2016 was a hot mess, right? My dad died in August. A bunch of our musical heroes died throughout the year. Our very existence is at risk because 'Merica decided to elect a narcicistic reality TV star as the next president in response to fears instead of being driven by hopes. I think America has been fleeced by a con man and the evangelical community has lost any standing it had to call itself the "moral majority." **Yeah, I guess I'm still pretty perplexed over this. Really unbelievable. But I digress.
This is about the music. And 2016 was a killer good year for new music; a year for COMEBACKS. A Tribe Called Quest, Thrice, American Football, Metallica, and Jimmy Eat World had comebacks in some form in my view.
I can't narrow down and rank a top ten for the year so here's more of a hodge-podge commentary of what I loved in music this year along with Spotify links and some media.
A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here - Thank You 4 Your service: News of this record hit right before the record came out. It was recorded before Phife Dawg died. This record sounds like the natural followup to Midnight Marauders, as if the real records that came after it never happened. This year a bunch of older dudes put out killer hip hop - ATCQ, De La Soul, Common, Public Enemy...and new Run The Jewels soon (Killer Mike is not a young man, you know). The video is We The People from their performance on SNL.
Basement - Promise Everything: This might be my favorite record of the year. I found these dudes through a Spotify recommendation for me and it was spot on. I don't know much about the band other than they're from England write super hooky alt-rock. I spend most of my time listening to music trying to find new stuff to like, but this record was in regular rotation this year. The video is for Aquasun.
David Bazan - Blanco: I love this man - probably my favorite artist now. I'd say we've probably had similar spiritual journeys where we've left something behind to move on to something that feels real and keeps our consciences clear. I've seen him live twice in the last year and have told myself to not miss him again. His last show at Exit/In was just him and an electric guitar, tones dialed in. It was captivating. This year's record, Blanco, is a compilation of songs he released as part of the Bazan Monthly Volumes - 2 songs written, recorded, and released per month. I *think* we'll get more music from Bazan this year, but we'll also get a record from Lo-Tom, a collaboration with Jason Martin, TW Walsh, and Trey Many. Videos are Hard To Be from his Nashville show in December 2015, and Trouble With Boys, from Blanco. Note how few actual words are in Trouble With Boys, but the line about "stepbrothers" brings to mind the image of a girl thrown into a new family she doesn't know, thrown into a new reality she's not comfortable with. This lit up the empath in me - feeling it from her point of view.
Basement - Promise Everything: This might be my favorite record of the year. I found these dudes through a Spotify recommendation for me and it was spot on. I don't know much about the band other than they're from England write super hooky alt-rock. I spend most of my time listening to music trying to find new stuff to like, but this record was in regular rotation this year. The video is for Aquasun.
David Bazan - Blanco: I love this man - probably my favorite artist now. I'd say we've probably had similar spiritual journeys where we've left something behind to move on to something that feels real and keeps our consciences clear. I've seen him live twice in the last year and have told myself to not miss him again. His last show at Exit/In was just him and an electric guitar, tones dialed in. It was captivating. This year's record, Blanco, is a compilation of songs he released as part of the Bazan Monthly Volumes - 2 songs written, recorded, and released per month. I *think* we'll get more music from Bazan this year, but we'll also get a record from Lo-Tom, a collaboration with Jason Martin, TW Walsh, and Trey Many. Videos are Hard To Be from his Nashville show in December 2015, and Trouble With Boys, from Blanco. Note how few actual words are in Trouble With Boys, but the line about "stepbrothers" brings to mind the image of a girl thrown into a new family she doesn't know, thrown into a new reality she's not comfortable with. This lit up the empath in me - feeling it from her point of view.
O'Brother - Endless Light: I'm still in love with these noise-makers from Atlanta that are flying too far under the radar. Again, their have their guitar/bass tones dialed in and the songs are pushed by the Michael Martens' plodding rhythms and Tanner Merritt's vocal runs. Video - Deconstruct
Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere: Thrice returns from hiatus with a record that builds on the exploration and maturity they've developed over the last few. They've moved from blending hardcore and punk to being more of an enigmatic rock band exploring tones and texture. I loved the experimentation of the Alchemy Index EPs and the new record still carries some of the twists they explored there, but this to me is a mature band's record. The most Thrice-y moments to me are the companion tracks Death From Above and Whistleblower, a scathing critique of U.S. government policy and behavior. And, as always, there's a water themed track with the opener, Hurricane. Man, Dustin loves him some nautical theming. (ex. Red Sky, Water EP, The Great Exchange, Words in the Water). Video: Hurricane
Thrice - To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere: Thrice returns from hiatus with a record that builds on the exploration and maturity they've developed over the last few. They've moved from blending hardcore and punk to being more of an enigmatic rock band exploring tones and texture. I loved the experimentation of the Alchemy Index EPs and the new record still carries some of the twists they explored there, but this to me is a mature band's record. The most Thrice-y moments to me are the companion tracks Death From Above and Whistleblower, a scathing critique of U.S. government policy and behavior. And, as always, there's a water themed track with the opener, Hurricane. Man, Dustin loves him some nautical theming. (ex. Red Sky, Water EP, The Great Exchange, Words in the Water). Video: Hurricane
Turnstile - Nonstop Feeling: I think this is my 2nd favorite record of the year - this and Basement's record both came out early in the year so I had a lot of time to get to know them. I love hardcore. I love melodies. I love music with pop tendencies that isn't pop-music. Turnstile toured the U.S. with Basement this year and I didn't get to see it, but I can only imagine it was amazing. Just check out the video - this rules. I'm 40 now and I love this stuff.
Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book: I didn't know who this guy was until this year. Kanye protege who's been active in the mixtape world (which I don't follow). My God this record is good. Keeps me hopeful about the younger generations. I get the sense he knows how much of a God record this is, but also may never be able to grasp the hope and positivity he's bringing into the world. Seems like such a good dude. Do your thing man. Video: Blessings (Reprise) from Tonight w/Jimmy Fallon.
Jimmy Eat World - Integrity Blues: I think this is their best record since Futures. It sounds dumb to say it sounds like a Jimmy Eat World record, but it's true. I had it as part of a random playlist and when they'd come up I'd know it was them. I'm still growing into it since it was a fall release, but this is solid all the way through. Video: Sure and Certain from Jimmy Kimmel Live
Civilian - You Wouldn't Believe What Privilege Costs : These dudes live in my town and I had no idea about them until I saw some tweets from Derek Webb and some promo messages from Tooth and Nail. I've followed T&N since their inception and haven't been into much they've released in the last few years. This record is a gem and it'll be in regular rotation for a long time to come. I probably should have gone to the show where they opened for Paper Route recently. Doh! Video: Cut & Run
Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book: I didn't know who this guy was until this year. Kanye protege who's been active in the mixtape world (which I don't follow). My God this record is good. Keeps me hopeful about the younger generations. I get the sense he knows how much of a God record this is, but also may never be able to grasp the hope and positivity he's bringing into the world. Seems like such a good dude. Do your thing man. Video: Blessings (Reprise) from Tonight w/Jimmy Fallon.
Jimmy Eat World - Integrity Blues: I think this is their best record since Futures. It sounds dumb to say it sounds like a Jimmy Eat World record, but it's true. I had it as part of a random playlist and when they'd come up I'd know it was them. I'm still growing into it since it was a fall release, but this is solid all the way through. Video: Sure and Certain from Jimmy Kimmel Live
Civilian - You Wouldn't Believe What Privilege Costs : These dudes live in my town and I had no idea about them until I saw some tweets from Derek Webb and some promo messages from Tooth and Nail. I've followed T&N since their inception and haven't been into much they've released in the last few years. This record is a gem and it'll be in regular rotation for a long time to come. I probably should have gone to the show where they opened for Paper Route recently. Doh! Video: Cut & Run
Other notables:
Metallica - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct: Better than Death Magnetic so far. Hope they come to Nashville so Griffin and I can finally see them together - not that he really wants to now, but we're still going.
Metallica - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct: Better than Death Magnetic so far. Hope they come to Nashville so Griffin and I can finally see them together - not that he really wants to now, but we're still going.
American Football - American Football (LP2): I wasn't a big emo kid and this band wasn't on my radar with their first record. In fact, I just added it to my New To Me playlist so I check it out. I love this record. It's great to have in the background when I'm working, but I also think it's one where you can sit with headphones and really pay attention to all that's going on.
PJ - Rare: I don't like pop music, but I heard about this from the Sound Opinions podcast and gave it a whirl. I like this in the same way I like The Weeknd. It's pop, but it's edgy.
