Our take: 10 best albums of 2016
From Beyoncé and Kanye West's big 2016 releases to lesser-known albums that stole our hearts, USA TODAY's Maeve McDermott and Patrick Ryan share their favorite 10 albums of the year.
Read our picks for 2016's best songs here.
A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here … Thank You 4 Your Service
The hip-hop pioneers' sixth (and supposedly final) album is a resonant rallying cry for acceptance as much it is a tribute to late member Phife Dawg, who died this year and is featured on the record. Rapping over their signature funk and boom-bap beats, the group celebrates blackness while railing against police brutality and bigotry. "Dreaming of a world that's equal for women with no division," Phife aspires on the political We the People. "Boy, I tell you that's vision." — P.R.
Anderson .Paak, Malibu
The Oxnard, Calif., native (and newly anointed Grammy nominee for best new artist) has delivered some of the year's most unforgettable features on Mac Miller's Dang! and Kaytranada's Glowed Up. But his powerful, poetic album Malibu reminds us that hip hop has no boundaries, as he joyously flaunts his lyrical prowess and flow over a surge of jazz, funk and R&B. — P.R.
Angel Olsen, My Woman
On her career-best third studio album, the 29-year-old musician shakes off the “folk” label that’s nipped at her heels since her early career. The sweeping sonic narrative of My Woman begins by paying homage to Liz Phair and Sheryl Crow’s sharp guitar rock, before spiraling into woozy heartbreak in its masterful second half, all anchored by Olsen’s unmistakable warbling voice. — M.M.
Beyoncé, Lemonade
Lemonade didn’t need to be as good as it is. Thanks to Beyoncé’s staggering level of fame, it’s likely she still would’ve released an eye-popping short film, and embarked on a similarly successful world tour, and even walked away with a few Grammy nominations, off a more mediocre album. But thankfully, the singer’s sixth album earns these accolades, a veritable resume of pop music archetypes — piano ballads, country and rock ‘n’ roll influences, jilted-lover anthems, protest songs — that’s engaging at every turn. – M.M.
Carly Rae Jepsen, Emotion Side B
When Carly Rae Jepsen’s critically-adored album Emotion came out last year, it almost seemed like a fluke that the bubbly voice behind Call Me Maybe was responsible for the best pop album of the year. It’s testament to her innate pop sensibilities that Emotion Side B, an eight-song collection of outtakes, is stronger than full-length albums by artists far more famous. – M.M.
Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book
It’s hard not to root for Chance, the 23-year-old rapper who became the first unsigned artist with a streaming-only album in the top 10. While many members of rap’s older generation of stars spent their 2016 albums wrestling with the dark trappings of fame, Coloring Book was all love, sunshine, gospel music and God, a bright spot in a year that needed all the positivity Chance could provide. — M.M.
Glass Animals, How to Be a Human Being
2016 was a strong year for emerging artists A$AP Ferg (Always Strive and Prosper), Flume (Skin) and AlunaGeorge (I Remember), all of whom deftly avoided the sophomore slump with their new albums. But no return felt as welcome as Glass Animals', who didn't shake things up on their second outing so much as refine their tribal pop/rock formula to thrilling results. — P.R.
Kanye West, The Life of Pablo
In the 10 months since its release, Pablo has been mired by the rap icon's messy rollout, Taylor Swift fracas, canceled tour and disappointing politics. But none can negate the fact that West is at the peak of his powers here, whisking bombast (Famous), pathos (Saint Pablo), soulfulness (Ultralight Beam) and satire (I Love Kanye) into a potent musical elixir. — P.R.
Rihanna, ANTI
She did tell us that she was a savage. Few people were clamoring for Rihanna to trade her clubby hits for moody R&B and Tame Impala covers. But she made ANTI anyway, a collection of songs with enough radio favorites (Needed Me, Work, Sex With Me) to keep fans engaged, and enough curveballs to get critics excited. — M.M.
Zhu, Generationwhy
Major Lazer (Cold Water) and The Chainsmokers (Closer) may have gotten all the airplay for their innocuous EDM hits, but it was Zhu who stealthily turned in the most spellbinding dance album of the year. Generationwhy is the full-length debut of the elusive Chinese-American producer, who has been dubbed the "next Daft Punk" for his blend of pulsing house beats and brooding pop melodies. — P.R.