Twenty Sixteen is my number Part Three:Monsieur Jim's Best of 2016

When compiling Cultureberg's Best of 2016 list, fellow traveller Monsieur Jim, of Chateau de Chouette, was invited to similarly size up the contenders.  We all love a list, and I reproduce his list below with some notes of reflection, and Cultureberg's responses within parantheses.
Top 5 albums.....
1.  Bon Iver - 22- a million
2.  Riley Walker - Golden sings that have been sung
3. Quilt - Plaza
4.  Cat's Eyes - Treasure House
5.  David Crosby - Lighthouse

(As will become evident from comparison with the Cultureberg rundown, only the Ryley Walker is in common, a sign that all associates are Most Independent Thinkers.  In fact, I've never beard of Quilt, let alone heard the album, but will remedy that soon.  The Crosby album had been in contention for the Cultureberg Top 5, narrowly missing out.Though M. Jim favours last year's Croz, I must demur and wholeheartedly endorse his comments that "this stripped down record has revealed its stark and fragile beauty with each play.")

Artist of the Year - Leonard Cohen.  M.Jim salutes the sense of timing of the album's release, its message and his exiting this mortal coil prior to Trump's election.  (Having frequently addressed oppresssion in many guises and made the link between the personal and the political explicit in his lyrics, Leonard would no doubt have commented caustically on The Donald had he lived longer, as the event was semtex in the Zeitgeist...A few days after the election Cultureberg' favourite Circuit des Yeux was making comments from the stage in Manchester. expanding her own song's meanings to the current events....for want of a nail, indeed.)


Americana Lp of the Year:  Laura Cantrell Live at the BBC, because the songs work so well live.


Jazz lp of the year : Kamasi Washington - The Epic, which M. Jim admits is a slight twist, as this was released last year, "but only heard this year and nothing else I've heard this year sounds as good."  A blind eye is turned as the argument is persuasive, and Kamasi is a biot of a modern day Kolossus.

Reissue of the year:  Big Star - The complete Big Star Third.  In this choice Cultureberg is in complete agreeement, and a longer, more considered piece is to follow shortly.  Often extra tracks detract from the previous unity of an album, in this case they add, enlighten and illuminate an album for whom form is shifting and imprecise, but whose brilliant songs twinkle brighter than ever.  (Dear reader, Cultureberg almost went festive for a moment.)

Box set of the Year - The Rolling Stones in Mono.  At last, says Jim, their early catalogue has been superbly remastered and reminds one of how good the Sones were when they mattered.  (And combined with their, it has to be said , very sprightly and listenable, if somewhat marginal, blues set doing well, Mick and Keef may never have to return to running the corner shop.  Wellallwight!)


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