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User
Reviews 7
Approval 91%
Soundoffs 3
Album Ratings 1312
Objectivity 77%
Last Active 12-17-18 1:26 am
Joined 05-21-13
Review Comments 1,028
| AngryJohnny's Top 25 Albums of 2016
Feel free to give me recs or tell me how shite my taste is | | 25 |  | Jesu/Sun Kil Moon
Jesu/Sun Kil Moon
This long winded but mainly pleasant listen just makes the cut. I want Kozelek put in forced hibernation for the next few years because his output is getting exhausting, but it isn’t happening.
Best Tracks: Exodus, Beautiful You | | 24 |  | King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
Nonagon Infinity
Still the best band name in the game. These Aussies make lots of noise and I assume enjoy elicit substances. And there’s nothing wrong with that, kids.
Top Tracks: Gamma Knife, Mr Beat | | 23 |  | Anderson .Paak
Malibu
I don’t listen to too much RnB but this was pretty good on the whole.
Top Tracks: The Season/Carry Me, Come Down | | 22 |  | Daughter
Not to Disappear
Sometimes this is really deep and atmospheric, sometimes it’s a bit boring and miserable. Luckily it’s more often the former.
Top Tracks: Fossa, How | | 21 |  | Angel Olsen
My Woman
What a lovely voice this lady has. Talented songwriter too.
Top Tracks: Heart Shaped Face, Intern | | 20 |  | Car Seat Headrest
Teens of Denial
This is a very personal and entertaining indie rock record with some really cool themes and lyrics. It’s a touch long but the talent is there.
Top Tracks: Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales, Fill in the Blank | | 19 |  | Pinegrove
Cardinal
Just a good country influenced rock album here.
Top Tracks: New Friends, Waveform | | 18 |  | The Veils
Total Depravity
A case of good downbeat indie rock album that doesn’t do anything too innovative but does provide a solid 48 minutes of entertainment.
Top Tracks: Do Your Bones Glow at Night?, Swimming With Crocodiles, House of Spirits | | 17 |  | Wild Beasts
Boy King
English experimenters Wild Beasts are just a little safe here, but there are still some very good songs. Hopefully they’ll really let rip again in future but for now this is an enjoyable effort to tide fans over.
Top Tracks: Big Cat, 2BU, Dreamliner | | 16 |  | Cymbals Eat Guitars
Pretty Years
Listening to this album was a really fun time back when it came out, but when I came to order this list I realised I couldn’t remember much about it. So I spun it again and had a blast. Now I can’t remember much about it again. Maybe it needs to grow on me, maybe it’s just very immediate, but it definitely could have placed higher if it had stuck in my head a little better.
Top Tracks: Finally, Shrine, 4th of July Philadelphia | | 15 |  | Conor Oberst
Ruminations
So, if you don’t like the sound made by the accordion, don’t bother with this. If, however you think it makes a nice change, and like your music depressing, then this is well worth a few spins. Oberst has long been a great songwriter.
Top Tracks: Gossamer Thin, A Little Uncanny, Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out | | 14 |  | Regina Spektor
Remember Us To Life
What is there to say other than this is a very good album from a very consistent artist. A really strong album from start to finish, if you like piano led alternative music.
Top Tracks: Grand Hotel, Small Bill$, The Visit | | 13 |  | Racing Glaciers
Caught in the Strange
These little known rockers from Macclesfield are here with their first full length and it has some major highlights. Sure, there are few tracks that seem like filler but in a UK indie scene that’s being kept alive artificially there’s some hope here. A sleeper hit.
Top Tracks: High Love, Setraline, Samadhi | | 12 |  | Jeff Rosenstock
Worry.
Ah the ever prolific Rosenstock is back again, and while he surely doesn’t get enough sleep that hasn’t affected the quality of his enormous recent output as both a songwriter and producer. This is a really varied album that does so many things well it’s impossible to name them all.
Top Tracks: I Did Something Weird Last Night, We Begged 2 Explode, Rainbow | | 11 |  | Frightened Rabbit
Painting of a Panic Attack
Man, Scotland’s finest indie rockers were on a hell of a run coming into this release and just about manage to keep it going. While this is a step down from the previous two and clearly no Organ Fight, this band has built up such goodwill from me and raised expectations so much that even what is very good record seems a slight disappointment sometimes. Yet the fact it still nearly cracked the top 10 shows that Frightened Rabbit are a special band.
Top Tracks: Death Dream, Get Out, An Otherwise Disappointing Life | | 10 |  | Weezer
The White Album
Weezer basically don’t care what anyone thinks of them these days. They release what they want when they want and don’t bother to think of album titles. This effort improves on their 2014 outing and comes from a band at ease with its legacy. Sugary rock music that played especially well during the summer. And damn, those choruses.
Top Tracks: LA Girlz, Endless Bummer, (Girl We Got a) Good Thing | | 9 |  | John K. Samson
Winter Wheat
As an unashamed John K fanboy I can’t complain about this. It’s another great work full of amazing lyrics and brilliant storytelling. Virtute the Cat’s saga comes to an end as well, so what more could you want? OK, maybe another proper Weakerthans album. A man can hope.
Top Tracks – Winter Wheat, Postdoc Blues, 17th Street Treatment Centre | | 8 |  | PJ Harvey
The Hope Six Demolition Project
Polly Jean is already assured of her legacy as a pioneering and versatile artist, and she’s not done yet as her latest release turns some political ire upon the USA. She still sounds great, and in places her message hits home. Music will be a duller the day Harvey is no longer a part of it.
Top Tracks: The Community of Hope, The Wheel and Dollar, Dollar | | 7 |  | Preoccupations
Preoccupations
Some good an’ heavy post-punk here. This album is dreary (in the best way) and paranoid and boasts some really well structured long songs as well as some pulsating shorter ones. It seems to fly by really quick, and I was surprised that these guys have raised their game since their debut under their now abandoned old name.
Top Tracks: Monotony, Memory, Fever | | 6 |  | Blood Orange
Freetown Sound
These blurbs aren’t long enough for a reflection on the worthwhile themes of black identity and sexuality expressed in this album, so I’ll have to forego that and just say that this is some smooth and sexy music that straddles genres and stands as an important and bold statement.
Top Tracks: Hands Up, E.V.P, Juicy 1-4 | | 5 |  | David Bowie
Blackstar
It was only fitting that one of the most innovative and beloved musicians of all time came up with a brilliant final act. Released of course just before his death, Bowie’s last album imparts the wisdom of his fifty years in music as this great trendsetter leaves us with plenty to try and decipher in the years ahead.
Top Tracks: Blackstar, Lazarus, Girl Loves Me, I Can’t Give Everything Away | | 4 |  | The Jezabels
Synthia
This was a heck of an early 2016 surprise. Not being familiar with this band or their back catalogue allowed me to go into this with no baggage and to just have a blast. Super catchy Aussie synthpop with some wicked vocals and nicely layered arrangements. It has managed to hold up for 12 months as well, high praise and something many in this genre don’t manage.
Top Tracks: Stand and Deliver, Smile, Flowers in the Attic, Stamina | | 3 |  | The Hotelier
Goodness
They actually did it. The Hotelier managed to follow up the brilliant Home, Like noplace is There with something pretty much on the same level. Longer, more introspective and somehow more hopeful, we have to consider The Christian Holden and the Hotelier among the best hook writers in Emo/Pop Punk today.
Top Tracks: Settle the Scar, Two Deliverances, End of Reel, Opening Mail for my Grandmother | | 2 |  | Bon Iver
22, A Million
Yes it’s pretentious, yes the track names are stupid and yes, not everything works perfectly, but Justin Vernon has released another gem here in spite of that. A clear majority of these songs bring interesting new sounds to the table whilst retaining the unique beauty fans are used to. Justin has his way of producing little sections of songs that empty the air from the lungs (see the start of both Strafford and Circle). I am adamant that this is a step up from the self-titled LP of 5 years ago regardless of how cool it is to hate on Bon Iver these days.
Top Tracks: 8 (circle), Strafford Apts, 0000 Million, Over Soon | | 1 |  | Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Skeleton Tree
In a year dominated by great releases from legendary artists, Nick Cave’s contribution sits atop the tree (pun not intended). I’ve listened to innumerable dark and depressive albums in the past few years, but Cave has come along and surpassed great works by the likes of Sun Kil Moon and Sufjan Stevens, proving himself the master of the genre. In equal parts haunting, harrowing and beautiful, Skeleton Tree’s very existence given the personal tragedy that afflicted its creator is in itself impressive. That it is so consistently rewarding and poignant on top of that makes it the best album of 2016.
Top Tracks: I Need You, Distant Sky, Rings of Saturn, Girl in Amber | |
AngryJohnny
12.07.16 | honourable mentions to radiohead, king creosote and Against me. Didn't get around to Dear Hunter or James Blake | DoofusWainwright
12.07.16 | Great to see detailed descriptions...just wish I liked your picks more. 1 and 5 are obviously essential, 6 and 17 were decent but not top 20 of the year material for me. 16, 18 and 23 I liked a fair bit. 2 I'm going to stick my neck out and say that isn't going to end up one for the ages, I'm thinking it's popularity will drift away when the novelty passes. | AngryJohnny
12.08.16 | Fair enough man, I'd be interested to see your own list as I'm sure there's stuff I missed this year.
Have to wait and see about 2 but for now I'm still loving it. I know there are lots of less flattering opinions flying around, and that's fine but can see myself still enjoying it a lot this time next year. | FlipTrackz
12.08.16 | Really enjoyed your list and especially enjoyed your descriptions of the albums. | AngryJohnny
12.08.16 | cheers man |
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