FAVORITE LYRIC
So I took all my things that make sounds / The rest I can do without
COMMENTARY
Released as the third (?) single from their obnoxiously titled second album, Somebody Else is a career highlight for The 1975, perfectly blending their old-school rock influences with modern pop sensibilities. The lyrics are poignant, the vocal is emotive, and the song functions perfectly in its spot midway through the track listing. Also good: Vérité's dancey cover of the song.
#7: ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
Kaleo
FAVORITE LYRIC
Sail on by, sail on by for now / They play naked in the water / You know it's hard, heaven knows I've tried / But it just keeps getting harder
COMMENTARY
Although this song was technically released ages ago, I'm bending the rules a bit here and including it in my list since Kaleo's album (A/B) wasn't released until 2016. A random friend showed me this song and I quickly became obsessed. I love the falsetto and then the switch to the lower register at the end, the instrumentation (and how it picks up with the tambourine), and the music video is so perfect for the song.
#6: VICE
Miranda Lambert
FAVORITE LYRIC
All dressed up in a pretty black label / Sweet salvation on a dining room table / Waiting on me / Where the numb meets the lonely
COMMENTARY
I was never a fan of Miranda Lambert because I find her voice a bit shrill, but she finally got me to stan for one of her songs with Vice, a raw and honest examination of going back to what you know is bad for you. The song opens with a fantastic acapella moment, then only gets better as it goes. The song is nominated for a couple GRAMMYs this year and better win one!
FAVORITE LYRIC
When I look at you the drums all start beating
COMMENTARY
Funny story with this one; I only came across this album after I read an ATRL thread about the album being bad! My gurl Truth Teller commented on the post saying that there were no memorable songs (or something like that) and although I tend to agree with TT's taste, for some reason I decided to listen to All I Need and ended up liking every single song (except for one). This album is unadulterated pop heaven, and follows up on the promise of Foxes' debut and its lead single, Let Go For Tonight. I had a hard time picking highlights here, so imagine that Scar and Money also made the list.
FAVORITE LYRIC
And I'm hard up for some time in your sheets / Would you been down to spend all your time with me? / Cause I'm lovesick
COMMENTARY
Of all the albums on my list, The Altar may have been the album I was most nervous about. Banks' debut album is one of my all-time faves and I was nervous she'd suffer from a sophomore slump. While The Altar doesn't quite match Goddess for me, it's certainly no slump, and features some amazing songs in the vein of Goddess while also expanding her soundscape a bit. My biggest issue with the album is the late stretch that comes after Weaker Girl, but the last two songs redeem the second half and end the album on a strong note.
FAVORITE LYRIC
To try to explain why some days hurt more than others / Is like asking rain to sing above the thunder
COMMENTARY
Yet another sophomore album makes my list this year, and yet again the artist’s debut album is one of my most-played albums of all-time. It’s been several years since Emeli stunned me (and the UK) with Our Version of Events; so long, in fact, that her sophomore effort appeared with little hype. Despite that (and despite a poorly-chosen lead single), LLTA is still a stellar follow-up, full of heartbreak, hope, and compassion. Sweet Architect helped me through the US election and Lonely helped me through a ‘break-up.’ Highs & Lows is an obvious single and better smash.
FAVORITE LYRIC
I’m just here to fight the fire / Oh, a man ain’t a man unless he has desire
COMMENTARY
Like OneRepublic (#9 on my list), Kings of Leon is another band who I should stan for harder given their great albums. (OK, Come Around Sundown is not great, but otherwise they’re very consistent.) Following their return to form on Mechanical Bull, I was excited for WALLS and it didn’t disappoint. WALLS is one of their best ballads ever, Over is a rollicking adventure with some of my favorite vocal moments from Caleb, and there are bad tracks anywhere. I wonder which song Taylor helped write….
FAVORITE LYRIC
And I don't believe in forever / I still wanna give it a try
COMMENTARY
Shura has been releasing single from her debut album since 2014, but this slice of pop perfection arrived in 2016 and made my year much better. The song serves Madonna back when she used to make great pop songs; it's super catchy, relatable, and the perfect song to listen to while you clean your room (but just end up dancing and singing into any object that can act as your microphone).
#4: TREAT YOU BETTER
Shawn Mendes
FAVORITE LYRIC
I'll stop time for you / The second you say you'd like me to
COMMENTARY
This song came out at the perfect time: when I was crushing on someone who already had a boyfriend This led me to belt this song all year, crying all the while. The song was a hit for Shawn, helping pave the way for his second hit album. One of the best parts of this song is that the music video served us Shawn's abs (see: Temporal's old avi). Now if only Mercy would smash too.
#3: INTO YOU
Ariana Grande
FAVORITE LYRIC
I'm so into you / I can barely breathe
COMMENTARY
What an opening lyric. The first time I listened to Into You, I was sad that the chorus wasn’t bigger (I wanted her belting), but it quickly became my favorite pop song of the year. The highlight for me is probably the dramatic bridge (which reminds me that the song deserved a better video). It’s too bad this song joined Run Away With Me as a perfect pop song that deserved to smash much harder than it did, but at least ATRLers know how incredible it is.
I LIKE IT WHEN YOU SLEEP, FOR YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL YET SO UNAWARE OF IT
The 1975
HIGHLIGHTS
Somebody Else
Paris
A Change of Heart
FAVORITE LYRIC
You used to have a face straight out of a magazine / Now you just look like anyone / I just had a change of heart
COMMENTARY
My final sophomore album on the list comes from British rock band The 1975, who released an amazing album with a terrible title this year. Given the strengths of their debut, I wasn’t sure what to expect with I Like It When You Sleep…, but it’s a remarkably consistent album that at once feels familiar while showing the band’s growth since the debut. I love how they make nods to lyrics from the debut and how they managed to top Robbers with Somebody Else, which is their best song yet.