Looking back I felt 2016 was a particularly strong year for music. In many genres and styles. Two albums for me though stood above the rest and I had a hard time deciding on my number one. In the end I went for the impossible beauty delivered in the third album by Kevin Morby. I loved it in total. Each song speaking to me in a very personal way. Elegant melodies and heartfelt lyrics, it was a complete joy. Close behind was the inspired album by Car Seat Headrest, their proper label debut. It was a thrilling and exciting ride with epic melodies and bang in your heart moments. But there were other great albums released. Bon Iver returned with a highly creative and very personal album. Whilst Danny Brown absolutely slayed with what I believed what was the best in hip hop in 2016.

Another superb album in 2016 was when Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam (Vampire Weekend) combined for an exemplary album of sublime soul. Beyonce went above and beyond in her field of music, whilst Explosions in the Sky returned to show they had lost none of the magic. On the local front it was very exciting to see The Avalanches finally return after such a long time away with an album that was outstanding in every way possible. Outside of that it was slim pickings locally, although I did love the debut album from Melbourne's Camp Cope. Speaking of debuts it was exciting to hear great first records from Whitney, Pinegrove and Big Thief. All combining to make 2016 a very special year.

1. Singing Saw-Kevin Morby

2. Teens of Denial-Car Seat Headrest

3. 22, a Million-Bon Iver

4. Atrocity Exhibition-Danny Brown

5. I Had a Dream That You Were Mine-Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam

6. Wildflower-The Avalanches

7. The Life of Pablo-Kanye West

8. City Sun Eater in the River of Light-Woods

9. New View-Eleanor Friedberger

10. The Wilderness-Explosions in the Sky

11. Lemonade-Beyonce

12. Light Upon the Lake-Whitney

13. Away-Okkervil River

14. My Woman-Angel Olsen

15. My Best Human Face-Moonface and Siinai 

16. Life in the Dark-The Felice Brothers

17. A Band is Something to Figure Out-Hallelujah the Hills

18. You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To-Richmond Fontaine

19. A Weird Exits-Thee Oh Sees

20. Sunlit Youth-Local Natives

21. case/lang/viers-case/lang/viers

22. Blue Wave-Operators

23. Painting of a Panic Attack-Frightened Rabbit

24. Vicious Times-Gambles

25. Cardinal-Pinegrove

27. Emotional Mugger-Ty Segall

28. Our Puram-Pfarmers

29. Misery-Cullen Omori

30. Skeleton Tree-Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

31. True Sadness-The Avett Brothers

32. Camp Cope-Camp Cope

33. Thought Rock Fish Scale-Nap Eyes

34. Painting With-Animal Collective

35. Is The Is Are-DIIV

36. A Moon Shaped Pool-Radiohead

37. Schmilco-Wilco

38. Masterpiece-Big Thief

39. Preoccupations-Preoccupations

40. The Hope Six Demolition Project-PJ Harvey

41. The Ridge-Sarah Neufeld

42. The Past Is Not a Flood-Hospital Ships

43. An Odd Entrances-Thee Oh Sees

44. Calico Review-Allah-Las

45. Waltzed in From the Rumbling-Plants and Animals

46. We Disappear-The Thermals

47. Sorrow-Colin Stetson

48. Visions of Us on the Land-Damien Jurado

49. Skip a Sinking Stone-Mutual Benefit

50. Golden Sings That Have Been Sung-Ryley Walker