Murning Down the House: 2016 in Review

8. Phantogram's album, Three, comes in at number 8 on my list. I have a thing for female vocals over electro-pop beats. 

Standout tracks: "You Don't Get Me High Anymore" and "Cruel World"








7. Head and The Heart's album, Signs of Light, has just enough radio friendly folk pop harmonies to come next.  It makes me want to fire up my Macbook at my local Starbucks. 

Standout tracks: "All We Ever Knew" and "Rhythm & Blues"

6. Bruno Mars' 24K Magic makes it to number 6 on my list. If you have throwback beats and a good voice, then I'll listen. I was expecting one or two songs that I could get into. I ended up enjoying most all of the songs on the album. 

Standout tracks: "That's What I Like" and "Finesse"

5. Coming in at number 5 on my list is Miike Snow's album, iii. I've been a fan of this group since their self titled release in 2009. I was a huge fan of that album. Another synth pop artist to add to the list. Andrew Wyatt's vocals do it for me. 

Standout tracks: "Genghis Khan", "My Trigger", and "Heart is Full"

4. Number 4 on my list is RHCP's The Getaway. I'll defer to the Ironfish review on this. 

Standout tracks: "Go Robot, "Dark Necessities", "Goodbye Angels" and "Sick Love"

3. Another synth pop artist making my list. Empire of the Sun is an over the top Australian group that has been around for a bit. I first got into them with their 2009 album Walking on a Dream. I'm a sucker for catchy layered vocals. This new release, Two Vines does it for me as well. Great album to listen to with some nice HiFi surround audio. The group gets some help from a couple members of Bowie's Blackstar Band, as well as Lindsey Buckingham. Standout tracks: "High and Low" (great remixes out there to this), "Two Vines", and "Zzz"

2. Whitney's album, Light Upon the Lake comes in at number 2 for me. This was a tough decision. It could easily have been my number 1. My affinity for Common made me reconsider. I'll defer again to the Ironfish write-up on this album. 

Standout tracks: "The Falls", "Golden Days" and "No Matter Where We Go"

1. Common's Black America Again is my number 1. I have always been a big fan of Common. This is a powerful record that came out at an opportune time. Common's skills are unparalleled. This album has a great mix of powerful and relaxed introspective lyrics. He is on my Mt. Rushmore of hip hop artists. 

Standout tracks: "Black America Again" (feat. Stevie Wonder), "Love Star", and "Pyramids" ("Pyramids" runs away with top track with no question.)