Matt's Books and Music

[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.]

Introduction

While there were a lot of strong albums released in 2016, from first rate artists like Sia, Ariana Grande, and Rihanna, more than most years, it was defined by one single album, Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Lemonade was a social and political conversation piece that dominated music discourse and proved prophetic to the great divides revealed throughout that Summer and Fall, and in the years since.

Top 10 Albums

1. Lemonade (Beyoncé): Beyoncé is unquestionably not only one of the most popular and influential artists of this century, but one of the most important too. This album was an audio-visual tour de force that marked her departure from conventional RnB and pop to more experimental music that makes a huge statement. And Lemonade was heard loud and clear.
2. This Is Acting (Sia): Australian artist Sia has intentionally eschewed fame and stepped only carefully into making music. This album, which features five songs that made my year-end playlist, makes one wonder what could have been had she wanted a different life.
3. I like it when you sleep… (The 1975): This is, I think, the strongest album from The 1975. And, if you don’t believe me, it appeared on at least five high-profile best-of-the-decade lists.
4. Love You to Death (Tegan and Sara): 2013’s Heartthrob was an impossible act to follow for Canadian duo Tegan and Sara, but this album came pretty damn close.
5. Morning Report (Arkells): In a period known most for its pop music, rock artists can fall by the wayside. But this album by Arkells is undeniable, with three songs in my top fourteen of the year.
6. Beautiful Lies (Birdy): English singer Birdy could really do no wrong in the mid-2010s. This album is no exception, featuring five songs from my year-end playlist.
7. The Great Detachment (Wintersleep): In what was great year for Canadian indie rock, this album by ‘00s indie darlings Wintersleep stands out for great singles like “Who are You,” “Lifting Cure,” Love Lies,” and “More Than.”
8. Dangerous Woman (Ariana Grande): Even as someone who isn’t the biggest Ariana Grande fan, I can’t deny how great this album is.
9. Elements (Ash Koley): Ash Koley burst onto the Canadian music scene in 2010 and quietly disappeared by 2017. This, her second and final album, is incredibly deep, landing her at number nine for me despite having no songs in my year-end playlist. Highlights for me include “Dangerous Words,” “Dive In,” and “Irresistible.”
10. Fitz and the Tantrums (Fitz and the Tantrums): This album was a bit of a departure for Fitz and the Tantrums, to a more club-oriented sound. Let by singles like “Place for Us” and “Complicated,” there’s a reason it was a smash success.

Other Albums of Note

• Starboy (The Weeknd): The Weeknd tends not to fare well in my year-end lists, so it’s notable that this album finished twelfth in my album rankings for 2016.
• HERO (Maren Morris): While for this listener, Maren Morris has struggled to live up to her potential and promise, this her major-label debut is a spectacular piece of country pop.
• Nothing’s Real (Shura): This debut album landed three songs in my year-end playlist, including the number eleven overall song, “What’s It Gonna Be?”

Top 10 Songs

1. “Good as Hell” (Lizzo): Weighed down recently by scandal and a poorly-received 2025 album, it’s easy to forget just how dominant Lizzo was in the second half of the 2010s. A decade later, I still have friends who say “Baby how you feelin’?” in her trademark cadence. (Favourite lyric: “If he don’t love you anymore / Then walk your fine ass out the door”)

2. “Stop Desire” (Tegan and Sara): This song is proof that when Tegan and Sara are in their pop zone, few artists do it better. (Favourite lyric: “I’ve tried but you’re fuel to my fire / You can’t stop desire.”)

3. “Backbeat” (Dagny): I think I must be in the top five percent of Dagny’s global listeners, but for an artist who hasn’t released a lot of music, she’s released a lot of brilliant pop songs, and none shines brighter than this one. (Favourite lyric: “Don’t let the speed of sound leave you feeling paralyzed: / Slow down”)

4. “The Sound” (The 1975): I somehow missed the 1975’s debut album in real time, and this track was the first I’d heard of them. Needless to say I immediately got caught up. (Favourite lyric: “You’re so conceited, I said “I love you?” / What does it matter if I lie to you?”)

5. “Paris” (The 1975): I admit that this song was originally a skip for me, but the more I listened to the album, the more I grew to appreciate the subtlety of its melody, and now, needless to say, it’s one of my favourites, and a rare down tempo song to make a top ten for me. (Favourite lyric: “Not enough noise and too much racket”)

6. “Formation” (Beyoncé): If this was a list of the most important music of 2016, there’s no question this would be number one, and it wouldn’t be close. Not only was it everywhere, but its themes prophetically spoke to the dominant social conflicts of the next five years. (Favourite lyric: “My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana”)

7. “Faint of Heart” (Tegan and Sara): Ditto to everything I said above in number 2. (Favourite lyric: “This love ain’t made for the faint of heart.”)

8. “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” (Justin Timberlake): Justin Timberlake has become hard to like in recent years, but this has to be in the top ten all-time feel good songs. And for me, it’s attached to memories of dancing to it with a newly-arrived Syrian refugee toddler standing next to me in line at Tim Horton’s. Smiles all around. (Favourite lyric: “’Cause I’ve got that sunshine in my pocket / Got that good soul in my feet”)

9. “Into You” (Ariana Grande): It’s hard in pop music to pull off songs with dramatic shifts in tone and tempo, but “Into You” navigates this perfectly, and every time it releases into the chorus, it explodes in the best ways. (Favourite lyric: “A little less conversation and a little more touch my body”)

10. “Making Due” (Arkells): Three songs by Arkells landed between 10 and 14 on my top 60 playlist and it’s hard to pick which is my favourite. But the Springsteen-like retro production on this one just makes me so happy. (Favourite lyric: “I run from the past but it’s gaining on me / I thought we made a deal, you were crossing your fingers”)

Other Songs of Note

• “Company” (Tinashe): Tinashe is an artist I want to like more than I do, but I do love this track.
• “In My Blood” (The Veronicas): The Veronicas don’t often release new music, but every time they do, it’s a treat.
• “Power” (Little Mix): 2016 pretty much marked the end of the unironic feminist empowerment anthem, but this is one of my favourites.

Most Surprising Inclusion

• “Rogue Empire” (Sam Roberts Band): There’s something quintessentially early ‘00s about Sam Roberts for me, so I was delighted to love this song enough that it made it onto my year-end playlist.

Notable Song that Missed the Cut

• “Handclap” (Fitz and the Tantrums): I loved this album, but not this song, which has become a staple at sports stadiums over the past decade.

[Note: It’s of course impossible to listen to everything, so while I’ve tried to be as comprehensive as possible, omissions are inevitable. For consistency’s sake, I’ve gone with the year music was released, rather than when it became popular. Any ratings or rankings are my own and entirely subjective. This has nothing to do with objective quality but is simply reflective of my personal taste.]