Best of 2016 … So Far (Encore Episode 127) • Page 2

The best and most unexpected band for me this year is Pinegrove. I went from having never heard them to being completely obsessed. I mean obviously new Hotelier, Modern Baseball, Blink, etc are all awesome. But I figured they would be. Pinegrove caught me off guard in the best way possible

 

The former

 

10. o'brother, Endless Light
9. Parker Millsap, The Very Last Day
8. The 1975, i like it when you sleep...
7. Hiromi, Spark
6. Chairlift, Moth
5. Donovan Woods, Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled
4. Shearwater, Jet Plane and Oxbow
2016’s Midyear Best #3: Thrice
2016’s Midyear Best #2: Pinegrove
2016’s Midyear Best #1 & Honorable Mentions

I wrote a review for each of my picks over the past 10 days. I'm linking only to the top 3 because those all turned out...special. They're long, primarily because I go into biographical and philosophical takes on the albums. They've also become some of my most-viewed and most highly complimented blog posts ever. I think the greatest compliment came from Hands Like Houses themselves, replying to my #1 review of Dissonants, saying, "Quite possibly the most satisfying, encouraging and intelligently considered review we've ever received. Thank you."

 

New JEW? Is that confirmed?

 

@Thomas Nassiff if you want a great watermelon beer try Melonhead by Shipyard Brewing. It's close to perfect.

 

If I had to put together a top ten it'd be something like
10. blink-182, California
9. Kanye West, the Life of Pablo
8. Kendrick Lamar, Unmastered/Untitled
7. David Bowie, Blackstar
6. Beyonce, Lemonade
5. Future, EVOL
4. Radiohead, Moon Shaped Pool
3. YG, Still Brazy
2. The 1975, all that bullshit
1. Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book

Blood Orange will make its way up there with time.

As far as movies go, the summer has been putridly weak but there have been plenty of gems this year. To pick out a few favorites:
12. Maggie's Plan
11. Hello, My Name is Doris
10. Green Room
9. The Invitation
8. The Lobster
7. Hail, Caesar!
6. Sing Street
5. The Nice Guys
4. A Bigger Splash
3. The Witch
2. Everybody Wants Some
1. Swiss Army Man

they're all worth it

Fun ep. I am certainly apprehensive about a future iPhone not having a headphone jack, as I use my BeyerDynamic headphones almost always, unless I'm just listening to podcasts.

 

No mention of face to face... sigh. Anyways, this is all I've heard so far this year that I'm enjoying:

1. Face to face
2. Mourn
3. Basement
4. Radiohead

 

save for Blink and Biffy Clyro which are still fresh in my ears, my mid-year list so far looks something like this

1. The Hotelier - Goodness
2. Galileo Galilei - Sea and the Darkness
3. BRAZA - BRAZA
4. Pinegrove - Cardinal
5. Panic! at the Disco - Death of a Bachelor
6. Chairlift - Moth
7. Shields - How Can We Fix This?
8. The 1975 - I like it when you sleep
9. Pierce the Veil - Misadventures
10. Mahmundi - Mahmundi

EPs

1. Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties - Bittersweet
2. Turnover - Humblest Pleasures
3. The Starting Line - Anyways
4. Fióti - Gente Bonita
5. TWIABP - Long Live Happy Birthday

 

The 1975
Future
The Hotelier
Thrice
O'Brother
Deftones
Kanye
Saosin
Young Thug- SS3
The Range

 

I have been enjoying a few albums in 2016 lately

1. Blink 182 - California
2. Trash Boat - Nothing I Write You, Can Change What You've Been Trough
3. Saosin - Along The Shadow
4. Simple Plan - Taking One For The Team
5. Beartooth - Aggressive
6. Ignite - A War Against You
7. Hands Like Houses - Dissonants

So far 2016 has been a great year for me with more to come from Sum 41, Yellowcard, A Day To Remember, Good Charlotte and maybe some other bands that I don't know that are going to release a new album in the second half of the year.

 

Not yet, but they typically are on a three year album cycle so I'm hoping. They've just been playing festivals this year so I don't know if they have a record written and are waiting to drop it or haven't even gone into the studio.

 

@Thomas Nassiff Would NOT recommend New Belgium's watermelon beer. Which is a shame because I typically love New Belgium's brews.

 

Ohhhh gotcha