My Top 20 Favourite Albums of 2016

We lost a lot of good musicians this year. But that isn’t to say 2016 has been an awful year for music. In terms of albums, there have been some impressive releases this year that show we can all still look forward to the future with optimism. Here are my personal favourites.

(psst! if you like lists don’t forget to check out my favourite and least favourite tracks of the year. You can also check out my favourite albums of 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.)

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 23/12/2016: Pool Art, Daniel Caeser, Mick Jenkins and more...

I wasn’t going to do any more 'tracks of the week' segments this year, but I’ve been getting some good stuff sent my way in the last fortnight and just had to share it. This may well be the last post of 2016, so Merry Christmas and a happy a new year! Wait, where’s my card and present?

Review of ‘We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service’ by A Tribe Called Quest

Willy Wonka samples, an Elton John feature and some guitar squealing courtesy of Jack White – this was not what I expected from a new Tribe Called Quest album.

My Top 20 Favourite Tracks Of 2016

It’s time for my favourite tracks of the year, having already given you my worst (there’s a pun here that will become clear by the end).

20. ‘Lemontrees’ – Eagulls 

Indie rock with a Cure vibe that feels as bouncy as it does forlorn. ‘It tastes bittersweet/ beneath the lemon trees’.

STREAM HERE

19. ‘The Big Big Beat’ – Azealia Banks

This nostalgic house banger has all the ingredients of a good Azealia anthem – glitzy singing, tongue-twister rapping and a big big beat!

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The 10 Worst Songs of 2016

Forget my worst songs lists of 2014 and 2015 - this year’s list makes those freak shows look like beauty pageants. Whilst there have been some extreme musical highs this year, there have also been many extreme musical lows – some of which I haven’t been able to free from my mind, so I thought I’d share them with you, being the sick person I am. I warn you now - these songs are an advertisement for deafness. They’re enough to make the sadist behind Crazy Frog wince. It is rumoured ISIS considered using these songs for military purposes, but concluded to do so would be against even their moral code. Proceed at your own risk…

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 09/12/2016 (CHRISTMAS EDITION): The Melvins, Kelsea Ballerini, Trey Songz and more...

This week is a Christmas special! I’ve rounded up the best and worst new Yuletide jams of 2016. Keep it current this Christmas – play these songs as you cruise back home Christmas Eve in your driverless car that you bought with your Leicester City bet winnings, or play in the kitchen as you cook this year’s roast in that Smart oven you bought with that grand you earnt from selling that AK47 plastic fiver.

Review of 'Hardwired ... To Self-Destruct' by Metallica

Brimming with chugga-chugga riffs and double-bass drumming, the thrash metal vets’ new double album is a firm return to their roots. Why then am I still left underwhelmed?

INTRODUCING: Forest of Harambe

Meet Forest of Harambe

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 02/12/2016: Run the Jewels, Little Death Machine, Mr. Twin Sister and more...

It’s December, which means you can now put up your Christmas decorations and year-end lists, although a lot of you impatient fuckers already did that back in September. For those who aren’t currently buying Easter eggs already and planning their 2017 favourite albums list, here are some songs from the last week to remind you what the here and now looks like!