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

  1. Frank Ocean – Blonde (psychedelic pop, R&B)
  2. David Bowie – Blackstar (alternative rock)
  3. Bon Iver – 22, a Million  (indie folk, folktronica)
  4. Kemba – Negus (hip hop)
  5. Solange – A Seat At the Table (R&B, neo-soul)
  6. The Avalanches – Wildflower (Dance, hip hop, psychadelic)
  7. Noname – Telefone (hip hop)
  8. BadBadNotGood – IV (jazz)
  9. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition (hip hop)
  10. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (art rock)
  11. Anderson .Paak – Malibu (R&B, neo-soul)
  12. Kanye West – The Life of Pablo (hip hop)
  13. Esperanza Spalding – Emily’s D+Evolution (jazz fusion, art rock)
  14. Lady Gaga – Joanne (Pop, folk rock)
  15. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service (hip hop)
  16. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial (rock)
  17. Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book (hip hop)
  18. Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered (hip hop)
  19. Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love! (Soul, funk)
  20. Angel Olsen – MY WOMAN (rock)
  21. Frank Ocean – Endless (avant garde, soul)
  22. Beyoncé – Lemonade (pop)
  23. BJ the Chicago Kid – In My Mind (neo-soul)
  24. Animal Collective – Painting With (art pop)
  25. Young Thug – JEFFERY (hip hop)
  26. Conor Oberst – Ruminations (folk)
  27. Whitney – Light Upon the Lake (rock)
  28. KAMAU – A Gorgeous Fortune EP (hip hop, R&B)
  29. Higher Brothers – mixtape (hip hop)
  30. Chon – Grow (post rock, progressive rock)
  31. Regina Spektor – Remember Us to Life (alternative, pop)
  32. Pinegrove – Cardinal (rock)
  33. Xenia Rubinos – Black Terry Cat (neo-soul, alternative rock)
  34. Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being (alternative rock, indietronica)
  35. The Exquisites – Home (rock)
  36. clipping. – Splendor & Misery (hip hop)
  37. Mitski – Puberty 2 (rock)
  38. A$AP Mob – Cozy Tapes Vol. 1 – Friends (hip hop)
  39. Jamila Woods – HEAVN (Soul)
  40. Kevin Devine – Instigator (rock, folk rock)
  41. CZARFACE – A Fistful of Peril (hip hop)
  42. Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (country)
  43. Kero Kero Bonito – Bonito Generation (pop)
  44. KAYTRANADA – 99.9% (dance, R&B, hip hop)
  45. Chairlift – Moth (dance, pop)
  46. Weezer – Weezer (White Album) (rock)
  47. Ka – Honor Killed the Samurai (hip hop)
  48. Kid Cudi – Passion, Pain, and DEMON SLAYIN’ (hip hop)
  49. Weyes Blood – Front Row Seat to Earth (psychedelic folk)
  50. Saba – Bucket List (hip hop)