Getty Images
It's been a year of event albums, surprise releases, commercial blockbusters and critical favorites — the kind of records that dominated the public conversation as much as prestige HBO dramas, long-awaited film sequels and presidential debates. (OK, maybe not the last one, but certainly the first two.) Format-expanding multi-media releases from standard-setting superstars, tweet-stretching titles from reunited hip-hop greats and ascendant British nu-wavers alike, and closing statements from all-time artistic legends: the last twelve months had it all. Here are our top 50 albums from the Starboys, Dangerous Women and all-around HEROes that provided our favorite views of 2016.