Year-End List: 40 Best Albums of 2016

21. Norah Jones, Day Breaks

 [Blue Note]

Norah Jones returns to form on her latest album, Day Breaks.  Whether or not Jones would agree, Day Breaks, feels like a full-fledged return to her jazz-pop sensibilities.  On “Tragedy,” she masterfully blends singer-songwriter, jazz, and soul, playing to her eclectic strengths without alienating her base. “Flipside” incorporates some terrific abstract-sounding jazz harmonies.  Neil Young sounds exceptional in her hands on “Don’t Be Denied,” which certainly could be mistaken for an original.  Promo single “Carry On” is none too shabby in its own right.

Gems: “Burn,” “Tragedy,” “Flipside,” “Don’t Be Denied” & “Carry On”

22. Ariana Grande, Dangerous Woman

[Republic]

After two albums, Ariana Grande decided to break away from her teen-pop persona and embrace being a Dangerous Woman.  It pays off as Grande arguably delivers the best album of her career.  Embracing more grown-up material coupled with her ridiculously flexible set of pipes, Grande shows she’s transitioned to the next phase of her career.  Dangerous Woman masterfully blends pop, dance, and R&B.  She’s intense on the fierce title track, while the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Side to Side” is among the year’s most brilliant innuendo-fueled gems.  Sex is on Ari’s mind on the spectacular “Touch It” as well.

Gems: “Moonlight,” “Dangerous Woman,” “Side to Side,” “Let Me Love You,” “Greedy” & “Touch It”

23. Jon Bellion, The Human Condition

[Capitol]

If The Human Condition is any indication, the future seems bright for Jon Bellion. The Long Island musician is multitalented – songwriting, singing, producing, and rapping.  While his voice is his primary instrument of choice throughout The Human Condition, he busts some mean rhymes on “New York Soul, Part, II.” Over the album’s course he tackles his personal life, love, social issues, and spirituality.  Finally, towards the end of 2016, Bellion got some love for magnificent single, “All Time Low.”

Gems: “He Is the Same,” “All Time Low,” “New York Soul, Pt. II,” “Maybe IDK,” “Woke The F*ck Up” & “Guillotine”

24. Maxwell, blackSUMMERS’night

[RCA]

With the second album from a promised trilogy, blackSUMMERS’night, arguably the biggest mistake Maxwell made was that he waited too long.  Between his first comeback (BLACKsummers’night) and this LP, there was a span of seven years! For those few that did partake, for the most part, blackSUMMERS’night was worth the wait.  Maxwell tweaked his sound slightly from his previous album. Still, “Lake by the Ocean” certainly doesn’t sound far-fetched from “Pretty Wings,” while “1990x” exemplifies the Maxwell vibe (and falsetto).

Gems: “All the Ways Love Can Feel,” “Lake by the Ocean,” “Hostage,” “1990x” & “Gods”

25. Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Getaway

[Warner Bros.]

One of the best influences for a fantastic album is a breakup, the source of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ latest, The Getaway.  Frontman Anthony Kiedis’ pain is the listeners’ pleasure. “Dark Necessities” is the most elite moment, single-handedly making The Getaway a contender.  That’s Title track “The Getaway” ‘goes for the kill’ in regards to the end of a relationship, setting the tone, while “We Turn Red” takes a jab at Donald Trump (“Coming down from the deserts where you / caught a glimpse of the billionaire.”).

Gems: “The Getaway,” “Dark Necessities,” “We Turn Red,” “Sick Love” and “Go Robot”

26. Maren Morris, Hero

[Columbia]

Maren Morris “signed, sealed, and delivered” a savvy country album with Hero, which benefits from embracing numerous styles and well deserving of the label multidimensional. Too often country boxes itself in, but Morris avoids that here.  She also shows a bit of extra edge, letting some naughty words slip off the tongue. She atones though – “Can I get a hallelujah?” – on the epic crossover hit “My Church.”

Gems: “Sugar,” “Rich,” “My Church,” “I Could Use a Love Song” & “I Wish I Was”

27. Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth

[Atlantic]

Sturgill Simpson also separated himself from other country artists in 2016. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth transcends country, showcasing incredible eclecticism.  Ask yourself, how many times in modern country music are horns used? Also, ask yourself this question – how many country artists cover Nirvana (“In Bloom”)? More country artists should do as Simpson says – “Brace for Impact (Live A Little)” – go beyond the label country!

Gems: “Welcome to Earth (Pollywog),” “Breaker’s Roar,” “In Bloom” & “Call to Arms”

28. John Legend, Darkness and Light

[RCA]

The return of John Legend ended up being an understated one, in regards to commercial success.  Nonetheless, following a three-year hiatus, Legend brought the heat on Darkness and Light.  He opens with the gospel-infused “I Know Better,” which is drenched in soulfulness and grit.  “Penthouse Floor” gives the album some swag, in a grown-n-sexy sort of way.  Main attraction “Love Me Now” gives Legend another crossover hit without compromising his robust, powerful instrument.  Darkness and Light is the exemplification of well-rounded, modern R&B album.

Gems: “I Know Better,” “Penthouse Floor,” “Love Me Now,” “What You Do to Me” & “Right by You (for Luna)”

29. Anderson. Paak, Malibu

[Steel Wool / OBE]

Back in January, Anderson. Paak might’ve secured a top-five spot with Malibu.  In the review penned Malibu, I wrote: “Anderson Paak clearly shows himself to be a force to be reckoned with and hopefully Malibu isn’t just a critical breakthrough, but also a commercial breakthrough.” The problem is that since January, plenty more fantastic albums have joined Paak’s own standout.  While Malibu may have lost some of its edge, coupled with being underappreciated in the first place, it’s clearly one of the year’s more intriguing, creative albums. Paak sings, raps, and wears lots of different hats throughout this Alt-R&B jewel.

Gems: “The Bird,” “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance,” “The Season / Carry Me,” “Put Me Thru,” “Your Prime” & “Come Down”

30. Sia, This Is Acting

[RCA]

This is Acting was initially “passed over” as a best album of 2016.  After some hard reconsideration, the pop album gets a nod on this list.  There were simply too many hits and excellent songs – rejected by other artists or not – to ignore.  “Bird Set Free” and “Alive” both kick off This is Acting in uplifting fashion, while “Cheap Thrills” gives the LP a fun, infectious gem. The deluxe edition adds the confident “The Greatest” and the moving “Jesus Wept.”

Gems: “Bird Set Free,” “Alive,” “Reaper,” “Cheap Thrills” (ft. Sean Paul), “The Greatest” (ft. Kendrick Lamar) & “Jesus Wept”