01. Birthday Card - MARCUS MARR & CHET FAKER
Chet Faker has become Nick Murphy. Don't forget that he still sounds like Chet Faker.
02. Am I Wrong - ANDERSON .PAAK
I could have easily, and may have wanted to make this year's mix comprised solely of Anderson .Paak's songs and guest appearances. He is, hands down, the best performer I saw this year (@ Forrest Hills Stadium in Queens)
03. Common Ground - SAM O.B.
Every sound in this track makes my tingle. Yeah. Tingle. I'm so proud of my musical dude, Sam Obey (aka Sam Focus).
04. Got it Good - KAYTRANADA
This is one up-and-coming producer to watch. He released a killer track w/ Anderson .Paak (Glowed Up), but I decided that if I included two tracks from .Paak, I'd be inclined to make this entire mix with his songs, as stated above. You ought to check it out.
05. Ball of Confusion - LEON BRIDGES
Fuckin' Tight! Classic '71 soul jam by The Temptations covered by one of my current favorites, the impeccable Leon Bridges
06. Dancing on Glass - ST. LUCIA
Summer 2016 was the "good time" of this past year. This song brings me back.
07. You Were Right - RÜFÜS DU SOL
This one was a real surprise for me to stumble upon at Webster Hall. A name with double umlauts? Yes please!
08. Lifting Shadows - ODDISEE
It was a tough year. It was a good year for Hip Hop.
09. Tearing Me Up - BOB MOSES
Ultimate upbeat downtempo night groove. Pairs nicely with David Lynch visuals.
10. Try / Effortless - DVSN
In the vein of Miguel...smooth.
11. Smoke & Retribution - FLUME (Feat. VINCE STAPLES)
Another sensorily stunning show at Forrest Hills Stadium in Queens. I went solo to this one in the summer, standing up in the old U.S. Open court bleachers, and watched as 14,000 fans went wild.
12. Prognosis Hypnosis - RODNEY TENOR
This dude is apparently an unknown with only 179,000 Spotify streams as of this writing. If there is anyone listening, might not stay so unknown for long.
13. Shades of Blue - VIC MENSA
"It's bigger than us, these kids listen to us. That's why I give 'em that truth cause they don't get it enough"
14. Rings - AESOP ROCK
Throwback favorite from the early-to-mid 2000's comes out with a few interesting stories this year. I can dig it. Video is a worthwhile watch.
15. Wow - BECK
More Beck is most always good Beck. Wow is a wondrously weird and sonic slide.
16. Ordinary - JAGWAR MA
We need another rock band prowling around. I nominate Jagwar Ma.
17. All the Ways Love Can Feel - MAXWELL
Oooooo Oooooo
18. On Hold - THE XX
After loving Jamie XX's record 'In Colors' last year, I anxiously await 2017's new songs. This will tide us over.
19. Underwater - PORCHES
Found this on one of my Spotify "Discover Weekly" playlists. If you don't dig into that benefit of Spotify... well, get to it!
20. Where Did I Go? - JORJA SMITH
Another Spotify Discover jam. Noticing a pattern here? It was a year filled with voices, many new.