The Top 10 artists I’ve listened most to during 2016:

#10 The Black Keys (blues/rock) – discovered by roaming around Apple Music a couple of weeks ago. Listen to “The Moan” EP to get as sense of their early rough/dirty sound and to “Turn Blue” album to get a sense of the latest sound. Note: most likely would be higher up if discovered earlier in the year 🙂

#9 Rihanna (pop) – discovered when her “Stay” was playing on the radio a few years back. This year her “Love on My Brain” performance at the Grammy’s has stayed with me. 

#8 Alabama Shakes (alternative) – discovered through an Apple commercial. Alabama Shakes may not be to the choice of most people but their “Sound & Color” album is a favorite of mine.

#7 Børns (alternative) – discovered on the way to a beach in Kauai (playing on the radio). His “Electric Love” song captured my attention from the first moment, throughout the vacation and beyon.

#6 Imperiet/Ebba Grön (punk/rock) – discovered a long time ago at an age when you knew all you needed to know 😉 Swedish punk/rock at its best. I tend to gravitate towards Imperiet’s “Höghus, LÃ¥ghus, DÃ¥rhus” (Towers, Low-Rise Buildings, Madhouses) and “Kriget med Mig Själv” (The War with Myself) or Ebba Grön’s “Tittar pÃ¥ TV” (Watching TV) as of lately.

#5 Pat MacDonald (rock) – discovered a long way back when he was in Timbuktu 3 with his then wife. His music may not be for everyone but I recommend “Purgatory Hill” for an electric guitar based bluesy album, “Sleeps with His Guitar” if you prefer acoustic guitar, or “Strange Love – PM does DM” if you’re up for an unusual take on Depeche Mode.

#4 Hozier (singer/songwriter) – discovered when he was performing “Take Me to Church” at the Late, Late Show. His soulful, somewhat bluesy voice is cotton to my ears.

#3 Peter LeMarc (singer/songwriter) – discovered a long time ago, probably through Swedish radio or something. I would recommend “Kärlek i Tystnadens Tid” (Love in the Time of Silence), which is a warm sounding album and one of his best in since his comeback in 2003. “Den Tunna TrÃ¥den” (The Thin Thread), the first album after recovering from cancer is also a good choice.

#2 Robert Plant/Led Zeppelin (rock) – discovered a looong time ago. Though I’ve been listening to Robert Plan and Led Zeppelin for I don’t know how long they are still one of the artist I listen most to year after year.

#1 The Rival Sons (rock) – discovered a year ago by my brother who gave me their latest CD as a Christmas gift. The Rival Sons are rock when it is at its best, with influences from past heroes like Led Zeppelin and Free.