hey.
it's been a while.
the twitter thread the artist created after this was one of the best situations i have ever seen in my whole life:
is #GPOY still a thing? because this is the first selfie i’ve taken since college that i actually really like. all that working out is paying off.
i love how if ya just throw a faded black and white filter over any still of John Mulaney in “The Comeback Kid” he looks like some peppy all-American 50s tv show presenter
“And for the 23rd time today, here’s Tom Jones with ‘What’s New Pussycat’.”
Obsessive over this song, what a roller coaster. Hopefully he finishes this and puts it out.
2016 Albums: (Re)Discovery
In addition to the new albums that were released this year, there were also several albums not released this year but were still important enough to deserve a write-up. Here are some albums that were new, or felt new, to me in 2016.
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness August 2014
I didn't know a girl in high school who wasn't obsessed with the music of Andrew McMahon, in the form of his two previous bands: Something Corporate or Jack's Mannequin. I never much cared for his work, until I heard "Cecelia In The Satellite" on the radio, Shazam'd it, and found the name of the artist. My first thought: "Wait...THAT Andrew McMahon?" Turns out, yes it was that Andrew McMahon. A brilliantly written piano-driven pop album, Wilderness sees Andrew McMahon's writing mature, which is probably why it appealed to me more than his previous efforts. A solid album front to back.
Must listen tracks: Cecilia And The Satellite, High Dive, See Her On The Weekend
Carly Rae Jepsen E•MO•TION June 2015
Let it be known that I, of sound mind and body, actually kinda like this album. If you know me at all, you know I am very reluctant to slide 100% into the pool of pop, but after some glowing recommendations from people who's music taste I tend to trust, I gave E•MO•TION a few listens. While not every song appeals to me, there is a lot that I do like, and find the album very well-written and produced. There is some good variety in the songs, though most tend not to stray too far out of the pop genre. One prime example is "All That," an excellent ballad / slow jam with a killer slap bass line. Easy highlight. Must listen tracks:Run Away With Me, All That, E•MO•TION
Green Day American Idiot September 2004
It's hard to imagine that when this album came out that Green Day were all but washed up. I loved this album when it was released. Or at least parts of it, and not for the right reasons. I liked it as an okay collection of some pretty good individual songs (long before Wake Me Up Before September Ends or Boulevard of Broken Dreams became inescapable on the radio). Given my penchant love for concept albums and rock operas, 2016 me is shocked that 2004 me didn't like this album more. But as the album grew into popularity and then into annoyingly overplayed, I quickly abandoned it. A close friend's obsession with the musical in college was enough to get me to listen to it and go remember why I liked it, but it wasn't until seeing the musical at my alma mater this year that the album finally clicked. I found the narrative, I discovered songs I used to hate were now incredible, and enjoy looking back at this album which is a pretty accurate snapshot of life in the early 2000s Bush / Iraq War era. Easily one of my favorite albums now. Better late than never? Must listen tracks:Give Me Novacaine, Jesus of Suburbia, Whatshername
My Chemical Romance The Black Parade October 2006
This album aged like a fine wine. Much like American Idiot, this album was one I listened to a lot when it came out but quickly dropped. Another concept album, I am again surprised at how I was unable to find the narrative and story in this album. Upon release, I was disappointed to find the album was not more like the band's previous release, listened to a few songs, and then dropped it when Welcome To The Black Parade became a fairly moderate hit on the radio. With this year being the 10th Anniversary of the album and a coinciding release, I decided to give The Black Parade a listen with relatively fresh ears and was beyond happy with what I found. Again like American Idiot, I found that a lot of songs I didn't care for much on the first go around were now great songs that were easy favorites. Another old album that I'd written off became one of my favorites. They also share the same producer. Coincidence?
Must listen tracks: Disenchanted, I Don't Love You, This Is How I Disappear
2016 Album Countdown: #1 Woman by Justice November 18th
If you know me at all you knew this would be my #1 album this year.
Seeing that iconic cross on an album cover in 2016 still gets me so excited. Everybody's (other) favorite French electronic duo Justice returned this year to release their third studio album. Justice turned the electronic music world on its head with their 2007 debut album ✝, seen by many as a landmark and watershed moment for the genre, especially in the US. Their follow-up, 2011's Audio, Video, Disco strayed away from the sound they developed with ✝ and, because of this, wasn't as well received (though I love it!). Woman continues where they left off with AVD, though there are still traces of ✝ throughout.
On Woman, we see Justice drop all pretense and go full pop. Or at least as much as they probably can. String and choir ensembles are used tactfully throughout the album, as are the band's signature distorted bass and synths. Tracks like "Fire" and "Stop" show Justice's great pop sensibilities, while retaining the Justice sound, and are the duo’s greatest pop songs since 2007's "D.A.N.C.E." Conversely, tracks like the slap-bass space disco "Safe And Sound," the charging "Alakazam!" and the epic "Chorus" show that Justice can still produce tracks that will drive everyone in a club crazy. Both the pop and epic attributes collide on "Randy," a sprawling 7-minute pop song with a very epic bridge.
I've learned that there are two types of Justice fans: those who are fans of the band Justice, and those who are fans of ✝. There are lots of people who continuously complain that Justice have not, and probably will not, make ✝ Part II. As an artist and a fan of creativity, I would hate to see them recreate that style or genre because they felt they had to, or even if they wanted to. Artists grow, their styles can change, which is why when Justice put something out, I don't care if it sounds like ✝ or not. I like their style, and whole-heartedly trust what they want to put out. There were plenty of "but mah cross!!"complaints when Woman was released, unsurprisingly, but I hope people who wrote this off will revisit it, because while it might not be ✝, it's a damn solid piece of work.
Must-listen tracks: Safe And Sound, Fire, Stop, Chorus, Randy
2016 Album Countdown: #2 Atlas by FM-84 April 25th
I love music that sounds like old music. Not sure why, but a lot of my musical taste consists of music that calls back to older styles. Nowhere is that more prevalent than on Atlas. The album is heavily, and I mean heavily, influenced by the sights and sounds of pop music in the 1980s, specifically composer Jan Hammer, known for his work on Miami Vice. Atlas could easily be used as a score for your favorite Miami-based sun-soaked 1980s drama or perhaps have been featured in a certain Grand Theft Auto: Vice City video game.
Atlas is composed equally of instrumental and vocal tracks, each complimenting the others nicely. All tracks are very cinematic, and evoke a very specific mood / setting when listening to them. So much so, the instrumental tracks would serve as a perfect soundtrack the next time you put on your pastel leisure suit and go for a scenic drive in your Ferrari convertible into the neon-tinged sunset. One instrumental, "Tears," I loved so much I used it to score my annual vacation video.
The vocal tracks are sublime new wave masterpieces. Vocalist Ollie Wride (who's voice I mistook for a woman's) features on several tracks, each better than the last. His highlights include the perfect "Running In The Night" and the soaring "Don't Want To Change Your Mind" - seriously the vocals on the bridge into the last chorus in the latter give me chills. "Let's Talk" is a collaboration with fellow new retrowave artst Timecop1983 and vocalist Josh Daily, doing his best Bryan Adams impression. I imagine that track could be used for a montage in which our hero, after having a fight with his lover, drives through the night while contemplating their relationship. He's probably driving in the rain too, that would be fitting.
I can't say enough good things about this album. I'm deeply in love with it and cannot wait to see what FM-84 has in store next.
Must-listen tracks: Let's Talk, Running In The Night, Don't Want To Change Your Mind
2016 Album Countdown: #3 Epoch by Tycho September 30th
Tycho's 2013 album Awake had a profound impact on my musical tastes. It opened me up to all kinds of new and ambient styles of electronic music I'd never considered before. Tycho's newest album, a surprise release, forms a perfect duality relationship with Awake. While that album sounded like the soundtrack to a warm summer's sunset, Epoch picks up where Awake leaves off and provides the soundtrack to the night afterwards. Like Awake, Epoch is electronic music played like rock music. It's this amazing and unique musical hybrid that keeps me coming back to Tycho's music again and again.
Where this album differs from previous efforts is the complexity of the compositions. Syncopated drums and multiple time signatures are the norm on this album. Tracks like "Epoch" "Division" and "Slack" are perfect examples of this new shift, whereas "Horizon" sounds like classic Tycho.
Tycho’s production quality is second to none. Even on the busiest of arrangements, each track has enough space to hear each individual synth note, guitar string, bass riff, and drum fill. And they’re all so wonderfully warm. Epoch was beautifully mixed and mastered. Anyone who is a fan of production quality should give this album a spin.
Overall, Epoch is a fantastic and cohesive album, one of my favorites from this year, and a sonic masterpiece. It's certainly deserved it's Grammy nomination!
2016 Album Countdown: #4 W:/2016Album/ by deadmau5 December 2nd
This studio album by electronic musician deadmau5, his eighth, is his first truly independent album, released solely on his own mau5trap label. It's hard to listen to a new album that the artist prefaced by tweeting "I don't even like it" (though he did eventually come around, sort of). This put a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, and admittedly I didn't care much for it on my first few listens. But like the man himself, I came around to it.
Named for the album’s location on his home computer, W:/2016Album/ is less a cohesive album and more a compilation of songs. The four-on-the-floor dance numbers that deadmau5 is known for producing are fine enough (highlights "4ware" and "Three Pound Chicken Wing" for example) but where deadmau5 really shines out are the tracks he's not really known for producing: "Snowcone" is a beautiful, atmospheric trip-hop instrumental, "Whelk Then" is a really cool track that I still have issue labeling, and "Cat Thruster" is a solid funky bass-driven instrumental. Like any other mau5 release, the production quality on all tracks is outstanding.
I believe the album will later be seen as a transitional point in deadmau5' career. He seems to be shying away from the club hits he's built a career on and yearning to make more instrumental and ambient style tracks. And if this album is any hint of what's to come, I am very excited.
Must-listen tracks: Snowcone, 4ware, Three Pound Chicken Wing, Whelk Then
2016 Album Countdown: #5 Junk by M83 April 8th
The seventh studio album by French synthpop band M83, Junk is the band's first studio album since 2011's sonic masterpiece Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (two movie soundtracks notwithstanding). Initially, I was very, very critical of Junk, mainly because it wasn't the sequel to HU,WD. I'd gone so far to write the album off and referred to Junk as "an astute title" for the album. Something in the back of my head made me want to give it another try after a few days, and I'm so glad I did.
I found that Junk is a fun collection of pop and alternative mixed with electronic music which create some amazing musical moments. "Walkway Blues" and "Time Wind", featuring Jordan Lawlor and Beck respectively, were some of my favorite songs this summer; great pop to listen to while driving with the windows down. "Solitude" is pure cinematic M83: piano, heavy synths, punching percussion, and grandiose building strings. "Atlantique Sud" is a stunning ballad and duet in French (the band's native tongue). Interspersed throughout the album are these fantastic instrumental interludes that serve as a good pallet cleanser and break the album into distinct sections.
Junk is a good reason why you shouldn't always rely on first impressions. If I had I would have missed out on some of my favorite songs to come out of this year!
Must-listen tracks: Walkway Blues, Time Wind, Atlantique Sud, Solitude
2016 Album Countdown: #6 I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful, Yet So Unaware of It by The 1975 February 26th
My affinity for this album began as a joke. A local radio station in Buffalo routinely (read: obnoxiously) would play the single "Love Me" seemingly every time I was in my wife's car. Perhaps it was stockholm syndrome, but I eventually liked that catchy song enough to want to check out the rest of the album it was on. I was more than pleasantly surprised with what I found: a pop rock album on the surface with shocking depth and production quality. Many of these songs are written to be poppy and radio-friendly, but have a lot more to the writing and production than your typical pop. "She's American" which is as bright and bubble-gum as pop can get in 2016 is followed by "If I Believe You", a slow ballad just this side of soul complete with a church choir. These are followed by "Please Be Naked", one of my favorite song titles, and, surprisingly, a beautiful pastoral piano interlude / instrumental.
My only real complaint about this album is that, at 1hour 13 mins, it tends to run on a bit.
Must-listen tracks: Love Me, She's American, If I Believe You, Somebody Else
2016 Album Countdown: #7 DNCE by DNCE November 18th
I never expected to include an album in my "best-of" list with a Jonas brother on it, but it's been a weird year hasn't it? I gave this album a listed at the behest of my brother who swore by it. After giving it a couple listens, I totally understood why. Marketed as a pop album, this album strays closer to R&B and Funk. Do you like kickass basslines? This album has them. Catchy guitar licks? You got it. Horns and vocal earworms you'll be singing in your head for days? Check.
The title track and album opener hearkens to Prince's "1999" while the next track "Body Moves" has one of my favorite basslines I've heard all year. I always enjoy being surprised by music, and DNCE is, by far, my biggest surprise of the year.
Must-listen tracks: Body Moves, Doctor You, DNCE
2016 Album Countdown: #8 Still Waters by Breakbot February 5th
Four years after releasing the acclaimed album By Your Side, French electronic artist Breakbot returns with those same 70s / 80s funk vibes in Still Waters. Like his previous release, Still Waters is a love letter to classic funk and R&B though still retaining a modern flavor. Frequent vocal collaborator on By Your Side, Irfane, returns as a full-fledged member of the group. There are some great moments on this album, like the funk jam opener "Back For More" or the pop/funk duet "Arrested", but ultimately Still Waters fails to live up to the standards set by By Your Side, which, admittedly, were pretty hard to top. It's still a good summer album, something to play while you sit by the pool with a cool drink.
Must-listen tracks: Back For More, Still Waters, Arrested, Wet Dream
2016 Album Countdown: #9 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead May 8th
British Alt-Rockers Radiohead released their ninth studio album this year, their first studio album since 2011. I've gotta hand it to them, they never stick to one genre too long. This album dives more into the band's experimental and ambient natures while still retaining that signature Radiohead sound. Even on this album, no two songs really sound the same: one will feature swirling staccato strings over a pounding beat, the next will be a quiet piano or acoustic guitar driven piece. A Moon Shaped Pool is one of those rare records that will take you places if you listen to it in a darkened room.
Must-listen tracks: Present Tense, Glass Eyes, Burn The Witch
2016 Album Countdown: #10 RR7349 by S U R V I V E September 30th
You probably already know about the band S U R V I V E without realizing it: two of it's members were responsible for the analog score to Stranger Things, Netflix's major summer hit. While still comprised of that awesome 80s analog synth vibe from Stranger Things, the band's album features much more cohesive ideas than you'd find on a score. Dark and moody, RR7349 perfectly drops you into the noir world the band members are trying to create with their music.