16 for ’16

In no particular order, the following is a countdown of some of my favorite songs and performances from the past year. The list consists entirely of female artists because they were the ones who dominated the music world (and my playlists) over the course of these twelve grueling months. I could write volumes on each of these, but this time around, I’ll let the music speak for itself. Enjoy!

“Cranes in the Sky” (Official Music Video)
Solange Knowles, Head of the Table

“333”
Against Me!, Punk as Fuck

“Shut Up Kiss Me” (Official Video)
Angel Olsen, My Woman

“Sour Candy”
Bleached, Ladies of the Canyon

“In Heaven” (Audiotree Live)
Japanese Breakfast, Post-Death Fuzzed Out Psychotic Pop

"Dream State/Familiar Place" (Live at WFUV)
Lucy Dacus, Virginia is for Lonely Lovers

“Stop Desire” (Official Music Video)
Tegan and Sara, Pet Shop Girls

“Wedding” (Live on The Current)
Polica, Fighters of the Good Fight

“One Way to Pray” (Live on KCRW)
Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop, Johnny & June, Gram & Emmylou…

“Dog Years” (Official Audio)
Maggie Rogers, Dancing in the Ether

"Empire Builder" (Live at WFUV)
Laura Gibson, An Oregonian on the Eastbound Trail

“Bramble Rose” (Live at Sawyer Sessions)
Tift Merritt, Re-mastered Masterpiece

“Too Much Is Never Enough” (FFXV Soundtrack)
Florence + The Machine, When Worlds Collide…

“New Speedway Boogie”
Courtney Barnett, Aussie Deadhead

“Face like Thunder” (Official Video)
The Japanese House, Thee One to Watch in 2017

Full Performance (Live on KEXP)
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Keep Her in Your Heart for Awhile

---

Christopher Wolford is a music fan and writer, in that order. He is the Managing Editor for BULL and a frequent contributor to Split Lip Magazine. He lives in Bloomington, IN. You can find him promoting all his favorite artists here.