Best of: Top 50 of 2016: My favourite songs of 2016

I loved 2016.

Lots of other people didn't. And that's okay. There was lots to get down about. Lots of aging (and not so aging) rockers that dove into the inevitability and lots of pretty shitty human behaviour, just to name a couple of things.

But there was lots to be very, very happy about. Life was pretty damn good to me, personally. I spent much of the year bathed in art. Lots of real "me time". I attended more shows and saw more bands in 2016 than I have in any other year. I spent a lot of time with a lot of very cool people. It's a concert-going record I don't think I'm going to break any time soon. Or any time at all.

And there was great music. So much great music. This year, I probably listened to less recorded music than I have in many, many years, but I made up for it with live shows. This is reflected in the fact that my favourite songs of the year came mostly from acts I saw live. Many of them I saw multiple times, giving their tunes more time to wedge themselves into my consciousness.

The bonus that comes with this post is that you're also getting a preview of my favourite albums list if you notice the number of repeat songs by certain artists that appear amongst my favourites. It'll be coming soon. And so will a post of my favourite concert photos of 2016. Which comes with a special announcement.

And so, here they are, at long last, my latest ever best of list, except for the ones for my favourite albums and favourite concert photos, which are still in progress... These are my favourite fifty tunes of 2016:

50. "Break My Heart Sweetly" John Moreland

49. "In Stars" Marlon Chaplin

48. "Radio of Lips" The Joy Formidable

47. "Blank Ribbons" Split Single

46. "We Had Everything" Broods

45. "Personal Weekend" Partner

44. "City Club" The Growlers

43. "Molotov Girls" The Zolas

42. "Voices In My Head" Bob Mould

41. "Kiss Me When I Bleed" White Lung

40. "Coo Coo" Weaves

39. "Cannonball" Yuck

38. "Fossils" Marlon Chaplin

37. "Money Money" The Balconies

36. "Easier Said" Sunflower Bean

35. "Swooner" The Zolas

34. "Beautiful Girl" Ron Hawkins

33. "Santa Fe" Wintersleep

32. "Goin' Down" Dinosaur Jr.

31. "Doing It To Death" The Kills

30. "Lemontrees" Eagulls

29. "White Bear" The Temperance Movement

28. "Miracle" The Darcys

27. "Silence" Sate

26. "Beck + Call" July Talk

25. "Swings and Waterslides" Viola Beach

24. "CV Dazzle" The Zolas

23. "Cruel Ways" Drowners

22. "DVP" Pup

21. "Pen to Paper" Modern Space

20. "Wall Watcher" Sunflower Bean

19. "Soundcheck" Catfish and The Bottlemen

18. "Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)" White Denim

17. "Human" Weaves

16. "Blood In The Cut" K.Flay

15. "Give It Up" The Beaches

14. "Get Out" Frightened Rabbit

13. "It Don't Seem Right" Public Animal

12. "It's Just Us Now" Sleigh Bells

11. "Hold Me Closer" Yuck

10. "Tiny" Dinosaur Jr.

9. "The End of Things" Bob Mould

8. "Heart of a Dog" The Kills

7. "Warrior" Sate

6. "Amerika" Wintersleep

5. "Invisible" The Zolas

4. "Hearts In Motion" Yuck

3. "New Song" Warpaint

2. "Spirits" The Strumbellas

1. "Push + Pull" July Talk

New music from White Denim: Had 2 Know (Personal) from Stiff

Austin band White Denim's new album Stiff is out March 25. They've just let us in on a third hard-driving, jammable, southern-rock tinged tune. This one's called "Had 2 Know (Personal)" and you can stream it below.

In case you missed them, check out "Holda You (I'm Psycho)" and "Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)" from the parenthetically inclined jam-rockers. Yee haw!

Another new White Denim tune - Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah) - from Stiff

I featured a new White Denim tune called "Holda You (I'm Psycho)" a couple of weeks ago. Their new album is called Stiff and it comes out March 25. Here's another tune off of the new album. It's called "Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)" and it's funky as all get out.

New music from White Denim

White Denim, the insanely talented and hard rockin' band from Austin, Texas, have a new album, this one called Stiff, coming out on March 25. Check out this barn-burner of a tune, "Holda You (I'm Psycho)". I saw these guys last time they played Toronto, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for their next local tour date.

White Denim bring the wow factor to The Horseshoe

Wow. Just, wow. I kept saying it after just about every tune on Monday night at White Denim's Toronto show at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern.

I guess I'm a little late to the White Denim party, since I only have their latest album Corsicana Lemonade. I was impressed enough with their sound to head out to the show. Then came the fact that this Monday night show was sold out. Then came the fact that after spectacular opening act Districts, I couldn't leave the stage-front or I would lose my photo location. I had the feeling I was going to see something special.

The musicianship of this band is absolutely incredible, almost to the level of being ridiculous. There are also a ridiculous number of genres that these guys straddle. I won't even start. Each member of the band is a master of his instrument. And they play together on a psychic plane.

James Petralli, singer and guitarist, weaves the songs together with his vocals, solid rhythm guitar work and inventive leads. Joshua Block is a monster on the drums, playing complex bits while never not servicing the song. Bass player Steven Terebecki's fingers fly over the Ricky fretboard as intricate parts lock in with the drums, much to the delight of some front-row fans. Additional guitar duties are provided by Austin Jenkins who plays perfect parts and soulful solos while making it look effortless.

Their setlist was gigantic and ambitious - 25 songs in all. I was amazed at the length of the list, written in small printing on little pieces of paper. Again, wow.

Check out some tunes while I continue to dig through this amazing band's back catalog.

Set opener, "At Night In Dreams"


"Pretty Green"

"Drug"


"Anvil Everything"


"Street Joy"

Pretty Green White Denim

White Denim released Corsicana Lemonade just before Hallowe'en. I'm just getting around to appreciating the re-energized classic rock and blues tinged sounds they produce. Here's "Pretty Green". It'll make you feel good.