Records Of The Year 2016

2016 will probably go down in history for all the famous musicians we lost this year - David Bowie, Prince, George Michael, Leonard Cohen, Glenn Frey and Rick Parfitt to name just a few. On a more positive erm note, it was also a year that saw returning heroes - Metallica, Pixies, Descendents and a revitalised Blink 182 now with Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba in their vastly improved ranks. Exciting new bands were spearheaded by Britain's very own Creeper, a gloriously gothy hybrid of The Cramps and Meatloaf, and by some distance the year's finest singles band (their debut album not due 'til early 2017). Gig-wise the year's hottest shows for me included The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon on his debut solo tour, great shows from PiL and Against Me! and the year's definite musical highlight, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band with yet another epic, age-defying extravaganza at Coventry's Ricoh Arena in June. As for favourite albums and songs, well howzabout these....

THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2016:

1) BRIAN FALLON – PAINKILLERS 

Falling somewhere between The Gaslight Anthem's heart-on-sleeve rock standards and the more reflective, soulful stripped down melodies of his Horrible Crowes side-project, Brian Fallon's debut solo record is a glorious collection of sincere, sensitive, bittersweet belters. He's left the 'darkness on the edge of town' here and headed for Nebraska, with a suitcase full of roots and rock n' roll inspired songs about love, loss, redemption, regret, Hollywood dreams and glory days, all delivered with an emotionally raw gravel-throated maturity and confidence. 

 

2) THRICE – TO BE EVERYWHERE IS TO BE NOWHERE

3) AGAINST ME! – SHAPESHIFT WITH ME

4) BEACH SLANG – A LOUD BASH OF TEENAGE FEELINGS

5) LONELY THE BRAVE – THINGS WILL MATTER
6) MOOSE BLOOD – BLUSH
7) BON IVER – 22 A MILLION
8) TAKING BACK SUNDAY – TIDAL WAVE

  9) SLAVES – TAKE CONTROL
10) THE GENERATORS – EARN YOUR STRIPES
11) HANDS LIKE HOUSES – DISSONANTS
12) A DAY TO REMEMBER – BAD VIBRATIONS

13) DAVID BOWIE – BLACKSTAR

14) FATHERSON – OPEN BOOK

15) METALLICA – HARDWIRED TO SELF DESTRUCT
16) BLACK FOXXES – I’M NOT WELL
17) BLINK 182 – CALIFORNIA

18) GREEN DAY – REVOLUTION RADIO

19) BOSTON MANOR – BE NOTHING

20) DESCENDENTS – HYPERCAFFIUM SPAZZINATE

21) PIXIES – HEAD CARRIER
22) JIMMY EAT WORLD – INTEGRITY
23) THE BREAKS – BACK ROADS
24) THE HUNNA – 100
25) KINGS OF LEON – WALLS
26) TIGER ARMY – V

27) DRIVE BY TRUCKERS – AMERICAN BAND

28) BOB MOULD – PATCH THE SKY

29) TEMPER TRAP – THICK AS THIEVES
30) DEFTONES – GORE
31) FRIGHTENED RABBIT – PAINTING OF A PANIC ATTACK
32) BAND OF HORSES – WHY ARE YOU OK
33) CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN – THE RIDE
34) THE BOUNCING SOULS – SIMPLICITY

35) FRANK IERO AND THE PATIENCE - PARACHUTES

36) PIERCE THE VEIL – MISADVENTURES

37) LETLIVE – IF I’M THE DEVIL….
38) PUP – THE DREAM IS OVER
39) BAND OF SKULLS – BY DEFAULT
40) BLOSSOMS – BLOSSOMS
41) GOO GOO DOLLS – BOXES
42) DINOSAUR JR – GIVE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT YER NOT

43) DEAP VALLEY – FEMIJISM

44) SO PITTED – NEO
45) HELMET – DEAD TO THE WORLD
46) EVERY TIME I DIE – LOW TEENS
47) PENNYWISE – NINETEEN EIGHTY EIGHT
48) IGGY POP – POST POP DEPRESSION
49) MUNCIE GIRLS – FROM CAPLAN TO BELSIZE
50) SOUL ASYLUM – CHANGE OF FORTUNE

THE BEST TRACKS OF 2016:

1) THRICE – BLACK HONEY

Returning after a five year hiatus, California's post-hardcore titans and officially one of the most underrated bands on the planet, deliver a riff-heavy reminder of just how vital, visceral and relevant they still remain. Black Honey is a thunderous slab of angsty, angry, moody melody - the standout track on a stunning comeback album by a band constantly evolving, progressing and punishing our ears with beautifully brutal tunes. 

2) CREEPER – BLACK MASS

3) BRIAN FALLON – NOBODY WINS
4) THE MENZINGERS – LOOKERS

5) AGAINST ME! – CRASH

6) BRIAN FALLON – WONDERFUL LIFE
7) LOUIS BERRY – 45
8) THRICE – HURRICANE 
9) LONELY THE BRAVE – DIAMOND DAYS

10) AGAINST ME!  – 333

11) BRIAN FALLON – ROSEMARY

12) LONELY THE BRAVE – RATTLESNAKES

13) CREEPER – MISERY

14) TAKING BACK SUNDAY – TIDAL WAVE

15) BEACH SLANG – BAD ART AND WEIRDO IDEAS

16) BRIAN FALLON – PAINKILLERS

17) SLAVES – SPIT IT OUT 

18) MOOSE BLOOD – HONEY

19) BLACK FOXXES – WHATEVER LETS YOU COPE

20) FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS – FRIENDS 

21) BAND OF HORSES – IN A DRAWER

22) THE STONE ROSES – ALL FOR ONE

23) CREEPER – SUZANNE

24) MOOSE BLOOD – KNUCKLES

25) A DAY TO REMEMBER – NAIVETY

26) DAVID BOWIE – I CAN’T GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY

27) DAVE HAUSE – WITH YOU

28) BLINK 182 – TEENAGE SATELLITES

29) BRAND NEW – I AM A NIGHTMARE

30) CHASE & STATUS FT. SLAVES – CONTROL

31) DAVID BOWIE – LAZARUS

32) FATHERSON – ALWAYS

33) RISE AGAINST – PEOPLE LIVE HERE

34) MOOSE BLOOD – SHIMMER

35) KINGS OF LEON – WASTE A MOMENT

36) WHITE DENIM – HOLDA YOU (I’M PSYCHO)

37) MYSTERY JETS – BUBBLEGUM

38) REAL FRIENDS – COLDER QUICKER

39) CRYSTAL FIGHTERS – ALL NIGHT

40) THE DIRTY NIL – NO WEAKNESSES

41) A DAY TO REMEMBER – PARANOIA

42) ALL SAINTS – ONE STRIKE

43) PIERCE THE VEIL – CIRCLES

44) BON IVER – 22 (OVER SOON)

45) PIXIES – CLASSIC MASHER

46) SWMRS – PALM TREES

47) AGAINST ME! – 12:03

48) BRIAN FALLON – SMOKE

49) WILD BEASTS – BIG CAT

50) HANDS LIKE HOUSES – COLOURBLIND

51) DEAF HAVANA – TRIGGER 

52) GREEN DAY – REVOLUTION RADIO 

53) LONELY THE BRAVE – DUST AND BONES

54) THE MENZINGERS – BAD CATHOLICS

55) BLINK 182 – NO FUTURE 

56) BECK – WOW

57) CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN – SOUNDCHECK

58) TONIGHT ALIVE – HOW DOES IT FEEL

59) PROPHETS OF RAGE – PROPHETS OF RAGE 

60) FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES – SNAKE EYES

61) NORMANDIE – COLLIDE

62) THE GENERATORS – YANKEE BOY 

63) THE BREAKS – SHOW

64) PIXIES – TENEMENT SONG

65) DAYDREAM FRENZY – SHOUT

66) DEFTONES – HEARTS / WIRES

67) CAR SEAT HEADREST – DESTROYED BY HIPPIE POWERS

68) GHOST – SQUARE HAMMER

69) GREEN DAY – STILL BREATHING

70) THE HUNNA – YOU AND ME

71) METALLICA – ATLAS RISE!

72) BAND OF SKULLS – SO GOOD

73) BLACK FOXXES – I’M NOT WELL

74) LETLIVE – RELUCTANTLY DEAD

75) LONELY THE BRAVE – BLACK MIRE

76) ESTRONS – MAKE A MAN

77) FATHERSON – LOST LITTLE BOYS

78) BLINK 182 – BORED TO DEATH

79) DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – RAMON CASIANO

80) GREEN DAY – BANG BANG

81) BOB MOULD – VOICES IN MY HEAD

82) IGGY POP – GARDENIA

83) THE QUEMISTS – RUN YOU

84) FRIGHTENED RABBIT – GET OUT

85) DEFTONES – PRAYERS / TRIANGLES

86) CAR SEAT HEADREST – FILL IN THE BLANK

87) ANOHNI – 4 DEGREES

88) A DAY TO REMEMBER – BULLFIGHT

89) METALLICA – MOTH INTO FLAME

90) LOUIS BERRY – RESTLESS 

91) BRIAN FALLON – RED LIGHTS

92) THE BREAKS – CAN’T KEEP ROLLING

93) HIGH TYDE – DARK LOVE

94) THE TEMPER TRAP – FALL TOGETHER

95) HONEYBLOOD – SEA HEARTS

96) MAYDAY PARADE – THE PROBLEM WITH THE BIG PICTURE…

97) CREEPER – VALENTINE 

98) DEATH HAVANA – SING

99) CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN – 7

100) BLINK 182 – SHE’S OUT HER MIND

101) BOSTON MANOR - LEAD FEET

102) THE STRUMBELLAS – WE DON’T KNOW

103) LONELY THE BRAVE – RADAR

104) AGAINST ME! – BOYFRIEND 

105) CREEPER – HIDING WITH BOYS

106) VANT – FLY-BY ALIEN

107) THE CROOKES – THE WORLD IS WAITING

108) BAND OF SKULLS – KILLER

109) A WILL AWAY – MY SITTER

110) MILK TEETH – SWEAR JAR AGAIN

111) TELLISON – WRECKER

112) BON IVER – 33 (GOD)

113) BLOSSOMS – GETAWAY

114) FATHERSON – JUST PAST THE POINT OF BREAKING

115) METALLICA – HARDWIRED

116) TAKING BACK SUNDAY – DEATH WOLF

117) APOLOGIES I HAVE NONE – LOVE AND MEDICATION

118) DEAP VALLEY – GONNAWANNA

119) LOWER THAN ATLANTIS – WORK FOR IT
120) HIGHLY SUSPECT – BLOODFEATHER  

121) AGAINST THE CURRENT – RUNNING WITH THE WILD THINGS

 

122) BLACK FOXXES – HUSK

123) ESTRONS – DROP

124) AFI – WHITE OFFERINGS

125) THE BOUNCING SOULS – WRITING ON THE WALL

126) SUNFLOWER BEAN – WALL WATCHER

127) HIGH TYDE – SPEAK

128) GOO GOO DOLLS – THE PIN

129) BEACH SLANG – ATOM BOMB

130) JIMMY EAT WORLD – GET RIGHT

131) TOUCHE AMORE – PALM DREAMS

132) BAND OF HORSES – CASUAL PARTY 

133) VIOLA BEACH – BOYS THAT SING

134) CAN’T SWIM – STRANGER 

135) THE GENERATORS – THROW AWAY THE KEY 

136) DAUGHTER – NO CARE

137) BOSTON MANOR – CU

138) SUNDARA KARMA – LOVEBLOOD

139) PVRIS – YOU AND I

140) BLOSSOMS – CHARLEMAGNE

141) ROB ZOMBIE – WELL EVERYBODY’S FUCKING IN A UFO

142) FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES – LULLABY 

143) RADIOHEAD – BURN THE WITCH

144) TAKING BACK SUNDAY – IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL

145) WSTR – FOOTPRINTS

146) AS IT IS – PRETTY LITTLE DISTANCE

147) DINOSAUR JR – TINY

148) DESCENDENTS – VICTIM OF ME

 

149) WSTR – LONELY SMILES 

150) JAMIE T – TINFOIL BOY

151) THE SHERLOCKS – WILL YOU BE THERE

152) BLACK MOUNTAIN – FLORIAN SAUCER ATTACK

153) STEVE MASON – ALIVE

154) LETLIVE – GOOD MOURNING AMERICA

155) SLAVES – HYPNOTISED

156) PUP – DVP

157) THE DIRTY NIL – ZOMBIE EYED

158) SLAVES – PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET

159) ESTRONS – I’M NOT YOUR GIRL

160) ARCANE ROOTS – CURTAINS

161) DEAP VALLEY – SMILE MORE

 

162) COLUMBUS – SAY WHAT YOU WANT

163) VANT – KARMA SEEKER

164) VUKOVI – ANIMAL

165) THE FALCON – HASSELHOFF CHEESBURGER

166) THE KING BLUES – OFF WITH THEIR HEADS 

167) CORTES – CLOSE TO NOWHERE

168) JOYCE MANOR – FAKE I.D.

169) I PREVAIL – STUCK IN YOUR HEAD 

170) GOD DAMN – FAKE PRISONS

171) COLUMBUS – DAFFODILL

172) SPRING KING – RECTIFIER

173) YAK – HARBOUR THE FEELING

174) KNIFE PARTY & TOM MORELLO – BATTLE SIRENS

175) A THOUSAND HORSES – FIRST TIME

176) TRASH BOAT – STRANGERS

177) REIGNING DAYS – RENEGADE

178) BLACK ASH – BLACK WITCH

179) SAVAGES – SAD PERSON

180) ASKING ALEXANDRIA – SEND ME HOME

181) THE WYTCHES – C-SIDE

182) LADYHAWKE – A LOVE SONG

183) AT THE DRIVE IN – GOVERNED BY CONTAGIONS 

184) PURPLE – BLISS

185) SWMRS – DRIVE NORTH

186) STRANGE BONES – GOD SAVE THE TEEN

187) IDLES – WELL DONE

188) FACE TO FACE – IT ALMOST ALL WENT WRONG

189) MAX RAPTOR – OLD ROMANTICS

190) BLACK HONEY – ALL MY PRIDE

191) JIMMY EAT WORLD – SURE AND CERTAIN

192) KINGS OF LEON – WALLS 

193) SHARP / SHOCK – SUB SOCIETY

194) THE CUT UPS – END OF THE ROAD

195) YOU ME AT SIX – GIVE

196) THE STARTING LINE – ANYWAYS

197) BABY STRANGE – FRIEND

198) DEAD! – SOMETHING MORE ORIGINAL

199) THE KENNETHS – HOLLYWOOD

200) GOD DAMN – SING THIS.