Top 100 Tracks of 2016: 100 - 67

Starting today through Friday, I'll be revealing my list of the top 100 tracks of 2016. The following is my disclaimer, as I feel it's important to preface this list with my methodology. I thought long and hard about this list, what and who I should include, where each track should fall, and how to go about doing that. Should I include multiple tracks from one artist? Am I trying to make a point/statement with my placement of each track? How do I deal with the recency bias, and the counter-effect of that on older tracks? The reality is, this blog is mine and mine alone. It is one man's opinions and despite my claims, that these are the "top" or "best" tracks, they are more truthfully my favourite, and what I believe to be tracks/artists that deserve further praise. I did not conduct any surveys, base the ranking on plays or popularity, but rather I went with my heart.

As you'll see I did include multiple tracks from my favourite artists, as they are, at least in my mind, deserving. You'll also notice a hell of a lot of future bass tracks, as is only appropriate for 2016. I also tried to include a variety of other genres, but it will be clear what my tastes, and therefore favourite genres are. However, I certainly feel like this list ended up hosting very little "club" music, despite spending countless hour of 2016 in the clubs. That being said there are dozens of worthy tracks that I either forgot or excluded. Finally, I'll be posting a soundcloud playlist at the bottom of each post, as best I can, assuming each track is still online. So here we go with the first 34 tracks.

#100: Photay - Trophy
(As featured on EFYE) I had to choose one track from Photay's Sadie EP and as I wrote previously, "Trophy" is bold and beautiful. It's the kind of experimental track that I cannot place into a single genre, save for the catch all category of 2016, future bass. The synth work is brilliant and full of feels. And as you'll see, the progression and movement it boasts is the key to many of the tracks on this list.

#99: Cowboy Rhythmbox - Mécanique Sauvage
This techno joint takes be back to the days when the likes of Gesaffelstein, Justice and the classic Boys Noize and Erol Alkan's collabs dominated my playlists, so it's fitting that it was released on Phantasy Sound. The genius of "Mécanique Sauvage" is its raw hammering style, contrasted beautifully by subtle tweaks and progression. This would absolutely destroy a club.

#98: Terror Danjah - All I Need (ft. Dot Rotten)
I got scared for a second when I saw that this song was on soundcloud 3 years ago! However, it still qualifies for this list as it was only released in August of this year. This is one of the deeper more beautiful tracks on this list. Terror lays down a brilliant beat and Dot displays his vocal prowess in more ways that one. His flow is fire and his words will have you wiping away tears.

#97: Bob Moses - Like It Or Not (Joris Voorn Remix)
(As featured on EFYE) Of the Bob Moses remixes that could have fallen on this list, I decided to go with the Voorn version because of its truly epic nature. The journey Joris takes us on is absolutely breathtaking, it gives the feeling of flying with its soaring synths. At the same time it dives to an unknown abyss, with its dark, almost alarming, bass throbs. Buckle up for the brilliance of Joris Voorn.

#96: Solid Groove & Sinden - Din Da Da (Yolanda Be Cool Re-Jiggle)
This is another one of those tracks that take me back to the "good old days," specifically 2006/7 when the original was first released. I first heard this when RYME played it this summer, ushering in one of my most stanky, screw faces. On a proper system you'll be making the same oo's and ah's as the vocalist, thanks to the nonstop bouncy bass. This is a confirmed club killer.

#95: FrankJavCee - Pop Song (ft. Marionismagical)
(As featured on EFYE) I couldn't do this list without including this brilliant indictment of pop music, as you'll see there aren't many, if any, pop songs on this list. Not that there's anything wrong with them. And that's exactly what this song is about, how can you hate on pop music when you make an awesome pop song. Music is about enjoyment, and I thoroughly enjoy this and all tracks on this list.

FrankJavCee - Pop Song (ft. Marionismagical)

I've written before about soundclowns, and meme music, yet have failed to address perhaps the greatest, tongue-in-cheek, talent, FrankJavCee. I first came across Frank when I was going through my vaporwave discovery phase, particularly spurred by Krystal Rodriguez's article on Thump "Is Simpsonswave a Real Thing?" This led me to find, and enjoy, much of his album vol 1.999, released on 4/20. I was particularly struck by "Clams Casino" which is a remix of Frou Frou's "Let Go," but that's basically just because I'm a sucker for Garden State. However, if you're into vaporwave at all, I imagine you'll enjoy "Simpsonswave 1995," Marge Krump Beat," and "Earth Bound Trap" as well. But back to the reason behind this post.

Yesterday, the world was gifted with the massive 30 track, FrankJavCee Volume Two, and while the majority of tracks are mere simplistic drivel (and purposefully so) there is at least one poignant production. "Pop Song" featuring frequent collaborator Marionismagical is a slice of sharp satire. It is tracks like this that have propelled Frank from internet obscurity to internet fame. He is no slouch when it comes to music production, and uses that skill to lampoon the masses who both create and consume the mindless tripe that is pop music. The poignant lines of lyrics are so utterly disarming; "What makes popular music so popular / Are you living vicariously through all the stars / Is it the money and fame and all the fancy cars / If you say it's tragic, you don't really got it."

"Pop Song" is actually a smartly produced piece of music, utilizing all of the hallmarks of its namesake, making it easily consumed. And I'm proof of that easy consumption, I've listened to it at least two dozen times in the past 24 hours. It sounds so clearly like a 2016 production; a year in which electronic and pop music have become more intertwined then ever. It's kind of kawaii, it's kind of trap, it's kind of future bass, but in the end, it's almost impossible to identify its genre. It's pure pop, pure 2016. Frank ingeniously puts a mirror in the face of the music industry, which rightly or wrong has evolved into this amorphous blob. Pop music has forever been a lighter, more accessible version of what was seen to be cool, whether it be rock, rap or hip-hop, but now it seems to have enveloped all of those and more, becoming the ultimate crossover. Yet again, I've let this post get off track and become a philosophical treatise, my apologies, unless you enjoy it, then you're welcome.

But back to the song at hand. The real quality of "Pop Song" comes in the lyrical/vocal content. Marionismagical delivers a believable performance, easily fitting into the song as any would any of the seemingly infinite number of utterly replaceable vocalists out there. This is not meant to be an attack on her quality, rather it's perfect for this production. The current state of pop music does not allow for personality and/or nuance in vocals, and even if it is there, it is easily wiped away through automation such as auto-tune. The dry delivery of Frank's voice in the "rap" bit, is yet another slice of his genius that overflows in this production.

As a cherry on top, Frank addresses perhaps the biggest problem I have with music, and more specifically the music industry, through the lyric "Are we really honest / when we say we're artists." What is art and at what point does art become business? I'll leave you to mull this over while you listen to "Pop Song" below. If you enjoy it, I urge you to dig a little deeper into FrankJavCee's online presence, and check out more of his, at times brilliant, album, Volume Two.

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