Topic: 2016 Rawk Album Of The Year - *** THE RESULTS ARE IN ***

[Chip Evans]

Hey Rawkers,

just going to leave this here - always my favourite thread of the year so lets get it started. Traditional rules from when Okkervil was still the host with the most.

I guess 2016 was the year the music died.... Or at least a lot of our all time favourites did.  So I'm sure you'll all raise a glass to Bowie, Cohen, Prince, Alan Vega, Dave Swarbrick, Merle Haggard, Keith Emerson, George Martin et al... and then vote for your 2016 favourites.


Over to Okkervil for the rules:

There is still plenty of time to formulate lists but *Voting will close on January 8th 2016 at 23:59* ...

Remember, all types of music, styles and genres are welcome 
 
So with no further ado...

The Rules
1. You can list as many albums as you like but only the top 10 will score points and they must be in order.
2. People that list less than 10 albums will still score points. However 5 albums or less will result in a restricted points tally for that list, but a number one album will always score maximum points.
3. For the most part no live or compilation albums.
4. Lists can be amended/changed right up to the closing date. If you replace an album on your list with another please let me know what album has been removed. Or if you shimmy the order of your list about, let me know what albums have moved positions.
5. After some debate last year, this year EP's are banned.

A little more on Eligibility...
Albums must have a 2016 UK release date. You can check Amazon for release dates if you are not too sure.
Compilations and live albums are banned if they are a collection of previously released stuff but are admissable otherwise. Re-issues are frowned upon and will result in referal to the third umpire, and no EP's.

Scoring
The Formula One style scoring system will remain in place for RAWKites selections. People's top 10 albums will score as follows:- 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1.

Discussion
Is to be encouraged. Some people get a bit precious about their choices so be nice, but at the end of the day what are you on RAWK for if it's not to snipe at other RAWKites with scorn and derision?  In particular feel free to stick any magazine or website Top 10's, Top 50's etc on here as they may help jog our memories.

If you'd like to see what the fine folk on RAWK have been tappin' their toes to this year have a looky in the below:

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=324873.0

Just to jog your memory heres how Kendrick Lamar won last years race;

Kendrick Lamar (To Pimp a Butterfly) – 210
Father John Misty – 203
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell – 151
Jamie Xx – In Colour – 128
Courtney Barnett (Sometimes I Sit…) – 118
Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool – 116
Tame Impala – Currents – 85
Joanna Newsom (Divers) – 81
Grime – Art Angels 70
Turnover – 66

And the roll of honour

2015:   Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
2014:   The War On Drugs - Lost In A Dream
2013:   Arcade Fire - Reflektor
2012:   Chromatics - Kill for Love
2011:   PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
2010:   Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
2009:   Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
2008:   Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
2007:   The National - Boxer
2006:   Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

 

It's here!

Good man Chip!

Time to deliberate, cogitate and digest all that 2016 had to offer...

[Zeppelin]

I've been keeping a list of my faves from this year in anticipation of this thread.

Haven't decided on which will be my final choice yet, but they'll come from this list.

Show of Hands - The long way home
Jeff Beck - Loud hailer
Marillion - FEAR
Maz O'Connor - The longing kind
Steeleye Span - Dodgy bastards
The Samurai of Prog - Lost and found
Sabaton - The last stand
Drive by Truckers - American band
Radiohead - A moon shaped pool
Big Big Train - Folklore
David Bowie - Black star
Leonard Cohen - You want it darker
Kate Rusby - Life in a paper boat
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Skeleton tree
Ian Hunter - Fingers crossed
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry - Shine a light
Amon Amarth - Jomsviking
Lyrian - The jester's quest in the city of glass
Graham Nash - Along this path
Steven Wilson - 4½
Avantasia - Ghost lights
Hawkwind - The machine stops
Dream Theater - The astonishing
Robin Trower - Where are you going to?
Heart - Beautiful broken
Neil Young - Earth
Eternal Champion - The armor of Ire
Van Der Graff Generator - Do not disturb
Van Morrison - Keep me singing
Green Day - Revolution Radio

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

didn't know Graham Nash had an LP out this year Zeppelin, what's the vibe of it? Usually more a Crosby/Stills man myself but always open to a listen.

[Chip Evans]

https://open.spotify.com/user/shanearrowsmith/playlist/1fwU2eIpA9JB1LTRrgLuyt

Hey I set up a collaberative playlist on Spotify for you all to deposit some of your tracks of the year. Missed a fair few of the above Zeppelin. Maybe throw a couple of your highlights in? You can add to it once you follow it.

Put in 5 myself as i have an inability to stop clicking but that seems a useful and generous limit for the avoidance of playlist hoggery. Looking forward to hearing what i missed!

[Zeppelin]

didn't know Graham Nash had an LP out this year Zeppelin, what's the vibe of it? Usually more a Crosby/Stills man myself but always open to a listen.

It's a nice album - well played, well sung, but not particularly groundbreaking. Probably won't make my top 10, but worth a listen.

[KERRYKOP]

Rolling Stone 50 Albums of the Year

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/595-rolling-stones-50-best-albums-of-2016/

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Rolling Stone 50 Albums of the Year

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/595-rolling-stones-50-best-albums-of-2016/

I know the magazine is named after them but the Stones in the top ten? Is it really going to be that good? And I say that as a massive fan. I'll have to give it a listen.

[Chip Evans]

I know the magazine is named after them but the Stones in the top ten? Is it really going to be that good? And I say that as a massive fan. I'll have to give it a listen.

And Sting officially better than Angel Olsen. The year in musicers won't like that.

[Titi Camara]

Book marked so that I might steal all the music knowledge of those in here and pass it off to my friends as my own!

That said I still think it's a travesty Jamie Xx – In Colour didn't win last year

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

And Sting officially better than Angel Olsen. The year in musicers won't like that.

Lad in work has got a Sting T shirt on in work today.

I once made my whole group of mates leave a pub when Sting came on the jukebox, I've mellowed since then If it makes them happy, it can't be Sheryl Crow and all that...

That said I still think it's a travesty Jamie Xx – In Colour didn't win last year

Good album that, also super pretty on coloured vinyl.

[Chip Evans]

Lad in work has got a Sting T shirt on in work today.

Yuck. He wearing it ironically, or in a tantric love and anti deforestation kind of way?

😊 I'm sure i've stopped taxis and gotten out and walked for similar music snob reasons.

[Filler.]

Last Christmas I decided to write down each and every album I listened to for the whole year (old/new/first listens etc). Thought it would help the fading memory when it came to this, plus I just like making meaningless lists. But only got up to April, and things got beyond me, and once you lose track, it just went and I couldn't claw it back. Whole albums only (or 90% at least). Was interesting to see the 'death patterns'.

Up until a few weeks ago, I'd been waiting all year for someone to top my Number 1 choice that seemed welded there in January, but I think Cohen's will take my top spot. I was never very good at revising, but some work to do.

[MichaelA]

1. King Creosote - Astronaut Meets Appleman

2. Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker.

3. David Bowie - Blackstar

4. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

5. Suede - Night Thoughts

6. The Monkees - Good Times!

7. The Wedding Present - Going, Going...

8. Teenage Fanclub - Here

9. The Divine Comedy - Foreverland

10. Dexys - Let The Record Show


That's me settled on this ten, in this order.

[007.lankyguy]

Started on my list yesterday. This is going to be very difficult.

[cloggypop]

He wearing it ironically, or in a tantric love and anti deforestation kind of way?

I'm genuinely not sure which one would be worse.

[KERRYKOP]

1. Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Denial
2. Whitney — Light Upon the Lake
3. Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch
4. Danny Brown — Atrocity Exhibition
5. Alex Cameron – Jumping the Shark
6. Julianna Barwick – Nebula
7. Parquet Courts - Human Performance
8. Merchandise — A Corpse Wired For Sound
9. Steve Gunn — Eyes On The Lines
10. PJ Harvey — The Community Of Hope

This is what I'm feeling at the moment. I'm listening to a few things I really like in the last couple of weeks that could make a late dart for the top ten. It's tricky to strike the right balance as you want to try and weigh up the best albums you listened to and provide a decent representation of your listening habits. 

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

I'm genuinely not sure which one would be worse.

I still haven't found out what prompted him to wear it. I thought maybe it was just something his ma got him and he didn't even know who Sting was. He's a nice lad though, I won't hold it against him. Unless the c*nt starts whistling 'Fields of Gold'

[Titi Camara]

Holy fuck I'm a lazy fucker....barely listened to anything new this year....on my "to listen to" list...

Bon Iver – 22 A Million
Avalanches – Wildflower
Radiohead – A Moon-shaped-pool
The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It
Bastille – Wild World
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It from Here … Thank You 4 Your Service
Drake – Views
Kaytranada - 99.9%
Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered
Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book
Skepta - Konnichiwa
Solange - A Seat at the Table
Kano - Made In The Manor
Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch
Anderson .Paak - Malibu
Parquet Courts - Human Performance

...any other suggestions of major albums I've missed?

[dave 5516]

Holy fuck I'm a lazy fucker....barely listened to anything new this year....on my "to listen to" list...

Bon Iver – 22 A Million
Avalanches – Wildflower
Radiohead – A Moon-shaped-pool
The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It
Bastille – Wild World
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It from Here … Thank You 4 Your Service
Drake – Views
Kaytranada - 99.9%
Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered
Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book
Skepta - Konnichiwa
Solange - A Seat at the Table
Kano - Made In The Manor
Jenny Hval - Blood Bitch
Anderson .Paak - Malibu
Parquet Courts - Human Performance

...any other suggestions of major albums I've missed?

No jazz like.

I only know the bolded in there...and I don't dig them either...and the last one,  Lamar, I know only coz Kamasi Washington worked with him.

In fact..I think I've only bought 7/8 new lp's this year.

[Titi Camara]

No jazz like.

I only know the bolded in there...and I don't dig them either...and the last one,  Lamar, I know only coz Kamasi Washington worked with him.

In fact..I think I've only bought 7/8 new lp's this year.

You don't like Bon Iver? You and me are gunna fall out ya big divvy!

[dave 5516]

You don't like Bon Iver? You and me are gunna fall out ya big divvy!

Not particularly, no. It's not my thing, Rob. The best LP's I've heard this year are from Theo Croker. Miles Davis & Robert Glasper. Marquis Hill. Jack DeJohnette - Ravi Coltrane - Matthew Garrison. Snarky Puppy. Jazz Dispensary: OG Kush and Jeff Parker.

We listening to different shit la.

[dave 5516]

You don't like Bon Iver? You and me are gunna fall out ya big divvy!

You like ATCQ....this is off my favourite LP from this year.


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/oIgImzB24XU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/oIgImzB24XU</a>

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Not particularly, no. It's not my thing, Rob. The best LP's I've heard this year are from Theo Croker. Miles Davis & Robert Glasper. Marquis Hill. Jack DeJohnette - Ravi Coltrane - Matthew Garrison. Snarky Puppy. Jazz Dispensary: OG Kush and Jeff Parker.

We listening to different shit la.

I really like the Snarky Puppy LP. They can really play.

[Titi Camara]

Adding in....

Drive-By Truckers - American Band
Ian William Craig - Centres
Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition
Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth
John K. Samson - Winter Wheat
Touchι Amorι - Stage Four

[dave 5516]

I really like the Snarky Puppy LP. They can really play.

It's pity they don't make more studio LP's.

You should give the Croker LP  a listen, cat can blow...there's also a great version of Michael's song, I Can't Help It featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater.

[dave 5516]

Adding in....

Drive-By Truckers - American Band

Worryingly for you....I like them.

I was listening to What It Means yesterday.

[Samie]

This thread reminds me that AWWYC has gone.  He used to post some weird shit as his top 10.

[Filler.]

One or two I listened to in Jan/Feb... not my top 10 list.. just a help to remind perhaps.

Hinds: Leave Me Alone (2016)
DAVID BOWIE: Blackstar (2016)*
TORTOISE: The Catastrophist (2016)
JESU/SUN KIL MOON: Jesu/Sun Kil Moon (2016)
SAVAGES: Adore Life (2016)
I DON'T CARES: Wild Stab (2016)
SUEDE: Night Thoughts (2016)*
ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER: New View (2016)*
HERON OBLIVION: Heron Oblivion (2016)*
BIG UPS: Before A Million Universes (2016)*
MIKAEL SEIFU: Zelalem (2016)
CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER: Void Beats/Invocation Trex (2016)*

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Aw yeah I'd forgotten Friedberger!

Going to be a tough choice as ever.

[Filler.]

I've got march/april on another computer (will dump it later)... part of my slightly nobby 'LP's I listened to in full' list. Glad it might jog a memory... has jogged mine a bit. Cavern of Anti Matter will be high on mine. Suede won't be, but That Big Ups LP going down well again. Heron Oblivion needs a re-visit.

[Chip Evans]

https://open.spotify.com/user/shanearrowsmith/playlist/1fwU2eIpA9JB1LTRrgLuyt

Hey I set up a collaberative playlist on Spotify for you all to deposit some of your tracks of the year.  You can add to it once you follow it.

Nice one whoever added the tunes into this the last couple of days. That DTCV tune is really cool. Feel free anyone else. Impossible to listen to all the albums you're all mentioning but great to get an RAOTY listeners digest.

Also .Filler definitely give that Heron Oblivion a revisit. Really enjoyed that record.

[jooneyisdagod]

Nice one whoever added the tunes into this the last couple of days. That DTCV tune is really cool. Feel free anyone else. Impossible to listen to all the albums you're all mentioning but great to get an RAOTY listeners digest.

Also .Filler definitely give that Heron Oblivion a revisit. Really enjoyed that record.

That would be me!

Loving DTCV. Think it might make its way into my top 10.

[Filler.]

NAP EYES: Thought Rock Fish Scale (2016)
ROBERT POLLARD: Of Course You Are (2016)
HARMONIA: Documents 1975 (2016)*
CLARK: The Last Panthers (2016)
SPECTRES: Dead
Gnod: Mirror
JOHN BUTCHER & ANDY MOOR: Experiments With A Leaf


then I have more on my list but was going to get round to putting the release year to, but never did... these are some i am not 100% sure if they were released in 2016... a few are i think


PERRO: Estudias, Navajas
JOHN CALE: Music For a New Society
CTMF: All Our Forts Are With You
CTMF: Acorn Man
NINO de ELCHE: Voces del Extremo
MEILYR JONES: 2013
OTOBOKE BEAVER: Okoshiyasu!!
ERIC BACHMANN: Eric Bachmann
HOT SNAKES: Audit In Progress
OLIVIA CHANEY: The Longest River
BLACK MOUNTAIN: IV

Also .Filler definitely give that Heron Oblivion a revisit. Really enjoyed that record.

Was on this morning... enjoyable again. Might make a top 20. My memory for these things is appalling. Wish I'd kept a list going now.

[Chip Evans]

That would be me!

Loving DTCV. Think it might make its way into my top 10.

Great! Should have guessed with the Angel Olsen love in fairness dude.

HOT SNAKES: Audit In Progress

BLACK MOUNTAIN: IV

That Hot Snakes album came out a shade before the miracle of Instanbul in 2005 i think. Saw them the night after - in my top 3 gigs I've ever been too.

That Black Mountain might make my 10 I think.

[19th Nervous Title]

1. Bowie - Blackstar
2. Cavern of Anti-Matter - Void Beats
3. Nick Cave - Skeleton Tree
4. William Tyler - Modern Country
5. Leonard Cohen - You want it Darker
6. Eleanor Friedberger - New View
7. Angel Olsen - My Woman
8. Teenage Fanclub - Here
9. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth
10. Martha - Blisters in the Pit of My Heart
11. Grumbling Fur - Fur Four
12. Teleman - Brilliant Sanity

[Titi Camara]

Gave the Nick Cave album a listen last night....have to say it was a difficult listen knowing what he was going through at the time he was making it. Very, very good album mind!

[JerseyKloppite]

Not acquired many new albums this year, in fact possibly the fewest I've bought in the last decade. Mainly because it's been a mentally busy year, but also I simply think bands I like are dwindling

My top 10

1. David Bowie - Blackstar
2. White Lies - Friends
3. Bloc Party - Hymns
4. Tegan and Sara - Love You To Death
5. Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered.
6. Frightened Rabbit   - Painting of a Panic Attack
7. The Temper Trap - Thick as Thieves

[Chip Evans]

http://thequietus.com/articles/21429-albums-of-the-year-2016

Quietus list is up. Usual mix of stuff you've heard and things you suspect they've made up. Biggest surprise to me is that I did not realise that Solange is Beyonce's sister.  Just googled her.  How'd I miss that?

[Filler.]

Quietus list is up. Usual mix of stuff you've heard and things you suspect they've made up.

Interesting as always... No Cavern of Anti-Matter! That stuck out for me after a quick scan - had a re-listen to it today - lovely. I tried their number one selection a good few months back... an enjoyable, demented listen I seem to remember (or was it something else? Uh). Haven't braved a re-visit tho - but pretty maverick I think.

I guess the responses will be full of 'HOW COME YOU FORGOT BLAH BLAH!!?' etc... although I often find myself checking a few moans/heads up out too.


Glad it reminded me of that SHXCXCHCXSH - SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs LP... Really enjoyed that. Also reminded me to listen to the Beyonce LP - was praised on here too.


Also, it's December 5th... for my top 10, I think I might wait till Dec 31st.

That Hot Snakes album came out a shade before the miracle of Instanbul in 2005 i think. Saw them the night after - in my top 3 gigs I've ever been too.

Ah ... and my JOHN CALE: Music For a New Society came out in 1982! Haha. I knew he made a new album mind...