[Q]: Top 50 Albums of 2016

Q Magazine’s Top 50 Albums of 2016

01. David Bowie – Blackstar
02. Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
03. PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
04. A Tribe Called Quest – We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
05. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
06. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
07. Cass McCombs – Mangy Love
08. Angel Olsen – My Woman
09. The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
10. Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine

11. Skepta – Konnichiwa
12. Goat – Requiem
13. Beyoncé – Lemonade
14. Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
15. Dexys – Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul
16. Cate Le Bon – Crab Day
17. Frank Ocean – Blonde
18. The Avalanches – Wildflower
19. Parquet Courts – Human Performance
20. Anohni – Hopelessness

21. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
22. Steve Mason – Meet the Humans
23. Pet Shop Boys – Super
24. Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let the Kids Win
25. Wild Beasts – Boy King
26. The Lemon Twigs – Do Hollywood
27. Underworld – Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future
28. Anna Meredith – Varmints
29. Let’s Eat Grandma – I, Gemini
30. Jamie T – Trick

31. Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos
32. Bat for Lashes – The Bride
33. Kendrick Lamar – Untitled Unmastered
34. Lady Gaga – Joanne
35. Savages – Adore Life
36. Biffy Clyro – Ellipsis
37. Brian Eno – The Ship
38. The Fat White Family – Songs for Our Mothers
39. Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits
40. Bastille – Wild World

41. Kevin Morby – Singing Saw
42. Solange – A Seat at the Table
43. The Coral – Distance Inbetween
44. The Last Shadow Puppets – Everything You’ve Come To Expect
45. Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
46. Peter Doherty – Hamburg Demonstrations
47. Blossoms – Blossoms
48. Drake – Views
49. Richard Ashcroft – These People
50. Primal Scream – Chaosmosis


The 1975 "UGH!"

[Q]官方網站

[Mojo]: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[Mojo]: 50 Best Albums of 2016

01. David Bowie – Blackstar
02. Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
03. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
04. Lambchop – FLOTUS
05. Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
06. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
07. Frank Ocean – Blonde
08. Paul Simon – Stranger to Stranger
09. PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
10. Heron Oblivion – Heron Oblivion

11. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
12. Beyonce – Lemonade
13. Teenage Fanclub – Here
14. Charles Bradley – Changes
15. The Cult – Hidden City
16. Bon Iver – 22, A Million
17. Dinosaur Jr – Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not
18. Syd Arthur – Apricity
19. Modern Studies – Swell To Great
20. Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels

21. Ryley Walker – Golden Sings That Have Been Sung
22. Solange – A Seat At The Table
23. Kevin Morby – Singing Saw
24. Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Denial
25. Skepta – Konnichiwa
26. Cass McCombs – Mangy Love
27. Case/Lang/Veirs – Case/Lang/Veirs
28. Angel Olsen – My Woman
29. Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits
30. The Monkees – Good Times!

31. Fat White Family – Songs For Our Mothers
32. The Still – The Still
33. Suede – Night Thoughts
34. David Crosby – Lighthouse
35. Field Music – Commontime
36. Wilco – Schmilco
37. James Blake – The Colour In Anything
38. William Bell – This Is Where I Live
39. White Denim – Stiff
40. Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book

41. Steve Gunn – Eyes On The Lines
42. Anohni – Hopelessness
43. Bitchin Bajas & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Epic Jammers And Fortunate Little Ditties
44. Meilyr Jones – 2013
45. Kendrick Lamar – Untitled Unmastered
46. Christine & The Queens – Chaleur Humaine
47. Van Morrison – Keep Me Swinging
48. The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits
49. Nada Surf – You Know Who You Are
50. The Divine Comedy – Foreverland


Michael Kiwanuka "Love & Hate"

[Mojo]官方網站

[Spin]：The 50 Best Albums of 2016

[Spin]：The 50 Best Albums of 2016

01. Solange – A Seat at the Table
02. Frank Ocean – Blonde
03. David Bowie – Blackstar
04. A Tribe Called Quest – We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
05. The 1975 – I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
06. Beyoncé – Lemonade
07. Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
08. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
09. Angel Olsen – My Woman
10. Bon Iver – 22, A Million

11. Blood Orange – Freetown Sound
12. Rihanna – ANTI
13. Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
14. Mitski – Puberty 2
15. Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
16. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
17. Young Thug – JEFFERY
18. Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution
19. ANOHNI – Hopelessness
20. Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered.

21. KING – We Are KING
22. Kevin Gates – Islah
23. Joyce Manor – Cody
24. Anderson .Paak – Malibu
25. Nicolas Jaar – Sirens
26. ScHoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
27. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
28. Kaytranada – 99.9%
29. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Pretty Years
30. Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch

31. The Hotelier – Goodness
32. Parquet Courts – Human Performance
33. Kamaiyah – A Good Night in the Ghetto
34. dvsn – Sept. 5th
35. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
36. The Avalanches – Wildflower – 35. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
37. White Lung – Paradise
38. Maxwell – black SUMMERS’ night
39. YG – Still Brazy
40. Miranda Lambert – The Weight of These Wings

41. Whitney – Light Upon the Lake
42. Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
43. Marissa Nadler – Strangers
44. Vijay Iyer / Wadada Leo Smith – A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke
45. Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä
46. Bat for Lashes – The Bride
47. Maren Morris – Hero
48. Pinegrove – Cardinal
49. Moodymann – DJ-Kicks
50. Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide to Earth


Solange "DON'T TOUCH MY HAIR"

[Spin]官方網站

[Rolling Stone]: Top 50 Albums of 2016

[Rolling Stone]: Top 50 Albums of 2016

01. Beyonce – Lemonade
02. David Bowie – Blackstar
03. Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
04. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
05. Frank Ocean – Blonde
06. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
07. Rolling Stones – Blue & Lonesome
08. Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
09. Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
10. Young Thug – Jeffery

11. Solange – A Seat at the Table
12. Paul Simon – Stranger to Stranger
13. Maren Morris – Hero
14. Green Day – Revolution Radio
15. Lvl Up – Return to Love
16. Miranda Lambert – The Weight of These Wings
17. Parquet Courts – Human Performance
18. The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It
19. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
20. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree

21. Margo Price – Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
22. Bon Iver – 22, A Million
23. Mitski – Puberty 2
24. Drive-By Truckers – American Band
25. Rihanna – Anti
26. Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
27. Brandy Clark – Big Day in a Small Town
28. Blood Orange – Freetown Sound
29. Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch 2
30. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service

31. White Lung – Paradise
32. Alicia Keys – Here
33. Sting – 57th & 9th
34. Angel Olsen – My Woman
35. Anohni – Hopelessness
36. Metallica – Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
37. Bonnie Raitt – Dig In Deep
38. Tove Lo – Lady Wood
39. Elton John – Wonderful Crazy Night
40. Maxwell – blackSUMMERS’night

41. Wilco – Schmilco
42. Drake – Views
43. Future – Evol
44. The Monkees – Good Times!
45. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
46. Norah Jones – Day Breaks
47. Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things, Volume One and Two
48. Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution
49. Dawes – We’re All Gonna Die
50. Death Grips – Bottomless Pit


Beyoncé "All Night"

[RollingStone]官方網站

[UNCUT]: Top 75 Albums of 2016

UNCUT's Top 75 Albums of 2016

01 David Bowie – Blackstar
02 Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
03 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
04 Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
05 Ryley Walker – Golden Sings That Have Been Sung
06 PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
07 Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide To Earth
08 Anohni – Hopelessness
09 Teenage Fanclub – Here
10 Beyonce – Lemonade

11 Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits
12 Brian Eno – The Ship
13 Drive-By Truckers – American Band
14 Bon Iver – 22, A Million
15 Wilco – Schmilco
16 Hiss Golden Messenger – Heart Like A Levee
17 Cavern Of Anti-Matter – Void Beats/Invocation Trex
18 Solange – A Seat At The Table
19 Lambchop – Flotus
20 Angel Olsen – My Woman

21 William Tyler – Modern Country
22 The Avalanches – Wildflower
23 Margo Price – Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
24 Paul Simon – Stranger To Stranger
25 Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
26 Cate Le Bon – Crab Day
27 Shirley Collins – Lodestar
28 Case/Lang/Veirs – Case/Lang/Veirs
29 Kendrick Lamar – Untitled Unmastered
30 Frank Ocean – Blonde

31 Cass McCombs – Mangy Love
32 75 Dollar Bill – Wood/Metal/Plastic/Pattern/Rhythm/Rock
33 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity
34 Lucinda Williams – The Ghosts Of Highway 20
35 Eleanor Friedberger – New View
36 Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch
37 Tim Hecker – Love Streams
38 Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band – The Rarity Of Experience
39 Shovels & Rope – Little Seeds
40 Lets Eat Grandma – I, Gemini

41 Anna Meredith – Varmints
42 Brigid Mae Power – Brigid Mae Power
43 Roisin Murphy – Take Her Up To Monto
44 Okkervil River – Away
45 King – We Are King
46 Swans – The Glowing Man
47 Handsome Family – Unseen
48 Skepta – Konnichiwa
49 Christine & The Queens – Chaleur Humaine
50 Kevin Morby – Singing Saw

51 Underworld – Barbara Barbara We Face An Uncertain Future
52 Various Artists – Day Of The Dead
53 Hinds – Leave Me Alone
54 Robbie Fulks – Upland
55 Soundwalk Collective W/Jessi Paris Smith & Patti Smith – Killer Road
56 Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
57 Maxwell – Blacksummers’ Day
58 Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Ears
59 Billy Bragg & Joe Henry – Shine A Light
60 Ty Segall – Emotional Mugger

61 John Cale – MFans
62 Ian William Craig – Centres
63 Richmond Fontaine – You Can’t Go Back If There’s Nothing To Go Back To
64 Gruff Rhys – Set Fire To The Stars
65 Emma Pollock – In Search Of Dangerfield
66 Charles Bradley – Changes
67 Steve Gunn – Eyes On The Lines
68 The Coral – Distance Inbetween
69 Allen Toussaint – American Tunes
70 Kiran Leonard – Grapefruit

71 The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits
72 Oren Ambarchi – Hubris
73 Heron Oblivion – Heron Oblivion
74 Melt Yourself Down – Last Evenings On Earth
75 Psychic Temple – III

Radiohead "Burn The Witch"

[Uncut]官方網站

[NME]：TOP 50 Albums Of 2016

[NME]：TOP 50 Albums Of 2016

01. The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So
02. Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo
03. Christine And The Queens – Chaleur Humaine
04. Skepta – Konnichiwa
05. Kaytranada – 99.9%
06. David Bowie – Blackstar
07. Diiv – Is The Is Are
08. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
09. Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
10. Frank Ocean – Blond

11. Beyonce – Lemonade
12. Sunflower Bean – Human Ceremony
13. Angel Olsen – My Woman
14. Jamie T – Trick
15. Kano – Made In The Manor
16. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
17. Drake – Views
18. Tegan And Sara – Love You To Death
19. White – Lung Paradise
20. Lady Gaga – Joanne

21. Anderson. Paak – Malibu
22. Radiohead – A Moon-shaped-pool
23. Michael Kiwanuka – Love And Hate
24. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
25. Blossoms – Blossoms
26. Biffy Clyro – Ellipsis
27. Giggs – Landlord
28. Goat – Requiem
29. Kate Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos
30. Nao – For All We Know

31. Bastille – Wild World
32. Kings Of Leon – Walls
33. Margo Price – Midwest Farmers Daughter
34. Let’s Eat Grandma – I, Gemini
35. Glass Animals – How To Be A Human Being
36. Swet Shop Boys – Cashmere
37. Soft Hair – Soft Hair
38. Slaves – Take Control
39. Green Day – Revolution Radio
40. Rihanna – Anti

41. Solange – A Seat At The Table
42. Whitney – Light Upon The Lake
43. Anohni – Hopelessness
44. The Lemon Twigs – Do Hollywood
45. Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Denial
46. Savages- Adore Life
47. Wild Beasts – Boy King
48. Show Me The Body – Body War
49. Public Access TV – Never Enough
50. Bon Iver – 22 A Million


David Bowie "Blackstar"

[NME]官方網站

輕輕地 柔柔走 Softly

言えなかったこと。言いたいこと。
Softly
Label: Universal Music
2016.09
★★★★★★★★☆☆

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來自北海道苫小牧市的二人 MUTSUK (主音) 和 HARUKA (結他) 女子樂隊 Softly，沿於高中時 MUTSUKI 在 Twitter 上說："我想組樂隊"；於是兩人經朋友介紹下一拍即合，2013 組成。2015年頭才小試牛刀，推出 "Maybe〜どうでもいいの〜" 單曲，之後就好像一般 indie band 那樣，街頭演唱，發售500円「Maybe～どうでもいいの～／グラウンド」2曲 CD 獲得好評。

出道時間很短，作為地區性樂隊，知名度相對地不足，但其實經已默默地作推廣，上年算是有個好開始，拍廣告唱廣告歌，也為『女くどき飯 Season2』唱片尾曲，16 年也推出了第三張 mini album《言えなかったこと。言いたいこと。》

初聽 Softly 時還以為 Yui 重出江湖，原來只是 MUTSUK 聲線相似，而樂風是簡單的輕鬆小品，正如組合的名稱一樣，輕輕的舒服 (我想說自從 Yui 退隱，日樂壇都出現很多酷似她的女聲，不是歌聲近似，就是一人一結他，我稱為 "後 Yui 現象")。

新專輯起首是廣告曲 "恋心よあたしにきっと幸あれ" 和『女くどき飯 Season2』片尾單曲 "キミがいい" 都是爽快的結他節奏，擁有跳脫節奏的輕快之歌。之後的 "あなたのことを想って指先でなぞる文字は" 是為慢版的抒情小品；"花言葉" 的聲底錄音是自己喜歡的，有些回聲有些粗糙，繼續以輕快腳步前進。

"up to you" 和 "CRUSH" 都是我喜歡的曲子，前者輕鬆小品，後者起首有點 reggae 節奏，繼後變奏急進過後又回歸平和。

"海の声" 是上年其中一首被洗版的歌，不知道日本人是否對這曲有甚麼情意結，反正我聽過 N 次，有點嫌棄；而 Softly 版本都是簡單的結他勾弦，純賣聲線。最後一曲 "会えない日々が私を強くする" 以慢版 ballad 加上弦樂點綴作結束。

聽 Softly 的歌就是那麼純粹，一支木結他加一把聲，幾個簡單 chords, 舒服輕柔。兩個妹子不時玩視像直播和街頭演唱與樂迷互動 (其實現在很多初出道或想出道的樂手都透過直播湊人氣)，所以去北海道旅行時不妨留意一下街頭演唱，可能會遇見她們呢，這可算是初出道的福利。

初回限定盤收錄 2016 年 4 月在札幌舉行的小型演唱會 Live 「Softlyワンマンライブ　キミがいい ～Hello my friend～」。

Softly 《言えなかったこと。言いたいこと。》(初回限定盤CD+DVD)

CD
1.恋心よあたしにきっと幸あれ ★
2.キミがいい ★
3.あなたのことを想って指先でなぞる文字は ★
4.花言葉 ★
5.up to you ★
6.海の声(カバー)
7.CRUSH ★
8.会えない日々が私を強くする ★

DVD
2016.4.23「Softlyワンマンライブ　キミがいい ～Hello my friend～」
「Maybe～どうでもいいの～」
「あなたの隣で」
「Fly」
「ふたり」
「キミがいい」
「その笑顔を見ていたくて」

Softly "恋心よあたしにきっと幸あれ"

Softly Sapporo Neutral 地下路上音楽祭

Softly Official Website

白日夢之巔 Aimer

daydream
Aimer
Label: SME
2016.09
★★★★★★★★★☆

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認識 Aimer 是因為她唱過不少動畫歌曲，如機動戰士 UC OVA 的 "I Am" 和 "StarRingChild"，Fate/stay night 系列主題曲，甲鉄城のカバネリ等。沙啞沉厚的獨特聲線，沿於十五歲時聲帶發痛，選擇採用沉默治療法，以致半年沒發聲的經驗；即使直到現在也仍未痊癒。如果想將聲帶的損傷完全根治將無法再保有現在的音質，Aimer 則選擇保持現狀的方式，算是完美的缺陷。

說回專輯，製作班底有夠豪華，有 TAKA (ONE OK RICK)、阿部真央、chelly (EGOIST)、内澤崇仁 (androp)、野田洋次郎 (RADWIMPS)...超強組合，就音樂陣容已立不敗之地。

起首曲 "insane dream" 一來就是 TAKA (ONE OK RICK) 的拿手搖滾，樂風相對美式，熱身過後，"ninelie" 是和 chelly (EGOIST) 合唱的曲目，兩人聲線都很似，初聽很難分別，似融為一體；"twoface" 起首的幾下彈 bass 線已很醒神，之後的 bass 和擊鼓，結他 Solo 都節奏強烈，快來快去，非常爽勁的曲目。

"Higher Ground" 旋律優美，"Searching for my higher ground,if I fall please catch me now" 如黑暗中看到星光充滿正能量，粉絲大可來個"地球大合唱"
"for ロンリー" 如單純是阿部真央的音樂，那並不對我的口味，還好這合唱曲目還是不錯。

Aimer 的抒情歌一向有保證，"蝶々結び" 也不例外，還請來野田洋次郎 (RADWIMPS) 包辦曲詞兼和唱，旋律優美不在話下，更請得岩井俊二拍 MV，歌詞透過蝴蝶結比喻人生的起承轉合，一條紅線牽引的情感表達，低調又含蓄；接著 "カタオモイ" 這首小清新的結他情歌，以男性角度唱出甜蜜單思之情；這兩首都很適合用作婚嫁曲目，後者可以是男方唱給女方聽 (聽嫌了那些老掉了牙的婚嫁歌，而又準備結婚人仕可以考慮)。

進入專輯後部份曲目，"Hz(ヘルツ)"、"closer"、"Falling Alone" 都是以搖滾和電音為主，"closer" 則是唯一英文歌，可能聽得太多年歐西音樂，這類西方偏美式搖滾曲目相對地普通，我想強調雖則如此，但編曲和氣氛凝聚仍是一流，Aimer 演繹仍然一絕。"us" 的鼓擊節奏和幻變旋律可圈可點，"声色" 以弦樂主導，貫穿全曲，絲絲細語後又來個張狂電音，編曲獨特。最後則以舒服的結他聲和勵志的歌聲 "Stars in the rain" 作落幕。

2016 年對 Aimer 來說算是脫變之年，出道五年，出到第四張大碟，上年八月才首次上電視節目，要知道此女子常常神神祕祕，MV 甚至 live 都是不出鏡/遠鏡或燈光昏暗，很難看見其盧山真貌。然而竟會上 MUSIC STATION 音樂節目如同神蹟，終於見到她全貌，訪問中主持人問她不露臉的原因，她說想大家可以聚焦在她的歌聲上。音樂上的合作和多變也令 Aimer 的音樂到達另一層次。

題外話，現在看曲目資料要用放大鏡，視力差了很多...
初回生産限定盤包括"蝶々結び"等 6 首 MV 及 Aime Live Tour “DAWN” 14 首， 再加 BONUS TRACK: 甲鉄城のカバネリ」SPECIAL ENDING MOVIE。

Aimer 《daydream》(CD+Blu-ray) (初回生産限定盤) ★

01. insane dream
02. ninelie
03. twoface
04. Higher Ground
05. for ロンリー with 阿部真央
06. 蝶々結び
07. カタオモイ
08. Hz
09. 声色
10. closer
11. Falling Alone
12. us
13. Stars in the rain

初回生産限定盤 (Blu-ray)

01. insane dream (MUSIC VIDEO)
02. us (MUSIC VIDEO)
03. ninelie (MUSIC VIDEO)
04. Falling Alone (MUSIC VIDEO)
05. 蝶々結び (MUSIC VIDEO)
06. MOON RIVER (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
07. Believe Be:leave (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
08. Noir! Noir! (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
09. あなたに出会わなければ ~夏雪冬花~ (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
10. 君を待つ (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
11. Re:pray (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
12. Re:far (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
13. Heartache (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
14. 誰か、海を。 (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
15. AM02:00-AM04:00 (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
16. After Rain (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
17. 星の消えた夜に (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
18. LAST STARDUST (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
19. Brave Shine (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
20. DAWN (Aimer Live Tour “DAWN”)
21.「甲鉄城のカバネリ」SPECIAL ENDING MOVIE (BONUS TRACK)

Aimer "蝶々結び"(中文字幕版)

Aimer Official Website