More gems from a breathtaking year in music
2016 has been one of the best years in memory for the variety and quality of music produced. Top releases include Childish Gambino's 'Awaken, My Love!' and Xenia Rubinos's 'Black Terry Cat.'
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2016 has been a very weird year in so many ways, but it鈥檚 been one of the best in memory for the breathtaking variety and quality of music produced in the past 12 months. Since our space for music reviews is limited, I present a baker鈥檚 dozen of worthy releases that 鈥渟houlda been contendahs鈥� for inclusion.
Perhaps the funkiest retro/modern album in years comes from a multitalented artist with the out-there name of Childish Gambino. 鈥淎waken, My Love!鈥� simply has to be heard. Go ahead, I鈥檒l wait ...
Fellow funkster Anderson .Paak proudly represents the flowering Los Angeles R&B scene with his latest album 鈥淢alibu.鈥�(Caution 鈥� it鈥檚 rated R.)聽
Xenia Rubinos鈥檚 鈥淏lack Terry Cat鈥� is an irresistible mash of funk, hip-hop, Caribbean, and jazz. And that voice! It鈥檚 a supernatural wonder. Another one of the best voices of the year emanates from British songstress Laura Mvula with her stirring, grandiose 鈥淭he Dreaming Room.鈥� A world away, three Israeli sisters collectively known as A-WA deliver up a world music delight with 鈥淗abib Galbi鈥� (鈥淟ove of My Heart鈥�), which doubles as a slammin鈥� dance-floor smash.
Country music is getting harder and harder to keep in a box, and that鈥檚 a good thing. Maren Morris channels more Johnny Cash than June on her excellent and defiant 鈥淗ero.鈥� And 23-year-old Parker Millsap is a young country bottle rocket with an old soul, as heard on his album 鈥淭he Very Last Day.鈥�
Protest songs are on the rise, and leading the charge is steely-eyed winner 鈥淎merican Band,鈥� by Americana veterans Drive-By Truckers. Kingsley Flood鈥檚 鈥淎nother Other鈥� is, in the band鈥檚 words, 鈥渁n exploration of identity and race and class鈥� with travel guide/lead singer Naseem Khuri.
It was back to the roots for the Rolling Stones with 鈥淏lue & Lonesome鈥� and the septuagenarians sound positively reborn. Rocking DIY newcomers Big Thief, with the album 鈥淢asterpiece鈥�; Pinegrove with 鈥淐ardinal鈥�; and Car Seat Headrest with 鈥淭eens of Denial鈥� all contribute mightily to the sterling cache of great music this year.