The Guardian's Best Albums of 2016

The Guardian music critics’ favourite albums of the year

Published: November 30, 2016 07:30 Source

# 1

Lemonade by Beyoncé

Album • Apr 23 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Pop

# 2

Blonde by Frank Ocean

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

# 3

Blackstar by David Bowie

Album • Jan 08 / 2016 Art Rock

# 4

The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West

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

# 5

A Seat at the Table by Solange

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Neo-Soul

# 6

HOPELESSNESS by ANOHNI

Album • May 06 / 2016 Art Pop Electropop Deconstructed Club

# 7

ANTI by Rihanna

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

# 8

Chaleur Humaine by Christine and the Queens

Album • Jun 02 / 2014 Electropop Alt-Pop Nouvelle chanson française

# 9

Konnichiwa by Skepta

Album • May 06 / 2016 Grime UK Hip Hop

# 10

A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead

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

# 11

Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Album • Sep 09 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Art Rock

# 12

Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper

Album • May 27 / 2016 Pop Rap Conscious Hip Hop

# 13

Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

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

# 14

22, A Million by Bon Iver

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Folktronica

# 15

Wildflower by The Avalanches

Album • Jul 08 / 2016 Plunderphonics Neo-Psychedelia

# 16

We Are KING by We Are KING

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

# 17

Puberty 2 by Mitski

Album • Jun 17 / 2016 Indie Rock

# 18

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Album • Oct 21 / 2016 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 19

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

# 20

Views by Drake

Album • May 06 / 2016 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B

# 21

MY WOMAN by Angel Olsen

Album • Sep 02 / 2016 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 22

Malibu by Anderson .Paak

Album • Jan 15 / 2016 Neo-Soul

# 23

Freetown Sound by Blood Orange

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

# 24

I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it by The 1975

Album • Feb 26 / 2016 Synthpop Pop Rock

# 25

JEFFERY by Young Thug

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

# 26

Blood Bitch by Jenny Hval

Album • Sep 30 / 2016 Art Pop Ambient Pop

# 27

Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka

Album • Jul 15 / 2016 Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 28

The Colour In Anything by James Blake

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

# 29

Human Ceremony by Sunflower Bean

Album • Feb 05 / 2016 Neo-Psychedelia Indie Pop Psychedelic Pop

# 30

Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande

Album • May 20 / 2016 Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop

# 31

Made in the Manor by Kano

Album • Mar 04 / 2016 UK Hip Hop Grime

# 32

Midwest Farmers Daughter by Margo Price

Album • Mar 25 / 2016 Country

# 33

Light Upon the Lake by Whitney

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 34

FLOTUS by Lambchop

Album • Nov 04 / 2016 Indietronica

# 35

Love You to Death by Tegan and Sara

Album • Jun 03 / 2016 Synthpop

# 36

99.9% by KAYTRANADA

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

# 37

case/lang/veirs by case/lang/veirs

Album • Jun 17 / 2016

# 38

Post Pop Depression by Iggy Pop

Album • Jan 22 / 2016 Alternative Rock

# 39

For All We Know by Nao

Album • Jul 29 / 2016 Alternative R&B Electropop

# 40

Nothings Real by Shura

Album • Jul 08 / 2016 Synthpop Dance-Pop Alt-Pop