Best Of: 2016

37FLOOD has been doing year end reviews, and also decade end reviews (yes, we've been around that long) since 2010, and filing them under the category of 'Best Of'. Last year we heard a compelling argument by a Louisville musician on why he declined to accept a 'Louisville Music Award'. His argument was that music is subjective to the listener, and not objective, therefore cannot be quantified and measured as such.  "you can have a 'tallest building' award but it is not possible to prove mathematically a 'best song'." We here at 37FLOOD agree, and have changed our categories to 'Favorite' instead of 'Best'. We, however, will still put our 'Favorite lists' on the 'Best Of' page to preserve continuity, with the previous 'Best Of' lists.

And, so, we give you 37FLOOD's 'Favorite's of 2016'. Last year we asked one of our writers if he would like to make a 'Best of 2015' list. His response was that there wasn't enough great music in 2015 to justify a list (however we disagreed and made a 2015 list anyway, found here).
Regardless of the overwhelming evidence that 2016 in general sucked, we found the music in 2016 to be extraordinary, with an above average output of quality music!

But not just extraordinary in a few genres, but holistically, as seen reflected in our 'Favorite Albums' list. You will find our favorite albums this year include Hip Hop, Psychedelia, Black Metal, Folk, Instrumentalia, and even Disco.  And, of course, half of the music and media on our lists are Louisville based, including Twin Limb, Sea Hero, Jaye Jayle, Sick Velvet, and more, including the local media outlets Never Nervous and Kath In The Bath.

Among our favorites, we have included Leonard Cohen's last LP, You Want It Darker, recorded as he was dying. The album is genius, with several tracks reaching the hight of masterpieces, including the title track, Treaty, and Leaving The Table.  Due to the high amount of musical related deaths this year, You Want It Darker was largely overlooked. But as for a look into death, this LP is as true as it gets; it's a heartbreaking trek through the mind of someone who knows he is not getting out.

Car Seat Headrest's first physical release, Teens Of Denial, get top marks, as the double LP is solid from stem to sternum. Will Toledo's focus has been tightened while still keeping the 'Jonathan Richman' style New England shrug to life's uphill battles.

Some of our favorites failed to get a physical release, but deserve a seat at the Favorites table none the less. Knox Brown's Searching EP was released by Virgin EMI Records, but only as a download, but is very worth a physical release. Drugdealer's debut 'The End of Comedy' was released physically, but not in the U.S. which is a large oversight, as it's disco overtones only enhance the mystical feel added by Weyes Blood and other contributors.

Take a look at our picks, and let us know what your 2016 picks are. Send your list to us here by Jan. 1st, and we will pick 5 lists at random to receive a free download of Louisville Is For Lovers 2016 compilation!


Favorite Albums:

Car Seat Headrest

15. Drugdealer "The End Of Comedy" 
14. Freakwater "Scheherazade"
13. Survive "rr7349"
12.  Angel Olsen "My Woman"
11. Louisville Is For Lovers "LIFE"
10. Black Mountain "IV"
9. Jaye Jayle "House Cricks and Other Excuses to Get Out"
8. Frankie Cosmos "Next Thing"
7. Sea Hero "Graustark"
6. Charles Bradley "Changes"
5. Anagnorisis 'Peripeteia'
4. NxWorries "Yes Lawd!" (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge)
3. Twin Limb 'Haplo'
2. Leonard Cohen 'You Want It Darker'
1. Car seat Headrest "Teens of Denial" (37FLOOD Approved!)

 
Favorite EPs & Singles:

10. Hot Prowlers "Neon"
9. Brenda "Nightschool"
8. Team Totoro "Democrasexxy"
7. IamIs "Go Supernovae"
6. Sick Velvet "S/T"
5. The Fervor "Nightfall in the Kali Yuga"
4. Tender Mercy "It Was You"
3. Dr. Dundiff & Otis Junior 'Jakarta Dubplate #5' 
2. Knox Brown "Searching" EP
1. Twin Limb "Anything Is Possible And Nothing Makes Sense"* (37FLOOD Approved!)
*the digital version was released November 2015 and the vinyl edition in October of 2016. This will be an issue to work out in the future as record labels move in a segmented release standard of releasing digital and CD copies 6 months before Vinyl copies.  

Twin Limb

Reissues & Compilations:
15. Louisville Is For Lovers Vol.2
14. Louisville Is For Lovers Vol.1
13. White Zombie "It Came From NYC"
12. V/A "Return Of The Living Dead" (on Brain Matter grey vinyl)
11. Dr. Dundiff & Friends 
10. Gubbey Records "Head Cleaner Vol.7-11"
9. Lucero "Tennessee"
8. V/A "God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson"
7.  The Gallery Singers At The Electric Church Of The Tambourine "From The Galley To The Gallows: 15 Years" Compilation
6. Damien Jurado "Ghost Of David"
5.Louisville Is For Lovers "Live" 
4. Damien Jurado "Rehearsals For Departure"
3. Louisville Is For Lovers "Louisville babylon II"
2. The Staple Singers "Amen/Why?"
1. Louisville Is For Lovers "TRAFOZSATSFM: A Louisville Is For Lovers Tribute To Ziggy Stardust" (37FLOOD Approved!)

TRAFOZSATSFM

Favorite Websites:

This Week In Louisville History 
Proud of your City? This Week In Louisville History gives you a peak into the past on how our city was shaped over the last couple centuries, with interesting facts you probably didn't know.
Did you know Louisville was founded on a small Island, called Corn Island, in the Ohio River?  Did you know that the island was mined by companies so much that it washed away? All this and much much more at thisweekinlouisvillehistory.culturearchivist.com

Louisville Mix

The Louisville Free Public Library's new local music archive and streaming service with over 100 local albums to stream free. The service includes music by Jonathan Glen Wood, RMLLW2LLZ, Justin Paul Lewis, Billy Nelson, 1200, Brooks Ritter and Louisville Is For Lovers compilations! 

A live music showcase on Jan. 20th, at the main branch at 301 York Street from 7-11, will have a 2 stage, 6 band Louisville Mix showcase to introduce the service and host by 1200. the event is free and all ages.

Never Nervous

These boys don't sleep, between daily content on their own site as well as writing for LEO, there's no rest in the world of Rock N Roll. Aside from the daily rock news they often run themed series, such as Louisville Loves Horror, or The Louisville Music Community Speaks Out About Trump! series.

Always Serious/Never Nervous 

This Day In Pop Culture
Not a ''what's hot this week" culture website, This Day In pop Culture serves up a daily story of people & events that has shaped the world around us, reaching far beyond this week or this year. This Day In pop Culture explains how our society was shaped over the decades and centuries featuring biographies and stories including public executions of elephants for family entertainment, how Nazi politics drove a wedge between 2 brothers and in the process gave birth to the modern gym shoe, and how a New Orleans voodoo Queen was the reason the world's first Horror Punk band was arrested for grave robbing. (37FLOOD Approved!)

This Day In Pop Culture

Favorite Instagram:

Me and Cereal Every Saturday
Daniel Disparte adds a new self portrait every Saturday morning having some cereal. More creative than it sounds, each post takes it's theme from the cereal he spotlights. Daniel's captivating portraits and dedication (not even skipping a post when his child was born) have gained him a cult following.

Me And Cereal

Kath In The Bath

"This Is Your Captain Peeing" - Kath In The Bath

This highly creative (if not highly personal) Instagram account archives the exploits of Louisville's Kathy M, as she takes us on a tour of Louisville's bathrooms. Described as "Coming drunk and disorderly to a porcelain throne near you" this Instagram feed often portrays Kathy's adventures in costume or themed with holidays, and circle around our city's bars and nightlife in a bathroom setting, or in some cases, bathroom behavior nowhere near a proper bathroom.  (37FLOOD approved!)

instagram.com/kath_in_the_bath