In a year defined by political rancor and divisiveness nationally and affordability issues at home, Austin music surged forward in a wide range of genres. Among a surplus of quality local releases in 2016, these rose to the top. TOP 10 LOCAL ALBUMS Peter Blackstock David Halley, “A Month of Somedays.” The long-awaited return of one of Austin’s best songwriters of the 1980s and early ’90s lived up to the reputation he earned during that heyday. Producer Will Sexton led an ace backing cast that included Halley’s former bandmates J.D. Foster and Rich Brotherton. Shearwater, “Jet Plane and Oxbow.” Jonathan Meiburg’s adventurous indie-rock ensemble has long been one of Austin’s most intriguing bands, but they sounded freshly re-energized with these inventive and accessible tunes that addressed sociopolitical concerns on very personal terms. Eric Johnson, “EJ.” Long renowned for his electric guitar mastery, Johnson turned toward a more intimate means of expression on a mix of vocal and instrumental tunes that placed his acoustic guitar and piano playing in the spotlight. Related Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Austin musicians issued many records worth hearing in 2016 Jeremy Nail, “My Mountain.” Partly a document of Nail’s hard battle with cancer, the folk-rock songs on this Alejandro Escovedo-produced album didn’t shrink from hard truths, and they emerged from darkness with an inspiring spirit of hope and resolve. The Deer, “Tempest & Rapture.” Marrying melodic-pop instincts to inventive arrangements and rhythms, the eclectic outfit with San Marcos roots delivered 17 tracks that go down easy even when the music is complicated. Katie Shore, “Fall Away.” The virtuosic fiddler and singer, a rising star in recent years with western swing kingpins Asleep at the Wheel, stepped out confidently on a solo debut that wove together sultry gypsy jazz, sweet folk-rock, stark torch balladry and more. Harvest Thieves, “Rival.” A contemporary heir to the hard-twang sounds pioneered two decades ago by the likes of the Old 97’s and the Jayhawks, this band fronted by singer-songwriter Cory Reinisch captured both the tunefulness of their material and the energy of their live shows in a full-length debut. Croy & the Boys, “Hey Come Back.” Working with renowned local producer Adrian Quesada, Corey “Croy” Baum mixed country traditionalism with an indie sensibility and tinges of Tejano influence on a debut album that established his band as one of Austin’s most intriguing up-and-comers. Hayes Carll, “Lovers and Leavers.” Setting aside his more rowdy roadhouse persona, Carll honed in on the troubadour-storytelling style that largely drew him to play music in the first place, revealing a more tender side that resulted in some of the best songs of his career. Mood Illusion, “Strangers in the Night and Other Favorites.” Pedal steel guitarist Bob Hoffnar pushed the instrument’s boundaries far into jazz and experimental territory on this fascinating instrumental disc that combined original compositions with creative variations on the canons of Sinatra, Stephen Foster and Abba. Third Root, “Libertad.” In 2016, ATX hip-hop artists stood up, refused to remain in the shadows and took their rightful places as the necessary voice of the bleeding streets. This Central Texas crew put out an epic work of rap scholarship that taps into our city’s “Soul Force” with a host of cameos. “The revolution won’t go viral,” O.G. Bavu Blakes drawls as the album builds to a climax. He’s right. These guys are playing the grassroots long game, building their uplift philosophy into a national movement. -Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American-Statesman A poet-educator MC, a world-renowned DJ and a producer who's also a professor come together in Third Root, a powerhouse of central Texas hip-hop. "Soul Force" offers '90s-style, socially conscious lyrical delivery on top of lush live instrumentation courtesy of Austin producer Adrian Quesada (Grupo Fantasma/Brownout). Hearkening back to Texas politician Barbara Jordan's idea of "soul force" as a community-based agent of change, the core members of San Antonio's Third Root are joined by five Austin lyricists for this three-minute call to action. That's a lot to digest, and guest rapper Da'Shade Moonbeam unapologetically acknowledges that there are many chefs in the kitchen. However, the rapid-fire lyrical tradeoffs don't overwhelm the listener; instead, they evoke memories of classic group tracks like Wu-Tang Clan's "Protect Ya Neck" or Main Source's "Live At The Barbeque." —Jack Anderson, KUTX