Best of 2016

((echoplex))

40 Albums That Melted My Brain In 2016

• Air Protection Office - Escaping Distances (Ekar)
• Autolux - Pussy’s Dead (30th Century)
• Devendra Barnhart - Ape In Pink Marble (Nonesuch)
• Juliana Barwick - Will (Dead Oceans)
• Jherek Bischoff - Cistern (Leaf)
• Black Marble - It’s Immaterial (Ghostly International)
• Botany - Deepak Verbena (Western Vinyl)
• City Yelps - The City Yelps Half Hour (Emotional Response)
• Chris Cohen - As If Apart (Captured Tracks)
• Cross Record - Wabi Sabi (Ba Da Bing)
• Cube - My Cube (Left Hand Path)
• Essaie Pas - Demain Est Une Autre Nuit (DFA)
• Exploded View - s/t (Sacred Bones)
• Gaslamp Killer - Instrumentalepathy (Cuss)
• The Hecks - s/t (Trouble In Mind)
• Higher Authorities - Neptune (Domino)
• Marielle V Jakobsons - Star Core (Thrill Jockey)
• Damien Jurado - Visions Of Us On The Land (Secretly Canadian)
• Kikagaku Moyo - House In The Tall Grass (Guruguru Brain)
• Klaus Johann Grobe - Spagat der Liebe (Trouble In Mind)
• Mary Lattimore - At The Dam (Ghostly International)
• Cate Le Bon - Crab Day (Drag City)
• Lithics - Borrowed Floors (Water Wing)
• Morgan Delt - Phase Zero (Sub Pop)
• Naked Lights - On Nature (Castle Face)
• Nonkeen - The Gamble (R&S)
• Omni - Deluxe (Trouble In Mind)
• Plaid - The Digging Remedy (Warp)
• Powell - Sport (XL)
• Mark Pritchard - Under The Sun (Warp)
• Public Memory - Wuthering Drum (Felte)
• Say No! To Architecture - s/t (Ghosthunter’s Club)
• Sonny & The Sunsets - Moods Baby Moods (Polyvinyl)
• Space Dimension Controller - Orange Melamine (Ninja Tune)
• Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Ears (Western Vinyl)
• Takenobu - Reversal (s/r)
• Thor & Friends - s/t (LM Dupli-Cation)
• Tobacco - Sweatbox Dynasty (Ghostly International)
• Vanishing Twin - Choose Your Own Adventure (Soundway)
• 10th Letter - The Revenge (Psych Army Intergalactic)

Reissues/Compilations

• Bocal 5 - Musique Électronique (Dark Entries)
• Ahmed Malek - Musique Originale De Films (Habibi Funk)
• Pedro Santos ‎– Krishnanda (Mr. Bongo)
• Various Artists - (The Microcosm) Visionary Music Of Continental Europe, 1970-1986 (Light In The Attic)
• Various Artists - Sky Girl (Efficient Space)
• Various Artists - So-Low (Vinyl Factory)
• Various Artists - Tanbou Toujou Lou: Meringue, Kompa Kreyol, Vodou Jazz, & Electric Folklore from Haiti 1960 - 1981 (Ostinato)
• Various Artists - Venezuela 70: Cosmic Visions Of A Latin American Earth: Venezuelan Experimental Rock In The 1970s (Soundway)

A Series of Sevens

7 Swingin’ Shows of 2016

• Zeena Parkins & Tony Buck (Big Ears Festival) - Mill & Mine, May 1
• ROVA Saxophone Quartet OCTET aka Figure 8 - ODC Commons, May 14
• The Cannanes/Bloopers/Lunchbox/The Dyson Spheres (SF Popfest) - Hemlock Tavern, June 3
• Mekons - Bottom of the Hill, September 30
• His Name is Alive/Bastards of Fate (Athens Popfest) - Georgia Theater, August 12
• Kikagaku Moyo - Georgia Theater Rooftop, October 31
• Matmos - Grey Area, December 13

7 Super Songs of 2016

• Bent Shapes - “New Starts in Old Dominion” - Wolves Of Want (Slumberland)
• Big Thief - “Masterpiece” - Masterpiece (Saddle Creek)
• Cian Nugent - “Year of the Snake” - Night Fiction (Woodsist)
• Deerhoof - “Criminals of the Dream” - The Magic (Polyvinyl)
• Heron Oblivion - “Beneath Fields” - Heron Oblivion (Sub Pop)
• John K. Samson - “17th Street Treatment Centre” (ANTI-/Epitaph)
• White Fang - “Doin' the Damn Thing” - Chunks (Burger)

7 Awe-inspring Albums of 2016

• Allah-Las - Calico Review (Mexican Summer)
• Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial (Matador)
• Baird Sisters - Until You Find Your Green (Ba Da Bing)
• Paul Fonfara and the Ipsifendus Orchestra - Seven Secrets of Snow (Ipsifendus)
• Kikagaku Moyo -  House In The Tall Grass (Guruguru Brain)
• King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity (ATO)
• Orb - Birth (Castle Face)

Berkestir

New Music

• Daevid Allen Weird Quartet - Elevenses (Purple Pyramid)
• Baird Sisters - Until You Find Your Green (Ba Da Bing)
• Bazooka - Useless Generation (Sloverly)
• Jeff Beck - Loud Hailer (Duece)
• Black Mountain - IV (Jagjaguwar)
• David Bowie - Black Star (Columbia)
• Casket Girls - The Night Machine (Graveface)
• Chicos De Nazca - Fireride (HoZac)
• Dave Douglas - Dark Territory (Greenleaf)
• Dead Beast - Dead Beast (Palm Tapes)
• Earthless/Harsh Toke - Acid Crusher/Mount Swan (Tee Pee)
• Elektro Hafiz - Elektro Hafiz (Pharaway)
• Goat - Requiem (Rocket)
• Hawklords - Fusion (Shellshock)
• Harkwind - The Machine Stops (Cherry Red)
• Heron Oblivion - Heron Oblivion (Sub Pop)
• King Crimson - Live In Toronto (DGM)
• Life Stinks - Youíll Never Know (S.S.)
• Charles Lloyd & The Marvels - I Long To See You (Blue Note)
• Low Fling Hawks - Kofuku (Magnetic Eye)
• Metal Rouge - Broke In Broke Out (Emerald Cocoon)
• Roy Montgomery - RMHQ (Grapefruit)
• Musk - Musk 2 : The Second Skumming (12XU)
• The Mystery Lights - Mystery Lights (Daptone)
• The Nots - Cosmetic (Goner)
• Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real - Something Real (Royal Potato Family)
• Oozing Wound - Whatever Forever (Thrill Jockey)
• Emma Pollock - In Search Of Harperfield (Chemikal Underground)
• Purling Hiss - High Bias (Drag City)
• Psychic Ills - Inner Journey Out (Sacred Bones)
• Emitt Rhodes - Rainbow Ends (Omnivore) 
• Ty Segall - Emotional Mugger (Drag City) 
• Waco Brothers - Going Down In History (Bloodshot)
• Tony Joe White - Rain Crow (Swamp)
• Wire- Nocturnal Koreans (Pink Flag)
• Neil Young + Promise Of The Real - Earth (Respire) 

Singles

• Bond Heat - Takeout The Trash/You Ep (Miss 45)
• Cut Worm - Donít want to say Good-Bye (Randy)
• Dead Ending - Ivanaka Wants Her Orange Back/Class War (Alternative Tentacles)
• Hawkwind - Solitary Man/Tunnels Of Darkness (Cherry Red)
• Heavy Times - Black Sunglasses (HoZac)
• Robyn Hitchcock & Emma Swift - Love Is A Drag/Life Is Change (Tiny Ghost)
• Mercury Girls - All That Heaven Allows/Ariana ( Sumberland)
• White Pee + White Hills - in love but not committed (Bright Yellow)
• Felixx Xanquar - You Never Know/Glass Onion (World Ocean)

Reissues

• Boris - Pink (Sargent House)
• Cluster -1971-1981 (b bureau)
• Die Form - Zoo (Dark Entries)
• Diseno Corbusier (Dark Entries)
• Hawkwind- The Charisma Years 1976-1979 (Atomhenge)
• The Move - Move (Esoteric)
• The Move - ëShazamí (Esoteric)
• The Move - Looking On (Esteric)
• The Notwish - 12 (Big Store)
• The Notwish - Shink (Big Store) 
• Wizzz! - French Psychorama 1967-1970 (Born Bad)
• The Zombies - R.I.P. (Varese Vintage)

Carnacki

Favourite Releases of 2016 in alphabetical order

• Kristine Barrett - Ancestors (s/r)
• Jherek Bischoff - Cistern (Leaf)
• The Body / Full Of Hell - One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache (Neurot)
• Shirley Collins - Lodestar (Domino)
• Common Eider King Eider - Extinction (Cold Spring)
• Faun Fables - Born of the Sun (Drag City)
• Fovea Hex - The Salt Garden I (Die Stadt / Janet)
• Free Salamander Exhibit - Undestroyed  (Web of Mimicry)
• FRKSE - Desecration Anxiety I  (Auris Apothecary)
• Henryk Górecki - Symphony No. 4, “Tansman Episodes” (Nonesuch)
• Kristin Hersh - Wyatt at the Coyote Palace (Omnibus Press)
• Hypnopazūzu - Create Christ, Sailor Boy (House of Mythology)
• Marielle V. Jakobsons - Star Core  (Thrill Jockey)
• Andrew Liles - A Million Infant Breaths (Dirter)
• Matmos - Ultimate Care II (Thrill Jockey)
• Mini-Mekons & Robbie Fulks - Jura (Bloodshot)
• Marissa Nadler - Strangers (Sacred Bones)
• Sarah Neufeld - The Ridge (Paper Bag)
• Nurse With Wound - Dark Fat (United Jnana)
• So Beast - Kira (Time Sensitive Materials)
• The Stargazer’s Assistant - Remoteness of Light (House of Mythology)
• Thor & Friends - S/T (LM Duplication)
• Emily Wells - Promise (Thesis + Instinct)
• Emily Jane White - They Moved In Shadow All Together (Talitres)
• Worm Ouroboros - What Graceless Dawn  (Profound Lore)

Favourite Reissues

• Carla Bozulich - Red Headed Stranger (Folktale)
• Tor Lundvall - Nature Laughs As Time Slips By  (Dais)
• Colin Potter - The Scythe (Deep Distance)
• Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Grand Opening & Closing / …of Natural History / In Glorious Times (Blood Music)

Favourite Small Things

• Anne Briggs - Four Songs (Fledg’ling Records)
• Contrastate - True Believer / The 10/40 Window (Dirter)
• Grouper - Paradise Valley (Yellow Electric)
• Tele Novella - Heavy Balloon (Yellow Year)

Carolyn

Long live the 7" record! My favorite 45s of 2016

• The Lopez - "Kill Yr Selfie" (SKR)
• Chrome Reverse - "Do What?" (Kizmiaz)
• Os Courettes - Introducing The Selvagem Os Courettes (Bachelor)
• Pizza Ninja Squad - "Krang" (Euro Trash)
• Primitive Calculators - "I'm Fucked" (Emotional Response)
• Nachthexen - "Ring Ring" (Kids Of The Lughole)
• Cold Meat - Jimmy's Lipstick (Static Shock)
• Razz - "No Time" (Warm Wet)
• Bug Fix - "Chocolate Nerve" (MPLS Ltd.)
• Quaaludes - Are The Winners Always Losers? (Jonny Cat)
• The Sticks - "No Sustain" (Market Square)
• Shivas - "I've Had Enough" (Casino Trash)
• Patsy - "Eat It" (Total Punk)

I like LPs too! My favorite LPs of 2016

• My Name Is Joe - Stories Of Our Cities (MNIJ)
• Heavy Metal - Anti-Music, Anti-Sense, Anti-You (Static Age)
• Miss Destiny - S/T (R.I.P. Society)
• The Dance Asthmatics - Lifetime Of Secretion (ever/never)
• Boss Hog - Brood Star (In The Red)
• Nots - Cosmetic (Goner)
• Sex Crime - S/T (Danger)
• Black Helicopter - Deadlines For Deadbeats (Midriff)
• The Suburban Homes - The Suburban Homes Are Bored (Total Punk)
• Peluqueria Canina - Jovenes Promesas (Going Underground)
• Mountains And Rainbows - Particles (Castle Face)

And cassettes! My favorite cassettes of 2016

• BD - Demo 2016 (S/R)
• Mike Henry Leak - Human Machine (Vasen Entertainment)
• Sex Hogs II - Sex Hogs II: Part One (S/R)

And of course reissues! My favorite reissues of 2016

• Babeez - Nobody Wants Me (Buttercup)
• Dow Jones And The Industrials - Can't Stand The Midwest 1979-1981 (Family Vineyard)
• Cheap Nasties - "53rd & 3rd" (Numero Group)
• The Executives - "Jet Set" (Rerun/ Danger)
• Mr. Science - 1978-1979 (Family Vineyard)
• V/A - Subnormal Girls (Waiting Room)
• Units - "High Pressure Days" (FDH)
• Plastic Idols - "Einstein Experience" (Rerun)
• Metal Urbain - "Panik" (Alternative Tentacles)
• Angry Angles - S/T (Goner)
• Mike Rep And The Quotas - Hellbender 1975-78 (Hozac)
• Suicide - "Dream Baby Dream" (Superior Viaduct)
• DNA - "You & You" (Superior Viaduct)

Bonus: Favorite indefinable release of 2016

• Theme Weavers LLC - Nothing But The Best: The Very Best of Theme Weavers LLC (Talent Moat)

Comma

Best Of 2016

2016 was a blur to me, music-related. A lot of changes happened in my life, and I ended up moving away to work abroad.

As such, it was my last year at KALX for the indefinite future. As fate would have it, I perhaps left during a time period that socially contentious music will be on the rise - even more so than what we currently have in place! We certainly haven't seen this kind of open, mainstream patriarchal aggressivity in politics since perhaps the 1890s! Or, maybe it's always been this way, but as such, I thought I'd post my last list to praise some of my favorite cutting-edge American female musicians and female fronted bands that I had the opportunity to listen to this year (with some other bonus stuff that's more free-for-all).

Kickass Feminist Garage Rock and Punk

• Tacocat - Lost Time (Hardly Art)
• Dark Beach - Ouija EP (S/R)
• The Coathangers - Nosebleed Weekend (Suicide Squeeze)
• Burnt Palms - Back on My Wall (We Were Never Being Boring)
• Hinds - Leave Me Alone (Mom + Pop)

Wonderful, Ethereal Female Singer-Songwriters

• Angel Olsen - My Woman (Jagjaguwar)
• Marissa Nadler - Strangers (Sacred Bones)
• Ceu - Tropix (Six Degrees)
• Moon & Pollution - The Box Borealis (F I X)
• Emily Wells - Promise (Thesis & Instinct)

Muses of Darkness and of the Strangely Indescribable

• Insect Ark - Portal/Well (Autumn Songs)
• Sarah Neufeld - The Ridge (Paper Bag)
• Anna Homler and Steve Moshier - Breadwoman + Other Tales (RVING Intl) [reissue]
• cross record - Wabi-Sabi (Ba Da Bing)
• Heidi Krutzen and Ariel Barnes - Serere (Maxwell, Muhly & Couloir) (Ravello)

Bonus Mentions That Defined 2016's Chaos to Me

• Bombino - Azel (Partisan)
• Public Memory - Wurthering Drum (felt)
• Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool (XL)
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree (Bad Seed Ltd.)
• V/A - Scream Queens Magazine Issue #1 Compilation (S/R) - Particularly for having Them Are Us Too's "Angeline" on it. 

To all of the KALX staff, volunteers, and community listeners, thanks for the memories. Be with you always.

Curt Reply

Top 20 Songs for 2016 (in no particular order)

• Holyesque - “St.” At Hope's Ravine (Beyond the Frequency)
• Hinds - “Castigadas En El Granero” Leave Me Alone (Mom + Pop)
• Coathangers - “Perfume” Nosebleed Weekend (Suicide Squeeze)
• Parquet Courts - “One Man No City” Human Performance (Rough Trade)
• Goon Sax - “Boyfriend” Up To Anything (Chapter)
• Deerhoof - “Plastic Thrills” The Magic (Polyvinyl)
• Tacocat - “The Internet” Lost Time (Hardly Art)
• Esme Patterson - “Feel Right” We Were Wild (Grand Jury)
• Pookie and the Poodlez - “Gonna Make Him Mine Tonight” Young Adult (Southpaw)
• Mitski - “Your Best American Girl” Puberty 2 (Dead Oceans)
• Seratones - “Sun” Get Gone (Fat Possum)
• Sofi Tukker - “Drinkee” Soft Animals (Heavy Roc Music)
• Weaves - “One More” Weaves (Kanine)
• Lisa Prank - “Best of Everything” Adult Teen (Father/Daughter)
• Death By Unga Bunga - “I Wanted Everything” Fight! (Jansen)
• Heron Oblivion - “Beneath Fields” Heron Oblivion (Subpop)
• Sneaks - “Tough Luck” Gymnastics (Merge)
• LVL UP - “Hidden Driver” Return To Love (Sub Pop)
• Baronial Hall - “Compartment D” Single (soundcloud)
• Whitney - “No Woman” Light Upon the Lake (Rough Trade)

 

DangerVenture

Top 10 Debut Albums

• Flatbush Zombies - 3001: A Laced Odyssey (Glorious Dead)
• Flock of Dimes - If You See Me, Say Yes (Partisan)
• The Goon Sax - Up to Anything (Chapter Music)
• Julia Jacklin - Don’t Let the Kids Win (Polyvinyl)
• Kaytranada - 99.9% (XL)
• Let’s Eat Grandma - I, Gemini (Transgressive)
• Anna Meredith - Varmints (Moshi Moshi)
• Kyle Morton - What Will Destroy You (S/R)
• Margo Price - Midwest Farmer’s Daughter (Third Man Records)
• Sunflower Bean - Human Ceremony (Fat Possum)

Top 10 Local Releases

• Doncat - Easy Cowboy (S/R)
• Foxtails Brigade - S/T (OIM)
• Ghost & the City - Patchwork Soul (S/R)
• Kendra McKinley - Treat (S/R)
• M. Lockwood Porter - How To Dream Again (S/R)
• Phosphene - Breaker (S/R)
• Plush - S/T (Father/Daughter)
• Rogue Wave - Delusions of Grand Fur (Easy Sound)
• Thao & the Get Down Stay Down - A Man Alive (Ribbon Music)
• Tycho - Epoch (Ghostly International)

Top 10 Shows (not including festival sets)

• Saintseneca - Rickshaw Stop, 1/27
• Dan Deacon - The Fillmore, 1/29
• Julien Baker - Bottom of the Hill, 2/25
• Foxing - Bottom of the Hill, 3/31
• Kaki King - Swedish American Hall, 6/12
• You Won’t - Brick & Mortar, 6/23
• On An On - Rickshaw Stop, 7/21
• Joshua Powell & the Great Train Robbery - Brick & Mortar, 7/26
• Foals - Fox Theater, 9/26
• Brand New - San Jose Event Center, 10/31

Deep Mission

Best Local Band Releases

• Rainbow Girls  - Perceptronium (s/r)
• Mayya & The Revolutionary Hell Yeah! - Mayya & The Revolutionary Hell Yeah! (s/r)
• Maurice Tani - The White Water (WIR)
• Foxtails Brigade - Foxtails Brigade (OIM)

Best Americana

• Mike Eldred Trio - Baptist Town (Great Western)
• The Devil Makes Three - Redemption and Ruin (New Western)
• Andre Thierry - Bouncin' With The Blues (s/r)
• Taking Back Eden - Beautiful Disaster (s/r)
• Steve 'n' Seagulls - Brothers in Farms (Spine Farm)

Best Rock 'n' Roll

• Chris Meck and The Guilty Birds - It's 4AM Somewhere (s/r)
• Jeff Beck - Loud Hailer (Deuce Music)
• The Riots - Time for Truth! (Cargo)
• Rod Melancon - LA 14 (Blue Elan)
• Death Valley Girls - Glow in the Dark (Burger)

Best R&B/Blues

• Sharon Jones - Miss Sharon Jones! OST (Daptone)
• Nikki James - The Album (Fat Girl Records)
• Eddie Cotton - One At A Time (DeChamp)
• Honeybird - Out Comes Woman (s/r)

Best International/World

• Bombino - Azel (Partisan)
• Buyepongo - Todo Mundo (s/r)
• Ceu - Tropix (Six Degrees)
• Dom la Nena - Cantando (Six Degrees)
• Edip Akbayram ve Dostlar - Singles Overview (Pharaway Sounds)
• Imarhan - Imarhan (City Slang)
• Pridjevi - Pridjevi (Trouble in Mind)

Best Jazz

• The Hot Sardines - French Fries and Champagne (Decca)
• Cafe Musique - Ebb & Flow (Mesa Blue Moon)

Best Live Bands Hosted

• Rainbow Girls - 2/20/16 on KALX Live!
• The Control Freaks -  8/13/16 on KALX Live!
• Andre Thierry - 8/23/16 on Deep Mission
• CJ Allegre - 11/19/16 on KALX Live!

DJ Salinger

Ten Notables of 2016

• Beats Antique - Shadowbox (S/R)
• Bon Iver - 22, A Million (JAGJAGUWAR)
• DOOMSQUAD - Total Time (Bella Union)
• Essaie Pas - Demain est une autre nuit (DFA)
• International Contemporary Ensemble - On the Nature of Thingness (starkland)
• James Blake - The Colour in Anything (Universal)
• Junior Boys - Big Black Coat (City Slang)
• KAYTRANADA - 99.9% (XL)
• of Montreal - Innocence Reaches (Polyvinyl)
• Tycho - Awake Remixes (Ninja Tune)

DJ Sev

Great Albums in 2016

• Badbadnotgood - IV (Innovative Leisure)
• Kaytranada - 99.9% (XL)
• V/A - Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque in Upper Volta (Numero Group)
• De La Soul - And the Anonymous Nobody (AOI)
• Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - 55 (Big Crown)
• Romare - Love Songs Part 2 (Ninja Tune)
• Gaslamp Killer - Instrumentalepathy (Cuss)
• Brookzill - Throwback to the Future (Tommy Boy)
• Miles Davis & Robert Glasper - Everything's Beautiful (Blue Note)
• Dillon & Paten Locke - Food Chain (Full Plate)
• Vaudou Game - Kidayu (Hot Casa)
• Emapea - Seeds, Roots, & Fruits (Cold Busted)

Notable Live Performances

• Dayme Arocena - The New Parish, 4/3/16
• Quantic - Freight & Salvage, 4/3/16
• Cymande - Regency Ballroom, 6/5/16
• Femi Kuti - The Fillmore, 6/29/16
• Digable Planets - The New Parish, 8/23/16
• Robert Glasper- SFJAZZ, 12/9/16

DJ Twinkle

20 Favorites of 2016

• Animals Of Grace - Songs Of Shattering (Rolling Crone)
• A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service (Epic)
• Beats Antique - Shadowbox (S/R)
• David Bowie - Blackstar (Columbia)
• Chook Race - Around the House (Trouble in Mind)
• Death Valley Girls - Glow in the Dark (Burger)
• El Radio Fantastique - Shine EP (S/R)
• FEA - Fea  (Blackheart)
• Foxtails Brigade - Foxtails Brigade (OIM)
• Goat - Requiem  (Sub Pop) 
• Hinds - Leave Me Alone (Mom + Pop)
• Jain - Zanaka (Columbia)
• Julie Ruin - Hit Reset (Hardly Art)
• La Femme - Mystere (Born Bad)
• David Last & Cherushii - Meow Wolf's Arcade Soundtracks: Wiggy's Plasma Plex (Mesa)
• Lisa Prank - Adult Teen  (Father/Daughter)
• Xenia Rubinos - Black Terry Cat
• Wax Tailor - By Any Beats Necessary (Le Plan)
• Kate Tempest - Let Them Eat Chaos (Caroline)
• The Prophet Hens - The Wonderful Shapes of Back Door Keys (Fishrider)

Eleven

25 Albums I Loved Playing on KALX in 2016

• A Tribe Called Quest -  We got it from Here...Thank you 4 your Service Digital (Epic)
• Baroness  -  Purple  (Abraxan Hymns)
• Charles Bradley -  Changes  (Daptone)
• Danny Brown -  Atrocity Exhibition  (Warp)
• Brownout -  Brown Sabbath Vol. 2  (Ubiquity)
• Culture Shock - Attention Span (Alternative Tentacles)
• Death By Unga Bunga -  Fight!  (Jansen)
• Explosions In The Sky -  The Wilderness (Temporary Residence)
• Fantastic Negrito -  The Last Days of Oakland  (S/R)
• Julie Ruin -  Hit Reset  (Hardly Art)
• Lee Fields & The Expressions -  Special Night  (Big Crown)
• Zack Lopez -  Bloodlines (Bright Antenna)
• Morricone Youth -  Night Of The Living Dead LP (Light in the Attic)
• Mountains and Rainbows -  Particles  (Castle Face)
• NOTS -  Cosmetic (Goner)
• Angel Olsen -  My Woman (Jagjaguwar)
• Iggy Pop -  Post Pop Depression  (Loma Vista)
• Lisa Prank -  Adult Teen (Father/Daughter)
• Russian Circles -  Guidance  (Sargent House)
• The Olympians -  S/T  (Daptone)
• Tyvek -  Origin of What  (In the Red)
• Various Artists -  Typical Girls  (Emotional Response)
• Various Artists -  CAN'T YOU HEAR ME? 70S AFRICAN NUGGETS (Now Again)
• White Lung -  Paradise (Domino)
• Lady Wray -  Queen Alone (Big Crown)

Eloquence

Best Live Performances of 2016

• Lupe Fiasco - Mezzanine, 1/20
• Chicano Batman - The Independent, 1/23
• FKJ - The Regency Ballroom, 3/26
• Bombino - The Independent, 4/23
• Four Tet - Mezzanine, 5/6
• Gold Panda - The Independent, 8/25
• Kendrick Lamar - FYF Fest, 8/27
• LCD Soundsystem - FYF Fest, 8/28
• Kamasi Washington - Outside Lands, 8/6
• Fantastic Negrito - Outside Lands, 8/7
• Shiba San - Symbiosis Gathering, 9/23
• Hundred Waters - Symbiosis Gathering, 9/25
• Gaslamp Killer - Symbiosis Gathering, 9/25
• DJ Shadow - 1015, 9/30
• James Blake - Fox Theater, 10/17
• Kishi Bishi - The Filmorek 10/21
• Samora Pinderhughes - The Way Church, 11/21
• Rising Appalachia w/ Arouna Diarra, Dustin Thomas - Great American Music Hall 11/26 
• ESP - Brix 581, 12/23
• Justice - The Armory, 12/31

Fernando

50 Favorite Songs

1. Patience - "The Church" The Church (Night School)
2. Gurr - "Moby Dick" In My Head (Duchess Box)
3. Burnt Palms - "Last Time" Back On My Wall (WWNBB)
4. The Coathangers - "Squeeki Tiki" Nosebleed Weekend (Suicide Squeeze) 
5. Flowers - "Bitter Pill" Everybody's Dying To Meet You (Fortuna Pop!)
6. Deerful - "Moon Maps" Moon Maps / Hush Me (wiaiwya)
7. Crabapple - "So Much To Say" Further Out (S/R)
8. The Goon Sax - "Boyfriend" Up To Anything (Chapter)
9. Oh Peas - "Comfortable For Drone" How to Come Back from the Total Annihilation of Your Self (S/R)
10. Dark Beach - "Witching Time" Ouija (S/R)
11. Angel Olsen - "Shut Up Kiss Me" My Woman (Jagjaguwar)
12. Ian Sweet - "If You're Crying" Ian Sweet (Hardly Art)
13. Sea Pinks - "Yr Horoscope" Soft Days (CF)
14. Lisa Prank - "Luv Is Dumb" Adult Teen (Father/Daughter)
15. Allo Darlin' - "Hymn On The 45" Hymn On The 45 (Fortuna Pop!)
16. Mini Dresses - "Sad Eyes" Sad Eyes (S/R)
17. Tacocat - "I Hate The Weekend" Lost Time (Hardly Art)
18. Lithics - "Seven People" Borrowed Floors (Waterwing)
19. Free Cake Fore Every Creature - "I Wanna Make You Bread" Talking Quietly Of Anything With You (Double Double Whammy)
20. Mosaic Mountains - "Protocol Soul" Miscellaneous (S/R)
21. Swanning - "Sleep My Pretties" Drawing Down the Moon (Salinas)
22. Kitten Forever - "Temple" 7 Hearts (Atlas Chair)
23. Puzzled - "Sascha from Russia" Okay, Fine (S/R) 
24. Bloodshot Bill & Shannon Shaw - "Honey Time" Honey Time (Slovenly)
25. The World - "Managerial Material" Managerial Material (It Takes Two)
26. Lala Lala - "Okie Dokie Doggy Daddy" Sleepyhead (S/R)
27. Flasher - "Love Me" Flasher (Sister Polygon)
28. The Fools - "Bing Bong" The Fools (S/R)
29. Night School - "Lost" Blush (Graveface)
30. Hazel English - "Im Fine" Never Going Home (Marathon Artists)
31. Patio - "Arbitrary Numbers" Luxury (S/R)
32. Post Pink - "High" I Believe You, OK (Sister Polygon)
33. Mercury Girls - "Ariana" Ariana (Slumberland)
34. Supermoon - "Stories We Tell Ourselves About Ourselves" Playland (Mint)
35. Mannequin Pussy - "Romantic" Romantic (Tiny Engines)
36. Mr Wrong - "Witchy" Distraction Demo (Cosmonaut)
37. As Ondas - "Historia" Mares (Jigsaw)
38. Fussy - "I Want More" Fussy's In Your Head (S/R)
39. Snail Mail - "Thinning" Habit (Sister Polygon)
40. The Tuts - "Tut Tut Tut" Update Your Brain (Dovetown)
41. Scully - "Wave" No Sense (Burger)
42. Baus - "Chips" Will Be Right Back (Not Normal)
43. Ragana - "You Take Nothing" You Take Nothing (S/R)
44. Bad Daddies - "How Do You Like Your Coffee?" B.D. Demo 2016 (S/R)
45. Virginia Wing - "Sonia & Claudette" Forward Constant Motion (Fire)
46. Failed Flowers - "Dawn Patrol" Failed Flowers (25 Diamonds)
47. Los Cripis - "Way To Heaven" Restaurant (Glad Fact)
48. Easy Love - "Treat Me Mean" Easy Love (Lolipop)
49. Brunch Club - "Bike Riding" Demos (S/R)
50. Bearcats - "Turn Me Around" Break Up Stories (Lost State)

Film Close-Ups

Film Close-ups’ collective “Top Films of 2016” in alphabetical order

• A Monster Calls (J. A. Bayona, UK/US)
• Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, USA)
• The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, the touring years (Ron Howard, US)
• Cameraperson (Kirsten Johnson, USA)
• Captain Fantastic (Matt Ross, US)
• Certain Women (Kelly Reichardt, USA)
• Eagle Huntress (Otto Bell, UK/Mongolia/US)
• Fire At Sea (Gianfranco Rosi, Italy | France)
• Hail, Caesar! (Coens, USA)
• The Handmaiden (Chan-wook Park, South Korea)
• Hell or High Water (David Mackenzie, US)
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople (Taika Waititi, New Zealand)
• I, Daniel Blake (Ken Loach, UK)
• Indignation (James Schamus, USA)
• La La Land (Damien Chazelle, US)
• Lights Out (Davis F. Sandberg, US)
• The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos, Greece/Ireland/Netherlands/UK/France)
• Love & Friendship (Whit Stillman, Ireland | France | Netherlands)
• Manang Biring (Carl Joseph Papa, Philippines)
• Manchester By the Sea (Kenneth Lonergan, USA)
• Miss Sharon Jones (Barbara Kopple, US)
• Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, US)
• The Music of Strangers (Morgan Neville, US)
• No Home Movie (Chantal Akerman, Belgium | France)
• Our Little Sister (Hirokazu Kore-eda, Japan)
• Remember (Atom Egoyan, Canada/Germany)
• Sing Street (John Carney, Ireland/UK/US)
• Trapped (Dawn Porter, US)
• Viva (Paddy Breathnach, Ireland)
• Weiner (Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg, US)
• Where to Invade Next (Michael Moore, US)
• The Witch (Robert Eggers, US)
• 10 Cloverfield Lane (Dan Trachtenberg, US)
• 13th (Ava DuVernay, US)

I Don’t Karen

Best Albums, Singles, Reissues of 2016

• Ausmuteants - Band of the Future (Aarght)
• Bonnie Prince Billy - Pond Scum (Drag City)
• Bob Brown - The Wall I Built Myself (Tompkins Square)
• Cheena - Spend the Night With… (Sacred Bones)
• Chook Race - Around the House (Trouble in Mind)
• Brian Eno - The Ship (Warp)
• Heavy Times - Black Sunglasses (Hozac)
• The Intended - Time Will Tell (In the Red)
• Leather Towel - Leather Towel IV (Hozac)
• Magic Trick - Other Man's Blues (Empty Cellar)
• David Nance - More Than Enough (Ba Da Bing)
• Nots - Cosmetic (Goner)
• So Cow - Lisa Marie Airplane Tour (Jigsaw)
• Terminals - Uncoffined (Hozac)
• Terry - 8 Girls (Aarght)
• Terry - Terry HQ (Upset the Rhythm)
• Tyvek - Origin of What (In the Red)
• Uranium Club - Who Made the Man? (Static Shock)
• V/A - Eccentric Soul: Sitting in the Park (Numero Group)
• The World - Managerial Material (It Takes Two)

Joey Miscue

2016 6-CD Changer (if they weren't all Prince CDs)

• Mitski - Puberty 2 (Dead Oceans)
• Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book (s/r)
• Frank Ocean - Blonde (Boys Don't Cry)
• A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service (Epic)
• Solange - A Seat at the Table (Saint)
• Fea - Fea (Blackheart)

Also in my car

• Kaytranada - 99.9% (XL)
• Blood Orange - Freetown Sound (Domino)
• Nxworries - Yes Lawd! (Stones Throw)
• Kanye West - The Life of Pablo (GOOD)

Madame X

Top Ten Albums of 2016

• Basia Bulat - Good Advice (Secret City)
• Ceu - Tropix (Six Degrees)
• Deep Sea Diver - Secrets (High Beam)
• Elza Soares - Mulher Do Fim Do Mundo (Mais Um Discos)
• El Radio Fantastique - Shine EP (S/R)
• Karsh Kale - Up (Six Degrees)
• Nahko & Medicine for the People - Hoka (Side One Dummy)
• Eva Salina - Lema Lema: Eva Salina Sings Sababn Bajramovic (Audio & Video Labs, Inc.)
• Kate Tempest - Let Them Eat Chaos (Caroline)
• Thao and the Get Down Stay Down - A Man Alive (Ribbon Music)

Majority Whip

30 Favorite 2016 Albums

• Acid Arab - Musique de France (Crammed Discs) 
• Federico Albanese - The Blue Hour (Berlin Classics) 
• Ash Koosha - I AKA I (Ninja Tune)
• A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here...Thank you 4 your Service (Epic)
• Automatisme - Momentform Accumulations (Constellation) 
• Cyro Baptista - Blue Fly (Tzadik) 
• Davis Brooks - Early Musings (Navona) 
• The Cactus Blossoms - You're Dreaming (Red House)
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Original Television Soundtrack, Season 1 (Watertower)
• D-Town Brass - Golden Belt (S/R) 
• Debo Band - Ere Gobez (FPE) 
• DJ Katapila - Trotro (Awesome Tapes from Africa)
• Dave Douglas - Dark Territory (Greenleaf)
• Exploded View - Exploded View (Sacred Bones)
• Carolina Eyck - Fantasias for Theremin and String Quartet (Butterscotch)
• Goat - Requiem (Sub Pop) 
• Tim Hecker - Love Streams (4AD) 
• Holy Fuck - Congrats (Innovative Leisure) 
• Kleenrz - Season 2 (S/R)
• Luisa Maita - Fiodamemoria (Cumbancha)
• Moon Hooch - Red Sky (Hornblow)
• Anderson .Paak - Malibu (Steel Wool)
• Rafter - XYZ (Joyful Noise) 
• Rihanna - Anti (Westbury Road Entertainment)
• Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions - Until The Hunter (Tendril Tales)
• Paul Simon - Stranger to Stranger (Concord)
• Sonzeira - Tam Tam Tam Reimagined (Brownswood)
• William Susman - Scatter My Ashes (Belarca) 
• Takenobu - Reversal (S/R)
• Teen - Love Yes (Carpark)

 

Marshall Stax

Some of the Best of 2016 on The Next Big Thing Show

• Alpha Six Romeo - "Want It Back" - Flint Loves Silver (s/r)
• Bordge - "Bright Clouds & Black Rainbows" - Fatigue (s/r)
• Ben Bostick - "My Country" - My Country (s/r)
• Mac Cagle - "1984" - Punk Rock Opera (s/r)
• Captain Storm - "All The Words She Said" - Let's Pretend (We Can Fly) (s/r)
• Carne Cruda - "I Love You More Than Tacos" - I Love You More Than Tacos (Round Whirled)
• El Radio Fantastique - "What's Your Soldier Made Of?" - Shine e.p. (s/r)
• Ensemble Mik Nawooj - "Last Donut" - The Future Of Hip Hop (Golden Fetus)
• Entracte Twist - "Christine Young" - Christine Young (Croque Macadam)
• Flamin' Groovies - "Crazy Macy" - Flamin' Groovies (Burger Records)
• The Goat Family - "Aint No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" - The Devil Can Eat My Dust (s/r)
• Matt Jaffe & The Distractions - "Hellhounds Of Alcatraz" - Matt Jaffe & The Distractions (s/r)
• Karaj - "Blues To Get Home" - Water (s/r)
• Night Auditor - "Higher" - Drugz (s/r)
• Pentacon Six - "Summer's Over" - Pentacon Six (s/r)
• Schemata Theory - "Horror Show" - Networks (s/r)
• Sons Of The Golden West - "Cry Me A River" - Oh California! (s/r)
• Gery Tinkelenberg - "America" - Loopy Love (s/r)
• Trench City - "Lead Kindly Heart" - Coming With The Force (Gwynfryn)
• Venus Beltran - "She Sends Me Light" - Music For The End Of The World (Turkish Delight)

Microtone

Sixteen Albums That Held Me Together in 2016

• Anna Homler & Steve Moshier - Breadwoman and Other Tales (RVNG)
• Sarah Neufeld - The Ridge (Paper Bag)
• Matmos - Ultimate Care II (Thrill Jockey)
• Ytamo - Mi Wo (Room40)
• Andrew Tuttle - Fantasy League (Someone Good)
• Julianna Barwick - Will (Dead Oceans)
• Lavender - Horizons Beneath the Surface (Jacktone)
• Marissa Nadler - Strangers (Sacred Bones)
• Tor - Blue Book (Loci)
• Aukai - Aukai (S/R)
• Sonzeira - Tam... Tam... Tam... Reimagined (Brownswood)
• David Last & Cherushii - Meow Wolf's Arcade Soundtracks: Wiggy's Plasma Plex (Mesa)
• Marielle V Jakobsons - Star Core (Thrill Jockey)
• Eluvium - False Readings On (Temporary Residence)
• OY - Space Diaspora (Crammed DIscs)
• Goat - Requiem (Sub Pop)

Poindexter

Releases I Loved in 2016

1. Parquet Courts - Human Performance (Rough Trade)
2. Hinds - Leave Me Alone (Mom + Pop)
3. Frankie Cosmos - Next Thing (Bayonet)
4. Cate Le Bon - Crab Day (Drag City)
5. Goon Sax - Up To Anything (Chapter Music)
6. Burnt Palms - Back on My Wall (We Were Never Boring)
7. The World - Managerial Material (It Takes Two)
8. Lithics - Borrowed Floors (Water Wing)
9. Naked Lights - On Nature (Castle Face)
10. Chook Race - Around the House (Trouble in Mind)
11. Omni - Deluxe (Trouble in Mind)
12. Nots - Cosmetic (Goner)
13. Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial (Matador)

Songs I Loved in 2016

1. Parquet Courts - “Berlin Got Blurry” - Human Performance (Rough Trade)
2. The World - “Managerial Material” - Managerial Material (It Takes Two)
3. Frankie Cosmos - “Fool” - Next Thing (Bayonet)
4. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down - “The Evening” - A Man Alive (Ribbon)
5. Goon Sax - “Susan” - Up To Anything (Chapter Music)
6. Cate Le Bon - “I’m a Dirty Attic” - Crab Day (Drag City)
7. Burnt Palms - “Last Time” - Back on My Wall (We Were Never Boring)
8. Hinds - “Easy” - Leave Me Alone (Mom + Pop)
9. Omni - “Earrings” - Deluxe (Trouble in Mind)
10. Naked Lights - “Hedges” - On Nature (Castle Face)
11. Chook Race - “Sometimes” - Around the House (Trouble in Mind)
12. Lithics - “Shees” - Borrowed Floors (Water Wing)
13. Mind Spiders - “Running” - Prosthesis (Dirtnap)
14. Car Seat Headrest - “Destroyed By Hippie Powers” - Teens of Denial (Matador)
15. Mitski - “Happy” - Puberty 2 (Dead Oceans)
16. Yoni & Geti - “Allegheny” - Testarossa (Joyful Noise)
17. Real Numbers - “Frank Infatuation” - Wordless Wonder (Slumberland)
18. Nots - “Cold Line” - Cosmetic (Goner)
19. Julie Ruin - “Let Me Go” - Hit Reset (Hardly Art)
20. Tim Presley - “Long Bow” - The Wink (Drag City)
21. Mean Jeans - “Are There Beers in Heaven” - Tight New Dimension (Fat Wreck Chords)
22. Jeff the Brotherhood - “Idiot” - Zone (Dine Alone)
23. Hazel English - “I’m Fine” - Never Going Home (Marathon Artists)
24. Lisa Prank - “Turn it Up” - Adult Teen (Father/Daughter)
25. Eerie Wanda - “I Am Over Here” - Hum (Beyond Beyond is Beyond)
26. Devendra Banhart - “Fancy Man” - Ape in Pink Marble (Nonesuch)
27. Brave Radar - “Moves in Time” - Lion Head (Fixture)
28. Parrots - “Let’s Do It Again” - Los Niños Sin Miedo (Heavenly)
29. Supermoon - “Witching Hour” - Playland (Mint)

Pop Goes The Weasel

Favorite Songs

• Amiri  -  “Liveyalife”  - The New Negative (HipNOTT)
• Bat For Lashes  -  “Never Forgive the Angels”  - The Bride (Warner Bros.)
• Tom Beaulieu  - “Crazy or Evil”  - Spring 21016Update/Brother For Brother Preview (s/r)
• Burnt Palms  -  “Never Met You”  - Back on My Wall (WWNBB)
• Cactus Blossoms -  “You’re Dreaming”  - You’re Dreaming (Red House)
• Kyle Craft -  “Eye of a Hurricane” -  Dolls of the Highland (Sub Pop)
• Death By Unga Bunga  -  “Fight!”  - Fight! (Jansen)
• Charlie Hilton  -  “Pony”  - Parlana (Captured Tracks)
• Kacy & Clayton  - “Strange Country” - Strange Country  (New West)
• Lavender  - “Carved Intentions”  - Horizons Beneath the Surface (Jacktone)
• Mountains + Rainbows  - “a.m. 580”  - Particles (Castle Face)
• Pansy Division  - “Mistake”  - Quite Contrary (Alternative Tentacles)
• Plaid  - “Do Matter”  - The Digging Rememdy (Warp)
• C.W. Stoneking  - “Zombie”  - Gon’ Boogaloo (King Hokum)
• Tacocat  - “Horse Grrls”  - Lost Time (Hardly Art)

Pupshaw

2016 Albums That Rocked Her World In Strict Alphabetical Order

• A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here...Thank you 4 your Service (Epic)
• Acid Arab - Musique de France (Crammed Discs)
• Laurie Anderson - Heart of a Dog (Nonesuch)
• Aphex Twin - Cheetah EP (Warp)
• Julianna Barwick - Will (Dead Oceans)
• Blood Orange - Freetown Sound (Domino)
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree (Kobalt)
• Patrick Cowley - Muscle Up (Dark Entries)
• De La Soul - And the Anonymous Nobody (AOI)
• Deerhoof -  The Magic (Polyvinyl)
• DJ Katapila - Trotro (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
• Carolina Eyck - Fantasias for Theremin and String Quartet  (Butterscotch)
• Feels - s/t (Castle Face)
• Flamingods - Majesty (Soundway)
• Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch (Sacred Bones)
• Julie Ruin - Hit Reset  (Hardly Art)
• Helen Money - Become Zero (Thrill Jockey)
• Roy Montgomery - R M H Q: Headquarters (Grapefruit)
• Moon Hooch - Red Sky  (Hornblow)
• Tig Notaro - Boyish Girl Interrupted (Secretly Canadian)
• Iggy Pop - Post Pop Depression  (Loma Vista)
• Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool  (XL)
• Kurt Stenzel - Jodorowsky's Dune  (Cinewax)
• Tobacco - Sweatbox Dynasty (Ghostly International)
• Tuxedomoon & Cult With No Name - Blue Velvet Revisited (Crammed Discs)
• White Lung - Paradise  (Domino)
• Wrekmeister Harmonies - Light Falls  (Thrill Jockey)
• V/A - Gays Hate Techno 2.0  (s/r)
• V/A - The Get Down  (RCA)

Rubberband Girl

Albums That Did It For Me in 2016

• The Allergies - As We Do Our Thing (Jalapeño)
• Blue States - Restless Spheres (Memphis Industries)
• Kev Choice - 88 Steps to Eternity (S/R)
• Kaytranada - 99.9% (XL)
• KING - We Are King (KING CREATIVE)
• Corey King - Lashes (Ropeadope)
• Kilo Kish - Reflections in Real Time (Kisha Soundscape + Audio)
• LION BABE - Begin (Outsiders)
• Terrace Martin - Velvet Portraits (Ropeadope)
• Mo Kolours - Texture Like Sun (One-Handed Music)
• Nite Jewel - Liquid Cool (Gloriette)
• Anderson .Paak - Malibu (Steel Wool)
• Ry X - Dawn (Loma Vista)
• Santigold - 99 Cents (Atlantic)
• Unloved - Guilty of Love (S/R)
• Andrew Weatherall - Convenanza (Rotters Golf Club)
• Your Friend - Gumption (Domino)

Shrey

Favorite Records

• Yoni and Geti - Testarossa (Joyful Noise)
• Sports - Sunchokes (Father/Daughter)
• Terry Malts - Lost At The Party (Slumberland)
• Frank Ocean - Blonde (Boys Don't Cry)
• Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion Side B (School Boy)
• Florist - The Birds Outside Sang (Double Double Whammy)

Best Tracks

• Lucy Dacus - "I Don't Want To Be Funny Anymore" - No Burden (Matador)
• Waxahatchee - "Black Candy" - Early Recordings (Merge)
• Yoni & Geti - "Madeline" - Testarossa (Joyful Noise)
• A Tribe Called Quest - "The Space Program" - We Got It From Here ... Thank You 4 Your Service (Epic)
• Sports - "Nowhere To Be" - Sunchokes (Father/Daughter)
• Frank Ocean - "Solo" - Blonde (Boys Don't Cry)
• Rostam - "Wood" (XL)
• Kool A.D. - "It's Alrite 2 Cry" - Have A Nice Dream (Dum Shiny)
• John Bender - "33a1" - I Don't Remember Now / I Don't Want To Talk About It [Reissue] (Superior Viaduct) 
• Florist - "Thank You" - The Birds Outside Sang (Double Double Whammy)

Sparkle Motion

Top 50

• A Bu - Butterflies Fly in Pairs (Sennheiser Media)
• Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom - Otis Was A Polar Bear (Royal Potato Family)
• Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - We Be All Africans (Strut)
• BADBADNOTGOOD - IV (Beat)
• GoGo Penguin - Man Made Object(Blue Note)
• Charlie Hunter - Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth (GroundUP)
• Curtis J Stewart - Of Colors (Outside in Music)
• Dave Douglas - Dark Territory (Greenleaf)
• Gregory Porter - Take Me to the Alley (Blue Note)
• Silk Road Ensemble & Yo-Yo Ma - Sing Me Home (Sony Classical)
• Trio Celeste - Beethoven & Dvořák: Piano Trios (Navona)
• Kikagaku Moyo - House in the Tall Grass (Guruguru Brain)
• Psychic Temple - III (Asthmatic Kitty)
• Ryley Walker - Golden Sings that Have Been Sung (Dead Oceans)
• Jambinai - A Hermitage (Bella Union)
• Brian Eno - The Ship (Beat)
• Anna Meredith - Varmints (Moshi Moshi)
• Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani - FRKWYS Vol. 13: Sunergy (RVNG)
• Marielle V Jakobsons - Star Core (Thrill Jockey)
• Jherek Bischoff - Cistern (The Leaf Label)
• Helen Money - Become Zero (Thrill Jockey)
• Black Mountain - IV (Jagjaguwar)
• Julianna Barwick - Will (Dead Oceans)
• Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop - Love Letter for Fire (Sub Pop)
• case/lang/veirs - S/T (Anti-)
• Baird Sisters - Until You Find Your Green (Ba Da Bing!)
• Glenn Jones - Fleeting (Thrill Jockey)
• John Scofield - Country for Old Men (Impulse!)
• Tyondai Braxton - Oranged Out (Nonesuch)
• Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool (XL)
• Matmos - Ultimate Care II (Thrill Jockey)
• TOR - Blue Book (Loci)
• Plaid - The Digging Remedy (Warp)
• Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (Columbia)
• David Bowie - Blackstar (ISO)
• Big Thief - Masterpiece (Saddle Creek)
• Angel Olsen - MY WOMAN (Jagjaguwar)
• Emma Pollock - In Search of Harperfield (Chemikal Underground) 
• Heron Oblivion - S/T (Sub Pop)
• Jackie Lynn - Jackie Lynn (Thrill Jockey)
• Jessy Lanza - Oh No (Hyperdub)
• John Cale - Music for a New Society/M:FANS (Domino)
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree (Bad Seed Ltd.)
• Solange - A Seat At The Table (Saint)
• Sonny & The Sunsets - Moods Baby Moods (Polyvinyl)
• The Julie Ruin - Hit Reset (Hardly Art)
• Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth (Mexican Summer)
• Whitney - Light Upon the Lake (Secretly Canadian)
• Wild Nothing - Life of Pause (Captured Tracks)
• Y La Bamba - Ojos Del Sol (Tender Loving Empire)

Compilations/Reissues

• Pastor T. L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir - Like a Ship...Without a Sail(Light in the Attic)
• V/A - Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music-(Numero Group)
• V/A - HEROES: Vol. 1-(Rough Trade)

Soundtracks

• Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Hell or High Water (Milan)
• Scott Walker - The Childhood of a Leader (4AD)
• Johann Johansson - Arrival (Deutsche Grammophon)

Most Fun Concerts

• Iggy Pop & Queens of the Stone Age Post Pop Depression tour - May 31 - Masonic Auditorium SF
• Whitney - April 27 - Doug Fir Lounge Portland

Suhnharini Vasahn Suundelehguntah

Ten Delightful Albums of 2016 (or so), +1

1. Chris Cohen - As If Apart (Captured Tracks)
2. Kikagaku Moyo - House In The Tall Grass (Guruguru Brain)
3. Xua - Mekong Moon (Debacle)
4. Sandy's - Prom EP (Sandyams)
5. Amy Blaschke - Breaking The Blues (Bird On A Lyre)
6. Marielle V Jakobsons - Star Core (Thrill Jockey)
7. Morgan Delt - Phase Zero (Sub Pop)
8. Julianna Barwick - Will (Dead Oceans)
9. High Tides - S/T (Rad Cult)
10. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - 55 (Big Crown)

 

+1. Monsieur Jack - Flûte! (S/R, 2014). It's fitting that this enchanting release was one of the last shared by Aquarius Records, once a vendor of magic, now but a memory. Like a beautiful song you can no longer hear, yet you continue to sing. To all who departed in 2016, and to all who remain, namaste.

THE ALMIGHTY KABALLA-BONGA

The Almighty Kaballa-Bonga's Top 10 Albums of 2016 (in no meaningful order whatsoever)

• Dan Plonsey - Football Season (self-released)
• TriAngular Bent - TriAngular Bent (TriAngular Bent)
• various artists - Modes, vol.30 (Navona)
• Bob Brown - The Wall I Built Myself (Tompkins Square)
• Sebastiano Meloni - Moods and Sketches: 12 Improvisations for Piano (Big Round)
• Matthew Shipp CD - The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael (Relative Pitch)
• Bigfoot Woman - Bigfoot Woman (LoFi)
• Yves Ramette - In Times of Torment: Chamber Works 1941–1944 (Navona)
• various artists - Onyx/Society of Composers Inc. (Navona)
• Zoran Šćekić - Just Music (Ravello)

The Butcher of Bakersfield

Record Faves of 2016

• Superstructure - Superposition (Omega Supreme)
• Yagya - Stars And Dust (Deslin)
• Mark Pritchard - Under The Sun (Warp)
• Mark Pritchard - Beautiful People (feat. Thom Yorke) (Warp)
• Mark Pritchard - Under The Sun: Expanded Vol. 1 (Warp/Rough Trade)
• v/a - Various III (030303)
• Pye Corner Audio - Stasis (Ghost Box)
• Lush - Blind Spot (Edemame)
• MNLTH - Trax (WeMe)
• MNLTH - MNLTH102 Demotape (s/r)
• Plaid - The Digging Remedy (Warp)
• EOD - EODS (WeMe)
• John Carpenter - Lost Themes II (Sacred Bones)
• Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool (XL)
• Suzanne Ciani - Buchla Concerts 1975 (Finders Keepers)
• v/a - House, Disco, Boogie, and Other Oddities (Easy Bay)
• Dices & AEM Rhythm Cascade - Thoughtstream (12th Isle)
• Datach'i - System (Timesig)

Best Shows

• Shobaleader One, The Independent 12/17/16
• Octo Octa (DJ), Housepitality @ F8 10/19/16
• Meat Beat Manifesto, DNA Lounge 10/21/16
• Run The Length Of Your Wildness (every Monday)

The Muse

Best Albums 2016

• ELEVEN ACORN LANE - Time for Tea
• INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE - IN THE LIGHT OF AIR (Anna Thorvaldsdottir & ICE) 
• SILVERTRON YOUTH CHOIR - Our God is a Possum God
• WHITFIELD, BARRENCE AND THE SAVAGES - Under the Savage Sky
• PUBLIC ENEMY - Man Plans God Laughs
• POTTER, ANDREW SCOTT - Jazz Standards / Afro Bahian Rhythms (w/ Edi Mach)
• RAGPICKER STRING BAND - The Ragpicker String Band
• SHIPP, MATTHEW TRIO - The Conduct of Jazz 
• NEW TRACADEROS, THE - Thrills & Chills  
• Various Artists - God Don't Never Change, The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson
• BOMBINO - Azel
• PARTON, DOLLY - Blue Smoke
• JARRE, JEAN-MICHEL - Electronica 2: The Heart of Noise
• FULKS, ROBBIE - Upland Stories  
• USELESS EATERS - Relaxing Death     
• JULIE RUIN, THE - Hit Reset
• AESOP ROCK - The Impossible Kid
• DEVIL MAKES THREE, THE - Redemption & Ruin   
• COTTON, EDDIE - One at a Time
• HUNTER, CHARLIE - Everybody Has a Plan Until they Get Punched in the Mouth
• PARTON, HARRIS AND RONSTADT - My Dear Companion: Selections from the Trio Collection
• SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS - The Electric Pinecones
• DAYTON, JESSE - The Revealer   
• NOFX - First Ditch Effort
• SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - World Gone Mad
• BLIND SHAKE - Celebrate Your Worth
• BROWNOUT - Black Sabbath Vol. II 
• LAUDERDALE, JIM - This Changes Everything 
• METALLICA - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct     
• ALLEN, TERRY - Lubbock (On Everything) 

This American Trash

Top 10 Albums Of 2016

1. Foodman - Ez Minzoku (Orange Milk)
2. /f - The Fourth Bully (Psalmus Diuersae)
3. Babyfather - “BBF” Hosted by DJ Escrow (Hyperdub)
4. Yves Tumor - Serpent Music (PAN)
5. James Ferraro - Human Story 3 (SCM-01)
6. Lolina - Live in Paris (Unknown)
7. The Nativist - Various Options (Paxico)
8. Huerco S. - For Those Of You Who Have Never (And Also For Those Who Have) (Proibito)
9. Macula Dog - Why Do You Look Like Your Dog? (Wharf Cat)
10. Russell E.L. Butler - Visions of the Future (Jacktone)

Zephyr

Favorite Albums of 2016

• Ahsa Ti Nu – Reborn (S/R)
• Laurie Anderson - Heart of a Dog (Nonesuch)
• A Tribe Called Red - We Are Halluci Nation (Radicalized)
• Blood Orange  - Freetown Sound (Domino)
• David Bowie - Blackstar (Columbia)
• Billy Bragg and Joe Henry - Shine a Light (Cooking Vinyl)
• Cactus Blossoms  -You’re Dreaming (Red House)
• Nick Cave – Skeleton Tree (Bad Seed)
• Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (Columbia)
• Devil Makes Three - Redemption and Ruin (New West)
• Fantastic Negrito  - Last Days of Oakland  (S/R)
• Globelamp  -The Orange Glow (Psychedelic Thriftstore)
• Goat - Requiem (SubPop)
• Heron Oblivion  - S/T (SubPop)
• Klangstof - Close Eyes to Exit (Genius/Warner)
• Low  - Ones and Sixes  (SubPop)
• Kikagaku Moyo - House in the Tall Grass (Guruguru Brain)
• Sara Neufeld  -The Ridge” (Paper Bag)
• Ohioan  -Empty/Every Mt  (Infinite Front)
• Pridjevi -  Pridjevi (Trouble in Mind)
• Joe Rut  - Stolen Tolls and Stereos (S/R)
• Allen Toussaint  - American Tunes (Nonesuch)
• Thee Oh Sees  - Live in San Francisco (Castle Face)
• Tuuletar  - Tules Maas Vedes Taival (Bafe’s Factory)
• V/A - Gods Don’t Never Change : The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson (Alligator)
• Waco Brothers  - Going Down In History (Bloodshot)