Here is a somewhat comprehensive “Best Of” list (in alphabetical order) for local-ish music for 2016. There are so many bands it’s hard to keep up with everything. It was an odd year for local music, with several beloved bands either breaking up or moving away (i.e The Barbazons, Ursula, The Televibes, too many to name…). As always, thank you to all of the bands, show organizers and fans that work hard to keep the local music community alive and well.
Best Albums / EPs
Album of the year: (tie)
Ian Sweet “Shapeshifter”
Quilt “Plaza”
EP of the year: (tie)
Horse Jumper Of Love “Horse Jumper Of Love”
Squirrel Flower “Contact Sports”
Others:
The Barbazons “Barbazonia”
Bent Shapes “Wolves of Want”
Birthing Hips “No Sorry”
Black Beach “Shallow Creatures”
Doug Tuttle “It Calls On Me”
E “E”
Far Corners “EP”
Free Pizza “Berlin, DE”
The Furniture “Park Cars”
Ghost Box Orchestra “High Plaine”
Guerilla Toss “Eraser Stargazer”
Gymshorts “Wet Willy”
Jaw Gems “Heatweaver”
Kal Marks “Life is Alright, Everybody Dies”
Kid Mountain “Trinkles”
Lady Bones “Terse”
Lady Pills “Despite”
Listening Woman “Getting Mystic”
Mal Devisa “Kiid”
Magic Shoppe “Wonderland”
Mini Dresses “Sad Eyes”
Nice Guys “WSM”
Nightime Sunshine “Nightime Sunshine”
Ravi Shavi “Independent”
Skinny Bones “Ponta Delgado”
Spirit Ghost “Spirit Ghost”
Spook The Herd “The Small Wins”
Strange Passage “Shine and Scatter”
Sun Young “Sun Young”
Tredici Bacci “Amore Per Tutti”
Zip Tie Handcuffs “Headspace”
Best Songs
Songs of the year (tie):
Free Pizza “Slipping”
Mal Devisa “Daisy”
Others:
The Barbazons “National Geographic”
Beach Toys “Wasted On You”
Bent Shapes “New Starts in Old Dominion”
Doug Tuttle “It Calls On Me”
E “Candidate”
The Furniture “To Every Roommate I Ever Made Angry”
Guerilla Toss “Grass Shack”
Horse Jumper Of Love “Spaceman”
Ian Sweet “Slime Time Live“
Kid Mountain “Walk Around”
Nighttime Sunshine “Time”
Quilt “Padova”
Squirrel Flower “Not Your Prey”
Best Live Bands
Live band of the year:
Guerilla Toss
Others:
Acts to watch in 2017
Ryan Major & The Love Strangers
Spirit Ghost have had to replace three band members in the time that we’ve been going to see them, and yet they still put out great shows with an ever changing set list that gives them a fresh feel.. sometimes rocking, sometimes sinister and lounge lizardy, sometimes just dark and introverted.
…and the quality of Alex’s songs always shine through.