Camilo’s Top 25 Alternative Rock Songs of 2016
The 25 songs that defined Alternative rock for me in 2016
by Camilo Arenivar
Personally, I was not all too fond with the world of Alternative Music in 2016. Things seem to take a lean towards the pop and bland for the most part. Some acts did really well with that, and they are probably on this list. I don’t listen to FM Radio alternative rock stations like Live 105 in San Francisco, KROQ or Alt987 in L.A., or K-Rock in NYC. I mostly listen to the Sirius XM satellite radio alternative station and their showcase shows of new talent. That’s where some of the stuff you probably not have heard of came from.
On to the list!
1. “Nothing Personal” — Night Riots
Night Riots also has my favorite alternative rock album of 2016, “Love Gloom”. I feel they channel AFI, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Marilyn Manson with Robert Smith (The Cure) -esque vocals to boot. Anyway, it really flies with me.
See also:
2. “Move” — Saint Motel
I like their horn infused throwback sound…loved the 2 singles from their last album and also liked this one:
3. “Somebody Else” — The 1975
While much of their music is over the top uptempo, this laid-back introspective electronic ballad was a bit different for them and it slowly grew on me until I was unable to stop listening whenever it came on.
4. “Genghis Khan” — Miike Snow
Initially catchy, this song got played so much everywhere I went I eventually got sick of it. Looking back at the year, I still realize it was one of the better songs that came out, mostly due to how infectious it was.
5. “Blood in the Cut” — K. Flay
The most recent of the post-Elle King raspy female vocalists, this San Francisco based musician has all the right elements with this song. Beware of the F bombs!
6. “Fire Escape” — Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
7. “Lethargy” — Bastille
Bastille released another one of the best albums of 2016 but none of the songs released to radio exemplified the better tracks they put out so I chose my favorite track from the album:
Also see:
8. “Hands Down” — The Greeting Committee
9. “Go” — M83
10. “Oblivious” — The Strokes
The Strokes put out an EP this year and this song soared above the others.
11. “Radio” — Sylvan Esso
12. “Dark Necessities” — Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers finally put out a new album and it was really good. This was the lead single.
Also see:
13. “Seventeen” — Sjogren
I don’t think anyone knows this song but it’s so good!
14. “Lost” — The Temper Trap
This band returned with a new album after several years and it was an exceptional work. This was one of my favorite songs from it:
See also:
15. “At Most a Kiss” — Blossoms
16. “Vowels” — Hunny
The first of 2 different songs called vowels. How odd is that?
17. “Wish I Knew You” — The Revivalists
18. “She’s Casual” — The Hunna
The Hunna is another band whose new album I found one of the 10 best in 2016.
See also:
19. “Lost on You” — LP
Now this artist, who I hear has been around for awhile but really just started getting airplay at the end of the year, might be part of the post- Elle King raspy voice female singers. Or not. You be the judge but the one thing I think is — she has a good voice and I like the song!
20. “Heavydirtysoul” — TwentyOne Pilots
Now, I am not a fan of this band at all. I hate their mix of white rapping and alternative rock. We already have had enough of that and this just sounded so faux to me. Except this song. This song has such an over the top catchy chorus that I can overlook the alterna-rapping.
21. “Take It All Back” — Judah and the Lion
I still get suckered in by mandolins and banjos. R.E.M. & Mumford & Sons are all to blame.
22. “Giving Up On You” — Wild Belle
Best song in 2016 that sounds like a song from 1985.
23. “Vowels” — Capital Cities
The first single from my favorite act (act and album) of 2014, Capital Cities new album. Catchy and pleasant, but it’s not “Safe and Sound”. And that’s not a bad thing.
24. “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” — Phantogram
25. “Life Itself” — Glass Animals
Honorable Mentions:
Stop Me — Nick Murphy
Lying to You — Goldroom
Loveblood — Sundara Karma
Boyish — Hippo Campus
