1. Swiss Army Man - Andy Hull and Robert McDowell
The soundtrack is just as weird as the film, creating a spectacularly well-rounded oddball film.  Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe add their voices to the score, as the random melodies start to form.  I remember sitting in the theater during the first film and feeling lifted off of the ground during the first scene because of the musical build-up in the very first song.  

2. La La Land - Various Artists
Before La La Land, I had no idea that Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were each capable of singing with such good pitch and emotion.  This original musical shocked audiences through its portrayal of an unusual love story.  The music is emotional and grandose, constantly rising above the images on screen.

3. Sing Street - Various Artists
This soundtrack is all around fun to listen to.  This was the first soundtrack that landed on my radar this year.  A lot of us dream of starting a band that rebels against "The Man."  The soundtrack blends eighties-style synthesized tracks with vocal tracks that revolve around attracting a crush.

4. The Handmaiden - Various Artists
The Handmaiden's soundtrack is basically a symphony.  The film's length clocks in at about three hours, so an engaging soundtrack is necessary to move the story along and keep the audience's attention.  Flying string melodies and rich piano solos progress the film to a point where it feels shy of two hours long.  I felt lost at times in the music, as opposed to lost in the characters.

5. Kubo and the Two Strings - Dario Marianelli, Regina Spektor
Asian instruments create an exotic feel to this film's soundtrack.  American audiences are not used to a lot of the instruments used on this soundtrack, so the melodies feel fresh and exciting.  Of course, I cannot leave this film without mentioning the very interesting and fantastic take on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

6. Arrival - Johann Johannsson
This alien flick is filled with ambient noises to create a foreign presence.  It works very well in the film, but is not something that I would want to listen to on its own too often.  In fact, it would probably give me nightmares if I listened to it a lot.  That being said, it is a near-perfect soundtrack for the film's genre and synopsis.

7. Our Kind of Traitor - Marcelo Zarvos
John le Carre's story gets an endearing soundtrack accompaniment.  The accompaniment itself leaves us questioning who to trust in the film.  Slow and high-pitched piano themes bring us into the mystery.  But Latin guitar themes also add to the cultural aspects of the film, as we travel to foreign countries along the way.

8. Deepwater Horizon - Steve Jablonsky, Gary Clark Jr.
This soundtrack sounds very similar to other soundtracks that were created for Peter Berg's previous films.  However, this one is by Steve Jablonsky without Explosions in the Sky.  It seems as though Jablonsky gained some of Explosions in the Sky's dreamy musical ambience and used it for this film.

9. Suicide Squad - Various Artists
The only thing that Suicide Squad did right seems to be the soundtrack.  Blending rap and rock n' roll, the soundtrack packs a punch with artists ranging from Rick Ross to Panic! At The Disco.  This is a 90s kid's dream soundtrack.  Too bad the movie didn't impress as much as the soundtrack did!

10. Sausage Party - Various Artists
I'm not going to lie, I liked Sausage Party a lot.  It was hilarious and had a cameo from one of my favorite musical artists.  The opening number was just as great as the cameo, leading off the movie with poignant chuckles.

1. Moon Shaped Pool - Radiohead
An album that seems so full of heart and heartbreak from a band that often hides behind metaphor. Seems to only get better with each intimate listen.
Fav Track: Burn the Witch

2. 22, A Million - Bon Iver
The way Justin Vernon creates soundscapes and pushes his music into different arenas is exceptional, especially since he takes his listeners along for the ride- expanding their tastes in the process.
Fav Track: 33 God

3. Awaken My Love - Childish Gambino
​From out of left field, Donald Glover gives us an album so full of authentic but modernized soul that you kind of wonder what he can't do.
Fav Track: Me and Your Mama

4. Coloring Book - Chance the Rapper
Like a giddy heartfelt selection of short stories accompanied by a church choir. Chance has enough charisma to completely fill this album and many more to come.
Fav Track: All We Got

5. Simple Forms - The Naked and Famous
If you look past the dance-inducing synths and riffs on almost every track, you'll find a nuanced way of dealing with loss and hope for the future. The way Simple Forms plays with two sides to the same story via its dual vocal leads is fascinating.
Fav Track: Laid Low

6. Swiss Army Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Andy Hull and Robert McDowell
Innovative, captivating and most importantly able to stand on its own from the film- this album speaks to a range of emotions that just isn't touched upon in most music.
Fav Track: Montage

7. Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial
You feel like you're in the basement, watching the band record to their master cassettes. Gritty, lo-fi, and yet...relevant.
Fav Track: Fill in the Blank

8. The Life of Pablo - Kanye West
While most of the album feels like half finished masterpieces, somehow it adds up to glimpses of a self aware Kanye that feels new and interesting.
Fav Track: Waves

9. Sing Street (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Various Artists
The greatest achievement this soundtrack and film does is make you feel at home in a time period that you never experienced.
Fav Track: Up

10. Weezer (White Album) - Weezer
This album chugs away with such foolhardy confidence that it ALMOST fools you into not calling it a guilty pleasure.
Fav Track: King of the World

1. ​This is Acting - Sia​
While everyone seems to be reviving from the Taylor Swift craze, Sia has risen to fame causing another craze. This album reveals that Sia is finally ready for a little more publicity. She has been hidden behind her writings, but her newest album has put her at the forefront of the music scene. She doesn't care if she sings off-key and she loves cheap thrills. What more could you ask of from an artist. Overall, this is the most well-rounded pop album I've heard in a while!
Favorite Track: "Bird Set Free"

2. This Unruly Mess I've Made - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
I don't listen to a lot of rap, but as someone who spent time growing up in Seattle and Spokane I cannot put Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's new cd aside. A lot of it is socially relevant, but broken up by insanely random lyrics.
Favorite Track: "Brad Pitt's Cousin"

3. California - Blink-182
Blink-182 surprised the world with this new album, which is fantastic! They haven't been this good since Enema of the State.  At this point, I can't decide if I like California or Enema more.
Favorite Track: "San Diego"

4. Lukas Graham - Lukas Graham
Ah yessss, Lukas Graham killed it this year with an album drop full of fables and heart-wrenching songs. While listening to this album, I felt like I got some insight into how the artist grew up. Childhood stories provide nostalgia to one's own upbringing, pulling me into the music itself.
Favorite Track: "Happy Home"

5. Revolution Radio - Green Day
Honestly before Revolution Radio came out, I had a grudge against Green Day. They felt like a band that strived too much to be angsty. Yet, the best parts of the new album are the angsty and raw tunes. Billy Joe Armstrong clearly struggled to produce the new project, and it was worth the wait.
Favorite Track: "Still Breathing"

6. Simple Forms - The Naked and Famous
Struggle seems to be providing the best music this year. After the near-breakup of The Naked and Famous, they decided to create their most well-rounded album yet. Striving off of the synthesized soundscapes, the two singers in the band seem to share the microphone to create a band of equality.
Favorite Track: "Laid Low"

7. Signs of Light - The Head and The Heart
Considering that my favorite band in the past half-decade has been Mumford & Sons, it is not surprising that I love The Head and The Heart. Folk music will always be a big part of the Pacific Northwest and The Head and The Heart have perfected smooth folk-rock with Signs of Light.
Favorite Track: "All We Ever Knew"

8. Wild World - Bastille
This album isn't quite as good as Bad Blood, but it sure is close! Ranging from indie pop to indie rock to soft rock, this band that claims they became famous through a tv appearance on a sports show proves that they deserves the fame.
Favorite Track: "Lethargy"

9. Starboy - The Weeknd
The Weeknd is the classiest hip-hop artist around, producing music worthy nightclubs and smooth lounges. His appearance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was the definition of gentleman-like.
Favorite Track: "Starboy"

10. Braver Than We Are - Meat Loaf
No matter what his voice becomes, I will always love Meat Loaf's music. Plus, Jim Steinman's compositions are once again pure genius. As long as the two keep on collabing, I will keep on listening.
Favorite Track: "Going All The Way Is Just The Start (A Song in 6 Movements)"

Honorable Mentions:
I Had A Dream That You Were Mine - Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
Hey Marseilles - Hey Marseilles
Integrity Blues - Jimmy Eat World
​Folk Hop N' Roll - Judah & the Lion
Where'd Your Weekend Go? - The Mowgli's
XX - O.A.R.
The Getaway - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Matter - St. Lucia
Hope - The Strumbellas
Weezer (The White Album) - Weezer
Home of the Strange - Young the Giant

As a winter film, Manchester By The Sea focuses on family in a more somber tone than most typical holiday films.  From the very first scene, the audience is given an emotional chorale to set the mood for the film.  We fall into the waves, helpless and left a bit insecure about the lives we witness.  Kenneth Lonergan (Gangs of New York) makes us giggle and then quickly makes us cry.  A large part of the realistic tone must be credited to the script.  Lonergan shows us well-crafted character traits that are somber, but still dear and charming.  

A lot of the tone is set through the cinematography.  Jody Lee Lipes (Trainwreck) guides us towards the ocean as we are brought back to the rolling waves between scenes.  We constantly see Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting) driving around the region as he tries to correct his life mistakes.  However, we are often disconnected from the character as we view him from the outside of the car window.  As human beings, we love to know everything about everyone else.  We snoop around looking for the hottest new rumors and gossip.  Manchester By The Sea reminds us that we never really know somebody else from their first appearance.  Struggle and hardship often create new personalities.  Someone who may seem like the grumpiest person on Earth might have been the happiest person on Earth before he or she lost something dear to them.  This idea creates the perfect pathos in Manchester By The Sea.

Based on early buzz, it goes without saying that this film will be in the runnings for some Oscar nominations.  It also goes without saying that Casey Affleck deserves a nomination for his portrayal of Lee Chandler.  Similarly to his brother, Affleck has perfected the somber facial expression.  His facial expressions guide this film into the tone that it strives for.  Lucas Hedges (Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel) co-stars as a teen dealing with the loss of his father.  Hedges is an actor that we should remember and look out for in future films.  Of course, the rest of the cast is well-rounded with bold performances by Michelle Williams (Shutter Island), Kyle Chandler (The Wolf of Wall Street), C.J. Wilson (The Intern​), and many more.

The Bottom Line:  Manchester By The Sea will drive you to tears, but still leave room for satisfaction by the end of its runtime.

Score: 9.7/10

This was definitely one of my most anticipated films of 2016.  After Whiplash, I was left counting down the days until the next film that would be under the direction of Damien Chazelle.  Little did I know that his next project would be a gleeful movie musical, and an extremely good one!  Chazelle's genre seems to revolve around jazz and drama.  Yet, he is capable of creating successful films with completely different tones.  After coming out of the theater, I was left with a craving for jazz.  I've never been a big jazz listener, but Chazelle's new movie further peaks my interest in the musical style that dates so far back in time.  

I'm not one to smile much during a dramatic film, but I found myself smiling throughout every scene in La La Land.  It is majestic, magical, and beautifully shot.  There are long takes that must have taken a long time to coordinate in the perfect manner that is produced.  At times, the characters float around on the screen.  The glitz and glamor of an older Hollywood is constantly popping up in every scene.  Yet, we also get a glimpse of the problems that have haunted Hollywood since its conception.  As smooth jazz melodies play, the typical viewer should fall into a trance of pure musical joy.

In order to create a strong musical, there are three key features necessary.  First, you need a good story.  The story for La La Land is somewhat ambiguous, causing some confusion along the way.  Still, the simplicity of a love story ties the frays as the story becomes deeper than a simple meeting between star-crossed lovers.  To create a strong musical, you clearly need good music that is relevant to the storyline.  From the get-go, La La Land introduces us to classy jazz numbers which often lead up to strong vocal performances.  Finally, you need to have a cast that can perform well on a stage and sing the various musical numbers.  This is probably my favorite role that Emma Stone (Birdman, The Amazing Spider-Man) has ever been in, and quite possibly my favorite role for Ryan Gosling (Drive, The Big Short).  Both of them sing their hearts out and create deep characters with their strong performances.

The Bottom Line:  La La Land captures our hearts as we cannot help but smile at the magic that comes from combining Hollywood's cinema and Broadway's musicality.

Score: 9.7/10

Image credits:
By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Emma StoneUploaded by maybeMaybeMaybe, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22894460
​By Elen Nivrae from Paris, France - Ryan Gosling, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41215867

Last year, The Weeknd released an album that got crazy buzz around the US.  Just one year later, The Weeknd has released his third album, Starboy.  Starboy is similar to previous works, combining a smooth R&B genre with a classy lounge style.  A lot of the music is mysterious and odd, but somehow works well for the artist.  Personally the style is a bit too subdued for my ears, but I like the classy character that The Weeknd has become.  On this album, we get more collabs with other artists as well.  These include singles with Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and Future.  These singles mesh The Weeknd's style with other popular artists, creating some really interesting tunes.  Honestly, these collabs are my favorite part of the album.  Still, it is important to realize that without The Weeknd's unique style, these collabs would cease to exist.  Plus, "Starboy" is his best song yet (followed very closely by "The Hills").  And for that, I am grateful for The Weeknd's new album!
Notable Tracks: "Starboy", "False Alarm", "Stargirl Interlude", "A Lonely Night", "Attention", "All I Know"