Best Of 2016... Year End

[Joe.]

S I N G L E S

1. Rihanna - Kiss it Better
2. Fifth Harmony - Work From Home Ft. Ty Dolla $ign
3. Beyoncé - Formation
4. Britney Spears - Make Me Ft. G-Eazy
5. The Veronicas - In My Blood
6. Little Mix - Touch
7. ZAYN- PILLOWTALK
8. Grimes - Kill V. Maim
9. Nick Jonas - Close ft. Tove Lo
10. Beyoncé- Sorry
11. Beyoncé- All Night
12. Låpsley - Operator (He Doesn't Call Me)
13. Tinashe - Company
14. Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
15. Christine and the Queens - iT
16. Ariana Grande - Everyday ft. Future
17. Blood Orange - Best To You
18. ZAYN - BeFoUr
19. D.R.A.M - Broccoli Ft. Lil Yachty
20. Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom
21. Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
22. Bruno Mars - 24k Magic
23. NEIKED - Sexual
24. DNCE - Cake By the Ocean
25. M.O - Who Do You Think Of?
26. Britney Spears - Slumber Party ft. Tinashe
27. MØ - Final Song
28. Hailee Steinfeld, Zedd, Grey - Starving
29. Prince Fox - Fragile Feat. Hailee Steinfeld
30. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
31. All Saints - One Woman Man
32. Danny L Harle - Broken Flowers
33. Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex
34. Drake - Controlla
35. ZAYN & Taylor Swift - I Don’t Wanna Live Forever
36. The Weeknd - I Feel it Coming
37. Jojo - Fuck Apologies
38. The Vamps & Matoma - All Night
39. Flume - Say It feat. Tove Lo
40. Solange - Cranes in the Sky
41. The 1975 - The Sound
42. Matoma & Becky Hill - False Alarm
43. Ariana Grande - Into You
44. Mura Masa - Love$ick ft. A$AP Rocky
45. Olly Murs - You Don't Know Love
46. OneRepublic - Kids
47. Rae Sremmurd - Black Beatles ft. Gucci Man
48. KDA - Just Say feat. Tinashe
49. Shura - Touch
50. Rihanna - Work Ft. Drake

I use the term 'Singles' loosely, some are cancelled or promo singles (Befour, Vroom Vroom) and others were briefly pushed to radio this year (iT).

 

[LE0Night]

Where's @A&E at

Oh, he's still around, no worries, he hasn't forgotten us.

also

SALT ASHES Salt Ashes
[Save It / Somebody / Half the Battle]

 

[Petty Mayonnaise]

BEST EPS

Spoiler

1. +30mg - Cruel Youth (Listen to: Hatefuck, Mr. Watson, I Don't Love You)
2. HANA EP - Hana (Listen to: Clay, Underwater, White)
3. Nemesis - Bridgit Mendler (Listen to: Atlantis, Snap My Fingers)
4. EMOTION Side B - Carly Rae Jepsen (Listen to: Fever, Store, Roses)
5. Vroom Vroom EP - Charli XCX (Listen to: Vroom Vroom, Trophy)

BEST ALBUMS

Spoiler

16. Beautiful Lies - Birdy (Listen to: Keeping Your Head Up, Beautiful Lies, Silhouette)
15. The Weight of These Wings - Miranda Lambert (Listen to: Vice, Pink Sunglasses, Well-Rested)
14. Mad Love - JoJo (Listen to: Honest, Like This, Music)
13. Love You To Death - Tegan and Sara (Listen to: Stop Desire, 100x, Boyfriend)

12. I Like it When You Sleep... - The 1975 (Listen to: The Sound, A Change of Heart, She Lays Down)
11. Hero - Maren Morris (Listen to: Rich, 80s Mercedes, Once)
10. Mind of Mine - Zayn (Listen to: TIO, Blue, Befour)
9. The Dreaming Room - Laura Mvula (Listen to: Show Me Love, Overcome, Phenomenal Woman)

8. All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend - AURORA (Listen to: Black Water Lilies, Runaway, Murder Song)
7. Joanne - Lady Gaga (Listen to: Joanne, John Wayne, Diamond Heart)
6. The Altar - BANKS (Listen to: Gemini Feed, Trainwreck, Mother Earth)
5. Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande (Listen to: Into You, Knew Better/Forever Boy, Sometimes)

4. Nightride - Tinashe (Listen to: Soul Glitch, Ghetto Boy, Lucid Dreaming)
3. ANTI - Rihanna (Listen to: Kiss It Better, Same Ol' Mistakes, Love on the Brain)
2. Nothing's Real - Shura (Listen to: Kidz N'Stuff, What Happened to Us, Nothing's Real)
1. Lemonade - Beyoncé (Listen to: All of it. Watch it if you somehow haven't yet.)

Songs list is still a work in progress, but it'll be along #soon.​

 

[HeartSwells]

Oh, he's still around, no worries, he hasn't forgotten us.

Shady a&pe didn't like my list though.

 

[Noir]

I'm struggling to rank my albums of the year in order because they're all very different, but here they are:

Albums:

1. Ariana Grande — 'Dangerous Woman'
2. Britney Spears — 'Glory'
3. Rihanna — 'ANTI'
4. Lady Gaga — 'Joanne'
5. El Guincho — 'HiperAsia' ★
6. Kaytranada — '99.9%'
7. Jamie Isaac — 'Couch Baby' ★
8. Miike Snow — 'iii'
9. Tkay Maidza — 'TKAY'
10. Blood Orange — 'Freetown Sound'

The ones atop are really predictable, but I can't lie, those were by far my favourites. Now EPs should be more interesting:

EPs:

1. Charli XCX — 'Vroom Vroom'
2. SIBA — 'Fruits' ★
3. SOFI TUKKER — 'Soft Animals'
4. Cruel Youth — '+30mg'
5. Amrit — 'Lies' ★
6. Tom Aspaul — 'Left'
7. Cosima — 'South Of Heaven'
8. GFOTY — 'Call Him a Doctor' ★

Singles:

1. Britney Spears — 'Slumber Party' (feat. Tinashe)
2. Röyksopp — 'Never Ever' (feat. Susanne Sundfør)*
3. Fifth Harmony — 'Work From Home' (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
4. Ariana Grande — 'Into You'
5. Clean Bandit — 'Rockabye' (feat. Anne-Marie & Sean Paul)
6. Allie X — 'That's So Us'
7. Noah Cyrus — 'Make Me (Cry)' [feat. Labrinth]
8. Aanysa x Snakehips — 'Burn Break Crash'
9. Anna Straker — 'Serious' (thanks @NecessaryVoodoo) ★
10. Kobra Kei - 'La Punta' ★
11. Dua Lipa - 'Hotter Than Hell'
12. Kero Kero Bonito - 'Lipslap'
13. Allie X - 'All The Rage'
14. Bad W0lfy - 'Used 2 This' ★
15. Nina Nesbitt — 'Chewing Gum'
16. Bibi Bourelly — 'Sally'
17. Eric Saade — 'Colors'
18. Sofia Carson — 'Love Is The Name' (feat. J Balvin)
19. Kali Uchis — 'Only Girl' (feat. Steve Lacy and Vince Staples)
20. Weirdo — 'ARMANIO' ★

* The song of the year if I didn't love Britney Spears too fucking much.
★ SO UNDERRATED.

 

[Deleted member 47]

Top 10 albums

1 Frank Ocean, Blonde
2 Britney Spears, Glory
3 M83, Junk
4 Kylie Christmas (Snow Queen Edition)
5 Lafayette, Les dessous féminins
6 ABC, The Lexicon Of Love II
7 Poom, 2016 (remixes)
8 Carly Rae Jepsen, Emotion Side B
9 Blood Orange, Freetown Sound
10 Pet Shop Boys, Super

Top 8 (very) disappointing albums

1 Sophie-Ellis Bextor, Familia
2 Empire of the Sun, Two Vines
3 The Pirouettes, Carrément carrément
4 Solange, A Seat At The Table
5 Two Door Cinema Club, Gameshow
6 Ben Watt, Fever Dream
7 Roisin Murphy, Take Her Up To Monto
8 Shura, Nothing's Real

 

[nlgbbbblth]

Here are my top 10 albums of 2016.

01 Suede - Night Thoughts
02 David Bowie - Blackstar
03 Shura - Nothing's Real
04 Frank Ocean - Blonde
06 ABC - The Lexicon Of Love II
06 The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It
07 Pet Shop Boys - Super
08 Avalanches - Wildflower
09 Beyoncé - Lemonade
10 Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion Side B

 

[Mvnl]

It might be partially because I've been too busy to listen to music for about half of this year but compared to previous years my singles list is looking rather bleak. Having trouble filling a top 20 of songs that really felt huge to me (especially when I apply a '1 song an act'-limit), and even for the top spot I'm torn between two songs where I'm like 'uhm yeah, I guess one of these would be it' while other years I had several songs to pick from I'd been obsessed with for months. Also not helping that a lot of songs that I did hammer this year didn't become singles.

Top spot's gonna be between That's My Girl and Tears.
Both excellent but compared to previous years' (Black Magic, Ugly Heart, I Was A Fool, Something New, Till The World Ends, On A Mission, Left My Heart In Tokyo, The Promise..) there just seems to be a lack of omnipresent huge pop tunes.

 

[Jonathan27]

It might be partially because I've been too busy to listen to music for about half of this year but compared to previous years my singles list is looking rather bleak. Having trouble filling a top 20 of songs that really felt huge to me (especially when I apply a '1 song an act'-limit), and even for the top spot I'm torn between two songs where I'm like 'uhm yeah, I guess one of these would be it' while other years I had several songs to pick from I'd been obsessed with for months. Also not helping that a lot of songs that I did hammer this year didn't become singles.

Top spot's gonna be between That's My Girl and Tears.
Both excellent but compared to previous years' (Black Magic, Ugly Heart, I Was A Fool, Something New, Till The World Ends, On A Mission, Left My Heart In Tokyo, The Promise..) there just seems to be a lack of omnipresent huge pop tunes.

 

[Sprockrooster]

Rate - (re)discoveries
01 Brandon Flowers - Only The Young (rediscovery)
Triumphant and absolutely heartbreaking at the same time. He serves so much emotion I am baffled I forgot.

02 Tegan And Sara - Not With You (discovery)
Ohnostalgia would probably love this, but this truly changed my life. And 'I Run Empty' also came pretty darn close. If it was on spotify it would have, because I do not youtube much.

03 Monrose - Catwalk V-O-G-U-E (discovery)
This is one of those songs that took me right over and made the whole rate worth participating. Absolutely everything I need and want from a girl group.

04 Kate Bush - Jig Of Life (discovery)
Never a big Kate Bush fan, but I am glad she managed to get in an album rate so I could discover her music. And Jig Of Life is that master piece I will be forever grateful for having.

05 Dannii Minogue - Who Do You Love Now (rediscovery)
Gaybar anthem and long forgotten ever since. Until the rate. That moment you listen to a long lost favourite and your world is upside down, because it is back. Back for good.

06 Ariana Grande - Why Try (discovery)
Queen of serving massive vocals. I needed time to call this a discovery and now it sits among the best of the year.

07 Banaramama - Cruel Summer (discovery)
This wasnot my 11 and it should have been. What a song.

08 Ariana Grande - Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart (discovery)
Only Ariana snatching two spots, but with this emotional piece I wasnot ready for it has every right.

09 Prince - Sign O The Times (rediscovery)
I think I never knew this song specifically aside from radio. But hearing it made my life complete. I need more prince discovery and there are so much more.

10 Nicki Minaj - The Jump Off '07 (discovery)
I wasnot expecting much from Minaj-mixtape, but now I know she can bring that oldskool hiphop to the table I am taking a seat.



2016 Songs
01 Beyoncé - All Night
I didnot expect this song to come on top for 2016. But it is a slowburner that put the competition in ashes. This year wasnot necessarily a singles year, so the whole top 10 is one big mixed bag. Difficult to compare, but 'All Night' sets itself apart from the rest for being already a modern classic.

02 Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece (IDOL version)
The album version was already in my top 10 from 2015, but that performance is everything I wanted and so much more. How do you lift a song that already is massive. With a performance filled with emotion.

03 Barei - Say Yay!
This was a significantly strong Eurovision year, so it is unsurprising a song managed to get to top 3. And that hasnot happened since 2008's Ani Lorak 'Shady Lady' sIayed my very existence. Say Yay! has it all. A crazy good build-up with a blazing drop.

04 Kerri Watt - The Wild
She had 2015's #1 song with 'Long Way Home' and that song was also my 2016 #1 for songs not released this year. She is a queen in my life and only released three songs yet. Ready for the album and being totally snatched to my bare bone.

05 Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion
A lead single like no other. It holds up perfectly listening to the album. I love the direction and art she brought. She evolved as an artist and actually kept it small somehow.

06 Tourist leMC - Horizon
Belgian hiphop. That is a new genre in my lists. He wrote this after the Paris attacks, but with the attacks in his home country (Brussels) it tragically became some sort of anthem. We live in a new world with an unclear horizon. Not saying it is hopeless, because something is there. We just cannot see it.

07 Meat Loaf - Going All The Way Is Just The Start
'Braver Than We Are' was the original from Steinmann. And Meat Loaf isnot collaborating with him solely on this track. Karla DeVito and Ellen Foley join in and bring the fire vocals that Meat Loaf lacks a bit himself. The lead single from the 4th installment from his hell saga and a just ending to the series. Absolutely brilliant.

08 All Saints - One Strike
Comeback of the year and literally with one strike I was out.

09 Christina Aguilera - Telepathy
The bronx in the 80's and we are at a underground gaybar in which draq queens take the stage and this is played. One of the characters has his first gay kiss. How cannot be this blowing away. Probably because you didnot see it, because it was on the Netflix show 'The Get Down'. But truly what a moment.

10 Amy MacDonald - Down By The Water
I am a massive fan from her music and to see her come back after her hiatus is truly a gift. Especially cause the music is good again.

11 Zedd - True Colours (Feat. Kesha)
12 ZAYN - Pillowtalk
13 Greg Holden - Hold On Tight
14 Rochelle - All Night Long
15 Herizen Guardiola - Set Me Free
16 Dami Im - Sound Of Silence
17 Katy Perry - Rise
18 Demi Lovato - Body Say
19 Sophie-Ellis Bextor - Come With Us
20 Ariana Grande - Into You

21 Leann Rimes - The Story
22 Rebecca Ferguson - Bones
23 Kelly Clarkson - Tightrope (Tour Version)
24 Harriet - Love Will Burn
25 Niall Horan - This Town
26 Danny L Harle - Supernatural
27 Fifth Harmony - Work From Home
28 Solange - Cranes In The Sky
29 Lady Gaga - Angel Down
30 Rolling Stones - Little Rain

31 Birdy - Keeping Your Head Up
32 Beyoncé - Daddy Lessons
33 Gary Clark Jr. - Take Me Down
34 Kylie Minogue - This Wheel's On Fire
35 Kelly Clarkson - It's Quiet Uptown
36 Delta Goodrem - The River
37 Rihanna - Kiss It Better
38 Britt Nicole - Work Of Art
39 Rag'N'Bone Man - Human
40 Laura Mvula - Overcome

 

[Sprockrooster]

(continued)

2016 Albums

01 Meat Loaf - Braver Than We Are (Going All The Way Is Just The Start // More // Skull Of Your Country)
I doubted long to put this at #1, but 'I'd Do Anything For Love (2016 version)' has won me over. In that version we have violins and a gospel choir added to the original. And it works like a killer. Also the 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' references in 'Skull Of Your Country' are done brilliant. 'Bright Eyes' screamsung to infinity is making the original looking like lifeless fodder. Along with the massive lead single I am done. This is an opus right of my alley.

02 Solange - A Seat At The Table (Cranes In The Sky // Don't Wish Me Well // Junie)
Ever wondered where the S in Sprockrooster stands for? It is soul. And that is exactly what Solange brings. A variety of soul with that philosophical twist and cultural relevance. I am sitting at the table and enjoying it.

03 Rolling Stones - Blue And Lonesome (Just Your Fool // Little Rain // Blue And Lonesome)
In this rock filled year for me with mostly veterans doing it great, my #3 most favourite band do deliver like crazy. I cannot believe they bring this when they are 80 something years old. Not a career high, but still a high.

04 Greg Holden - Chase The Sun (Boys In The Street // Hold On Tight // Go Chase The Sun)
This is drenched in gay anthems and being a Valentines present from my boyfriend makes this an instant fave. He addresses issues as fathers unexpecting of their gay sons. Painful, but also with hope in sight.

05 Various Artists - The Get Down OST (Set Me Free // Telepathy // Black Man In A White World)
Oldschool hiphop. Disco. Gospel. Three ingredients that are put in the landscape from a racist world in the 80's Bronx. And everything fits together. From souring vocals to brilliant poetry.

06 Lady Gaga - JOANNE (Perfect Illusion // Angel Down // Hey Girl)
A pop artist embracing the guitar? IT WAS ABOUT FUCKING TIME. There are some weak points, but those are diminished by the fact she dared to do this. I respected her so much. And now so much more.

07 Delta Goodrem - Wings Of The Wild (The River // Hold On // Feline)
The true pop album this year. Combine that with Delta's vocal range and you know you have a lifelong classic.

08 Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (Leaving The Table // You Want It Darker // Treaty)
It was already dark when I first played it. When he died, it became something so much darker. A reqieum so pitch dark, you just cannot listen to it too much.

09 Layla Zoe - Breaking Free (Highway Of Tears // Backstage Queen // Breaking Free)
British Columbia Highway 16. Also called the Highway of Tears. Several racist murders and police looking away for exact those racist reasons. Layla Zoe addressed this in a 10+ minute long opus and made me aware of this. It shook me to the bone and it actually is the sole reason this album is in my top 10. I already saw her live before this album and I am ready for this one too.

10 David Bowie - Blackstar (Dollar Days // Lazarus // Blackstar)
He knew exactly what he was doing and that might be the most scary of this track. Everything is so well planned and executed it chills me. So much death in this top 10, but this has every right to be here.

11 Sophie-Ellis Bextor - Familia (Don't Shy Away // Come With Us // Wild Forever)
Sophie breaking away from the Wanderlust sound and bringing the better sound. Dance sophie would have probably snatched a top 10 placement, but she is the perfect 11 for my list.

12 Beyoncé - LEMONADE (All Night // Daddy Lessons // Don't Hurt Yourself)
If it wasnot for Sorry this was top 10 for sure. What brought this in the top 20 however was the video. Just WOW!

13 Miranda Lambert - The Weight Of These Wings (Runnin' Just In Case // Tin Man // I've Got Wheels)
Miranda was more of a miss than a hit with me, but with this double album she just shut me up entirely. 24 tracks and not one dud. I could make a disc of my 12 faves and the leftover disc would still be a great listen.

14 Blood Orange - Freetown Sound (Augustine // Better Than Me // Desirée)
Such an eclectical waterfall of sounds that was my staple in summer. And I know for the next one too.

15 Anastacia - A4APP Live Album (Time // Resurrection // Underground Army)
A live album, but it is from my queen so deal with it. Still sIaying over some other faves in this list.

16 Rihanna - ANTi (Kiss It Better // Same Ol' Mistakes // Love On The Brain)
Who knew Rihanna had it in her. I sure didnot and lost faith longtime ago. And here I am being happy I was wrong.

17 Tourist leMC - En Route (Horizon // Koning Liefde // Meester Kunstenaar)
Adressing several social issues this wordsmith captivates me.

18 Rebecca Ferguson - Superwoman (Bones // Without A Woman // Stars)
A typical Rebecca album and not as good as her first two, but she can barely do wrong with that voice.

19 Beth Hart - Fire On The Floor (No Place Like Home // Let's Get Together // Jazz Man)
My queen of blues bringing the fire on the floor. Glad I can see her live again in 2017.

20 Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman (Into You // Thinking About You // Leave Me Lonely)
Highs and lows. But this had to be there.

 

[Up Down Suite]

First of all, I would like to begin by saying how grateful I am to have lived such a great year in music - sonically and visually. Even though I do miss a hint of Girls Aloud or Pixie Lott at times, there's no way anyone can say 'escapist pop is a dying art' (to quote Brad MuuMuse) after such a prolific year. In terms of success, maybe. But this genre will never not exist in amazing forms. Looking back, there's been some huge triumphs this year, triumphs I would have never predicted in a million years (Britney recovering from Britney Jean and releasing one of her most sleek works since Blackout, All Saints in general, etc). So I would really like to celebrate and give a big round of applause to all my pop faves that managed to create fantastic music that made the soundtrack of these past 360-something days. So without further ado, my list goes...

Singles

1. All Saints - One Strike
Stellar. No other words needed.
2. Rihanna - Kiss It Better
There was a tweet (from a producer) doing rounds before the album was out that mentioned Kiss It Better as the song of Rihanna's career. I would like to agree with that. So far, it's the best track she's ever put out imho.
3. Britney Spears - Make Me ft. G-Eazy
A proper popstar moment. Shame we never got the Lachapelle video, it would've probably turned Make Me into my #1.
4. Beyonce - All Night
Love at first listen. Lemonade's best song by far.
5. Jennifer Lopez - Ain't Your Mama
We really got a little something from all our pop queens this year, haven't we? Seems like they've all been active in some sort of way. I'd crown this as song of the summer.
6. Little Mix - Touch
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. JoJo - Fuck Aplogies (ft. Wiz Khalifa)
This song damaged the shampoo industry after it left the whole world bald.
8. Ariana Grande - Into You
I feel like it's too low on my list because it's such a powerhouse moment, but it just further proves how incredible this year has been.
9. Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
Should have followed Work From Home the moment it started losing momentum.
10. Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)
Even though we have Hotter Than Hell, I feel like Blow Your Mind was the star this year.

Albums

1. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
I became a full-blown stan once I heard this album. By far one of the most outstanding pop creations by a non-main pop girl (that means the Britney - Gaga - Beyonce - Katy - etc league) in the last few years. Which funny enough, probably made her a main pop girl. Leave Me Lonely remains my favourite.

2. Britney Spears - Glory
WHO'D HAVE KNOWN!!!!!!!!! After the trainwreck that was Britney Jean, for her to release this album is an absolute relief. The success might not be there, but the quality sure is. Looking through the tracklist is just a joy. Man on the Moon, Change Your Mind, Just Like Me - sensational. I'm so proud of 2016 Britney Spears.

3. Alexandra Stan - ALESTA
Europop done right. Never in a million years I would have thought that in 2016 I would be stanning one of my own romanian pop gals, yet here I am. And finally, I have 4 words for you: Get What You Give.

4. Rihanna - Anti
Worth all the wait. Rihanna's best collection of songs since Loud. There's some really messy lows on the album, but the highs (Love On the Brain, Kiss Legendry Better, CONSIDERATION) really make this album shine. And it was also very satisfying to get my #lyfe from these tracks live. She's superb.

5. Beyonce - Lemonade
I don't really like to admit that SHE DID THAT because I've never been a huge Beyonka fan, but I have to give her props for doing the most daring project in pop music like ever. I prefer the selftitled over this one in terms of separate videos and songs, but as a whole, Lemonade is incredibly cohesive and well put together. Bravo.

6. Fifth Harmony - 7/27
So refreshing to have had an american girlband release such a good pop record this year. It is, however, a shame they're no longer a 5-piece. I can't say I'll miss Cameltoe, though. Not That Kinda Girl and The Life could have been perfect The Saturdays singles, so I guess that's why I attached myself to this album so much. Some of these tracks really filled the girlband void in my heart.

7. Little Mix - Glory Days
The love-hate relationship I used to have with this band finally ended with this album. I learnt to appreciate them much more, even though the music still has to reach the same level of their charisma and star-quality (plenty of which they have). Again, the lows on this album are scary as fuck, but then you have F.U., No More Sad Songs, Beep Beep - and all is right in the world.

8. Gwen Stefani - This Is What the Truth Feels Like
A nice batch, though it tends to be rather beige. Still, the 18-track list has something to offer for anyone (in my case, Where Would I Be, Send Me A Picture, Used to Love You stands as my trinity). Plus, the production is very well done. Gwen was very much missed, so I hope she'll continue with solo music, or at least do a nice album with No Doubt.

9. All Saints - Red Flag
I hate that some of the production is so SHIT and dodgy, but the songs are really incredible. I mean: One Strike, One Woman Man, Puppet On a String, This Is A War.... A COMEBACK. What in the HELL is Ratchet Behaviour though.......................

10. M.I.A. - AIM
No real reason why this album wraps up the top 10 as I've barely listened to it but my interest in M.I.A. really grew this year, especially with Borders and everything. There aren't many artists out there I'd label as 'badass', but she makes an exception. She OWNS 'badass' like no one else and the likes of Go Off, Talk or Freedun make her still relevant to this industry. And no need to mention that there's no one like her out there right now because really..... she's the only one of her ethnicity to really be mainstream. (unless you count Zayn, but I'm mostly referring to females since there's little to 0 trace of testosterone in this year-end list).


Big apologies for the typos in case anyone bothers to read the commentary. Cheers!

 

[tylerc]

Not sure if I could do a song list but will make an attempt.

 

[TheDangerZone]

1. Lemonade - Beyoncé
2. A Seat at the Table - Solange
3. Joanne - Lady Gaga
4. Hopelessness - Anohni
5. ANTI - Rihanna
6. Blackstar - David Bowie
7. Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande
8. Red Flag - All Saints
9. Before the Dawn - Kate Bush

I'm usually shit at getting to listen to some of the best albums every year (I didn't even listen to E•MO•TION until mid December last year, and only discovered Janet's Unbreakable and Lianne La Havas - Blood, two of my best of 2015, this year) so this will likely change over the next six months.

Add to the "must listen imminently" list.

Ooh I do love these threads.

ALBUMS
1. This Is What The Truth Feels Like - Gwen Stefani
2. Strange Little Birds - Garbage
3. Vroom Vroom EP - Charli XCX
4. LEMONADE - Beyonce
5. ANTi - Rihanna
6. Joanne - Lady Gaga
7. This Is Acting - Sia
8. Glory - Britney Spears
9. HOPELESSNESS - Anohni
10. EMOTION Side B - Carly Rae Jepsen
11. X-Communicate - Kristin Kontrol
12. Poundcake - Alaska Thunderfuck
13. Out of Control EP - Lush
14. Echoes - Young Guns
15. Death of a Bachelor - Panic! At the Disco
16. ArrangingTime - Pete Yorn
17. Lady Wood - Tove Lo
18. i like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it - The 1975
19. Sweatbox Dynasty - TOBACCO
20. A Seat at the Table - Solange

SONGS (with links to certain songs For Your Consideration)

Spoiler: spoiler because long

Clay - HANA*
Truth - Gwen Stefani
Perfect Illusion - Lady Gaga
Magnetized - Garbage
Secret (Shh) - Charli XCX
X-Communicate - Kristin Kontrol
All Night - Beyonce
Roses - Carly Rae Jepsen
Hard to Forget Ya - Britney Spears
Super Natural - Danny L Harle & Carly Rae Jepsen
Into You - Ariana Grande
Starboy - The Weeknd
Dazed - Goth Babe
Goddamn The Night - Melt
Good Thing - JoJo
White Ferrari - Frank Ocean
That's So Us - Allie X
Gods in Heat - TOBACCO
Broken Glass - Sia
Body Say - Demi Lovato
Drone Bomb Me - ANOHNI
Friend Lover - RIVRS
Lanes - Yuna
Puppet - Alaska Thunderfuck
Don't Wish Me Well - Solange
Hear You Calling - Birdy
The Same Parts - Tatianna
Awakening - Young Guns
Somebody Else - The 1975
Nasty - Brooke Candy
Atomic Number - case/lang/veirs
Drone Bomb Me - Anohni
Same Ol' Mistakes - Rihanna
Lip Service - Roisin Murphy
Lost & Found - Betsy
Going to Bed Early - Alarm Drum
Daytona - The Midnight
LA Devotee - Panic! At the Disco
Superstar - A. G. Cook
Go Off - M.I.A.
Green Tea (feat. Margaret Cho) - Awkwafina
I'm Good - Cappa
Never Be Like You - Flume

* - this has technically been out since last year but it wasn't officially released until 2016 so I'm including it.

Lady Wood made it yet no Mad Love.

Why are you personally attacking me?

 

[IDontKnowHer]

Top 15 Albums

1. Beyoncé - Lemonade
2. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
3. Solange - A Seat At The Table
4. Shura - Nothing's Real
5. Lady GaGa - Joanne
6. All Saints - Red Flag
7. Rihanna - ANTi
8. Zayn - Mind of Mine
9. Britney Spears - Glory
10. The 1975 - I Like It When...
11. Tinashe - Nightride
12. BANKS - The Altar
13. Gallant - Ology
14. Frank Ocean - Blond
15. Pet Shop Boys - Super

Top 20 singles

1. Ariana Grande - Into You
2. Beyoncé - Formation
3. All Saints - One Strike
4. Rihanna - Kiss It Better
5. Fifth Harmony - Work From Home
6. Mabel - Thinking of You
7. The 1975 - Somebody Else
8. Shura - What's It Gonna Be
9. Lady GaGa - Perfect Illusion
10. Britney Spears - Slumber Party
11. Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
12. Beyoncé - Sorry
13. LANY - Where The Hell Are My Friends?
14. Olly Murs - You Don't Know Love
15. Solange - Don't Touch My Hair
16. Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex
17. Pet Shop Boys - Pop Kids
18. Tove Lo - True Disaster
19. The Weeknd - Star Boy
20. Britney Spears - Make Me (Oooh)

 

[Mike]

Very, very difficult, and I'm sure I'll want to change the order around, but it looks something like this:

1. Beyoncé - Lemonade
2. Anderson. Paak - Malibu
3. Solange - A Seat At The Table
4. Michael Kiwanuka - Love And Hate
5. All Saints - Red Flag
6. Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book
7. James Vincent McMorrow - We Move
8. Frank Ocean - Blonde
9. Bon Iver - 22, A Million
10. Blood Orange - Freetown Sound
11. Rihanna - Anti
12. Miike Snow - iii
13. AlunaGeorge - I Remember
14. Slow Club - One Day All Of This Won't Matter Anymore
15. Glass Animals - How To Be A Human Being
16. How To Dress Well - Care
17. The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep...
18. Kaytranada - 99.9%
19. Skepta - Konnichiwa
20. Flume - Skin

 

[HeartSwells]

14. Slow Club - One Day All Of This Won't Matter Anymore
16. How To Dress Well - Care
17. The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep...

yas

 

[Wild Man.]

SINGLES

1. Radiohead – ‘Burn the Witch’

2. Beyoncé – ‘Formation’

3. PJ Harvey – ‘The Wheel’

4. Solange – ‘Rise’/‘Weary’

5. Lady Gaga – ‘Perfect Illusion’


6. Solange – ‘Cranes in the Sky’
7. PJ Harvey – ‘The Community of Hope’
8. Britney Spears – ‘Make Me…’
9. Junius Meyvant – ‘Mighty Backbone’
10. Beyoncé – ‘All Night’


11. The Last Shadow Puppets – ‘Miracle Aligner’
12. Adele – ‘Send My Love (To Your New Lover)’
13. Augustines – ‘Are We Alive’
14. Beyoncé – ‘Hold Up’
15. Parcels – ‘Herefore’


16. The 1975 – ‘The Sound’
17. M.I.A. featuring Zayn – ‘Freedun’
18. Junius Meyvant – ‘Neon Experience’
19. Rufus Wainwright and Florence Welch – ‘When in Disgrace…’
20. Lady Gaga – ‘Million Reasons’


21. The Last Shadow Puppets – ‘Bad Habits’
22. Father John Misty – ‘Real Love Baby’
23. Bear’s Den – ‘Auld Wives’
24. Zayn – ‘Like I Would’
25. Little Mix – ‘Shout Out to My Ex’


26. M.I.A. – ‘Go Off’
27. Radiohead – ‘Daydreaming’
28. Ira Losco – ‘Walk on Water’
29. Adele – ‘Water Under the Bridge’
30. Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘Boy Problems’


31. NEIKED – ‘Sexual’
32. Alicia Keys – ‘In Common’
33. ANOHNI – ‘Drone Bomb Me’
34. Amir – ‘J’ai cherché’
35. The 1975 – ‘Somebody Else’


36. The Jesus and Mary Chain – ‘Amputation’
37. Adele – ‘When We Were Young’
38. Ariana Grande – ‘Into You’
39. Rihanna – ‘Work’
40. Frans – ‘If I Were Sorry’

 

[scottdisick94]

I'm just gonna list my Top 20 most played songs:

1. 'Daddy Lessons' - Beyoncé
2. 'Don't Hurt Yourself' - Beyoncé
3. 'Formation' - Beyoncé
4. 'Hold Up' - Beyoncé
5. 'Who Do You Think Of' - MO
6. 'Thinking Bout You' - Ariana Grande
7. 'All Night' - Beyoncé
8. 'Sunglasses' - Alexx Mack
9. 'This Ain't Over' - Alex Newell
10. 'Freedom' - Beyoncé
11. 'Into You' - Ariana Grande
12. 'Work From Home' - Fifth Harmony
13. 'That's My Girl' - Fifth Harmony
14. 'Sorry' - Beyoncé
15. 'Shout Out to My Ex' - Little Mix
16. 'Me Too' - Meghan Trainor
17. 'Fall' - Chloe x Halle
18. 'Lush Life' - Zara Larsson
19. '6 Inch' - Beyoncé
20. 'Love On The Brain' - Rihanna

Could probably listen to these 20 songs alone for the rest of my life and be quite happy.

Albums would probably be something like:

1. Lemonade Beyoncé
2. Dangerous Woman Ariana Grande
3. Anti Rihanna
4. Side B Carly Rae Jepsen
5. Lil Empire Petite Meller
6. Joanne Lady Gaga
7. Glory Days Little Mix
8. Everything Is My Family Crystal Fighters
9. A Seat At The Table Solange
10. Love You To Death Tegan & Sara

Are there any Crystal Fighters fans on here? They have the happiest, poppiest music ever. 'All Night' is pop at its greatest.

 

[Ironheade]

Oh my God Run the Jewels 3 has appeared! And yes, it's amazing, if not quite as good as RTJ2. I'll stick it somewhere in my top 10.