There are two things our staff can agree on: 1. 2016 sucked but 2. 2016 was one of the best years for music yet, especially outside our normal scope of indie rock. Hip hop and R&B thrived this year with perfect releases from some of our old favorites like Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West and Beyoncé. As always, we bring you our Hot Takes of the state of music in 2016 riddled with our favorite snoozy folk/hostile hardcore local albums of the year. With 2017 on the horizon, we look back positively at the great art that was created this year and the support the DIY and local scene has had for each other in the wake of the many tragedies this year. Community comes first in Allston Pudding, Boston, and in DIY as a whole. We hope you can curl up with these albums and remember all the good times this year. Then prepare yourself for the inevitable battle we have ahead in 2017.
-Christine Varriale, Editor-In-Chief
*=Local (CW: Nudity below)
We wanted to take a moment to appreciate some of the local albums that just nearly got bumped out of our top 50. Here are our honorable mentions:
- Honeysuckle, Honeysuckle
- Marisa Nadler, Strangers
- Skinny Bones, Ponta Delgada
- Lady Pills, Despite
- Haasan Barclay, Heaven is Your Last Dream
- Kal Marks, Life is Alright. Everybody Dies
- Sad13, Slugger
- Black Beach, Shallow Creatures
- Cousin Stizz, Monda
- Michael Christmas & Prefuse 73 (Fudge), Lady Parts
- And the Kids, Friends Share Lovers
- Birthing Hips, No Sorry
- Food Court, Food Court
50. Young Thug, Jeffrey
49. Yeesh, Confirmation Bias
48. Sunflower Bean, Human Ceremony
47. Florist, The Birds Outside Sang
46. Rihanna, Anti
45. Andy Shauf, The Party
44. Oompa, November 3rd*
43. Kid Mountain, Trinkles*
42. Kaytranada, 99.9%
41. Fakear, Animal
40. Animal Faces, other places
39. The Hotelier, Goodness*
38. Nicholas Jaar, Sirens
37. Xenia Rubinos, Black Terry Cat
36. Tancred, Out of the Garden
35. David Bowie, Blackstar
34. Avalanches, Wildflower
33. Camp Cope, Camp Cope
32. Horse Jumper of Love, Horse Jumper of Love*
31. Quilt, Plaza*
30. Kendrick Lamar, untitled unmastered.
29. Childish Gambino, Awaken, My Love!
28. Weaves, Weaves
27. Margaret Glaspy, Emotions and Math
26. Told Slant, Going By
25. Beyoncé, Lemonade
24. Chairlift, Moth
23. Bon Iver, 22, A Million
22. Big Thief, Masterpiece
21. A Tribe Called Quest, We Got it From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service
