I have synethesia, so when I say I like [this] music then it's worth checking out. Here's the best shit of 2016.
The Madness of Many // Animals as Leaders
It comes as a surprise to nobody that I really like djent and that I really, really like Animals As Leaders (in fact, The Joy of Motion made it into my top albums of 2014 and into my vinyl collection). There really isn't a sensation that can match Tosin Abasi's guitar playing, the music is rich with color and texture.
Fruitless Research // TW Walsh
If you like vibing out to retro-inspired rock like The War on Drugs, then this album is definitely worth a check out. A very feel good album with some surprisingly wise lyrics.
Run the Jewels 3 // Run The Jewels
Thanks to the efforts of Jason DeMarco, political activist Killer Mike and producer turned rapper EL-P joined forces to create one of the most unstoppable rap groups in history. Following a groundbreaking start, Run The Jewels have returned for more political and heartfelt lyrics behind weed induced beats in their self dubbed style "factual rap". Oh, and it's free. As in totally free on their website right here.
Silhouettes of a Sunkken City // Spark Master Tape
I actually found Spark Master Tape through RTJ, he was going to tour their new album with them before he had to drop out unexpectedly. He's been in my regular rotation of rap since then.
Honor Killed the Samurai // Ka
Ka is up there with EL-P in underrated rappers turned producers.
We Got It From Here... // ATCQ
This has been a really good year for rap but for ATCQ, it's also been a year of tragedy. They lost their member Phife Dawg, and much like how Pink Floyd used Wish You Were Hear to cope with the loss of Syd Barrett, ATCQ uses this album to purge themselves of their grief.
Atrocity Exhibition // Danny Brown
Danny Brown is a unique artist, from his style to his personality. I actually discovered him initially through EL-P on the sonic 2011 album Cancer 4 Cure, in which Danny Brown had a feature on my favorite track on the album. He has a feature on RTJ3 in homage to this very track, but also put out his own stuff this year. Very politically charged, like a lot of rap is, you definitely should watch the music videos for the album.
The Mountain Will Fall // DJ Shadow
If they fuck with Run The Jewels, I probably like them. RTJ has a feature on this album which is otherwise an instrumental. This is about abstract symbolism which in it of itself sets it apart from other hip hop. This is a style all his own and craft mastered.
Tell Me I'm Pretty // Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant are, what I consider, saviors of punk rock with their self titled debut album. It was a breath of new life in a dying genre. As a result, they had some pretty tough standards to follow up on. While I've liked a lot of *songs* they've put out since then, I haven't liked an album as a whole until Tell Me I'm Pretty. It still won't match the spirit the first one had, but nothing they do ever will as the band was in a very different place. This album is more like aged wine, where the maturity really shows.
Professional Sunflow // Sun Araw
Another one of my personal favorites, Sun Araw is up there with Run The Jewels, Explosions in the Sky, and Iron Maiden in my favorite groups (in case you doubted for a second how diverse my music taste is). His albums On Patrol and Belomancie have made it into my vinyl collection, his style is called moombahton. That is, a mix of electronic and reggae for super ambient music. Sun Araw is very experimental, while some of his music is a miss most of it hits the spot.
Kneedelus // Daedelus
A collab album from Daedelus, another experimental artist. I've said my love for Righteous Fists of Harmony album quite a bit and Drown Out made it into my list of top albums for 2013. He cut a solo album called Labyrinths but that one and the previous one, The Light Brigade, I wasn't really feeling. Again, he's an experimental artist and I really like how he tries and isn't afraid of failure.
The Glowing Man // SWANS
A band accompanied by controversy, SWANS is one of the most venerated names in the music industry. Personal life aside, I find their music to be utterly mindblowing. Their last album, To Be Kind, made it into my list of top albums of 2014 (which also has St Vincent doing backing vocals on my favorite track off To Be Kind, check her out as well).
Adore Life // Savages
To quote a certain band: "Punk means thinking for yourself. (Nazi punks, nazi punks, nazi punks FUCK OFF)" French/English band Savages is one of the UK punk bands that rose after Cage The Elephant got their unlikely start there. Following their kick ass debut album, Silence Yourself which also made it to my top albums of 2013, we have Adore Life. Intelligent lyrics behind asskicking riffs, this is one band I'm keeping my eye on a lot.
The Mindsweep // Enter Shikari
And since we're talking about UK punk bands, we have to talk about Enter Shikari. I saw them live when they were touring this album, which was actually my third time seeing them. One of my favorite live acts, I still have my ticket from when I saw them on their Flash Flood of Colour tour. I don't really agree with a lot of the groups politics, but I have greatly enjoyed their music. I also got to chat up Rou Reynolds at the merch table during the Mindsweep tour in Houston. I took peoples' pictures with him in between discussing how we come from different walks of life. Great guy.
<|°_°|> // Caravan Palace
This French band is an eclectic mix of early 1900s swing music and modern day electronic club music. They have an interesting sound, and they also did a kick ass cover of Black Betty. I hope I can catch them live.
