Pitchfork's 20 Best Rock Albums of 2016

Radiohead, David Bowie, Savages and the other artists who made waves this year

Published: December 07, 2016 06:00 Source

# 1

MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen

Album • Sep 02 / 2016 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 2

22, A Million by Bon Iver

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Folktronica

# 3

Teens Of Denial by Car Seat Headrest

Album • May 20 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 4

Mangy Love by Cass McCombs

Album • Aug 26 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Soft Rock Indie Pop

# 5

Blackstar by David Bowie

Album • Jan 08 / 2016 Art Rock

# 7

I Had a Dream That You Were Mine by Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam

Album • Sep 23 / 2016 Chamber Pop Indie Rock

# 8

Singing Saw by Kevin Morby

Album • Apr 15 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Folk Rock

# 9

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 10

Puberty 2 by Mitski

Album • Jun 17 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 11

Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Album • Sep 09 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Art Rock

# 12

Human Performance by Parquet Courts

Album • Apr 08 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 13

Cardinal by Pinegrove

Album • Feb 12 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 14

A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead

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

# 15

Adore Life by Savages

Album • Jan 22 / 2016 Post-Punk

# 17

Goodness by The Hotelier

Album • May 27 / 2016 Indie Rock Emo

# 18

Front Row Seat to Earth by Weyes Blood

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Baroque Pop Psychedelic Folk

# 19

Paradise by White Lung

Album • May 06 / 2016 Punk Rock

# 20

Light Upon the Lake by Whitney

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 Indie Rock Indie Folk