First of all, let me say that I should have checked out that Beyonce album waaaaaaay earlier. It's all I've listened to this week. It should probably be much higher than #11 (which I awarded it last week) but it's too late to change everything now. With that in mind, onwards...!

In retrospect, this is probably ranked too high. But I am a sucker for female soul / R&B singers and this was the best album from that genre this year. Her voice probably isn't for everyone (at times), but - taken as a whole - this is one fantastic album. Really excited to hear what is next from Nao, especially considering that this is her debut album!

So many "surprise albums" this year and this was one of the best. So many bare-bones songs on this effort (his voice and not much else) which speaks to the extraordinary talents of this trail-balzing artist.

While songs about environmental degredation, drone warfare, and violence in general would not seem to promise anything resembling beauty, the power of Anohni's voice shines through. The former Antony Hegarty has one of the most distinctive voices in popular music. Now, here he is paired with two of today's hottest producers (Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never). The results are not always easy to listen to, but always compelling and completely unique.

This is a very, very dark album. If you want your music poppy and care-free, do not listen to this. But if you want something very personal, very real, and very, very powerful then check this out. Written at the same time as Nick Cave's 15-year-old son died in a horrible accident, it is heart-breaking and glorious.

In September of 1997 (almost 20 years ago!!) there was a grade 10 boy in my ELL-Science class (yep, I taught that) in Sentinel in West Vancouver (yep, I taught there). I can't remember his name but he ALWAYS had his headphones on. Tired of asking him to remove them, I decided to try to connect with this kid by asking him "just what are you listening to". He just shrugged and passed me his headphones... and changed my life forever!!!

Okay, maybe that's too strong, but he had Radiohead's "OK Computer" playing and I hardly knew the band (except for that horrible "Loser" song). I couldn't stop listening to it (ruined the rest of my class) and, long story short, it's quite possibly my favourite album of all time (you'll see a poster of the album cover in my classroom). Thanks to that kid (no idea what his name was)!

Fast forward a couple decades and Radiohead remains one of my two favourite bands of the '90's - 2000's (the other being - of course - Sigur Ros!). And they are still releasing incredible, daring, unexpected music. This album isn't there best but it's still one of the best albums of 2016!

Okay, the song titles and videos are ridiculous. But the music - like all Bon Iver's music - is gorgeous. I don't know what's more impressive - how different this is from his previous work or how - somehow - it (almost all) works! Check out another song on this album - 33 "God" - for my top song of 2016.

Okay, there is awful language all over this album. So don't listen to it if you are easily offended. But if you are looking for the best blend of soul, funk, rap, AND rock... all on one album, then this is what you've been looking for. This is pure ear candy; quite simply, it sounds friggin' GOOD!!!

Incredibly, this was released as a mixtape. Uh...wow! While the distinction between "mixtape" and "album" is pretty slight, it is still pretty impressive that music this great was not proclaimed an official album. This was influenced by gospel music and it is readily apparent in the triumphant and celebratory tone of the songs. 

Surprise! Beyonce's album was incredible but it wasn't even the best album in her own family! That honour goes to younger sister Solange. This album tackles some pretty serious topics; issues that Solange obviously feels very passionate about. But the real strength of the songs comes from the gorgeous arrangements and Solange's restrained delivery. Move over Bey! There's a new Queen in town!

I knew I was in for something special with the opening song - 10 minutes long, choir, strings, killer guitar. It's INCREDIBLE!! Even more amazing, the rest of the album is NOT a let down after such an ambitious opening. In fact, some songs might even be BETTER! A moving, exciting, and beautiful piece of art... and my album of the year!!

The password is 3

Great film Bijan!! (your passwords could use a little work though)

What a horrible year for music! The deaths of so many great artists: David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, Sharon Jones, Maurice White, Glenn Frey... can't wait for 2016 to be over!

But what a GREAT year for music too!! So many albums captured my attention, won my heart, piqued my interest, excited, delighted and inspired. The last few year's I've done a Top 10 albums of the year. This year was so fabulous, I'm doubling it!

So, with no further ado (and likely of little interest to those not named "Shami" and "Izzy") here are Wadge's Top 20 albums of 2016!!

Largely dismissed by many critics but my criteria for album quality is a simple one: how ofen did I listen to it? And, there were MANY times that I put this album on in 2016. Though the best song can not be posted here - darn profanity (check out the song featuring Run the Jewels if you are interested) - this one is almost as good (in a MUCH more laid back way)

Speaking of critics, many (MANY!!) of them picked this as the album of the year (or in the top 3). The fact that David Bowie died mere days after it's release adds to its power (and made the first lines of the song below rather unsettling). David Bowie was a musical genius who left an indelible mark on the world. It's fitting that his career ended with such a strong album.

Wow! What a surprise! This sounds like something Parliament might have recorded years ago. Old school funk! Love it! There are a few duds on this album but the good songs are GOOD!! Wish more people were making music like this.

Yeah! Who says that indie rock is dead. Channeling Built to Spill and Dinosoar Jr, these guys show us all how to rock out. Shami, of all the albums on this list, I think this is the one you will like the most. Give it a listen!

PJ Harvey is my rock-n-roll dream. She's smart and powerful and beautiful and courageous. And she's different! Heck, she RECORDED this album in front of the paying public as an art installation. She always has something interesting to say (in this case, the album was influenced by her trips to former war zones and areas of abject poverty). Not the easiest album to listen to at points, but a fantastic album nonetheless.

It was the year of the powerful female in music this year (Beyonce, Solange, PJ Harvey, etc.). These four women from England (and lead singer from France) are all about intensity, honesty... and NOISE! No concert I wish I'd seen more than these ladies in 2016. Next time!!

This guy has obviously listened to a lot of Bob Dylan. But he also has his own true sound and a very good one at that. Hate the hair, hate the bolero tie, hate the video... but it's all about the music and the music is good indeed!

A (sort of) concept album that takes place at a house party. A series of songs provide different observations of the same scene. A simple but beautiful album from this Canadian singer-songwriter (he is from Regina).

This makes two Canadians in a row!! Haitian born but raised in Montreal, this DJ surrounds himself with guests aplenty and creates a soulful, fun, (dare I say) sexy batch of songs. He won the 2016 Polaris Music Prize (for top Canadian album) for this effort and I'd have to say he was the deserved winner (Andy Shauf was also nominated and would also have been a great choice).

This album came out ages ago but - full disclosure - I never listened to it until this week (I've never been a huge Beyonce fan and I don't subscribe to Tidal - the only place to hear the whole album). But it seemed that EVERY critic had this as one of their best (most had it as their VERY best) albums of the year. So finally I bit the bullet, bought Lemonade on iTunes... and had my mind blown a little. It's crazy that she was SO open about the infedilty in her marriage in these songs. What makes it even more incredible is that she is singing about a man (Jay-Z) who is considered one of the most powerful men in the entertainment business. A cynic might suggest that this was a genius strategy (on BOTH their parts?) to sell more records. But whether this was the reason or not, there is no denying that this is a soul-baring, inspiring, extraordinary album. 

(sadly, had to use a live version of this song. Bey's not alowing anything on YouTube!)