead single for the next Teen Dystopian movie soundtrack. Maybe even Passengers?). There are still more (somber, electronic) bops like Spacetime and Touch Pass. This won’t be the album to end Tinashe’s commercial problems or get her into RCA’s priority promotion agenda, but at least fans are reassured that even after songs like an insipid Chris Brown duet, she can still make great music that stays true to herself.
5) Solange- A Seat at the Table
My taste in Solange was informed by others. I never knew she put music out until 2014, maybe, and I just assumed it wasn’t worth listening to so I never did. Last year, I really got into True, which she somewhat doesn’t like because Blood Orange overshadowed her during the creative process and has the flack of being her “hipster album” instead of the “real” Solange (okay, but if none of your albums are that similar and you take 4 year breaks in between each cycle, it’s too hard to notice a trend). I didn’t expect another album from her for a while and I was surprised when it came out. Obviously, it’s a little similar on its first listen, but each song has a lot of weight to it. Cranes in the Sky, a song about coping mechanisms, is the stand out single, but my personal favorites include Don’t Wish Me Well, a song with fuzzy guitars (are they guitars? I never was good in music class. I’m calling them guitars) that alludes to people who are unhappy with you growing and changing in your life (aka us Blood Orange hipsters), and Borderline, a song about taking time off for your own sanity.
6) Garbage- Strange Little Birds
Strange Little Birds was true to its advertising of dark, creepy,and cinematic music. Besides Empty, nothing is a first time listen. Really, I think it was a smart strategy to have the most generic song as the lead single so people would be shocked by how it turned out to be. I don’t think their first album could happen today because of how expensive recording is and that style of production with heavy sampling and mixing everything possible being expensive/outdating, but this was basically an album full of more downtempo stuff (I guess more generic versions of Milk and Queer). Magnetized is probably the happiest song on the album. Night Drive Loneliness feels like a Halloween soundtrack song that lives up to its title. Teaching Little Fingers to Play, another random favorite of mine, can be used for any supernatural show that has a Wizard/Witch/Slayer academy. Sometimes feels like a lost film noir intro that becomes into a heartbeat noise.
7) Kilo Kish- Reflections in Real Time
Left wave alternative R&B. Reinvents herself from “basic” alt R&B (Locket is still iconic though) to spoken word minimalism. Her lyrics reflect a lot of existential, unique, and personal insights. Titles like “The Fears of a Dilettante”, “Existential Crisis Hour”, and “Age + Self Esteem: Fun House Mirror” let you know you’re in for a ride not unlike The Bell Jar. Hello, Lakisha is the only name song I’ve heard that isn’t gimmicky or celebratory.
8) Childish Gambino- Awaken, My Love!
I didn’t even know this album was dropping until I decided to listen to it while procrastinating for finals and I loved it. It sounds like it’s right out of the 70’s with Baby Boy, Zombies, and other songs. I never listened to Childish Gambino (The Community fandom was insufferable and it took me until early 2016 to stop rage scrolling any mention of Childish Gambino. It’s weird because I almost entirely forgot about this when I started watching Atlanta in September) before but this is a pastiche album that I’ll listen to for a while.
9) Britney Spears- Glory
Just like Obama, Glory had the unfortunate placement of following an extremely mishandled mess and needing to bring it up to speed with its Scandinavian counterparts. Fortunately, Britney did everything short of reinventing herself as an IDM queen (although I still stan the fan made album Bare from last year) to deliver a solid album that takes risks. Is every song on it perfect? No, but there’s like 18 tracks from this era so you can have a solid 10-12 track album regardless of your tastes. Critics might say it’s a Justin and Julia by the numbers abum. Just like Revival, it has lots of vague tropical house and club bangers, but unlike Revival, Glory is aware of Britney’s vocals and don’t subject her (or us) to such humiliation. Just stay away from unaminous flops like Private Show, Clumsy, and What You Need and you’ll be set. Thanks to Karen Kwak for having more musical taste than Will.I.Am.
10) Beyonce- Lemonade
Here’s a disclaimer, I went from being anti Beyonce’s stans to appreciating and recognizing her talent after her self titled. I like songs by her, but let’s put it this way. Lemonade isn’t on Spotify and I waited until December to rent it from my local library. I listened to it and it’s definitely the best performance of 2016, musically and visually. That being said, I don’t care for the ballads so it knocks the album down for me. Is it still great? Yes, the uptempos (and All Night and Love Drought) are all at least 8/10’s for me, so that’s still good. My favorite parts of her self titled are the experimental (**for Beyonce) moments. After 2 albums of ballads and midtempos, songs like No Angel, 7/11 and Haunted (does Partition count?) stood out to me as courageous and bold, and I’m glad you can see that in Six Inch, Sorry, Formation, and Don’t Hurt Yourself. I realize this is more of an “it’s okay I GUESS” review and I have it more here for fear of backlash but yeah. I’m sure Sorry and Don’t Hurt Yourself will supply my next FOMO induced rage, while Six Inch will sound great while I shovel.

 

[Uno]

I only included singles (and promo singles) - if I were to do straight up songs, the Top 9 would be all of Side-B.


1. Into You - Ariana Grande
2. Formation - Beyoncé
3. The Big Big Beat - Azealia Banks
4. That's My Girl - Fifth Harmony
5. Blow Your Mind (Mwah) - Dua Lipa
6. Side To Side - Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj
7. Ain't My Fault - Zara Larsson
8. Honey - Katy B ft. KAYTRANADA
9. Never Ever - Royksopp ft. Susanne Sundfor
10. Cool Girl - Tove Lo
11. Cruel - Foxes
12. Real Love - Florrie
13. Cheap Thrills - Sia ft. Sean Paul
14. Supernatural - Danny L. Harle ft. Carly Rae Jepsen
15. This Girl - Kings & Cookin' on 3 Burners
16. NO - Meghan Trainor
17. Human - Rosie Lowe
18. Starboy - The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
19. Hotter Than Hell - Dua Lipa
20. So Much It Hurts - Nikki & The Dove
21. Ashes of Love - Danny L. Harle ft. Caroline Polachek
22. Perfect Illusion - Lady Gaga
23. One Strike - All Saints
24. One Dance - Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla
25. Mean What I Mean - AlunaGeorge ft. Leikeli47 & Freezy
26. X-Communicate - Kristin Kontrol
27. Love Me Like That - Knocks ft. Carly Rae Jepsen
28. Chewing Gum - Nina Nesbit
29. Work - Rihanna ft. Drake
30. Do You Wanna Come Over - Britney Spears
31. Bonbon - Era Istrefi
32. Sink Like A Stone - Naomi Pilgrim
33. All In My Head (Flex) - Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap
34. Thinking of You - Mabel
35. Girls Like - Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson
36. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele
37. Basically Over You - Alex Newell
38. Secret Love Song - Little Mix ft. Jason Derulo
39. Superlove - Tinashe
40. Do It Right - Martin Sloveig ft. Tkay Maidza

 

[Michael17]

Albums

1. Hinds – Leave Me Alone
2. Petite Meller - Lil Empire
3. Lady GaGa – Joanne
4. Christine & the Queens - Chaleur humaine
5. Britney Spears – Glory
6. Solange - A Seat at the Table
7. Rihanna – ANTI
8. Kate Tempest - Let Them Eat Chaos
9. Roísín Murphy - Take Her Up to Monto
10. Fifth Harmony – 7/27
11. Tove Lo - Lady Wood

 

[Former member 21294]

If i had done this today, Fantome and Awaken My Love would have made it to my top 10.Perfect records.

 

[NecessaryVoodoo]

If i had done this today, Fantome and Awaken My Love would have made it to my top 10.Perfect records.

Me and Cosima's South Of Heaven teebs.

I played myself by making my list just a bit too early.

 

[eccentricsimply]

I forgot to include it but Christina Aguilera's Telepathy is an amazing song, it still holds up and people are still loving it.

 

[K94]

Finally doneeee:

1. Hotter Than Hell – Dua Lipa
2. Into You – Ariana Grande
3. Formation - Beyonce
4. Work From Home – Fifth Harmony
5. I’m In Control – AlunaGeorge ft. Popcaan
6. Who Do You Think Of? – M.O.
7. That’s My Girl – Fifth Harmony
8. Sorry - Beyonce
9. Lush Life – Zara Larsson
10. Cruel – Snakehips ft. Zayn
11. You Don’t Know Love – Olly Murs
12. In Common – Alicia Keys
13. All Night - Beyonce
14. Kiss It Better - Rihanna
15. Cake By The Ocean - DNCE
16. Never Ever –Royksopp ft Susanne Sundfor
17. Cool Girl – Tove Lo
18. Black Beatles – Rae Sremmurd
19. Drone Bomb Me - Anohni
20. Cranes In The Sky - Solange
21. Fuck Apologies – Jojo ft. Wiz Khalifa
22. Make Me (Ooh) – Britney Spears ft. G-Eazy
23. Like I Would - Zayn
24. Touch – Little Mix
25. Slumber Party – Britney Spears ft. Tinashe
26. False Alarm – The Weeknd
27. Ain’t My Fault – Zara Larsson
28. Blow Your Mind (Mwah) – Dua Lipa
29. 24K Magic – Bruno Mars
30. I Feel It Coming – The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
31. Sexual - NEIKED
32. Thinking of You - Mabel
33. NO – Meghan Trainor
34. Somebody Else – The 1975
35. Side To Side – Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj
36. Genghis Khan – Miike Snow
37. This Ain’t Over – Alex Newell
38. A Love Song - Ladyhawke
39. Work – Rihanna ft. Drake
40. Befour – Zayn
41. Tilted –Christine and the Queens
42. Hold Up - Beyonce
43. Starboy – The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
44. Drop – Chloe x Halle
45. Cheap Thrills – Sia ft. Sean Paul
46. Make Me (Cry) – Noah Cyrus ft. Labrinth
47. Cold Water – Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MO
48. Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
49. Be The One – Dua Lipa
50. Hymn For The Weekend - Coldplay

1-3 are pretty much interchangeable but some seriously great singles all-round!

Might have to revise this because I forgot these bops!

 

[MollieSwift21]

My favorite overall song of 2016

 

[Michael17]

My list of Top 50 songs (50-31)

31. M.I.A. – “Ali r u ok?”
32. Mitski – “Happy”
33. All Saints – “Red Flag”
34. Lady GaGa – “Hey Girl” feat Florence Welch
35. Fonkynson feat Le Couleur – “Caresse”
36. Tove Lo – “Cool Girl”
37. Little Mix – “Touch”
38. Roísín Murphy – “Pretty Gardens”
39. Flume – “Say It” feat. Tove Lo
40. Hinds – “Fat Calmed Kiddos”
41. Femme – “Romeo”
42. Jessy Lanza – “Oh No”
43. Grace – “Say”
44. Britney Spears – “Do You Wanna Come Over?”
45. Kate Tempest – “Lionmouth Door Knocker”
46. Fifth Harmony – “That’s My Girl”
47. M.I.A. – “Bird Song” (Diplo Remix)
48. Grace – “Church on Sunday”
49. Rihanna – “Yeah, I Said It”
50. Deap Valley – “Gonnawanna”

 

[beyoncésweave]

Oh and @beyoncésweave it's 2017 hen.

I was waiting for @LE0Night and @eccentricsimply to finish ghostwriting my lists.

Also ... I cheated.




ALBUMS | < 2016 >

01 | Beyoncé – Lemonade | Solange – A Seat At The Table
Two projects of breathtaking ambition that deconstruct and reconstruct the very idea of narrative across personal, familial, communal and historical lines. Exceptional artistry that challenges what an album can be as a storytelling device – lithographing personal trial in textured, meticulous detail and rechanneling it through stunning visualisation as collective tribulation. As two artists, they push their already formidable vocal, songwriting and performative talents to arresting heights. As two black women, they rupture the world. Oh, and apparently they’re sisters? (+, + | +)
►“All Night”, “Pray You Catch Me”, “Freedom”
►“Cranes In The Sky”, “Weary”, “Mad”

03 | Shura – Nothing's Real
Queer introversion – and the many shades of insecurity and indecision therein – captured in thoughtful, gorgeous analogue; undeniable pop instincts bringing to shimmery life endearing ruminations on identity and memory. Damn straight it’s *glittering electro-pop melancholia*, superlatively so. (+)
► “White Light”, “2Shy”, “Touch”

04 | All Saints – Red Flag
The year’s most unexpectedly beautiful surprise. A lush, poignant album which plays at the edges of the pop-R&B canon with an unfussed assurance. It also doubles very quietly as a neat, empowering sidestep of girlband trope and fate, all the more moving because of their own history. Their best, delivered like they never left at all. (+)
► “PIECES” (+), “One Strike”, “Red Flag”

05 | Laura Mvula – The Dreaming Room
A magisterial work of frighteningly sharp focus, capturing the journey from grief to resolution in plush allegory. A soundscape that exists entirely in its own time and space, with interiors that are as velvety smooth as they are opaquely onyx. In an imagined conversation between herself and her nan, “Nan” encourages Laura to “write a song that can lift me spirits. Write a song I can jig me foot”. She did, and then some.
► “Overcome”, “Phenomenal Woman”, "Show Me Love"

06 | KING – We Are KING
A florid, organic terrain created through slow-burning and imaginative funk, groove and soul, and brought to fluttering, breathing life by a trinity of luxuriant, honeyed voices. There are barely any discernible song breaks across the seamless assemblage, but the dreamy, beguiling savour lingers, intoxicates.
► “Red Eye”, “The Greatest”, "Oh, Please!"

07 | Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION: Side B
The most delightful victory lap. Her sharp, inventive pop instincts are rendered – in sharp, concise fashion – emphatically unimpeachable. She leaves heartbreak reverberating, pop music giddily joyful and feeling itself in warm technicolour. (+)
► “ROSES” (+), “Fever”, “Store”

08 | Zayn – Mind of Mine
Such a deep recession into the self to unearth an embarrassment of ponderous riches. Each song is held down by the weight of consideration and burden, just as they are lifted by an imaginative, distracted levity. It all hangs together in mid-air like hazy, layered smoke just before midnight; dazedly, alluringly romantic.
► “Befour”, “Rear View”, “Drunk”

09 | Josef Salvat – Night Swim
Brooding, angst-ridden pop with an ear for exultation and comedown in equal measure that, as a collection, creates superbly proficient atmosphere: desire, yearning and self-importance all unfolding across a heady, red wine-soaked, sea breeze-tempered night.
► “Open Season”, “Constant Runners”, “Night Swim”

10 | Tycho – Epoch
Succinct, incrementally layered gems, arousing tendrils of wistfulness and painting up a late summer sky with gathering clouds in the distance; all muted golds, oranges and violets, backlit by a discomforting grey. A wordless simile for this age.
► "Field", “Epoch”, "Horizon"

11 | Salt Ashes – Salt Ashes (#BUYSALTASHESONITUNES)
► “Save It”, “If You Let Me Go”

12 | Rihanna – ANTi
► “Kiss It Better”, “Love On The Brain”

13 | Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman
► “Into You”, “Moonlight”

14 | Blood Orange – Freetown Sound
► “Augustine”, “Best To You”

15 | Moderat – III
► “Eating Hooks”, “Finder”


Oooh, this year.

 

[beyoncésweave]

< 2016 > | SINGLES

(+) “All Night” – Beyoncé | “Cranes In The Sky” – Solange | 01
(+) “One Strike” – All Saints | 03
(+) “Kiss It Better” – Rihanna | 04
“Thinking Of You” – Mabel | 05
(+) “Befour” – Zayn | 06
(+) “Never Ever” – Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør | 07
“Old Friends” – Pinegrove | 08
“Hardcore Heartbreak” – Cilia | 09
“That’s My Girl” – Fifth Harmony | “Freedun” – M.I.A feat. Zayn | 10

“Save It” – Salt Ashes | 12
“Overcome” – Laura Mvula feat. Nile Rodgers | 13
ΝΝΝ “Breathing Underwater” – Emeli Sandé | 14
“Into You” – Ariana Grande | 15


Same.​

 

[eccentricsimply]

08 | Zayn – Mind of Mine
Such a deep recession into the self to unearth an embarrassment of ponderous riches. Each song is held down by the weight of consideration and burden, just as they are lifted by an imaginative, distracted levity. It all hangs together in mid-air like hazy, layered smoke just before midnight; dazedly, alluringly romantic.
► “Befour”, “Rear View”, “Drunk”

Okay but not even I could write something this beautiful about Mind of Mine.

 

[Metal Heart]

I wanted to post my first message here first,because this thread made me discover so many great records.So i appreciate every one of these lists and fancy graphics,thank you all.

Without further ado,here is my fairly short list because i always find it hard to adapt into new records.

1.Garbage- Strange Little Birds
Key track : Night Drive Loneliness
2-Swans - The Glowing Man
Key track: The Glowing Man
3-Beyonce - Lemonade
Key Track: Sorry
4-Banks - The Altar
Key Track: Trainwreck
5-Shura - Nothing's Real
Key Track: What's It Gonna Be?
6-Tinashe - Nightride
Key Track: Sacrifices
7-Josef Salvat - Night Swim
Key Track: Shoot and Run
8-The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep...
Key Track: Somebody Else
9-Bat for Lashes - The Bride
Key Track: Close Encounters
10-Rihanna - ANTI
Key Track: Consideration

I've also grown to love Everything Everything's Get to Heaven though it was released in 2015.

 

[HeartSwells]

4-Banks - The Altar
Key Track: Trainwreck
5-Shura - Nothing's Real
Key Track: What's It Gonna Be?
8-The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep...
Key Track: Somebody Else

I've also grown to love Everything Everything's Get to Heaven though it was released in 2015.

yas, welcome!

 

[Diet Pop!]

7-Josef Salvat - Night Swim
Key Track: Shoot and Run

Amazing taste!