My Top 50 Albums of 2016

In the past, I have spaced out each album, discussing their merits one by one, building to a suspenseful climax. However, due to my hectic schedule this year, much to the dismay or applause of many, this list gets released all at once. You'll have to take the time to listen to these on your own. My highlights start with Number One. King Charles. This album is so incredible, with Marcus Mumford as the producer. It's a plunge to the depths of emotion, with that famous Mumford build song after song. Both Radical Face and Damien Jurado finished off their Triology of albums they had been working on to artistic purity of form. Discovering Michael Kiwanuka's soul was incredible and should be explored by all. Japanese Breakfast and Car Seat Headrest broke all the boundaries. SURVIVE brought us the amazing intro to Stranger Things and produced an equally enticing album. I think Jim James and Devendra Banhardt may have put out the best albums of their career. Pinegrove and Lucy Dacus produced some newcomer surprise and Radiohead did not disappoint with their ninth studio album. Finally, David Bowies' precognitive work needs no mention. Here they are in all their glory. Enjoy, and here's to another year of great music.

1. King Charles - Gamble For A Rose
2. Radical Face - The Family Tree: The Leaves (definitely check out parts 1 & 2, but this is definitely the best)
3. Damien Jurado - Visions Of Us On The Land
4. Andrew Bird - Are You Serious?
5. Devendra Banhart - Ape In Pink Marble
6. SURVIVE - RR7349
7. Jim James - Eternally Even
8. David Bowie - Blackstar
9. Johnnyswim - Georgica Pond
10. Okkervil River - Away
11. Ra Ra Riot - Need Your Light
12. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
13. Bon Iver - 22, A Million
14. The Avalanches - Wildflower
15. The Head and the Heart - Signs of Light
16. Japanese Breakfast - Psycho Pomp
17. Hamilton Leithauser & Rostam - I Had A Dream You Were Mine
18. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide To Earth
19. Angel Olsen - My Woman
20. Little Green Cars - Ephemera
21. Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial
22. Warpaint - Heads Up
23. Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate
24. Wye Oak - Tween
25. Kishi Bashi - Sonderlust
26. Fruit Bats - Absolute Loser
27. Blind Pilot - And Then Like Lions
28. Caveman - Otero War
29. The Last Shadow Puppets - Everything You've Come To Expect
30. Lucy Dacus - No Burden
31. Joseph - I'm Alone, No You're Not
32. Margo Price - Midwest Farmer's Daughter
33. Miike Snow - iii
34. M. Ward - More Rain
35. Junius Meyvant - Floating Harmonies
36. Lambchop - FLOTUS (For Love Often Turns Us Still)
37. Lucius - Good Grief
38. Jabee - Black Future
39. case/lang/veirs - case/lang/veirs
40. Pinegrove - Cardinal
41. Cullen Omori - New Misery
42. Empire of the Sun - Two Vines
43. Passenger - Young As The Morning, Old As The Sea
44. Big Thief - Masterpiece
45. Beach Slang - A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings
46. James Vincent McMorrow - We Move
47. Radiation City - Synesthetica
48. Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions - Until The Hunter
49. Animal Collective - Painting With
50. The Darcy's - Centerfold

Here's a playlist to throw on repeat.