So much of what was old was new again in 2016. Some of the legends of the past, and elderly revivalists released some of the best songs of the year. Various artists directly incorporated their influences from all genres as folk jived with rap with punk with electronica. Here's our list of the **best songs of 2016.****30 // TCR – Seaford Mods**
Nottingham’s duo composed of vocalist Jason Williamson and musician Andrew Fearn describe their work as "electronic munt minimalist punk-hop rants for the working class." TCR seems very recognizable to any fan of British punk of the late 70’s-early 80’s- a simple, straight forward line with angry ranting, over-accentuated British accents.
**29 // Pain – De La Soul, Snoop Dogg**
In 1989, De La Soul released 3 Feet High and Rising and helped make way for about every hip-hop artist since. The Anonymous Nobody... was released in August and the lead single Pain features Snoop Dogg. It has an iconic throwback beat and smooth words that can be played in the background at work or in your car with your arm out the window.
**28 // In Bloom – Sturgill Simpson**
Nirvana’s “In Bloom,” is a classic cover with a country twist. In fact, Simpson’s whole album, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, incorporates “alt-country.” Most of this album is relaxed and easy on the air – and this song is no exception.
**27 // Capsized – Andrew Bird**
His first album since being both a husband and a parent, Bird experiments a little bit while also sticking to what he knows and loves.
**26 // I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore – Lucy Dacus**
This Richmond based Indie-rocker’s debut “No Burden” was recorded in Nashville in a single day. She’s known for poetic lyrics that tell tales of her life while speaking universal truth to her listeners.
**25 // I’m Still Here – Sharon Jones**
“Too short, too black, too fat and old” (lyrics from “I’m Still Here”) sum up the amazing story of the too late discovered talent. Jones died in November but leaves the 1960’s-70’s soul inspired soundtrack “Miss Sharon Jones!” as a great tribute.
**24 // Jesus Alone – Nick Cave**
Nick Cave may not be for everyone, but rock’s “Prince of Darkness” reconnects with the Bad Seeds for a reflective, deeply personal, dark but redemptive record.
**23 // Soundcheck – Catfish and the Bottlemen**
This song is from Catfish’s new album The Ride, which came out in May. It has an up-beat, rock feel to it, which makes sense considering this band was discovered playing in parking lots outside of other bands’ concerts.
**22 // Life Itself – Glass Animals**
Released in the heat of the August, this song is definitely an indie rocker’s type of summer song. The songs on this album, How to be a Human Being, are all based off of the band’s own experiences. This song reflects the band’s mix of incorporating pop swings into tribal beats.
**21 // Burn the Witch – Radiohead**
Certainly not known for catchy tunes, Burn the Witch breaks their mold a bit, while still clearly being a recognizable stabbing Radiohead song. This is their first single in 5 years.
**20 // Radio – Sylvan Esso**
The marriage of Appalachian folk and electronic production, "Radio" is strong follow up to their 2014 hit “Coffee”.
**19 // Let Me Get There – Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions**
Sandoval’s duet with Kurt Vile is the pinnacle of “Until the Hunter”. Their voices seem to be nonchalantly made for each other in this rainy day lullaby.
**18 // OneHundred – Sims**
Andrew Sims is a Minnesota based rapper who was a part of Doomtree. More than Ever is his second solo LP.
**17 // No Matter Where We Go – Whitney**
Whitney is a Chicago indie-pop band fronted by Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich that cite Levon Helm and Allen Toussaint as inspiration. Their sound is a relaxed but upbeat with influences from the pychesdyalic side of the first British invasion.
**16 // Time Moves Slow – BADBADNOTGOOD**
The Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD came out with their fourth album this year simply called IV. Mackenzie Herd of Exclaim! praised the album, stating, "Each song possesses rhythmic and melodically intricate properties that sound somehow both rehearsed and spontaneous. So, while IV is extraordinary for delivering fresh music that elaborates on their past work, it feels particularly exceptional because of its forward momentum."
**15 // Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales – Car Seat Headrest**
Coming from the album Teens of Denial, released in May, this song has been a staple on their 2016 tour, and is a very low-key tune with lyrics that match the song title.
**14 // Say Yeah – Kishi Bashi**
This is Kishi Bashi’s third studio album, released in September and was created out of personal and creative struggles. Say Yeah is a synthetic song with a lush sound behind it falsetto lyrics. The album is called Sonderlust, with sonder meaning “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.”
**13 // I Want You – Marian Hill**
The Philly duo’s first full-length album, Act One is full of electronic and R&B beats supported with a laid-back feel and a jazzy saxophone. It’s a great record from the beginning and ends with its best song.
**12 // Real Love Baby – Father John Misty**
Misty’s got that real love baby – and you’ll feel it too after listening to this song. It’s one of those rhythms with an infectious production. The song was released only as a single in July.
**11 // Cranes in the Sky – Solange**
Released in September, this album “A Seat at the Table” is an artistic autobiography about being in African American in America. This song, specifically, is about easing the pain of worldly things, like drugs and alcohol. It has a great melody with heavily contemplated lyrics.
**10 // Subways – The Avalanches**
This Aussie group finally made a follow-up album that their fans were anticipating and is described as “a mix of the wild and weird…ranging from R&B to orchestral pop.” This song specifically is mostly ‘instrumental’ with a off beat unconventional structure.
**9 // Emotions and Math – Margaret Glaspy**
From Glaspy’s website- “On its surface, the title track talks about being a touring musician and figuring out how to see your partner, looking at the calendar and calculating how you’re going to spend time together. But it also sums up an epiphany she had while making the record."
**8 // Room in Here – Anderson .Paak**
This song is from the third album of Paak titled Malibu, released at the beginning of the year in January. The songs actually tell the vague story of his life. He plays between hip-hop and R&B in his music, which can be heard in this song as he seems to throw all of his influences in.
**7 // You Want It Darker – Leonard Cohen**
“For six decades, Leonard Cohen revealed his soul to the world through poetry and song—his deep and timeless humanity touching our very core. Simply brilliant. His music and words will resonate forever.” -Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cohen died in 2016 and his last record is a clear reflection of someone ready to pass, and the lead single says- “I’m ready my Lord.”
**6 // Best Kept Secret – case/lang/veirs**
With their first album out in June, “Best Kept Secret” is collaboration between three icons of feminist-rock. A little folky and a little rock, these three women created an album with a wide range of moods, like every good album should have..
**5 // Devices – The Honeydogs**
Minnesota’s The Honeydogs is an indie/rock/pop band with roots back to 1995 with several albums to track their steady progression together.
**4 // Worship – Lizzo**
Smooth like coconut oil (her album title), this song is upbeat, jazzy and has a hint of tango. This is your girls’ night out theme song and just plain fun.
**3 // Ain’t it a Sin – Charles Bradley**
A sure crowd pleasing song, Ain’t it A Sin’s James Brown’s familiarity may not chart any new musical territory, but Bradley certainly does. Like the recently passed-away Sharon Jones, he discovered fame in latter years in an industry dominated by youth.
**2 // Go! – M83, Mai Lan**
With the countdown strewn in chorus at the start, you just know something good is coming. M83 is a French electronic music band formed in 2001 and known by a wide audience when it scored the sci-fi blockbuster Oblivion soundtrack.
**1 // I Can’t Give Everything Away – David Bowie**
The album Blackstar was released on Bowie’s 69th birthday – January 8th. The songs on it, like this one, have a reflective and sentimental meaning. One of his shorter songs on the album, yet still at 5:47, this song has both a jazzy and modern feel.
