By Tyler Friedman ’17, Staff Writer 

Simply stated, 2016 was a great year of album releases. Here are my picks for the top 10 albums of 2016 (in no particular order).

Blonde – Frank Ocean

After much agony and waiting, Frank finally blessed us with another album. To be honest, at first, I was disappointed and thought Blonde didn’t meet the high bar set by Channel Orange. But after a few listens, I realized that yet again Frank Ocean’s genius was available to the public.

My Favorite Tracks: “Pink + White,” “Nights”

22, A Million – Bon Iver

This year, Bon Iver went experimental. With its heavy use of synthesizer effects, 22, A Million transformed Bon Iver’s sound into something almost otherworldly. I actually wrote a review on this album in late 2016.

My Favorite Track: “29 #Strafford APTS”

Lemonade – Beyoncé

If you ever thought for a second that Beyoncé was overrated, Lemonade is definitive proof that she isn’t. Lemonade’s fusion of rock, pop, and R&B, serve as a foundation for her lyrical exploration of infidelity, race, independence, and loneliness. This album also comes with an incredibly well crafted hour-long film and an impressive list of features (who wouldn’t want to be featured on a Beyoncé song?).

My Favorite Tracks: “Don’t Hurt Yourself (feat. Jack White),” “Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar)”

untitled unmastered. – Kendrick Lamar

This album taught us that Kendrick is just as good unmastered as he is on a produced track. With songs labeled only with their track number and the date they were recorded, untitled unmastered. almost feels like a peek into Kendrick’s voice memos – a look at his raw creative abilities.

My Favorite Track: “untitled 07÷ 2014-2016”

Puberty 2 – Mitski

Mitski has been one of my favorite artists for a while, so it’s been really exciting to see the overwhelmingly positive critical reception to her latest album. Puberty 2 feels like the most logical and best possible progression from her previous album, Bury Me At Makeout Creek. Her raw, indie sound and emotionally impactful lyrics are helping her make a name for herself in the indie rock world.

My Favorite Tracks: “Your Best American Girl,” “A Burning Hill”

The Life of Pablo – Kanye West

Despite his crazy antics, Kanye West is a musical genius. With its lengthy 20 tracks, The Life of Pablo somehow never hits a dull spot. Some Kanye fans were disappointed with his previous release, Yeezus, but The Life of Pablo was no doubt more than enough redemption for Kanye.

My Favorite Track: “No More Parties in LA” [according to Spotify, this was my second most listened-to song in 2016]

Coloring Book – Chance the Rapper

Honestly, who doesn’t love Chance? With Coloring Book becoming the first streaming-only album to be nominated for a Grammy and securing spots headlining at 2017’s Governor’s Ball, Bonnaroo, and Boston Calling, 2016 was unquestionably a great year for Chance. Coloring Book incorporates gospel sounds with modern hip-hop motifs to create an overall sound worthy of the praise it has received.

My Favorite Track: “Same Drugs”

No Burden – Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus was a name that I had never heard of before, which makes sense considering No Burden is her debut album. She incorporates everything I love about female indie rock artists; I’ve likened her sound to a combination of Courtney Barnett and Mitski, with a touch of Florence + the Machine. It’s hard to put into words exactly what it is about her album that I love so much, but if you’re even remotely a fan of any of the artists I just mentioned, I highly recommend checking out Lucy Dacus.

My Favorite Track: “Green Eyes, Red Face”

A Seat at the Table – Solange

2016 was definitely a year for the Knowles sisters. Solange tackles themes of racial stereotypes, love, and loss through her beautifully flowing R&B vocals. To be honest, A Seat at the Table is a newer listen for me, so I definitely need some time to get to know the album more closely, but I’ve been incredibly impressed by everything I’ve heard so far.

My Favorite Track: “Mad”

The Psychedelic Swamp – Dr. Dog

This album is actually a remastered version of an unreleased album that Dr. Dog recorded in 2001, but it unquestionably holds up. It features Dr. Dog’s classic combination of folk, psychedelic, and 60s rock sounds. Their sound is definitely unique, but give one song a listen; you may surprise yourself.

My Favorite Track: “Bring My Baby Back”