As we put the finishing touches on our top 100 songs of the year list (stay tuned), we’ve been watching the rest of the world curate their own lists. It’s a scrabble like no other, picking musical favourites is obviously a tough job at the best of times, but rounding out an entire year at once is a nail-biting experience that’s stressful and way too much fun all at once.
While our focus has largely been on Australian music this year, we can’t discount the amazing international releases 2016 has given us. Before we grace your ears with our favourite tunes of the year, we’ve rounded up what each of the world’s leading tastemakers named as their number one albums of 2016.
What did Rolling Stone, Pitchfork or FACT Mag name as their albums of the year? Catch them all in the one place right here.
Pitchfork: Solange – A Seat at the Table
Not one, not two, but three of the musos who have contributed their top 10 tracks of the year to Happy named a Solange song in their favourites. Pitchfork agreed, naming A Seat at the Table as their album of the year.
Billboard: Beyoncé – Lemonade
With a tight focus on the biggest pop music in the world, it’s no surprise Beyoncé’s Lemonade hit number one of Billboard’s chart.
NME: The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It
While NME’s list was peppered with some truly interesting and left field picks, this record was too tough to pass on. Despite a slightly alarming name to the album, this one undoubtedly shot The 1975 to the world stage in 2016.
FACT Mag: Jenny Hval – Blood Bitch
Bastions of hardware, experimental electronic music and anything Aphex Twin-related, FACT Mag’s album of 2016 was never going to be based on popularity. The British publishers named Jenny Hval’s pop/avant-garde fusion album Blood Bitch as their number one.
Rolling Stone: Beyoncé – Lemonade
This year, Rolling Stone sat side by side with Billboard in naming Lemonade album of the year, despite the fact that THE ROLLING STONES released an album…
Resident Advisor: Babyfather – BBF Hosted by DJ Escrow
The superb electronic tastemakers over at Resident Advisor stuck to their guns in 2016 and named BBF Hosted by DJ Escrow as their album of the year. Babyfather is an electro supergroup spearheaded by Hyperdub Records and DJ Escrow, also including Dean Blunt and Gassman D.
Consequence of Sound: Beyoncé – Lemonade
Can you feel the love, Mrs. Knowles?
Stereogum: Beyoncé – Lemonade
Can you feel it?
What will be Happy’s favourite tunes of 2016? Not long to wait now…
