2016 has been a busy year for music. We’ve seen the rise of new prominent stars, as well as the devastating passing of many musical legends. We wanted to look back at the past year and talk about the music that really stood out for us. This is UoGlos’ albums of the year.

Malibu by Anderson Paak – Milo Fisher

My choice for best album is one from the beginning of the year, and that’s Malibu by Anderson Paak. No one manages to capture the beauty of daily existence more than Anderson Paak, and his woeful story of growing up and coming to understand the struggles and hardships of adulthood is truly moving. Songs “The Bird” and “Come Down” stand out as two fantastic showcases of Paak’s many talents. It’ll leave you in a great mood, and reminds you that everything isn’t so bad.

Joanne by Lady Gaga – Tallulah Lewis

My favourite album of the year has to be Joanne by Lady Gaga. It’s a huge move away from the modified pop songs she used to sing and is just full of emotion. I never thought I would like Lady Gaga, but this album managed to change my mind.

If I Can Dream Compilation Album – Ben Amor

My favourite album of 2016 has to be the release of If I Can Dream, a compilation album of Elvis Presley performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The impressive recordings of Elvis have been restored to combine with the impressive sound of the Orchestra to create a sound like no other. As a musician and a fan of big orchestral bands, this album is everything I look for in good music. I urge anyone with a passion for good music to add this to their Christmas list.

Following My Intuition by Craig David – Emily Midwinter

For me, album of the year is Following My Intuition by Craig David. There’s something about his voice that draws me in and once I listen to one song I can’t stop, before I know it I’ve spent hours listening to him on repeat. It’s a great album for when you’re going on long car journeys. In my opinion his comeback was one of the musical highlights of the year, the album makes up for the time that we went without anything new from Craig David.

Lemonade by Beyoncé – Amie Rhone

My choice of album of the year is Lemonade by Beyoncé. With so much talk behind singles such as ‘Sorry’ and ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’, it’s no surprise that Beyoncé’s new album has been hit with questions about her relationship with Jay-Z. Her album never fail to create a stir and this year, finding the perfect balance of warmth and fury to make an album like no other. The female-empowered tracks, combined with powerful lyrics and sassy visuals make for one of the best albums of 2016. All hail Queen Bee.

Flying Business Class by GOAN DOGS – Declan Flannery

My favourite album/EP from 2016 is Flying Business Class by GOAN DOGS, it has a chill and relaxing tone which helped me through the year and brightened my day multiple times. I found them on ‘Sunday Brunch’ where their video for the EP was shown I instantly shazamed it then listened to it for months. It then encouraged me to go and see the band in Bristol where they performed in a church and it escalated my love for the band and this EP purely from hearing it live just made it that much better.

DC4 by Meek Mill – Joe Marques

It’s got to be DC4 by Meek Mill. With a mix of club bangers and terrific lyricism, Meek Mill got back to his very best with his aggressive style that doesn’t leave you wondering whether he is still passionate about his music. Hit song Litty has climbed its way up the charts and is now one of the go to tunes for DJ’s everywhere. Slower songs like two wrongs and Toy Story 3 delve into his criminal past and present.

GLA by Twin Atlantic – Ben Custard

My album of the year is GLA by Twin Atlantic. I think it’s their best yet, and I’ve got it on repeat in the car. I was driving through Tewkesbury early in the morning once, and when No Sleep came on I think I woke up everyone in the town because it’s got to be played loud. It’s almost the law. No Sleep is especially relevant for me, because as a student it’s rare that I’ll get a good night’s sleep.

Views by Drake – Laura Nightingale

This is a tough decision but my favourite album of the year has to be Views by the one and only, Drake. ‘Hotline Bling’ not only broke social media with endless memes, but it was also my ringtone…. (cringe). Views became the first album to accumulate one-billion streams on Apple Music and remained number one for 13 non-consecutive weeks. Whether I’m working out in the gym or getting ready for a night out with the girls, this album always gets me in the mood and has me attempting to rap (really badly).

Skin by Flume – Josué Ngandu

My favourite album of 2016 is Skin by Flume. The album is the Australian’s second to date and has been nominated for the Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards. The album had three hit singles, “Never Be like You”, “Smoke and Retribution” and “Say It”. I also managed to see Flume perform this album live this year at the Parklife festival in Manchester. After many critical reviews, the album received an average rating of 7.5 out of 10.

Glory Days by Little Mix – Sophie Jones

I really think Little Mix have done well for themselves – they have rejuvenated the girl band image and I think they have been the most popular all-girl line up since the Spice Girls 20 years ago. Their new album is packed with catchy songs that you can enjoy singing along with in the car (as I often do!). My favourite track on the album has to be “Shout out to my ex” – what a tune!

That’s it for our albums of the year! Let us know what album you thought is worthy of the title down in the comments below. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all your Gloucestershire news.