The year in electronic music has been a strong one, with a slew of exciting new albums making us hopeful for the future of the genre. With so many releases to wade through, it can be difficult to know which albums are worth your time. You may have missed some great music this year, but we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the best albums released in 2016 so far, and will update it periodically as we learn about more great releases.
Check out our list below and listen to selections from each album on our Best EDM Albums of 2016 (So Far) playlist on Spotify.
List of Best EDM Albums:
The Avalanches – Wildflower
SOHN – Rennen
Hammock – Everything and Nothing
Kendrick Lamar – untitled unmastered.
DJ Shadow – The Mountain Will Fall
Kygo – Cloud Nine
Bon Iver – 22, A Million
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – EARS
Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
Francis Harris – Minutes Of Sleep
What a year it’s been for electronic music. Just three months into 2016, we’ve already seen the release of a number of incredible albums. With each of these LPs, the artists have pushed the envelope with their sound and delivered some of the best work in their respective careers. From A-Trak’s long-awaited return to his hip hop roots to RL Grime’s exploration into darker territory, this year’s albums have left us constantly on our toes.
Without further adieu, here are our choices for the Best EDM Albums of 2016 (So Far).
Electronic music is a genre that has exploded in the past few years. Artists are combining innovative sounds with huge, mainstream popularity. These are the best EDM albums released so far in 2016.
The Chainsmokers, Collage EP: The Chainsmokers’ breakout hit “Closer” has gained the duo a ton of mainstream attention. Collage is the perfect follow-up to their previous LP, Bouquet. While it doesn’t have any explosive singles on par with “Closer,” it does have a handful of fun tracks that show off what The Chainsmokers do best: smooth vocals over catchy dance beats. If you’re looking for an album that’s better than just a couple of good songs, this is it.
Malaa, Illicit Mixtape: Illicit Mixtape is French producer Malaa’s debut release and it’s a great first effort. The album features some powerhouse tracks like “Notorious” and “Bling Bling.” It’s full of heavy bass and hip-hop influences that make it stand out amongst other electronic music releases this year.
Kygo, Cloud Nine: Norwegian DJ Kygo had a banner 2015 when he released his first EP and began touring internationally. Although Cloud Nine isn’t as good as his
It’s been a big year for EDM. We’ve already seen the release of some incredible albums, and with Ultra Music Festival and Coachella already behind us, there’s still so much more to look forward to in the coming months.
DJ Snake, Madeon and Flume are just a few of the many artists who have released their debut full-lengths this year, and we’re excited to see what else is in store from them (and from some of our other favorite producers). And while it’s hard to keep up with all of your favorite artists—not to mention the new music that pops up every single day—we’re making things a little easier by rounding up some of our favorite albums of 2016 (so far). Check out our list below.
The best electronic music albums of 2016 so far.
It’s hard to believe that we’re already nearing the halfway point of 2016. But as time passes, so does great music.
It’s been a year full of new and familiar faces alike, with newcomers Honne, Louis the Child and Gallant impressing us along with veterans like M83, Phantogram and Battles. A$AP Rocky and Chance the Rapper both released their highest-charting albums to date, while acts like Flume and Kaytranada continued on their raucous rise to superstardom.
There were also a handful of surprising releases that took us by surprise — who would have thought Beyonce would release a country album? Or that Radiohead would ditch their rock roots for something more electronic?
With so many memorable moments, it’s hard to pick our favorite projects of the year so far. So we’ve put together our top 10 albums (plus five honorable mentions) in EDM for 2016 so far. Take a look below, and let us know your favorite releases in the comments below!
Electronic music has become a major presence at festivals, while simultaneously dominating the charts. With EDM titans like Skrillex and Calvin Harris producing some of the most popular songs on the planet and rising stars like Marshmello and Flume filling up arenas, it’s clear that electronic music is here to stay.
Of course, there are plenty of well-established artists who have been releasing remarkable music for decades now. In fact, many of them still have their best work ahead of them. This year has already seen an incredible amount of great electronic releases, including a new album from Daft Punk after almost a decade of waiting and a promising debut from Mura Masa.
Here’s a look at 10 of the best electronic albums released so far in 2016 in no particular order. Be sure to check back for updates as more great albums are released throughout the year.