The most anticipated records, the triumphant returns of legendary musicians and those records that we will remember more than once at the end of next year. Sounds choose the main albums of 2016.
1. David Bowie "Blackstar"
What is it: The 25th studio album by the greatest English rock musician.
Why wait: David Bowie is crazy. He earned money for a comfortable existence a long time ago, recorded some of the main songs of all times and peoples, and the individual albums of the musician will forever remain among the best of the best. But even this was not enough for David: "Blackstar" appears to be Bowie's most ambitious project in over thirty years. Only on the title track of the record there is a place for the themes of self-sacrifice, religion and space, not to mention the presence of a competent outrageous and in a good sense a shocking structure of the song. Bowie enlisted the Donny McCaslin Jazz Quartet to record Blackstar, and the label's creator was also involved in the creation of the record. D.F.A. Records James Murphy. According to producer Tony Visconti, while recording the album, the team tried to avoid the influences of rock and roll, the record promises to be as mystical as possible. Inspired by "Blackstar", oddly enough, the work of Kendrick Lamar and the trio Death grips. If Bowie tried to surprise us, he succeeded long before the release of the new "studio", but thus David deprives himself of the right to make a mistake: his current project is too ambitious.
When it comes out: January 8
2. Jesu / Sun Kil Moon "Jesu / Sun Kil Moon"
What is it: Mark Kozelek's friendship result ( Mark Kozelek) and Justin Broadrick ( Justin Broadrick).
Why wait: This collaboration has matured over the years: back in 2007, Kozelek proposed to release new material Jesu on his label; in response, Broadrick interviewed Kozelek for his own website - and so it went. So far, the only song from the upcoming album feels the friendly closeness of the frontmen of both groups: musical elements from Jesu perfectly complement the details of Sun Kil Moon, and vice versa. The result will surely stand out among the discographies of both bands. Separately, the list of guest artists is impressive: Will Oldham, Rachel Goswell from Slowdive and Mojave 3, as well as Isaac Brooke from Modest Mouse. The drummer will perform at the first concerts in support of the album Sonic Youth Steve Shelley. The best company in 2016 has not yet been found.
When it comes out: January 21
3. Savages Adore Life
What is it: Furious post-punk girl quartet returns with second album.
Why wait: Just a couple of years ago Savages had to fight for attention. They played the craziest concerts, caused comparisons with Siouxsie And The Banshees and presented the once modest audience with excellent demo material. The debut album was released under the auspices of the authoritative label Matador, received favorable reviews from the press, and Savages faced the question: where to go next? In 2014, the group teamed up with the Japanese Bo Ningen and recorded a joint improvisational disc, now it was the turn of her own material. Judging by the pre-release compositions with Adore Life, sound Savages became a little fresher and bolder, and the lyrics from the soloist Jenny Bat ( Jehnny Beth) immediately amaze with straightforwardness and honesty. You can find out how the changes affected the overall result very soon - "Adore Life" is released at the very beginning of 2016.
When it comes out: January 22
4. Animal Collective "Painting With"
What is it: The tenth studio album by neo-psychedelic veterans.
Why wait: The last three years have not been the best in history Animal Collective. Useless studio release "Centipede Hz", extremely stupid and frankly funny solo works of the band members and the uncertain future of the team, which in the 2000s revived and reshaped the neo-psychedelic genre for itself. However, the tenth "full-length album" "Animal Collective" promises to be at least good. The lead single from the record is called "Flori Dada", on it the group once again proves that experiments with sound are their domain, although this does not prevent them from writing moderately pop, catchy songs. "Painting With" could become the quintessence of the band's main studio work - obscura "Strawberry Jam" and the main pop odyssey of the current century "Merriweather Post Pavillion". The result has already been heard by visitors to the airport in Baltimore, where the band played the new album through the speakerphone on November 25th. For everyone else, the album will be available at the end of winter.
When it comes out: February 19
5. Death grips "Bottomless Pit"
What is it: The most terrible hip-hop project of recent years has changed its mind about leaving the big stage and is busy with a new album.
Why wait: This year, Death Grips have already shown who is the best at making uncompromising, unbearably heavy and insane hip-hop on this planet. Moreover, after the release of the long-awaited "Jenny Death" the group decided not to end their career, but to continue releasing music under the now familiar sign. At the end of October, Death Grips announced a new album called "Bottomless Pit" and shared a video of the same name with late actress Karen Black ( Karen Black). In the video, she reads lines from a screenplay by Zach Hill, the band's drummer. There is still no information about the album, except for the title, although there is little point in being surprised: Death Grips like to surprise the audience at the most unexpected moment. There is no doubt that they will still make us pick our jaws off the floor.
When it comes out: unknown
6. Kanye West "SWISH"
What is it: The 7th studio of a designer, music critic, PhD, US presidential candidate, and sometimes even a rapper and producer.
Why wait: In 2015, Kanye managed to do literally everything that is possible - in addition to the above achievements, he became a father, gave half a dozen interviews and managed to speak at Oxford, telling students about the hard life of a $5,000 sweater designer. Everything would be fine, but West promised to release the long-suffering "SWISH", which, of course, did not. And it seems that nothing new can be expected from Kanye, but we should not forget that, despite all his dubious antics and frankly weak singles of this year, he was once a wonderful hip-hop artist with excellent producer flair and moderately caustic lyrics. . Let's hope that fame and ego did not play a cruel joke with the musician once again.
When it comes out: unknown
7. Drake "Views From The 6"
What is it: The unreleased album of the Canadian rap heavyweight this year.
Why wait: Drake has released so much material this year that the long-awaited "Views From The 6" was automatically relegated to the background. But the grandiose scale is one thing, and the quality of the work done is quite another. Mixtape "If You're Reading This, It's Too Late" showed that the musician from Toronto is no longer the most boring rapper on the planet, but a performer who deserves the popularity achieved, and his joint with Future at least it was possible to listen to the work. Single deserves special mention "Hotline Bling"- a really high-quality and sticky composition in a good way, the clip to which in an instant became a meme because of the artist's ridiculous dances. Commercially, Drake is as successful as ever, his name appearing on the top positions in Billboard too often to be ignored. The rapper has talked a lot about the upcoming record this year, but it is still not clear what "Views From The 6" will be like. Only two things are known: the record will be a "declaration of love" to the rapper's hometown, Toronto, and it will be released in the very near future. One can only guess what title Drake will receive in 2016.
When it comes out: January 6 (rumored)
8. frank ocean
What is it: Ocean's first studio release since the press and audience favourite. "Channel Orange".
Why wait: Frank Ocean's debut album was an unequivocal discovery, which was praised not only by critics, but also by many musicians, not to mention ordinary music lovers. It was a pearl of neo-soul, an extremely sensual and emotional record, on which Ocean revealed a significant part of his potential. He has realized his influence on the world of hip-hop and is now slowly trolling his fans. He first announced the second full-length album and said that the record will be released in July 2015. Of course, this did not happen. Then Frank added videos of Danish cartoons to the code of his promo site to make the hackers' life more fun, posted a set of empty audio tracks on Soundcloud, and the musician's brother even "rickrolled" the fans, thereby joking about the release of the long-awaited album. According to rumors, James Blake took part in the recording of the new disc ( James Blake), Pharrell Williams ( Pharell Williams), group Depeche Mode, Rick Rubin and even a French electronics engineer SebastiAn. Numerous snippets of songs from the album keep the fans in constant suspense, and Ocean himself skillfully stirs up interest and waits for the best moment for release. Hurry up, honestly, this moment has come - trolling trolling, and there is less and less strength left to wait for the already high-profile release.
When it comes out: unknown
9. Gorillaz
What is it: Damon Albarn's animation-music project revival.
Why wait: At least for the fact that according to Gorillaz for five years after the outstanding plastic beach it was easy to get bored, and the record "The Fall", completely recorded on the iPad tablet, did not justify the hopes placed on it. In September, Damon Albarn announced that the recording of the new Gorillaz album had begun. Jamie Hewlett, the band's permanent artist, confirmed the musician's words and shared new drawings with the band's characters on Instagram. So far, nothing is known about the album itself, but Albarn is aiming to release a fifth "full-length" album in 2016.
When it comes out: unknown
10. Run The Jewels "Run The Jewels 3"
What is it: The final album of a trilogy from one of the best hip-hop duos of recent years.
Why wait: Who would have thought that the rapper Killer Mike and producer El-P someday they will work on joint material. However, the debut album Run The Jewels became the main discovery of 2013, and a year later the team released a brilliant sequel - an explosive and aggressive record, which you still want to return to. This year Michael Render ( Killer Mike) and Jamie Melin ( El-P) did not sit idly by - the group had a tight concert schedule, during breaks El-P wrote a remix album for "Run The Jewels 2" with cat meow instead of beats, and Killer Mike engaged in activist activities and even tried to become a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. In the fall, Run The Jewels announced that they would dedicate the next year to working on the final album of their trilogy together.
When it comes out: "As soon as it's ready"
11. Spiritualized
What is it: The eighth album from the influential psychedelic rock band.
Why wait: Early last year the frontman Spiritualized Jason Pearce has released a new song as part of the album "The Space Project" in which they also participated Youth Lagoon, beach house, The Antlers and many others. According to the musician, he recorded the composition only because of the money promised by the label, but the work on the track made him think about new material for the group. The album was produced by the band's bassist Killing Joke Martin Glover, better known by his pseudonym Youth. She and Pierce were supposed to finish recording in the first half of 2015, but no word on the record has yet been released. It remains only to wait for the weather by the sea.
When it comes out: unknown
12. The Jesus And Mary Chain
What is it: The first album of the forefathers of noise rock and shoegaze in 18 years.
Why wait: Group The Jesus And Mary Chain revived in 2007, and since then, according to vocalist Jim Reid ( Jim Reid) the team has repeatedly thought about creating a new album. It wasn't until October 2015 that the dreams became a reality and the band members started recording material. Reid noted that even in the early stages of working in the studio, it is noticeable how the sound of The Jesus And Mary Chain has become more mature and meaningful. The soloist of the group refused to think about the future - more than a reasonable approach for a group that has already made its greatest contribution to the development of music.
When it comes out: unknown
13. Slowdive
What is it: Full-scale return of the main after My Bloody Valentine shoegaze band of today.
Why wait: Back in 1993, the second album of Slowdive suffered an unenviable fate: the music press hated "Souvlaki", the record came out at a time when shoegaze had ceased to be fashionable, and the favorites of critics were becoming Suede, Blur and other Britpop bands. Not receiving the recognition he deserved, Neil Halsted took the initiative in his own hands and recorded "Pygmalion"- an extraordinary classic of minimalism, because of which the members of the group fled in all directions, and the label refused to release their albums in the future. It would seem that the end of everything, but in two decades, Slowdive turned from outsiders into living legends, without putting any effort into it and working on other projects. More recently, Slowdive returned from oblivion, resumed their live activities and are now writing a new album. Through years of ordeal, Halsted and the team have suffered the approval of the press and an impressive fan base, and no one doubts the band's ability to write amazing music. Legends are not just alive, they are more alive than all the living.
When it comes out: unknown
14. swans
What is it: The final album from rock's darkest experimentalists led by Michael Gira.
Why wait: The Swans have resurrected after fourteen years of silence and released some of the best records in their discography: "The Seer" and "To Be Kind". There was a lot in common between the albums: both records were "double", worked on the same composition scheme and were equally beautiful, except that last year's "To Be Kind" had a much better production. One way or another, these albums proved that the Swans at the end of their career are capable of the most daring experiments in the history of the group, and Michael Gira is a man whose talent simply knows no bounds. The latest Swans record, among other things, should close the trilogy of double albums, which, without continuation, could pass for the greatest rock records of recent years. If Jira and the team raise the bar even higher (is it possible?), then we have a top contender for Album of the Year. If this does not happen, then we will simply be content with the swan song of a grandiose team.
When it comes out: unknown
15. ANOHNI "HOPELESSNESS"
What is it: The debut album of Anthony Hegarty's new project ( Anthony Hegarty).
Why wait: Anthony from the very beginning of her career was an unusual singer, from the timbre of her voice to a detailed analysis of the compositions of the band Anthony And The Johnsons, from whom we have not heard new material for half a decade. Apparently, Anthony does not burn with the desire to return to the roots - she created new project entitled Anohni, promises to replace baroque pop with dance-experimental electronics, with the help of the producers of the new record - the creator of the avant-garde project Oneohtrix Point Never Daniel Lopatin and beatmaker Hudson Mohawke. Anthony intends to touch on far from the most comfortable topics for discussion within the framework of all mankind - for example, the first single of the upcoming disc reflects Hegarty's attitude to the problem of global warming and how people will live in the future if they do not deal with global issues right now.
When it comes out: spring (presumably)
16. radiohead
What is it: The eighth studio album from the main musical group of the last two decades.
Why wait: These people recorded OK Computer, "Kid A", "Amnesiac" and "In Rainbows" are some of the best and most influential albums of the last era. These people continue to make music - both together and apart. The band's fan base is not just great, it's huge, and if it turns out that every second Sound reader loves Radiohead and is looking forward to their new album, we won't be surprised. Only about the album itself is known less than we would like. However, the work in the studio has already been completed, now the band needs to select material for the upcoming record. It is also known that in the process of recording Radiohead managed to work with an orchestra, for the first time in the history of the group, a well-known collaborator from the outside may be involved in the creation of the album. Thom Yorke performed the first compositions from the forthcoming album at the beginning of December in Paris - it looked at least promising.
When it comes out: unknown
”, which preceded the release of the ninth album of the group - the release of the new record took place on the evening of May 8th. The first British album in five years is one of the most anticipated cultural events of this year, and its release inevitably divides 2016 into two parts: before the release and after it. Therefore, The Village decided to sum up the interim musical results of the year and recall the ten most important new records that have already been released this year and which are worth listening to during the May holidays.
Singer Anohni, formerly known as Anthony Hegarty, lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons, released a political album and the best record of her career. Anohni moved away from the chamber-pop to the trendy electronic sound that Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never helped make. As a result, the album's lead single "Drone Bomb Me", which tells the story of a seven-year-old Afghan girl whose entire family was killed by bombs, fits both an anti-war rally and a party equally well.
David Bowie
David Bowie's last album, which he recorded after he was diagnosed with cancer. According to Bowie's producer Tony Visconti, this album was intended as a farewell gift to fans, but it makes you think about resurrection through creativity, and about the immortality of the legacy that the musician left. And while there's no nostalgia to be heard on Blackstar - it's not a recap of previous achievements, but rather a non-canonical album - the record is reminiscent of Bowie's greatest talent: being ahead of his time.
One of the main figures in modern pop music finally released his full-fledged new album in April, dedicated to his native Toronto and, of course, personal experiences: on "Views", Drake is more fixated on himself than ever. Pitchfork has already called the record a defeat - it really is a very sad, too long and monotonous album that should have been cut in half. But there is a great song “Controlla” here, and it is no worse than “Hotline Bling”.
James Blake
James Blake's third album sums up the changes that have taken place in the British musician's life since "Overgrown". This also applies to the variety of stylistic devices used, and open attitude to collaborations (Frank Ocean took part in the creation of the album), and simply the duration: "The Color in Anything" has 17 tracks. But the main thing is that this is a very sincere disc, on which Blake leaves the image of a gloomy unsociable talent without betraying himself.
Kanye West
Kanye West recorded one of the most important albums of the year almost in front of our eyes: as it should be in the modern world of beta versions, the album changed its name, tracklist and versions of songs several times. On 19 tracks, Kanye is very free with numerous samples, invites guests (from Future and Chance the Rapper to Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar) and makes fun of himself. The result is an imperfect, but very human, if not kind, record.
The drafts left by Kendrick Lamar after working on "To Pimp a Butterfly" - instead of titles, the tracks have numbers and a recording date between 2013 and 2016. However, do not assume that this is a passing material. On the contrary, such an optionality only unties Lamar's hands, and he moves even further away from traditional rap and experiments with jazz and funk.
The Life Browser chose the ten best albums of the outgoing year, allocated one day from the New Year holidays for listening to each and picked up an activity for which this or that disc is perfect. Now it’s clear what to include at the New Year’s party, what is suitable for walking around the city at night, and under which group you can remember stormy youth.
For New Year's Eve Party
Mushrooms - "House on wheels"
Music: the most upbeat album of this year, in which even the obligatory slow-motion is made in the techno genre, and each song tells about an endless party where "bass piles up" and "you want to move so much, there is no end in sight."
Artist:"Mushrooms" appeared out of nowhere and made such a sensation that the group held their first concerts on the stages of clubs packed to capacity, and even the VIP box sang along with bad voices. Two rappers, a music producer and a humorist from YouTube with an Odessa accent are the most characteristic team of 2016. The only thing missing is a vaper and a streamer with a thin voice. The main thing now is that the group, having suddenly appeared, does not just as suddenly disappear from the radar and does not dissolve into non-existence.
Class: in principle, during the New Year's spree, the record can not be removed from the repeat. At the Moscow concert, the group sang the legendary "Intro" four times, and the audience was still not enough.
For walking through the empty city
Moderat III
Music: intellectual electronic music for bearded hipsters and thoughtful girls. It is difficult to dance under Moderat, and there is practically nothing to sing along with - the main line from best song on the album it sounds like "burning bridges is not my way". But in their impeccable melodic drawings it is pleasant, as teenagers say, to stick. As a result, you can do everything under Moderat: run, wash dishes, lie in bed or stand thoughtfully on the balcony.
Artist: two DJs from the Modeselektor group performed several times together with the singer under the pseudonym Apparat. Both the musicians themselves and the listeners liked it, so it was decided to combine the names and creative forces. In seven years, the supergroup has released three albums, each of which is perceived as a new gospel in electronic music.
Class: headphones in your ears, a hat on your head, dress for the January frost and go ahead - listen to thoughtful electro with a soulful voice and trample calories after the New Year's feast.
To say goodbye to the departed
David Bowie
Music: the twenty-fifth and, unfortunately, the last album by David Bowie. The record, which, it seemed, could not make anything more dark and full of sorrow, overshadowed the death of the singer three days after the release of the record.
Artist: During his life, David Bowie managed to invent half a dozen sub-genres of rock and turn the brains of hundreds of children on one side with his music, from which all modern rock stars later grew. No one believed that Bowie, in principle, could die - he had to outlive all of humanity and fly home to Mars.
Class: just listen to the record from start to finish. Old man Bowie deserved at least that.
Snuggle up on the windowsill
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Music: the ninth record of the howls of the most enigmatic contemporary soloist Thom Yorke, which are accompanied by guitars and electronic synthesizers. This time, the howls were much better than usual.
Artist: Thom Yorke is a silent, withdrawn and unsociable genius with paralysis of facial muscles and hatred for major notes. They say that when he writes a cheerful and light song, the seas will overflow their banks, and the earth and sky will change places.
Class: a blanket, cocoa, a vape machine, a favorite teddy bear, a windowsill, Radiohead and a phone with Instagram. But, if you're a straight boy, just listen to Mushrooms.
Discover the strong woman in you
Beyoncé - Lemonade
Music: the most unmistakably assembled record on the list. The music was written by the best composers, the best voices of our time gathered to sing along (Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Jack White from The White Stripes), and on the day of the release of the record, the HBO channel, which shows Game of Thrones, played a musical film specially shot for the album, revealing the details of the internal plot of the album.
Artist: Beyoncé Knowles, both before and after Lemonade, is the goddess and queen of the rhythm and blues genre, speaking out on the album at once on everything important issues 2016: how to survive the betrayal of a loved one (forgive, but do not forget), what to do if you are black (proud), and how to live if you are a woman (doubly proud).
Class: listen to the album in its entirety and immediately call your ex. Beyoncé is not Adele, no need to suffer, tell him that you never loved him and always imitated him, write a letter asking for a raise to your boss, buy a gym membership for the Butt Nut program and start life anew.
Discover the strong man in you
Run The Jewels - RTJ3
Music: The charge inside the group's third album, Run The Jewels, was so powerful that the record was released three weeks earlier and for free - out of harm's way. On the record, track after track, there is armor-piercing hip-hop, which must be turned on either in the gym or in the slaughterhouse, which is most similar to band concerts, or during shooting game sessions. The group worked out the last option with special care - in the video game about broad-shouldered men with the proportions of refrigerators and chainsaws instead of bayonets, Gears Of War 4 added not only characters with their appearance, but also a song called "Panther like a panther". Without rhythmic head movements to the beat, only monuments and paralytics can listen to it. Try it yourself.
Artist: in the past, El Prodacto, one of the top three white rappers in America, made underground non-commercial hip-hop. After the failure of another good record, he took on a protege of a black giant named Killer Mike, who looks like a man with whom he does not want to argue on any issues. The duet took the name "Steal the Jewels" and by the third disc not only did not have time to write themselves out and perish in agony, but also to become the most impressive young unit in modern rap.
Class: immediately after the last song, sign up for boxing, write to the girl you like for a long time that you would like to drink coffee with her after the holidays, and "no - ****** answer", and delete the page of the former from bookmarks.
For sex
The Weeknd - Starboy
Music: the first album by a black singer about the problems of white people. Two dozen romantic ballads about whether to drive around the city tonight in a Lamborghini Aventador or a Bentley Mulsanne and finally stop having so much sex with strangers.
Artist: Abel Tesfaye, a Canadian of Ethiopian roots, by the sixth year of his creative work, managed to record five records about how difficult it is to have sex and use drugs at the same time. Along the way, The Weeknd managed to come up with his own sub-genre of modern R "n" B, loading it with low frequencies and otherworldly sounds. This musical bomb would never have detonated if not for his wonderful voice - Tesfaye is compared either with Jackson (in timbre), or with Sinatra (in cultural importance).
Class: turn on. Doing.
Remember youth
Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct
Music: the very album, because of which the neighbors will come to quarrel with you. At first it is impossible to listen to it, then there is no strength to turn it off, and then all the time you want to turn it up louder, although the windows have already flown out, and the auditory nerves are irreversibly damaged. You can shake old times under Hardwired... To Self-Destruct with such violent force that there is a risk of injuring your neck or breaking your spine.
Artist: a genre of thrash metal that became obsolete twenty years ago, is still played by gray-haired rockers, who at the same time are suitable for their listeners as brothers, fathers and grandfathers.
Class: the same beer "Ochakovskoe" can still be purchased in stores, and a T-shirt with the team's symbols, most likely, is still in the closet, so theme party"Metallic" may well go with a bang. Cutting jeans and dyeing your hair is not recommended - you have to work on Monday.
Still have a rest
Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love!
Music: it is immediately clear when a musician records an album in more for himself, rather than for the fans or, God forbid, the record company. Awaken, My Love! - exactly the dream album, to which the young rapper (actor and screenwriter) Donald Glover went for several years. Fans are horrified - there are no dance hits or songs about sex and cars on the album, only incredible funk soul rock with an eye for a place in eternity.
Artist: Donald Glover is a Renaissance man, talented in everything at once. Over the past few years, I've done movies (not bad), made two records (good), and wrote, produced and starred in the TV series Atlanta (great).
Class: just turn on the album, lay back and relax. Let the music do it all.
Get ready for work
Tycho-Epoch
Music: electronic music that would have a place in a hypermarket, an elevator of a large company or a fashion store, if it were not for the incredible talent of composer Scott Hansen to tell stories through dozens of samplers and synthesizers. Each Tycho track ends up being a fantastic story without a single word. The story flows, the tempo changes, the melodies weave with each other - it is impossible to pause it from the first seconds, just like putting down a good book.
Artist: v Hansen has been writing intricate electronic tracks without vocals for ten years now. He plays all the instruments, mixes the tracks himself and draws the covers for the records. I would have listened to it myself, only the music really turns out to be excellent - this year Epoch was nominated for a Grammy as "Best Dance/Electronic Album".
Class: under the pacified Tycho, you can finally bring order to the house, prepare a schedule for tomorrow in the calendar and go to bed. Universal music for universal people.
The first high-profile album of the year and one of the most tragic. At the same time, one of the strongest works in discography, conceived by him as a farewell, but not tearful, but majestic, bright and adventurous, like his entire rich creative biography. Recorded with a free-jazz combo, the album became a kind of tuning fork of the year, defining its character, both tragically and musically. In addition, David himself showed incredible foresight, inventing a design similar to an endless rebus - the owners of the Blackstar vinyl edition are still discovering new details in it.
Leonard Cohen. "You Want It Darker"
Unlike Bowie, Cohen's departure didn't come as much of a surprise. The 82-year-old folk patriarch, shortly before the release of the album (and death), gave a huge interview New Yorker, saying that he was ready to calmly leave this world. The whole album is roughly about this - Cohen's best album for many years. Moreover, both textually (each song here reminds that Leonard is primarily a poet), and musically - thanks to the finest production work of the singer's son Adam. The latter, by the way, shortly after the death of his father mentioned that from the sessions " you want It Darker" left a few unreleased songs that may see the light of day in the coming years.
Basta. "Basta 5"
Undoubtedly, the biggest Russian album of the year, which proved the status of Vasily Vakulenko as the main national hero of the moment. He easily appears on the streets, descends into the subway, and then gathers the Kremlin for two days in a row and releases a double album of two and a half dozen songs. The scale is justified - Baste has something to say and sing to his listeners. The genre palette here varies from a romance about love for the motherland (“Where we are not”) to spicy trap (“XTZ”), from a cover version of Galich (“Damn”) to a stadium anthem (“Space”). Further, apparently, it will be even more interesting: a new album and a solo album are planned for the near future at the Olimpiysky round arena. There is no doubt that Basta will succeed.
Fedor. "No Fools"
The first completely new album by Fyodor Chistyakov, which went unnoticed to the insulting for many years. At the same time, "Without Fools" is worth most of the Russian music of recent years. It's lightly played yet incredibly inventive music, songs that can go from rockabilly to folk, country, rhythm and blues, and then explode into Gilmour's psychedelic solo without warning. In addition, this disc is the clearest proof that Chistyakov is still the best musician and frontman of Russian rock. The lyrics of the new songs are a chaotic comprehension of the news agenda, a cheerful sketch of the new Babylonian pandemonium (or Ragnarok), which its lyrical hero (who does not seem to differ too much from the author) looks at with a readiness to get involved in an eternal battle, but at the same time with Mitkovsky unwillingness to defeat anyone.
Kendrick Lamar. "Untitled Unmastered"
An album of outtakes from Kendrick's magnum opus "To Pimp a Butterfly", according to legend, was released thanks to the request of a basketball player who heard these songs and publicly (on Twitter) asked Lamar to publish them. However, it's hard to believe that the untitled compositions that Kendrick played every now and then throughout the year were not planned to be released at all - the material on "Untitled Unmastered" is presented without fools magnificent. If we talk about some differences from previous albums, then here the rapper, to a greater extent than before, appears primarily as a jazzman - the heir to Miles Davis, whom he was christened at the last Grammy ceremony. The songs here appear as if by themselves, from free improvisation, and therefore the level of their quality seems to be even higher.
Run The Jewels. "RTJ3"
Unexpectedly released almost a month before the scheduled date, the hip-hop duo's third album instantly made those who hurried with their results of the musical year blush. LP and Killer Mike, some of the best people in the world of rap, have released an expectedly brilliant record full of biting sarcasm. If we compare "RTJ3" with the previous works of Run The Jewels, then this is perhaps their most digestible (and longest) album. Raised on jazz, the red-haired beatmaker L-P filled the disc with springy and claustrophobic music, to which it is good to move around the back streets of any of the world's megacities. This is rap with a fearless sardonic grin - hardly the most topical musical genre at the moment in history.
James. "Girl at the End of the World"
Sweet-voiced, clean-shaven kid Tim Booth and his gang of Madchester's weirdest stars got a new lease of life on their last album, La Petite Mort. The new record develops the ideas of stadium Britpop - the heroes of the working class James even managed to take over the top of the British chart for a while, overthrowing from there. The secret of their success is simple - enveloping keys, a hypnotic beat and the mood of apocalyptic urban romance, which gives Booth's vocals hovering over layered guitars.
Banks and Steelz. "Anything But Words"
Showdown between members of the Wu-Tang Clan and Martin Shkrelli, who bought the only copy of their album "Once Upon A Time In Shaolin", left the release of this album in the shadows - and very in vain. A key member of the rap syndicate, Rizza, joined forces with the vocalist, and the result, to be honest, exceeded all expectations. Yes, Banks sings the choruses, and Rizza is responsible for the recitative in the verses, but the roles keep changing, and guitars recorded by Paul are superimposed on the inventive beat. The genre of "Anything But Words" is thus difficult to define. Obviously, however, this is an incredibly hit, weighty and yet cinematic music suitable for any season.
Swans "The Glowing Man"
With this album, Michael closes the current chapter in the history of his main band, the Swans. The most primitive group of industrial rock for this purpose chose the format of a triple album, when listening to which you can easily get lost - in unfamiliar lanes, in the evening forest or your own thoughts. Shamanism, which Jira has always been famous for, is brought to the limit here, the songs are 20 minutes long, and catharsis is inevitable.
Kanye West. Life of Pablo
The monstrous new album of the main rap madman was released in the “work in progress” format and was being finalized by the author for quite some time. Today, when Kanye has canceled the tour and is being treated for nervous exhaustion, this work can finally be fully appreciated. And to see that she came out really brilliant. The many elements from which the erudite West assembles his style, at first seemed like a broken kaleidoscope, but now they have formed into a completely uniform mosaic. "Life Of Pablo" is the most comfortable journey into the world of an American psycho who is seriously going to run for the presidency in 2020, and for this reason alone the album deserves attention. However, first of all, it is extremely intricate, eccentric, but charming music, proving that hip-hop is still capable of being more than hip-hop.
Frank Ocean. Blonde
Another long-term construction, which at first left the public at a loss. The new work of the quivering soul-neurasthenic Frank is not suitable for mastering in a rush. "Blonde" needs to be listened to thoughtfully and repeatedly, but the effort is sure to be rewarded. This is a multi-layered, complex and very beautiful music that does not just describe how easy it is to be young (for which Ocean was loved on the stage of the previous record "Channel Orange"), but rushes into the future, which Frank sees as viscous, but always exciting.
Red Hot Chili Peppers. "The Getaway"
After the change of guitarist (John Frusciante's place was taken by his friend Josh Klinghoffer) and the crisis album "I" m With You "many put an end to the funk rockers, but not themselves. To modernize their own style, they changed their permanent producer for the first time in many years Rick Rubin to the retro magician Danger Mouse, with whom every element of the new songs was worked out for a long time. The result was the most interesting and adult RHCP record in the last 20 years since the release of the swooning “One Hot Minute” recorded with Dave Navarro. raw rock (“Detroit”), dashing funk, kraut and art rock, and Anthony Kiedis finally learned to hit the notes. sixth ten.
Kano. Made in the Manor
This year, the main bomb of British grime music was the topical and dashing album of rapper Skepta "Konnichiwa". However, this record is still intended more for internal use, while the album of comrade Skepta, nicknamed Kano, is an ideal entry point into grime for everyone. What is not here - aggressive dusbtep bass, dancehall, Damon Albarn on vocals. Made in the Manor is a sort of an anthology of British music from the last half century filtered through the fast and harsh grime of the times.
Deftones "Gore"
The musicians of Deftones admit that for the first time on the new album they fully came to terms with the death of one of the founders of the group, bass player Chi Cheng. The result was perhaps the most beautiful record in the discography of Californian metalworkers, in which the tenderness and dreaminess of shoegaze enters into perfect resonance with metal aggression.
Korn. Serenity of Suffering
Almost the main icons of nu-metal from California's Bakersfield miraculously got out of the role of brutal whiners with a difficult past and today they teach fans not to give up, and the music is played more heroic than depressing. The combination of hip-hop rhythms, heavy guitars and compositional inventiveness do not give depression, but serious enthusiasm, and in terms of musical abilities, Korn are able to leave even older comrades like Metallica far behind.
Kings of Leon. WALLS
Emerging from the yoke of their rural origins, the Nashville quartet had played plenty of arena rock in the tradition of U2 on previous albums and decided to move on. “WALLS” is not a tour de force, but a short, but very diverse work, which found a place for funk, high-speed indie rock numbers (like the hit “Find Me”) and an epic finale in the spirit (“WALLS”). The growing pains of the Followil brothers are apparently no longer in danger - each of these three songs contains so many musical ideas that it can easily be deployed for performance with an orchestra.
Kula Shaker. "K2.0"
The most amazing and unassailable heroes of Britpop are back this year to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the debut album "K", from which the new record got its name. Eternally young Crispian Mills, however, did not abuse the exercises in youthful prowess - in contrast, for example, from Suede, who also released a new album. "K 2.0" is a very confident, quiet and unexpectedly American record built on country, rhythm and blues and traditional British psychedelia. At the same time, many songs from this album have already taken a firm place in the concert program of the quartet, and the hurricane number "Mountain Lifter" can even now be included in the collection of the best hits of Britpop in general.
Unloved Guilty of Love
A new project by a seasoned composer, known for the filigree soundtracks of films ("Ocean's 11", "Knockout", etc.). For this album, Holmes gathered a group of like-minded people, and put the tattooed beauty Jade Vincent to the microphone, who is capable of reincarnations ranging from a languid diva in the spirit of Lana del Rey to a fury in the tradition of Siouxie and The Banshees. The result is the most stylish and definitely the best noir rock album of the year, making it clear that Holmes' ideas in this direction are far from being exhausted.
Wilco "Shmilco"
Outstanding guitarist and composer Jeff Tweedy has been leading the Wilco band forward for the second decade - perhaps the best country rock line-up in the world. The silly name here means only the seeming ease with which Tweedy and the company use everything that comes to hand, construct folk according to art-rock patterns and at the same time manage to burn American reality. By all standards, a magnificent, and most importantly, completely universal record.
Cass Mccombs. Mangy Love
Gloomy folk-rocker Cass McCombs steadily records an album every two years and just as consistently holds the quality mark. "Mangy Love" is perhaps his most inventive record. You can listen to these songs endlessly. With outward simplicity, new instruments, guitar parts and melodic nuances are constantly being discovered in them - Kass's youthful passion for the work of the Grateful Dead is reflected. At the same time, the main instrument here is still a calm voice that tells about small tragedies and comedies of a big American city. If there is any music that can ennoble the vulgar genre definition of "urban romance", then this is it.
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