Why 2016 Wasn't a Bad Year for Music...

cjWriter1997 It's almost like I have an unpopular opinion here based on the way people on this site react to music nowadays. And I can see why people may say this was a bad year for music. I mean, we've been saying year by year now, that today's music sucks and that back in the 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s and so on, music was so much better *rolls eyes*. And sure as of right now, we surely don't have The Beatles or Pink Floyd to make music go round, but we do have one thing...the internet.

I will say I haven't listened to a song on the radio at all this year so that might be a reason for my opinion. However if you realize, that kept me unaware of bad songs and more aware of good songs that were released. This year there's been great albums for quite a few genres. And thanks to the internet, I was able to find it.

Here's a post of the best albums to appear this year. Hopefully it will show you something...

Rap & Hip-Hop --
Before I start with this, let me just say "Shut Up, Rap doesn't suck. Commercial rap on the radio does, and not all of it." Now that we are done...

Atrocity Exhibition - Danny Brown: In my opinion the best rap album of the year. There is something about Danny Brown and his music that makes me want to keep listening. His album Atrocity Exhibition was easily amazing. First heard the single Really Doe, (the one featuring Kendrick, Ab Soul and Earl Sweatshirt, their might be one more but I can't remember it off the top of my head) and then I gave the album a shot. I actually had high hopes given the acclaim it's been getting. And honestly, yeah, it's an amazing album.

Aesop Rock, Vince Staples, SchoolboyQ, Apathy, Bones all made great albums this year.

Honestly this year was a good year for more underground hip-hop than ever. Lot of underground rappers are getting notice more and stirring things up. I will have to say though I didn't listen to too much hip-hop. So I may not know every good record to come out. But from what I heard and what was recommended, it's been pretty good.

Rock --
Chevelle - The North Corridor
Weezer's New Album
Korn - The Serenity of Suffering
Alter Bridge - The Last Hero
Volbeat - Seal the Deal
Lacuna Coil - Delirium
Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway
Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool
All of these albums (while some maybe not their greatest works) were solid albums that I and most other fans enjoyed.

Let's not forget the solid comeback of Green Day and blink 182. Both bands whom I've enjoyed in the past, released their new albums this year. And while California and Revolution Radio may not be amazing and some even think those albums suck, it's nice to see that these guys are still around making music and pleasing most of their fans.
By the way Sum 41's new album sucks :P

Pop --
Believe it or not, their were good Pop albums this year. (Some of you nearly threw up in your mouth, didn't you). But by pop standards Beyonce's Lemonade, Lady Gaga's Joanne, Carly Rae Jepsen's Emotion Side B and Bruno Mars recent singles are all well above average. Perfect Illusion and 24K Magic has to be some of my favorite Pop tunes this year. So yeah, put that tongue back in your mouth.

Metal --
Who can't say this year was a bad year for music when Anthrax, Megadeth and Metallica (yes, I listened to the leak) all came with a comeback. Dystopia is by far one of my favorite Megadeth albums since Countdown to Extinction, For All Kings was incredible and I have to say Metallica's new album is...not bad at all. (By the way so f***ing excited for Nov. 18. You bet I'm buying Hardwired.) I also really enjoyed Slayer's album but that was last year. Other great metal albums this year are Opeth's Sorceress, Amon Amarth's Jomsviking, Vektor's Terminal Redux, Killswitch Engage's Incarnate, Ghost's Popestar and Metal Church's XI. (Note some of these albums didn't get too much notice but amongst their fans, they were pleased)
And while some may not believe these guys aren't Metal (which in that case who the f*** cares), Avenged Sevenfold really surprised me, as well as others, with their album The Stage.

Other Great Albums:
Swans - The Glowing Man
Descendents - Hyper Caffium Spazzinate
Switchfoot - Where the Light Shines Through
Matmos - Ultimate Care ii
Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered
Jack White - The Acoustic Recordings
Iggy Pop - Post-Pop Depression
Bon Iver - 22, A Million
Ty Segall - Emotional Mugger

Country --
Ah, who am I kidding, Country sucked this year.

And for those asking for, where's _____ or you forgot _____. You do realize I can only write so many albums at once. And I might personally not liked a few albums this year as well *cough* The Life of Pablo *cough*. But if you personally enjoyed other albums then good, furthers my point of 2016 being a good year for music. And remember that these were just what I thought were the best of this year. And this year's not over.

I have enjoyed more albums this year than I did, 2015 and 2014. And in my opinion, 2014 was the worst year for music by far (Anaconda, Blurred Lines, All About that Bass, Fancy, This Is How We Roll, Shake It Off, Turn Down For What?! Literaly the entire setlist of Popular radio. Even Eminem's album was pretty mediocre considering he was the guy who wrote When I'm Gone, Stan and Sing for the Moment. Thank God, Counting Stars Uptown Funk, Stay With Me and All of Me were around to keep 2014 from killing itself.) Even Rock and Metal were bad this year. Like who can remember a great album that year, one that people can look back on and say "Oh yeah, that album is a masterpiece!" 2015 was much better (Tame Impala, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kendrick) and 2016 was even better.

So no, this year was not the worst year for music and no you are not born in the wrong generation. Sheesh!

In the meantime, let's get a little more serious right now...
I do know this year we lost a very iconic rock singer this year. David Bowie will be missed amongst fans and people around. But we have to move on and realize that no one lives forever. We were upset when Michael Jackson passed away, and Kurt Cobain and Cliff Burton and John Lennon and Prince as well (who died this year as well) and a lot of other great musicians. But that justs means how awesome and great their music were. And in society right now, we can listen to their songs whenever and wherever.
Blackstar was not only the last album before Bowie died, but also an album that was truly a remarkable piece of music. Let's be happy he was able to release one more album for us to enjoy.

Comments

Yeah so I forgot that Weezer had a great comeback in 2014. And I didn't listen to as much music as I do now, but looking back on this year, I can only remember good albums. So stay alive, be peaceful, and listen to your favorite music, peace. - cjWriter1997 (11/16/2016)

Just remembered, and now I feel like an idiot, but Deftones released a good album this year. How could I forget when Deftones are one of my favorite bands. *face palms*. Anyway there you go another good album of 2016. - cjWriter1997 (11/16/2016)

2014 was honestly a grear year for the charts in my opinion - ProPanda (11/18/2016)

Eh, most of them were hit or miss for me. Still think it is worse than 2016, in terms of music. - cjWriter1997 (11/18/2016)

It had some serious variety, and many new artists, as well as some amazing comebacks - ProPanda (11/19/2016)

2013 and 2014 GOAT years - Puga (8/18/2017)

I am so glad to see Ultimate Care II get some recognition. Other releases that
I'd say were great this year were Rival Consoles' Night Melodies, Avalanches' Wildflower, Street Sects' End Position, Car Seat Headrest's Teens of Denial, and there's probably a bunch of obscure albums made by people that have hardly got five followers on Soundcloud or Bandcamp that are great as well. - visitor (12/10/2016)

Plus metal was active... - visitor (12/31/2016)

Basically, if it wasn't in the Billboard charts, for the most part it was good. There were a lot of good album choices last year that I enjoyed, so I can't say that 2016 completely sucked. - visitor (1/3/2017)

You should check out Treehouse by I See Stars and Aggressive by Beartooth. Great albums. - visitor (2/10/2017)

Well, there was technically one other person on Really Doe. It was Killer Mike, although he was there for a split second. - SwagFlicks (3/6/2017)

2016 was ok thanks to Metallica, I even liked some of the rap. - visitor (3/17/2017)

There's another reason why 2016 wasn't a bad year for music.

Blood on the Dance Floor broke up! Woohoo! ✊ - visitor (5/26/2017)

Wooo
ho! - Skullkid755 (5/31/2017)

I just read that they're back together...

Noo! - Skullkid755 (6/2/2017)

NO! NO! PLEASE NO! - visitor (6/23/2017)

Oh my god, THANK GOODNESS you made this post. I understand the hate for 2013 and 2014, and I CERTAINLY understand the hate for 2017, but why does everyone call 2016 one of the worst years for pop music? This is one of the best of the decade honestly... - DCfnaf (8/17/2017)

Nice, almost a year after this post and it still gets attention. I do stand by on 2016 being a pretty great year for music. And due to the fact that I've listen to more music than when I first made this, I can say 2014 had it's good moments too. As for 2017, I'm still kind of hopeful. While there wasn't any big surprises so far for me, there are still a few albums I'm looking forward to (i.e. New The Contortionist and New Weezer). But I will say 2016 dominates 2017.

2017 is headed to be a great year for video games at least. - cjWriter1997 (8/18/2017)

2016 was weak for games. 2017, on the other hand, is going to be REALLY strong for them. - DCfnaf (8/18/2017)

Extremely bland year for the charts. Nothing moved, basically everything pop/rap/randb was tropical or trap, the country was pop and when the closest you have to rock on the charts is X Ambassadors, you know you're doing something wrong. Electronic music was... decent I guess. - ProPanda (8/18/2017)

I thought of something else for 2016, Closer and Wherever I Go! - visitor (12/19/2017)

A year and two days later since I last commented on this post and I can safely say that 2016 was by far the best year for music of this decade. - DCfnaf (8/19/2018)