Pitchfork's 50 Best Albums of 2016

Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, David Bowie, Beyonce, Leonard Cohen, Radiohead, Bon Iver—who didn't release a record this year? These are the best of a challenging, rewarding, overall epic year.

Published: December 13, 2016 06:00 Source

# 1

A Seat at the Table by Solange

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Neo-Soul

# 2

Blonde by Frank Ocean

Album • Aug 20 / 2016 Alternative R&B Art Pop Neo-Soul

# 3

Lemonade by Beyoncé

Album • Apr 23 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 4

Blackstar by David Bowie

Album • Jan 08 / 2016 Art Rock

# 5

The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West

Album • Jun 10 / 2016 Pop Rap Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 6

Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper

Album • May 27 / 2016 Pop Rap Conscious Hip Hop

# 7

We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest

Album • Nov 11 / 2016 Conscious Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 8

HOPELESSNESS by ANOHNI

Album • May 06 / 2016 Art Pop Electropop Deconstructed Club

# 9

MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen

Album • Sep 02 / 2016 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 10

A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead

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

# 11

Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

Album • Sep 27 / 2016 Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 12

22, A Million by Bon Iver

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Folktronica

# 13

Malibu by Anderson .Paak

Album • Jan 15 / 2016 Neo-Soul

# 14

Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

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

# 15

Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Album • Sep 09 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Art Rock

# 16

untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Mar 04 / 2016 Jazz Rap Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop

# 17

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 18

Puberty 2 by Mitski

Album • Jun 17 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 19

ANTI by Rihanna

Album • Jan 28 / 2016 Alternative R&B Contemporary R&B

# 20

Sirens by Nicolas Jaar

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Ambient Pop Art Pop Electronic

# 21

JEFFERY by Young Thug

Album • Aug 26 / 2016 Trap Southern Hip Hop Pop Rap

# 22

Still Brazy (Deluxe) by YG

Album • Jun 14 / 2016

# 23

Blood Bitch by Jenny Hval

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Ambient Pop

# 24

Teens Of Denial by Car Seat Headrest

Album • May 20 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 25

99.9% by KAYTRANADA

Album • May 06 / 2016 Alternative R&B Funky House

# 26

Human Performance by Parquet Courts

Album • Apr 08 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 27

Telefone by Noname

Album • Jul 31 / 2016 Conscious Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 28

Yes Lawd! by NxWorries

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Neo-Soul

# 29

EARS by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Album • Apr 01 / 2016 Progressive Electronic

# 30

Emily’s D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding

Album • Jan 01 / 2016 Jazz Fusion Art Pop Progressive Pop

# 31

Light Upon the Lake by Whitney

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 32

A Mulher do Fim do Mundo by Elza Soares

Album • Oct 03 / 2015 Vanguarda paulista Art Rock

# 33

blackSUMMERS'night (2016) by Maxwell

Album • Jul 01 / 2016

# 34

Singing Saw by Kevin Morby

Album • Apr 15 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Folk Rock

# 35

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

Album • Sep 23 / 2016 Chamber Pop Indie Rock

# 36

HEAVN by Jamila Woods

Album • Aug 15 / 2017 Neo-Soul Alternative R&B

# 37

We Are KING by We Are KING

Album • Feb 05 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Psychedelic Soul

# 38

Blank Face LP by ScHoolboy Q

Album • Jul 08 / 2016 Gangsta Rap West Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 39

DJ-Kicks (Moodymann) (Mixed Tracks) by Moodymann

Album • Feb 19 / 2016

# 40

A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke by Vijay Iyer + Wadada Leo Smith

Album • Mar 11 / 2016 ECM Style Jazz

# 41

For Those Of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have) by Huerco S.

Album • Jun 10 / 2016 Ambient Electronic

# 42

Prima Donna by Vince Staples

EP • Aug 25 / 2016 West Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 43

Front Row Seat to Earth by Weyes Blood

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Baroque Pop Psychedelic Folk

# 44

Islah (Deluxe) by Kevin Gates

Album • Dec 11 / 2015

# 45

Modern Country by William Tyler

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 American Primitivism

# 46

Cardinal by Pinegrove

Album • Feb 12 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 47

A Good Night in the Ghetto by Kamaiyah

Album • Mar 23 / 2016 West Coast Hip Hop Ratchet Music

# 48

Next Thing by Frankie Cosmos

Album • Apr 01 / 2016 Twee Pop Bedroom Pop Indie Pop

# 49

Pool by Porches

Album • Feb 05 / 2016 Synthpop Indietronica

# 50

Savage Mode by 21 Savage + Metro Boomin

Album • Jul 15 / 2016 Trap Southern Hip Hop