Year-End Lists

Pitchfork: 50 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Ctrl
   SZA
3. The OOZ
   King Krule
4. Take Me Apart
   Kelela
5. Melodrama
   Lorde
6. Aromanticism
   Moses Sumney
7. Big Fish Theory
   Vince Staples
8. Flower Boy
   Tyler, The Creator
9. Plunge
   Fever Ray
10. Black Origami
    Jlin
11. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
12. american dream
    LCD Soundsystem
13. 4:44
    JAY-Z
14. A Crow Looked at Me
    Mount Eerie
15. Process
    Sampha
16. No Shape
    Perfume Genius
17. Rest
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
18. Turn Out the Lights
    Julien Baker
19. Culture
    Migos
20. Utopia
    Björk
21. Arca
    Arca
22. MASSEDUCTION
    St. Vincent
23. Capacity
    Big Thief
24. Drunk
    Thundercat
25. Nothing Feels Natural
    Priests
26. Everybody Works
    Jay Som
27. HNDRXX
    Future
28. Ash
    Ibeyi
29. Run the Jewels 3
    Run the Jewels
30. Slowdive
    Slowdive
31. Harmony of Difference
    Kamasi Washington
32. Lust for Life
    Lana Del Rey
33. Kelly Lee Owens
    Kelly Lee Owens
34. Love What Survives
    Mount Kimbie
35. Playboi Carti
    Playboi Carti
36. Fin
    Syd
37. Not Even Happiness
    Julie Byrne
38. More Life
    Drake
39. Crack-Up
    Fleet Foxes
40. I See You
    The xx
41. Okovi
    Zola Jesus
42. Infinite Worlds
    Vagabon
43. Black Ken
    Lil B
44. The Kid
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
45. Powerplant
    girlpool
46. Dust
    Laurel Halo
47. SweetSexySavage
    Kehlani
48. Rocket
    (Sandy) Alex G
49. Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
    Open Mike Eagle
50. Yaeji
    yaeji
50. EP2
    yaeji

Chris Richards: 14 Best Albums of 2017, as published by The Washington Post

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2019 • 2018 • 2011]

1. On the Rocks
   Midland
2. Culture
   Migos
3. Lust for Life
   Lana Del Rey
4. Ruler Rebel
   Christian Scott
4. Diaspora
   Christian Scott
4. The Emancipation Procrastination
   Christian Scott
5. Subordination
   Institute
6. A.R.E. Project
   Hieroglyphic Being, Sarathy Korwar & Shabaka Hutchings
7. Take Me Apart
   Kelela
8. Seed of Hysteria
   Exit Order
9. Before I Wake
   Kamaiyah
10. Gelato
    Young Dolph
10. Bulletproof
    Young Dolph
10. Thinking Out Loud
    Young Dolph

Uproxx: 50 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016]

1. Melodrama
   Lorde
2. Ctrl
   SZA
3. A Deeper Understanding
   The War on Drugs
4. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
5. Pure Comedy
   Father John Misty
6. MASSEDUCTION
   St. Vincent
7. 4:44
   JAY-Z
8. Crack-Up
   Fleet Foxes
9. Capacity
   Big Thief
10. Big Fish Theory
    Vince Staples
11. The Nashville Sound
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
12. Half-Light
    Rostam
13. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
14. Flower Boy
    Tyler, The Creator
15. Soft Sounds from Another Planet
    Japanese Breakfast
16. Go Farther in Lightness
    Gang of Youths
17. Stranger in the Alps
    Phoebe Bridgers
18. Who Told You To Think??!!?!?!?!
    Milo
19. Lotta Sea Lice
    Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
20. Hallelujah Anyhow
    Hiss Golden Messenger
21. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
    Japandroids
22. Humanz
    Gorillaz
23. Guppy
    Charly Bliss
24. Every Little Thing
    Carly Pearce
25. More Life
    Drake
26. Pleasure
    Feist
27. Process
    Sampha
28. No Shape
    Perfume Genius
29. Need to Feel Your Love
    Sheer Mag
30. ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$
    Joey Bada$$
31. The Navigator
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
32. Turn Out the Lights
    Julien Baker
33. You’re Not As _____ As You Think
    Sorority Noise
34. The Kid
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
35. Life After Youth
    Land of Talk
36. Hard Love
    Strand of Oaks
37. I See You
    The xx
38. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
39. From A Room: Volume 1
    Chris Stapleton
40. This Is Steve
    Delicate Steve
41. First Cigarette
    Travis Meadows
42. Ti Amo
    Phoenix
43. The Weather Station
    The Weather Station
44. City Music
    Kevin Morby
45. Not Even Happiness
    Julie Byrne
46. Rocket
    (Sandy) Alex G
47. Infinite Worlds
    Vagabon
48. No One Loves You
    Blis
49. Rosecrans
    DJ Quik & Problem
50. Migration
    Bonobo

Kitty Empire: Top 10 Albums of 2017, as published by The Observer

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012 • 2011]

• DAMN.
  Kendrick Lamar
• MASSEDUCTION
  St. Vincent
• No Shape
  Perfume Genius
• american dream
  LCD Soundsystem
• Party
  Aldous Harding
• Big Fish Theory
  Vince Staples
• Melodrama
  Lorde
• Pure Comedy
  Father John Misty
• Aromanticism
  Moses Sumney
• Heavy Meta
  Ron Gallo

Jon Caramanica: 25 Best Albums of 2017, as published by The New York Times

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

1. Reaper
   nothing,nowhere.
2. Ctrl
   SZA
3. A Crow Looked at Me
   Mount Eerie
4. From the Outside
   Hey Violet
5. reputation
   Taylor Swift
6. I
   Niia
7. Odisea
   Ozuna
8. 4 Your Eyez Only
   J. Cole
9. Turn Out the Lights
   Julien Baker
10. Melodrama
    Lorde
11. Good For You
    Aminé
12. Issa Album
    21 Savage
13. More Life
    Drake
14. DAMN.
    Kendrick Lamar
15. Common Sense
    J Hus
16. The Chief
    Jidenna
17. SOB X RBE
    SOB X RBE
18. Unapologetically
    Kelsea Ballerini
19. AI YoungBoy
    YoungBoy Never Broke Again
20. FUTURE
    Future
21. 4:44
    JAY-Z
22. Chills & Fever
    Samantha Fish
23. Cost of Living
    Downtown Boys
24. Fifth Harmony
    Fifth Harmony
25. Thot Breaker
    Chief Keef

Jon Pareles: 10 Best Albums of 2017, as published by The New York Times

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

1. MASSEDUCTION
   St. Vincent
2. Residente
   Residente
3. Aromanticism
   Moses Sumney
4. Turn Out the Lights
   Julien Baker
5. Utopia
   Björk
6. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
7. Melodrama
   Lorde
8. Ctrl
   SZA
9. The Order of Time
   Valerie June
10. Big Fish Theory
    Vince Staples

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
2. 4:44
   JAY-Z
3. Ctrl
   SZA
4. HNDRXX
   Future
5. Process
   Sampha
6. Flower Boy
   Tyler, The Creator
7. Culture
   Migos
8. Luv Is Rage 2
   Lil Uzi Vert
9. Freudian
   Daniel Caesar
10. More Life
    Drake
11. Fin
    Syd
12. Number 1 Angel
    Charli XCX
13. Laila’s Wisdom
    Rapsody
14. Big Fish Theory
    Vince Staples
15. FUTURE
    Future
16. The Bigger Artist
    A Boogie wit da Hoodie
17. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
18. ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$
    Joey Bada$$
19. Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
    Calvin Harris
20. Rather You Than Me
    Rick Ross
21. Rainbow
    Ke$ha
22. Painting Pictures
    Kodak Black
23. You Only Live 2wice
    Freddie Gibbs
24. Droptopwop
    Gucci Mane
25. Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
    2 Chainz
26. reputation
    Taylor Swift
27. All Blue
    G Perico
28. At What Cost
    GoldLink
29. Rosebudd’s Revenge
    Roc Marciano
30. Drunk
    Thundercat
31. Into
    Sonder
32. 12
    A$AP Twelvyy
33. Harry Styles
    Harry Styles
34. Wins & Losses
    Meek Mill
35. Dua Lipa
    Dua Lipa
36. Good For You
    Aminé
37. Issa Album
    21 Savage
38. The Search for Everything
    John Mayer
39. Thinking Out Loud
    Young Dolph
40. Without Warning
    21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin
41. blkswn
    Smino
42. War & Leisure
    Miguel
43. The Never Story
    JID
44. Melodrama
    Lorde
45. No Dope on Sundays
    Cyhi The Prynce
46. Lust for Life
    Lana Del Rey
47. American Teen
    Khalid
48. Something To Tell You
    HAIM
49. Lil Pump
    Lil Pump
50. Black Ken
    Lil B

AllMusic: 70 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

• Mental Illness
  Aimee Mann
• Telemann: Concerti per molti stromenti
  Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
• The Underside of Power
  Algiers
• Antisocialites
  Alvvays
• Wrangled
  Angaleena Presley
• Carnevale 1729
  Ann Hallenberg, il pomo d’oro & Stefano Montanari
• Arca
  Arca
• Witness
  Katy Perry
• Utopia
  Björk
• Expectativas
  Bunbury
• Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine
  La Compagnia del Madrigale, Cantica Symphonia, La Pifarescha & Giuseppe Maletto
• Reaching For Indigo
  Circuit Des Yeux
• A flame my love, a frequency
  Colleen
• The Dusk In Us
  Converge
• Face Your Fear
  Curtis Harding
• Dreams and Daggers
  Cécile McLorin Salvant
• Spirit
  Depeche Mode
• Cost of Living
  Downtown Boys
• Exile In the Outer Ring
  EMA
• Ex Eye
  Ex Eye
• Plunge
  Fever Ray
• Crack-Up
  Fleet Foxes
• Maurice Ravel: Daphnis & Chloé, Complete Ballet
  François-Xavier Roth / Les Siècles
• Changer
  Fred Thomas
• Narkopop
  Gas
• Earl Grey
  Girl Ray
• The Navigator
  Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Brutalism
  Idles
• Modern Kosmology
  Jane Weaver
• UNDIVIDED HEART & SOUL
  J.D. McPherson
• Black Origami
  Jlin
• Halo
  Juana Molina
• The Kid
  Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
• SweetSexySavage
  Kehlani
• Take Me Apart
  Kelela
• DAMN.
  Kendrick Lamar
• The OOZ
  King Krule
• Slowheart
  Kip Moore
• Amar Y Vivir (En Vivo Desde La Ciudad De México, 2017)
  La Santa Cecilia
• Semper Femina
  Laura Marling
• american dream
  LCD Soundsystem
• Melodrama
  Lorde
• Ojalá
  Lost Horizons
• This Old Dog
  Mac DeMarco
• Emperor of Sand
  Mastodon
• Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works
  Max Richter
• A Crow Looked at Me
  Mount Eerie
• Goodnight Rhonda Lee
  Nicole Atkins
• Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds
  Nicole Mitchell
• Multi-Task
  Omni
• After Laughter
  Paramore
• Relatives in Descent
  Protomartyr
• Dark Matter
  Randy Newman
• Bruckner: Symphony No. 9, WAB 109 (Original 1894 Version)
  Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Carry Fire
  Robert Plant
• Bells For the South Side
  Roscoe Mitchell
• Strike a Match
  SACRED PAWS
• Process
  Sampha
• Need to Feel Your Love
  Sheer Mag
• Man vs. Sofa
  Sherwood & Pinch
• MASSEDUCTION
  St. Vincent
• Music For People In Trouble
  Susanne Sundfør
• Ctrl
  SZA
• Music for the Age of Miracles
  The Clientele
• Interplanetary Class Classics
  The Moonlandingz
• Flower Boy
  Tyler, The Creator
• Far from Over
  Vijay Iyer Sextet
• Big Fish Theory
  Vince Staples
• Rule 62
  Whitney Rose
• Arise
  Zara McFarlane

Pretty Much Amazing: 20 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Melodrama
   Lorde
2. MASSEDUCTION
   St. Vincent
3. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
4. Big Fish Theory
   Vince Staples
5. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
6. A Deeper Understanding
   The War on Drugs
7. I See You
   The xx
8. Ctrl
   SZA
9. Flower Boy
   Tyler, The Creator
10. Pure Comedy
    Father John Misty
11. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
12. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
13. No Shape
    Perfume Genius
14. Crack-Up
    Fleet Foxes
15. 50 Song Memoir
    The Magnetic Fields
16. Slowdive
    Slowdive
17. SATURATION II
    BROCKHAMPTON
18. Soft Sounds from Another Planet
    Japanese Breakfast
19. Arca
    Arca
20. Everybody Works
    Jay Som

Rob Harvilla: 10 Best Albums of 2017, as published by The Ringer

1. 4:44
   JAY-Z
2. Melodrama
   Lorde
3. Antisocialites
   Alvvays
4. Hot Thoughts
   Spoon
5. The Nashville Sound
   Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
6. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
7. Big Fish Theory
   Vince Staples
8. All American Made
   Margo Price
9. Guppy
   Charly Bliss
10. Pleasure
    Feist