Jim Magas 2016 DJ crate
VIKI Viktoria – New Victorian LP (Midwich)
Alex Barnett – Chew From the Mind LP (Midwich)
HIDE – Flesh For the Living 12” (Midwich)
Moon Pool & Dead Band – Humanizer LP (Midwich)
Joel Graham – Geomancy 12” (Music From Memory)
DJ Fett Burger – Burger Trip 12” (Mongo Fett)
GAS – Box 10LP/4CD (Kompakt)
Keiji Haino – Milky Way LP (Black Truffle)
Good Willsmith – Things Our Bodies Used to Have LP (Umor Rex)
Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt – Live at Various/Various Live 2LP (Palilalia)
Madteo – Voracious Culturilizer 12” (M.A.D.T.E.O. Records)
Roberto Musci – Tower of Silence 2LP (Music From Memory)
Pauline Oliveros – Four Meditations / Sound Geometries LP (Sub Rosa)
Stallone the Reducer – Private Property LP (Est. 83)
Stallone the Reducer – Drug Pusher 12” (Est. 83)
Roman Flugel – All the Right Noises 2LP (Dial)
Robert Beatty – Floodgate Companion book (Floating World Comics)
DJ Sotofett / SVN – Current 82 12” (Dark Plan 5)
DJ Sotofett / Vera Dvale – Soukas Mix / Dybden (Wania)
DJ Sotofett – Generic Mix / Alternate Mix 12” (So Phat)
Omar S. – The Best 4LP (FXHE)
Theo Parrish – Sketches 3LP + Somethin About Detroit 12” (Sound Signature)
Jay Daniel – Broken Knowz 2LP (Ninja Tune)
Flo & Andrew – Take Suicide 12” (Mannequin)
Gesloten Cirkel – Mustache Techno Series 001 12” (Mustache)
Shinichi Atobe – Ship-Scope 12” (DDS)
Equiknoxx – Bird Sound Power 2LP (DDS)
Not Waving – Animals 2LP (Diagonal)
DJ Diamonds – Footwork or Die 2LP (Duck’n’Cover)
Michael Bundt – Electri-City LP (Bureau B)
Ariel Kalma – Interfrequence LP (Black Sweat)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani – Sunergy LP (Rvng Intl.)
Suzanne Ciani – Buchla Concerts 1975 LP (Finders Keepers)
John Olson – Life Is a Rip-Off book (Third Man Books)
Demdike Stare – Wonderland (2LP)
J David Cartwright
1. Babyfather “BBF Hosted by DJ Escrow” – Concept art and rap/grime/hip hop collide here. This is a challenging album and not really for casual listening, but man is it good! It warrants multiple listens and along with the amazing album art, it is one cohesive work of art. Dean Blunt is great at expressing a dissonance that comes with being apart of this modern world. I highly recommend looking into every project he is involved in.
2. Ex-Terrestrial “Paraworld” – Ambient music with delicate beats, that for me feels like the equivalent of floating in the middle of the Dead Sea with the sun baking my bones. Check out the track Blue Smoke for confirmation.
3. Omar-S “The Best” – Detroit’s Omar-S effortlessly writes floor stompers here with some strangeness sprinkled in, i.e., Ah’Revolution which is simply minimal conga playing and a meandering voice saying something about a revolution. Seen Was Set was my ultimate summer jam!
4. Frank Ocean “Blonde” – This one will be on a lot of people’s lists this year and for good reason. This puppy is addictive, meditative, and very minimally composed. It is calming, yet leaves me with an intense feeling of loss and desire. Beautiful!
5. Charles Barabe “Les Dernieres Confessions” – Beautiful synthesizer compositions accompanied by a midi ensemble that will take you to the innerzone and back.
6. Elka “Chants” – Relaxing yet extremely groovy with nods to early Detroit Techno and Electro. Pass Groove is a flippin barn-burner!
7. Disasterpeace “Hyper Light Drifter OST” – A somber, introspective synthesizer soundtrack that if you’re familiar with Disasterpeace music you might come to expect, but this one (paired with the video game) definitely took me on a journey this year. You can stream and purchase this one on bandcamp.
8. Danny Brown “Atrocity Exhibition” – Danny Brown and Warp records, what a great union! There are some forward thinking productions on this one and this sucker is disorienting.
9. Horse Lords “Interventions” – An incredibly talented Baltimore band that blends West African rhythms and Krautrock influences. All the members of the band compliment each other by locking in through syncopated grooves. A must see live band!
10. ROM “Possible Mountain” – I love Chicago’s very own Hausu Mountain tape label! If you like experimental/ avant garde/ electronic music and video game soundtracks then look no further. “Possible Mountain” is an atmospheric journey that fans of Tortoise will feel right at home with. Airy jams with a myriad of styles and influences. Favorite track: Crawl Upside Down
Charles Taylor
Best Jazz:
Anthony Braxton: 3 Compositions [EEMHM] 2011
Artuan Ortiz – Hidden Voices
Paul Dunmall – Luddite
Ivo Perelman – Breaking Point
Tony Malaby – Incantations
Nick Mellevoi – Desertion
Freddie Redd – With Due Respect
Eri Yamamoto – Life
Wadada Leo Smith – The National Parks
Thumbscrew – Convallaria
Julie Kjaer – Dobbeltgaenger
Best Reissues:
Steve Miller Band – Sailor
Bunny Wailer – Solomonic Singles 1 & 2
Junjo Presents Heavyweight Dub Champion
Miles Davis – Paul’s Mall Boston September 1972
Beth Klacko
Music I liked this year in no particular order:
-Omar S. – The Best
-Joanna Brouk – Hearing Music
-Manuel Gottsching – E2-E4 (Reissue)
-Steve Hauschildt – Strands
-Metallica – Kill ‘Em All (Reissue)
-Oren Ambarchi – Hubris
-Angel Olsen – My Woman
-Ghoul – Dungeon Bastards
-The Field – The Follower
-Fake Limbs – Matronly
-Roman Flugel – All The Right Noises
-Klaus Johann Grobe – Spagat der Liebe
-Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
-Blasted Diplomats – Again
-V/A – Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music
-Romans – Valere Aude
-Sabbatical – Sundown
Matt Jencik
Asylum Party – Picture One reissue
Julianna Barwick – Will
Big Star – Complete Third Vol. 1 : Demos to Sessions to Roughs
Bitchin’ Bajas & Bonnie Prince Billy Epic Jammers & Fortunate Little Ditties
David Bowie Blackstar
David Bowie Bowie At the Beeb LP boxset
Joanna Brouk – Hearing Music
Caroline K Now Wait for Last Year reissue
Brian Case Tense Nature
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Skeleton Tree
The Clean – Getaway LP reissue
Leonard Cohen – You Want it Darker
Deru -1979 reissue
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein Stranger Things soundtrack
DJ Richard – Grind
Noel Ellis S/T reissue
Fake Limbs Matronly
Forma Physicalist
Fuath I
Gaoth Dying Season’s Glory
Manuel Gottsching E2-E4 LP reissue
Lee Hazlewood Cowboy in Sweden LP reissue
Head of the Demon Sathanas Trismegistos
Heron Oblivion S/T
Itasca Open to Chance
Kikagaku Moyo House in the Tall Grass
Lifetones For a Reason LP reissue
Jackie Lynn S/T
Kedr Livanskiy January Sun EP
Matchess Rafter
MJ Guider Precious Systems
Angel Olsen My Woman
PAPA M Highway Songs
Jeff Parker New Breed
Pink Floyd Early Years 1965-1972 boxset
Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool
Sand LP reissues
75 Dollar Bill Wood/Metal/Plastic/Pattern/Rhythm/Rock
Them Speaking Canaries – Summer Band lathe-cut 7”
Träd, Gräs Och Stenar – S/T boxset
Tribulation Formulas of Death LP reissue
Troller Graphic
The Who – Live At Leeds 3LP Deluxe Edition reissue
Winterfylleth Dark Hereafter
La Monte Young & Marian Zazeela The Theatre of Eternal Music – Dream House – 78’17”
Reissue
V/A Killed by Deathrock Volume Two
V/A (The Microcosm) Visionary Music of Continental Europe 1970-1986
V/A Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music
SHOWS
Big|Brave in-store @ Reckless
John Carpenter @ Thalia Hall
The Cure @ UIC Pavilion
Dungen in-store @ Reckless
Fabio Frizzi live score for “The Beyond” @ Music Box
Philip Glass @ Old Town School of Folk Music
Grouper @ Bohemian National Cemetery
Steve Hauschildt & Forma @ Constellation
Itasca in-store @ Reckless & Empty Bottle
Kikagaku Moyo @ Empty Bottle
Jackie Lynn @ Silent Funny
Matchess @ Hideout
Misfits @ Riot Fest
Angel Olsen @ Thalia Hall
Iggy Pop @ Chicago Theater
S U R V I V E & Majeure @ Empty Bottle
Tribulation @ Subterranean
Ethan D’Ercole
Jake Lingan- Labor of Love
Jacob Kart- Sigint
Jeff Parker- New Breed
Smokin’ Ziggurats- Smokin’ Ziggurats
Eternals- Espiritu Zombi
Patrick Cowley & Candida Royalle – Candida Cosmica
Le Tour – Jack Off Diamonds
Chloe Croom
Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
Twin Peaks – Down in Heaven
Whitney – Light Upon The Lake
Angel Olsen – My Woman
Chris Cohen – As If Apart
Beyonce – Lemonade
Broncho – Double Vanity
Mild High Club – Skiptracing
The Hecks – The Hecks
Favorite compilations of 2016:
Cosmic Machine – The Sequel: A Voyage Across French Cosmic & Electronic Avantgarde [Because Music]
Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music [Numero Group]
New Orleans Funk – New Orleans: The Original Sound of Funk Vol. 4 [Soul Jazz Records]
Favorite Reissue of 2016:
Lee Moses – Time And Place! [Light in the Attic Records]
Ryan Scaccia
1. FOG – For Good (Totally Gross National Product)
2. TORTOISE – Catastrophist (Thrill Jockey)
3. BEN LUKAS BOYSEN – Spells (Erased Tapes)
4. JOHANN JOHANNSSON – Orphee (Deutsche Grammophon)
5. JESU/SUN KIL MOON – Jesu/Sun Kil Moon (Caldo Verde)
6. RIVAL CONSOLES – Night Melody (Erased Tapes)
7. DAVID BAZAN – Blanco (Barsuk)
8. HELEN MONEY – Become Zero (Thrill Jockey)
9. ADRIAN YOUNGE – The Electronique Void (Linear Labs)
10. JOHN CARPENTER – Lost Themes II (Sacred Bones)
11. JEFF PARKER – The New Breed (International Anthem)
12 ANDREW BRODER – Wertheimer EP (Lex)
13. SILVER APPLES – Clinging To A Dream (Chicken Coop)
14. FLOATING POINTS – Kuiper EP (Luaka Bop)
15. ADAM WILTZIE – Salero O.S.T. (Erased Tapes)
Dave Hofer
ALBUMS
Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition (Warp)
While we wish Brown would sometimes lay off his signature high-nasal voice in favor of his more reserved flow, there’s no denying that this guy is brilliant. Discordant, heady hip-hop that sounds like no one else.
Car Bomb – Meta
Easily one of the most unique bands in metal, Car Bomb dropped this album after teasing their mailing list with five-second snippets of new music, which fans used the internet to connect and assemble into a full track, natch. Technical, very, very heavy & a sound that’s instantly recognizable.
Chris Cohen – As If Apart (Captured Tracks)
Ex-Cryptacize member finally releases his second album of earth-y, mellow songs. The recording is beautiful.
Creation is Crucifixion – Antenna Builder (Robotic Empire)
One of the best late-’90s/early-aughts bands resurfaces with a previously-unreleased, nine-minute track, three songs never released on vinyl & an entire live set from 2000. High-concept tech-death-grind straight out of a hacker’s wet dream.
Flowdan – Disaster Piece (Tru Thoughts)
This album makes the cut on the strength of the track “Bob Marley” alone.
Full of Hell – Amber Mote in the Black Vault 7” (Bad Teeth)
Technically proficient, catchy and very, very brutal grind from this band, who seem to have found their voice.
Internal Rot/Mellow Harsher – Split 7” (625)
Two sides with two different types of grindcore. Internal Rot play a crustier, death-metal influenced style while Mellow Harsher is so completely beyond insane-sounding you have to hear these guys to believe it. Amazing.
Mithras – On Strange Loops (Willowtip)
A late-2016 release, Mithras returns after nine years and delivers a great album of outer-space death metal. If prog fans can get past the vocals, the musicianship is — pun intended — out of this world.
Mr. Lif – Don’t Look Down (Mello Music Group)
After a seven-year break, Mr. Lif returns to the mic with a very strong album, a new label and what sounds like a new perspective. One of the best MCs of the last two decades.
Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife 2 (Interscope)
Second album from this bizarre duo with a unique sound. On the surface, it might not sound like these guys are doing anything special, but the production and their unique flows are more than meets the ear.
Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP (TDE)
I was a bit worried about the follow-up to his excellent Oxymoron, but Q delivered a great album with his signature voice & eerie production. Dark subject matter, but masterfully executed.
Sea of Shit & Sick/Tired – Split LP (Deep Six)
Two of Chicago’s best hardcore/grind bands on one massively brutal split.
Skepta – Konnichiwa (Boy Better Know)
Not exactly the grime style that Skepta is known for, this is a combination of grime and American-style trap with Skepta’s flow on top.
Venomous Concept – Kick Me Silly (Season of Mist)
I’m a bit biased due to Danny Lilker’s involvement, but this album from the half-Brutal Truth, half-Napalm Death hardcore project is undeniable.
Wormed – Krighsu (Season of Mist)
Completely insane third album of intricate, science-fiction death metal.
MISC
Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins live at the Chicago Theater.
Mutoid Man live at Reggie’s.
Hey Mercedes live at Subterranean.
Sea of Shit & Sick/Tired live at Reckless.
Meshuggah live at House of Blues.
Finally getting custom, Sensaphonics earplugs after years of ear abuse.
Changing from antiperspirant to deodorant.
UK vacation, where I learned about beheadings in a historical context.
Droves & Joyce Delaney live in Glasgow (AKA seeing shows on vacation is the best).
AAW & non-WWE pro-wrestling in general.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. the Young Bucks vs. the Addiction in Ladder Wars 6.
Fallout 4.
Still playing Metal Gear Solid V: the Phantom Pain.
The ability to melee while riding a motorcycle in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Kip McCabe Best of 2016 (in no specific order)
__________________________________
Meshuggah “Violent Sleep of Reason” (Nuclear Blast)
Johann Johannsson “Orphee” (Deutsche Grammophon)
Johann Johannsson “Arrival” Soundtrack (Deutsche Grammophon)
Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto “Revenant” soundtrack (Milan Records)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Skeleton Tree” (Bad Seed Ltd)
David Bowie “Blackstar” (Iso Records)
Cliff Martinez “The Neon Demon” soundtrack (Milan Records)
Papa M “Highway Songs” (Drag City)
Tortoise “Catastrophist” (Thrill Jockey)
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein “Stranger Things” soundtrack (Lakeshore Records)
A Tribe Called Quest “We got it from here… Thank You 4 Your Service” (Epic)
Steven Rahman
Sierra Hull – Weighted Mind
Beautiful Bluegrass music. Hull’s virtuosity as a mandolin player is matched brilliantly by the songwriting & her voice is wonderfully engaging. It’s powerful, even piercing and gives the some of the more delicate playing a weight & substance.
Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You’ve Come to Expect
I love Alex Turner. He’s one of my favorite musicians in the world. This is his second record with Miles Kane as the Last Shadow Puppets. It’s a very particular sound, this rock n’ roll old school sound that’s extremely somber, serious & full of soul. The strings are arranged by Owen Pallett.
Rihanna – ANTI-
What Rihanna does with this record is nothing short of amazing. She digs herself out of a hole that I’ve always placed her in. While there’s still the sense that a number of different hands are involved, the final product oozes with a single personality. That’s all well & good, but it’s in the songs themselves I think you’ll find the best evidence of change & growth. These are good songs, & they’re songs only Rihanna could’ve done justice. Check out the wailing in “Higher.”
Gregory Porter – Take Me to The Alley & Ashleigh Smith – Sunkissed
I’m putting these together, because I love them for much the same reason. These are great songs sung well. There’s no histrionics, there’s little in the way of style. These records are great because they keep it simple & do it incredibly well. If you like vocal Jazz you will like these.
Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book (Chance 3)
Chance the Rapper is all that is good & joyful about Hip Hop right now. He’s exemplary of a side of Chicago that we don’t get to hear much about, at least in mainstream music journalism. His sound is a little more populist, but not so much as to remove the individuality from it, especially considering the amount of Gospel influence. Chance’s music maintains a childlike sense of wonder even while talking about seriously adult topics like death & violence.
Noname – Telefone
It took me a bit to get into this one. It came out in the summer, but the music just didn’t grab me the way it would as the year progressed into fall, & then into winter. There’s an almost muted quality to the production, & a real vibe & feeling, but the most engrossing part of this is the poetic way the lyrics are weaved together.
Anderson .Paak – Malibu & NxWorries – Yes Lawd!
This is the year of Anderson .Paak. He was everywhere this year, & I think Malibu is the best record of the year. It’s just a completely amazing creation. It’s soulful, with this sense of rhythm. It’s a rapper’s soul album & that’s exactly what .Paak is. Yes Lawd! is essentially the soul version of Madvillainy. It’s shorter songs, almost sketches & they’re perfect little interludes.
Hamilton Cast Recording
I don’t really know what to say about this that hasn’t been said before. If you like hip hop, check it out. If you like musicals, check it out. Do you have a passing interest in history? Check it out. I promise you, the adventures of our first Treasury secretary as written & performed by this cast will impress you.
Honorable Mentions (AKA Records I really like but can’t write about because of lack of space):
Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
Adia Victoria – Beyond the Bloodhounds
Mac Miller – The Divine Feminine
Schoolboy Q – Blank Face
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo – The Easy Truth
Kadhja Bonet – The Visitor
Funky DL – February
Common – Black America Again
Beyonce – Lemonade
Kaytranada – 99.9%
Open Mike Eagle & Paul White – Hella Personal Film Festival
Gensu Dean & Denmark Vessey – Whole Food
AFRO & Marco Polo – A-F-R-O Polo
Lando Chill – For Mark Your Son
BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind
Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Heart Speaks in Whispers
Oddisee – Alwasta
Oddisee – Odd Tape
Robert Ellis – Robert Ellis
Takuya Kuroda – Zigzagger
Chris W.
MY FAVORITE ALBUMS üv 2016 (alphabetically by artist)
Adrian Younge “The Electronique Void: Black Noise” (LINEAR LABS)
Angel Olsen “My Woman” (JAGJAGUWAR)
ANOHNI “Hopelessness” (SECRETLY CANADIAN)
BADBADNOTGOOD “IV” (BEAT RECORDS)
Beyoncé “Lemonade” (COLUMBIA)
The Caretaker “Everywhere At the End of Time” (HISTORY ALWAYS FAVOURS THE WINNERS)
Childish Gambino “Awaken, My Love!” (GLASSNOTE)
Chrysta Bell & David Lynch “Somewhere In the Nowhere EP” (BANDCAMP)
Clams Casino “32 Levels” (COLUMBIA)
Cliff Martinez “The Neon Demon (soundtrack)” (MILAN RECORDS)
DARKPYRAMID “New Humans” (DREAM CATALOGUE)
Death In Vegas “Transmission” (DRONE)
Devendra Banhart “Ape In Pink Marble” (NONESUCH RECORDS)
Ela Orleans “Circles of Upper & Lower Hell” (NIGHT SCHOOL)
Eluvium “False Readings On” (TEMPORARY RESIDENCE)
Frank Ocean “Blonde” (BOYS DON’T CRY)
Gallant “Ology” (CIVIL MUSIC)
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions “Until the Hunter” (TENDRIL TALES)
Hype Williams “10/10” (NOT ON LABEL)
Iggy Pop, Tarwater & Alva Noto “Leaves of Grass” (MORR MUSIC)
Jackie Lynn “Jackie Lynn” (THRILL JOCKEY)
James Blake “The Colour In Anything” (POLYDOR RECORDS)
Jenny Hval “Blood Bitch” (SACRED BONES)
Jóhann Jóhannsson “Orphée” & “Arrival (soundtrack)” (DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON)
Kanye West “The Life of Pablo” (GOOD MUSIC)
Kari Faux “Lost en Los Angeles” (WOLF & ROTHSTEIN)
Kristin Kontrol “X-Communicate” (SUB POP)
Lee Fields & the Expressions “Special Night” (BIG CROWN)
Library Tapes “Escapism” (1631 RECORDINGS)
Max Richter “Black Mirror: Nose Dive (soundtrack)” (DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON)
Mica Levi “Jackie (soundtrack)” (MILAN RECORDS)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Skeleton Tree” (BAD SEED LTD.)
Rihanna “Anti” (ROC NATION)
Slow Dancing Society “The Wagers of Love and Their Songs From the Witching Hour” (HIDDEN SHOAL)
Trentemøller “Fixion” (IN MY ROOM)
A Tribe Called Quest “We Got It From Here…Thank You For Your Service” (EPIC RECORDS)
Various Artists “Before the Flood (soundtrack)” (LAKESHORE RECORDS)
Warpaint “Heads Up” (ROUGH TRADE RECORDS)
The Weeknd “Starboy” (XO/REPUBLIC RECORDS)
Yann Tiersen “EUSA” (MUTE RECORDS)
Tom Walczyk
Here are some records that I found to help make 2016 a bit better
(no particular order)
Dinosaur Jr— Give A Glimpse of What Yer Not (Jagjaguawar)
Dow Jones & the Industrials- Can’t Stand the Midwest 1979- 1981 (Family Vineyard)
Halo Of Flies- Music For Insect Minds (AMREP)
— Plus all other AMREP reissues (Cows, Dope Guns, Helios Creed, Melvins…)
David Bowie- BlackStar (ISO Records)
Angel Olsen- My Women (Jagjaguwar)
Iggy Pop- Post Pop Depression (Loma Vista)
Bob Mould- Patch The Sky (Merge)
Nick Cave- Skeleton Tree (Bad Seed LTD.)
Savages- Adore Life (Matador)
Warpaint- Heads Up (Rough Trade)
Omni- Deluxe (Trouble in Mind)
Thee Oh Sees- A Weird Exits & Thee Oh Sees- An Odd Entrances (Castle Face)
*** Label of the Year— Superior Viaduct
Amazing reissues from The Fall, Flesh Eaters, DNA,
Suicide…. so many amazing titles made available again!!!***
I am sure there are releases that I missed so take the time and read all the lists and while shopping in the stores please come talk to us, we would love to point you toward something you will dig!!! Thank You!!!
Gary Errera
WORST OF 2016 “SATIRE…KINDA”
10.GREEN DAY – REVOLUTION RADIO
9.DEATH GRIPS – WHATEVER – PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR “ART”
8.DEATH GRIPS – INTERVIEW, UNADULTERATED CORNCOB HOGWASH , COMPUTERS
HAVE RUINED A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS DAY AND AGE
7.METALLICA – RETURN TO THRASH BUT SHITE LYRICS
6.ANGEL OLSEN – MY WOMAN “UGH”
5.LADY GAGA – NOT HER FINEST HOUR
4.STONE ROSES – NAH
3.THEE OH SEES – NO THANKS
2.NURSE WITH WOUND – DESTROY ALL COPIES
1.CAR SEAT HEADREST – KEEP AT IT KIDDO.
HONORABLE MENTION:
RADIOHEAD – POOL SHAPED MOON “NOT BAD BUT NOT GOOD”
MY PICKS FOR 2016:
PREOCCUPATIONS – S/T
RUSSIAN CIRCLES – GUIDANCE
BIRDY – BEAUTIFUL LIES
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST – WE GOT IT FROM HERE…..
ROLLING STONES – BLUE AND LONESOME
Jacob Kart
Lifetones “For A Reason” (reissue) (Light in the Attic)
Gas “Box” (reissue) (KOMPAKT)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith “EARS” (Western Vinyl)
Autechre “Tri Repetae” and “Incunabula” (reissues) (Warp)
Tal Sounds “Lifter And Higher” (Hausu Mountain)
Datach’i “System” (TimeSig)
Autechre “Elseq” (Warp)
Andy Stott “Too Many Voices” (Modern Love)
Carl Stone “Electronic Music From the Seventies and Eighties” (Unseen Worlds)
The Field “The Follower” (KOMPAKT)
Flux Bikes/ Suenolas (Festival Gear)
Horse Lords “Interventions” (Northern Spy)
Moon Bros “These Stars” (Western Vinyl)
Venetian Snares “Traditional Synthesizer Music” (TimeSig)
Benjamin Hegy
David Bowie- (blackstar)- ISO Records
Chris Cohen- as if apart- Captured Tracks
The Field- the follower- Kompakt
Manuel Gottsching- e2-e4- MG.ART
Lifetones- for a reason- Light In the Attic
Jackie Lynn- s/t- Thrill Jockey
Roberto Musci- tower of silence- Music From Memory
Omar S- the best!- FXHE Records
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith- ears- Western Vinyl
This Heat- deceit- Modern Classics Recordings
A Tribe Called Quest- we got it from here…. thank you for your service- Epic
Ryley Walker- golden sings that have been sung- Dead Oceans
Western Skies Motel- settlers- Lost Tribe Sound
Tim Quinlan
Le Matos – Chronicles of the Wasteland (December 2015 release)
A Tribe Called Quest “We Got It From Here…”
BadBadNotGood “IV”
Yann Tiersen “Eusa”
Umberto “Alienation”
Oddisee “The Odd Tape”
Wojciech Golczewski “Reality Check”
Chance the Rapper “Coloring Book”
Vince Staples “Prima Donna”
FM-84 “Atlas”
Anderson Paak “Malibu”
S U R V I V E “RR7349”
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein “Stranger Things Soundtrack”
Luke Dahlgren
20 best of 2016:
Top 5:
1. Parquet Courts – Human Performance (Rough Trade)
2. Kiran Leonard – Grapefruit (Moshi Moshi)
3. Sheer Mag – III (Static Shock)
4. David Bowie – ★ (Iso)
5. Kevin Morby – Singing Saw (Dead Oceans)
15 more (alpha):
Charles Bradley – Changes (Daptone)
Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition (Warp)
Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial (Matador)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree (Bad Seed Ltd.)
The Gotobeds – Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic (Sub Pop)
Nicolas Jaar – Sirens (Other People)
KAYTRANADA – 99.9% (XL)
Cass McCombs – Mangy Love (Anti-)
Mourn – Ha, Ha, He. (Captured Tracks)
Frank Ocean – Blonde (Boys Don’t Cry)
Angel Olsen – MY WOMAN (Jagjaguwar)
Preoccupations – Preoccupations (Jagjaguwar)
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (XL)
Savages – Adore Life (Matador)
Solange – A Seat at the Table (Saint)
Ben Crowell
in no particular order:
David Bowie – Blackstar (Columbia/Sony)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree (Bad Seed Ltd.)
Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker (Columbia/Sony)
Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch (Sacred Bones)
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things Vol. 1 & 2 (Lakeshore)
Julianna Barwick – Will (Dead Oceans)
The Caretaker – Everywhere At The End Of Time (History Always Favors)
Aphex Twin – Cheetah EP (Warp)
Moon Pool & Dead Band – Humanizer (Midwich)
Mark Korven – The Witch OST (Milan)
Reissues:
Rachel’s – Systems/Layers (Quarterstick)
Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks OST (Deathwaltz)
Bobby Beausoleil – Lucifer Rising (Ajna)
Lee Harvey Oswald Band – Blastronaut (Touch and Go)
William Basinski – 92982 (Temporary Residence)
Christian Keck
in no particular order except #1
1. Hecks (self-titled)
Solange (A seat at the table)
Kendrick Lamar (untitled remaster)
Floating Points (Elaenia)
Thee Oh Sees (Weird Exits
Charles Bradley (Changes)
Hoops (self-titled)
Stranger Things OST Vol 1
Bitchin Bajas & Bonnie Prince Billy (Epic Jammers)
King Gizzard & Lizard Wizard (Nonagon Infinity)
Thor Jorgenson
TONY MOLINA – CONFRONT THE CONFRONT 7″ (SLUMBERLAND)
JEFF PARKER – NEW BREED LP (INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM)
SCHOOLBOY Q – BLANK FACE (TOP DAWG)
BLACK MILK & NAT TURNER – REBELLION SESSIONS (COMPUTER UGLY)
JAMES FRITZ – STILL TOGETHER (AST RECORDS)
John Jackson (in no order)
Oddisee- Alwasta EP
Charles Bradley- Changes
Gimungo- Movement
Jeff Parker- The New Breed
Saul Williams- MartyrLoserKing
Maker- Maker Vs Now Again 3
Dibiase- Baker’s Dozen Instrumental Series
Kool Keith- Feature Magnetic
Madlib- Our Vinyl Ways A Ton OST Beats 10″
Ras G- Baker’s Dozen Instrumental Series
Anthony Illarde
listen
ABADDON Blues Tomorrow 45 (Alonas Dream)
BIG STAR Complete Third CD (Omnivore)
KARL BLAU Introducing Karl Blau LP (Raven Marching Band)
ALICE COOPER Live From The Astroturf 45 (Good Records)
BETTY DAVIS The Columbia Years 1968-1969 LP (Light In The Attic)
BOB DYLAN The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert! CD (Columbia)
THE ELECTRIC PRUNES I’ve Got A Way Of My Own 45 (Sundazed)
THE FLAT FIVE It’s A World Of Love & Hope LP (Augiedisc/Bloodshot)
GRAPEFRUIT Lullaby 45 (Cherry Red)
LEE HAZLEWOOD Cowboy In Sweden LP (Light In The Attic)
HAILU MERGIA / DAHLAK BAND – Wede Harer Guzo LP (Awesome Tapes From Africa)
THE MICKEY FINN Garden Of My Mind 45 (Munster)
THE MILD HIGH CLUB Skiptracing LP (Stones Throw)
MONKEES Saturday’s Child 45 (Rhino)
RAMONES Ramones 40th Anniversary Edition 3CD (Rhino)
SUN RA & HIS INTERPLANETARY VOCAL ARKESTRA The Space Age Is Here To Stay LP (Modern Harmonic)
VARIOUS Last Of The Garage Punk Unknowns Vol 5-8 LPs (Crypt)
VARIOUS Scepter Records Out In The Streets Again: The Soul Sounds of Scepter LP (Sundazed)
VARIOUS Venezuela 70: Cosmic Visions Of A Latin American Earth LP (Soul Jazz)
read
JEFF APTER Tragedy: The Ballad of the Bee Gees (Jawbone Press)
JOHN DOE Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal History of LA Punk (Da Capo Press)
DAVID HEPWORTH Never A Dull Moment: 1971, The Year That Rock Exploded (Henry Holt & Co)
PETER MILLS The Monkees, Head, and the 60s (Jawbone Press)
SIMON REYNOLDS Shock & Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy From the Seventies to the Twenty-First Century (Dey St.)
MIKE STAX Swim Through The Darkness: My Search For Craig Smith & The Mystery of Maitreya Kali (Process Media/ Feral House)
watch
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK: The Beatles Touring Years (Universal)
GIMME DANGER: Story Of The Stooges (Magnolia Pictures)
PRETTIES FOR YOU Live In NYC (Didkovsky.com)
WE ARE TWISTED F***ING SISTER (Music Box Films)
Zachary Caputo
1: Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown (experimental hip-hop on warp)
2: Bottomless Pit by Death Grips (experimental hip-hop on third worlds)
3: Splendor and Misery by clipping. (experimental hip-hop on sub pop)
4: ★ (Blackstar) by David Bowie (experimental rock on ISO)
5: Hit Reset by The Julie Ruin (dance punk on Hardly Art)
6: Changes by Charles Bradley (soul on daptone)
7: Scum With Boundaries by The I.L.Y.s (experimental rock on third worlds) [this is the only record on this list we don’t stock at Reckless as it was released as a free download online. go get yourself a copy! it’s free!]
8: Movement by Gimungo (experimental dance, self-released)
9: We got it from here… by A Tribe Called Quest (hip-hop on epic)
10: Eraser Stargazer by Guerrilla Toss (dance punk on DFA)
11: untitled unmastered by Kendrick Lamar (hip hop on top dawg)
12: MatryrLoserKing by Saul Williams (experimental hip-hop on fader)
13: A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead (experimental rock on XL)
14: You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen (singer-songwriter/folk on columbia)
15: Drug Apts. by Drug Apts. (experimental punk on interference pattern)
16: Trans Day of Revenge by G.L.O.S.S. (punk on total negativity and three other labels)
17: Dissociation by The Dillinger Escape Plan (mathcore on party smasher)
18: 99 Cents by Santigold (dance/pop on atlantic)
19: Awaken, My Love! by Childish Gambino (soul/p-funk worship on glassnote)
20: Nosebleed Weekend by The Coathangers (punk on suicide squeeze)
Gabriella Hileman
(no order)
joanna brouk: hearing music
drab majesty: completely careless
jessy lanza: oh no
suzanne cianni: buchla concerts 1975
pylon: live
jackie lynn: jackie lynn
Perry Ryan
Top 15 Albums
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Crying – Beyond The Fleeting Gales (Run For Cover) [80s-style arena rock/synthpop]
FOURTEEN OTHER FAVORITES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Whitney – Light Upon The Lake (Secretly Canadian) [Country/soul/indie pop]
Jeff Rosenstock – WORRY. (SideOneDummy) [Punk]
Frank Ocean – Blonde (Boys Don’t Cry) [Art soul]
Andy Shauf – The Party (Anti-) [70s-style singer-songwriter]
The Avalanches – Wildflower (Modular/Astralwerks/XL/EMI) [Plunderphonics/neo-psych]
Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book (Self-released) [Hip-hop]
The Range – Potential (Domino) [Electronic]
Xenia Rubinos – Black Terry Cat (Anti-) [Unclassifiable/Art pop]
David Bowie – Blackstar (ISO/Columbia) [Art rock]
Hamilton Leithauser & Rostam – I Had A Dream That You Were Mine (Glassnote) [Throwback rock]
Kyle Craft – Dolls Of Highland (Sub Pop) [Southern glam, I guess]
D.R.A.M. – Big Baby D.R.A.M. (Empire/Atlantic) [Trappy-go-lucky]
The Lemon Twigs – Do Hollywood (4AD) [Rundgren-core]
A Giant Dog – Pile (Merge) [Raucous power pop]
Dylan Sowle
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Skeleton Tree. I either want to BE Nick Cave, or I want him to adopt me. Those are my only options for happiness.
BRONCHO- Double Vanity. Definitely my most played album of the year. The singer also pronounces words like he’s learning them for the first time. Turn up tha fuzzzzz.
Beyoncé- Lemonade. I mean, come on. The QUEEN.
TacocaT- Lost Time. I never knew how badly I needed a pop punk song about Dana Scully until this album came out, and now I don’t know how I survived before it.
Andy Hull & Robert McDowell- Swiss Army Man OST. I wasn’t gonna list any soundtracks but this music and this movie are some of the most weird and beautiful things I experienced this year.
John Congleton and the Nighty Nite- Until The Horror Goes. I just couldn’t believe I was hearing new music from John Congleton in 2016. This dude’s insane.
Santigold- 99¢. Totally thought she was singing about “big balls” the first time this played in the store. Kind of disappointed she wasn’t.
Angel Olsen- My Woman. I’m gonna fall in love with you someday.
Frank Ocean- Blonde. I immediately restarted this album as soon as it finished, so that’s gotta mean something.
Worry- Jeff Rosenstock. Even though I think this is one of Jeff’s weakest albums of his career, it still rules and I’m so happy such an amazing artist is finally getting a fraction of the recognition he deserves. Go buy every record he’s ever made right now.
Top Shows, in no particular order
The King Khan & BBQ Show w/ The Gartrells @ The Empty Bottle
Seu Jorge Presents The Life Aquatic @ Thalia Hall
BRONCHO w/ SPORTS @ The Empty Bottle
Black Sabbath: The End @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Misfits @ Riot Fest
GYMSHORTS @ Bric-A-Brac Scummer Slam, East Room
Mean Jeans @ East Room
Nobunny w/ The Rubs, New Year’s Eve @ Beat Kitchen
Jeff Rosenstock @ Beat Kitchen
Louis C.K. @ Chicago Theatre
Philip Cerza
I hate ranking stuff, so this is in order of flow:
I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
– Hamilton Leithauser & Rostam Batmanglij,
We Got It From Here – A Tribe Called Quest,
A Seat At The Table – Solange,
Adore – Savages,
My Woman – Angel Olsen,
Skeleton Tree – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds,
A Mulher do Fim do Mundo – Elza Soares,
Leave Me Alone – Hinds,
Freetown Sound – Blood Orange,
ANTI – Rihanna,
Puberty 2 – Mitski,
Emotional Mugger – Ty Segall,
Shape Shift With Me – Against Me,
No Burden – Lucy Dacus,
Post Pop Depression – Iggy Pop,
I like it when you sleep… – The 1975,
X-Communicate – Kristin Kontrol,
Hopelessness – Anohni,
Singing Saw – Kevin Morby,
Wildflower – Avalanches,
99.9% – Kaytranada,
IV – BADBADNOTGOOD,
Atrocity Exhibition – Danny Brown,
Awaken, My Love – Childish Gambino,
Lemonade – Beyoncé,
“No Problem” – Chance The Rapper,
“Solo” – Frank Ocean,
“Fuck Donald Trump” – YG & Nipsey Hussle,
“Oui” – Jeremih,
“2 Phones” – Kevin Gates,
“Into You” – Ariana Grande,
“Boyfriend” – Tegan & Sara,
“Radio” – Sylvan Esso,
“Tiimmy Turner” – Desiigner,
“Purple Lamborghini” – Rick Ross & Skrillex,
AJ Styles’ entrance theme,
most of Joanne,
anything by or with Young Thug,
Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen,
and Blackstar.
Rest in power Bowie, Prince, Phife, Alan Vega, Leonard Cohen, and Miss Sharon Jones <3
Emily Elhaj
ALBUMS
Cate Le Bon – Crab Day (Drag City)
Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch (Sacred Bones)
Jeff Parker – New Breed (International Anthem)
David Bowie – Blackstar (Sony)
Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions – Until The Hunter (Tendril Tales)
The Caretaker – Everywhere at the End of Time (History Always Favours The Winner)
Allen Toussaint – American Tunes (Nonesuch)
Wei Zhongle – Nice Mask Over An Ugly Face (Pretty Purgatory)
A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service (Epic)
Horse Lords – Interventions (Northern Spy)
BadBadNotGood – IV (Innovative Leisure)
Tim Hecker – Love Streams (4AD)
Cass McCombs & The Skiffle Players – Skifflin’ (Spiritual Pajamas)
Cass McCombs – Mangy Love (Anti)
Goat – Requiem (Sub Pop)
Rihanna – Anti (Roc)
Marie Davidson – Adieux Au Dancefloor (Minimal Wave)
Alex Barnett – Chew From The Mind (Midwich)
Bryson Tiller – Trapsoul (RCA) 2015
Marisa Anderson – Into The Light (Chaos Kitchen)
Equip (Kevin Hein) – I Dreamed Of A Palace In The Sky (Dream Catalogue)
Charles Bradley – Changes (Daptone)
Kevin Morby – Singing Saw (Dead Oceans)
Brian Case – Tense Nature (Hands In The Dark)
Chris Cohen – As If Apart (Captured Tracks)
Lionlimb – Shoo (Bayonet)
James Blake – The Colour in Anything (Universal)
Solange – A Seat At The Table (Saint/Columbia)
Joanna Brouk – Hearing Music (Numero)
Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book (Self)
Rayon – A Beat of Silence (Morr)
Exploded View – s/t (Sacred Bones)
Angel Olsen – My Woman (Jagjaguwar)
Jeremiah Meece – Vocal EP1 (Nina Pop)
Frank Ocean – Blond (self)
The Hecks – s/t (Trouble In Mind)
Aluk Todolo – Voix (The Ajna Offensive)
Furia – Księżyc Milczy Luty (Pagan)
REISSUES
Gas – Box (Kompakt)
Impulse! reissues
Jack Rose reissues (Three Lobed)
Träd, Gräs och Stenar reissues (Anthology)
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock (Republic)
Lifetones – For A Reason (Light In the Attic)
Steve Reich – Four Organs / Phase Patterns (Superior Viaduct)
Metallica – Ride the Lightning / Kill ‘Em All (self)
David Bowie reissues (Parlophone)
SHOWS
New Years Eve Cover Band Bonanza, The Mothlight
Unknown Mortal Orchestra/ Lower Dens, The Fonda
Joan Jett/ Beck, The Palladium
Oozing Wound, Empty Bottle
Benoit Pioulard, Revolve
Lambchop, Mill & Mine
Kamasi Washington, Mill & Mine
Nico Muhly/ Sam Amidon, Bijou Theatre
Dungen, Empty Bottle
Jenny Hval, Pitchfork
BadBadNotGood, Nelsonville Music Fest
Thee Oh Sees, Hurra
Warehouse, Mothlight
Jackie Lynn, Silent Funny
L7, Metro
Dolly Parton, Ravinia
Rodrigo Amarante
The Raincoats/Angel Olsen, Islington Assembly Hall
Cass McCombs Band, Koorenhuis – Crossing Border
Tatsuya Nakatani & Makoto Kawabata, Allways Lounge
COFFEE
Reykjavik Roasters
Star Lounge, Chicago
Koladi Coffee, Alaska
La Colombe, NYC
Hometown, Den Haag
Izzy’s, Asheville
Roasted Coffee, Copenhagen
Mojo, New Orleans
Pilgrim, Hobart, TAS
Billy Smith – Good stuff in 2016!
“The Revenant” Soundtrack – Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto
Damien Jurado – Vision of Us On the Land (Secretly Canadian)
Colin Stetson Presents “Sorrow” Gorecki Sym 3 Reimagined
Charles Bradley “Changes” (Daptone)
Ben Lukas Boysen – “Spells” (Erased Tapes)
Various Artists – “Venezuela 70” (Soul Jazz)
OMNI – Deluxe (Trouble In Mind)
Michael Kiwanuka “Love & Hate” (Interscope)
Various Artists “Eleven Into Fifteen; A 130701 Compilation”
Shirley Davis & The Silverbacks “Black Rose” (Tucxone)
Outer Space “Chase Across Orion” (Tucxone)
Johann Johannsson “Orphee” (Deutsche Grammophon)
Lee Fields & The Expressions “Special Night” (Big Crown)
Dungen “Haxan” (Kemado)
Adam Wiltzie “Salero” (Erased Tapes)
Bryan Smith
2016: THE YEAR DEMOCRACY BROKE
Vektor – Terminal Redux LP
2814 – RAIN TEMPLE 2LP
Pressing On LP
Sand reissues on LP
Dead Can Dance – Garden of Arcane Delights/ Peel Sessions 2lp
Biosphere – Departed Glories LP
Death – Sound Of Perseverance reissue
Quick – Untold Rock Stories reissue
Tortoise – Catastrophist
Gas – Box
Cate Le Bon – Crab Day
Max Richter – Sleep
This Heat/ Camberwell Now/ Lifetones reissues
Savages – Adore Life
1991: THE YEAR PUNK BROKE & THE YEAR I STARTED WORKING AT RECKLESS
Slint – Spiderland
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
The Moles – Untune The Sky
Tribe Called Quest – Low End Theory
Swervedriver – Raise
Jesus Lizard – Goat
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock
Nirvana – Nevermind
Peter Jefferies – Last Great Challenge In A Dull World
LFO – frequencies
Nightmares On Wax – A Word Of Science
The Cakekitchen – Time Flowing Backwards
Entombed – Clandestine
Leatherface – Mush
Nation Of Ulysses – 13 Point Program To Destroy America
Teenage Fanclub – Bandwagonesque
Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend
Dinosaur JR – Green Mind
Neil Young – Arc/Weld
There are other records that are great from 1991, but those are the ones I think were actually on my first best of list for Reckless back in the day.
Sarah Frier
-no order-
Angel Olsen – My Woman
Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From…
David Bowie – Blackstar
Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
Beyonce – Lemonade
A Giant Dog – Pile
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
Dinosaur Jr – Give A Glimpse Of What You’re Not
Split Single – Fragmented World
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
Ty Segall – Emotional Mugger
Tortoise – The Catastrophist
Savages – Adore Life
Natural Child – Okey Dokey
Jake Lingan
Best of 2016, in no particular order:
Lambchop- FLOTUS (Merge)
Oren Ambarchi- Hubris (Editions Mego)
Jessy Lanza- Oh No (Hyperdub)
David Bowie- Blackstar (ISO)
The Field- The Follower (Kompakt)
Horse Lords- Interventions (Northern Spy)
Rob Mazurek & Emmett Kelly- Alien Flower Sutra (International Anthem)
Jacob Kart- Sigint (Baro)
Tim Hecker- Love Streams (4AD)
Flux Bikes/ Suenolas split (Lake Paradise)
Gas- Box (Kompakt)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani- Sunergy (RVNG INTL)
Autechre- elseq 1-5/ reissues (Warp)
Andy Stott- Too Many Voices (Modern Love)
Joanna Brouk- Hearing Music (Numero)
Quicksails- Mortal (Hausu Mountain)
Kate Bush- Before The Dawn (Concord)
Suicide reissues (Superior Viaduct)
The Fall reissues (Superior Viaduct)
Roy Harper reissues (Science Friction)
This Heat/ Lifetones/ Camberwell Now reissues (Light In The Attic)
Spires That In The Sunset Rise & Michael Zerang- Kata Physin (No Index)
Sapropelic Pycnic- A Love Supreme (No Index)
El Is A Sound Of Joy- Plus (No Index)
Barn Duet- ASMR (No Index)
FLAK- Upheaval (No Index)
Havre de Grace- Black Sea II (No Index)
Adam Cavanaugh
1.) Giuliano Sorgini – “Zoo Folle” reissue from Four Flies Records
2.) Wojciech Golczewski – “Reality Check” from Death Waltz Originals
3.) Yuzo Koshiro – “Streets of Rage 2” soundtrack from Data Discs
4.) John Carpenter – “Lost Themes II” from Sacred Bones Records
5.) Mark Korven – “The VVitch (Witch)” soundtrack from Milan Records
6.) Bixio, Frizzi, Tempera – “Magnetic Systems” from Finders Keepers Records
7.) Prix – “Historix” from Hozac Records
8.) Bruno Nicolai – “The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave” soundtrack from Death Waltz Records
9.) Various Artists – “Mother 2” soundtrack from Ship to Shore Phonoco.
10.) Angelo Badalamenti – “Twin Peaks” soundtrack reissue from Death Waltz
Honorable Mentions
– Mad Monster Party soundtrack from Waxwork Records
– Skywave – “Killerrockandroll” from Kanine Records
– The Replacements reissues from Rhino
– Konami Kukeiha Club – “Lagrange Point” soundtrack from Ship to Shore Phonoco
– Face to Face – First three albums reissues (Don’t Turn Away, Big Choice, and Face to Face) from Fat Wreck Chords
Molly Mobley
1. Beyonce “Lemonade”
2. Carly Rae Jepsen “Emotions B Side”
3. Kendrick Lamar “Untitled Unmastered”
4. Jenny Hval “Blood Bitch”
5. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard “Nonagon Infinity”
6. Badbadnotgood “IV”
7. Angel Olsen “My Woman”
8. Charles Bradley “Changes”
9. Savages “Adore Life”
10. Frankie Cosmos “Next Thing”
Kevin Hein
The Field- The Follower
Tortoise- The Catastrophist
Jessy Lanza- Oh No
Disasterpeace- Hyper Light Drifter OST
Bibio- A Mineral Love
Ryuichi Sakamoto- The Revenant
Winter Sleep – Dreams (cassette reissue)
DJ Alina- Maniax
Jacob Kart- SIGINT
2814- Rain Temple
Useless / Virtual Dreams Plaza – Balance (split)
Vaperror- Acid Arcadia EP / Mana Pool LP reissue
Virtual Dreams Plaza- Dream Love
Telepath- Your Love / Everlasting Love cassette reissue
The Caretaker- Everywhere at the end of time
NMESH- Welcome To Warp Zone (cassette reissue)
Ghosting- 2D Fun At Grid World
George Clanton- 100% Electronica (cassette reissue)
Yoshitaka Azuma- Panzer Dragoon OST (LP Reissue)
Hong Kong Express- HK (Vinyl reissue)
Pretty much everything Orange Milk Records put out
Guilty pop pleasure of the year- Kero Kero Bonito- Bonito Generation
Lea Board
Best of 2016, in no particular order:
Ty Segall & the Muggers “Emotional Mugger”
Santigold “99cents”
Angel Olsen “My Woman”
Broncho “Double Vanity”
Beyonce “Lemonade”
Thee Oh Sees “A Weird Exits” & “An Odd Entrances”
Tribe Called Quest “We Got It From Here..Thank You 4 Your Service”
Suuns “Hold/Still”
Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds “La Araba Es La Visa”
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard “Nonagon Infinity”
David Bowie “Blackstar”
Fat White Family “Songs for our Mothers”
Blind Shake “Celebrate your Worth”
Mind Spiders “Prosthesis”
Preoccupations “Preoccupations”
Courtland Green
Jeff Parker – Slight Freedom on Eremite Records
Jeff Parker -The New Breed on International Anthem Recording Company
Jeff Parker – Get Dressed flexi also on International Recording Company (They actually killed it this year)
Three for Parks! Aww maaaaan….
DJ Rude One – Closed Sessions (best Hip Hop record of the year)
Larry Dixon – Star Time box set on Past Due
Makaya McCraven – In The Moment on International Anthem recording company
De La Soul – And the Anonymous Nobody on AOI
Omar S – The Best 4 lp set
Theo Parris – Sketches 3 lp
Radius S/T
Tortoise – Catastrophist on Thrill Jokey
Tribe Called Quest – We Got it From Here
TV Pow- S/T
AlTone Edits all of em
Arsenio Rodriguez – Como Se Goza En El Barrio: Havanna and NYC Recordings 1946-1962 (finally Arsenio reissue!)
Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band – 55