Brandon Paak Anderson's second record breaks the sophomore slump myth, in fact it blows it out of the water. This rapper from So Cal is the future of hip hop. He clearly understands how to blend old school R&B and soul with beats that could play on any pop radio station. "Am I Wrong" featuring ScHoolboy Q, is a dance song that I can't get out of my head. There are a ton of collaborators on this record, and Anderson.Paak produced four of the tracks. If you haven't bought his first record Venice yet, get them both.
I will listen to anything Bon Iver is willing to put out in the world. We had to wait a little while for this one, but it was worth it. Before I first heard the record, I was concerned about all the chatter that was going around Justin Vernon's use of auto tune on this record. My first thought was why would a guy with one of the best voices in the world mess with it, but it works. There are 10 great tracks on this record, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be "33, God."
Teens of Denial is why pop music is still relevant and makes our life great. Technically this is another sophomore record, but that's only half the story. Car Seat Headrest made several DIY records, and their first Matador record was a "best of" from those efforts. So, while this is their second record on Matador, it's the first one they put together from start to finish. This is a record I could not stop playing when it first came out. The songs are catchy pop songs, but they are also strangely complex, they start as one thing, but take strange twists along the way. Put it on, play it loud.
Carrie Rodriguez is a fiddle playing singer/songwriter from Austin, who first made her name at SXSW in 2001. She has put out 12 records since 2002, and sadly this is the first one I have heard. It is quite a departure from her previous efforts. The songs on Lola are a mix of originals and traditional standards sung in Spanish, English and Spanglish. The record was inspired by her great aunt, Eva Garza, a famous singer San Antonio singer in the 1940's. While this is quite different from her previous records, hopefully you'll be inspired to go back and check out her back catalog.
One of the biggest losses of 2016 was the death of David Bowie, but at least we got this gem before he left us. Only time will tell where this record ends up in the Bowie cannon, but it's amazing to think that he was still creating work on this level, as he knew the end was near. This is not a record of singles. You need to allow yourself the time to listen to it from start to finish.
Christopher Breaux was about to start college at the University of New Orleans (u-no) when hurricane Katrina hit. Instead of waiting for the city to dry out, he moved to LA to pursue his music and so far he has done pretty well. Channel Orange was one of my top records of 2012, and while Blonde may not top that record, it's still pretty damn awesome. It's a little slower and more introspective, but it holds up well over time and is a record that got a lot of play last year.
The Colour in Anything by James Blake
James Blake makes his way to the 'best of' again with his third record The Color in Anything. His debut record made the list in 2011 and Overgrown was a huge favorite in 2013, with the song "Retrograde" getting the nod for song of the year. While this record does not eclipse the work of Overgrown, it has grown on me considerably since the first listen, and I am glad to have more music from Mr. Blake. Coming in at 17 tracks, he has matched the output of his first two records combined.
A Sailors Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
I know we have had this discussion before, but if Sturgill Simpson was the face of country music, you'd love country music. He is an old school, smart singer/songwriter who has nothing to do with the crap coming out of Nashville these days. This record is a concept album of sorts; it was written for his new-born son as a guide on how to be a man. If I haven't hooked you yet, go to wherever you listen to music and search for Simpson's cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom." If you can't get behind this, then I can't do nothing for you son.
Astronaut Meets Appleman by King Creosote
King Creosote is Scottish singer/songwriter Kenny Anderson, who you have seen in the 'best of' a few times before. 2011's Diamond Mine is still one of my all-time favorite records. Astronaut Meets Appleman is more of what you love from Mr. Anderson. That's not to say he doesn't venture out into new places, but his songwriting and singing is a solid as ever. This record is not as tight as Diamond Mine or 2014's From Scotland With Love, it feels more like a relaxed small venue live set.
Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
I heard an interview with Paul Simon when Stranger to Stranger first came out and he said this is his last record, which I seem to remember him saying after So Beautiful, So What. I hope that is not true, because he's still got it. The opening songs, "Werewolf" and "Wristband" have that classic Simon humor, coupled with a great beat. On the other end of the spectrum, the title song, "Stranger to Stranger" is a beautifully quite Simon masterpiece. I look forward to the next, last record.
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