Our favorites: 2016

December 31, 2016 | Keith

Keith's picks

We decided to go with all cuts that were released in 2016, and most of these were featured here as Most Importants, however, I made a few adjustments with the songs themselves. For example, I swapped out AURORA's "Running With The Wolves" for "Conquerer" because I like it a bit better (the whole album is great) and Aesop Rock's "Dorks" for "Kirby" because the song is tongue twistedly terrific, and, well, I love the fun video.

Kerri's picks

Keith, being more musically ruthless, had less trouble than I did cutting his favorites down to ten. So when I realized that we definitely shared two top artists, I let myself off the hook ever so slightly and kept a top thirteen. (Next year it may just remain 20+, this was painful.) Anyway, I, too, made a couple slight changes from what was posted previously: I picked "Clearest Blue" by Chvrches instead of "Bury It" (which I'd chosen specifically for Collaboration Week), and I included "Don't Let Me Down" by Chainsmokers featuring Daya, which I posted before in our slightly less prestigious Pleasures section.

Tove Lo - Cool Girl

December 31, 2016 | Kerri

You can run free, I won't hold it against ya
You do your thing, never wanted a future
Fuck if I knew how to put it romantic
Speaking my truth, there's no need to panic
No, let's not put a label on it
Let's keep it fun
We don't put a label on it
So we can run free, yeah
I wanna be free like you
I'm a, I'm a, I'm a cool girl, I'm a, I'm a cool girl
Ice cold, I roll my eyes at you, boy
I'm a cool girl, I'm a, I'm a cool girl
Ice cold, I roll my eyes at you, boy
Rules you don't like, but you still wanna keep 'em
Said you were fine so, for whatever reason,
Show we can chill, try and keep it platonic
Now you can't tell if I'm really ironic

For NYE, I picked a track that 1) might be played on the dance floor if you're out partying tonight and 2) is possibly an anthem for the single ladies prepping to go out there. Keith probably thinks this song belongs more in our (guilty) Pleasures section, but 1) I love the bassline way too much and 2) I have trouble differentiating in the first place! Swedish sweetheart Tove Lo hits that spot I didn't know I was missing in danceable music.

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Blossoms - Charlemagne

December 30, 2016 | Kerri

Hello, hello
You put love in my hand
I know, I know it's made of lead
Hello, hello
Science came, a kingdom reigned
Below, below my Charlemagne
And the river always flows, so if you go I will know
By the way, my Charlemagne

Hello, hello
Mars, tried, hide, cried, died
Inside the snow in the winter
Hello, hello
The doctors knew, prescribe me you
Below, below the amber sky
And the river always flows, so if you go I will know
By the way, my Charlemagne
And the river always flows tears of gold
Left me cold do you feel the same my Charlemagne?

British quintet Blossoms have been doing their indie thing since 2013, but just released their first full length (and self-titled) album earlier this year. Exactly one year ago, The Guardian named them one to watch for 2016 and this month NME named this track one of their top 20 songs of the year. While it doesn't make my short list, it certainly deserves a feature.

RIYL: Arctic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Oasi, Miniature Tigers

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