22 A Million (Bon Iver)
Genre: Indie, Electronic, Folk
Runtime: 34:10
Led by Justin Vernon, whose ghostlike vocals carry the listener from track to track, Bon Iver returns with an album that recollects on past memories surrounding heartbreak, life's purpose and love. Here the band experiments with different sounds, stepping away from the traditional folk and instead utilize synth and electronic sounds. No rules apply for Vernon his bandmates and that is why they are so great.
Best Song: 715 (Creeks)
A Moon Shaped Pool (Radiohead)
Genre: Alternative Rock
Runtime: 52 mins
Radiohead ages like a fine wine. After coming to fame in the early 90s, they somehow have found a way to continue their success with each and every new album. Their ninth studio album is no exception and houses themes of loneliness, discrimination, anti-war and disapproval of conformity. Thom Yorke's chilling vocals will stay with you, especially on the tracks, "Daydreaming" and "True Love Waits".
Best Song: "Burn the Witch"
A Seat at the Table (Solange Knowles)
Genre: R&B, Soul
Runtime: 51 mins
The younger sister of Beyonce, Solange Knowles has lived most of her career behind the scenes as a songwriter, coining some of her big sis' songs and even some for Destiny's Child. To her credit, she has released three albums to date, but none that packs a punch more than A Seat at the Table, which explores the excruciating pain of being an African-American woman.
Best Song: "Cranes in the Sky"
Blonde (Frank Ocean)
Genre: R&B
Runtime: 60 mins
Blonde varies both in sound and energy, jumping from track-to-track to showcase the different relationships Ocean has been in with both men and women. He appears more comfortable in his skin as both an artist and a bi-sexual on his sophomore album, introducing his listeners to both "Ivy" and the "Good Guy", despite still feeling uneasy about his position in society.
Best Song: "Ivy"
Coloring Book (Chance the Rapper)
Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul
Runtime: 57 mins
This album is not just one shade, but rather a rainbow. Metaphorically speaking, it has many different colors, but remains consistent throughout; housing themes that portray the struggles of inner-city youth, the cultural traditions that surround the world of rap and hip-hop and the hypocrisy of music executives at major labels.
Best Song: "Same Drugs"
I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (The 1975)
Genre: Indie Rock, Pop
Runtime: 1 hr, 14 mins
As made evident by the obnoxiously long album title, The 1975 has a ton of fun on this album, utilizing 80s synth pop with catchy pop hooks. I Like It When You Sleep is filled with songs that are radio friendly, but also have a message; stepping aside from the traditional pop song about parties and money, but rather tackles themes of celebrity culture, drug abuse and issues with faith.
Best Song: "Somebody Else"
Joanne (Lady Gaga)
Genre: Pop
Runtime: 47 mins
After the release of her 2013 album Artpop, which despite debuting at No. 1 was underwhelming in every sense of the word, Lady Gaga was in desperate need of a reinvention. Joanne did just that, transforming the once meat dress-wearing spectacle into a singer/songstress at her most vulnerable. Crazy costumes, stage antics and all other BS aside, Gaga proves she is here to stay in popular music.
Best Song: "Million Reasons"
⭐️ Lemonade (Beyonce)
Genre: R&B
Runtime: 46 mins
Beyonce takes her listeners through the various emotions experienced after realizing her husband, Jay-Z, was unfaithful; including anger, sadness and denial, which are all portrayed brilliantly in the early tracks of the album. Towards the end of the album, the listener is brought on a new journey of emotions including, acceptance, salvation and forgiveness. This is the best album of the year.
Best Song: "Formation"
The Life of Pablo (Kanye West)
Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop
Runtime: 1 hr, 6 mins
Recently, Kanye West was hospitalized for "exhaustion", resulting in the early conclusion of his Saint Pablo tour. To put it nicely, this guy is avant-garde, pushing every and all buttons he can get his hands on. This album gives his listeners an insight on his life, and in contrast to the overly arrogant comparison he makes between him and Pablo Picasso in the album's title, shows that his life as a public figure isn't all it's worked up to be.
Best Song: "Famous"
My Woman (Angel Olsen)
Genre: Indie Rock
Runtime: 47 mins
The indie pop rocker returned with her third studio album, tackling the struggle of continuing to go through the motions of doing all the things young ladies are supposed to do. Olsen takes a major stance on the misogynistic white, male society and the rage of being screwed over one too many times by the same undeserving guy, who can't keep his zipper closed, as indicated by the bond she forms with the 'other woman' in "Sister".
Best Song: "Shut Up Kiss Me"
Honorable Mention
Anti (Rihanna)
Hopelessness (Anohni)
Paradise (White Lung)
Teens of Denial (Car Seat Headrest)
Views (Drake)
Best Songs of 2016 (Top 10)
"Better Man" (Little Big Town)
"Burn the Witch" (Radiohead)
"Famous" (Kanye West ft. Rihanna, Swizz Beats)
⭐️ "Formation" (Beyonce)
"One Dance" (Drake ft. WizKid, Kyla)
"Needed Me" (Rihanna)
"Perfect Illusion" (Lady Gaga)
"Somebody Else" (The 1975)
"Starboy" (The Weeknd)
"This Is What You Came For" (Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna)
Honorable Mention
"80s Mercedes" (Maren Morris)
"Cranes in the Sky" (Solange)
"Ivy" (Frank Ocean)
"Lazarus" (David Bowie)
"Ultralight Beam" (Kanye West ft. Chance the Rapper)
Best Music Videos of 2016 (Top 5)
"Hold Up" (Beyonce)
Side to Side (Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj)
⭐️ "Starboy" (The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk)
"Wolves" (Kanye West ft. Sia, Vic Mensa)
"Up and Up" (Coldplay)
Honorable Mention
"Daydreaming" (Radiohead)
"Don't Touch My Hair" (Solange)
"Famous" (Kanye West)
"Lazarus" (David Bowie)
"Nikes" (Frank Ocean)
