The Atlantic's 10 Best Albums of 2016

Our critic’s top picks in a year of ingenious releases

Published: December 13, 2016 17:02 Source

# 1

Blonde by Frank Ocean

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

# 2

Lemonade by Beyoncé

Album • Apr 23 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 3

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 4

Puberty 2 by Mitski

Album • Jun 17 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 5

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

# 6

Album • May 27 / 2016 Pop Rap Conscious Hip Hop

# 7

FLOTUS by Lambchop

Album • Nov 04 / 2016 Indietronica

# 8

Blackstar by David Bowie

Album • Jan 08 / 2016 Art Rock

# 9

Weval by Weval

Album • Jun 10 / 2016 Downtempo Microhouse

# 10

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