Skip to Content
Talkhouse home
Talkhouse home
Music

The 2016 Talkies: Talkhouse Music Contributors’ Top Albums of the Year

David Bowie, A Tribe Called Quest, Beyonce and more top the 2016 Talkies.

6:00 AM EST on January 5, 2017

Welcome to the 2016 Talkies, Talkhouse Music’s year-end writers poll. We reached out to our amazing stable of contributors — all of them are, of course, musicians — and asked them to share their ten favorite records of 2016. Ten points go to first-place records, nine points to second place, etc. The top records are below. As you can see, quite a few tied. Congratulations to everyone who made the list — and keep an eye out for all the voters’ individual ballots, set to run January 6.
— Brenna Ehrlich, Talkhouse Music Editor-in-Chief

    1. David Bowie, Blackstar (105)
    2. A Tribe Called Quest, We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service (62)
    3. Angel Olsen, My Woman (47)
    4. Beyoncé, Lemonade (47)
    5. Rihanna, ANTI (40)
    6. Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool (37)
    7. Solange, A Seat at the Table (37)
    8. Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker (30)
    9. Okkervil River, Away (29)
    10. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Skeleton Tree (27)
    11. Tegan and Sara, Love You to Death (20)
    12. Anderson .Paak, Malibu (19)
    13. Big Thief, Masterpiece (18)
    14. Mitski, Puberty 2 (18)
    15. Karl Blau, Introducing Karl Blau (18)
    16. Cass McCombs, Mangy Love (18)
    17. Kendrick Lamar, untitled unmastered. (17)
    18. Anohni, HOPELESSNESS (17)
    19. Hiss Golden Messenger, Heart Like a Levee (16)
    20. Frank Ocean, Blonde (16)
    21. Shirley Collins, Lodestar (16)
    22. Deerhoof, The Magic (15)
    23. Andy Shauf, The Party (15)
    24. Pinegrove, Cardinal (12)
    25. Whitney, Light upon the Lake (12)

Related Stories

Mood Board: Jess Williamson’s A Mile South of Heaven

The Texan singer-songwriter on how a Pam Houston short story collection, Shooter Jennings’s tarot deck, and more shaped her new record.

October 9, 2026

Emily A. Sprague and h. pruz Are Constructing Their Own Worlds

The artists talk the role of fantasy in their songwriting, the possibilities of ambient music, and more.

October 9, 2026

Amos Pitsch and Graham Hunt Get Serious

The artists talk “goofy” Wisconsin punk, their production ethos, and more.

October 8, 2026

In the Salon with Spike and The Tubs

Hannah McLoughlin chats with Owen Williams (while giving him a haircut).

October 6, 2026

Mood Board: Semiratruth’s S!M

The Brooklyn-based artist on how Silent Hill 2, Boards of Canada, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and more shaped their new record.

October 2, 2026

Pete Fij (Adorable) Talks with Mark Gardener (Ride) on the Talkhouse Podcast

"We did a press conference with Oasis, which was sort of humiliating."

October 1, 2026