Favorite Albums of 2016 with Playlist

   

Hi everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed the festivities and had a great time with your loved ones. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the Christmas wishes I have received, they do not go unnoticed I promise.

The New Year is now on the horizon, so I want to share with you some of my favorite albums of 2016! These are not album reviews; they are just a few words of appreciation and admiration for the releases that I am grateful for this year.

As a little extra I have compiled a selection of my favorite tracks of 2016 and created a playlist for you all on Spotify, so please check that out by clicking the link at the bottom of the post.

 

I want to say a huge thank you to each of you for the kind words and continued support this year.  Having so many of you appreciate my artistry with music is overwhelming, thank you.

Wherever you are in the world stay safe, look after one another and have a magical evening,

Happy New Year everyone!

My love as always,  

   

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Daughter – Not To Disappear

When I have been in need of Daughter, each time lyrically and sonically they reply to my mental demand with an album of pure genius.

I remember when If You Leave was released; it was so painfully personal to me. I never doubted them musically but when I heard they were working towards a new album, I didn’t think it would be equal to how I felt. Proven wrong completely, this album blew me away.

Not To Disappear was released in the first quarter of 2016 when I really needed it. I came into the year needing an answer to my headspace, this album gave me perspective and it opened up a whole new feeling.

I am so grateful for Daughter and their musical existence. I truly thank them from the bottom of my heart.

“Follow me home, pretend you found somebody to mend you. I feel numb, I feel numb in this kingdom"

 

The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It

I have loved The 1975 since they were gigging around in small bars just to get their sound out there. They have their own unique sound and it can’t be taken from them. I adore this band for that reason. When so many creative minds are in one space an album like this is made, outstanding.

This album made me dance like Molly Ringwald for hours with a set of cans on my head. If an album doesn’t get that reaction, is it really in your top album list? 

“We can’t make love when you fly around me baby”

 

 

Architects – All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us

This band defeats all obstacles and break every limit thrown at them. I have nothing but admiration for Sam, Dan, Tom, Ali and Adam. This album truly means a lot. I think as the year has past we have all understand why.

I refuse to speak of Tom in the past tense, because he is still here. Tom is there in everything Architects do, the music they have created and will continue to create. I hear him in the smallest silence of every album but more so in All Our Gods. This masterpiece is his. This is not just an album; it is the life and soul of someone.

Architects, thank you for everything. This album means more to us than you know. 2016 was such an impact on you all, on all of us.

“I’m always gone with the wind”

 

 

Letlive. – If I’m The Devil…

Can we take a moment to congratulate these guys? Letlive have glowed up in this scene and smashed the roof with it. They are so raw and fresh; I am still stoked to hear this album every time it comes into play.

I am always negative about new albums from bands/artists when they have released a killer last album. This one threw me off guard completely and it amazes me that they have managed to keep doing Letlive things as well as bring something new to their sound. If I Am The Devil is one of my favorite releases and it will continue to be.

“Now that I am dead I hope that ascend to you, ‘to who?’ always to you”

 

 

Tom Odell – Wrong Crowd

 

I have history with Tom Odell’s music just like I do Daughter. This album was everything I wanted.

Tom is faultless; his forseto is off the scale. I have no idea how he can hit that frequency without getting a brain hemorrhage. Musically and lyrically this album is amazing. Even though Tom’s first album Grow Old With Me is my favorite, I cannot disregard this release.

Sony, you sign a lot of shit but Tom Odell has been one of your best.

“And people think I’m crazy, people think I’m stoned. I’m just getting used to being on my own”

 

 

        Amity Affliction – This Could Be Heartbreak 

 

I heard so many negative comments about this album when it was released.

There are not many bands that can have a clean vocal sound so pure against the raw harsh vocal lead, yet Amity can do it in effortlessly.

Joel has had an incredible but difficult year as well. He became a father, went sober and also had this release to take care off. Traveling around the world playing your music each night to thousands of people is a privilege and something that is indescribable, but being away from your family makes all of that somehow seem less than what it is, especially when you are a new parent.

This album will forever be played and adored. It was needed throughout the third quarter.

“Our tears become rivers swimming in our own private hell. This could be, I think this could be heartbreak”

 

 

Bon Iver – 22 A Million

Justin Vernon, you beautiful soul. 22 A Million is a pure genius. Experimentation at it’s finest and pulled off massively. 

Just when you think that Bon Iver is over and you cry about it for a while, 22 gets thrown at you. This release hit me hard in the feels. Gorgeous album.

“Honey, understand that I have been left here in the reeds, but all I’m trying to do is get my feet out from the creeks”

Green Day – Revolution Radio 

   

Has anyone realised that every time America has shit with Presidents Green Day emerges with a new album?

This is classic Green Day with all the vocal leads and melodic changes with a twist of the modern era Green Day. I will never stop loving these guys. Trump Empire revolution through the eyes of Green Day? Come at me!

“I never wanted to compromise or bargain with my soul, how did a life on the wild side ever get so full”

 

Moose Blood – Blush

I have no idea where to start with this. Blush is a fucking incredible album. I never knew I needed this album so much in my life.

There is such a change in this album from the last but the bands principle sound is still there and that’s why I love it so much. ‘Honey’ was a major release moment, and when I heard it play on Radio One’s Rock Show, I was so stoked to hear Blush. 

I was driving to the Lake District from Kent in my car with my Dad and this was one of the soundtracks to that entire journey. I will never forget the feeling.

“It’s been a while since I saw you, you don’t look the same, you taste different, too”

 

Modern Baseball – Holy Ghost

These guys have relased three albums now, and each of them I love equally. When I listened to this album I wanted a Citizen Youth feel. Heavy sustain, beautiful guitar picking and reveb with some sing your heart out lyrics. I got that with true Modern Baseball and it was fucking beautiful.

Put this album on loud, get in your car and drive until you run out of road.

“You ate the words you always used to say. There will be no more fucking around today”

 

    A Day To Remember – Bad Vibrations

I think we all stopped when ‘Paranoia’ was thrown out at us, in that moment we hoped for a new album. We got that and I am not disappointed.

I have to say that my two favorite albums by ADTR are What Separates and Common Courtesy. Without disregarding this album, those releases beat Bad Vibrations for me. However, saying that, I am so grateful for this album because I adore it and will grow with it until another release by the band. This album is brilliant, it is every bit ADTR but I have just lost the personal connection I have with the last two albums in this release.

This year we needed a powerful album; A Day To Remember did it.

“This pain is a sickness. Looming over me, and I can’t escape it”

 

AURORA – All My Demons Greeting Me As a Friend

Instead of sitting there looking at a stack of books and albums on the shelf while listening to this album, I went out for a few hours. I took a hike around the countless lakes were I live with my man Fathead just to listen to this album.

Hours and hours circling miles of water with this album on repeat was incredible. I wanted this album to be a visual impact. Seeing the beauty I live around and am fortunate enough to be around made me appreciate it more, because that is what this whole album is about; what Aurora is about, being grateful and seeing what is really there.

This album is innocent and pure. Aurora’s creativity and emotion physically and vocally is astounding. This album is remarkable.

“And when I leave this island, I book myself into a soul asylum”

     The Summer Set – Stories For Monday

 

You know when you have so many memories that associate with a band and it hits you in the feels? Here cometh The Summer Set.

This year has been a great one for this lot, album release and a performance at a Bernie Sanders rally... What more do you need to be convinced that The Summer Set are so precious? This album is a huge ‘fuck you’ to every break up and everyone yet to come!

“And I was falling in love while you were fighting the weekend. We were on top of the world but you don’t come around here anymore”

 

 Real Friends – The Home Inside My Head

I heard ‘Keep Lying To Me’ on this album first and I knew I was going to be happy with this albums main focus. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a really limited taste in Pop Punk and there are only a few bands I enjoy and will continue to listen to. Real Friends are one of those bands, they keep in line with the whole genre they pitch themselves too but there is always an element of difference.

This album is brilliant and I fucking love this band.

“I live in the middle of the lake and I don’t know how to swim”

 

Fatherson – Open Book

I was on my knees crying by the end of this album, I was so fucking heartbroken. Ross, if you read this, your voice breaks me.

I thought that Bon Iver was out here breaking hearts this year but it was Ross, Marc and Greg doing all of that. This release was one of my top three favorites this year, without a doubt. I would have given anything to be in the studio recording with the guys just to see the amount of passion lyrically and musically.

Thank you so much for this album Fatherson, never ever change.

“But you needed to hear this, cause you messed me up and I am crying out for so long, maybe I needed this love.”

 

Shawn Mendes – Illuminate

What a year this guys has had! I never even heard of Shawn before the start of this year. I started to listen to a few of this release and they were so catchy that I went out a bought his album. I am so happy it is in my collection because Ruin and Mercy are my number one jams for 2016!

I am a fully pledged Mendes fan, I just hope he stays a nice guy and doesn’t do a Bieber on us!

 

“Even though you don’t mean to hurt me, you keep tearing me apart”

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Favorites of 2016 

 

 

One more time, thank you. Happy New Year.