Not much to say here, you know how lists work. The only notes I’d like to add is that 3-7 were in extremely close contention, as were 16-22. There were also a few albums that I ranked lower if they only catered to a very specific listening experience, especially in the case of Bonito Generation and Splendor & Misery. As a final note, due to getting an extremely late start this year I chose to neglect jazz and electronic albums, which take longer for me to review, so that I could complete enough reviews to make this list by the end of the year. I can assure you that Potential and Culcha Vulcha would both be here at the very least. Also, RTJ 3 would be at least top 30, but it doesn’t feel right including it when its only been out a few days, so it’ll be on next year’s list. Other than that, the links will take you to my review of each album, and I hope you enjoy the list!
TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2016
- Frank Ocean – Blonde (psychedelic pop, R&B)
- David Bowie – Blackstar (alternative rock)
- Bon Iver – 22, a Million (indie folk, folktronica)
- Kemba – Negus (hip hop)
- Solange – A Seat At the Table (R&B, neo-soul)
- The Avalanches – Wildflower (Dance, hip hop, psychadelic)
- Noname – Telefone (hip hop)
- BadBadNotGood – IV (jazz)
- Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition (hip hop)
- Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (art rock)
- Anderson .Paak – Malibu (R&B, neo-soul)
- Kanye West – The Life of Pablo (hip hop)
- Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution (jazz fusion, art rock)
- Lady Gaga – Joanne (Pop, folk rock)
- A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service (hip hop)
- Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial (rock)
- Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book (hip hop)
- Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered (hip hop)
- Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love! (Soul, funk)
- Angel Olsen – MY WOMAN (rock)
- Frank Ocean – Endless (avant garde, soul)
- Beyoncé – Lemonade (pop)
- BJ the Chicago Kid – In My Mind (neo-soul)
- Animal Collective – Painting With (art pop)
- Young Thug – JEFFERY (hip hop)
- Conor Oberst – Ruminations (folk)
- Whitney – Light Upon the Lake (rock)
- KAMAU – A Gorgeous Fortune EP (hip hop, R&B)
- Higher Brothers – mixtape (hip hop)
- Chon – Grow (post rock, progressive rock)
- Regina Spektor – Remember Us to Life (alternative, pop)
- Pinegrove – Cardinal (rock)
- Xenia Rubinos – Black Terry Cat (neo-soul, alternative rock)
- Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being (alternative rock, indietronica)
- The Exquisites – Home (rock)
- clipping. – Splendor & Misery (hip hop)
- Mitski – Puberty 2 (rock)
- A$AP Mob – Cozy Tapes Vol. 1 – Friends (hip hop)
- Jamila Woods – HEAVN (Soul)
- Kevin Devine – Instigator (rock, folk rock)
- CZARFACE – A Fistful of Peril (hip hop)
- Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (country)
- Kero Kero Bonito – Bonito Generation (pop)
- KAYTRANADA – 99.9% (dance, R&B, hip hop)
- Chairlift – Moth (dance, pop)
- Weezer – Weezer (White Album) (rock)
- Ka – Honor Killed the Samurai (hip hop)
- Kid Cudi – Passion, Pain, and DEMON SLAYIN’ (hip hop)
- Weyes Blood – Front Row Seat to Earth (psychedelic folk)
- Saba – Bucket List (hip hop)