

(another Canadian) released the near perfect “Goon” which was that record, but this year the orchestral brilliance of “The Party” fills that slot.

Some artists come out of nowhere (or in this case Saskatchewan) and record something so perfect its almost inexplicable. the things that I would do” just keeps rolling hypnotically for just the right amount of time, to the broodingly upbeat closing track “Innerbloom” which glitches and grooves along until we get the triumphant chorus “If you want me / And you need me / I’m yours.” For me, everything I love about music is packed into these 11 songs. From the infectious “You Were Right” whose lyrics “You were right, I know I can’t get enough of you . Although somewhat unrelated, I remember feeling the same way in the mid-90’s when first hearing Morcheeba, Zero 7, and Air - beautiful traditional songwriting and structure layered on top of ultra-clean electronic beats.īecause this is also the most consistent album of the year, almost every song is my favorite. What I found was eleven of the most lushly produced, instantly addictive songs of the decade. Having stumbled into their set at Coachella in April, and being literally blown away by their melodic and more song oriented approach to dance music, I had no idea what to expect from the recorded version. In my case the sophomore album by Sydney’s Rufus Du Sol was far and away the album I played more than any other. One thing modern streaming services can tell you that records, tapes, and CDs never could, is what you “really” listened to over the course of a year. Try to listen to them that way, playlists can be great, but they only tell part of the story. Great artists still make albums, that is why they are great. They cross every thematic genre I can think of, and pay tribute to everything that has come before. This list, my 20th, is filled with as many truly incredible records as ever. As much as the music business is still adjusting to the new frontier, great music seems to pour out of every corner of the world, no longer hostage to major labels, walled garden distribution, and a handful of gatekeepers. We lost at least a dozen of the most important artists we will ever hear. 2016 was a year to forget … but also to remember.
