The Albums of the Year 2016

Make a list of the best albums of the year, they said. Everyone does it, they said. What's the worst that could happen? In a year where at least the music kept up its end of the bargain, here's fifty albums worth your attention. Be it because they're fun, exciting, important, smart or just plain brilliant - dive in.

For The 1975 life is messed up, glorious and heartbreaking all at the same time. They chronicle real life and scrapes we all get into. They represent modern pop culture and all the craziness that it entails but in a way that is deeply human. This is the album where Matty Healy bares his soul like never before, and takes his band to the next level in every conceivable way.

It’s a statement album. The sound of a band unabashed and unafraid to revel in and rub people’s noses in their own ridiculousness, like on opening banger ‘Love Me’.