Top 50 Music Albums of 2016 by 
louisjwyatt 
- Chart updated: 02/01/2017 19:15
- (Created: 02/22/2016 19:26).
- Chart size: 50 albums.
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"Nothing really matters when the one you love is gone."
In a year that brought us some lovable tearjerkers, break up records, personal outpourings, and the death of David Bowie, Nick Cave's Skeleton Tree somehow managed to strike the thickest heartstring. It's virtually impossible to divorce the content of Skeleton Tree from the circumstances surrounding Nick Cave's life during these recordings. WIth the material already conceptualized and a significant chunk of the recording finished, Cave suffered one of the worst possible tragedies of a father's life - the death of his 15-year-old son, Arthur. And while the prince of goth has built a career around dealing with the concepts of death and the divine, it's never been with such grief and hopelessness.
Skeleton Tree is host to some of Cave's most impressive songwriting to date, as well as some of the best production of the past decade. From the apocalyptic imagery of "Jesus Alone" to the sympathetic choral arrangements on "Girl in Amber," Skeleton Tree's cynicism and sparse soundscapes will hit you like a freight train. Fortunately for everyone involved, there's a shimmer of hope at the end of this otherwise somber record. In its self-titled closer, Cave assures us that, despite our inability to make sense of life, in the end "it's alright." [First added to this chart: 09/12/2016]
In a year that brought us some lovable tearjerkers, break up records, personal outpourings, and the death of David Bowie, Nick Cave's Skeleton Tree somehow managed to strike the thickest heartstring. It's virtually impossible to divorce the content of Skeleton Tree from the circumstances surrounding Nick Cave's life during these recordings. WIth the material already conceptualized and a significant chunk of the recording finished, Cave suffered one of the worst possible tragedies of a father's life - the death of his 15-year-old son, Arthur. And while the prince of goth has built a career around dealing with the concepts of death and the divine, it's never been with such grief and hopelessness.
Skeleton Tree is host to some of Cave's most impressive songwriting to date, as well as some of the best production of the past decade. From the apocalyptic imagery of "Jesus Alone" to the sympathetic choral arrangements on "Girl in Amber," Skeleton Tree's cynicism and sparse soundscapes will hit you like a freight train. Fortunately for everyone involved, there's a shimmer of hope at the end of this otherwise somber record. In its self-titled closer, Cave assures us that, despite our inability to make sense of life, in the end "it's alright." [First added to this chart: 09/12/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,587
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
462. (=)
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"Name one genius that ain't crazy."
What a crazy year. Not only did us Americans participate in one of the most exhausting elections of all time, but Kanye West also released an album that (in my probably idiotic opinion) gives My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy a run for its money. Production-wise, this thing is about as middle-of-the-road as a Kanye album can conceivably be: If you were hoping for a return to maximalism, you may have been disappointed. If you were hoping for a Yeezus 2.0 a la Death Grips, once again, you may have been disappointed. If you were hoping for a soulful, lo-fi, gospel-tinged, sometimes savage and Wu-Tang-inspired Jackson Pollack sketch, well that's pretty much what you got.
The Life of Pablo is about as agreeable as Kanye's first bars on "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1," in which he spits about (a) a stripper, (b) her anus, and (c) bleach. Now if I were to judge Kanye solely on the merits of his twisted fantasies (pun totally intended) or his public persona, I would have no business even listening to his music. And while plenty of people like to tell you they can't stand Kanye the man but they love Kanye the artist, The Life of Pablo makes that distinction even more ludicrous than any of his previous outings. What we get with this album is the brutally honest account of the life of a man on the edge. A man who has ostensibly caused more trouble for himself than for anyone who's had either the pleasure or misfortune of crossing paths with him. Still, a Kanye album wouldn't be complete without the ego, insecurity, and misogyny that make Yeezus the supposed prophet of, well whatever twisted ideology it is that he believes in.
Pablo may have caught you off guard if you thought it would carry the tone of it's opener, "Ultralight Beam," throughout its 19 (20?) tracks. Let's get one thing straight: this isn't an upbeat album. If anything, it's the equivalent of a public meltdown - a man losing is mind right before our eyes. And who's to blame? Kanye and nobody else (well maybe the paparazzi, the media, fame, MTV, or the internet, but hey, that's just me). The most important takeaway here is that Kanye isn't the impenetrable force he may have spent all these years trying to perpetuate. If The Life of Pablo proves anything, it's that, as a man with infinite insecurities and a constant seat under the interrogation lamps, Kanye is more vulnerable than you and I.
From beginning to end, Pablo takes us on a trip through Kanye's life, from the public's interest in his family life ("they don't wanna see me love you") and open relationship with his wife - which breeds (unsurprisingly) a double-standard-induced jealousy - to Yeezy's struggling business and the fake friends borne of his fame and wealth.
If you're not invested in Kanye's personal life, it's easy to look the other way at this release. But if you give him a chance, you may just find out he's as human as you are. [First added to this chart: 02/29/2016]
What a crazy year. Not only did us Americans participate in one of the most exhausting elections of all time, but Kanye West also released an album that (in my probably idiotic opinion) gives My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy a run for its money. Production-wise, this thing is about as middle-of-the-road as a Kanye album can conceivably be: If you were hoping for a return to maximalism, you may have been disappointed. If you were hoping for a Yeezus 2.0 a la Death Grips, once again, you may have been disappointed. If you were hoping for a soulful, lo-fi, gospel-tinged, sometimes savage and Wu-Tang-inspired Jackson Pollack sketch, well that's pretty much what you got.
The Life of Pablo is about as agreeable as Kanye's first bars on "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1," in which he spits about (a) a stripper, (b) her anus, and (c) bleach. Now if I were to judge Kanye solely on the merits of his twisted fantasies (pun totally intended) or his public persona, I would have no business even listening to his music. And while plenty of people like to tell you they can't stand Kanye the man but they love Kanye the artist, The Life of Pablo makes that distinction even more ludicrous than any of his previous outings. What we get with this album is the brutally honest account of the life of a man on the edge. A man who has ostensibly caused more trouble for himself than for anyone who's had either the pleasure or misfortune of crossing paths with him. Still, a Kanye album wouldn't be complete without the ego, insecurity, and misogyny that make Yeezus the supposed prophet of, well whatever twisted ideology it is that he believes in.
Pablo may have caught you off guard if you thought it would carry the tone of it's opener, "Ultralight Beam," throughout its 19 (20?) tracks. Let's get one thing straight: this isn't an upbeat album. If anything, it's the equivalent of a public meltdown - a man losing is mind right before our eyes. And who's to blame? Kanye and nobody else (well maybe the paparazzi, the media, fame, MTV, or the internet, but hey, that's just me). The most important takeaway here is that Kanye isn't the impenetrable force he may have spent all these years trying to perpetuate. If The Life of Pablo proves anything, it's that, as a man with infinite insecurities and a constant seat under the interrogation lamps, Kanye is more vulnerable than you and I.
From beginning to end, Pablo takes us on a trip through Kanye's life, from the public's interest in his family life ("they don't wanna see me love you") and open relationship with his wife - which breeds (unsurprisingly) a double-standard-induced jealousy - to Yeezy's struggling business and the fake friends borne of his fame and wealth.
If you're not invested in Kanye's personal life, it's easy to look the other way at this release. But if you give him a chance, you may just find out he's as human as you are. [First added to this chart: 02/29/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,220
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Something happened on the day he died."
There's not much that hasn't been said about Blackstar. But I will say this:
Never in my life had I truly felt the pain of losing someone I had never even met, until the sudden passing of David Bowie. And it should come as no surprise that, for me, listening to this album is unsettling. It sounds cursed, as it carries what will remain, for many, the last words of a truly cherished artist. And yet it reminds us that Bowie was never one to get too comfortable. He's existed as a spaceman, the Thin White Duke, "a real cool cat," and now a messiah resurrected to tell us of the afterlife. We can always remember him as a guy who was good at everything he did. And I can't think of many things he didn't do. [First added to this chart: 02/29/2016]
There's not much that hasn't been said about Blackstar. But I will say this:
Never in my life had I truly felt the pain of losing someone I had never even met, until the sudden passing of David Bowie. And it should come as no surprise that, for me, listening to this album is unsettling. It sounds cursed, as it carries what will remain, for many, the last words of a truly cherished artist. And yet it reminds us that Bowie was never one to get too comfortable. He's existed as a spaceman, the Thin White Duke, "a real cool cat," and now a messiah resurrected to tell us of the afterlife. We can always remember him as a guy who was good at everything he did. And I can't think of many things he didn't do. [First added to this chart: 02/29/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,605
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"Just drumming up a little weirdness."
What do you do when you listen to an album? And I don't mean what you physically occupy yourself with while the music plays in the background. Do you think about the lyrics? Do you picture the recording process? Do you sing along to the words (assuming you know them)? The reason I ask is because the first time I listened to the Avalanches' first record in 16 years, it felt like a lucid dream. I've simply never experienced an audible stimulus as image-evoking as Wildflower.
Now, I'm likely going to end up saying this about at least five other albums this year, but Wildflower was probably the most anticipated release of the year. And let me tell you, the Avalanches packed 15 years' worth of material into this album's one hour and 15 minutes. [First added to this chart: 09/24/2016]
What do you do when you listen to an album? And I don't mean what you physically occupy yourself with while the music plays in the background. Do you think about the lyrics? Do you picture the recording process? Do you sing along to the words (assuming you know them)? The reason I ask is because the first time I listened to the Avalanches' first record in 16 years, it felt like a lucid dream. I've simply never experienced an audible stimulus as image-evoking as Wildflower.
Now, I'm likely going to end up saying this about at least five other albums this year, but Wildflower was probably the most anticipated release of the year. And let me tell you, the Avalanches packed 15 years' worth of material into this album's one hour and 15 minutes. [First added to this chart: 09/24/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,498
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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"I'm out of the game."
I'm picking up a pattern here...
No really, in all honesty, the weight of this album caught me off guard even more than the unforeseen death of Leonard Cohen. Listening to You Want It Darker reminds me of why guys like Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen simply transcend lyrical expectation. I mean, after all, who do you go to for solace after a difficult divorce? (Well, for some, probably a priest. But that's neither here nor there). Personally, I'd go to the guy down on his luck with nothing left but half his shit. In the same spirit, if I'm looking for some sage advice, you better believe I'm going to expect to find it at the end of the bar, from the guy who's spent most of his time smoking cigars and drinking scotch there.
The point is, Cohen has been weighing in on existence since the '60s, and with You Want It Darker he conveys the thoughts of a man who's seen it all. We talk about artists maturing throughout there careers, and the Leonard Cohen of 2016 was not only mature, he was a poet-laureate - a man in possession of the kind of wisdom that could wrinkle every inch of your skin. [First added to this chart: 11/03/2016]
I'm picking up a pattern here...
No really, in all honesty, the weight of this album caught me off guard even more than the unforeseen death of Leonard Cohen. Listening to You Want It Darker reminds me of why guys like Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen simply transcend lyrical expectation. I mean, after all, who do you go to for solace after a difficult divorce? (Well, for some, probably a priest. But that's neither here nor there). Personally, I'd go to the guy down on his luck with nothing left but half his shit. In the same spirit, if I'm looking for some sage advice, you better believe I'm going to expect to find it at the end of the bar, from the guy who's spent most of his time smoking cigars and drinking scotch there.
The point is, Cohen has been weighing in on existence since the '60s, and with You Want It Darker he conveys the thoughts of a man who's seen it all. We talk about artists maturing throughout there careers, and the Leonard Cohen of 2016 was not only mature, he was a poet-laureate - a man in possession of the kind of wisdom that could wrinkle every inch of your skin. [First added to this chart: 11/03/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,630
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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"You cut your hair, but you used to live a blonded life."
When you're dealing with the absurdity of trying to classify the "greatest artists of all time," you're often confronted with the "I just don't 'get' it" argument. I've listened to a lot of music, and I like to think that I have a pretty firm grasp on what people (*ahem* Rolling Stone *ahem*) think are the "greatest artists of all time." Yet, I still don't get Arcade Fire. I don't get Blur. Hell, I sometimes don't even get the Rolling Stones. And while I would consider myself nothing short of a fanboy, I still don't even get Frank Ocean.
This guy is an enigma. He put out one album that rocked the world and has left us guessing when he would reemerge for the past four years. And then what does he do? He drops Blonde - an album that confuses me as much as it made me fall in love with Frank all over again. His most filmic release to date develops on what he brought forth with Channel Orange, and yet it bares almost no resemblance to his previous work. It plays out like a fever dream - a train of thought that's as surreal as Frank himself. [First added to this chart: 08/22/2016]
When you're dealing with the absurdity of trying to classify the "greatest artists of all time," you're often confronted with the "I just don't 'get' it" argument. I've listened to a lot of music, and I like to think that I have a pretty firm grasp on what people (*ahem* Rolling Stone *ahem*) think are the "greatest artists of all time." Yet, I still don't get Arcade Fire. I don't get Blur. Hell, I sometimes don't even get the Rolling Stones. And while I would consider myself nothing short of a fanboy, I still don't even get Frank Ocean.
This guy is an enigma. He put out one album that rocked the world and has left us guessing when he would reemerge for the past four years. And then what does he do? He drops Blonde - an album that confuses me as much as it made me fall in love with Frank all over again. His most filmic release to date develops on what he brought forth with Channel Orange, and yet it bares almost no resemblance to his previous work. It plays out like a fever dream - a train of thought that's as surreal as Frank himself. [First added to this chart: 08/22/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,442
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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"If I didn't love you then, I damn sure love you now."
Anderson Paak dropped Malibu, his sophomore studio album, in the first weeks of 2016, and I'm already assured neither Paak nor the new year are in a slump.
After having what many would refer to as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, having not one, but six features on Dr. Dre's final record, Compton, Malibu further establishes Paak's rightful place beside the legendary producer and the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ice Cube, and Eminem. In contrast to his contemporaries, however, Malibu doesn't hark back to government cheese or welfare checks.
Though he's obviously taking notes from 2015's To Pimp a Butterfly, Paak speaks of another identity crisis entirely. Born the son of a Korean mother and a black father, Paak opens Malibu with some words about his mother's gambling addiction and his father's tendency to spend time behind bars. Though his parents were less than stellar role models, Paak assures us he "learned [his] lessons from the ancient roots," a fact made clear not only through his impressive lyricism, but his employment of a huge number of genre-defining elements from hip hop to funk to soul to rock. Borrowing a good deal of the crew from Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly, Malibu delivers some of the best production this year, convincing us that this truly is the new golden age of hip hop. [First added to this chart: 02/29/2016]
Anderson Paak dropped Malibu, his sophomore studio album, in the first weeks of 2016, and I'm already assured neither Paak nor the new year are in a slump.
After having what many would refer to as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, having not one, but six features on Dr. Dre's final record, Compton, Malibu further establishes Paak's rightful place beside the legendary producer and the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ice Cube, and Eminem. In contrast to his contemporaries, however, Malibu doesn't hark back to government cheese or welfare checks.
Though he's obviously taking notes from 2015's To Pimp a Butterfly, Paak speaks of another identity crisis entirely. Born the son of a Korean mother and a black father, Paak opens Malibu with some words about his mother's gambling addiction and his father's tendency to spend time behind bars. Though his parents were less than stellar role models, Paak assures us he "learned [his] lessons from the ancient roots," a fact made clear not only through his impressive lyricism, but his employment of a huge number of genre-defining elements from hip hop to funk to soul to rock. Borrowing a good deal of the crew from Kendrick's To Pimp a Butterfly, Malibu delivers some of the best production this year, convincing us that this truly is the new golden age of hip hop. [First added to this chart: 02/29/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,170
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Fans of Antony and the Johnsons rejoice! ANOHNI released one of the most shockingly engaging albums of the year. And its title tells first listeners everything they need to know. In an age in which we're still dealing with misdirected hatred in fear of terrorism, war fueled by technology, and continued animosity toward the LGBT community, it's easy to understand where ANOHNI's hopelessness comes from. And the chilling production and vocal performances presented on Hopelessness are as enticing as its message - one whose intent lies in exposing our downright depressing lack of progress as a species.
[First added to this chart: 05/07/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
772
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
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I would never have guessed that one of my favorite albums of 2016 would come from such an unlikely artist. I was introduced to Angel Olsen through her 2014 release, Burn Your Fire for No Witness. And while I found that album enjoyable, it left almost no impression on me. It was punchy and energetic, and ultimately fun at best.
My Woman is a whole different story. Somehow Olsen managed to transform an accessible rock sound into something much more ethereal. With addictive melodies that go from playful to endearing, My Woman has rightfully found its place in my top 10. [First added to this chart: 09/19/2016]
My Woman is a whole different story. Somehow Olsen managed to transform an accessible rock sound into something much more ethereal. With addictive melodies that go from playful to endearing, My Woman has rightfully found its place in my top 10. [First added to this chart: 09/19/2016]
Year of Release:
2016
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,509
Rank in 2016:
Rank in 2010s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Body War is a confounding entity. It's noisy and succinct, industrial and sludgy, and inherently New Yorkian. If Show Me the Body are any indication of what's to emerge from the NYC punk scene, then rock fans have plenty to be excited about. Not stopping to linger on the usual tropes of hardcore, Body War is a relentless thing, packed to the brim with unusual sounds, carnal expression, and sludgy post-punk guitar work. If it doesn't make you want to thrash, you're probably a bit too normal.
[First added to this chart: 09/11/2016]
Total albums: 50. Page 1 of 5
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Top 50 Music Albums of 2016 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
|
| Chance The Rapper | 1 | 2% | |
| Nice As Fuck | 1 | 2% | |
| Jeff Rosenstock | 1 | 2% | |
| Anderson .Paak | 1 | 2% | |
| The Hotelier | 1 | 2% | |
| Porches | 1 | 2% | |
| Nite Jewel | 1 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 50 Music Albums of 2016 chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
 Up 23 from 34th to 11thBottomless Pit by Death Grips |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 11th to 12th E•MO•TION: Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen |
| Down 1 from 12th to 13th A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead |
| Down 1 from 13th to 14th Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown |
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Other year charts (from the 2010s) by louisjwyatt
Top 18 Music Albums of 2019 by louisjwyatt (2019)Top 19 Music Albums of 2018 by
louisjwyatt (2018)Top 9 Music Albums of 2017 by
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