Name
1
Come Down
2
Friends (ft. Bon Iver)
3
Say It ft. Tove Lo
4
Redbone
5
Shut Up Kiss Me
6
New Song
7
Weight in Gold
8
Go! (ft. Mai Lan)
9
Hurt Me
10
Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales
11
Gone Insane
12
GOT IT GOOD ft. Craig David
13
You
14
We the People
15
untitled 07 | 2014 – 2016
16
Timeless
17
Wings of Love
18
Waves
19
Gemini Feed
20
Are You Home
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Artist
Why it made the Top 20
Album Cover
Spotify
Ranking
Anderson .Paak
This was the rare case where a song that becomes unavoidable is also one of the best songs of the year. Whether it popped up in an NBA on TNT commercial, in the latest Madden game or wherever else, I never got tired of hearing the funky bass line open this killer track from Paak, who had as big of a breakthrough year as anyone. The hook in this song is perfect and constantly bounces off the walls of your brain after you hear it for the first time.
https://open.spotify.com/track/276zciJ7Fg7Jk6Ta6QuLkp
1
Francis and the Lights
People were wondering, “Who the fuck is this Bon Iver knockoff on this Chance the Rapper song ‘Real Friends?’ when Chance’s mixtape dropped earlier this year. It turned out Francis and the Lights’ version “Friends” was the better version, with Bon Iver guesting on the track that also featured production from Kanye West. I’ve been a fan of Francis dating back to his It’ll Be Better record in 2010 but never could’ve foresaw the brilliant record he dropped this year, Farewell Starlite! Now Francis
https://open.spotify.com/track/2lyuqYDVbRQDzAZ4VMPBsi
2
Flume
Probably the most remixed electronic track that isn’t The Chainsmoker’s “Closer,” this Flume collaboration with Tove Lo was a perfect marriage. Tove Lo proved on her debut record a few years ago she’s the progression from Kesha – a pop star that can sing and write about partying and being scandalous and it works great.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4sQMalN597HdggTu196aL0
3
Childish Gambino
I can understand why a lot of people will not like the direction that Donald Glover has gone in with his latest album, the Parliament Funkadelic sounding Awaken, My Love! It’s an album devoid of any bars – there are no “II. Worldstar” type songs on this record. But if you’re a fan of when Andre 3000 went left of center on the OutKast double album like I am, you will appreciate this new side of Childish Gambino. The best single “Redbone” is very hazy and proves Glover to be quite the vocalist. I
https://open.spotify.com/track/3kxfsdsCpFgN412fpnW85Y
4
Angel Olsen
Speaking of artists going in a new direction and progressing rather than sticking with what they know – this singer-songwriter wrote a much different record on MY WOMAN than her breakout record Burn Your Fire For No Witness. The latter was a much quieter record than the new one, and the new record’s breakout song was easily this track. It retains the vintage sound Olsen has become known for but is a much more pop-driven tune than anything on the previous album.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5uZLsGY9fknBd5Rxr7AIss
5
Warpaint
Sticking with the theme of bands taking a new step – Warpaint went in a more poppy direction with the lead single from their killer 2016 record Heads Up. “New Song” is far and away the most dance-y song the band has ever released and the simple chorus is an instant earworm that you’ll find yourself humming after one listen. The track turns a vocal harmony from Emily Kokal into the song’s opening beat. It also utilizes the strengths of this band in a new way: the backbone of Warpaint has been dru
https://open.spotify.com/track/6KJwoctTkKGGT6cN8lLX7c
6
Gallant
The sexiest song on this list – Gallant was named to our Best Debut Albums of 2016 list last week and this song was the linchpin to the record and what broke him out in a big way. In the long absence of Frank Ocean before Frank’s two records emerged late this year, Gallant was one of the acts carrying the alt-R&B torch in a big way. This song will stand the test of time as one of the better R&B tracks of the decade.
https://open.spotify.com/track/1gXBi2I04CLJkTQnhNfEJT
7
M83
M83’s new album Junk was way different than anything they’d done in the past. It wasn’t as synth-driven as their breakthrough record but it still featured quite a few killer jams. None were as exciting and fun to dance to as this collaboration with MAI LAN. There were few moments as fun as throwing my hands up to this song on the festival circuit at stops like Coachella, Sasquatch, Bonnaroo and Firefly.
https://open.spotify.com/track/09zN9QBOHe8795UVOvEtnt
8
Låpsley
Lapsley also made our Best Debut Albums list last week and this is the standout track from her killer first effort. Hailed as the next Adele, Lapsley taps into those feels on this track similar to how adept Adele is at capturing that. This song features a perfect blend of R&B and electro-pop and her vocals soar on every verse.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2MMFpdctgwEkUlfP3kyPDG
9
Car Seat Headrest
I’m very late to the Car Seat Headrest bandwagon but hopped on after seeing their Treasure Island set in October. Will Toledo sort of reminds me of Beck, if Beck had gone a more emo route with his songwriting style than Beck had. This is a six-minute epic and the final breakdown will give you goosebumps as Toledo shouts “It doesn’t have to be like this” over and over before the climbing harmonies.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2os0aK782bakCPmjow0SU0
10
Lucius
One of the most gutwrenching songs of 2016, I got literal goosebumps when watching Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe scream the song’s final words at each other at Spotify House at SXSW. It was one of the most emotional moments I witness happen on a stage all year. The studio version of the song captures that same magic, it’s the musical equivalent of an ugly cry, their voices cracking a bit in the final moments, a stark contrast to their usual pitch perfect vocals. If you don’t feel something when l
https://open.spotify.com/track/6vuKuBrRjSWLM2iLlVmz7f
11
KAYTRANADA
When we tell our grandkids about the Great Craig David Revival of 2016, we’ll point to this KAYTRANADA track that David’s vocals appeared on as part of the Canadian producer’s epic 99.9% record. The beat immediately washes over you like a hot shower, and the British R&B singer’s vocals are as smooth as butter. It’s a great song on a record chock full of them.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2qUZliZ9NHUYIAZqRNe6pZ
12
Day Wave
One of the more minimalist songs from Oakland-based lo-fi power pop dude Day Wave, the melody sounds much like a slow-tempoed version of The Cure’s “In Between Days.” Jackson Phillips’ vocals are perfectly melancholy.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5uPcZmjMfDKo9a8ScArUd7
13
A Tribe Called Quest
The legendary hip-hop collective’s triumphant return after a nearly two-decade long hiatus was one of the best things to happen in a mostly shit 2016. The album was a welcome respite from the terrible presidential election results earlier that week. Hearing the late Phife Dawg’s vocals on the track is a gut punch knowing it’s the last we’ll hear from the iconic rapper. But they carried the track incredibly well on SNL that same weekend and if they do tour behind the record as they plan to, it’ll
https://open.spotify.com/track/3wUX7HpXS382s1DHTRouVk
14
Kendrick Lamar
It was crazy to see how Kanye West put so much effort into his 2016 release The Life of Pablo and it didn’t come close to making me feel the way Kendrick’s masterful untitled. unmastered release did. The song features some very simplistic songwriting but it just works. It was great to see Kendrick employ this song as the opener at his jaw-dropping FYF Fest headlining set in August, the crowd yelling “Levitate, levitate, levitate, levitate” along with the rapper.
https://open.spotify.com/track/40IQooNkPRVtn4zlE3ZFpA
15
DMA's
The release of an incredible Oasis documentary this year had people salivating for the return of Britpop more than any recent year. But if you were paying attention, you’d have already known the successor was already among us. Aussie trio DMA’s nail the Britpop sound with eerie accuracy, no more so than on this loud as hell lead track from their debut record. It took an interview with the band to clarify exactly what the hell singer Tommy O’Dell is shouting in the chorus, but that didn’t keep me
https://open.spotify.com/track/5vzbNzPXl8CXsxCWTHaR9Z
16
liv
This project is quite an eclectic mix. It features Lykke Li, members of Miike Snow as well as a member of Peter, Bjorn and John. Hearing Lykke Li’s vocals on a song that sounds out of the Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac is something to take in. It has me immensely excited to see what is still to come from them.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4HXABSIIr5QXkBMOKg4KtJ
17
Luna Shadows
Luna Shadows came out of nowhere like a shooting star in 2016. Releasing single tracks month by month, her debut EP exploded onto my radar thanks to a friend that works with the LA-based singer-producer. This song has a massive sound and the chorus consumes you immediately. “Nothing’s wrong with going off in a daydream,” she sings in the opening lines of the track. Those words fit the vibe of the song like a glove.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4Bpn1ZZQ8Fy2fiFqKwMfOS
18
BANKS
Much of BANKS’ debut record was a lot of one great thing: dark downtempo alt-pop. On “Gemini Feed,” one of the first singles from her follow-up record, BANKS punches up the BPMs and the song sounds like it could’ve fit Nelly Furtado during her time working with Timbaland.
https://open.spotify.com/track/1je8teAQYtOnzG7c10MTw5
19
BROODS
I’ve been a big fan of the New Zealand duo since their debut EP a few years ago. On their second record, this song stands out as the track that gives me the most feels. Hearing Georgia Nott sing “I’ve been drinking and I’m thinking that I don’t want to fight” squeezes my heart before the extremely dance-y beat takes over.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7mKqe6zpw3SHNHy9HPOSrt
20
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