2016 was another solid year when it came to album releases for me, with lots of favorite artists releasing new material. It was a tricky task to narrow it down to just ten releases, but at the end of the day, these are what I would consider my top albums (or EPs) released this year.
The fourth solo effort from Anthony Green of Circa Survive and Saosin fame, might be his greatest yet, providing some relaxed and thought provoking alternative rock jams which is a far cry from the controlled chaos of Saosin or the experimental progressive stylings of Circa Survive, in an album highlighted by his signature vocals and always excellent songwriting.
Sadly, this is the last new music we will ever hear from David Bowie during his lifetime, as he passed away just two days after the release of his most polarizing and unique album yet. We will never know what other ideas his mind held, and judging by Blackstar, it would have been nothing short of genius. Though when listening to this album, it's clear what it was recorded while Bowie suffered from liver cancer. It's album of pain, of acceptance. Bowie knew it would be his final work, and he loaded it full of heart and soul.
Music doesn't always need to be deep or thought provoking, sometimes it can just be dumb, loud and fun; and that's what Amaranthe seems to bring every single time. This is their most pop focused album yet, not offering much in the metal department, but I didn't mind because I was just having too much fun with the album.
When your B-Sides album is enough to garner critical acclaim, it shows to level of quality your music brings. It's amazing to think these songs didn't make the cut for 2015's Emotion, when every song on this album is pretty fantastic. I'm guessing they only got cut in the interest of not having the album be too long.
In a more style change up from her last studio album, this one takes a more subdued soft rock approach, truly letting her incredible vocals take center stage. Combine that with memorable song-writing making some absolute ear worms, and you have one fantastic album; that while I found rather late in the year it will remain in regular rotation for a long time.
Every Time I Die is a band who are now on their eighth studio album, yet somehow still keep getting better and better. Low Teens is loud, agressive, but the lyrical content is very personal and vunerable. A stark contrast to say the least, but it works.
I've always wanted to enjoy Blink-182, but the vocals of Tom Delonge never appealed to me. But with him leaving and Matt Skiba of Akaline Trio fame stepping in, I took notice just in time for California. Just an album of fun pop-punk songs that are endlessly enjoyable.
Good things come to those who wait, and after waiting almost 3 years, the debut album of Heavy English is finally here; and it has absolutely made the wait worth it. Just an album full of great songwriting and a strong mesh of styles with the blues rock mixed with elements of pop and funk. The objective level of quality mixed with personal bias made this an easy pick for my favorite album of the year.
 |
Ghost - Popestar |  |
Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary |
 |
Dance Gavin Dance - Mothership |  |
Everything Feels Better Now - From Indian Lakes |
 |
Kanye West - The Life of Pablo |  |
Frank Ocean - Blonde |
 |
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool |  |
Iggy Pop & Joshua Homme - Post Pop Depression |
I always get excited when I found a local band who actually has an official release of sorts, as in some situations you can’t even find material online for most of them, so when I started looking into punk rock band Keith Doom and The Wrecking Crew from Sydney, Nova Scotia; I was excited to actually find an EP up for grabs online. Needless to say I knew I had to give it a listen, and I was incredibly impressed with what was on showcase here.
The Potholes EP maintains the classic punk rock vibe through it’s five tracks, with dynamic vocals being backed up by fast paced instrumentation. Fairly standard fare for the genre, but the level of energy on showcase is truly what impressed me. From the speedy riffs, pounding drums, screeching vocals and rebellious lyrics, this album truly embodies the spirit of punk rock, and it even keeps a sense of humor about it. It’s clear on tracks “NASAcar Racing” and the closing moments of “Potholes” that this band isn’t composed of the most serious individuals, just seriously talented musicians. Another notable part is the quality of the recording. Everything is really clear and well mixed, nothing is overpowering other aspects of the music, and every instrument gets a chance to shine.
Obviously no release is perfect, and thid EP is certainly no exception. While the overall quality is there, the songs do feel a tad bit repeatitive and drag on. Not that they are trying to do 20 minute songs, but punks rapid pace is more suited to quick bursts of music, rather than 3 minute long songs that lack some substance.
Overall, this is a band who are a notable local act who are gaining a steady following, but also a band who has some untapped widespread appeal. If you are a fan of the punk rock genre, I truly believe this EP will give you something to enjoy. It’s raw, shows off some talent, and just generally rocks. I highly recommend giving it a spin. The band has had a year to grow since this EP, and it should be exciting to see how they grow as a band. Hopefully more EPs will follow this one, because it would be a shame to see this potential untapped.
7/10
Website is still under construction, please visit the wordpress page for more.