Best Albums Of 2016

13»

Comments

  • Bird is the Worm Best of 2016 (top 30 of jazz)...

    http://www.birdistheworm.com/best-jazz-of-2016/

    Also, the NPR Jazz Critics poll went up...

    http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/12/21/506093073/the-2016-npr-music-jazz-critics-poll

    And here's a link to Tom Hull's site, where they break things down more and show the individual ballots...

    http://hullworks.net/jazzpoll/16/

    My ballot is the first one on the last link (Sumner).

    As per usual, my top ten selections (and tangential categories) differed greatly from the composite rankings.  I don't have my notes in front of me, but if I recall, six of my choices didn't receive a vote from anyone other than my own, two of my selections had one other person vouch for the album, and the two remaining got some recognition from the other voters (the Taylor Ho Bynum and Jonathan Finlayson albums).  And, as per usual, I have a mix of emotions about that.

    /furniture
  • Although your count is above average, jonah, there were still >200 single-nomination albums in the list. My guess is that there's some incentive in a poll for a participant to play towards consensus choices to increase the chances of "placing". A ballot that has, say, your ten favorite albums of the year that no one else has heard has less utilitarian impact than one contributing to fine albums getting significantly increased attention. There's nothing "holy" about one's vote - strategic voting will always make sense (depending on your goals).
  • edited January 2017
    Allen Toussaint no. 154, listed on 3 ballots?!?!? What a world
  • I just Tweeted out a bunch of favorites, starting with Allen, starting here:
  • @Germanprof

    Thanks for posting that A Closer Listen link.  I'm in the process of purchasing the first two on the list and still have to go through the rest of them.  Both the Asuna and Drombeg are right up my alley.

    Also, found some interesting stuff on your MiG list, too.

    Cheers.
  • You're welcome. Yes, I quite like the Drombeg too.
  • edited January 2017
      the results:

    This is as usual very interesting and also quite a mouthful. . .

    Album of the Year:

    - With Swans, "The Glowing Man" (Young God) as number one.

    In my library:
    5 - Tim Hecker, "Love Streams" (4AD)
    17 -  Christian Fennesz & Jim O'Rourke, "It's Hard for Me to Say I'm Sorry" (Editions Mego)
    20 - Paul Jebanasam, "Continuum" (Subtext)
    22 - Oren Ambarchi, "Hubris" (Editions Mego)
    25 - Scott Walker, "The Childhood of a Leader OST" (4AD)
    28 - The Legendary Pink Dots, "Pages of Aquarius" (Metropolis)
    31 -  Brian Eno, "The Ship" (Warp)
    33 -  Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani, "FRKWYS Vol. 13 Sunergy" (Frkwys)
    74 -  CoH, "Music Vol." (Editions Mego)
    87 -  Radian, "On Dark Silent Off" (Thrill Jockey)
    97 -  Pita, "Get In" (Editions Mego)
    99 -  Jenny Hval, "Blood Bitch" (Sacred Bones)

    Under my radar:
    2 -   Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, "Skeleton Tree" (Bad Seed Ltd)
    7 -  Biosphere, "Departed Glories" (Smalltown Supersound)
    24 - Aethenor, "Hazel" (VHF)
    30 -  Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, "Ears" (Western Vinyl)
    36 -  Mika Vainio, "Mannerlaatta" (Ideal)
    42 -  The Caretaker, "Everywhere at the end of time - Stage 1" (History Always Favours the Winners)
    65 - Current 93, "The Moons at Your Door" (Current 93) (That was news to me)
    78 - Supersilent, "13" (Smalltown Supersound)


    Single of the Year

    3 -  Aphex Twin, "Cheetah EP" (Warp)

    Vault/Reissue of the Year

    25 - Tony Conrad with Faust, "Outside the Dream Syndicate" (Superior Viaduct)

    Under my radar:
    1 -   "Music Of Morocco, From The Library Of Congress" (Dust-to-digital)
    18 -  "An Anthology of Turkish Experimental Music 1961-2014" (Sub Rosa)

    Boxed Set of the Year

    1 - Autechre, "Elseq 1-5" (Warp)

    "I still haven't had the chance to take it all in at once, but I love Autechre for making this happen. The way they approach their music now, putting out four-plus hours at a time makes perfect sense. Far from being disposable, their first all-digital release is one of their more exciting ideas. I'm not afraid of a 10-hour record, guys, just in case you're reading." - Lucas Schleicher

    Artist of the Year

    Caught my attention:
    2 - The Legendary Pink Dots (not a surprise on a Brainwashed list)
    7 - Autechre
    8 - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
    15 - Sarah Davachi

    Label of the Year

    Generally speaking a list where I could'nt agree more

    Lifetime Achievement Recognition

    Pauline Oliveros
    - obviously, a little late though . . .

    Worst Album of the Year

    - no comments ;)

  • Thanks to all for your lists. I purchased more emusic credits in their Christmas booster sale, so some downloads coming along over the next few days from these lists.
  • Oh, hey, I should've mentioned that I posted a Best of 2016 Soundcloud playlist on my site's main page.

    Or direct to Soundcloud, here -

  • There you go...I endorse that Nasheet Waits album, a good late-year entry. 

    Overlooked Jazz Gems of 2016


  • That Laborie jazz label only puts on a couple albums per year (IIRC, they're an artists retreat or something like that, and occasionally do the album release now and then), but typically it's some really good stuff.  Anne Paceo's "Yokai" comes to mind.

    He's got the Jim Black album preview w/Spotify.  Worth noting that album is available on Bandcamp.  Intakt has a Bandcamp store now.
  • edited February 2017
    Ta daaah ! . . . The list we all have been hoping for . . . From our very own @nereffid :  


    Les Introuvables de Nereffid - Best albums of 2016


    With a remarkable number of well known albums (by me) from the contemporary instrumental and vocal field.

    ETA: Gotta check that Mason Bates out. . . .

Sign In or Register to comment.