Foreword by Henry “Hank” Zimmerman
A lot of crazy things happened in 2016. With that high volume of crazy, it can be easy to focus solely on those crazy (and often negative) occurrences, all the while losing sight of all of the good things that happened in, and came out of, 2016. When looked back upon, 2016 will undoubtedly be a noteworthy year for many of those occurrences. Perhaps in the years to come, 2016 will be remembered in a more positive light thanks to all of the great music that was released in the year that has itself become a meme.
Here you can find the favorite albums of some of 88.5 KURE Ames Alternative’s board of directors, so that you can try to remember 2016 in a more positive way.
Karina Abbott, External Music Director:
Favorite album: GLA by Twin Atlantic
Favorite track: “A Scar to Hide”
“My favorite album of 2016 by far was GLA by Twin Atlantic. It just had this raw emotion to it, something that I haven’t heard in a long time. Considering hundreds of albums come across my metaphorical desk each week, to have this one stick out that much is really astonishing. I haven’t stopped listening to it since. My favorite track off the album is “A Scar to Hide”; it is one of the few songs I’ve heard this year that was able to actually make me shed a tear. I will never get tired of hearing Sam McTrusty’s vehement voice singing that heartbreaking verse: ”Cause I’ll keep on breaking till there’s nothing left of this stone cold person you think that you love.'”
Isaac Bries, KQ/QK Co-Director:
Favorite album: Farewell, Starlite! by Francis and the Lights
Favorite track: none
“Francis’ debut full-length breathes life into my lungs and makes it impossible not to feel excited about the simple act of living. This album is heavily fueled by the spirit of collaboration; both Justin Vernon and Kanye West are featured on the track list. Francis sends an invitation to dance with track titles such as ‘I Want You to Shake’ and ‘May I Have This Dance’. I dare you to try to stand still.”
Taylor Brown, Programming Director:
Favorite album: Light Upon the Lake by Whitney
Favorite track: “No Woman”
“Whitney’s debut album is a wonderful amalgamation of all my favorite things: melancholy lyrics set to bright, carefree melodies (and some downcast ones too); orchestral backings and unpolished vocals that lend another layer of rawness and authenticity. It’s deceptively simple and stunning all the way through.”
Connor Callahan, Webmaster:
Favorite album: Malibu by Anderson Paak
Favorite track: “Silicon Valley”
“This is by far my favorite album from 2016 and probably in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. It has 16 tracks and is stuffed with so many variations and styles of R&B with some great hip-hop undertones. Anderson Paak’s scratchy, soulful voice is perfect for illustrating the stories he wants to tell and goes perfectly with the variety of tones his music touches. If you like R&B at all, I definitely recommend you check it this incredible album. Every track is unique and I think no matter who you are, you will find something you like.”
Miranda Cheers, Operations Director:
Favorite album: The Ride by Catfish and the Bottlemen
Favorite track: “Glasgow”
“I didn’t expect to like this album or this band as much as I did. Ride won me over so much that I purchased it, as well as their debut album and a ticket to their show that was four hours away. Catfish and the Bottlemen now rank as one of my favorite groups of all time. Although I love every song, my favorite has to be ‘Glasgow’.”
Nathaniel Collins, Treasurer:
Favorite album: WORRY. by Jeff Rosenstock
Favorite track: none
“Everytime I play this album I can’t help but belt out the lyrics from the first line to the last. This pop-punk album has an incredible amount of energy. It is, at times, high intensity, though always fast-paced. That paired with its fantastically smooth flow from track to track makes it all fit together perfectly. It tells a story – a tragedy – about how good it can feel to be perfectly, self-destructively, lonely. Sadness follows you through the whole set, but it feels so good that you invite it in and let it take you over. I wasn’t familiar with Jeff Rosenstock before this album, but I surely will not forget him after listening to this happily-melancholy record. The tracks I would recommend are numbers one through 17 in that order. For those that are to impatient to give the whole album a listen though, start with ‘I Did Something Weird Last Night’, ‘We Begged 2 Explode’ and ‘Staring Out the Window of Your Old Apartments’.”
Patrick Cotter, Events Director:
Favorite album: Spirit Phone by Lemon Demon
Favorite track: none
“I’ve been a fan of Neil Cicierega for a long time, but the original music he made under the name Lemon Demon never really pulled me in. It wasn’t until Spirit Phone released in February 2016 that I was really grabbed. Cicierega creates catchy, rich songs with wholly original lyrics from start to end. I laughed at and was inspired into a belief in the occult by the lyrics of ‘Reaganomics’ and ‘Sweet Bod.’ I jammed to the earworm choruses and high energy beats of ‘Touch-Tone Telephone’ and ‘Cabinet Man.’ In a year filled with trouble, Spirit Phone makes a great counterpoint.”
Logan Gesell, Underwriting Director:
Favorite album: Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
Favorite track: “Drunk Drives/Killer Whales”
“Besides this album being an absolutely fun time, it also tells a great story. Each song stands so well on its own, yet they completely fit together in this 70-minute LP. I associate many personal memories with this album from 2016, yet see it being an album for our generation; something to be appreciated decades from now.”
Jonny Green, KURE Fest Director:
Favorite album: The Beautiful Game by Vulfpeck
Favorite track: “Animal Spirits”
“The second full album by funk aficionados Vulfpeck brought many new directions and collaborators to their amazing catalog. Each song is a fun new perspective on the boisterously funky sound that Vulfpeck is known for. The release of this album also brought with it one of the most unique and memorable Facebook live videos I’ve ever seen.”
John Harlow, General Manager:
Favorite album: Animal by Big Scary
Favorite track: none
“A little background: Big Scary’s first full-length release consisted of a compilation of four EPs, each seasonally themed, which came out back in 2010 as The Big Scary Four Seasons. It played as a sort of concept quasi-album, with a very tangible change in atmosphere as the songs progressed and the ‘seasons’ changed. Animal marks a return to this album-as-four-distinct-parts form with incredible execution. The diversity across these 13 tracks is incredible; make a quick comparison between ‘Organism’ and ‘Over Matter’ if you don’t believe me. Listening to this band move so confidently between sonic color palettes for nearly an hour is an absolute pleasure that shouldn’t be missed.”
Brady Nickel, KURE Live Director:
Favorite album: 22, A Million by Bon Iver
Favorite track: “715 – CR∑∑KS”
“Almost nothing has resounded with me as immediately or as powerfully as For Emma, Forever Ago did when I heard it for the first time, and as a result I get giddy at any news about Justin Vernon. Despite that, I managed to completely miss the buildup toward the third Bon Iver album until the day it released. One song at a time, the album takes you on a roller coaster through things you thought you didn’t want to hear in folk music, guiding you by the hand with just enough familiarity to stay engaging through the entire listen. No song overstays its welcome with unnecessary repetition or long instrumental fade-outs. Each track is a unique experience, yet shining through the whole package is Justin Vernon’s longing, emotional vocal delivery that could resonate with anyone.”
Erica Parrish, Production Director:
Favorite album: Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional by The Dear Hunter
Favorite track: none
“Coming off of Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise (2015), I wasn’t sure I was ready for a new installment. I was still so attached. But Act V pried me out of my comfort zone in order to take me to a different world. I never really liked The Dear Hunter until Act IV; symphonic and progressive rock weren’t really my niche. Act IV made me love them, and Act V got me out actively searching for more. I would say it was the best album for a person so attached to classic rock to help them bridge out into new tastes and find a new love in progressive symphonic rock.”
Henry “Hank” Zimmerman, News & Talk Director:
Favorite album: Absolute Loser by Fruit Bats
Favorite track: “None of Us”
“While Absolute Loser wasn’t exactly a big-ticket release in 2016, it managed to win me over with a tracklist that is enjoyable from top to bottom. At the time I came across the album, I hadn’t heard anything new from Fruit Bats in several years; this album proved to be a good refresher for me in the talents of Eric D. Johnson. I was surprised to find myself returning to this record even after several more-anticipated albums dropped over the course of the year. It just managed to hit the marks it needed to. Absolute Loser won’t be considered an instant classic, but it’s highly memorable and I’ll be spinning it for years.”
