Year-End Lists

Kitty Empire: Top 10 Albums of 2016, as published by The Observer

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2012 • 2011]

• You Want It Darker
  Leonard Cohen
• Lemonade
  Beyoncé
• Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
  Margo Price
• Blackstar
  David Bowie
• Chaleur Humaine
  Christine and the Queens
• Not to Disappear
  Daughter
• Couch Baby
  Jamie Isaac
• 25 25
  Factory Floor
• A Seat at the Table
  Solange
• We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
  A Tribe Called Quest

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
2. Coloring Book
   Chance The Rapper
3. Blackstar
   David Bowie
4. Blond
   Frank Ocean
5. Hopelessness
   ANOHNI
6. Skeleton Tree
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
7. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
8. Malibu
   Anderson .Paak
9. 22, A Million
   Bon Iver
10. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen
11. Puberty 2
    Mitski
12. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
    A Tribe Called Quest
13. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
14. Freetown Sound
    Blood Orange
15. Blank Face LP
    Schoolboy Q
16. Schmilco
    Wilco
17. Love Streams
    Tim Hecker
18. Teens of Denial
    Car Seat Headrest
19. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
20. Stranger Things OST Volumes 1 and 2
    Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
21. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
22. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
23. One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache
    The Body & Full of Hell
24. The Colour in Anything
    James Blake
25. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
26. HEAVN
    Jamila Woods
27. Love You to Death
    Tegan and Sara
28. Next Thing
    Frankie Cosmos
29. Sirens
    Nicolas Jaar
30. Cardinal
    Pinegrove
31. Metal Resistance
    BABYMETAL
32. The Wilderness
    Explosions in the Sky
33. Magma
    Gojira
34. Rot Forever
    Sioux Falls
35. Standards
    Into It. Over It.
36. Telefone
    Noname
37. Potential
    The Range
38. Light Upon the Lake
    Whitney
39. Adore Life
    Savages
40. Gore
    Deftones
41. When You Walk a Long Distance You Are Tired
    Mothers
42. Islah
    Kevin Gates
43. Goodness
    The Hotelier
44. FLOTUS
    Lambchop
45. Jeffery
    Young Thug
46. Blisters In the Pit of My Heart
    Martha
47. Psychopomp
    Japanese Breakfast
48. Paradise
    White Lung
49. Weaves
    Weaves
50. Post Pop Depression
    Iggy Pop

Gorilla vs. Bear: 60 Favorite Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
2. Oh No
   Jessy Lanza
3. January Sun
   Kedr Livanskiy
4. 99.9%
   KAYTRANADA
5. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
6. Blond
   Frank Ocean
7. Familiar Touch
   DIANA
8. The Bells
   Kornél Kovács
9. Young Death / Nightmarket
   Burial
10. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
11. Front Row Seat to Earth
    Weyes Blood
12. Stranger Things OST Volumes 1 and 2
    Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
13. Untitled Unmastered
    Kendrick Lamar
14. Yoncalla
    Yumi Zouma
15. Sky Girl: Compiled by Julien Dechery and DJ Sundae
    various artists
16. Fall Forever
    Fear of Men
17. Wabi-Sabi
    Cross Record
18. The Party
    Andy Shauf
19. RR7349
    S U R V I V E
20. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
21. Body Work
    Negative Gemini
22. Hoops / Tape #2 / Tape #3
    Hoops
23. Don’t Leave Me in the Dark
    Vesuvio Solo
24. You Know What It’s Like
    Carla dal Forno
25. Black Mirror: San Junipero
    Clint Mansell
26. The Visitor
    Kadhja Bonet
27. Sirens
    Nicolas Jaar
28. Graphic
    Troller
29. Bonito Generation
    Kero Kero Bonito
30. Light Upon the Lake
    Whitney
31. Rojus (Designed to Dance)
    Leon Vynehall
32. Yes Lawd!
    NxWorries
33. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
34. Reverie
    Postiljonen
35. Bird Sound Power
    Equiknoxx
36. Amparo
    Maria Usbeck
37. Psychopomp
    Japanese Breakfast
38. EARS
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
39. Dreamboat
    Dreamboat
40. Binasu
    NV
41. Cross Your Heart
    LIZ
42. Stand Up and Speak
    DJDS
43. E•MO•TION: Side B
    Carly Rae Jepsen
44. On Vacation
    CFCF
45. Dead Blue
    Still Corners
46. Psychic Materials
    Casey Mecija
47. Autodrama
    Puro Instinct
48. Uncanny Valley
    Merely
49. Color
    Katie Gately
50. Strangers
    Marissa Nadler
51. Stiff
    White Denim
52. Parts
    Parts
53. Disco Mantras
    various artists
54. Yr Body Is Nothing
    Boy Harsher
55. Fading Lines
    Amber Arcades
56. Leave Me Alone
    Hinds
57. Liquid Cool
    Nite Jewel
58. Dangerous Woman
    Ariana Grande
59. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
60. Will
    Julianna Barwick

Stereogum: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
2. Blond
   Frank Ocean
3. Coloring Book
   Chance The Rapper
4. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
5. Blackstar
   David Bowie
6. A Seat at the Table
   Solange
7. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
8. Puberty 2
   Mitski
9. The Life of Pablo
   Kanye West
10. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
11. Teens of Denial
    Car Seat Headrest
12. Malibu
    Anderson .Paak
13. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
14. Blank Face LP
    Schoolboy Q
15. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
16. A Good Night in the Ghetto
    Kamaiyah
17. Paradise
    White Lung
18. Flood Network
    Katie Dey
19. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
20. Anti
    Rihanna
21. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
    The 1975
22. The Dream Is Over
    PUP
23. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
24. Cardinal
    Pinegrove
25. Slow Forever
    Cobalt
26. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
    Sturgill Simpson
27. Psychopomp
    Japanese Breakfast
28. Telefone
    Noname
29. Kiid
    Mal Devisa
30. Wriggling
    Abi Reimold
31. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
32. Still Brazy
    YG
33. Shapeshifter
    IAN SWEET
34. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen
35. Romantic
    Mannequin Pussy
36. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
37. HEAVN
    Jamila Woods
38. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
39. Goodness
    The Hotelier
40. Untitled Unmastered
    Kendrick Lamar
41. Beyond the Fleeting Gales
    Crying
42. The Colour in Anything
    James Blake
43. Junk
    M83
44. Next Thing
    Frankie Cosmos
45. Emotions and Math
    Margaret Glaspy
46. Stage Four
    Touché Amoré
47. Real
    Lydia Loveless
48. Love Streams
    Tim Hecker
49. Nattesferd
    Kvelertak
50. Holy Ghost
    Modern Baseball

American Songwriter: Top 50 Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
2. Love & Hate
   Michael Kiwanuka
3. Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
   Margo Price
4. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
   Sturgill Simpson
5. case/lang/veirs
   case/lang/veirs
6. Blackstar
   David Bowie
7. American Band
   Drive-By Truckers
8. You Want It Darker
   Leonard Cohen
9. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
10. Dori Freeman
    Dori Freeman
11. The Very Last Day
    Parker Millsap
12. Coloring Book
    Chance The Rapper
13. 2
    Mudcrutch
14. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
15. The Ghosts of Highway 20
    Lucinda Williams
16. This Is Where I Live
    William Bell
17. Lovers And Leavers
    Hayes Carll
18. Silver Tears
    Aaron Lee Tasjan
19. Puberty 2
    Mitski
20. Stranger to Stranger
    Paul Simon
21. Big Day in a Small Town
    Brandy Clark
22. Robert Ellis
    Robert Ellis
23. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
24. Heart Like a Levee
    Hiss Golden Messenger
25. Dig In Deep
    Bonnie Raitt
26. Real
    Lydia Loveless
27. We’re All Gonna Die
    Dawes
28. The Weight of These Wings
    Miranda Lambert
29. Painkillers
    Brian Fallon
30. Shape Shift With Me
    Against Me!
31. FLOTUS
    Lambchop
32. I’ve Got A Way
    Kelsey Waldon
33. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
34. Adore Life
    Savages
35. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
36. Teens of Denial
    Car Seat Headrest
37. I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
    Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
38. Honest Life
    Courtney Marie Andrews
39. Heads Up
    Warpaint
40. Hero
    Maren Morris
41. Resistor
    Lera Lynn
42. Ruminations
    Conor Oberst
43. My Piece Of Land
    Amanda Shires
44. Cardinal
    Pinegrove
45. Blond
    Frank Ocean
46. Life in the Dark
    The Felice Brothers
47. Emotions and Math
    Margaret Glaspy
48. Pawn Shop
    Brothers Osborne
49. The Life of Pablo
    Kanye West
50. Down In Heaven
    Twin Peaks

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Blackstar
   David Bowie
2. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
3. Teens of Denial
   Car Seat Headrest
4. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
5. Puberty 2
   Mitski
6. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
7. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
8. No Burden
   Lucy Dacus
9. 22, A Million
   Bon Iver
10. Blond
    Frank Ocean
11. The Life of Pablo
    Kanye West
12. Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
    Margo Price
13. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
14. Cardinal
    Pinegrove
15. Coloring Book
    Chance The Rapper
16. Malibu
    Anderson .Paak
17. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen
18. Freetown Sound
    Blood Orange
19. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
    Sturgill Simpson
20. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
21. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
22. Good Grief
    Lucius
23. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
24. Are You Serious
    Andrew Bird
25. Wildflower
    The Avalanches
26. Schmilco
    Wilco
27. Lost Time
    Tacocat
28. Love You to Death
    Tegan and Sara
29. Next Thing
    Frankie Cosmos
30. A Man Alive
    Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
31. Psychopomp
    Japanese Breakfast
32. case/lang/veirs
    case/lang/veirs
33. Leave Me Alone
    Hinds
34. Love Letter For Fire
    Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop
35. Side Pony
    Lake Street Dive
36. Untitled Unmastered
    Kendrick Lamar
37. Light Upon the Lake
    Whitney
38. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
39. Stranger to Stranger
    Paul Simon
40. Redemption
    Dawn Richard
41. Emotions and Math
    Margaret Glaspy
42. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
43. Changes
    Charles Bradley
44. Nosebleed Weekend
    The Coathangers
45. Heart Like a Levee
    Hiss Golden Messenger
46. I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
    Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
47. Sea Of Noise
    St. Paul & The Broken Bones
48. American Band
    Drive-By Truckers
49. Absolute Loser
    Fruit Bats
50. Honest Life
    Courtney Marie Andrews

Les Inrockuptibles: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Blackstar
   David Bowie
2. Mystère
   La Femme
3. Blond
   Frank Ocean
4. Do Hollywood
   The Lemon Twigs
5. Dans la légende
   PNL
6. The Life of Pablo
   Kanye West
7. You Want It Darker
   Leonard Cohen
8. Views
   Drake
9. Jumping the Shark
   Alex Cameron
10. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
11. The Hope Six Demolition Project
    PJ Harvey
12. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
13. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
14. You & I
    ALA.NI
15. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
16. Love & Hate
    Michael Kiwanuka
17. Starboy
    The Weeknd
18. Mémoires vives
    Grand Blanc
19. Front Row Seat to Earth
    Weyes Blood
20. Soft Hair
    Soft Hair
21. Freetown Sound
    Blood Orange
22. The Colour in Anything
    James Blake
23. Carrément carrément
    The Pirouettes
24. Palermo Hollywood
    Benjamin Biolay
25. Jeffery
    Young Thug
26. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
27. Primitives
    Bayonne
28. Orphée
    Jóhann Jóhannsson
29. Woman
    Justice
30. Dérangé
    Lescop
31. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
32. New Misery
    Cullen Omori
33. Arbina
    Noura Mint Seymali
34. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
35. The Quirky Lost Tapes 1993-1995
    El’Blaszczyk Rock Band Himself
36. Commontime
    Field Music
37. Blank Face LP
    Schoolboy Q
38. Anti
    Rihanna
39. “Б”
    Bjarki
40. Songs for Our Mothers
    The Fat White Family
41. Moriarty & Friends Presents: Zanz in lanfér
    Wati Watia Zorey Band
42. Introducing Karl Blau
    Karl Blau
43. Sirens
    Nicolas Jaar
44. AIM
    M.I.A.
45. Is the Is Are
    DIIV
46. Recto Verso
    Paradis
47. Tropix
    Céu
48. Les Filles de Illighadad
    Fatou Seidi Ghali & Alamnou Akrouni
49. Spiritual Songs for Lovers to Sing
    Lost Under Heaven
50. Radiant
    DJ Pone

Greg Kot: Top Albums of 2016, as published by The Chicago Tribune and aired on Sound Opinions

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Skeleton Tree
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
2. Blond
   Frank Ocean
3. HEAVN
   Jamila Woods
4. Love & Hate
   Michael Kiwanuka
5. Malibu
   Anderson .Paak
6. The Hope Six Demolition Project
   PJ Harvey
7. American Band
   Drive-By Truckers
8. Coloring Book
   Chance The Rapper
9. A Seat at the Table
   Solange
10. Blackstar
    David Bowie

The next 10

• New View
  Eleanor Friedberger
• Lemonade
  Beyoncé
• Adore Life
  Savages
• Untitled Unmastered
  Kendrick Lamar
• Patch the Sky
  Bob Mould
• You Want It Darker
  Leonard Cohen
• My Woman
  Angel Olsen
• blackSUMMERS’night
  Maxwell
• Real
  Lydia Loveless
• Black America Again
  Common

Crack Magazine: Albums of the Year 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. Skeleton Tree
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
2. A Seat at the Table
   Solange
3. The Life of Pablo
   Kanye West
4. Hopelessness
   ANOHNI
5. Body War
   Show Me the Body
6. Blackstar
   David Bowie
7. Freetown Sound
   Blood Orange
8. Untitled Unmastered
   Kendrick Lamar
9. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
10. EARS
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
11. Blond
    Frank Ocean
12. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
13. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
14. SEPT. 5TH
    dvsn
15. Jeffery
    Young Thug
16. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
17. Savage Mode
    21 Savage & Metro Boomin
18. Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties
    Bitchin Bajas & Bonnie “Prince” Billy
19. Teens of Denial
    Car Seat Headrest
20. Sport
    Powell
21. Still Brazy
    YG
22. The Hope Six Demolition Project
    PJ Harvey
23. Malibu
    Anderson .Paak
24. Anti
    Rihanna
25. SremmLife 2
    Rae Sremmurd
26. Konnichiwa
    Skepta
27. In Drum Play
    Pangaea
28. Leave Me Alone
    Hinds
29. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
30. Puberty 2
    Mitski
31. Telefone
    Noname
32. Sirens
    Nicolas Jaar
33. Adore Life
    Savages
34. The Disco's Of Imhotep
    Hieroglyphic Being
35. Next Thing
    Frankie Cosmos
36. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
37. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
38. Endless
    Frank Ocean
39. Transport
    Juan Atkins & Moritz von Oswald present Borderland
40. Views
    Drake
41. Afterlife
    DJ Rashad
42. A Good Night in the Ghetto
    Kamaiyah
43. Tooth
    Raime
44. Coloring Book
    Chance The Rapper
45. Mambos Levis D'Outro Mundo
    various artists
46. Fallen
    Steven Julien
47. A Weird Exits
    Thee Oh Sees
48. The Bells
    Kornél Kovács
49. Yes Lawd!
    NxWorries
50. Open Your Eyes
    DJ Earl
51. Landlord
    Giggs
52. Arctic Thunder
    Darkthrone
53. Summer Songs 2
    Lil Yachty
54. From Joy
    Kyle Hall
55. Gqom Oh! The Sound of Durban Vol.1
    various artists
56. Hubris
    Oren Ambarchi
57. I, Gemini
    Let’s Eat Grandma
58. DC4
    Meek Mill
59. The Best
    Omar S
60. Love Streams
    Tim Hecker
61. Heads Up
    Warpaint
62. Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
    Travis Scott
63. From Farthest Known Objects
    Surgeon
64. Blank Face LP
    Schoolboy Q
65. Broken Knowz
    Jay Daniel
66. Slime Season 3
    Young Thug
67. The Sound Of Glades
    Wolf Müller and Cass.
68. Honor Killed the Samurai
    Ka
69. For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have)
    Huerco S
70. For All We Know
    NAO
71. Will
    Julianna Barwick
72. Young Jefe 2
    Shy Glizzy
73. Ultra
    Zomby
74. Weaves
    Weaves
75. Elysia Crampton Presents: Demon City
    Elysia Crampton
76. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
    A Tribe Called Quest
77. Void Beats / Invocation Trex
    Cavern of Anti-Matter
78. “BBF” Hosted By DJ Escrow
    Babyfather
79. ONLY
    Klein
80. Eraser Stargazer
    Guerilla Toss
81. Ullages
    Eagulls
82. Some Things Last Longer than You
    Doe
83. Mykki
    Mykki Blanco
84. The Silent Partner
    Havoc & The Alchemist
85. Under The Sun
    Mark Pritchard
86. Everybody Looking
    Gucci Mane
87. You Know What It’s Like
    Carla dal Forno
88. Minor Victories
    Minor Victories
89. Emotional Mugger
    Ty Segall
90. Soft Hair
    Soft Hair
91. Light Upon the Lake
    Whitney
92. LVL 11
    Levelz
93. Oh No
    Jessy Lanza
94. FRKWYS Vol. 13: Sunergy
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani
95. Look at Me
    Ethereal
96. Purple Reign
    Future
97. Callus
    Gonjasufi
98. Preoccupations
    Preoccupations
99. Big Bossin, Vol. 1
    Payroll Giovanni & Cardo Got Wings
100. Following My Intuition
     Craig David

Rolling Stone: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
2. Blackstar
   David Bowie
3. Coloring Book
   Chance The Rapper
4. Teens of Denial
   Car Seat Headrest
5. Blond
   Frank Ocean
6. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
7. Blue & Lonesome
   The Rolling Stones
8. The Life of Pablo
   Kanye West
9. You Want It Darker
   Leonard Cohen
10. Jeffery
    Young Thug
11. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
12. Stranger to Stranger
    Paul Simon
13. Hero
    Maren Morris
14. Revolution Radio
    Green Day
15. Return to Love
    Lvl Up
16. The Weight of These Wings
    Miranda Lambert
17. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
18. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
    The 1975
19. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
20. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
21. Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
    Margo Price
22. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
23. Puberty 2
    Mitski
24. American Band
    Drive-By Truckers
25. Anti
    Rihanna
26. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
    Sturgill Simpson
27. Big Day in a Small Town
    Brandy Clark
28. Freetown Sound
    Blood Orange
29. Mudcrutch 2
    Mudcrutch
30. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
    A Tribe Called Quest
31. Paradise
    White Lung
32. Here
    Alicia Keys
33. 57th & 9th
    Sting
34. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
35. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
36. Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
    Metallica
37. Dig In Deep
    Bonnie Raitt
38. Lady Wood
    Tove Lo
39. Wonderful Crazy Night
    Elton John
40. blackSUMMERS’night
    Maxwell
41. Schmilco
    Wilco
42. Views
    Drake
43. Evol
    Future
44. Good Times!
    The Monkees
45. Post Pop Depression
    Iggy Pop
46. Day Breaks
    Norah Jones
47. Stranger Things OST Volumes 1 and 2
    Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
48. Emily’s D+Evolution
    Esperanza Spalding
49. We’re All Gonna Die
    Dawes
50. Bottomless Pit
    Death Grips