Common But Treatable: Favorite Albums of 2016

Seasonal Affective Disorder has me picking my favs by each equinoctial convergence point.

With the Grammy nominations just released—including a nomination for the HBO train-wreck Vinyl and slew of nominations for the over-rated Queen B—it’s easy to allow your Seasonal Affective Disorder to jade you on the state of contemporary music. But climate change deniers be damned. Here’s my picks for Album of the Year, broken out by our ever-disappearing seasons.

Vernal Equinox

Rihanna: Anti

Man, fuck your pride, BadGalRiRi is at it again with another collection of hits that you’ll need a lobotomy to remove from your psyche.

Summer Solstice

Flatbush Zombies: 3001: A Laced Odyssey

It’s summertime, you just re-up’d, plus you just paid your phone and the rent. Blazing on the beach, Flatbush Zombies had us ready to quit that day job.

Autumnal Equinox

Schoolboy Q: Blank Face LP

Bellin’ through the mothafuckin’ street, falling leaves turned into falling bodies as Groovy Tony jumped you into his ’52.

Winter Solstice

A Tribe Called Quest: We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service

A fitting end, Tribe’s politically charged reunion is exactly the call-to-action the country needed after a long, mind-numbing election. Reputation ain’t glowing, reparations ain’t flowing. If you find yourself stuck in a creek, you better start rowing.

Full Solar Rotation

For every season. Songs, songs, songs.

Justin Bieber: Sorry

This season-less banger had us asking for one more shot at forgiveness

Drake: One Dance

One more time before you go…you’ll hear this song.

Young M.A: OOOUUU

You call her Stephanie? I call her Headphanie (OOOUUU)

Run The Jewels: Legend Has It

Rented a room at the Ritz and smoked a dub in the tub in solidarity

Rihanna: Sledgehammer

I hit a wall.