So Far So Good: OpenAir’s Favorite Albums From The First Half Of 2016

Photo: So Far So Good 2016 collage
A few of the OpenAir hosts' favorite albums of 2016. Top row, left to right: David Bowie, Damien Jurado, Parquet Courts. Middle row: Anderson .Paak, The Lumineers, Santigold. Bottom row: Anohni, PJ Harvey, Margaret Glaspy.

The first half of 2016 has been a wild ride. We lost music legends like David Bowie and Prince, got surprise albums from Radiohead and James Blake and saw remarkable debuts from artists like Margaret Glaspy and Whitney.

OpenAir staff members picked their 10 favorite albums from the first six months of 2016 for our annual So Far So Good mid-year special. Be sure to tune in Monday, July 4. From 6 a.m. to midnight, we'll play new music from 2016 all day.

Check out our hosts' lists and follow our Spotify playlist for So Far So Good 2016 below.

Mike Flanagan

  • David Bowie - "Blackstar"
  • Radiohead - "A Moon Shaped Pool"
  • Anderson .Paak - "Malibu"
  • Nevermen - "Nevermen​"
  • Damien Jurado - "Visions Of Us On The Land"
  • The Lumineers - "Cleopatra"
  • The Dandy Warhols - "Distortland"
  • Iggy Pop - "Post Pop Depression"
  • Parquet Courts - "Human Performance"
  • PJ Harvey - "The Hope Six Demolition Project"

Jessi Whitten

  • Car Seat Headrest - "Teens of Denial"
  • Andrew Bird - "Are You Serious"
  • David Bazan - "Blanco"
  • Flume - "Skin"
  • Anohni - "Hopelessness"
  • Big Thief - "Masterpiece"
  • Margaret Glaspy - "Emotions And Math"
  • Elephant Revival - "Petals"
  • Mitski - "Puberty 2"
  • Radiohead - "A Moon Shaped Pool"

Jeremy Petersen

  • David Bowie - "Blackstar"
  • Radiohead - "A Moon Shaped Pool"
  • Andy Shauf – "The Party"
  • Moonface & Siinai - "My Best Human Face"
  • Fruit Bats – "Absolute Loser"
  • Beth Orton – "Kidsticks"
  • Shearwater – "Jet Plane & Oxbow"
  • Damien Jurado – Visions Of Us On The Land"
  • Wussy – "Forever Sounds"
  • Radiation City - "Synesthetica"

Alisha Sweeney

  • David Bowie - "Blackstar"
  • PJ Harvey - "The Hope Six Demolition Project"
  • Esme Patterson - "We Were Wild"
  • Car Seat Headrest - "Teens Of Denial"
  • Lucius - "Good Grief"
  • Nevermen - "Nevermen"
  • Operators - "Blue Wave"
  • Dressy Bessy - "Kingsized"
  • Santigold - "99¢"
  • Margaret Glaspy - "Emotions and Math"

Scott Carney

  • A Giant Dog - "Pile"
  • Car Seat Headrest - "Teens Of Denial"
  • David Bazan - "Blanco"
  • Frankie Cosmos - "Next Thing"
  • Margaret Glaspy - "Emotions And Math"
  • Mitski - "Puberty 2"
  • Parquet Courts - "Human Performance"
  • PJ Harvey - "The Hope Six Demolition Project"
  • Radiohead - "A Moon Shaped Pool"
  • Whitney - "Light Upon The Lake"

Daniel Mescher

  • ​White Lung - "Paradise"
  • Chairlift - "Moth"
  • TEEN - "Love Yes"
  • Parquet Courts - "Human Performance"
  • Tegan & Sara - "Love You To Death"
  • Chance The Rapper - "Coloring Book"
  • PJ Harvey - "The Hope Six Demolition Project"
  • Kendrick Lamar - "Untitled Unmastered"
  • Whitney - "Light Upon The Lake"
  • Summer Cannibals - "Full Of It"

Brandee Castle

  • Lake Street Dive - "Side Pony"
  • Anderson .Paak - "Malibu"
  • Kendrick Lamar - "Untitled Unmastered"
  • Aurora - "All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend"
  • Mavis Staples - "Livin' On A High Note"
  • Miike Snow - "iii"
  • Kaytranada - "99.9%"
  • Andrew Bird - "Are You Serious"
  • Chairlift - "Moth"
  • Fruit Bats - "Absolute Loser"