Favorite Albums of 2016: #40-21

[40] The Impossible Kid - Aesop Rock (Rhymesayers)
Thanks to To Pimp a Butterfly and Black Messiah, my interest in hip hop and R&B had been completely reinvigorated in 2015. So, that lead to me listening to way more of it in 2016. I'm honestly not sure why I decided to give this year's Aesop Rock LP a chance, but I'm glad I did. His lyrics and brainy and poetic almost to the point of being too difficult, but, they're beautiful that way. And a lot of the music sounds like NES boss fight music. So good.
Top jam: "Molecules"


[39] Warm Shadow - Greys (Carpark/Buzz)
This was Greys' second album of 2016, initially released as a Bandcamp download. Generally a bit more rough around the edges recording and structure-wise, but a softer, more patient listen. These boys have crafted some gorgeous soundscapes here, both loud and quiet. This was an excellent surprise this year.
Top jam: "Space Mountain"


[38] You Know Who You Are - Nada Surf (Barsuk)
Not as rippin' volume-wise as their last record, 2012's The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, Nada Surf has still crafted a wonderful set of guitar pop tunes here. Somewhat lo-key, but pretty upbeat too in places. I think I might prefer this version of them.
Top jam: "Gold Sounds"


[37] Casino Drone - Mike Adams at His Honest Weight (Joyful Noise)
Mike Adams has done it again: Another full-length of big, dynamic, dreamy power pop with some more experimental undertones. This is his third record under the At His Honest Weight moniker, and it is his best.
Top jam: "Smart Marks"


[36] Blackstar - David Bowie (Columia/RCA/ISO)
I was absolutely destroyed by David Bowie's death back in January. It happened at the beginning of what I recall to be pretty much the coldest week of the year, and Sara was living in Pittsburgh at the time. It was a lonely, depressing week, and I listened to Hunky Dory, Low, Heroes and Scary Monsters repeatedly and cried quite a few times. We should count ourselves lucky that we received such an impressive and unique document as his goodbye to planet Earth. Blackstar has some truly challenging moments as well as some utterly gorgeous ones, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Top jam: "I Can't Give Everything Away"


[35] Guided Meditation - Hurry (Lame-O)
Super polished jangle/fuzz/power pop that references everything from Galaxie 500 to The Bats to Teenage Fanclub to Weezer and many more. The production is leaps and bounds better than 2014's Everything/Nothing, which regretfully takes some edge off, but, I think this is probably the superior album.
Top jam: "Fascination"


[34] As If Apart - Chris Cohen (Captured Tracks)
A lush and gorgeous combination of 60s sunshine/psych pop and 70s AM/soft rock. Pretty similar to this former Deerhoof dude's 2012 album, Overgrown Path, which is the album I prefer, albeit slightly. There are certainly and unsurprisingly some jams here, though.
Top jam: "As If Apart"


[33] Mangy Love - Cass McCombs (Anti-)
I haven't loved every Cass McCombs album I've heard, and nothing has touched 2007's Dropping the Writ for me, but since 2011 he's been consistently releasing high quality, haunting folk-tinged tunes. Mangy Love might be his most diverse set of songs yet (at least that I'm aware of), with some hints at reggae and 70s soft rock added to his routine. Beautiful stuff.
Top jam: "Laughter is the Best Medicine"


[32] Little Windows Cut Right Through - Aloha (Polyvinyl)
Aloha have made a triumphant return with their first record since 2010. They've always been hard to describe, but I guess you could say this is their take on big, bright synth pop? It's still got some characteristic Aloha flourishes, namely marimba and Tony Cavallario's trademark silky voice and fantastic melodies. I was pleasantly surprised that they release a new album, let alone by how much it rules.
Top jam: "Faraway Eyes"


[31] Honeysuckle - Bedroom Eyes (Midnight Werewolf)
I believe this was actually released at the end of 2015, so it probably would have been too late for me to properly include it on last year's list anyway. Loud, fast, gnarly shoegaze with a punk edge. Sometimes I wish the production offered a little more clarity, but sometimes I feel like the chaotic mess is part of the album's charm.
Top jam: "Plain Heir"


[30] Wildflower - The Avalanches (Astralwerks/Modular/EMI/XL)
15 years later, we finally have that new Avalanches record that's been rumored for who knows how long. I was anticipating this at about the same level as the 2013 MBV album, and I think it landed with similar results: It nowhere near comes close to how fantastic (and perfect) Since I Left You is, but, it's really nice to have them back. Arty soul/R&B sample collages with some truly awesome special guests.
Top jam: "If I Was a Folkstar"


[29] Coloring Book - Chance the Rapper (self-released)
I'm ashamed I had never listened to Chance before Coloring Book. It took me a bit to fully get into it, but to this day, I like it more and more with each listen. His sing-rap is infectious, and I love both the soft, subtle sexy songs and the outright gospel jams. He also seems like he would be a very fun, positive dude to hang out with. Really looking forward to what an actual "album" from him would sound, as opposed to his "mixtapes."
Top jam: "Finish Line/Down"


[28] Is the Is Are - DIIV (Captured Tracks)
Not sure why this took four years to come out, as it just sounds like an extension of 2012's Oshin with more direction and clarity. Mostly upbeat, moody, melodic, dreamy 80s goth/post-punk. Quite a few outright jams, whereas Oshin just kind of all ran together (which, I was fine with).
Top jam: "Healthy Moon"


[27] Patch the Sky - Bob Mould (Merge)
Every two years, Bob Mould puts out a righteous, straight up rock 'n' roll record. He is the model of consistency.
Top jam: "Losing Time"


[26] Tarantula - Giant Peach (Don Giovanni)
Another record that completely came out of nowhere for me. There are points where I am reminded of emo and punk stuff that I was listening to in late high school. Like, remember Initial and Eulogy Records? Stuff like that. It's awesome.
Top jam: "Snake"


[25] Out of the Garden - Tancred (Polyvinyl)
Excellent classic punk-y guitar pop with what seems like an endless fount of melodies and hooks. Jess Abbott's voice is awesome.
Top jam: "Control Me"


[24] Utitled Unmastered. - Kendrick Lamar (Top Dawg)
Apparently when it comes to Kendrick, even what seems like a throwaway release is some of the best hip hop you'll hear all year. More or less a To Pimp a Butterfly b-sides companion piece, I love the aimlessness and daring, experimental song structures presented here. Also, his voice and flow sound just as good as ever. Also also, the third track is probably as good as anything from TPaB.
Top jam: "Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013"


[23] Standards - Into It. Over It. (Triple Crown)
I did not expect to ever fully embrace the most popular project involving the most prominent person in modern emo, Evan Weiss. But, it happened. Produced by John Vanderslice, Standards is a rippin' collection of beautiful, catchy, technical as hell emo pop that I would have been absolutely obsessed with in high school. The guitar playing is top notch, and the drumming is mind-blowing and probably the best I've heard in 2016. Oh, the songs are totally great too.
Top jam: "Vis Major"


[22] Preoccupations - Preoccupations (Jagjaguwar)
The second LP from the band thankfully formerly known as Viet Cong. It essentially sounds like a companion piece. The songs are different, but the sound is generally the same. And that is huge, colorful yet dark post-punk with a wonderful merging of chimy guitars and vintage synths (more synths this time around). It didn't knock me over the way last year's record did, but, still very much enjoyable.
Top jam: "Degraded"


[21] Pretty Years - Cymbals Eat Guitars (Sinderlyn)
Every couple of years, this band sneaks up on me with an underrated, understated, deceivingly good record. This just happens to be their best yet, and no one seems to really care. I don't know what to say, this is just quality indie rock that draws from the past to create something new and fresh sounding, IMO. Also, the production here is the best the band has had to work with. Check it out.
Top jam: "4th of July, Philadelphia (Sandy)"