In the early days of the New Year, we've announced our annual Gold Bonus Disc Awards, and have also shared Mike's selections for the Reissues of the Year!  Today, Ted takes a turn with a look at his own, wide-ranging personal music diary, or Best of 2016 - plus a look at what he's most anticipating in the months to come!  We hope you'll discover a favorite of your own!  You'll find selected links below for further reading.

2016 was a richly diverse year for music.  But before taking a look at the year that was, here's a glimpse of what to anticipate in 2017.

In the new year, there is promise of new albums from personal favorites: Ryan Adams, The Magnetic Fields, Spoon, St. Vincent, The Flaming Lips, Run The Jewels, The xx, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Beck, Sky Ferreira, Oddisee, LCD Soundsystem, Drake, Taylor Swift, Son Volt, and Max Richter (to name a few) - with rumors of releases from Blondie, U2, Sigur Ros, Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen, Vampire Weekend, and Arcade Fire. Let's also appreciate the coincidence that Bell Biv DeVoe and TLC will both release their first albums in 15 years!

In terms of on-the-horizon reissues and career retrospectives, look out for titles from Funkadelic, The Jam, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, Cream, The Delfonics, Grateful Dead and Sir Paul McCartney!  As for the always-dependable Numero Group, they will revisit the 1970s folk revival with a vinyl pressing of Wayfaring Strangers: Ladies from the Canyon. Then there is 2016's Nobel Prize in Literature recipient, Bob Dylan, who has the right instincts and timing when it comes to releasing new and revisited materials. The mercurial Mr. Dylan will almost certainly deliver something relevant in 2017.

Guaranteed. In terms of the performing arts, there is one Broadway show to put on your radar: Dear Evan Hansen. Its forthcoming cast album IS as good as its sold-out show. I promise. When it comes to touring, personal favorites Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul will take to the road (A new album as well, perhaps? One could wish!) as well as an amped up U2, who will not only celebrate the 30th anniversary of their opus, The Joshua Tree in concert, but who also happen to have 50 new songs under their belt with lyrics "stronger than War (U2's 1983 album)" says Bono. And, finally, The International Pop Overthrow Festival will turn 20 years old and, in doing so, will issue its companion CD, IPO Volume 20! All in all, 2017 certainly looks to be intriguing, to say the least!

To hold you over for now, though, the following lists, in no particular order, feature my picks for 2016's best albums and songs. Categorically speaking, each list is divided into three categories with "Essential" representing the highest of rating; "Superb" representing the second highest tier; and so on. The following lists aim to be genre-fluid, but like the all-encompassing banner of Pop music itself, they are mostly filled with strong hooks, melodies, and positive messages. These recordings brought me much joy in 2016 and I hope these selections enrich your experiences in the New Year. Enjoy (and do let me know what you think of these selections at The Second Disc - I'm listening)!

New Albums of 2016:

These albums may have been initially released in 2016, but they project to have timeless appeal.

Lucky 7 - The Essential Albums:

Amanda Shires, My Piece of Land

Charles Bradley, Changes

Jeff Parker, The New Breed

Whitney, Light Upon the Lake

Various Artists, La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Alex Cameron, Jumping the Shark

Oddisee, Alwasta (EP)

Superb Listening:

Pinegrove, Cardinal

Trashcan Sinatras, Wild Pendulum

Daniel Lanois, Goodbye to Language

The Cactus Blossoms, You're Dreaming

Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool

Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor's Guide to Earth

William Bell, This Is Where I Live

Various Artists, Moana (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Mitski, Puberty 2

Kate Melua, In Winter

Jóhann Jóhannsson, Orphée

Solange, A Seat At The Table

Rumer, This Girl's In Love: a Bacharach & David Songbook

Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker

Title Tracks, Long Dream

Hiss Golden Messenger, Heart Like a Levee

Pretenders, Alone

Wilco, Schmilco

A Tribe Called Quest, We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service

David Bowie, Blackstar

The Hamilton Mixtape

International Pop Overthrow Volume 19

Jean-Michel Blais, II

Best of the Rest:

Public Access T.V., Never Enough

Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, Stranger Things, Vol. 1 Soundtrack

Teenage Fanclub, Here

Beyoncé, Lemonade

The Bad Plus, It's Hard

Ian Hunter And The Rant Band, Fingers Crossed

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Skeleton Tree

The Rolling Stones, Blue & Lonesome

Hayes Carll, Lovers And Leavers

Nicolas Jaar, Sirens

Suede, Night Thoughts

Childish Gambino, Awaken, My Love!

Angel Olsen, My Woman

Mark Pritchard, Under the Sun

Kacey Musgraves, A Very Kacey Christmas

Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions, Until The Hunter

Box Sets/Reissues of 2016:

Including both albums and collections, these recordings received new treatment and renewed consideration in 2016. This year's recordings celebrated a number of legends and revealed overlooked treasures of yesteryear. Here, you will find some of the best reissues in years!

"These go to eleven" + Just One More - The Essentials:

The Heaters, American Dream: The Portastudio Recordings

Willie Lindo, Far and Distant

Otis Redding, Live At The Whiskey A Go Go: The Complete Recordings

Bob Dylan, The 1966 Live Recordings

Led Zeppelin, The Complete BBC Sessions

Various Artists, Soul Jazz Records Presents BOOMBOX: Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro and Disco Rap 1979-82

Betty Davis, The Columbia Years 1968-1969

Velvet Crush, Pre-Teen Symphonies

Frederick Knight, I've Been Lonely for So Long

Harmonia, Deluxe

Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker

Big Star, Complete Third

Superb Listening:

David Bowie, Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976)

Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music

The Chills, Kaleidoscope World

Julius Eastman, Femenine

Michael Jackson, Off The Wall

DJ Shadow, Endtroducing: 20^th Anniversary Endtrospective Edition

Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club

Lee Moses, Time And Place

Good 'N' Cheap: The Eggs Over Easy Story

Cluster, Sowiesoso

Dan Penn, Close To Me: More Fame Recordings

Temple of the Dog, Temple of the Dog: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Van Morrison, It's Too Late to Stop Now Volumes I, II, III, IV & DVD 

Bill Evans, Some Other Time: the Lost Session from the Black Forest

 

Terry Dolan, Terry Dolan

Wilson Pickett, Land of 1,000 Dances: The Complete Atlantic Singles Volume One

Deniece Williams, Black Butterfly: The Essential Niecy

Still in a Dream: A Story of Shoegaze 1988-1995

NRBQ, High Noon: A 50-Year Retrospective

The Meters, Message from The Meters: The Complete Josie, Reprise and Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977

Sonya Spence, Sings Love

C87, C87: Deluxe Box Set

Chris McGregor and Castle Lager Big Band, Jazz/The African Sound

Best of the Rest:

Terry Reid, Other Side of the River

Various Artists, Sky Girl

Angelo Badalamenti, Twin Peaks Original Soundtrack

Lush, Origami

Fleetwood Mac, Mirage

Pink Floyd, The Early Years 1965-1972

John Cale, Fragments of a Rainy Season

R.E.M., Out of Time: Deluxe Edition

Buck Owens and The Buckaroos, The Complete Capitol Singles 1957-1966

Ian Hunter, Stranded in Reality

Manuel Göttsching, E2-E4

Crowded House, deluxe catalogue reissues

Ramones, Ramones: 40th Anniversary Edition

Frank Sinatra, World on a String

Replacements, The Sire Years

Ray Charles, The Atlantic Studio Albums in Mono

The Scenics, In The Summer

Gillian Welch, Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg

Steve Reich, The ECM Recordings

Songs of 2016:

Mixtapes (despite Mr. Miranda's Hamilton) may not be as common these days, but that's what playlists are now for. Just do yourself the great favor of making one and be sure to include these tracks!

20 for The Essential Playlist:

Sturgill Simpson, "Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)"

Mitski, "Your Best American Girl"

Charles Bradley, "Changes"

Trashcan Sinatras, "Best Days on Earth"

Jeff Beck, "Shame"

Radiohead, "True Love Waits"

Oddisee, "No Reservations"

The Bad Plus, "Time After Time"

Chance The Rapper & Francis And The Lights, "Dear Theodosia (Reprise)"

The Cactus Blossoms, "Mississippi"

Pretenders, "Holy Commotion"

William Bell, "I Will Take Care of You"

Justin Hurwitz, "Mia & Sebastian's Theme" (from La La Land)

Mylittlebrother, "Obvious"

Kate Melua, "Dreams on Fire"

Whitney, "No Matter Where We Go"

Alex Cameron, "Real Bad Lookin'"

The Jayhawks, "Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces"

David Bowie, "I Can't Give Everything Away"

Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording , "Waving Through a Window"

Superb Listening:

Leonard Cohen, "On The Level"

Auli'i Cravalho, "How Far I'll Go"

Hiss Golden Messenger, "Happy Day (Sister My Sister)"

Jóhann Jóhannsson, "Heptapod B"

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, "I Need You"

Wilco, "If I Ever Was A Child"

Pinegrove, "Old Friends"

St. Lenox, "Thurgood Marshall"

CC Dust, "Never Going To Die"

Solange, "Cranes In The Sky"

Soraia, "Electrocutioner"

Betty Davis, "Hangin' Out"

Amanda Shires, "The Way It Dimmed"

Rumer, "Balance Of Nature"

Beyoncé, "Hold Up"

Best of the Rest:

Monomyth, "Falling in Love"

Adia Victoria, "Dead Eyes"

Norah Jones, "Carry On"

Alejandro Escovedo, "Heartbeat Smile"

Teenage Fanclub, "Thin Air"

Maxwell, "Lake By the Ocean"

Childish Gambino, "Redbone"

K. Michelle, "Time"

case/lang/veirs, "Best Kept Secret"

Suede, "Outsiders"

Ian Hunter, "Dandy"

Angel Olsen, "Shut Up Kiss Me"

Steve Mason, "Planet Sizes"

Title Tracks, "Empty Heavens"

Owel, "Paper Hands"

Bob Dylan, "On a Little Street in Singapore"

Whyte Horses, "Feels Like Something's Changing"

Xenia Rubinos, "Just Like I"

Ashbury Keys, "Do You Know Who You Are"

Don't forget to read The Year in Review - The 2016 Gold Bonus Disc Awards, and Love You 'Til The Day I Die: Crowded House, 2016's Reissues of the Year!