James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds

We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. Hip hop legends A Tribe Called Quest released their final album in 2016 and surely reinforces James' claim that this was indeed, the greatest year in music - of all time! But will Chloe Petts agree?

Inspired by classic art, sculpture and a year in Rome, Meilyr Jones' album 2013 is quite simply beautiful. James is hoping that Ahir will agree.

The Impossible Kid is a charming and personal album written by Aesop Rock whilst isolating in a cabin in the woods.

Full of fables and colourful characters, surely Rosie Jones will be charmed..?

James has his fingers crossed.

Sikisa thought R'n'B was dead... Then came Solange's 2016 album, A Seat At The Table. A masterpiece that brought Solange out of the shadow of sister, Beyoncé.

Mirror Breathing by Shield Patterns is an electronic album of inventive melodies, set in atmospheric and sometimes haunting soundscapes.

But will Aparna Nancherla be scared or (like James) seduced?

Whilst trawling for music from 2016, James noticed a common thread through some of his favourite records - OSR Tapes. A label founded by Zach Phillips. James gets to speak to Zach about what inspired him to start a label, why he closed it and everything in between.

Hello New York by Maher Shalal Hash Baz is an album described by founder Tori Kudo as "a revolving cast of players from varying backgrounds and varying experience".

Described by Harriet Kemsley as "chaos". However, the more she listens...

Ukulele strumming, high-pitched yodelling and dissonant keyboards - Angela Sawyer’s On The Pedestrian Side is an album “not designed to make you feel comfortable”.

No wonder Stuart Laws feels he is being pranked!

James and Maisie discuss Hartley C White's album Something Better and his attempt at creating a whole new genre. Maisie loved the last album James sent her, so James is hoping she'll be equally impressed with this one.

James Acaster talks about one of the many albums he collected from the year 2016 with one of his comedy friends. This week Fern Brady states from the outset that Half of My Love by Fauxe is not for her… oops. Even though the title comes from one of her favourite albums. Can James change her mind?

James delves deeper into the online music community with founder of The Needle Drop and gets him to explain why his WORST album of the decade came from 2016.

James Acaster talks about one of the many albums he collected from the year 2016 with one of his comedy friends.

This week, Sadia Azmat discusses the album One Tusk by Moth Equals.

But will Sadia be impressed by the plethora of different influences and Bollywood samples?

James breaks his own rules by picking a 2016 album which sounds "old-school", rapper Westside Gunn's debut Flygod. He discusses it with guest Nathan Caton, plus they delve into Nathan's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles obsession.

Sara Barron confesses to James that she has very questionable music taste but is left feeling very Parisian listening to Cate Le Bon’s Crab Day, an album about a fictional day.

Thanyia Moore goes on a rollercoaster journey with Rihanna's most personal album yet, ANTI.

Jayde reminisces life through 'lost album' Johnnie Frierson's Have You Been Good To Yourself which was found by a crate digger in a thrift store.

James sits down with his dad David Acaster to talk about the Johnnie Frierson album Have You Been Good To Yourself. They chat about the records played in the house growing up, the musical game they played when James was young and the 2016 mixtape he made for his dad.

Harriet Kemsley warms to Wheelchair Sports Camp's avant-garde rap album No Big Deal. The record features humorous and political lyrics from disabled rapper Kalyn Heffernan, who is part of the Krip-Hop movement which uses hip-hop as a means of expression for disabled artists.

Despite not expecting to like someone called Marissa, Rhys Nicholson enjoys a negroni while enjoying Marissa Nadler's dreamy gothic American folk album Strangers.

Charlie George is pushed out of her dad rock listening habits, and finds much to love in the lyrical imagery created by Kendrick Lamar, in his sort-of B-side album untitled unmastered.

Toussaint thinks James hates him after listening to Four Thing, the eccentric indie project based around the number 4, created by Zach Phillips. Four vocalists, singing alternate lines written by four lyricists, to create 16 songs. But does Toussiant’s nan like it?

Maisie Adam feels grabbed and shoved against a wall by the one-man-band Christian Fitness and their post-punk album This Taco Is Not Correct that features darkly funny commentary on Britain.

James and friend David Trent chat to the man behind Christian Fitness, Andrew Falkous. James delves deep into the album's meaning and David asks if his son can have one of his guitars, (among other very awkward and unsavoury questions).

Aaron Chen gets into a plunge pool to rid himself of the dark and sad vibes of Mournful Skank's Ghost Hunter.

Kiri Pritchard-Mclean feels shoved around by Coin Locker Kid's 90's influenced experimental hip hop album The Salmon of Doubt, featuring a dense sound collage of samples.

James introduces Dai Henwood to an indie concept album that he regularly gets recommended. Singer-songwriter Andy Shauf's The Party features a series of closely observed and intersecting characters at a house party, and Dai enjoys doing his taxes to it.

Multi-instrumentalist and comedian Isy Suttie is engulfed by the purely percussive self-titled album Rattle, featuring two drummers and their vocals.

James visits Colin Greenwood at home to discuss making 2016's A Moon Shaped Pool, plus Colin suggests what Radiohead tracks James should get into, whether music scenes are cool, and Colin's impending Radiohead tribute act!

Chloe Petts discovers that Frankie Cosmos - the stage name of Greta Kline - and her 2016 album Next Thing is exactly her kind of cap-wearing DIY bedroom indie pop.

Ahir Shah discovers 'Good Will Come to You' from artist Jean-Sebastian Audet's project Un Blonde. A blissfully mellow sound collage that incorporates field recordings, vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars, it was released on tape cassette in 2016. And for Ahir it's the perfect music to chop vegetables to.

Both James and Rosie have always felt intimidated about getting into Radiohead's back catalogue because of their hard-core fans. Can this album, from one of the biggest bands in the world, win them over? And more importantly convince Rosie that 2016 is the greatest year for music of all time?

For James Acaster 2016 is the greatest year for music, ever. Since launching the podcast his record collection has grown to over 700 albums from that year and he wants to share his obsession with even more comedian friends... but will they admit that 2016 is the great year for music of all time?

Eleanor Tiernan is drawn in by hip-hop duo Run The Jewel's critically acclaimed epic third album.

This is the final episode of series 1 but we'll be back this summer so subscribe to the podcast to be the first to hear new episodes!

John Kearns wants to dance to Tunisian producer and DJ Ghoula's celebratory album Hlib El Ghoula, which features rare North African vinyl that the artist sourced from Tunisian markets then sampled and scratched with live instrumentals.

Classically trained Rachel Parris dissects the one-off album Balter/Saunier, a collaboration between the Chicago orchestra Ensemble Dal Niente, influential art-rock band Deerhoof, and Brazilian composer Marcos Balter.

Jen Brister has a strong reaction to 'Folk Souvenir', an album by Joana Gomila that uses field recordings and improvisation to bring a new approach to traditional Majorcan folk.

James talks to Joana Gomila and Dr Judith R Cohen about the Spanish folk recordings of ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax and the making of Joana's album 'Folk Souvenir'.

Jack is over the moon to be introduced to all 24 tracks of Thoughts Lined Up by award-winning artist Martin Creed.

Alison is willing to persevere with the album End Position by experimental Texan duo Street Sects.

Dane enjoys the frantic Nonagen Infinity by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the eighth album from the prolific Australian psych rock band.

Hayes-based three-piece The Tuts take James on a tour of their hometown including their rehearsal room, a local radio station and the venue for one of their early gigs.

Suzi adores the melodic feminist anthems on this debut punk album from Hayes-based three-piece The Tuts.

Guz is up for giving the self-titled project by Sélébéyone another chance. The album features two saxophonists and two rappers, Senegal's Gaston Bandimic and HPrizm from the US.

As a huge fan of his debut mixtape nostalgia, Ultra, Athena is underwhelmed by Frank Ocean’s 2016 album Blonde.

Gabriel is excited to be introduced to For Good by Fog, a crowd-funded comeback from Minneapolis musician Andrew Broder.

Rob Deering is up for the challenge of Jon Bap's 'What Now?', an album that James describes as one of the most life-changing from his whole 2016 project.

Adam and Seb bring their drum kits along to talk to James about the virtuosic drumming on Jon Bap's 'What Now?'. Recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studios in London.

Nish is blown away by this concept album from Brockhampton's Kevin Abstract. The album tells the story of him growing up in Texas with homophobic parents and a racist boyfriend.

Sindhu is not judging anyone who wants to listen to Popp by Oval, a 2016 solo project by glitch pioneer Markus Popp.

Kemah is a huge fan of this beautiful debut mixtape, written and recorded by rapper Noname and collaborators in LA and Chicago.

Three of Noname's key collaborators from the Chicago scene share their memories of helping to create her debut mixtape.

Felicity is super in to Not Good At Spending Time Alone A.K.A. Cleanliness by Market, a project written and recorded by New York based musician Nate Mendelsohn.

Nathaniel would like to dig New Guitar Old Hat Knew Blues, an album recorded by Mike Cooper live in Geneva.

Mae Martin is thrilled by the album from which the podcast takes its name. The final track on the punk musician's second solo album is called Perfect Sound Whatever.

A Christmas treat for you featuring James, Matthew and Ed on seeing Jeff Rosenstock live and then an interview with the man himself about his album Worry.

James is attempting to win Jamali's support for 2016 with the album SUI // RAP by youngster jiji, the brainchild of Seattle rapper James Campbell.

Desiree is in two minds about Palimpsest by the classically trained Canadian musician Foonyap.

Foonyap talks to James about the mental and emotional struggles that inspired her beautiful album Palimpsest.

Phil absolutely loves Me Demandó DEMOS, recorded by San Cha on the farm where her mother grew up, without the opportunity to collaborate with a producer.

Evelyn is back and introduced to Boy Man Machine by Drose, an album that fuses experimental metal with sounds recorded in a factory.

Romesh is delighted to discover Badd Timing by The Sooper Swag Project, an album recorded with the intention of using as many different and difficult time signatures as possible.

Sarah needs convincing about the story behind Songs I-V by Rocks & Waves Song Circle, supposedly recorded spontaneously by Swedish artist Isak Sundstrom at a Church in Mexico.

James explores the mystery behind Song I-V by Rocks & Waves Song Circle, with the head honcho of one of the two record labels behind its release, Bongo Joe.

James has selected one of the biggest indie albums of the year for Joe's second appearance on the pod, Teens of Denial from songwriter Will Toledo's Car Seat Headrest.

Sophie is back! Last time she wasn’t completely won round, so James goes all in with the crowd-funded debut album Kiid from Mal Devisa.

Rachel is drawn to the folk side of Hands In Our Names, an album recorded by Karima Walker in the desert of New Mexico.

Kwame puts in the work for A Self-Help Tragedy by noise rock supergroup Doomsday Student.

James attempts to learn Morning Thought by Surface To Air Missive from scratch with recorder teacher Netty Rhodes and the SWeet Recorder Consort.

Eleanor is challenged by the album A V by Surface To Air Missive, a solo project from the musician Taylor Ross.

John prefers the second half of Out of Sight by the former Minneapolis rock band Falling.

Alison has a strong reaction to Rook to TN34, a dark, experimental and comedic spoken word album by the duo eMMplekz.

Guz is on board with this hybrid of hard rock and Ethiopian music that features on the album Awo by uKanDanZ.

James chats to the guitarist at the heart of two of his favourite 2016 albums, Awo by uKanDanZ and the self-titled release by Pixvae.

Kemah Bob marvels at this self-titled album from the band Pixvae. The album combines traditional South Colombian music with Math Rock to create a brand new genre.

Jack Rooke meets NHS nurse Law Holt's diva alter ego, a persona who spits and cheats in her twisted pop album City.

Athena Kugblenu gets into Aragehonzi's one of kind album, Hanatsuoto, that fuses Japanese folk with neo-soul, funk, jazz, rock, indie, and everything in between.

Gabriel Ebulue shares his love for Skeleton Tree, the ominous and emotional album steeped in Nick Cave's personal tragedy.

Hip-hop fan Dane discovers Kojey Radical's masterful 23Winters for the first time. At 42 minutes the EP spans rap, spoken word, and a conversation with Kojey's dad that covers themes of love, life in London, and their Ghanaian heritage. Which makes James ask, is this really an EP?

A bonus conversation with British rapper and spoken word artist Kojey Radical recorded live at the 6Music Festival, discussing themes of love, his connection to his Ghanaian heritage and his dad.

Mae Martin gets dark and moody to the drone folk crossover album Salt, by Irish singer-songwriter Katie Kim. Plus the track James will judge your music taste on.

Suzi is dazzled and slightly confused by the album Conarium, based on the dreams of its creator, Latvian musician Elizabete Balčus

Bowie fan Nathaniel revisits his brilliant final album released just two days before his death.

Sindhu Vee puts in the effort and learns to really like this album from experimental hip hop trio Death Grips.

Felicity Ward struggles with Caress, Redact, the stripped-back experimental electronic album by Public Speaking that's all about violence.

Bon Iver and folk music fan Nish Kumar listens for the first time to the band's 2016 experimental electronic masterpiece 22, A Million.

Sarah Keyworth learns about the hidden depths of Katie Dey's intriguing bedroom indie-pop album, Flood Network.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

The first bonus episode, an interview in Melbourne with artist Katie Dey on identity, the internet and mental health, and her 2016 album Flood Network.

Evelyn discovers the Malian hip-hop artist Luka Productions, named after his own studio, and his 2016 album Mali Kady. Plus 'Kettering Is Nice' makes its debut.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Rob learns to love Beyond the Fleeting Gales by Crying, an album described by James as stadium rock for an anime film in the 80s.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Desiree discovers Detroit rapper Danny Brown's album Atrocity Exhibition, aka CeeLo and Andre 3000's lovechild.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Joe Sutherland takes a metaphorical HIIT class, with the grindcore metal-classical fusion album Discordia by Bologna Violenta. Plus Tilda Swinton's got a new project.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Jen and James discuss why the Ivor Novello winning album The Dreaming Room got Laura Mvula dropped from her label. Plus a phone call with Laura's nan.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Jamali gets out of his comfort zone with the African American spirituals, satanic, black metal fusion album Devil is Fine by Zeal & Ardor. Plus, Buffy and Angel make a comeback.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Sophie shocks James with a musical secret, as they discuss the samba-punk fusion album MM3 by Meta Meta. Plus, who is the Brazilian Tina Turner?

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Phil Wang gets to grips with the 2016 Eurosceptic experimental hip-hop album United Diktatürs of Europe, by Anarchist Republic of BZZZ. Plus why instruments are like tacos.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

Romesh Ranganathan discovers the world's best-selling album of 2016... but, more importantly, the album that turned James onto pop.

Produced by Hannah Hufford Photography by Edward Moore Design by Danny Arter

For James Acaster 2016 is the greatest year for music of all time. Following a breakup James set out to rekindle his love for music by buying hundreds of new and niche releases from 2016. Now he’s sharing his obsession with fellow comedians, exploring his favourite albums: from Beyoncé’s internet-breaking Lemonade, to Colombian math rock fusion, and everything in between.