2016: The Year In Music

2016 – Donald Trump is elected President of the United States. A terror attack in Brussels kills 32 and injures more than 300. Leicester City win the Premier League. The UK votes to leave the European Union. South America hosts its first ever Olympic Games in Rio. David Bowie, Prince, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder and Muhammad Ali are among the famous faces to pass away. I remember Bowie’s death hitting me hard … so let’s see if the year in music can honour his great legacy!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Closer (The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey)

To be honest, I think we’re in the era of Pop where almost every song gets on my nerves. I guess what I’m trying to say is that these Billboard song reviews are going to get a lot more negative from here on out.

“Closer” has a catchy hook, I guess, but that chorus synth is too cheesy for me.

9 – Can’t Stop the Feeling! (Justin Timberlake)

If I turn my brain off, this is a fun hit. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is fine but nothing special.

8 – Don’t Let Me Down (The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey)

Another Chainsmokers song. Another generic hit that I don’t care for.

7 – Hello (Adele)

I remember “Hello” being a massive hit in 2016. I normally like Adele … but this is a bit melodramatic for me.

“Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” from the same album is much better.

6 – Panda (Desiigner)

I’m not a Trap fan. “Panda” is one of the better Trap songs but I still don’t really like it.

5 – Stressed Out (Twenty One Pilots)

Twenty One Pilots have always been ridiculed, and for a time I couldn’t work out why. Now that I’m older and wiser the ridicule makes more sense.

“Stressed Out” is cool on the surface but quite nerdy and corny at its core.

4 – Work (Rihanna feat. Drake)

The sub bass / production is the best part of “Work”, because it’s certainly not the lyrics.

3 – One Dance (Drake feat. Wizkid and Kyla)

If “Hotline Bling” had been on this top ten it would’ve been my favourite of the year … but it isn’t. So it isn’t.

“One Dance” is fine. Drake is a little cringe and underbaked as artists go.

2 – Sorry (Justin Bieber)

God. This might be where music went down the toilet.

It’s got the same vocalisations and drum beat that every Pop song seems to have. “Sorry” is a sorry state of affairs.

1 – Love Yourself (Justin Bieber)

More chilled and subdued than I remember.

It’s a cheesy Pop song at the end of the day, but I can appreciate the restraint Bieber shows on “Love Yourself”.

FAVOURITE – “Hello” (Adele)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Panda” (Desiigner)

I know I said I wasn’t a huge “Hello” fan, but it kinda won by default considering the state of these other hits.

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Present Tense (Radiohead)

“Present Tense” sounds like an updated version of an unreleased classic Radiohead song.

The overlapping guitars are wonderful, and that shuffle drum part is delightful.

9 – Burn the Witch (Radiohead)

I’ve heard few album openers that were as jarring and provocative as “Burn the Witch”.

It’s a level of full orchestration that we rarely see in Radiohead songs, and yet despite the chaos there’s a distinguishable hook that sucks you in. A masterclass in nightmarish songwriting.

8 – We The People… (A Tribe Called Quest)

It’s so great to hear A Tribe Called Quest are still releasing bangers in the modern era.

“We The People…” has a nasty bass synth hook and a really clean drum track, not to mention the rapping is excellent and melodic.

7 – Redbone (Childish Gambino)

“Redbone” is absolutely one of the most iconic songs of the decade. Its production and vibe draws you in, and Childish Gambino’s vocals are unorthodox enough to be captivating.

I think “Me and Your Mama” from the same album should’ve made this top ten as well – that song is awe-inspiring.

6 – Nights (Frank Ocean)

Frank Ocean is one of the artists renewing my faith in modern music. All of his songs that have featured in these retrospectives have ended up being some of my favourites of those years.

There were many songs from “Blonde” that could’ve made this top ten, but “Nights” is a worthy addition. It’s a slow but sturdy jam with fantastic production and vocals.

5 – Blackstar (David Bowie)

The last time David Bowie featured on one of these musical retrospectives was 1980, where his song “Ashes to Ashes” made the top rated list and “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” made the top five albums. In the 36 years since, he hasn’t lost any of his luster.

“Blackstar” is the first song from the album of the same name, and it sets the tone perfectly. Bowie has never made something so entrancing and fantastical.

4 – Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales (Car Seat Headrest)

“Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” sounds like the kind of song that would play at the end of a teen Indie film when the guy finally gets the girl.

A lot of the songs from “Teens Of Denial” are similar so I don’t know why this one got singled out.

3 – Ain’t It Funny (Danny Brown)

What a bonkers song.

“Ain’t It Funny” is a trippy nightmare. It’s kinda a Rap song, I guess, but Danny Brown focuses more on unsettling you than providing an orthodox lyrical flow.

2 – Lazarus (David Bowie)

“Lazarus” is a little overrated all things considered, but I’ll never forget how hollow I felt when I first listened to it.

This is a song by a man who knows he’s about to die. It’s prophetic and life-affirming – and the perfect send-off to one of music’s greats.

1 – Daydreaming (Radiohead)

One of the most gorgeous songs of all time.

The etheral production immediately draws you in, and Thom Yorke’s vocals are absolutely crushing. I always want to close my eyes and drift to sleep when I listen to “Daydreaming”.

“Decks Dark”, which is a song of a similar style and quality to “Daydreaming” in my mind, somehow didn’t make the top ten. Bonkers.

BEST SONG OF 2016 – “Daydreaming” (Radiohead)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Atrocity Exhibition (Danny Brown)

Definitely the weirdest Rap album I’ve ever heard.

Danny Brown doesn’t hold back at all for “Atrocity Exhibition”. He dances between genres and styles whilst still providing a consistent, entrancing package.

4 – Teens Of Denial (Car Seat Headrest)

I hear big The Strokes influences in Car Seat Headrest. Which isn’t a bad thing at all.

“Teens Of Denial” is big and brash, and weirdly nostalgic too.

3 – Blackstar (David Bowie)

It’s hard to separate “Blackstar” as an artistic endeavour from David Bowie’s death. That being said, I still maintain that it’s one of his greatest albums – circumstances aside.

It’s haunting yet weirdly uplifting at points, and his aged vocals work brilliantly against the nightmarish Jazz arrangements. The title track and “Lazarus” always give me chills.

2 – Blonde (Frank Ocean)

Every time Frank Ocean’s work has appeared on one of these retrospectives, like “Novacane” or “Thinkin Bout You”, he’s surprised me. That trend continues with “Blonde”.

This is one of those albums that I’ve heard overwhelming critical acclaim for, but never listened to until now. I have no idea why. Songs like “Ivy”, “Pink + White”, “Nights” and “White Ferrari” are incredible.

The only thing holding it back is the pitched-up vocals on songs like “Solo” and “Nikes”. I hate when artists do that.

1 – A Moon Shaped Pool (Radiohead)

It’s crazy to think that, despite Radiohead still being an active band as far as anyone can tell, their 2016 album “A Moon Shaped Pool” remains their most recent release. If this is their last album, at least they went out with one of their best.

It’s a slower, sadder album than what they usually go for, but in typical Radiohead fashion they nail it. “Burn the Witch”, “Daydreaming”, “Decks Dark”, “Present Tense” and “True Love Waits” are songs I keep coming back to.

BEST ALBUM OF 2016 – “Blackstar” (David Bowie)

Final Thoughts

The hits sucked but the high-rated music was fantastic. 2016 really surprised me with its quality.

Overall Grade: B+

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: