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Last Active 01-15-17 12:47 am
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| Cavalry's Top 10 Albums of 2016
Honorable Mentions:
• M83- Junk
• BADBADNOTGOOD- IV
• Lady Gaga- Joanne | | 10 |  | David Bowie
Blackstar
An enthralling final statement from one of the most important artists in recent memory. Though a few songs are clear highlights, the whole album holds immense weight as a strange and melancholic journey through the unique perspective of a dying man. (8/10)
Best Tracks: Blackstar, Lazarus | | 9 |  | Childish Gambino
"Awaken, My Love!"
It was a risky choice for Donald Glover to abandon rap altogether, but this album manages to embrace a funk style that feels both classic and innovative. By viewing life in black America through a horror-movie lens, Glover adds a unique lyrical perspective to the album as well. (8/10)
Best Tracks: Boogieman, Redbone | | 8 |  | Bruno Mars
24K Magic
An artist mostly known for his singles rather than full-lengths, Bruno Mars delivers a surprisingly stellar record. Digging deep into nostalgia, Mars channels James Brown one moment and Boyz II Men the next. It's cheesy, goofy fun, and Mars ends up singing about asses for most of the album. Great stuff. (8/10)
Best Tracks: Chunky, Perm, Versace On The Floor | | 7 |  | Kero Kero Bonito
Bonito Generation
The UK-based J-Pop outfit comes through with their most cohesive collection yet, focusing on the awkward transition into adulthood and the emotions that come with it. On the surface, it's just a bunch of kawaii fluff, but dig deeper and you'll see that some of these songs deal with serious issues. (9/10)
Best Tracks: Heard a Song, Big City, Break | | 6 |  | Nicolas Jaar
Sirens
The Chilean-American producer's second album is a dark and subtle commentary on the current political climate. Jaar manages to expand his sonic palette while also stripping his sound back, resulting in a restrained tour de force that might take a few listens to fully digest. (9/10)
Best Tracks: No, History Lesson | | 5 |  | Beyonce
Lemonade
Beyonce proves her artistry and versatility on her sixth album. Featuring an array of impressive guest features and powerful narrative heft, this record should safely cement Bey's status as the queen of pop. (9/10)
Best Tracks: Don't Hurt Yourself, Freedom, Formation | | 4 |  | Bon Iver
22, A Million
Justin Vernon returns from a five-year hiatus and delivers his most haunting, challenging work yet. Taking cues from collaborators like Kanye and James Blake, this album is both foreign and familiar; withdrawn and welcoming. While some might (reasonably) complain that Vernon's odd lyrics and ridiculous song titles mark a descent into pretentious narcissism, I would argue that these elements help contribute to the record's overall sense of obtuse mysticism. (9/10)
Best Tracks: 666 ʇ, 00000 Million | | 3 |  | Glass Animals
How To Be A Human Being
The art-rockers come out of the jungle and onto the road for their sophomore album, chronicling the lives of the people they met on tour. Despite experimenting with new sounds, the band manages to retain the essence of their past work and come through with some exceptionally funky peanut-butter vibes. (9/10)
Best Tracks: The Other Side of Paradise, Poplar St, Agnes | | 2 |  | The 1975
I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
In a surprising turn of events, this band of British heartthrobs ended up crafting a complex and nuanced album, fusing 80's new wave with the stylings of Ed Sheeran and Sigur Ros. A beautifully self-indulgent mess, this record dabbles in more sounds than most bands would cover in their entire careers. There's never a dull moment thanks to Matt Healy's lyrical gems and the band's technical proficiency. In an age when many pop acts are focused on radio-friendly singles, ambitious albums like this are a breath of fresh air. (10/10)
Best Tracks: Love Me, Somebody Else, Nana | | 1 |  | Danny Brown
Atrocity Exhibition
A revolting fever-dream of an album, Danny Brown's latest LP is sick and depraved in all the right ways. Rapping over insane post-punk beats, Brown delivers a chilling chronicle of his descent into drug addiction and mental illness. This was the rare piece of music that made me feel physically disgusted after listening to it. The lyrics and production are extraordinary, and Brown is clearly at the top of his game right now. Whether he'll survive to stay there, we can only hope. (10/10)
Best Tracks: Downward Spiral, White Lines, When It Rain, Get Hi | |
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