Best of 2016

Introduction

Allow me to be contrarian for a brief moment in time. 2016 was a good year for one reason and it's a fairly objective one. Some of us have survived it to continue to experience life. It's really that simple. So many of our heroes died, so many poor choices were made, so many turbulent situations developed into the worst case scenario, but those still breathing, still able to read and write, still able to learn and grow, will look at the past year, examine the events, and try to be better, to do better in future. Many individuals will go down the same path, make the same poor decisions, bitch and moan about the same tired things, but as the pendulum has swung aggressively in one direction it is sure to swing back. The individual has the choice to hop on board or stay where they are and be swept away by the winds of change.

As far as music is concerned 2016 was appropriately difficult. Many of my favorite bands released some of the worst music of their careers. Who knows why, be it a lack of inspiration on their part or particularly specific tastes on mine. Even though my own personal disappointment will pollute memories of music this year, there were a few albums that still made this whole listing process a meaningful and important endeavor.

The following are my favorite albums of the year, some will be known, some unknown, but all worth a spin if you're open enough and patient enough as 2017 instills a fresh feeling of hope.