Radio albums are all fine and good. But seriously, sometimes don’t you wanna find music that you can get sexed-out-psycho-trashed to, the deep cuts barely anyone’s ever heard before? We’ve found the standout albums of 2016 that got lost along the way and still need to be heard. It’s your choice how to hear them. You could listen to them on your laptop … but we suggest LaCroix Sparkling Water, baby oil, high-end speakers, a stuffed alligator, and an RV with Victorian, embossed wallpaper for the hear-it party.
Blaqk Audio, “Material”DANCEPANTS! Here’s the record you can synth-out to in an alley on a starry midnight, stomping on broken glass and kickin’ garbage cans.
Covenant, “The Blinding Dark” A dark dance album that feels expansive, atmospheric and as if it could appropriately convey the end of the world – whether that happened by fire, ice, or A.I.
The Dad Horse Experience, “Eating Meatballs on a Blood-Stained Mattress in a Huggy Bear Motel” Dad Horse Ottn sings gospel tunes to scumbags and forlorn folk to lonelyhearts with a thick German accent and a deep heart.
The Interrupters, “Say It Out Loud”Simple lyrics that tell big stories and a bouncing, ’90s ska sound. If you don’t end up singing along to this album, you might be dead inside.
Adam Lee, “Sincerely, Me” With restless lyrics and a guitar, rockabilly-tinged Adam Lee is what you should listen to when yer out night-walkin’, thinking that the world is somehow both lonesome and kind.
Deadly Lo-fi, “Home Sweet Homicide”Need a soundtrack for a sex party at a pawn shop that only buys and sells doughnuts and vintage horror comics? Boom. Deadly Lo-fi.
The Monsters, “M”Trash rock straight from Switzerland off of Voodoo Rhythm Records. Twist it out, scream and shout, primitive rock ’n’ roll.
Rock Bottom String Band, “Home Ain’t Where I’m From”Dive-bar bluegrass at its goddamned best. Perfect Sunday afternoon, porch-drinkin’, yard dancing tunes.
Adia Victoria, “Beyond the Bloodhounds”This album is like if Flannery O’Connor rolled outta the dirt, socially woke further through convos with Michelle Alexander, then wrote a gothic blues album.
Saul Williams, “MartyrLoserKing”Goddamn. Saul Williams embodies deep poetics and activism. This is the driving, forceful sound of much-needed revolution.
Patty TempletonDGO STAFF WRITER
