10. Wanted On Voyage – George Ezra: There is something about George Ezra’s low, fairly surprising voice that captured the hearts of his fans that lead to his ultimate widespread success on this album. Songs like his hit “Budapest” gives the aura of him being from another era and not a British twenty-something. The variety of the album while also maintaining its simplicity makes it accessible to a wider range of audience.

9. Currents – Tame Impala: Tame Impala returned on this album with as much ambition as they had before. They have returned with their familiar sound but somehow managed to come back fresh and the band never seems to fail and experimenting with their music without much disappointment.

8. If I Should Go Before You – City & Colour: Maybe this album is on the because Dallas Green never seems to fail at pulling at the heartstrings of everyone who comes across his music, however, this album seems to maintain a much more electric sound compared to his previous releases. But, the lyrics stay true to his much praised sound and maintains his classic voice while transitioning to this new sound.

7. Nathaniel Ratecliff & The Night Sweat – Nathaniel Ratecliff and The Night Sweats: It’s such a strange happening when a band like this releases an album so strong and have a song named “S.O.B.” about drinking after a breakup. However, this didn’t take away from his massive voice is overwhelming and is accompanied by what sounds like a band that belongs to a soul artist at the start of that era. This album is one that helping lead the way to new soul becoming more and more popular.

6. All We Need – Raury: It’s hard to find such an ambitious 19 year-old who can have such an eclectic sound on an album. Combing soul, hip-hop, and folk, Raury genre hops throughout the album and never seems to miss a beat of it. The lyrics stay the main catch as the transition between melancholia,  especially in tracks like “Forbidden Knowledge,” and optimism as the album progresses.

5. Vestiges & Claws – José González: In the subtle layers in each song, his voice stays soft and calm with cyclical guitar. The track “The Forest” features the flute and cello which seem to add the sense of solitude that is recurrent in the album. Even though his songs are gradual, the have massive themes including how to situate in the world and making your voice heard.

4. I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty: As a sincere ode to his wife, Father John Misty demonstrated the intimacy and attachment he has felt towards her through of it. The stand-out track on the LP is the hit, “Chateau Lobby #4 (In C for Two Virgins)” where he displays this grand sound through brass and strings.

3. Prom King – Skylar Spence: Ever since transitioning from Saint Pepsi to his current stage name, the sound that comes from Prom King seems to be the monument that seems to suit such a name. This type of nu disco sound is hard to discover anywhere else and seems to focus thematically on love, which especially shown in tracks like “Fall Harder.” Skylar Spence fulfills wishes that any fan would want to hear on this first album under the name.

2. The Epic – Kamasi Washington: Kamasi Washington’s jazz debut is one of a kind and seems to move seemingly track after track. Even at three hours, the album has a smooth energy to it, never letting it feel like it should be any less. Every aspect of the album seems to be meticulously put together, which makes it such a compositional overload. Such a jazz album now is hard to come by and with the sound it has, it sounds similar to those that influenced him as a child. No matter what is going on, The Epic seems to never disappoint.

1. To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar: Kendrick Lamar probably had the most groundbreaking year with this album. It maintains this cinematic way of incorporating various themes, dealing heavily with racism, and networking various dramas and different characters. Lamar has this overarching tone of chaos and wryness, sometimes may it be all at once, but under the chaos, there is the narration of avoidance of the manifestation of the devil, Lucy and saying his fame has not helped his family at home.