100 Albums Under 50 Votes 2016
Check a few of these before you post your 2016 lists. Albums are RANKED. |
| 1 |  | Ital Tek
Hollowed
idm/Experimental Bass – Departing from his usual dubstep sound, electronic producer Alan Myson creates an album that is simultaneously mechanical and dark (see: ‘Beyond Sight’) and textured and danceable (see: ‘Aquamarine’). A bit of a musical revelation for me. |
| 2 |  | Obscure Sphinx
Epitaphs
Post/Atmospheric Sludge Metal - The word seems to be getting out about this one, and deservedly so. This album builds tension through a moody ambience, then breaks that tension with some of the more headbang-worthy moments in music this year. Also contains some excellent soft vocals from frontwoman Zofia ‘Wielebna’ Fras. |
| 3 |  | Agnes Obel
Citizen Of Glass
Chamber Pop – Some great vocal melodies here. I’m surprised this isn’t more popular; her last album, ‘Aventine,’ seems to be a bit of a hidden classic. |
| 4 |  | Hexvessel
When We Are Death
Psychedelic Folk Rock – Another one that isn’t very popular here, but for different reasons. Hexvessel abandoned much of their ritual ambient sound, instead opting for a poppier, ‘fun’ version of psychedelic rock. For fans of the band, this change was unwelcomed. But for me, this was my first Hexvessel album and I found it to be an addictively weird record. |
| 5 |  | Flower Face
Fever Dreams
Bedroom Pop – shoutout to user ‘thekilleruser’ for unearthing this beauty. This album has a haunting allurement to it, despite looking cute and cozy on the surface. If you need an example, check out the song ‘Raphael.’ Shit gives me chills. |
| 6 |  | Heron Oblivion
Heron Oblivion
Psychedelic Rock – See #4 |
| 7 |  | Dextro
In the Crossing
Ambient/Downtempo – Starts off as a somewhat typical downtempo record, then transforms into airy ambient landscapes with brooding synths. I had this one on repeat before bed for quite a while. |
| 8 |  | Melanie De Biasio
Blackened Cities
A 20 minute long EP that combines jazz with ambient and post rock, and adds some melancholy vocals on top. Sounds just like it looks on the cover. |
| 9 |  | Causa Sui
Return To Sky
Stoner/Psych Rock – Nothing new, but these guys do it better than anyone else out there. Sounds like summer. |
| 10 |  | Foreign Fields
Take Cover
Folk – Uses varied instrumentation to create a post rock-y feel. This one grows on me every time I hear it. |
| 11 |  | Bubu
Resplandor
70s Progressive Rock Revival…literally, these guys had been silent since 1978, when they released their first and only album, and a successful album at that. |
| 12 |  | Darkestrah
Turan
Atmospheric Black Metal - Of all the great atmospheric bm releases this year, the best one may have flew well under the radar. |
| 13 |  | Ytamo
Mi Wo
Experimental Electronic from Japan - Weird stuff, much like everything else that comes out of Japan. |
| 14 |  | Terrace Martin
Velvet Portraits
Jazz/Soul/R&B – If you listen to one jazzy R&B record this year, make it this one. Has a long list of notable features, including the Great Kamasi Washington. And by the way, this guy did work on ‘To Pimp a Butterfly.’ |
| 15 |  | Mutual Benefit
Skip a Sinking Stone
Lo-fi Indie Rock/Folk that doesn’t sound too desperate to create emotional appeal. Refreshing. |
| 16 |  | Conjurer
I
A heavy, heavy amalgamation of doom, post and black metal. Meshes quite well. |
| 17 |  | Suuns
Hold/Still
Experimental/Post Punk – A little over 50 votes, but I had to give it a shoutout because of how much I enjoyed it, despite it typically not being my thing. |
| 18 |  | Trees of Eternity
Hour Of The Nightingale
It may take a couple listens to sift through the monotony, but you will be rewarded with a beautifully emotive piece of female-fronted doom. |
| 19 |  | Sojourner
Empires of Ash
Atmospheric Black Metal – the kind that takes you to a different place. Contains some folk metal too. |
| 20 |  | Mechina
Progenitor
Industrial/Progressive Metal - I know these guys do the same thing every album, but damn this thing is catchy. And the sci-fi atmosphere really resonated with me. |
| 21 |  | Forndom
Daura Dura
Ritual Ambient |
| 22 |  | John Ghost
For A Year They Slept
Very overlooked album here. John Ghost combines jazz with a hint of ambient and an apparent Mahavishnu Orchestra influence. |
| 23 |  | Wolf People
Ruins
Indie/Psychedelic Rock |
| 24 |  | Norah Jones
Day Breaks
Pop/Jazz - Norah Jones returns to her roots with a moody, jazz infused pop record. |
| 25 |  | Owel
Dear Me
Post Rock/Indie Rock - Here's another one that has grown on me immensely. My first impression was that the vocals didn't carry the same emotional weight as the instruments, but that's only because the music here is so damn powerful. This is an album I could see a lot of people here enjoying. |
| 26 |  | JoJo
Mad Love.
Mainstream Pop - Jojo returns from a long hiatus with some sass. Easily the best mainstream pop I've heard in a while |
| 27 |  | A Pregnant Light
Rocky
Black Metal - Packs an emotional punch, but not in the way you might expect. |
| 28 |  | The Hue
Aurora
Intelligent-Sounding Space Rap |
| 29 |  | The Pineapple Thief
Your Wilderness
Prog Rock |
| 30 |  | Uada
Devoid of Light
Black Metal |
| 31 |  | The Great Cold
The Great Cold
Instrumental Post/Black Metal from Germany - May be better than the new Russian Circles album. Check it. |
| 32 |  | Christian Loeffler
Mare
Ambient House |
| 33 |  | Zaum
Eidolon
Doom Metal/Psychedelic |
| 34 |  | Wildernessking
Mystical Future
Post/Black Metal |
| 35 |  | 2814
Rain Temple
Ambient |
| 36 |  | L'Orange and Mr. Lif
The Life and Death of Scenery
Hip-Hop - Cool concept. Wish it was fleshed put properly. |
| 37 |  | Phoria
Volition
9. Electronic/Post Rock-ish with vocals - This one's hard to describe. Give it a listen for yourself. |
| 38 |  | Leon Vynehall
Rojus
Deep House |
| 39 |  | Moth Equals
One Tusk
Trip Hop/Downtempo |
| 40 |  | Sarathy Korwar
Day to Day
Jazz/World Music |
| 41 |  | Elysia Crampton
Demon City
Haunted House |
| 42 |  | Jack DeJohnette / Ravi Coltrane / Matthew Garrison
In Movement
Jazz - This should have 20 times the amount of votes that it does simply because of the name Coltrane in the title. |
| 43 |  | With the End in Mind
Unraveling; Arising
Atmospheric Black Metal |
| 44 |  | Old Man Canyon
Delirium
Indie Pop/Neo-Psychedelia |
| 45 |  | Oak Pantheon
In Pieces
Atmospheric Black Metal in the vein of Agalloch |
| 46 |  | Hinds
Leave Me Alone
Lo-fi Indie Rock |
| 47 |  | Volcanic Queen
Moments Captured in a Different Light
Sputnik-made (I believe) Ambient |
| 48 |  | Destrage
A Means To No End
Progressive Metal/Metalcore - Contains some cheese, but English isn't their first language so we'll give them a break. Just skip the song 'Blah Blah.' |
| 49 |  | Tarot (AUS)
Reflections
Psychedelic Hard Rock |
| 50 |  | Monomyth (NL)
Exo
Space Rock - First track is a beast. |
| 51 |  | Shearwater
Jet Plane and Oxbow
Indie Rock |
| 52 |  | Submotion Orchestra
Colour Theory
Downtempo/ Nu Jazz - Submo strips its jazz leanings and replaces it with a poppier sound. The result is as you'd expect - catchy, but lacking replay value. |
| 53 |  | Goat
Requiem
Sputnik has no love for psychedelic rock |
| 54 |  | Roly Porter
Third Law
Dark Ambient |
| 55 |  | Trna
Lose Yourself to Find Peace
Instrumental Post/Black Metal from Russia |
| 56 |  | An Abstract Illusion
Illuminate the Path
Progressive Metal |
| 57 |  | Wye Oak
Tween
Dream Pop |
| 58 |  | Blackberry Smoke
Like an Arrow
Country/Southern Rock |
| 59 |  | Rone
Vood(oo)
Ambient Techno |
| 60 |  | Ashbringer
Yūgen
Atmospheric Black Metal |
| 61 |  | Mars Red Sky
Apex III - Praise For The Burning Soul
Stoner Rock |
| 62 |  | Broods
Conscious
The latter half of this album has some similar-sounding hooks, but this indie pop duo really hits a sweet spot for me. |
| 63 |  | Tindersticks
The Waiting Room
Chamber Pop |
| 64 |  | Ape Cave
Pillars Of Evolution
Doom/Stoner Metal |
| 65 |  | Latitudes
Old Sunlight
Post Metal |
| 66 |  | Fyrnask
Fórn
Dark Atmospheric Black Metal |
| 67 |  | No Haven
Colours of Nothing
Post Hardcore/Black Metal |
| 68 |  | Immune (UK-LON)
Breathless
Outsider House/Ambient |
| 69 |  | Black Tusk
Pillars of Ash
Sludgy Hardcore |
| 70 |  | Downfall of Gaia
Atrophy
Atmospheric Black Metal |
| 71 |  | Mystery Jets
Curve Of The Earth
Indie Pop |
| 72 |  | Andy Stott
Too Many Voices
Bass/Ambient Techno |
| 73 |  | Monarch (USA-CA)
Two Isles
Psych/Progressive Rock |
| 74 |  | Eluvium
False Readings On
Ambient |
| 75 |  | Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop
Love Letter for Fire
Indie Folk |
| 76 |  | Terribly Yours
A Bloom Beyond
Indie Pop |
| 77 |  | Throttlerod
Turncoat
Hard Rock |
| 78 |  | Steve Hauschildt
Strands
Ambient/Electronic |
| 79 |  | Canoo
After Hours
Chillstep |
| 80 |  | Floating Points
Kuiper
Progressive Electronic |
| 81 |  | The Lion's Daughter
Existence Is Horror
Sludgy Harcore |
| 82 |  | Murs and 9th Wonder
Brighter Daze
Hip-Hop |
| 83 |  | Lee Abraham
The Seasons Turn
Progressive Rock |
| 84 |  | Ray LaMontagne
Ouroboros
Neo-Psych |
| 85 |  | Casey Mecija
Psychic Material
Dream Pop |
| 86 |  | Eight Bells
Landless
Post Rock/Black Metal/Atmospheric Sludge |
| 87 |  | Villagers
Where Have You Been All My Life?
Indie Folk |
| 88 |  | Mercy Blow
Secondhand Suffering
Slamcore |
| 89 |  | The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Third World Pyramid
Shoegaze |
| 90 |  | Bloodiest
Bloodiest
Atmospheric Sludge Metal |
| 91 |  | Damien Jurado
Visions of Us on the Land
Psychedelic Folk |
| 92 |  | Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
I Had a Dream That You Were Mine
Indie Rock |
| 93 |  | Thranenkind
King Apathy
Black Metal/Post Hardcore/Sludge |
| 94 |  | Wovenhand
Star Treatment
Psych Rock/Folk |
| 95 |  | Deerhoof
The Magic
Experimental/Indie Pop |
| 96 |  | Sylvaine
Wistful
Shoegaze/Post Rock/Black Metal |
| 97 |  | Cult of Luna/The Old Wind
Råångest
Post/Sludge Metal |
| 98 |  | Androcell
Creatures
Psybient |
| 99 |  | Maschine
Naturalis
Prog Rock |
| 100 |  | Doug Tuttle
It Calls on Me
Psychedelic Folk |
| 101 |  | Case/Lang/Veirs
Case/Lang/Veirs
Not under 50 votes, but it's AOTY so check it out |
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