SCM Music’s Albums of 2016: Honourable Mentions

AS WE GEAR up for our top fifty albums of 2016, it’s important to look at the ones which didn’t quite make it. With so many fantastic albums coming out this year, of course all couldn’t quite make the cut. Give these albums your attention, if you’re into the genre, or enjoy their previous work!

Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid

Rhymesayers

Seemingly overlooked in favour of lesser Hip Hop records, The Impossible Kid is a hidden gem which sees Aesop Rock drop some brilliant bars.

 

American Football – American Football [LP2]

Polyvinyl

The long awaited return of these Emo legends makes for easy, enjoyable listening.

 

Basia Bulat – Good Advice

Secret City Records

The Polaris nominated singer embraces flecks of pop and folk on this lovely release.

 

Bleached – Welcome The Worms

Dead Oceans

Welcome The Worms drips with punky garage rock and killer riffs, continuing Bleached’s streak of great albums.

 

The Burning Hell – Public Library

Headless Owl/BB*Island

With deadpan vocals and a fitting sense of humour, you’d be foolish not to be entertained by The Burning Hell’s latest release.

 

Cate Le Bon – Crab Day

Turnstile/Drag City

Cate Le Bon returns with another Psychedelic Art Pop project which incorporates erratic vocals and guitar to match.

 

Cat’s Eyes – Treasure House

Kobalt Label Services

An unusual pairing leads to some Phil Spector meets Ambient music that both intrigues and pulls the listener in.

 

Christine & The Queens – Chaleur Humaine

Because

Perhaps one of the most successful Pop albums of the year, Chaleur Humaine is chock full of hits to please any listener.

 

The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits

The Leaf Label

Sadly overlooked when it came to the Mercury Prize, Channel The Spirits is another step in the right direction for modern Jazz music.

 

Daughter – Not To Disappear

4AD

Narrowly missing out on our top 50 is Daughter’s beautiful, shoegaze influenced record with some cracking tunes.

 

Deap Vally – Femijism

Nevado Music

Deap Vally return with another punk fueled album with a stick-it-to-the-man attitude and a selection of great songs.

 

De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody

A.O.I./Kobalt

With a star studded guest list, including David Byrne and Snoop Dogg, And The Anonymous Nobody sees De La Soul reaching into new musical areas.

 

Field Music – Commontime

Memphis Industries

With strong Talking Heads influence, Commontime funks it’s way into this list through captivating bass lines and grooves.

 

The Gentle Good – Ruins/Adfeilion

Bubblewrap Records

Moving, haunting, emotional; all of these words can be used to describe Gareth Bonello’s latest, wonderful effort.

 

Glass Animals – How To Be A Human Being

Wolf Tone/Harvest

Advancing their sound from their 2014 debut, Glass Animals produce a beat-laden Art Pop record with an annoyingly catchy sound.

 

The Hecks – The Hecks

Trouble In Mind

Whilst teetering on that thin line between Punk music and Experimental music, The Hecks made one of the most interesting debuts of the year.

 

Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression

Loma Vista

At only nine tracks long, Post Pop Depression is an all killer, no filler effort from Iggy Pop and Josh Homme.

 

Jessy Lanza – Oh No

Hyperdub

With ghostly vocals and sharp electronics, Oh No is the perfect opportunity for Jessy Lanza to exhibit her skills as a solo artist.

 

Jesu/Sun Kil Moon – Jesu/Sun Kil Moon

Caldo Verde/Rough Trade

Jesu shakes up Mark Kozelek’s usual sound with an experimental and profitable collaboration.

 

Kero Kero Bonito – Bonito Generation

Double Denim

Bonito Generation is an album that should be taken in good grace; it’s fun, it’s funky, it’s a really enjoyable LP from the London group.

 

La Femme – Mystere

Born Bad Records

Influences ranging from Krautrock to Electronica to Surf Rock make La Femme’s new record one of the most diverse of the year.

 

Lucy Dacus – No Burden

EggHunt Records

Lucy Dacus is one to watch, and No Burden shows exactly why. She has an ear for a hook and honest, open lyrics.

 

Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard – Y Proffwyd Dwyll

New Heavy Sounds

With a mixture of Death Metal and ethereal vocals, Y Proffwyd Dwyll is a welcome addition to the MWWB discography.

 

Meilyr Jones – 2013

Moshi Moshi Records

The Welsh Music Prize winner makes a flamboyant entrance on his debut solo outing, with hints of Baroque and Art Rock.

 

Metallica – Hardwired… To Self-Destruct

Blackened

Hardwired… shows Metallica at their most triumphant in years, and features some legitimately great tracks, such as ‘Atlas, Rise!’

 

Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate

Polydor/Interscope

Flecked with old school Soul, Love & Hate is an album that will both entice fans of the genre, whilst also acting as something your Nan could enjoy.

 

Nails – You Will Never Be One Of Us

Nuclear Blast

At only 21 minutes long, this new Nails album is a burst of no holds barred energy that’s a shock to the system.

 

Nao – For All We Know

Little Tokyo Recordings

With so many disappointing Neo Soul records out there, For All We Know is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the genre.

 

Nap Eyes – Thought Rock Fish Scale

Paradise Of Bachelors/You’ve Changed Records

With strong influence from The Velvet Underground, Nap Eyes’ new album is an excellent example of how to do Proto-Punk music in 2016.

 

Preoccupations – Preoccupations

Jagjaguwar

FKA Viet Cong reinvent themselves on this pulsating, apocalyptic sophomore record which is equally as dark as their debut.

 

Shirley Collins – Lodestar

Domino

British Folk legend returns with a mesmerizing that draws from traditional folk music, as well expanding to experimental music and blues.

 

St. Paul & The Broken Bones – Sea Of Noise

RECORDS

As it’s name suggests, Sea Of Noise is a wave of majestic soul and bombastic instrumentation, topped off by front man Paul Janeway’s soaring voice.

 

Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits

Castle Face Records

A Weird Exits brings new waves of melodies to Thee Oh Sees music, with meandering synths and low key bass and drum beats.

 

Warpaint – Heads Up

Rough Trade

Moving more into the Pop direction, Warpaint score some hits on this album, including the aptly titled (yet excellent) ‘New Song’.

 

Weyes Blood – A Front Row Seat To Earth

Mexican Summer

A Front Row Seat To Earth manages to act as a comment on Millennials all through beautiful Baroque Pop. I mean if that doesn’t interest you…

 

White Denim – Stiff

Downtown

Actual good Rock albums are hard to come by. Stiff is one of those albums. Milk this while you can.