2016: the year in singles

Every year I announce I’ve reviewed more singles than ever, and I’m not wrong. I’m also doing more sit-ups than ever. Below are the original scores of every tune I’ve reviewed at The Singles Jukebox. I’ve kept the original grades despite the adjustments that radio listening have demanded I make — not that top forty

Singles 12/23

For the last Singles Jukebox week of 2016, we finished our amnesty period, during which staff proffered tunes we’d missed. The highlights are a punky jam by a quartet from County Durham and an electronic slow burn by one of the Fuck Buttons. Thanks for reading. Martha – Ice Cream and Sunscreen (7) Blanck Mass

Singles 12/16

Amnesty Week gives Jukeboxers a chance to review singles we may have missed. Here’s the first week’s crop. Click on links for full reviews. Tim McGraw – Humble and Kind (8) Clipping. – Air ‘Em Out (7) Namuel – Maldita Ingenuidad (7) School of Seven Bells – Ablaze (7) The 1975 – Somebody Else (7)

Best singles of 2016

I’m gonna make it through this year if it kills me. So many friends have muttered John Darnielle’s line since the the death of David Bowie augured an unusually brutal year, culminating, of course, in the debacle on November 8. Up until that point, I must say, 2016 had been excellent for me: professionally, aesthetically,

Singles 12/9

It’s a bold, bright Reader’s Week! Click on links for full reviews. Mister Wallace – It Girl (7) Anna Straker – Serious (7) Fernanda Abreu – Outro Sim (7) Katie Gately – Tuck (7) Swet Shop Boys – T5 (6) Espinoza Paz – Que Mal Te Ves Sin Mí (6) Hana – Underwater (5) Brave

Singles 12/2

My second best week of 2016 is distinguished by my first 10 since 2010 (I would retroactively award several 10s though). No question that “We the People” benefitted from November’s slough of despond, but Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Mohammed, Jarobi, and the late Phife Dawg know better that even if the electoral vote total matched the

Singles 11/25

Swede Sabina Ddumba earns my highest score this week in part by showing up every would-be dance track I’ve heard in the last month, including an even worse than I thought Charli XCX track, also reviewed. It’s the sort of week when Keith Urban making like Chris Isaak sounds good over turkey. Click on links

Singles 11/18

Thanks to Latin Grammys and serendipity, this was among the year’s best weeks. I still don’t hear the country overtones in “A-Yo.” Maybe they’re undertones. Click on links for full reviews. Lady Gaga – A-Yo (8) Beyonce ft. Dixie Chicks – Daddy Lessons (7) Ian Ramil – Derivacivilização (7) Mon Laferte – Si Tú Me

Singles 11/11

Blurbing was cut short this week. Brad Paisley’s anthem has the feel of a rose pressed inside a family Bible. We’ll return in force next week with Latin Grammys and a Leonard Cohen tribute. Stay close. Click on links for full reviews. Sevyn Streeter ft. The-Dream – D4L (7) Brad Paisley – Today (7) Mary

Singles 11/4

Click on links for full reviews. BTS – Blood Sweat & Tears (7) Violeta Castillo – Envuelta (7) Little Mix – Shout Out to My Ex (7) William Michael Morgan – I Met a Girl (6) Amber Coffman – All to Myself (6) Café Tacvba – Un Par De Lugares (6) Bolppalgan Puberty – Galaxy

Singles 10/28

Californian-Chilean electro-pop, insinuating house, a decent Jason Derulo rip, and, at the top, snotty canon-pillaging hip-hip — now that’s a good week. Click on links for full reviews. Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane – Black Beatles (8) Francisca Valenzuela – Estremecer (7) Kaytranada ft. Syd – You’re the One (7) Jordan Fisher – Lookin’ Like

Singles 10/21

Notes: – “Cranes in the Sky” is our highest rated single of 2016 and highest rated Solange single to date, scoring a full decimal point better than 2012’s “Losing You.” – Two aging pretty boys and one decent boy distinguished Friday. It’s possible that I underrated Niall’s single because it went in — wait for