the top tunez of 2k16

2016 was a bit of a shitshow, to be quite honest. However in the midst of this shitshow came some pretty good tunes. Here are some of my top picks that were released in 2016.

‘3’ - Flume: Although sophomore album ‘Skin’ was mildly disappointing to people that had been fans of Flume since his debut in 2012, it still contained some pretty good tracks. Whilst ‘3’ might seem like a strange choice of a favourite song from this album rather than a track with AlunaGeorge or Vince Staples, this song in my opinion channelled old school Flume the most. I know artist progression is important, but sometimes these signals from past originality can keep an avid fan of the artist interested (aka… me)

Am I Wrong?- Anderson.Paak- I came across this one whilst revising for my A-Levels. Accompanying my revision, I would listen to compilation playlists by Majestic Casual and Underground Charisma, and Anderson.Paak featured a lot on these types of playlists. Groovy, funky, soulful, 3 components that made a resurgence in music in 2016.

Choose Me- James Blake: Now to go in the opposite direction of artistic progression and change, some might argue that James Blake has played it very safe with ‘The Colour in Anything’ which was released in mid 2016. However, this safety is where the beauty stems from. Beautiful, raw, delicate tracks with soft emotive vocals, Blake’s album is one of my favourites of 2016. ‘Choose Me,’ ‘Two Men Down’ and obviously ‘I Need a Forest Fire’ were my top three tracks from Blake’s 3rd critically acclaimed album.

The Sound- The 1975: It’s genuinely difficult to believe that this track was only released in February 2016. It feels like the chorus of this song has been circling in my head for literal years.

All Night/Same Drugs- Chance the Rapper: Chance  and his homage to gospel deserves the most honourable mention in this list. I’d listened to Acid Rap in the 2013 tumblr days when ‘cocoa butter kisses’ was all over the internet. All Night was undoubtedly one of my favourite tracks this year. ‘Colouring Book’ couldn’t be an album more deserving of grammy nominations.

24k Magic- Bruno Mars: Top 40 track of the year. So, so funky. Hashtag Blessed.

10 D E A T H B R E A S T- Bon Iver: One of the best things about music is the memories associated with it. This Bon Iver song, strangely, takes me right back to Reading Festival earlier this year, as it was played at least 5 times during the wait for Biffy Clyro. Despite that random anecdote, this lead single of the album ‘22, A Million’ is new Bon Iver at its prime. Lyrically perfect and instrumentally beautiful, this song also welcomed the new Bon Iver stylistically, almost an ode of preparation for other songs which moved outside of Bon Iver’s acoustic making mould (See 715- CREEKS, and 21 Moon Water for reference)

The entirety of the new Childish Gambino Album, ‘Awaken, My Love!’- no words to describe this one. Cliche aside, the music do the talking. Special mention to ‘Riot,’ ‘Redbone’ and ‘Terrified.’

On Hold- The XX: With the resurgence of The XX once again, I began to feel slightly dismayed at the knowledge that Jamie XX wouldn’t be producing original music again for a while. However, my fears and withdrawals were put aside as soon as I heard this track. Jamie’s musical style comes through in ‘On Hold’ with the build up to the chorus, and break down with a remixed Hall and Oates sample. Yet, the group still maintains that haunting, melancholy vibe that The XX are known for.

SPECIAL ALBUM MENTIONS:

Kaytranada- 99.9%. For fans of: 2011 SBTRKT. Best songs: TRACK UNO, YOU’RE THE ONE (Feat Syd- look out for her solo album in 2017)

Childish Gambino: Awaken My Love! For fans of: anyone who likes music.

The 'Curl Up By The Fire' Autumn Playlist.

There's nothing I love more in Autumn than sticking on the kettle, wrapping up in a massive duvet and pressing play to my favourite acoustic album, accompanied by the sound of the pelting rain outside. This is a playlist compiling all my favourite songs to listen to before things start to get real christmassy. It usually ranges from acoustic to folk, and there's some incredibly powerful female singers thrown in for good measure. 


THE BANDS: 

Fleet Foxes could honestly just take up this whole playlist, but I refrained from doing that. The hauntingly beautiful harmonies from Robert Pecknold are enough to have you hooked. 


Bon Iver are pretty much synonymous for music on them rainy days. Or days when you want a bit of background music reading a good book. Or pretty much every day. Justin Vernon's lyrics and the sombre tone of the debut 'For Emma, Forever Ago' are basically the soundtrack of the colder months for me. 


THE ALBUM:

Lucy Rose- Like I Used To is a 'soft and sad debut' as described by NME, this is definitely an album for lazy Sunday Mornings. Check the songs 'Shiver' and 'First'. 









THE PLAYLIST: 



Daughter- Youth

Bon Iver- For Emma

Fleet Foxes- Ragged Wood

Lucy Rose- Shiver

Dan Croll- Home

Lykke Li- I Follow Rivers

BANKS- Waiting Game

Ben Howard- Black Flies

Laura Marling- Ghosts

Jose Gonzalez- Heartbeats


Do you have any other song suggestions? Katie x 

the summer I went book crazy...

My love for reading has definitely increased a lot during summer and I'm not that sure why. I've always loved reading, but I think since watching the 'BookTube' communities videos on youtube and hearing hundreds of recommendations after a 'booktube binge' had an influence. Here are some books I have acquired this summer.

SOMETHING OLD: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. 
This edition of Wuthering Heights I have shown above isn't exactly pristine or one you'd find in a book shop today. This book was my mum's which she won in school for 'best effort'... and she has still kept it! As she went to throw it out in the middle of a clear out of the house I jumped up, grabbed it and took it as my own. I am yet to read this, but I have heard a lot of love for this classic piece of Gothic Fiction. Stay tuned.

SOMETHING NEW: The Dynamite Room By Jason Hewitt
I hadn't heard of this book but when I did my research I found out this book was only published this year and is Jason Hewitt's debut novel. I picked it up on a whim when my local bookshop had a '3 for £5' offer and I was unsure of what book to purchase. Again, I am yet to read this, but hopefully I will update soon.

SOMETHING BORROWED: It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
Okay, finally a book which I can actually tell you about as I HAVE ACTUALLY READ. This book is about a teenaged boy who due to the pressures of high school, friends and life falls into depression and this book embarks on his story to overcome it. Unlike many other tales of mental illness and depression, Vizzini uses a humour to portray a realistic view of what mental illness is like and crafts his words so carefully that anyone can relate to it. Thanks Sarah for recommending it to me!

SOMETHING BLUE: Although it's not pictured, I bought a beautiful edition of 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' by  Maya Angelou.

OTHER BOOKS I HAVE BOUGHT/READ THIS SUMMER: Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman, My Madder Fatter Diary by Rae Earl, Mary Poppins by PL Travers, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, If You Find Me By Emily Murdoch, The Catcher In The Rye by JD Stalinger, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, You're The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher, We Were Liars by E Lockhart, An Abundance Of Katherines by John Green, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.