Out of all of the terrible events that happened in 2016, the music industry pulled through and graced us with some astounding albums from both emerging artists and established artists. These 8 albums are just a few of the many great albums released in 2016.
Bon Iver: 22, A Million
Bon Iver’s third album, 22, A Million, was released September 30 of 2016. This album is very different from his previous albums; Justin Vernon of Bon Iver keeps his luxurious vocals in this album, but he moves toward an electronic sound rather than acoustic styles, as in his first album, For Emma, Forever Ago. Each song on this album is linked to a certain number, and the stylized versions of each title (from collaboration with cover art designer Eric Timothy Carlson), have different symbols which surely make this album unique. 22, A Million, however different from his other albums, does not disappoint. The style still stays true to Bon Iver, but this album brings in interesting sounds new for Bon Iver and his audiences.
Chance the Rapper: Coloring Book
Coloring Book is Chance the Rapper’s third mixtape. Chance collaborated with artists including Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, Lil Yachty, and Future. Chance the Rapper has become tremendously popular since his first mixtape released in 2012. Chance’s gospel style rap is one that is very different from other popular hip hop and rap music, which makes him stand out from the crowd as a true artist.
School of Seven Bells: SVIIB
School of Seven Bells is an indie rock band formed in 2007, with members Alejandra Deheza, her sister Claudia Deheza, and Benjamin Curtis. Claudia withdrew from the band in 2010, leaving just Alejandra and Benjamin. School of Seven Bells released 3 albums prior to SVIIB, but their final album was very different; Benjamin died of Lymphoma in 2013, just a year after their third album release. Alejandra took demos of songs Benjamin had recorded prior to his death to create the fourth and final album of School of Seven Bells. Benjamin’s death made this album so much more emotional and personal. In a 2015 interview, Alejandra says that SVIIB was a dedication to her and Benjamin’s relationship and friendship. “It was my biggest way to tell him how much I loved him as a person,” she said. School of Seven Bells’ final album was closure for the band’s work, and it is a heartfelt dedication and remembrance of Benjamin.
The 1975: I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
This album definitely wins the award for longest title. I like it when you sleep was the second album from The 1975, and it was released in February of 2016. Not only does the album artwork move from black to light pink and neon lights, but their new album is more 80’s synth-pop style, compared to their first album. I like it when you sleep is ethereal, dream-like, and more personal than their past album; The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy wrote the song “Nana” about his Nana, and the song “She Lays Down” about his mother. The 1975 also have accumulated a wide range of audiences since their first album.
Hamilton Leithauser + Rotsam: I Had a Dream That You Were Mine
This album is a beautiful collaboration between Hamilton Leithauser, former member of the Walkmen, and Rostam Batmanglij, former member of Vampire Weekend. I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is the first full album collaboration between the two; Leithauser and Rostam had collaborated on two songs for Leithauser’s solo debut in 2014. In each song of this album, Leithauser plays with the pitch and layering of vocals, with a certain style that makes his voice unmistakable. Rostam provides interesting music that is just as strong as Leithauser’s vocals; both the music and the vocals in this album complement each other to bring out the best of both Leithauser and Rostam’s music.
Beyoncé: Lemonade
Beyoncé’s album Lemonade was released in April of 2016 and is her sixth album. Lemonade was influenced through words spoken by Beyoncé’s grandmother, and it shows specifically black female empowerment through both the lyrics and her visual album released with the music. Lemonade is arguably Beyoncé’s best album yet, and audiences accepted it with a warm welcome. Beyoncé shows a confidence through the music, while touching on so many current and ongoing issues. This album is surely an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement and anyone influenced by the violence and racism that has plagued this nation. Beyoncé has such a strong, vast audience, that she uses her fame and brings these issues into the light through music.
