Sound Opinions' 40 Best Albums of 2016

In many ways, 2016 has been a tough year. But as always, we’ve had music to help us get through.

Published: December 02, 2016 14:15 Source

# 1

Adore Life by Savages

Album • Jan 22 / 2016 Post-Punk

# 2

Love Yes by TEEN

Album • Feb 19 / 2016 Art Pop

# 3

Mystère by La Femme

Album • Sep 02 / 2016 French Pop Indie Pop

# 4

Gymnastics by Sneaks

Album • Sep 09 / 2016 Post-Punk

# 5

Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic by The Gotobeds

Album • Jun 10 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 6

Babes Never Die by Honeyblood

Album • Nov 04 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 7

Blood Bitch by Jenny Hval

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Ambient Pop

# 8

American Band by Drive-By Truckers

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Alt-Country Southern Rock

# 9

Unseen by The Handsome Family

Album • Sep 16 / 2016 Alt-Country Americana

# 10

A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings by Beach Slang

Album • Sep 14 / 2016 Punk Rock Alternative Rock

# 11

A Seat at the Table by Solange

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Neo-Soul

# 12

HEAVN by Jamila Woods

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

# 13

Lemonade by Beyoncé

Album • Apr 23 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 14

Nosebleed Weekend by The Coathangers

Album • Apr 15 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 15

Human Performance by Parquet Courts

Album • Apr 08 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 16

Lost Time by Tacocat

Album • Apr 01 / 2016 Indie Pop Power Pop Surf Punk Indie Rock

# 17

Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper

Album • May 27 / 2016 Pop Rap Conscious Hip Hop

# 18

The Healing Component by Mick Jenkins

Album • Sep 23 / 2016 Conscious Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop

# 19

Blonde by Frank Ocean

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

# 20

Between Waves by The Album Leaf

Album • Aug 26 / 2016 Post-Rock Electronic

# 21

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

# 22

Real by Lydia Loveless

Album • Aug 19 / 2016 Alt-Country Pop Rock

# 23

Shape Shift with Me by Against Me!

Album • Sep 16 / 2016 Punk Rock

# 24

Black America Again by Common

Album • Nov 04 / 2016 Conscious Hip Hop

# 25

Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka

Album • Jul 15 / 2016 Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 26

Wildflower by The Avalanches

Album • Jul 08 / 2016 Plunderphonics Neo-Psychedelia

# 27

untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

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

# 28

Patch the Sky by Bob Mould

Album • Mar 25 / 2016 Alternative Rock

# 29

MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen

Album • Sep 02 / 2016 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 30

Schmilco by Wilco

Album • Sep 06 / 2016 Indie Rock Alt-Country

# 31

blackSUMMERS'night (2016) by Maxwell

Album • Jul 01 / 2016

# 32

The Ghosts of Highway 20 by Lucinda Williams

Album • Feb 05 / 2016 Americana Singer-Songwriter Country Rock

# 33

Livin' On A High Note by Mavis Staples

Album • Feb 19 / 2016 Southern Soul Deep Soul

# 34

The Mountain Will Fall by DJ Shadow

Album • Jun 24 / 2016 Experimental Hip Hop Electronic

# 35

Long Live The Angels by Emeli Sandé

Album • Nov 11 / 2016 Pop Soul

# 36

Burn Something Beautiful by Alejandro Escovedo

Album • Oct 28 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Rock

# 37

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 38

case/lang/veirs by case/lang/veirs

Album • Jun 17 / 2016

# 39

The Hope Six Demolition Project by PJ Harvey

Album • Apr 15 / 2016 Art Rock Alternative Rock

# 40

Blue & Lonesome by The Rolling Stones

Album • Dec 02 / 2016 Blues Rock British Blues