Billy Talent!! Thanks for supporting CANCON! You told me about their new album, as I the Bad Canadian, didn't realize they had a new one! That first album is a classic to me, still, nothing will ever top it, but I have enjoyed what i've heard from this one. And i'm happy that ADTR NXT Takeover song turned around on you, as it did for me! Used in the video packages (Asuka/Bayley in particular) really sold it for me. And you have been such a big supporter of that Brian Fallon album; if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have heard it at all! And thank for giving Butch Walker his due! Chance!! He was SO GOOD on SNL. Your favourite song, Same Drugs, that performance in particular was the best! Carly Rae yeah! Haven't heard the other one, but nice to get some more EDM on your list. A great pal of mine at school is a hardcore EDM person, and i'm slowwwwwwwly getting into it due to her enthusiasm. I think i'll give that The Range album a listen!
Wow its almost christmas. My favorite Christmas song is still "Don't Shoot Me Santa" by The Killers. It's about the most merriest of holiday themes - revenge.
-Couldn't find a good video of my fav song from the record, but that Dope Dealin video is pretty hot. And it has E-40 who I should try and find a way to fit on here on every year. Anyways, like fellow top tenner Chance, Schoolboy Q took the leap into superstardom this year. THat Part with Kanye is what had him in our ears at every opportunity, but there's so much extra great stuff without Ye. The album is a littlentoo long, and pretty dark. Like you could see him performing these in Cottonmouth's club on Luke Cage.
-Well you knew the rockless streak in the top ten could only go on for so long. And you couldn't have asked for a jam that rocks more than "Diversion". So Ty appears on my year end list usually at least once a year with one of his projects (but not The Both!). Up until this point, Fuzz was my favorite of those, and the only one to ever place in the top twenty. Well Ty was like "screw that I'm gonna make what is easily my best work ever and give all the credit to myself." And the went in the studio and did just that! He has perfected his garage sound to give it an old school feel with the guitars, and a simultaneous futuristic feel with lasers. This album should be called Time Traveling With Ty. Like he could use this as a soundtrack for that one Futurama episode where they keep missing their starting point and have to go all the way through the entirety of time over and over. Probably cause they were too busy playing air guitar to "I'm back i'm back i'm back". Ty has a new album in a few weeks and I hope he can continue this hot streak.
Zomg top 5. I dunno if I wil be able to post on Xmas or Da Eva. Will try though!!
BIG TY SEGALL! YEAH BUDDY!!! I knew your view on this album going in, due to our many talks, but it's still so awesome to read in writing! You know I will always support putting Ty on your list!! I haven't heard the Schoolboy Q, but I like him. Nice Luke Cage reference, which I haven't seen, but I like references. Like the Futurama ref in your Ty Segall bit. That I HAVE seen!
Great, another person I should have asked for music tips throughout the year... and your list looks clean. Making me look like a fool damnit, a fool! Then again, I was disappointed with RHCP album. Nothing can beat SA!
Prakester! Stick around I think you shall find a gem in one of my future updates, though I wont say which yet.
Also, Run The Jewels released an album yesterday because of course they did. I'll give it a few days and fit it into the now top 39 once I finish things here.
Also Happy Boxing Day! And Christmas too I suppose.
And now back to the music!
5. Hero by Maren Morris
Favorite Song: "80s Mercedes"
Also: "Sugar" , "My Church" , "Rich" , "Just Another Thing"
-Country alert! And with a lead single called "My Church" it would be fair to call me a skeptic going in. Five seconds into the opener, "Sugar", all that was lost. You can probably tell that I like a good opening track, it sets the tone for the entire album. It reminds me a bit of my first impression of Kasey Musgrave, where I heard one line of "Follow Your Arrow" and jumped to conclusions before realizing that song is great. Maren is a really wonderful singer, but there's also alot of different types of sounds on here. Another two things I really like! And honestly it is barely country I just put that there to annoy the Doc. It's more like Taylor in the Speak Now era. Maren Morris put a stamp on her terrific year by tearing down the house on SNL. Would highly recommend those if you enjoy the vid I posted.
4. Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not by Dinosaur Jr.
Favorite Song: "Be A Part"
Also: "I Walk For Miles" , "Tiny" , "Goin Down"
-Even though I'm giving Metallica the higher ranking, DJR might win the award for best guitar solos of the year. Just realy great atmospheric stuff. You don't really hear that much these days with most solos being in faster or metal songs. The overall tone kinda reminds me of Queens of the Stone Age's album that I forgot the title of. Just really good rock without any subgenres or any other nonsense (though some of that nonsense also ranked higher). It also reminds me of Spoon's They Want My Soul, in that I came on the DJR train pretty late and actually prefer the new stuff. I Bet On Sky was top 20 and now they've risen as high as 4! Just keep getting better, like a good wine. And even though my two favorite songs are kinda sad and sark, the album is very fun overall. You can groove to it quite easily.
OK so the top three are 2/3 of my all time favorite artists and a poprock band that I never heard of before April. Let the best Digital Music Material win!
Winding down 2016 now. People keep dying, but the music keeps the rest of us alive.
3. Hardwired ... To Self-Destruct by Metallica
Favorite Song: "Spit Out the Bone"
Also: "Confusion" , "Hardwired" , "Moth Into Flame" , "Murder One"
-Metallica return after 8 years, and while they won't be getting the record for most #1s, they have released another record to stand proudly among their already legendary discography. And that will get you a top 3 ranking any day. I'd say Death Magnetic is a little better and more consistent, but Hardwired does top it in a few ways. The kickoff track, "Hardwired" , might be the silliest song Metallica has ever written. More important however, is the they were able to pack all the energy and intensity of a full Metallica song in 3 and a half minutes. It was so awesome to hear, I was even a little disappointed that all of the other songs ran 6 minutes+. Again though, so much great stuff to make up for it. "Confusion" is kind of a sequel to my all time fav song "One" . Tells the consequences of war, even for the people who come back with all their limbs. And then my favorite, "Spit Out The Bones" warns us of a world run by technology, showing Metallica's not-so-secret fear of it. It also kind of works to resolve the feud with Napster, as we now know why Lars was so against it. Free music was step 1 for Skynet's takeover!! Metallica say they still haven't written their best album either! So there will be at least one more chance for them to break all the records.
Favorite Song: "Feedback"
Also; "Father Stretch My Hands" , "Facts" , "No More Parties In LA" , "Fade" , "Waves", "Ultralight Beam"
-Uh oh, Ye isn't gonna be happy about this. For the second time in a row he falls just short. I'd put Pablo a bit below Yeezus on the totem pole, but they are similar in that they both totally worthy of being #1 ... if there wasn't something I liked more. And I have no proof of this, but I suspect that knowing he would lose to _____ ___ _______ was the main factor in his mental breakdown. I know you're probably thinking the timing doesn't work out, but this album race has been locked up for months. Plenty of time for the Russians to hack me and release it to wikileaks. Oh no now he's grabbing the phone from me...
Yo, this yo man Yeezy. This is some bull. Beyonce had one of the best albums ever! And I aint crazy, I just too much of a genius for this world to handle right now. 'Ye out.
Well at least he's consistent. And now that I've spent two paragraphs mocking my favorite artist, maybe I should actually talk about what I like about The Life of Pablo? Well for one Kanye is once again doing something new. Gospel and god music is somehow even less mainstream than the "f you all" vibe of Yeezus. And the one big pop song on here, Famous, is instead used to reignite his been-dead-for-years feud with Taylor Swift. BTw, Katy Perry still hasn't released an album since Bad Blood. So Ye needs to be a bit worried about her reponse lol. Anyways, I bring this up because even though his first three albums are terrific, this is now the fifth time in a row Kanye has ditched a successful and ventured into uncharted waters. And he has abosutely killed it each time. This, his 8th top to bottom great album, has officially put him above all other rappers in history and right alongside Beatles and Metallica as the GOATs.
Also I'm so glad he came to Champ City before the breakdown. What a freakin experience that was. A floating stage with a massive mosh pit following it around underneath. Easily the coolest visual I've seen alongside music.
So what could possibly have topped the great Mr. West? Well if you follow me on facebook you'll probably know, for the rest I hope it is a pleasant surprise.
Maren Morris!!! Hahaha appreciate the shout! You're right it is barely country, but she's close enough, and the Taylor Swift comparison is perfect. I love both of them! And "Sugar" really is a great opener. And then you've got Dinosaur Jr!!! ONE OF THE GREATS! And that is such a great album, the solo indeed!! Metallica! I've listened to it once, and liked it! A recent-good friend of mine's all-time favourite band is Metallica, and she has vowed the next time they come to Calgary we are going together, so i'll def be listening to it more when/if that day approaches. I love your write-up on it btw! Tying "Spit Out the Bones" to the whole Napster deal (also love you saying "resolve the feud" since like you I think of things in wrestling terms as well hahaha), GREAT ANALYSIS. With Life of Pablo, I feel like this is our My Morning Jacket - The Waterfall moment, as I did not love the album as much as you did. I love the gospel stuff like "Ultralight Beam," the Chance-inspired stuff, but the album as a whole did not connect with me as much as his previous stuff. Maybe one day it will! I did enjoy your write-up though, and the Kanye guest appearance hahaah!
Oh 2016, it is almost time to say goodbye. You killed a bunch of celebrities and elected Donald Trump. But the Cavs won the title this year, so I guess I'll forgive you for the other stuff.
And you gave me this.... :-D
1. In Our Bones by Against The Current
Favorite Song: "Forget Me Now"
2. "Runaway"
3. "Young & Relentless"
4. "One More Weekend"
5. "In Our Bones"
6. "Running With The Wild Things"
7. "Chasing Ghosts"
8. "Brighter"
9. "Wasteland"
10. "Demons"
11. "Roses"
12. "Blood Like Gasoline"
-And here it is, your #1 album of 2016. Everyone give it up for Against The Current!
Who?
Well I'm glad you asked. I found out about them through Apple Music of course, hearing the amazing "Young & Relentess" on their Alternative A-List. Wasn't sure what to expect from the album. These alt pop things ofte have a one hit and quit type of vibe to them. Little did I know that ATC were actually a genre fusing machine that make the perfect type of pop rock for me. The first song, "Running With The Wild Things" would have you believe these is some type of Paramore knock off. The they hit you with "Forget Me Now" , which sounds like a #1 hit on billboard. That HOOK is a monster. ATC have shown their expertise in creating killer hooks, but "Forget Me Now" manages to trump all. Its echoing LOUDER and LOUDER. I was already seduced by then, but it keeps up all the way through the first 9 songs, and the last 3 aren't too shabby either. Didn't wanna jump to conclusions right away, but by the second listen this had comfortably passed Life of Pablo and never looked back. These songs give me such good vibrations.
So Against the Current consists of the wonderful Crissy Constanza and the dudes. I <3 her and actually saw her walking out after the concert but was too nervous to see what she was up to. Anyways, besides the two excellent EPs that I missed before this year, I guess ATC rose the ranks with covers on youtube. Recent pop hits like Bleachers, Carly, Beiber, etc... All these are fine and I'd recommend them to my ATRL peeps after you finish their 20 or so original songs. Then when you say "I want something more" , you can have it, immediately. Then they signed to Fueled By Raman and made this glorious bombshell. Pete Wentz is still contributing to great music even as his own band leaves that concept behind!
I figured this band skewed to a young audience, mostly since nobody outside of youtube has heard of them. But when I was at the concert "The Taste of Ink" came on and I found myself to be the only one singing "Here I am, alive at last". Then some 21 Pilots song comes on and everyone is like ZOMG I know every word to this one. Made me feel like a real Awkzen. But Chrissy then goes on to address how different types of people from around the world of all ages and races have found them. Thats my girl!! Well I had already forgotten about the previous encounter while singing, dancing and jumping somewhat violently (I had about 2 more cubic feet of space around me then at the start of the show). Who has time to worry about nonsense like that during a killer show?
I use a term known as Sonic Variance alot. Its a silly phrase, but one that means every song sounds different. When someone can accomplish that, have almost every one of those sounds be fantastic, give me a new favorite singer (and crush) and completely dominate my playcount throughout the year .. well you get #1 obviously. I wish I still had last.fm as the total plays would be absurd. But this is the greatest honor I can give nowadays. Against The Current, and myself, thank you for sticking around all the way through to see them crowned.
8-)
Oh fine here is one more, the opening Paramoric track for my rock fans.
Even the EMOTION leftovers are amazing. 
If only Fever replaced Higher, we'd have the same
Yesss at us having the same favorite track 