Albums of 2016

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1. 1
   We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your ServiceA Tribe Called Quest

   We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service

   A Tribe Called Quest · 2016 · Hip-Hop

   A poignant, accomplished final album after Phife's death. Warm and acclaimed. A fitting farewell.

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2. 2
   MalibuAnderson .Paak

   Malibu

   Anderson .Paak · 2016 · Soul & R&B

   Sun-soaked, funky and soulful, blending hip-hop, R&B and live grooves. Charismatic throughout. His breakthrough.

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3. 3
   Dangerous WomanAriana Grande

   Dangerous Woman

   Ariana Grande · 2016 · Pop

   A confident, soulful pop peak. Polished and big. A high point.

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4. 4
   IVBadBadNotGood

   IV

   BadBadNotGood · 2016 · Jazz

   A genre-blending modern-jazz peak of hip-hop feel. Cool and acclaimed. A high point.

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5. 5
   LemonadeBeyoncé

   Lemonade

   Beyoncé · 2016 · Pop

   A visual album and emotional reckoning that moves through country, rock, hip-hop and gospel, blending the personal and the political. Ambitious in scope and immaculate in execution. Widely regarded as her masterpiece.

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6. 6
   Freetown SoundBlood Orange

   Freetown Sound

   Blood Orange · 2016 · Soul & R&B

   A collage-like art-R&B record of identity and 80s textures. Lush and acclaimed. A modern landmark.

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7. 7
   22, A MillionBon Iver

   22, A Million

   Bon Iver · 2016 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

   A glitchy, fractured electronic reinvention of the folk sound. Bold and acclaimed. A daring pivot.

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8. 8
   24K MagicBruno Mars

   24K Magic

   Bruno Mars · 2016 · Pop

   A slick, joyful throwback to 80s/90s funk and R&B. Polished and fun. An award-sweeping crowd-pleaser.

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9. 9
   Teens of DenialCar Seat Headrest

   Teens of Denial

   Car Seat Headrest · 2016 · Alternative & Indie

   A sprawling, literate indie-rock breakthrough. Raw and acclaimed. A defining 2010s record.

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10. 10
    Coloring BookChance the Rapper

    Coloring Book

    Chance the Rapper · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A bright, gospel-soaked record of gratitude and faith, a Grammy-winning streaming landmark. Joyful and assured. A defining 2010s release.

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11. 11
    Awaken, My Love!Childish Gambino

    Awaken, My Love!

    Childish Gambino · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A bold pivot into psychedelic funk and soul, channelling Funkadelic on 'Redbone'. Adventurous and warm. A striking reinvention.

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12. 12
    Atrocity ExhibitionDanny Brown

    Atrocity Exhibition

    Danny Brown · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A harrowing, experimental record of addiction and anxiety over abrasive, art-damaged beats. Singular and acclaimed. A bold high point.

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13. 13
    BlackstarDavid Bowie

    Blackstar

    David Bowie · 2016 · Rock

    A dark, jazz-inflected final statement released days before his death, mortality woven throughout. Brave and haunting. A profound farewell.

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14. 14
    ViewsDrake

    Views

    Drake · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A glossy, sprawling blockbuster of mood and hits, home to 'Hotline Bling'. Polished and huge. A commercial peak.

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15. 15
    Emily's D+EvolutionEsperanza Spalding

    Emily's D+Evolution

    Esperanza Spalding · 2016 · Jazz

    An adventurous jazz-rock-soul peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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16. 16
    BlondeFrank Ocean

    Blonde

    Frank Ocean · 2016 · Soul & R&B

    An elliptical, gorgeous album of fragmented memory and feeling, stripped of obvious hooks in favour of mood and texture. Initially elusive, it becomes a favourite. A defining record of the 2010s.

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17. 17
    MagmaGojira

    Magma

    Gojira · 2016 · Metal

    A streamlined, emotional peak of accessible heaviness. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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18. 18
    99.9%KAYTRANADA

    99.9%

    KAYTRANADA · 2016 · Electronic

    A funky, dancefloor-ready debut of crisp house and soul. Groovy and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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19. 19
    Made in the ManorKano

    Made in the Manor

    Kano · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A reflective, accomplished grime peak. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.

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20. 20
    The Life of PabloKanye West

    The Life of Pablo

    Kanye West · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A sprawling, gospel-tinged collage of a record. Messy and acclaimed. A divisive peak.

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21. 21
    untitled unmastered.Kendrick Lamar

    untitled unmastered.

    Kendrick Lamar · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A loose, jazzy collection of To Pimp a Butterfly offcuts. Sharp and acclaimed. A surprising gem.

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22. 22
    Nonagon InfinityKing Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

    Nonagon Infinity

    King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard · 2016 · Alternative & Indie

    A relentless, looping psych-rock landmark designed to never stop. Wild and beloved. A fan favourite.

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23. 23
    You Want It DarkerLeonard Cohen

    You Want It Darker

    Leonard Cohen · 2016 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A graceful, mortality-haunted final album. Powerful and acclaimed. A profound farewell.

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24. 24
    Midwest Farmer's DaughterMargo Price

    Midwest Farmer's Daughter

    Margo Price · 2016 · Country & Americana

    A sharp, traditional-leaning debut of hard-won storytelling. Honest and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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25. 25
    Love & HateMichael Kiwanuka

    Love & Hate

    Michael Kiwanuka · 2016 · Soul & R&B

    A lush, soulful peak of vintage warmth, home to 'Cold Little Heart'. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.

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26. 26
    Puberty 2Mitski

    Puberty 2

    Mitski · 2016 · Alternative & Indie

    A raw, inventive indie-rock peak of compressed emotion. Sharp and acclaimed. A defining record.

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27. 27
    Skeleton TreeNick Cave and the Bad Seeds

    Skeleton Tree

    Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · 2016 · Alternative & Indie

    A devastating record shadowed by personal tragedy, sparse and raw. Haunting and acclaimed. A profound work.

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28. 28
    TelefoneNoname

    Telefone

    Noname · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A warm, jazzy debut mixtape of gentle, literate rap. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.

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29. 29
    A Moon Shaped PoolRadiohead

    A Moon Shaped Pool

    Radiohead · 2016 · Alternative & Indie

    A lush, string-laden late peak of melancholy and beauty. Gorgeous and acclaimed. A graceful record.

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30. 30
    AntiRihanna

    Anti

    Rihanna · 2016 · Pop

    A moody, adventurous record that reframed Rihanna as an artist, home to 'Work'. Atmospheric and assured. Her most acclaimed album.

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31. 31
    KonnichiwaSkepta

    Konnichiwa

    Skepta · 2016 · Hip-Hop

    A raw, confident grime peak that defined the genre's resurgence. Sharp and influential. An award-winning landmark.

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32. 32
    A Seat at the TableSolange

    A Seat at the Table

    Solange · 2016 · Soul & R&B

    A graceful, political art-soul album about identity and self-care, beautifully arranged. Quietly powerful. A defining 2010s R&B statement.

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33. 33
    A Sailor's Guide to EarthSturgill Simpson

    A Sailor's Guide to Earth

    Sturgill Simpson · 2016 · Country & Americana

    A genre-bending, soul-and-strings country peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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34. 34
    I Like It When You Sleep...The 1975

    I Like It When You Sleep...

    The 1975 · 2016 · Alternative & Indie

    A sprawling, ambitious pop-rock peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.

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35. 35
    WildflowerThe Avalanches

    Wildflower

    The Avalanches · 2016 · Electronic

    A long-awaited, sunny sample-collage sequel. Joyful and acclaimed. A worthy return.

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36. 36
    StarboyThe Weeknd

    Starboy

    The Weeknd · 2016 · Soul & R&B

    A glossy, Daft-Punk-assisted pop-R&B peak. Polished and huge. A commercial high.

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