I Ranked All 87 Albums I Listened to This Year

Last year, I set myself the mammoth feat of listening to at least 100 new albums that came out. I succeeded in that ridiculous task by listening to 110 albums, and ranking them in order of preference, because I like a challenge. I decided that it's as good a tradition as any to start, so here we are for the second year running.

It's been a phenomenal year for music, with excellent albums from old favourites and new discoveries alike. While I listened to less albums than last year, I thoroughly enjoyed most of these ones, and I'm sure there's still great ones I missed. Let me know if your favourite album has been featured in the comments, and be sure to drop any recommendations for gems I might have missed!

Just like last year, I'm heading this off with a disclaimer: please know that I enjoyed the vast majority of these albums. If your favourite record of the year ranks low, that doesn't mean I disliked it. In fact, I probably really enjoyed it - there's just so much great music out there. I also only listened to albums I had a genuine interest in, so there's no hate-listens here. Even the bottom ranked album is a good record made by a band I like! It was also really hard to order some of the albums at the top of the list. Every album that's close to the top spot is a phenomenal listening experience and well worth your time. I also want to stress that there's definitely lots that I've missed, so please do let me know what your favourites are below!

Ok, enough preamble. Let's-a go!

Jackie Down the Line is great. Otherwise, it's no Dogrel.

Honestly, let Tyler feature on everything. It would be better.

Didn't hit me like Ignorance did, but Stars is great.

Sometimes, albums are too long. Some great ideas got lost.

A letdown after RYC, but hey, he's clearly having fun.

Not as cohesive as her other albums, but still good.

A big cup of noodles! A giant cup of noodles!

Look at the bird on the cover! What a cool bird!

Sprawling folk opus seamlessly blends quiet storytelling with nature soundscapes.

Queer women rule country. This album is proof of that.

What a voice and what a writer. Fantastic R&B record.

The best punk band of our generation? I'd argue so.

Hi (hyperska AOTY version)! Try listening without smiling. You can't.

A welcome return from the gothic greats. They're so good.

The opener is crystalline and gorgeous. Punishingly heavy and intense.

Menzingers man goes country. The opener is giving Johnny Cash.

More laid back for them. The title track is great.

The opening trio of songs is great. Uneven but excellent.

The second half flags, but God, it starts so strong.

Oxygen and Weeds are as good as anything they've written.

Much more mellow than you'd expect. Powerful and heavy stuff.

The cover art makes me smile. If You're Not Dark fucks.

It's good to have Happy Accidents back. Static is beautiful.

The world's biggest artist platforming trans women is so cool.

Still one of the most exciting bands around. Teenager's catchy.

Hot take: Paolo's Caustic Love is phenomenal. This rocks, too.

Vince is thrilling. This doesn't beat self-titled, but it's great.

Dazzling electronic goodness. The future of pop music is here.

London punks mix things up. Going To Bed is stunning.

Less immediate than previous albums, but inventive and still excellent.

You're So Hot To Me is instantly loveable. Good shit.

Gotta Let It Go is one of their best songs.

Chitty Bang's incredible. What a way to start an album.

Easily their best album yet. The title track is excellent.

I love Bloc Party, and it's good that they're back.

Overrated? Sure. But Chaise Longue is an instant indie classic.

Incendiary anthems from one of the most exciting bands around.

Beautiful album. If I Had A Dollar is a banger.

The sound of the coolest queer club you've ever visited.

Demarest's a masterpiece. A great album by a great writer.

It's great that they're back. Mars is a beautiful closer.

Einaudi's first solo piano work in years is so beautiful.

False metal! False metal! FALSE METAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! A very good record.

Nu-metal reinvention from a true genius. Brutal and brilliant.

Overlong, but when it's good, it's phenomenal. F2F is incredible.

Resonant lyrics that chilled me. Webcam Funerals especially hits home.

Runner is a song of the year. His best yet.

Hearing these songs is comforting. Reigning queen of folk punk.

Her debut doesn't disappoint. A truly revolutionary artist - so great.

Their best album yet. Truly thrilling. Perfect for screaming along.

Happy New Year joins Death Cab as a NYE staple.

Rico Nasty meets Young Thug. A whirlwind of inventive production.

Four Chords 4: More Saxophones. Humorous and moving at once.

Break Ur Arm kicks things off phenomenally. This album rocks.

The greatest surf-rock band since The Beach Boys keep winning.

Simultaneously soothing and stirring. The Worst is Done is chilling.

High-concept gothic brilliance. The way the tracks segue is phenomenal.

His impeccable storytelling's still here. Best album under this alias.

Hilarious, moving, and shit-talking. I love it. Flo Milli shit!

The transfeminine Bruce Springsteen. Forever In Sunset is literally perfect.

An album that starts and ends with absolutely perfect songs.

Welcome back, lads. "Landfill indie"'s brightest stars strike gold again.

It's Charli, baby. Call it Pop 3, 'cause it's electrifying.

Heavy Heart is a masterpiece. A rich, stylistically omnipresent extravaganza.

Proof that she's 88rising's best writer. A gorgeous pop masterpiece.

Count ourselves blessed to witness Carly's TikTok era. Phenomenal stuff.

Roman Candles moved me. Their best album since Narrow Stairs.

A grunge masterpiece that builds on her debut's excellence. Phenomenal.

Captures the state of Britain accurately. Fuck this place, indeed!

Continuing her upward trajectory, a gorgeous, tense whirlwind of intensity.

Back in Town through Dream Girl Evil is straight classics.

Mathy chiptune virtuosos strike gold. Every track delivers. Perfect flow.

Masterful. A noisy pop gem. Play as loud as possible.

How can you not love Meg? Brilliant album, as always.

Pop perfection. The 3AM Edition delivers: stream The Great War.

Bleak balladry meets exciting trip-hop. Yukon is an instant classic.

Yeehaw! More pop than his debut, but equally fantastic.

Thrilling nature-punk. Equal parts personal and political, this album devastates.

One of the most creative artists ever keeps getting better.

His best album. Short and sweet, immaculate production and lyricism.

Cavetown goes electro?! His trademark intimacy meets inventive, exciting arrangements.

Computer Exploder is the album opener of the year, without question.

"Shining like a deep sea creature" never leaves my head.

Disarmingly direct record that resonated deeply with me. Powerful stuff.

Mitski's 70's moment is incredible. Love Me More's especially great.

Gothic masterpiece. One of the best songwriters ever. Unforgettable album.

An immediate entry on my all-time list. A fucking masterpiece.

Listen to highlight tracks from my top 40 albums below:

AC is the Head of Written Content at QSO Media. Read more of their articles here.

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