2016's best albums - according to Uncut magazine

Michael Kiwanuka - Love And Hate would get my vote if it were on the list. Some tracks sound like early 70's Marvin Gaye, The opening track Cold Little Heart is not that far removed from Shine On You Crazy Diamond. It's a fine album.
For a magazine that embraces all things Americana I'm surprised that Kevin Morby - Singing Saw does not make the top twenty five either.

 

Time will tell how Blackstar ranks in Bowie's canon. In my subjective ears it's a bewildering, not very melodic work (untypical for Bowie's best albums) with uncomfortable production choises.

 

For years it was arguably an alt-country magazine (along with the usual Stones, Dylan, Floyd, Young, Beatles and Rumours era Fleetwood Mac hagiographies).

 

I love the Bowie album, but the fact that Bowie releases were ranked highest here AND in this list
2016's best ARCHIVE releases - according to Uncut magazine »
suggests that Uncut weren't going only by the music – great as it undeniably is.

 

Why doesn't the Cavern Of Anti-Matter deserve placement on the list? What didn't you like about it when you listened?

 

Well, they did say BEST . . .

LOL

 

Either Bon Iver or Lambchop. 2016 was great for vocally manipulated albums.

Whilst the two above have been my favourites I think Skeleton Tree was the best record of 2016.

 

...and where are Marillion?. Their album was great.

 

..amd the Okkervil River record should have been on the list. If I recall it got a 9/10 review I Uncut when it was released.

2016 has been crazy. So many good records but so many sad losses.

 

It doesn't look like I am getting many records for Christmas.

 

So far I've seen year end albums best of lists from Uncut, Mojo, and NME. None of them include Freetown Sound by Blood Orange, and it is definitely near the top for me. Only NME list mentions Lemon Twigs and Kings of Leon which are my other top contenders.

I think Blackstar is an ok album, but is being given extra credit beyond the music. Still, its a better top choice than NME made.

 

LOL?

 

I dunno about best, but my favourite albums this year were Monolith of Phobos - Claypool-Lennon Delirium & Emotional Mugger - Ty Segall.

Both albums riding the wave of indie psychedelia that's happening now, which I'm really enjoying.

Claypool-Lennon has proved to be a gem of a team-up - a supergroup that sounds like both are having a lot of fun.. which is not always the case in some supergroups.

The Ty Segall album stands out to me for it's mix of riffing, grooves & leering psychedelia (it's a rather creepy persona he's taken on, the live shows I've seen have been rather unhinged). He's really hit a purple patch the last few years.

 

Skeleton Tree for me, though I'd be lying if I said I'd heard more than a quarter of these titles.

 

Fish?

 

And the NME top 50 ... NME's Albums Of The Year 2016 - NME »

NME’s TOP 50 LPs of 2016
1. The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So
2. Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo
3. Christine And The Queens – Chaleur Humaine
4. Skepta – Konnichiwa
5. Kaytranada – 99.9%
6. David Bowie – Blackstar
7. Diiv – Is The Is Are
8. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
9. Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
10. Frank Ocean – Blond
11. Beyonce – Lemonade
12. Sunflower Bean – Human Ceremony
13. Angel Olsen – My Woman
14. Jamie T – Trick
15. Kano – Made In The Manor
16. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
17. Drake – Views
18. Tegan And Sara – Love You To Death
19. White – Lung Paradise
20. Lady Gaga – Joanne
21. Anderson. Paak – Malibu
22. Radiohead – A Moon-shaped-pool
23. Michael Kiwanuka – Love And Hate
24. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
25. Blossoms – Blossoms
26. Biffy Clyro – Ellipsis
27. Giggs – Landlord
28. Goat – Requiem
29. Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos
30. Nao – For All We Know
31. Bastille – Wild World
32. Kings Of Leon – Walls
33. Margo Price – Midwest Farmers Daughter
34. Let’s Eat Grandma – I, Gemini
35. Glass Animals – How To Be A Human Being
36. Swet Shop Boys – Cashmere
37. Soft Hair – Soft Hair
38. Slaves – Take Control
39. Green Day – Revolution Radio
40. Rihanna – Anti
41. Solange – A Seat At The Table
42. Whitney – Light Upon The Lake
43. Anohni – Hopelessness
44. The Lemon Twigs – Do Hollywood
45. Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Denial
46. Savages- Adore Life
47. Wild Beasts – Boy King
48. Show Me The Body – Body War
49. Public Access TV – Never Enough
50. Bon Iver – 22 A Million

And for you metal heads, the Decibel list has one of my favorites which I talked about some in the Best New Album of 2016 thread at numero uno ...

SPOILER: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2016 »

 

I only know Blackstar from this list. Great album, but I won't vote for it as I'm unfamiliar with the rest of the options.

 

Album of the year.

 

It was a toss up between Blackstar and Eno's The Ship. I went with the latter simply because I knew it would have fewer votes, but didn't realise it had only a paltry one bfore I cast my vote. Really, more people should check it out; it's a masterpiece.

 

Wow. What a list. Meh. Only one I own is the Bowie. Had the Sturgil, but took it back.

Honestly, where's the rawk?

 

yup, that was my paltry one vote

 

Well done Mr Felix. We need to spread the word.

 

Where's Metallica?
Far and away my favorite.

 

I don't think they reviewed it until this same issue, but from metacritic ...

Uncut Rating 70
Spread over two discs, it can get a little samey, but "Here Comes Revenge" and "Moth Into Flame" have plenty of bounce. [Jan 2017, p.27]

 

From this list Blackstar it is.
But my favorite from this year is the album from Shearwater: "Jet Plane and Oxbow".