The year in (Wil’s favorite) music: 2016
Each year, three music curators and me (i.e. geeks with a bad record buying habit) get together in a cabin and do little but listen. This year was no different (save the addition of a single pair of headphones for “going in”). We call it Music Weekend and it starts with honorable listens — songs that we enjoyed but that didn’t quite make our respective top 10 lists.
Below, you’ll find my 2016 mixtape along with a list of my favorite 100 releases of the year. But first —
What to say about 2016 that hasn’t been said already. Sure, there were some high points, and well documented bad ones (let’s not review them again). Needless to say, it was a year worthy of reflection.
And as always, we each had our soundtracks to power us through it all.
For 2016’s Music Weekend, we gathered in Copalis Beach, WA, which happens to be home to the only known beach airport in the US.
When it was my turn to hit play, here’s what we heard…
#1 — wk16 mixtape
Stream or download the wk16 mixtape featuring a handful of my favorite songs of the year.
#2 — wil’s top releases of 2016
See and listen to songs from my 99 favorite releases of the year in order on Spotify (it excludes Beyonce’s Lemonade which came in at #31).
My top 20 along with music videos where available are also listed below.
1. Kevin Morby — Singing Saw
The former Woods band member was bound to make a top album one year or another and, without question, this was that year. I got to see Kevin Morby and his wonderful band perform a handful of shows in 2016 and it’s hard to tell whether the masterfully crafted record (produced by Sam Cohen of my childhood heroes Apollo Sunshine) or the live act is the bigger feat. Regardless, this is an album worth owning on vinyl and Morby’s infectious spirit is one I look forward to following into 2017 and beyond. I’m all in.
2. A Tribe Called Quest — We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
It should be stated that I will listen to as much Tribe as I can get my hands on no matter what. Still, I would not have anticipated just how much this album would mean to me this year. Between the no-need-to-name-guests policy on tracks, the fountain-of-youth quality of Q Tip’s voice and the continuous honoring of Phife Dawg (the funky diabetic gone too soon), this album knows how to make you feel good after a tough conversation. It’s like they knew my reaction to this album would be: “No no no, thank you!”
3. C.W. Stoneking — Gon’ Boogaloo
OK, first a disclaimer: a version of this album was released in Australia in 2014. Traditionally, I do not consider older releases as eligible in the given year — however, the US vinyl release and digital release through major platforms such as Spotify and iTunes all occurred in 2016 giving me an ample (if flimsy) argument to include it. And regardless, this was one of my most listened to albums of the year. C.W. Stoneking combines old sounds like ska, blues and soul in a way that transcends the average formulaic nostalgic wave of artists. Plus, the backup singers rule.
4. Explosions in the Sky — The Wilderness
When I first listened to The Wilderness, I came into it with a mindset that I had this band all figured out and that I had done so back in college. Then I stopped thinking and just listened. I was surprised and relieved to be met with a toned down and fresh instrumentation woven throughout Explosions’ always cinematic AF style. I got more work done listening to this than anything else this year, hands down.
5. Paul Simon — Stranger To Stranger
Gone or still with us, a lot of familiar faces in music made records this year. I couldn’t help but compare: Bowie, Cohen, Simon and Young. This was by far my favorite album from any of them, and that’s because it sounds as Paul Simon as ever. It’s got his typical mastery of rhythm combined with his never-gets-old wit. The whole album feels like the kind of dad joke that you actually want to retell. I’d like to know what he and Q Tip eat for breakfast.
6. Frank Ocean — Blonde
This album did not make my list because of how it is put together as an album — if anything it made my list despite that! While in some respects, I, like everyone else on Earth, was imagining that Frank Ocean’s new album would be hand delivered from another universe neatly packaged in world peace and endless optimism, it’s ingredients still made me love the dish. Some amazing songs, the overall sound and André 3000’s performance are just too good to ignore. Sometimes, pizza is pizza.
7. Y La Bamba — Ojos del Sol
I admit to writing off Y La Bamba as a decent but relatively uninteresting Portland band a couple albums ago. Then I was stuck in traffic and heard an excerpt from Ojos del Sol on the radio. I was immediately floored by the patience and diversity in the songs. It reminded me of Angel Olsen but veered into less expected territory. Ojos del Sol will stay on heavy rotation into 2017. (I also saw lead singer Luz Elena Mendoza in local Portland film Suit of Lights this year and that may be too much talent for one human.)
8. Angel Olsen — MY WOMAN
Speaking of Angel Olsen, her sound evolved dramatically this year. And while my favorite of her songs are spread across her previous two records, there’s a maturity in the sound of this one that kept me coming back over and over again. I have a feeling that no matter how Angel Olsen evolves, I will keep returning to hear what she has to say (and probably more importantly how she says it).
9. Marisa Anderson — Into the Light
I’ve been a big fan of Marisa Anderson for a while and always love seeing her playing or just hanging at Missisippi Records. Then I found myself by myself at a cinema in Columbia, Missouri — I had just got bad news by email and was sorta sinking into my seat and gripping my pint glass tight. Then a familiar face asked if the seat next to me was taken. Marisa Anderson was at the True/False Film Festival to play between screenings and her encouragement immediately enlivened me. Shortly after our meeting, her multi-instrumental album was released and it was as dynamic as she is — a welcome comfort for times of introspection and transition into day/night.
10. Leonard Cohen — You Want It Darker
While I try my best to objectively review an album on its merits, it’s simply impossible for me to separate this record from the life of Leonard Cohen. When I hear this album, I hear Leonard Cohen’s whole life in it — it’s a life and legacy that mean a lot to me and have only grown to mean more over the years. I get that it may not be for everyone, but this feels like the perfect close to a lifelong pursuit of authenticity and purpose. Rest in peace, friend.
Music Weekend’s scientifically proven (and very skewed) best albums of 2016:
1. Kevin Morby — Singing Saw
2. A Tribe Called Quest — We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
3. Mason Jennings — Wild Dark Metal
4. Damien Jurado — Visions of Us on the Land
5. Hiss Golden Messenger — Heart Like A Levee
6. Explosions in the Sky — The Wilderness
7. William Tyler — Modern Country
Thanks for listening,
Wil
From the Archives
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2015: bit.ly/wk15review
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2014: bit.ly/wk14review
- wil’s top releases of 2013 on Spotify
- wil’s top releases of 2012 on Spotify
