Despite popular public sentiment and social media cry-stories, 2016 shaped up to be a very good year for music. With new albums from a handful of our favourites to the emergence of some instant classics, it’s hard not to look back at the year with excitement. We were gifted with surprise albums from a few, revelled in the personal catharsis of superstar divas (Beyoncé? Kanye?), while saying farewell to a music god who left us one final parting album. 2016 continued to push boundaries and redefine the musical paradigm with Chance the Rapper once again dropping a classic album in the form of a mixtape, with no major label help, while Kanye released multiple versions and continually updates on The Life Of Pablo.
The way we consume music continues to change with streaming becoming the new norm, and surprisingly vinyl sales are up. wtf?
As we bide adieu to 2016 we give you one last look back at the albums that made the most impact throughout the year. Feel validated with us seeing some of your favourites and perhaps discover some new albums to fall in love with as we head into 2017.
30. Drake – Views
29. Glass Animals – How to Be A Human Being
28. Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered.
27. Sunflower Bean – Human Ceremony
26. Slaves – Take Control
25. NxWorries – Yes Lawd!
24. Wild Beasts – Boy King
23. Solange – A Seat At The Table
22. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
21. Schoolboy Q – Blank Face
20. Savages – Adore Life
19. Niki & The Dove – Everybody’s Heart is Broken
18. Baauer – Aa
17. Parquet Courts – Human Performance
16. Mac Miller – The Divine Feminine
15. David Bowie – Blackstar
14. Travis Scott – Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
13. Chairlift – Moth
12. A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper
11. Blood Orange – Freetown Sound
10. Flume – Skin
9. Anderson Paak. – Malibu
8. Beyoncé – Lemonade
7. Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
6. The Weeknd – Starboy
5. Kaytranada – 99.9%
4. A Tribe Called Quest – We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
3. Frank Ocean – Blond(e)
2. Skepta – Konnichiwa
1. Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo
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Top 5 EP’s of 2016
Massive Attack – Ritual Spirit
Jai Wolf – Kindred Spirits
Snakehips – All My Friends
Christine and the Queens – Tilted (Remixes)
Jay Prince – Smile Good
