For the past few years, the No Country team has nominated all of our favorite records of the past year from a “National” and Nashville perspective, then put them to a vote to come up with top ten lists for each. Our team is diverse with individual tastes all across the spectrum, and, accordingly, we usually end up with a huge number of overall albums receiving votes.
So, without further ado, head below to see our top 10 (actually 12, because of ties) overall National albums of 2016, and, if you see one you need to revisit or catch up on, you can follow links to your preferred streaming service. Stay tuned for our remaining end of the year posts, including our Top 10 Nashville records of 2016 and our individual picks for the top shows we saw this year.
#10 (tie): Bon Iver – 22, A Million [9.30.16 | Jagjaguwar]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#10 (tie): Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love! [12.2.16 | Glassnote]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#10 (tie): St. Lucia – Matter [1.29.16 | Columbia]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#9: Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits [8.19.16 | Castle Face]
Apple Music
#7 (tie): Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool [5.8.16 | XL]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#7 (tie): The Weeknd – Starboy [11.25.16 | Republic]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#6: Blood Orange – Freetown Sound [8.19.16 | Domino]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#5: Solange – A Seat At The Table [9.30.16 | Saint / Columbia]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#4: A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service [11.11.16 | Epic]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#3: LANY – kinda EP [6.24.16 | Side Street Entertainment / Polydor]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#2: David Bowie – Blackstar [1.8.16 | Columbia]
Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal
#1: Beyoncé – Lemonade [4.23.16 | Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia]
Tidal