First off, January 1st, 2017 is just another day. Time doesn't care how we delineate it. Time's just a concept anyway, so that's pointless. Secondly, and more importantly, we're going to keep losing the people we love and respect and worship. Not because life is unfair or your idea of god hates you, but because people who are awesome and established and have spent decades creating amazing things that change and define and improve our lives are getting older, getting cancer, and getting dead. We were told when Bowie died* and when Prince died, but, here's the thing, there's no way to know when the next Prince or Bowie will be born. And, more salt in the wound: Justin Bieber isn't going to die any time soon. Kim Kardashian isn't going to either. The good ones, the legends, are going to keep dying while we're left here to mourn them and to drown in the remaining sea of mediocrity.
Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney are going to die some time soon.
As are Mel Brooks, Steve Martin and Bill Murray.
While Kevin James, Katy Perry, Kevin Hart, Larry the Cable Guy, Iggy Azalea, and Tyler fucking Perry aren't going to die for a very, very long time.
Because life is unfair and god hates us.
That said, let's dig in!
Musically, most of my year was spent in a state of shock. Bowie and Prince, two of my favorite artists, who, in my eyes, were actually immortal, as in literally defying the effects of time itself, gone. And there's already been shitty "Best Ofs" released. Aside from those two, massive blows to the very idea of music, Beck released a song, They Might Be Giants released a song. Nothing from Eels. Nothing from Cake. Nothing from St. Vincent. Then, right at the end, we get a literal deluge: two scores and a new EP from Reznor PLUS (part of) that long rumored Fragile deluxe edition we've been promised for SIX THOUSAND YEARS. And it wasn't enough.
Anyway, primarily I listed to Blackstar, the debut from Mother Feather, the new Radiohead, and all that Q4 Reznor/Ross goodness**. More of the year was spent reading and listening to and seeing comedians I love. Michael Ian Black, Amy Schumer, Louie C.K., Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Jim Gaffigan, and Dylan Moran to name a few. I also rewatched the bulk of Reno 911!; not a fantastic show, but populated, for the most part, with fantastic comedic actors. I also spent a large portion of the year creating music, which might never be heard by anyone.
All that to say: I have a very small list.
Best Song of 2016
'Blackstar' by David Bowie
This was my most played track and most viewed music video. It is, in my mind, the best track David Bowie had released since 2003's "Bring Me The DIsco King". While I'm still let down we didn't get a deeper look into this world, Bowie was never one to spoon feed things to people, and I can appreciate that.
Album of the Year 2016
Mother Feather by Mother Feather
You've heard everything I have to say about Mother Feather. You either get it, or you remain in the dark. No judgement.
Most Anticipated Release of 2017
The new Gorillaz album
I was thinking about the new Beck, but, from what's been heard, it seems like some sort of retro-backlash against the lack of mass appeal and radio singles from Morning Phase***. The third single ("Up All Night") is in both the new FIFA game and a watch commercial, and sounds like a combination of "Can't Feel My Face" and every other piece of Mindless Shit Pop from the past five years. Beck can't need money that badly, can he? But the album's never coming out, so we'll never know for sure.
That's why I'm giving it to whatever the fuck Albarn and Hewlett come up with. We're going to need some musical innovation and cartoon shenanigans in the new year, and these two are the ones to deliver it. I could also handle a double album. If you're reading this Damon.
Most Anticipated Release of 2018****
The new, full length album from Nine Inch Nails
First thought FIRST FUCKING THOUGHT when I hit the new nin.com and saw the anouncement of a brand new, 5-track EP was: "well, fuck, we're not getting a full length album for another fucking year."
I could teach Sartre a few things about pessimism.
Hopes For 2017 Which Have Yet To Be Fucked, Crushed And/Or Killed
- I'm still holding out hope for Dial-A-Song 2017, although the Johns have made no announcements yet and 2017 starts...now, so...shit
- Maybe some new Eels?
- For the new Beck to be less fluffy than these three singles have indicated
- For the new St. Vincent to be a quarter as impressive and elegant as her last one
- Prince/Bowie reveal it was all a hoax and that their triple-album collabo is available for download now.
- I don't know...either for less awfulness or to just go completely numb, fast.
* Here's a summation of David Bowie's life and career from my particular and narrow viewpoint.
** Before The Flood OST, Patriots Day OST, Not The Actual Events EP, and The Fragile: Deviations 1.
*** Yes, I know that this new one was written before Morning Phase, but time isn't a thing for Beck, obviously.
**** Yes, I also know that Trent Reznor announced on Beats1 that Nine Inch Nails will have not one, but "two new, major works" under the Nine Inch Nails umbrella, but, well, Trent Reznor announces a lot of things.
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