Uproxx's Best Albums of 2017

From searing country underground records, to the biggest pop stars in the world, here's our picks for the best albums of 2017.

Published: December 04, 2017 16:08 Source

# 1

Melodrama by Lorde

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Synthpop Alt-Pop

# 2

Ctrl by SZA

Album • Jun 09 / 2017 Alternative R&B Neo-Soul

# 3

A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs

Album • Aug 25 / 2017 Heartland Rock Indie Rock

# 4

DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Apr 14 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 5

Pure Comedy by Father John Misty

Album • Apr 07 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Piano Rock Chamber Pop

# 6

MASSEDUCTION by St. Vincent

Album • Oct 13 / 2017 Art Pop Pop

# 7

4:44 by JAY-Z

Album • Jul 07 / 2017 East Coast Hip Hop

# 8

Crack-Up by Fleet Foxes

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Progressive Folk Chamber Folk

# 9

Capacity by Big Thief

Album • Jun 09 / 2017 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 10

Big Fish Theory by Vince Staples

Album • Jun 23 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 11

The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Americana Alt-Country

# 12

Half-Light by Rostam

Album • Sep 15 / 2017 Art Pop Indie Pop

# 13

Sleep Well Beast by The National

Album • Sep 08 / 2017 Indie Rock Art Rock

# 14

Flower Boy by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jul 21 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop Neo-Soul

# 15

Soft Sounds from Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jul 14 / 2017 Dream Pop Indie Rock

# 16

Go Farther In Lightness by Gang of Youths

Album • Aug 18 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 17

Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers

Album • Sep 22 / 2017 Indie Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 18

Who Told You To Think??!!?!?!?! by Milo

Album • Aug 11 / 2017 Abstract Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 19

Lotta Sea Lice by Courtney Barnett + Kurt Vile

Album • Oct 13 / 2017 Folk Rock Indie Rock

# 20

Hallelujah Anyhow by Hiss Golden Messenger

Album • Sep 22 / 2017 Americana Country Soul

# 21

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life by Japandroids

Album • Jan 27 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 22

Humanz (Deluxe) by Gorillaz

Album • Apr 28 / 2017

# 23

Guppy by Charly Bliss

Album • Apr 21 / 2017 Power Pop Indie Rock

# 24

Every Little Thing by Carly Pearce

Album • Oct 13 / 2017 Contemporary Country Country Pop

# 25

More Life by Drake

Album • Mar 18 / 2017 Contemporary R&B Pop Rap

# 26

Pleasure by Feist

Album • Apr 28 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 27

Process by Sampha

Album • Feb 03 / 2017 Alternative R&B

# 28

No Shape by Perfume Genius

Album • May 05 / 2017 Art Pop

# 29

Need to Feel Your Love by Sheer Mag

Album • Jul 14 / 2017 Power Pop Garage Rock

# 30

ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ by Joey Bada$$

Album • Apr 07 / 2017 East Coast Hip Hop Political Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 31

The Navigator by Hurray For The Riff Raff

Album • Mar 10 / 2017 Folk Rock Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 32

Turn Out the Lights by Julien Baker

Album • Oct 27 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Slowcore Contemporary Folk

# 33

You're Not As ______ As You Think by Sorority Noise

Album • Mar 17 / 2017

# 34

The Kid by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Album • Oct 06 / 2017 Art Pop Neo-Psychedelia Progressive Electronic Ambient Pop

# 35

Life After Youth by Land of Talk

Album • May 19 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 36

Hard Love by Strand of Oaks

Album • Feb 17 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 37

I See You by The xx

Album • Jan 13 / 2017 Indietronica Alt-Pop

# 38

Take Me Apart by Kelela

Album • Oct 06 / 2017 Alternative R&B UK Bass

# 39

From A Room: Volume 2 by Chris Stapleton

Album • Dec 01 / 2017 Contemporary Country

# 40

This Is Steve by Delicate Steve

Album • Jan 27 / 2017 Indie Rock

# 41

First Cigarette by Travis Meadows

Album • Oct 13 / 2017 Country

# 42

Ti Amo by Phoenix

Album • May 09 / 2017 Synthpop New Wave

# 43

The Weather Station by The Weather Station

Album • Oct 06 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 44

City Music by Kevin Morby

Album • Jun 16 / 2017 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock Folk Rock

# 45

Not Even Happiness by Julie Byrne

Album • Jan 12 / 2017 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 46

Rocket by Alex G

Album • May 19 / 2017 Indie Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 47

Infinite Worlds by Vagabon

Album • Feb 24 / 2017 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 48

No One Loves You by Blis

Album • Oct 06 / 2017 Emo

# 49

Rosecrans by DJ Quik + Problem

Album • Apr 20 / 2017 West Coast Hip Hop

# 50

Migration by Bonobo

Album • Jan 13 / 2017 Downtempo Future Garage