Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.

2016

Slate: Carl Wilson: The Best Albums of 2016

26 December 2016

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

[see also 2023202220212020201920182017201520142013]

Top 10, in alphabetical order

Another 15, in alphabetical order

Pigeons & Planes: 50 Best Albums of 2016

25 December 2016

Blond - Frank Ocean

Pigeons & Planes: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 20172015]

Sasha Frere-Jones: 100 Favorite Albums of 2016

23 December 2016

Sasha Frere-Jones: 100 Favorite Albums of 2016. See his spreadsheet for color codes and tiers; we’ve separated anything highlighted with “fire engine red,” which means “an exceptional thing.” Otherwise, albums are listed chronologically.

[see also 20222018201720152014201320122011]

exceptional

stayed with me

NME: 50 Best Albums of 2016

22 December 2016

I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It - The 1975

NME: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 20232022202120202010s20192018201720152014201320122011]

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2016

22 December 2016

Lemonade - Beyoncé

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2016

[see also 202320222021202020192018201720152014201320122011]

Q: Top 50 Albums Of 2016

21 December 2016

Blackstar - David Bowie

Q Magazine: Top 50 Albums Of 2016

[see also 2019201820172015201320122011]

Vulture: Craig Jenkins: 15 Best Albums of 2016

21 December 2016

Blond - Frank Ocean

Craig Jenkins: 15 Best Albums of 2016, as published by New York Magazine’s Vulture

[see also 2023202220212020201920182017]

The Wild Honey Pie: Top 30 Albums of 2016

21 December 2016

Blackstar - David Bowie

The Wild Honey Pie: Top 30 Albums of 2016

[see also 20202010s201920182017]

Brooklyn Vegan: Top Albums of 2016

20 December 2016

My Woman - Angel Olsen

Brooklyn Vegan: Top Albums of 2016

[see also 2023202220212020201920182017]

NPR Music: Ann Powers: 10 Favorite Albums of 2016

19 December 2016

Ann Powers: 10 Favorite Albums of 2016, as posted by NPR

[see also 202220212020201920172011]