Best Albums of 2016

[ryanrosenberg]

Hello everyone! This has been a really interesting year in music, with a wide variety of genres in the pop landscape, major albums from a ton of big-name artists (including some surprise ones), and politics influencing most everything. Accordingly, I'm very excited for this year's Best Albums bracket. Please submit nominations in this form by Monday, December 19th; I will compile the bracket then and begin the first round.

[The Stately Rhododendron]

You Want It Darker.

Don't need a bracket.

[RexSueciae]

I'd almost agree with you, but Stranger to Stranger has a fighting chance in my book.

[El Salvadoreno]

I do not know how many people listen to rap here but I'm giving this to ATCG's We Got It From Here... Thank You 5 Your Service. For a group off 16 year hiatus to sound just like their best albums is incredible. For me no doubt best rap album of the year if not best album of the year.
R.I.P Phife Dawg Nov. 20,1970- Mar. 22, 2016. The rap world misses you.

[Steeve Ho You Fat]

There was a lot of great music across genres this year, but one album I really want to recommend is Masterpiece by Big Thief. It's their debut album and the first time I hear its title track I was just blown away. The album feels like a scrapbook, where every song is an intimate glimpse into someone else's life, and Adrianne Lenker has a beautiful voice. If you want to discover one new folk/indie rock artist this year, listen to Big Thief.

Lemonade and Sturgill Simpson's album were also pretty fire.

[High Dependency Unit]

I Love it When You Sleep for You are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It was pretty good.

[bretthogan43]

Moshpit Justice's Stop Believing Lies was by far my favorite to come out this year; it gives the listener hope and advice during a year filled with major political turmoil while retaining the band's signature blend of thrash and power metal.

But we can't overlook Metallica's Hardwired... To Self-Destruct- Metallica's first album in eight years defied everyone's expectations and sounds as if it were cut during the sessions for "Kill 'em All".

I also have to give mention to Amon Amarth's Jomsviking, Destruction's Under Atack, and Sodom's Decision Day for being solid releases.

[Off To See The Lizard]

I don't know if it's my album of the year, but I listened to the entirety of Freetown Sound again recently and it's absolutely gorgeous. Every track blends into the next seamlessly and Dev Hynes' voice really is quite beautiful.

[hydrocephalitic listlessness]

Top 5:

5. Angel Olsen, My Woman
4. Hannah Epperson, Upsweep
3. Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book
2. Frankie Cosmos, Next Thing
1. A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here...

[Habitat_Against_Humanity]

Any post that ignores Car Seat Headrest's Teens of Denial is ineligible, called it.

[bluejay123]

Therapy Session by NF

[Rococo A Go Go]

A few recommendations, in no particular order:

Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars... (Dwight Yoakam)
Stranger to Stranger (Paul Simon)
A Sailor's Guide to Earth (Sturgill Simpson)

That's by no means comprehensive. I tend to use year-end lists in December as a means of finding new music that was released in the past year, so I'll probably hear something in the next two weeks that I really like, and might even hear something in the bracket this year that I like. Submit good stuff people!

[armitage]

I live in a rock and have listened to exactly one (full) album released this year: Elza Soares - Woman at the End of the World, so I submitted it. Best or not, it's worth a listen.

[El Salvadoreno]

3. Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book

Almost forgot about this. This also belongs on any "Best Albums of the Year Bracket." Also been listening to 4 Your Eyez Only and I think that one definitely belongs on this bracket as well. I have never seen a rap album with this much vulnerability before and its appreciated by me at least.

[SpanishSpy]

Only album from this year I listened to in its entirety was The Last Stand by Sabaton so that's it for me.

[Mike Bentley]

This year's best chiptune album was Gravity by Demoscene Time Machine: http://music.demoscenetimemachine.com

[ryanrosenberg]

Last call for nominations! I will start making the bracket at 3 PM EST, get everything in by then.

[gyre and gimble]

I just sent in my nominations, but in case these two don't make it in, people should give them a listen:

Front Row Seat to Earth (Weyes Blood)
Music for Listening to Music To (La Sera)

[Ndg]

Some other good ones that haven't come up yet... since I doubt most will be popular enough for the bracket-

99.9% (Kaytranada)
The Abyssinian Mass (Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra)
Adieux au Dancefloor (Marie Davidson)
Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future (Underworld)
Beyond the Fleeting Gales (Crying)
Black Terry Cat (Xenia Rubinos)
Blackstar (David Bowie)
The Dream Is Over (Pup)
Emotion Side B (Carly Rae Jepsen)
The End of Comedy (Drugdealer)
Love You to Death (Tegan and Sara)
Malibu (Anderson Paak)
Need Your Light (Ra Ra Riot)
Nonagon Infinity (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) Paradise (White Lung)
Pile (A Giant Dog)
Portrait (Cardiknox)
Sirens (Nicolas Jaar)
Sonderlust (Kishi Bashi)
Sumerlands (Sumerlands)
Take Me to the Alley (Gregory Porter)
Terminal Redux (Vektor)
Ultimate Care II (Matmos)
Varmints (Anna Meredith)
Vroom Vroom (Charli XCX)
Weezer (Weezer)

[ryanrosenberg]

All told, 36 albums received multiple nominations, so we'll have a quick play-in round before Round 1 starts on Thursday. You are not required to vote on every matchup, but ballots that omit more than three matchups (one for the play-in round) will not be counted. As always, commentary on the albums, positive or negative, is very much appreciated. Happy listening!

The bracket:

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6C0dfq4ZWM)
#8 Schmilco by Wilco (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txts03lgjiw) / #9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhX4_rYq2vo)

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Y5gk8J7XQ)
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W06HM7JMN4k -- none of the album versions are on YouTube, unfortunately)

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0nmHymgM7Y)
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLRPDovCpmM)

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTjpzP18m0I)
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N23b8LCIsn0)

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2oS2hoL0k)
#8 Starboy by The Weeknd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Na4j8AVgA) / #9 Masterpiece by Big Thief (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oacUgWXrqwc)

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nleRCBhLr3k)
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyoiq99paF8)

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvPeJLcK2Lk)
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O2MwqM ... 2Tx1GerYlA)

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_a1hPwXiWw)
#7 The Getaway by RHCP (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3DjneLmXIc)

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean (https://open.spotify.com/album/3mH6qwIy9crq0I9YQbOuDf)
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R2kJkIt2KU) / #9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgBDwuCycH0)

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlOk5wV0DRo)
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7tfTBtpR0E)

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lJHVpH5v8Q)
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtzcViZPGA)

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kszLwBaC4Sw)
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5slZHLSnow)

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAoqWu6wmfI)
#8 Anti by Rihanna (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL1UzIK-flA) / #9 Views by Drake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxpDa-c-4Mc)

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spfsdpuvUyQ)
#5 Still Brazy by YG (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxnWAoM9Lf4)

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZJPJV__bQ)
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY0qOCUy27Q)

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkBKJMT ... cf1H-lAaEf)
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aCrdm8yfIE)

Please submit your ballots for the play-in round by posting your picks in this thread by Thursday at 11:59 PM EST. The matchups for the play in round are:

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[El Salvadoreno]

I will vote for HEAVN, Starboy, Hamilton, and Anti please.

[Red Panda Cub]

Schmilco, Masterpiece, The Colour in Anything and Views.

[gimmedatguudsuccrose]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[LHDoroschuk]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[Wynaut]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[Off To See The Lizard]

I'm shocked Telefone by Noname didn't make it into the bracket!

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[Harpie's Feather Duster]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[bretthogan43]

I vote for HEAVN, Masterpice, Hamilton, and views.

[Jem Casey]

There was a lot of great music across genres this year, but one album I really want to recommend is Masterpiece by Big Thief. It's their debut album and the first time I hear its title track I was just blown away. The album feels like a scrapbook, where every song is an intimate glimpse into someone else's life, and Adrianne Lenker has a beautiful voice. If you want to discover one new folk/indie rock artist this year, listen to Big Thief.

Agreed--this album is very good.

I'll vote for Schmilco, Masterpiece, and The Colour in Anything.

[Quinctilius Varus]

Masterpiece, The Colour in Anything, and Anti

[Sigurd]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[Rococo A Go Go]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[Maury Island incident]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al.

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[Auroni]

HEAVN, Masterpiece, The Colour in Anything, Anti

[Ndg]

#8 Schmilco by Wilco
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake
#9 The Hamilton Mixtape by Lin-Manuel Miranda et al. Jimmy Fallon's out-of-tune, R-rolling atrocity -- probably the year's most cringe-worthy musical moment.

#8 Anti by Rihanna Boy, I'm glad only one of these makes it to the next round...
#9 Views by Drake

[Victor Prieto]

#8 Starboy by The Weeknd
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#8 Anti by Rihanna
#9 Views by Drake

[ryanrosenberg]

Results from the play-in round:

HEAVN by Jamila Woods def. Schmilco by Wilco, 8-7. I broke the tie in favor of HEAVN; Wilco is honestly one of my three favorite bands of all-time, but Schmilco was...uninspiring. HEAVN is a stronger, more original songwriting effort.

Masterpiece by Big Thief def. Starboy by The Weekend, 8-7. Big Thief pulls off the comeback!

The Colour in Anything James Blake def. The Hamilton Mixtape, 11-4.

Anti by Rihanna def. Views by Drake, 8-6.


Here is the bracket for Round 1. Ballots will be accepted until 11:59 PM EST Monday.

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

Some notes of interest:

• Chance the Rapper and Jamila Woods appear on each other's albums (Woods on "Blessings", Chance on "LSD"). Woods also had a starring turn on "Sunday Candy", Chance's biggest hit.
• I was introduced to Mitski's Puberty 2 by someone telling me "You like Angel Olsen, you'll like this." Their first-round matchup is a killer.
• Beyoncé vs. Drive-By Truckers is quite the study in contrast.
• I put together a Spotify playlist of these albums and have been listening to them over the past few days. If you're interested, you can check it out here.

[The Time Keeper]

Well, I wasn't paying enough attention to this forum to catch the thread in time, so I'll just chip in a couple recommendations:

Shearwater - Jet Plane and Oxbow

American Football - American Football (2016)

[tpmorrison]

Coloring Book
untitled. unmastered
You Want It Darker
Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks

A Moon Shaped Pool
My Woman
Malibu
Teens of Denial

Blond
Skeleton Tree
Stranger to Stranger
Blackstar

We Got it from Here...
Atrocity Exhibition
Lemonade
Bottomless Pit

[Red Panda Cub]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[Rococo A Go Go]

Beyoncé vs. Drive-By Truckers is quite the study in contrast.

I've been thinking about this ever since I've seen the matchup. Beyonce took a lot of heat for signalling support for Black Lives Matter, but Drive By Truckers has no use for subtlety. "Ramon Casiano" and "Surrender Under Protest" are songs that are very relevant in 2016, but I bet the people who blew their top over Beyonce's music video would absolutely hate DBT's "What It Means." A sample of the lyrics:

But what's the point of post-racial
When old prejudice remains?
And that guy who killed that kid
Down in Florida standing ground
Is free to beat up on his girlfriend
And wave his brand new gun around
While some kid is dead and buried
And laying in the ground
With a pocket full of skittles

American Band might not make it past this round, but it's a fantastic listen that I keep coming back to. Now to my ballot

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[gimmedatguudsuccrose]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[LHDoroschuk]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[El Salvadoreno]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu- a worthy homage to the show

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG- FDT

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[Off To See The Lizard]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

Solange got a tough matchup here but I honestly think her album had a better, more cohesive, narrative than a bunch of Kendrick's outtakes from TPAB.

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches
(Sorry Isaac)

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

Mitski has a wonderfully haunting voice.

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

I don't know how to convince you guys on this one. They're two very different sounds but if you haven't listened to it please give Freetown Sound a listen and see for yourself how smooth it is.

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[Dirty Water]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[Quinctilius Varus]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

[No Vote]

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

[No Vote]

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

[No Vote]

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

[The Stately Rhododendron]

Coloring Book - First listened to this picking up trash from the "bad boys" campground by Watauga Lake in Eat Tennessee, made a bad day much better.

Haven't listened to either of these yet.

You Want it Darker - My favorite album of the year. Just a wonderful examination of memory, history, love, faith, family, etc. The title track, especially, with the cantoral solo singing "I am here!"... faith in uncertainty, incompleteness and imperfection, we see the injustice, the regret in god's world and all we can do is reply "I am here!"... RIP I loved you

22, A Million - love is complicated

A moon shaped pool - Seemed like just another radiohead album, but then you listen to it again and again, while weeding, in a tent, on the road. It goes deeper.

Puberty 2 - Very, very close, but I remember seeing Mitski perform in 2015. Just her and the guitar, her voice so raw, I felt it.

haven't listened to these

or these

Blonde - well, yeah

A Sailor's Guide to Earth - I know what it's like in the woods at night, Sturgill.

Freetown Sound - I saw Paul Simon give a talk at Yale. He played some of his album. I got sick immediately afterwords. Coincidence?

Blackstar - Not as good as You Want it Darker, but still good

Tribe

I dislike both of these rappers

Lemonade - This one goes out to Alonso. Had a good time cooking w/ you and listening to this.

Pablo - but just barely, it's Kanye, but we didn't need it.

[ryanrosenberg]

Results from Round 1:

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper, 9-1
#9 HEAVN by Jamila Woods

#4 A Seat At The Table by Solange
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar, 7-2

#3 You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches, 7-3

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver, 5-4
#7 Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks by Xiu Xiu

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead, 10-0
#9 Masterpiece by Big Thief

#4 MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski, 6-4

#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak, 8-1
#6 Emotion: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest, 7-1
#7 The Getaway by RHCP

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean, 10-0
#8 The Colour in Anything by James Blake

#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson, 6-3
#5 Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

#3 Stranger to Stranger by Paul Simon
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange, 5-4

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie, 9-1
#7 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest, 10-0
#8 Anti by Rihanna

#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown, 5-4
#5 Still Brazy by YG

#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé, 7-3
#6 American Band by Drive-By Truckers

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West, 6-4
#7 Bottomless Pit by Death Grips

Here is your bracket for Round 2. Voting closes at 11:59 PM EST Friday.

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé

[gimmedatguudsuccrose]

Chicago Regional
#1 Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
#5 untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

#2 22, A Million by Bon Iver
#6 Wildflower by The Avalanches

Oxford Regional
#1 A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
#5 Puberty 2 by Mitski

#2 Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest
#3 Malibu by Anderson .Paak

Los Angeles Regional
#1 Blonde by Frank Ocean
#4 A Sailor's Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson

#2 Blackstar by David Bowie
#6 Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

Queens Regional
#1 We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service by A Tribe Called Quest
#4 Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

#2 The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
#3 Lemonade by Beyoncé