My Favourite Albums of 2016 So Far

2016 is just about half-over, the last six months having rocketed past with the velocity of a drumstick that the guy on the stool wasn't gripping properly. Today, I thought I'd share ten of my favourite albums from the first half of the year, so that's exactly what I've done: find them all listed below (in alphabetical order, just in case these turn out to be the best albums of 2016 overall - I want to preserve a little bit of mystery for my end-of-year list!)

Adore Life - Savages

"Thrillingly confrontational...almost scarily compelling"

Standout Tracks: Evil // I Need Something New // T.I.W.Y.G.

Read More: Savage Orders

Amen & Goodbye - Yeasayer

"A colourful cornucopia of bouncy pop and blissed-out psychedelia"

Standout Tracks: Silly Me // Dead Sea Scrolls // Cold Night

Read More: A Track-by-Track Analysis of Amen & Goodbye

February Playlist: What Kind of Monster

Another month, another month-end playlist. Here's what I spent my extra-long February listening to:

1. T.I.W.Y.G. - Savages

(from Adore Life)

Don't mess with love. Or Savages, for that matter. Click here to read my review of their new album, Adore Life.

Moth

"I'm turning into someone else," sang Caroline Polachek on the penultimate track of Something, Chairlift's second LP.

How accurate that statement turned out to be. Something was a big, fabulous throwback, couched in decadent '80s synth sounds and topped with just a sprinkling of cheese. Even the artwork looked like it was designed for an old VHS cassette:

Last month, however, that gloriously retro chrysalis has opened to reveal Moth, Chairlift's third album. Moths, of course, are usually gross and terrible, but this moth is actually rather beautiful:

Granted, that stunning red-tinged skyline does kind of dilute the grossness, but even the moth itself looks oddly gorgeous - just look at the feathery detail on its feelers!