Exclaim's Best Pop & Rock Albums of 2016

Today (November 30), we roll out our first in a series of lists of the best albums of the year, by genre, starting with the first 10 of our...

Published: November 30, 2016 13:00 Source

# 1

A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead

Album • May 08 / 2016 Art Pop Art Rock Chamber Pop

# 2

Blackstar by David Bowie

Album • Jan 08 / 2016 Art Rock

# 3

Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

Album • Jun 28 / 2016 Alternative R&B Synth Funk

# 4

Lemonade by Beyoncé

Album • Apr 23 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 5

22, A Million by Bon Iver

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Folktronica

# 6

MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen

Album • Sep 02 / 2016 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 7

The Party by Andy Shauf

Album • May 20 / 2016 Chamber Pop Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 8

Puberty 2 by Mitski

Album • Jun 17 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 9

The Colour In Anything by James Blake

Album • May 05 / 2016 Alternative R&B Art Pop

# 10

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 11

Retribution by Tanya Tagaq

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Experimental Rock Inuit Music

# 12

Teens Of Denial by Car Seat Headrest

Album • May 20 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 13

Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Album • Sep 09 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Art Rock

# 14

The Dream Is Over by PUP

Album • May 27 / 2016 Post-Hardcore Pop Punk

# 15

Light Upon the Lake by Whitney

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 16

HOPELESSNESS by ANOHNI

Album • May 06 / 2016 Art Pop Electropop Deconstructed Club

# 17

Paradise by White Lung

Album • May 06 / 2016 Punk Rock

# 18

Secret Path by Gord Downie

Album • Oct 25 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 19

Cardinal by Pinegrove

Album • Feb 12 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 20

Is the Is Are by DIIV

Album • Feb 05 / 2016 Dream Pop Post-Punk Indie Surf