Digital Trends' 50 Best Albums of 2017

Whether they came from legendary artists or fresh newcomers, the best albums of 2017 all offer unique perspectives and awesome tunes.

Published: December 03, 2017 01:00 Source

# 1

DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Apr 14 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 2

A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie

Album • Mar 24 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 3

No Shape by Perfume Genius

Album • May 05 / 2017 Art Pop

# 4

Antisocialites by Alvvays

Album • Sep 08 / 2017 Indie Pop Jangle Pop

# 5

Everybody Works by Jay Som

Album • Mar 10 / 2017 Indie Rock Dream Pop

# 6

Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples

Album • Jun 23 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 7

Process by Sampha

Album • Feb 03 / 2017 Alternative R&B

# 8

Slowdive by Slowdive

Album • May 05 / 2017 Dream Pop Shoegaze

# 9

The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Americana Alt-Country

# 10

Aromanticism by Moses Sumney

Album • Sep 22 / 2017 Art Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 11

Pure Comedy by Father John Misty

Album • Apr 07 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Piano Rock Chamber Pop

# 12

Ctrl by SZA

Album • Jun 09 / 2017 Alternative R&B Neo-Soul

# 13

A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs

Album • Aug 25 / 2017 Heartland Rock Indie Rock

# 14

Elwan by Tinariwen

Album • Feb 10 / 2017 Tishoumaren

# 15

Sleep Well Beast by The National

Album • Sep 08 / 2017 Indie Rock Art Rock

# 16

Prisoner by Ryan Adams

Album • Feb 17 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Heartland Rock

# 17

Capacity by Big Thief

Album • Jun 09 / 2017 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 18

Flower Boy by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jul 21 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop Neo-Soul

# 19

Last Place by Grandaddy

Album • Mar 03 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 20

4:44 by JAY-Z

Album • Jul 07 / 2017 East Coast Hip Hop

# 21

Black Origami by Jlin

Album • May 19 / 2017 Footwork IDM

# 22

Destroyer by Valley Queen

EP • Feb 11 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 23

Rare Feeling by Twain

Album • Oct 20 / 2017 Folk Rock Indie Folk Alt-Country

# 24

Somewhere In Between by Braxton Cook

Album • Apr 13 / 2017 Smooth Jazz Nu Jazz

# 25

Rocket by Alex G

Album • May 19 / 2017 Indie Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 26

City Music by Kevin Morby

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock Folk Rock

# 27

Culture by Migos

Album • Jan 27 / 2017 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 28

Steve Lacy's Demo by Steve Lacy

EP • Feb 24 / 2017 Bedroom Pop Alternative R&B Neo-Soul Hypnagogic Pop

# 29

I See You by The xx

Album • Jan 13 / 2017 Indietronica Alt-Pop

# 30

This Old Dog by Mac DeMarco

Album • May 05 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop Folk Pop

# 31

Hot Thoughts by Spoon

Album • Mar 17 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 32

The Dusk In Us by Converge

Album • Nov 03 / 2017 Metalcore

# 33

Juice by Camp Howard

Single • May 31 / 2017

# 34

Turn Out the Lights by Julien Baker

Album • Oct 27 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Slowcore Contemporary Folk

# 35

Life After Youth by Land of Talk

Album • May 19 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 36

A Place I'll Always Go by Palehound

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 37

I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone by Chastity Belt

Album • Jun 02 / 2017 Indie Rock Post-Punk

# 38

Somersault by Beach Fossils

Album • Jun 02 / 2017 Indie Pop Dream Pop Indie Surf

# 39

Soul of a Woman by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Album • Nov 17 / 2017 Southern Soul Deep Soul

# 40

Soft Sounds from Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jul 14 / 2017 Dream Pop Indie Rock

# 41

Write In by Happyness

Album • Apr 07 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 42

Lotta Sea Lice by Courtney Barnett + Kurt Vile

Album • Oct 13 / 2017 Folk Rock Indie Rock

# 43

Drunk by Thundercat

Album • Feb 24 / 2017 Neo-Soul Psychedelic Soul

# 44

The Far Field by Future Islands

Album • Apr 07 / 2017 Synthpop

# 45

Routines by Hoops

Album • May 05 / 2017 Indie Pop Slacker Rock Bedroom Pop Indie Surf

# 46

Semper Femina by Laura Marling

Album • Mar 10 / 2017 Chamber Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 47

Whiteout Conditions by The New Pornographers

Album • Jan 27 / 2017 Power Pop Indie Pop

# 48

Ty Segall by Ty Segall

Album • Jan 27 / 2017 Garage Rock Psychedelic Rock

# 49

Ruler Rebel by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Album • Mar 31 / 2017 Nu Jazz

# 50

american dream by LCD Soundsystem

Album • Oct 06 / 2017 Dance-Punk New Wave