Outstanding Musical Releases of 2016

Farewell to 2016. There is not much love lost. However, musical artists softened the blow of a rough year by turning out some of the best releases of the decade so far, including chilling swan songs from Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. 

Radiohead Moon-Shaped Pool1. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool 

(Standout track: "Decks Dark")

2. Devendra Banhart - Ape in Pink Marble 

(Standout track: "Middle Names")

3. Damien Jurado - Visions of Us on the Land 

(Standout track: "Exit 353")

4. David Bazan - Blanco 

(Standout track: "Little Motor")

5. Leonard Cohen - You Want it Darker 

(Standout track: "You Want It Darker")

6. David Bowie - Blackstar 

(Standout track: "Lazarus")

James Blake The Colour in Anything7. James Blake - The Colour in Anything

(Standout track: "Love Me In Whatever Way")

8. Shearwater - Jet Plane and Oxbow  

(Standout track: "Backchannels")

9. Gregory Alan Isakov - Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony

(Standout track: "Dandelion Wine")

10. Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate 

(Standout track: "Love & Hate")

11. Bon Iver - 22, A Million 

(Standout track: "29 #Strafford APTS")

12. Okkervil River - Away 

(Standout track: "Okkervil River R.I.P.")

13. Anonhni - Hopelessness

(Standout track: "Watch Me")

14. Angel Olsen - My Woman 

(Standout track: "Shut Up and Kiss Me")

Special mention to Massive Attack’s stunning EP releases this year: Ritual Spirit and The Spoils/Come Near Me.

Further, the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed video for Radiohead’s “Daydreaming” was my favorite music video of the year, followed by Massive Attack’s video for “Come Near Me” and Clipping’s video for “Air ‘Em Out.”

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