2016 was…a year. What else is there too say? There’s nothing profound about how tough it was for a lot of people. While there are logical reasons for the number of celebrities and beloved musical personalities we lost, there are also plenty of personal reasons for why, at times, it really sucked. I lost both a family member and friend this year. But to solely call it a bad year wouldn’t exactly be fair to the people who also made it a special year for me. I got engaged this year. I went on tour, twice, and put out my first album. So while 2016 closed a lot of doors that left me feeling upset and anxious, it ultimately opened more with endless potential for myself and the people I hope will be a part of my life for years to come. And luckily, I didn’t go through anything alone. My Top Albums and Songs of 2016 reflect the artists that I spent time with during both my lowest and highest points over the past 12 months.
Top 25 Albums of 2016:
- Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
- Pinegrove – Cardinal
- Cymbals Eat Guitars – Pretty Years
- Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
- Daughter – Not to Disappear
- Whitney – Light Upon the Lake
- Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
- Kevin Devine – Instigator
- Bon Iver – 22, A Million
- Balance and Composure – The Light We Made
- Francis and the Lights – Farewell, Startlite!
- M83 – Junk
- Anthony Green – Pixie Queen
- Noname – Telefone
- David Bazan – Blanco
- You Blew It – Abendrot
- Weezer – Weezer (The White Album)
- Animal Collective – Painting With
- Joyce Manor – Cody
- Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost
- Frank Ocean – Blonde
- The 1975 – I like it when you sleep…
- Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
- Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
- Daddy – Let Me Get What I Want
Top 10 Songs of 2016:
- ”Ultralight Beam” – Kanye West
- ”Real Friends” – Kanye West
- ”True Love Waits” – Radiohead
- ”No Care” – Daughter
- ”22 (Over Soon)” – Bon Iver
- ”The Last You’ve Heard of Me” – Joyce Manor
- ”No Problem” – Chance the Rapper
- ”Midnight Zone” – Balance and Composure
- ”Have a Heart” – Cymbals Eat Guitars
- ”4th of July, Philadelphia (SANDY)” – Cymbals Eat Guitars
Here’s to a 2017 marked by college graduation, a full-length Flower Crown album and hopefully plenty of good stuff for anyone who takes the time to visit our site and read the things I write. To be given an opportunity like this means more than you could know.