I haven’t used this space in a long time. Not because I’m lazy, I swear. To put it simple: so little time, so much to do (yes, I’m quoting the theme song from a short-lived Olsen twins show). Musically speaking, this past year has been one of the best in a long time. So, I tried to put together a list of my favorite records from 2016 (something I haven’t done in 8 years I think) and it seemed to me the best opportunity to post something new on here. It’s not just a boring list of titles, as I decided to add small descriptions for each of them. That way, you can easily figure out if this or that album you haven’t heard could be your cup of tea or not. That’s the purpose of sharing a list, after all.

I decided to stick to 20 picks but I really had a hard time, as there was so much stuff left out but still worth a mention: Fire! Orchestra, Lumen Lab, Carla Dal Forno, Lycus, Klimt 1918, Dalthom, Ricky Warwick, Voivod, Cate Le Bon, Jonathan Finlayson, Katie Gately…

That said, here’s to you the final picks. The first one listed is my #1 fav, the rest is just sorted alphabetically.

STEVE LEHMAN – Sélébeyone
(Pi Recordings)
Forget everything you know about the jazz/hip hop fusion. This masterpiece takes the game to a whole new level. And much more than that.

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
(Dark Descent)
Their best album since ‘Midnight Marauders’. Somber, inventive, thoughtful: it surely lives up to one of the most glorious names in hip hop history.

BLOOD INCANTATION – Starspawn
(Dark Descent)
Easily one of the best death metal albums of the year. Try to imagine a psychedelic version of early-to-mid Morbid Angel and you get the picture.

THE BODY & FULL OF HELL – One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache
(Neurot)
This joint venture delivers a malevolent mix of sludge/doom, grindcore, powerviolence, noise and quotes Hole’s ‘Doll Parts’ for the title of the record. More than enough to win me over.

DAVID BOWIE – Blackstar
(Sony)
He really went down in a blaze of glory, but you already know that. ‘BlackStar’ it’s his most defying album in about 20 years. Dark, eerie, even recalling his mid-90s output here and there.

VANESSA CARLTON – Liberman
(Dine Alone)
Popstar turned into indie-folkish songwrtier. I swear it works. On a side note: released in late 2015 overseas, it came out in Europe only in spring 2016, hence eligible here.

DALEK – Asphalt For Eden
(Profund Lore)
They’re back and they signed to one of the most interesting indie labels out there. Astonishing fusion of hip hop, noise, ambient, industrial.

DAN REED NETWORK – Fight Another Day
(Frontiers)
Back in the 80’s they were the missing link between Prince and hard rock. 25 years later it’s not about rehashing. ‘Fight Another Day’ sports a funk tinged pop rock which sounds fresher than ever.

EHNAHRE – Douve
(Kathexis)
Former Kayo Dot members putting together this weird free form avant-doom beast. The songs are long and experimental, often nodding to chamber music. In one word: creative.

PETER EVANS QUINTET – Genesis
(More Is More)
Among the best avant-jazz you’re going to hear this year. Accessible yet intricate, akin to his masterpiece ‘Ghosts’.

EXPLODED VIEW – Exploded View
(Sacred Bones)
Kraut rock, Velvet Underground, Nico, Gang Of Four: all of this stuff on the same record. ‘Nuff said.

HERON OBLIVION – Heron Oblivion
(Sub Pop)
Meg Baird joins ex Comets On Fire members for an amazing psych folk gem whose influences range from late ’60’s to early ’90’s.

HORRIFIED – Of Despair
(Infernal Devastation)
My death metal favorite of the year tied with Blood Incantation. Not to be confused with the greek band of the same name, Horrified is a young english band with its roots firmly placed in the swedish sound of the 90’s. For those who left their hearts inside the grooves of early Edge Of Sanity or Dissection records. I did.

MAJA OSOJNIK – Let Them Grow
(Rock Is Hell)
Maja follows the path of avant pop songwriters like Laurie Anderson, Diamanda Galas or even Julia Holter, but she adds a lot of her own. A record dense with interesting ideas.

PREDATORY LIGHT – Predatory Light
(Invictus Productions)
Vicious black/death metal with doom overtones. Lots of great underground metal coming from the USA lately.

ESPERANZA SPALDING – Emily’s D+Evolution
(Concord)
There’s funk rock. There are astonishing vocal harmonies. Convulsive time signatures. Hints to Joni Mitchell’s jazzy era.  And it’s a solid and cohesive work.  What else could you ask for?

RICK SPRINGFIELD – Rocket Science
(Frontiers)
While most of his colleagues from the 80’s turned into washed up nostalgia acts, Rick Springfield did not. Next thing you know, he’s acting (Californication, Riki & The Flash) and writing fiction. Most important, he released one of the catchiest albums of the year: an infectious collection of radio friendly pop rock songs with country overtones. He still got it.

TANITA TIKARAM – Closer To The People
(Ear Music)
Her Motown and Chess influences are becoming more and more consistent and if you’re into that kind of stuff this album won’t let you down. If you only remember her for ‘Twist In My Sobriety’ there’s a lot more to catch up with.

UXO – UXO
(Reptilian)
Chris Spencer and Steve Austin in the same band: the wet dream of every noise rock fan. Imagine a cross between Unsane circa ‘Visqueen’ and AmRep-era Today Is The Day. Easily the best thing Steve Austin has done in 15 years.

WRONG – Wrong
(Relapse)
Fierce noise rock in the vein of early Helmet (‘Born Annoying’-era).