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[torre_avenue]

2016 has been a great year in terms of music. We've seen releases that frankly still boggle my mind; Radiohead, Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, David Bowie, Drake, A.K. Paul, and more. We still have more on the horizon, such as the long-awaited second record from the Avalanches, Arca, ScHoolboy Q, a tease from the supervillain himself MF DOOM, a Freddie Gibbs & Madlib sequel record (though if the Freddie allegations prove true, I'll strike that one off my list), a new FlyLo record and more. With all this being said, a lot of music publications are releasing their top albums so far, and I figured GAF has some good opinions regarding music. Hence, the topic title: name your top five, ten, twenty-five, however many albums of the year so far.

For me, my top ten would be, in that order:

1. David Bowie - Blackstar

"Blackstar" is likely going to be my album of the year not only because its an amazing album but its a powerful sendoff by an artist whose style, aesthetic, and music resonated with an entire generation. It's one thing to merely acknowledge death, its another to go out in style.

2. Death Grips - Bottomless Pit

Death Grips have somehow managed to release two (technically three) brilliant back-to-back albums, with Bottomless Pit taking the catchiness of "The Money Store" and melding it with a more abrasive almost punk in nature set of electronic instrumentals.

3. Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered.

I think it says a lot when Kendrick Lamar's reject pile is better sounding, more cohesive, and genuinely greater than what most artists are doing with entire albums. Kendrick's sonic pallete has greatly varied from TPaB, and this EP just resonates with me a whole lot more than the album.

4. Kanye West - The Life of Pablo

I also think it says a lot when one of an artist's weaker albums still manages to be better and more interesting to listen to than a record promised as a magnum opus to a city and worked on for three years. Ultralight Beams is the best Kanye opener, and Wolves is one of my favorite Kanye closers to date (even with the sandwich metaphor and "unfollow / unswallow".) Here's hoping for a tour.

5. James Blake - The Colour in Anything

It is a bit long, and there is a point towards the end where things drag a bit when James leans into the strictly singing cuts, but with a tracklist as heavily frontloaded as this one is, I can forgive it. It's a welcome return for electro-soul / post-dubstep / post-trap whatever.

6. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

While not my favorite Radiohead record, "A Moon-Shaped Pool" is a welcome detour into the melancholy, with Thom's pain over his breakup influencing the record and distinguishing it from the depression of "Kid A." Identikit, Daydreaming, Burn the Witch, True Love Waits are all excellent.

7. ANOHNI - Hopelessness

While Antony's voice doesn't do too much for me here, the production spearheaded by Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never are astonishing. Their work makes a song with the line of "Oooooooobama" sound genuinely interesting to listen to, and helps it from dragging the song into borderline parody. 4 Degrees is the best banger about global warming I'll ever hear.

8. El Guincho - Hiperasia

This scratches my Neon Indian itch with a more eccentric set of instrumentals and pacing. Time will tell if this stays on.

9. Sarah Neufeld - The Ridge

Some great neo-classical work by the violinist of Arcade Fire. While not as good as her record with Colin Stetson, its still a welcome change of pace from electronic and hip-hop.

10. Skepta - Konnichiwa

Grime's big entry into the mainstream, and its a hell of a thing. The album absolutely bangs with "Shutdown", "Numbers", "That's Not Me", and so on.

 

[torre_avenue]

Looks like no one wants to talk about music tonight.

 

[kobu]

I listened to that skepta album a few days ago and it was pretty good.

 

[Brutalitops]

White Album is an excellent album and I'm excited Weezer have now released two excellent LPs consecutively for the first time since the 1990s

A lot were put off by the lead single (least good song on the album btw) but there is some pure gold particularly on the second half of the album.

I could talk all day about my love for every song but I won't. Just give it a chance, I know how weezer are regarded by Music GAF haha

 

[collige]

In no particular order:

Autechre - elseq 1-5
TLoP
MssingNo - Fones
A Moon Shaped Pool
Roly Porter - Third Law
Tim Hecker - Love Streams
Skee Mask - Shred
Omar-S - The Best!

Slime Season 3 and Konnichiwa were both good, but not great. They definitely won't be AOTY later this year. SHXCXCHCXSH– SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs is probably my most anticipated right now.

 

[torre_avenue]

I listened to that skepta album a few days ago and it was pretty good.

It is pretty good. A lot of the songs have some really good production on them, and Skepta's bars are quite good. I don't really know why it hasn't connected with me as much as any of the records above it.

White Album is an excellent album and I'm excited Weezer have now released two excellent LPs consecutively for the first time since the 1990s.

I could talk all day about my love for every song but I won't. Just give it a chance, I know how weezer are regarded by Music GAF haha

...I actually haven't listened to anything Weezer yet. They don't have the best of reputations, so I keep putting off listening to their "classics" but maybe I'll check out this one soon. Can't be as bad as Drones.

In no particular order:

Autechre - elseq 1-5
TLoP
MssingNo - Fones
A Moon Shaped Pool
Roly Porter - Third Law
Tim Hecker - Love Streams
Skee Mask - Shred
Omar-S - The Best!

Slime Season 3 and Konnichiwa were both good, but not great. They definitely won't be AOTY later this year. SHXCXCHCXSH– SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs is probably my most anticipated right now.

The bolded are the ones I've listened to, and I can agree. Fones was really good, but I couldn't put it up on the list because I felt the stuff on it outclassed the record in a lot of ways. Still, it was great. I'll take note of the other ones, but 5 hours of Autechre... I listened to their "single" for the albums and the texture on it was amazing, but I don't know if I could stand 5 hours of it.

 

[Soulscribe]

Lemonade takes top album of the year for me so far.

 

[djplaeskool]

Also counting the days until DJ Shadow's The Mountain Will Fall releases. Less than three weeks away.

 

[Nabs]

'Anderson .Paak - Malibu' is still my top jam.

 

[denx]

Autechre - elseq 1-5

I'm a pretty big Autechre fan and even I don't quite know what to make of that monster of an album. And I thought Exai was monolithic already dear gawd.

 

[collige]

It is pretty good. A lot of the songs have some really good production on them, and Skepta's bars are quite good. I don't really know why it hasn't connected with me as much as any of the records above it.


...I actually haven't listened to anything Weezer yet. They don't have the best of reputations, so I keep putting off listening to their "classics" but maybe I'll check out this one soon. Can't be as bad as Drones.

At the very minimum, you owe it to yourself to listen to The Blue Album. None of their later bullshit release will stop that album being an all time classic.

I'd probably be feeling better about Skepta's album if President T hadn't completely blown it out of the water late year as far as vocal grime releases go.

 

[RDreamer]

Ooh, was waiting for someone to make this thread (or I'd make it myself at some point). I think my album of the year list so far has over 50 good ones. The hope 20 are all great. Will write something up and post tomorrow, and I'll be looking through other posts for stuff I missed.

 

[vatstep]

The Body - No One Deserves Happiness

Deakin - Sleep Cycle

Guerrilla Toss - Eraser Stargazer

Vektor - Terminal Redux

Altarage - Nihl

Also, the new Hotelier record but I didn't want to post the cover.

 

[Yaphett Kotto]

GET TOP ON THE PHONE

Spoiler

Kendrick Lamar's Untitled

 

[MultiJhonny]

Also, the new Hotelier record but I didn't want to post the cover.

it's a work of art. Going up on my wall

 

[Regiruler]

It's an absolute wasteland in power metal, so Into the Legend wins by default

It'll go unchallenged for the entire year unless Sonata Arctica's new album is a serious return to form.

 

[parasight]

It's definitely been a great half year of music so far. A few of my favorites in no particular order:

Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
Anderson Paak - Malibu
Kaytranada - 99.9%
Flume - Skin
Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
Majid Jordan - Majid Jordan

 

[Shadowdude]

Ihsahn/Artkis

definitely the best metal album of the year so far. Black metal, 80's rock, and sax solos. Nothing has topped it yet.

 

[norm9]

My two albums on repeat this year have been-

Luck & Lana Kill The Computer- underground hip hop with dance beats,
Kacey Musgraves- Pageant Material- modern country.

 

[StoOgE]

Coloring Book
Life of Pablo

 

[Blue Calx]

Some of my favorites so far:

Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Moonsorrow - Jumalten aika
Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas - Mariner
David Bowie - Blackstar
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Vektor - Terminal Redux
Deströyer 666 - Wildfire
Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere
Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid

EPs:
Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom
tricot - KABUKU EP
Massive Attack - Ritual Spirit
Voivod - Post Society
Chelsea Wolfe - Hypnos / Flame
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Arc

 

[Heysoos]

TLOP
Coloring Book

 

[PassiveObserver]

Feels slow personally compared to recent years. Haven't given many albums deep listens, but here's what caught my ear this year:

Mothers - When You Walk A Long Distance You Get Tired
Death Grips - Bottomless Pit
The Fall of Troy - OK
White Lung - Paradise
Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book

Looking forward to the new albums from Preoccupations FKA Viet Cong, Clams Casino, and Dikembe.

Musically, seeing At the Drive-In will probably be the highlight of my year.

Edit: Adding The Hotelier - Goodness. "Soft Animal" is probably my favorite song of the year so far.

 

[reKon]

Lemonade

I would have never in a million years thought...

 

[Tater Tot]

'Anderson .Paak - Malibu' is still my top jam.

YES

 

[Leona Lewis]

Lemonade is album (and film) of the year for me.

 

[Affeinvasion]

Nonagon Infinity by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

 

[Lambtron]

Well, the year isn't half over yet. There's still some awesome albums coming out this month!

Anyway my list.

1. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
2. Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial
3. Mitski - Puberty 2
4. Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp
5. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth
6. Puberty - Puberty
7. Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow
8. Kamaiyah - A Good Night in the Ghetto
9. Greys - Outer Heaven
10. Mike & The Melvins - Three Men and a Baby

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool


then


Anderson Paak - Malibu
Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
Kaytranada - 99.9%
Chance the Rapper - Coloring Book
Kendrick Lamar - Untitled Unmastered
Andrew Bird - Are You Serious

'Anderson .Paak - Malibu' is still my top jam.

Hell yea. I'm so fucking excited to see him live. Looks like he puts on a good show.

 

[Affeinvasion]

Joke answer: Train Does Led Zeppelin II

 

[nintendork666]

1. Bones - Useless

2. Deftones - Gore

3. Basement - Promise Everything

These three are easily the best I've heard so far. Bones dropped his best since Deadboy, Deftones is back in full force, and I recently just discovered this band, Basement but damn are they some solid post-punk noise rock stuff.

 

[Weetrick]

Right now I'm really digging Whitney - Light Upon the Lake

My favorite track on the album: No Matter Where We Go (Slightly-NSFWish?)

 

[Kevtones]

Like your taste OP.



Going through my Spotify…



Top 3 can't in no order:

The Range - Potential
Teen Suicide - It's a Big Joyous Celebration, Let's Stir The Honeypot
Jessy Lanza - Oh No



4. GoGo Penguin - Man Made Object
5. DVSN - Sept 5th
6. Baauer - Aa
7. Cardinal - Pinegrove
8. Cavern of Anti-Matter - void beats/invocation trex
9. Mothers - When You Walk a Long Distance You Are Tired
10. Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial
11. ANONHI - Hopelessness
12. Porches - Pool
13. Julia Brown - An Abundance of Strawberries
14. Seiho - The Collapse
15. The Field - The Follower
16. DIIV - Is the Is Are
17. Death Grips - Bottomless Pit
18. PUP - The Dream is Over
19. Alex Smoke - Love Over Will
20. Horse Lords - Interventions

Need to digest:

Radiohead
James Blake
Kaytranada

1. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity
4. Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp
7. Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow
9. Greys - Outer Heaven

I hear good things. Want to check out.

 

[JoJoShabadoo]

Eric Clapton's new album released a few weeks back is good, to name one not brought up in this thread.

 

[Weetrick]

It's an absolute wasteland in power metal, so Into the Legend wins by default

It'll go unchallenged for the entire year unless Sonata Arctica's new album is a serious return to form.

Not exactly "power metal", but Kvelertak's latest album is a ton of fun. More of a traditional heavy metal vibe with some other genres blended in.
This song is legit: Kverlertak - Nattesferd

Rad album art too:

 

[XANDER CAGE]

Aside from the requisite Kanye/Death Grips/etc mentions, here are some of my picks of the year so far:

Skuggsja

A really fantastic blend of folk and black metal. It's not quite the Wardruna/Enslaved team-up album that the names involved might indicate - it flows very well and doesn't feel like a typical "supergroup" album. It's by no means as impenetrable as that might sound; easily recommended for people who like Norwegian folk music (or traditional music in general) who won't mind occasional black metal crescendos. It has a very sweeping, cinematic flow.

Wolvserpent - Aporia:Kala:Ananta

An incredibly haunting album. The first half is a delicate atmospheric buildup, layering on string instruments and post-rock riffs until the whole thing finally explodes into doomy chugs as the second half of the record marches into oblivion.

Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth

Continuing on from 2014's amazing Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, this album is a great little collection of psychadelic country. Sturgill is practically unmatched as a songwriter right now, in my opinion. This album is earnest, witty, and endlessly quotable. The instrumentation here is a lot more glam/rhinestone country than the previous album, but it really works. If you've ever wanted to hear a country singer croon about getting high and playing Goldeneye, this is for you.

Oranassi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä

A mind-bending Finnish metal trip. Progressive rhythms, experimental instrumentation, and catchy-as-hell riffs fill this thing from start to end. The bass work in particular is some next-level stuff. Come for the incredibly catchy guitar mastery, stay for the ludicrous synthesizer work and techno beat on the last track that actually works.

Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas - Mariner

Probably my overall favorite album of the year so far. A concept record about deep space travel, with Cult of Luna's trademark form of electronic-tinged doom metal paired with the peerless Julie Christmas on vocals. She really leans into this album - her performance is terrifying in places, flipping back and forth between hushed cooing and straight up belting and screaming - sometimes in the same verse.

 

[Perfect Blue]

Fear of Men - Fall Forever
Yumi Zouma - Yoncalla
Memoryhouse - Soft Hate
Anderson .Paak - Malibu
Julianna Barwick - Will
Jessy Lanza - Oh No
Kedr Livanskiy - January Sun
Esperenza Spalding - Emily's D+Evolution
Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp
White Lung - Paradise

 

[Killer Queen]

Weezer -White Album
Deftones -Gore
Anthrax -For All Kings
Megadeth -Dystopia
Iggy Pop-Post Pop Depression
David Bowie- Blackstar.
Amon Amarth -Jomsviking

 

[Weetrick]

Oranassi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä

A mind-bending Finnish metal trip. Progressive rhythms, experimental instrumentation, and catchy-as-hell riffs fill this thing from start to end. The bass work in particular is some next-level stuff. Come for the incredibly catchy guitar mastery, stay for the ludicrous synthesizer work and techno beat on the last track that actually works.

This album is insane. I haven't fully digested it yet, but I enjoyed what I heard and I think it will grow on me. Glad to have discovered it this year.

 

[Archurro]

Whitney - Light Upon the Lake

Think this is my favorite so far. From the guitarist of the Smith Westerns(I think), it's just a really pleasant listen, especially in time for summer.

Twin Peaks - Down in Heaven

Another great new age-y indie/classic rock. A good lengthy listen with a little bit of everything. A great follow up to Wild Onion.

The Hotelier - Goodness

Only really listened to it once through but that listen was fantastic. I know enough to put it up on my list.

Tim Heidecker - In Glendale

A lot more catchy than I expected, and has a really interesting tone and vibe overall. "Work from Home." is legit one of the best singles this year.

Chance - Coloring Book

I really loved Ultra Light Beam from TLOP, and this album is pretty much x10. TBH I only really listen to the gospel songs, but they're fantastic.


Also TLOP, A Moon Shaped Pool, James Blake, and some others mentioned here already.

 

[Shaffield]

 

[outunderthestars]

M83- Junk. I know most people seem to dislike it but I find myself going to it again and again.

Runner up: Juliana Warwick - will

Also: Max Richter- Sleep . Came out late last year but should still get more attention. An 8 hour long mediaitative ambient piece that is so wonderful.

 

[EYEL1NER]

My favorites so far this year have been an album from the very beginning of the year, Borknagar's Winter Thrice, and an album that just dropped a couple weeks ago, Tiger Army's fifth album V.

I started typing up a ton of stuff and was on my fifth paragraph about the Tiger Army album but then I decided that I didn't think what I was writing sounded all that good in my head and no one would probably care anyway, so I deleted it all. It really is an interesting album though, more of a follow-up to Nick 13's first solo album than a true Tiger Army psychobilly album. Some are disappointed over it not being classic Tiger Army psycho but I am pretty pleased so far, and there are songs like "Firefall" that sound like they could have been on any of the earlier albums. The only new song they played was "Firefall" back when I saw them in March but I cannot wait until tomorrow night when I see them in Atlanta (I am dreading the 4+ hour drive down and then having to drive back home afterwards though).

The song "Winter's Thrice" off of the album by the same name blew me away upon hearing it. To have Garm, ICS Vortex, and Vintersorg all on the track and all sounding so on-point was great. It was a powerful tune and set myself up perfectly for what the rest of the songs would sound like when I was finally able to hear them. I have never really given Borknagar (or Arcturus) a fair shot in the past because even though I liked ICS Vortex, I never liked the samples I heard of songs he was on from either band. Winter's Thrice had definintly converted me and I am now digging through the Borknagar and Arcturus catalog's and enjoying them.

So those are my two favorites up to this point of the year. I still need to hear more of Isahn's album, the Abbath solo album, and the new Moonsorrow but I like what I have heard off of both of those as well. The new Katatonia is sounding on-point, I am thinking about picking up Winter from Oceans of Slumber, and I had never heard of Hakan before a couple nights ago but I am this close to buying their album Affinity (sounds like so,e pretty good prog).

 

[Whiteblade999]

Avantasia's Ghostlights is the only album I've liked this year.

 

[Manu]

Not exactly "power metal", but Kvelertak's latest album is a ton of fun. More of a traditional heavy metal vibe with some other genres blended in.
This song is legit: Kverlertak - Nattesferd

Rad album art too:

I still think they haven't made an album as good as their debut. This one's good, but...

I need too give it a few more spins before I make up my mind though.

My favorite so far this year:

I don't think anything else is gonna take the top spot.

 

[hughesta]

holy shit OP your list is really close to mine

blackstar
a moon shaped pool
bottomless pit
the life of pablo
colouring book
lemonade

glowing man and wildflower soon and probably lots of cool stuff I'm forgetting. great year so far.

 

[torre_avenue]

There are a lot of nice varied responses in the thread so far, and I'll definitely check the ones I haven't heard of yet out.

I started typing up a ton of stuff and was on my fifth paragraph about the Tiger Army album but then I decided that I didn't think what I was writing sounded all that good in my head and no one would probably care anyway, so I deleted it all.

I'd be interested in reading what you were about to post. I don't have much experience with the band in question, but I always enjoy reading think pieces about bands I have no idea about. It helps me understand what's good about them and starts me down that long road of getting into them.

 

[Cagey]

Mat Zo - Self Assemble

Solomon Grey - The Solomon Grey LP

 

[Kevtones]

Nice to see Autolux. LIke Pussy's Dead a lot.


Need to check out Whitney, Tim Heidecker (he's my neighbor) and Sturgill Simpson it seems.

 

[March of the Crabs]

Here's my 5 favourites, most (if not all) of it hasn't been mentioned yet:
The Falcon - Gather Up the Chaps

One of the coolest albums I've ever heard. Sleazy, greasy and grimy punk rock with some lyrics that are equally hilarious and depressing. Really nothing else like it. Check out Hasselhoff Cheeseburger. This shit is wild. Features guys from The Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio and The Loved Ones.

PEARS - Green Star

Much like The Falcon, PEARS can't be defined. Equal parts metal, punk, hardcore and pop. This album is really something else. Can go from heavy, fast and aggressive to beautiful and melodic in nanoseconds. Also objectively the greatest live band you will ever see. PEARS are, in my opinion, the most exciting new band in existence.LISTEN TO PEARS RIGHT NOW.

Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere

THRICE IS BACK. THEY STILL RULE. THE WINDOW IS A VERY GOOD SONG. Seriously though this whole album rips and is one hell of a comeback record. Might be their best album. Dustin Kensrue has one of the best voices in music today.

PUP - The Dream is Over

PUP is an awesome, energetic, frantic, crazy, loud, fast rock and roll band. They are special to me because they're from near where I live so I've seen them a lot and now they are blowing up and I am so proud. Go PUP! This album is miles ahead of their already awesome self-titled debut. Check out DVP and it's awesome NES-referencing video.


Brian Fallon - Painkillers

This solo acoustic album from the singer/guitarist of The Gaslight Anthem is weirdly good. I thought it'd just be another generic acoustic album from a guy in a band but it is a beautiful little album that definitely took me by surprise. Highly recommended. Check out A Wonderful Life. Beautiful song.