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The Captain's Collection Top Albums of 2016 2016, as unpopular as it may seem, was one of the strongest years for album releases. We watched a new generation rise to superstardom, while at the same time bidding farewell to some of our most beloved artists. Our veterans even churned out some of their strongest work to date. Here's the Captain's top albums of 2016... 20. Rick Springfield - Rocket Science Rick Springfield dabbles in elements of modern country with his latest release. While it might not be the power pop force that 2012's "Songs for the End of the World" was, it's still a comforting fact to know that Rick Springfield is still thriving with a continuous fervor. Captain's Picks: "Light This Party Up," "Down," "The Best Damn Thing" 19. Fitz and the Tantrums - Fitz and the Tantrums It's clear that Fitz and the Tantrums have embraced the unwavering success of hits such as "The Walker," and their self-titled album reflects that. Stax-flavored throwbacks continue to be replaced with synthesizers, and while it's not their strongest offering to date, it's still alt-pop soup for the soul. Captain's Picks: "Roll Up," "Burn It Down," "A Place for Us" 18. Gavin DeGraw - Something Worth Saving Most will scoff at the idea of a Gavin DeGraw album in 2016, yet he still continues to break the boundaries of pop radio. Fans of 2013's "Make a Move" will feel at home with DeGraw's most recent hook-laden effort. Captain's Picks: "You Make My Heart Sing Louder," "Harder to Believe," "How Lucky Can a Man Get" 17. Sting - 57th & 9th I grew up idolizing Sting and the Police, but it became hard for me to appreciate Sting's most recent output. 57th & 9th is a true return to pop rock form for Sting and contains some of his best work yet. Captain's Picks: "I Can't Stop Thinking About You," "One Fine Day," "Petrol Head" 16. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth A Sailor's Guide to Earth is a genre-bending experience, and a rewarding one at that. Simpson manages to blur the lines between classic outlaw country and R&B heartache to achieve a total masterpiece of an album. Captain's Picks: "Breakers Roar," "In Bloom," "Oh Sarah" 15. Goo Goo Dolls - Boxes The Dolls are at their best when churning out anthems that transcend time, and Boxes is no exception. Rzeznik and the gang are still thriving over 20 years after their earliest success. Captain's Picks: "Over and Over," "Souls in the Machine," "Reverse" 14. Bob Mould - Patch the Sky You may not recognize Husker Du's Bob Mould by name, but you have definitely heard his influence in many modern rock contemporaries, such as the Foo Fighters. Patch the Sky serves a healthy dose of much needed guitar-driven alt-rock and impeccable melodies. Captain's Picks: "Voices in My Head," "The End of Things," "Losing Time" 13. Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway After feeling completely deceived by 2011's I'm With You, I wasn't sure if I was ready for another Red Hot Chili Peppers album with the current lineup. The Getaway completely renewed my faith in the Peppers with its driving pulse of funk and classic soul. Captain's Picks: "Dark Necessities," "The Longest Wave," "This Ticonderoga" 12. Mudcrutch - 2 After holding Mudcrutch's debut in the highest regard for the last decade, the aptly titled 2 continues the legacy of a band that was almost buried in the annals of time. This is the sound that folk-rock revivalists can only aspire to achieve. Captain's Picks: "Trailer," "Dreams of Flying," "Beautiful World" 11. Keith Urban - Ripcord No stranger to drum loops, Urban tackles the challenge of remaining relevant in the world of modern country. The result is a mixed effort that satisfies both diehards and new fans alike with beat-infused twang. Captain's Picks: "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16," "Wasted Time," "Worry 'Bout Nothin'" 10. David Bowie - Blackstar Who knew at the time of its release that this experimental rock album would be Bowie's swan song? This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful releases of our generation and deserves every aspect of admiration lavished upon it since its initial release. Captain's Picks: "Blackstar," "Dollar Days," "I Can't Give Everything Away" 9. Weezer - Weezer (The White Album) This is everything a classic Weezer fan could long for - an alt-rock menagerie of crunchy guitar riffs and cheeky lyrics. Weezer is the perfect example of a trailblazer reintroducing the genre that first launched them to fame. Captain's Picks: "Thank God for Girls," "King of the World," "L.A. Girlz" 8. Green Day - Revolution Radio Speaking of genre-defining, Green Day knocked this punk rock tour de force out of the park. Blending the best elements of the angst-fueled Dookie and operatic American Idiot, Revolution Radio will satiate even the toughest critics of the band. Captain's Picks: "Bang Bang," "Bouncing Off the Wall," "Still Breathing" 7. Ghost - Meliora Yes, this was originally a 2015 release, however 2016's deluxe edition with the bonus Popestar EP helped further flesh out an album of classic metal and doomsday prophecy. If you ever banged your head to the likes of Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, or even Deep Purple, this is the album you've been waiting for since the '80s. Captain's Picks: "From the Pinnacle to the Pit," "Cirice," "Square Hammer" 6. Cheap Trick - Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello These recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees flex their power pop muscle on Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello. With some of their most infectious singalongs to date, it's clear Cheap Trick are destined to outlive us all. Captain's Picks: "No Direction Home," "Blood Red Lips," "Roll Me" 5. The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It This is the best straight-ahead pop album of 2016 without doubt. Combining the undeniably slinky '80s new wave of greats such as INXS with a modern indie-rock approach, I Like It When You Sleep... is not just an album but a total sonic experience for the endorphins. Captain's Picks: "Love Me," "Somebody Else," "The Sound" 4. Brian Fallon - Painkillers Taking a few years to regroup from his mainstay, the Gaslight Anthem, Fallon conjured up some of his most gutsy work to date while revisiting some gems from side projects. The result? Painkillers is a self-help book for the heartbroken-yet-recovering soul. Captain's Picks: "Painkillers," "Nobody Wins," "Rosemary" 3. Against Me! - Shape Shift with Me There's no denying that Against Me! remains one of the hardest working punk bands on the scene today, and Shape Shift with Me is a testament to their endurance. An album that combines both the New Wave and Transgender Dysphoria Blues eras, Shape Shift with Me is a lean, mean wallop to the skull. Captain's Picks: "12:03," "Crash," "333" 2. Blink-182 - California I'm going to make a bold conclusion - California is the greatest pop punk album of the decade. This is the Blink-182 you remember affectionately from your childhood, and the addition of Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba rejuvenates a band that was on the brink of collapse with a massive dose of chugging guitar, pounding rhythm, and sugar-coated lyrics that will be ingrained in your memory for years to come. Captain's Picks: "She's Out of Her Mind," "Left Alone," "San Diego" 1. The Struts - Everybody Wants What we need now more than ever is a band that will truly lead a revolution of pure rock and roll. Enter England's latest glam rock graduates, the Struts. They're loud, unabashed, and yet remarkably charming. This is the band that your parents would've passed down to you from the 70s and 80s among greats such as Queen, the Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith. Taking the reins from seemingly defunct artists such as the Darkness and Foxy Shazam, the Struts are leading the full-blown charge towards the charts and venues worldwide. Everybody Wants is, without question, the greatest album of 2016 and a strong contender for album of the millennium. Captain's Picks: "Could Have Been Me," "Kiss This," "Put Your Money on Me," "Mary Go Round," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Only Just a Call Away" |