Year-End Lists

Pazz & Jop: Top 100 Albums of 2016 (an annual poll of critics, published by The Village Voice)

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

1. Blackstar
   David Bowie
2. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
3. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
4. Coloring Book
   Chance The Rapper
5. A Seat at the Table
   Solange
6. Blond
   Frank Ocean
7. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
8. You Want It Darker
   Leonard Cohen
9. Teens of Denial
   Car Seat Headrest
10. The Life of Pablo
    Kanye West
11. Malibu
    Anderson .Paak
12. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
13. Anti
    Rihanna
14. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
15. Puberty 2
    Mitski
16. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
    Sturgill Simpson
17. American Band
    Drive-By Truckers
18. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
19. Freetown Sound
    Blood Orange
20. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
21. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
    The 1975
22. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
23. The Weight of These Wings
    Miranda Lambert
24. Untitled Unmastered
    Kendrick Lamar
25. Cardinal
    Philip Jeck
26. Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
    Margo Price
27. Post Pop Depression
    Iggy Pop
28. Hero
    Maren Morris
29. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
30. Blue & Lonesome
    The Rolling Stones
31. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
32. Adore Life
    Savages
33. Big Day in a Small Town
    Brandy Clark
34. Goodness
    The Hotelier
35. Telefone
    Noname
36. Emily’s D+Evolution
    Esperanza Spalding
37. Light Upon the Lake
    Whitney
38. Awaken, My Love!
    Childish Gambino
39. We Are King
    KING
40. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
41. Upland Stories
    Robbie Fulks
42. Islah
    Kevin Gates
43. Still Brazy
    YG
44. Stranger to Stranger
    Paul Simon
45. The Hope Six Demolition Project
    PJ Harvey
46. Blank Face LP
    Schoolboy Q
47. Wood / Metal / Plastic / Pattern / Rhythm / Rock
    75 Dollar Bill
48. Love & Hate
    Michael Kiwanuka
49. HEAVN
    Jamila Woods
50. FLOTUS
    Lambchop
51. Good Times!
    The Monkees
52. blackSUMMERS’night
    Maxwell
53. Wildflower
    The Avalanches
54. Jeffery
    Young Thug
55. Sirens
    Nicolas Jaar
56. Heron Oblivion
    Heron Oblivion
57. EARS
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
58. and the Anonymous Nobody…
    De La Soul
59. Paradise
    Floorplan
60. WORRY.
    Jeff Rosenstock
60. Honor Killed the Samurai
    Ka
62. The Bird & the Rifle
    Lori McKenna
63. Heart Like a Levee
    Hiss Golden Messenger
64. Pretty Years
    Cymbals Eat Guitars
65. Interventions
    Horse Lords
66. I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
    Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
67. Yes Lawd!
    NxWorries
68. Psychopomp
    Japanese Breakfast
69. Eyes on the Lines
    Steve Gunn
70. The Ghosts of Highway 20
    Lucinda Williams
71. Singing Saw
    Kevin Morby
71. Real
    Lydia Loveless
73. Modern Country
    William Tyler
74. The Dream Is Over
    PUP
75. Black Terry Cat
    Xenia Rubinos
76. Redemption
    Dawn Richard
77. case/lang/veirs
    case/lang/veirs
77. The New Breed
    Jeff Parker
79. Ruminations
    Conor Oberst
80. The Impossible Kid
    Aesop Rock
80. Schmilco
    Wilco
82. Patch the Sky
    Bob Mould
83. Changes
    Charles Bradley
84. Blisters In the Pit of My Heart
    Martha
85. This Is Where I Live
    William Bell
86. Away with You
    Mary Halvorson Octet
86. Love Streams
    Tim Hecker
88. elseq 1-5
    Autechre
89. Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not
    Dinosaur Jr.
90. For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have)
    Huerco S
90. A Cosmic Rhythm with Each Stroke
    Vijay Iyer & Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith
92. Moth
    Chairlift
93. A Good Night in the Ghetto
    Kamaiyah
94. We Are the Halluci Nation
    A Tribe Called Red
95. Joanne
    Lady Gaga
96. A Mulher do Fim do Mundo
    Elza Soares
96. The Colour in Anything
    James Blake
98. Slow Forever
    Cobalt
99. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
100. Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
     Metallica

Jordan Cronk: 30 Favorite Albums of 2016, as posted to Twitter

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017]

1. Goodness
   The Hotelier
2. Blackstar
   David Bowie
3. Blood Bitch
   Jenny Hval
4. Hopelessness
   ANOHNI
5. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
6. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
7. Camp Cope
   Camp Cope
8. Elysia Crampton Presents: Demon City
   Elysia Crampton
9. Cardinal
   Pinegrove
10. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
11. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
12. EARS
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
13. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen
14. Sirens
    Nicolas Jaar
15. For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have)
    Huerco S
16. $uccessor (Ded004)
    Dedekind Cut
17. R M H Q: Headquarters
    Roy Montgomery
18. Love Streams
    Tim Hecker
19. Puberty 2
    Mitski
20. Potential
    The Range
21. Will
    Julianna Barwick
22. Wildflower
    The Avalanches
23. A Mulher do Fim do Mundo
    Elza Soares
24. American Football (LP2)
    American Football
25. Petrol
    Anenon
26. Interventions
    Horse Lords
27. FRKWYS Vol. 13: Sunergy
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani
28. Centres
    Ian William Craig
29. Entrañas
    Arca
30. Serpent Music
    Yves Tumor

Tiny Mix Tapes: 51 Favorite Music Releases of 2016

[see also 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. “BBF” Hosted By DJ Escrow
   Babyfather
2. Live In Paris
   Lolina
3. The Life of Pablo
   Kanye West
4. Entrañas
   Arca
5. Blond
   Frank Ocean
5. Endless
   Frank Ocean
6. Blood Bitch
   Jenny Hval
7. Human Story 3
   James Ferraro
8. Vroom Vroom
   Charli XCX
9. Atrocity Exhibition
   Danny Brown
10. Dissolution of The Sovereign: A Time Slide Into The Future (Or: A Non-Abled Offender’s Exercise in Jurisprudence)
    Elysia Crampton
11. Serpent Music
    Yves Tumor
12. Lil Boat
    Lil Yachty
13. Jeffery
    Young Thug
14. Anti
    Rihanna
15. Oh No
    Jessy Lanza
16. Ez Minzoku
    Foodman
17. $uccessor
    Dedekind Cut
18. Bonito Generation
    Kero Kero Bonito
19. Elysia Crampton Presents: Demon City
    Elysia Crampton
20. Late Nights: The Album
    Jeremih
21. 1992
    Princess Nokia
22. Arigato
    DJWWWW
23. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
24. blisters
    serpentwithfeet
25. The Spiral
    Puce Mary
26. Telefone
    Noname
27. Love Streams
    Tim Hecker
28. Why Do You Look Like Your Dog?
    Macula Dog
29. Blackstar
    David Bowie
30. Beyond the Fleeting Gales
    Crying
31. Too Many Voices
    Andy Stott
32. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
33. elseq 1-5
    Autechre
34. Classroom Sexxtape
    death’s dynamic shroud
35. Everywhere at the End of Time
    The Caretaker
36. Evol
    Future
37. Shadow of Marlboro Man
    The Savage Young Taterbug
38. Mi Wo
    YTAMO
39. Will
    Julianna Barwick
40. ONLY
    Klein
41. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
42. JE M’EN TAPE
    DJ Coquelin & MC Cloarec
43. Puberty 2
    Mitski
44. For Those of You Who Have Never (And Also Those Who Have)
    Huerco S
45. Hubris
    Oren Ambarchi
46. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
47. AS
    Amnesia Scanner
48. Honor Killed the Samurai
    Ka
49. Music for Public Ensemble
    Sean McCann
50. A Love Story 4 @Deezius, Neo, Chuk, E, Milkleaves, Angel, Isis, + Every1else…. And Most of All My Damn Self
    N-Prolenta

Austin Town Hall: Top 50 Albums of 2016

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2012 • 2011]

1. I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
   Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
2. Thought Rock Fish Scale
   Nap Eyes
3. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
4. Deluxe
   Omni
5. Running out of Love
   The Radio Dept.
6. Nosebleed Weekend
   The Coathangers
7. Second Home
   DOGBRETH
8. Blue Wave
   Operators
9. Wordless Wonder
   Real Numbers
10. Next Thing
    Frankie Cosmos
11. Around the House
    Chook Race
12. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
13. Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic
    The Gotobeds
14. At Hope’s Ravine
    Holy Esque
15. You Yang
    Lost Animal
16. Up to Anything
    The Goon Sax
17. Here
    Teenage Fanclub
18. EARS
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
19. Winter Wheat
    John K. Samson
20. Lost at the Party
    Terry Malts
21. The Birds Outside Sang
    Florist
22. Epoch
    Tycho
23. Adult Contemporaries
    Ablebody
24. You Know Who You Are
    Nada Surf
25. Running from the Blows
    Adult Books
26. Life of Pause
    Wild Nothing
27. Midnight Run
    Connections
28. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
29. It’s Immaterial
    Black Marble
30. Absolute Loser
    Fruit Bats
31. Plaza
    Quilt
32. As If Apart
    Chris Cohen
33. Sun Dog
    AT / ALL
34. High in Place
    EZTV
35. The Wink
    Tim Presley
36. Relaxing Death
    Useless Eaters
37. Spilt Milk
    Pete Astor
38. Electric Soul Unity
    Happy Diving
39. Beneath a Yellow Moon
    I Have A Tribe
40. Animal Races
    Cool Ghouls
41. Activity
    Holy Balm
42. Endless Summer
    Big Wave Riders
43. Concrete Vision
    Still Parade
44. Everybody’s Dying to Meet You
    Flowers
45. Graceland
    Steve Adamyk Band
46. Lisa Marie Airplane Tour
    So Cow
47. Astronaut Meets Appleman
    King Creosote
48. The Great Leap Backward
    Bubblegum Lemonade
49. Jettison the Valley
    Carter Tanton
50. Wolves of Want
    Bent Shapes

Uproxx: 20 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017]

1. Blond
   Frank Ocean
2. Puberty 2
   Mitski
3. 22, A Million
   Bon Iver
4. A Seat at the Table
   Solange
5. Teens of Denial
   Car Seat Headrest
6. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
7. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
8. Awaken, My Love!
   Childish Gambino
9. Front Row Seat to Earth
   Weyes Blood
10. The Life of Pablo
    Kanye West
11. Blackstar
    David Bowie
12. Anti
    Rihanna
13. Malibu
    Anderson .Paak
14. Hero
    Maren Morris
15. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
16. The Dream Is Over
    PUP
17. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
    Sturgill Simpson
18. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
19. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
20. Goodness
    The Hotelier

Drowned in Sound: 16 Favourite Albums of 2016

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Blackstar
   David Bowie
2. Skeleton Tree
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
3. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
   The 1975
4. Hopelessness
   ANOHNI
5. Fading Lines
   Amber Arcades
6. Preoccupations
   Preoccupations
7. My Woman
   Angel Olsen
8. Blond
   Frank Ocean
9. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
10. Night Thoughts
    Suede
11. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
12. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
13. SVIIB
    School Of Seven Bells
14. Let Them Eat Chaos
    Kate Tempest
15. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
16. Blisters In the Pit of My Heart
    Martha

Jeremy D. Larson: Favorite Albums of 2016

[see also 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015]

1. Blackstar
   David Bowie
2. Hopelessness
   ANOHNI
3. A Moon Shaped Pool
   Radiohead
4. Atrocity Exhibition
   Danny Brown
5. Skeleton Tree
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
6. 22, A Million
   Bon Iver
7. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
8. Upstepping
   Oliver Coates
9. Jeffery
   Young Thug
10. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
11. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
12. Light Upon the Lake
    Whitney
13. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
14. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
15. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
    A Tribe Called Quest
16. Arrival
    Jóhann Jóhannsson
17. New View
    Eleanor Friedberger
18. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
19. Puberty 2
    Mitski
20. Preoccupations
    Preoccupations

Magnet Magazine: Top 25 Albums of 2016

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

1. No Burden
   Lucy Dacus
2. Blackstar
   David Bowie
3. case/lang/veirs
   case/lang/veirs
4. Modern Country
   William Tyler
5. Requiem
   Goat
6. Skeleton Tree
   Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
7. Teens of Denial
   Car Seat Headrest
8. The Ghosts of Highway 20
   Lucinda Williams
9. A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings
   Beach Slang
10. Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not
    Dinosaur Jr.
11. American Band
    Drive-By Truckers
12. Puberty 2
    Mitski
13. Mangy Love
    Cass McCombs
14. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
15. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
16. Wildflower
    The Avalanches
17. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
18. Human Performance
    Parquet Courts
19. I Had A Dream That You Were Mine
    Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
20. Patch the Sky
    Bob Mould
21. Schmilco
    Wilco
22. You Know Who You Are
    Nada Surf
23. Get Off
    Bird of Youth
24. Hopelessness
    ANOHNI
25. If You See Me, Say Yes
    Flock of Dimes

Carl Wilson: The Best Albums of 2016, as published by Slate

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013]

Top 10, in alphabetical order

• Hopelessness
  ANOHNI
• Lemonade
  Beyoncé
• Blackstar
  David Bowie
• American Band
  Drive-By Truckers
• Away with You
  Mary Halvorson Octet
• Love Waves
  Veda Hille
• The Weight of These Wings
  Miranda Lambert
• Malibu
  Anderson .Paak
• A Mulher do Fim do Mundo
  Elza Soares
• Retribution
  Tanya Tagaq

Another 15, in alphabetical order

• That Makes Me Smart
  Anal Trump
• Teens of Denial
  Car Seat Headrest
• Coloring Book
  Chance The Rapper
• Big Day in a Small Town
  Brandy Clark
• You Want It Darker
  Leonard Cohen
• A Cosmic Rhythm with Each Stroke
  Vijay Iyer & Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith
• blackSUMMERS’night
  Maxwell
• Blond
  Frank Ocean
• My Woman
  Angel Olsen
• Post Pop Depression
  Iggy Pop
• Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
  Margo Price
• Arbina
  Noura Mint Seymali
• We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
  A Tribe Called Quest
• We Are the Halluci Nation
  A Tribe Called Red
• The Life of Pablo
  Kanye West

Pigeons & Planes: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 2017 • 2015]

1. Blond
   Frank Ocean
2. Malibu
   Anderson .Paak
3. A Seat at the Table
   Solange
4. Coloring Book
   Chance The Rapper
5. Telefone
   Noname
6. The Life of Pablo
   Kanye West
7. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
8. Slime Season 3
   Young Thug
9. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
   A Tribe Called Quest
10. Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
    Travis Scott
11. Starboy
    The Weeknd
12. 99.9%
    KAYTRANADA
13. Savage Mode
    21 Savage & Metro Boomin
14. Anti
    Rihanna
15. Blank Face LP
    Schoolboy Q
16. 22, A Million
    Bon Iver
17. Atrocity Exhibition
    Danny Brown
18. Leave Me Alone
    Hinds
19. Yes Lawd!
    NxWorries
20. Freetown Sound
    Blood Orange
21. Big Baby D.R.A.M.
    D.R.A.M.
22. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
23. Untitled Unmastered
    Kendrick Lamar
24. Lil Boat
    Lil Yachty
25. The Sun’s Tirade
    Isaiah Rashad
26. The Colour in Anything
    James Blake
27. Hotel Paranoia
    Jazz Cartier
28. Landlord
    Giggs
29. Nothing’s Real
    Shura
30. Welcome to GAZI
    A.CHAL
31. Still Brazy
    YG
32. My Woman
    Angel Olsen
33. Imperial
    Denzel Curry
34. Konnichiwa
    Skepta
35. A Good Night in the Ghetto
    Kamaiyah
36. Blackstar
    David Bowie
37. Stillness in Wonderland
    Little Simz
38. FREE 6LACK
    6LACK
39. American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story
    Kevin Abstract
40. Northern Lights
    Allan Kingdom
41. Shade Trees
    Trapo
42. Negus
    Kemba
43. Awaken, My Love!
    Childish Gambino
44. Bucket List Project
    Saba
45. Arcade
    Topaz Jones
46. Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’
    Kid Cudi
47. Nat Love
    Kweku Collins
48. Farewell, Starlite!
    Francis and the Lights
49. Monda
    Cousin Stizz
50. Stoney
    Post Malone