Blonde? blond? He’s got twooooo versions so we’ll never know. The enigma, Frank Ocean, put out an album this year that I’m probably wrong about. I just can’t quite get behind it, but every once in a while, I’ll be in a mood where I have to hear one of the songs on this album, and I know in 5 years this will be a classic. I can’t describe it, even as good or bad, so however you feel about Frank, go enjoy these textures.

I won’t overstate it. The prognosticator of his self-proclaimed “Blue-eyed Soul” made a really solid, feel good album. Enjoy the vibes on a breezy Sunday morning, on the way to the beach, or late night in a jazz lounge; it’s easy on the ears.

Wow. I wasn’t ready for this. Jermaine has taken story-telling to a new high with this pure rap album. Long gone are the days of “hot dog catch up to me nigga”, now replaced by a man who has to “take a little break just to annotate”. If you listen to this album -  which you should, on a day you can handle it - you MUST listen through the very last line of the very last song, otherwise it will not make sense. It’s the best sad rap album I’ve ever heard.

The 22-year-old North-London-dwelling YouTube-famous but critically-acclaimed jazz phenom, who plays every instrument you know and many you don’t, put out his first official album this year, and it’s nuts. In My Room is a literal phrase, as should be apparent by the album art; Jacob managed to make a full jazz album, alone, with more layers than I thought Logic allowed, in a room that can’t be more than 70 sq ft. He’s amazingly talented.

This album was the soundtrack to the first half of a very difficult year for me. If you haven't heard his voice, Anderson is an old-soul in a modern world; he almost single-handedly brought back funk this year (until Kendrick and Gambino came through and helped him out). While a little crass in moments, Malibu grooves in and out of just the right places. Give it a spin if you need to hear someone sing the blues.