It's that time of year again.

2016 brought a whole bunch to the table in terms of the music industry. A number of amazing albums were released this year in what I would consider to be one of the best years for music in recent history. I spent a lot of this year finding new music and listening to many of the new releases that came out this year. The hardest part of making a list like this is narrowing it down to your favorites, so I took the time to pick out what I believe to be my favorite albums to be released this year. At the time of writing, J. Cole's 4 Your Eyez Only hasn't been released, so it won't be on this list (but I'm sure it's going to be amazing). This list was so hard to narrow down, but I present to you the top albums of 2016, as told by me.

15. Some Nerve - Broken Beak

So you are probably thinking, "who even is this band and how did they make it in to a top albums list?". I'll tell you how. Broken Beak isn't a very big name band at all, barely breaking the 1000 follower mark on Spotify, but their most recent release Some Nerve blew me away. Coming out of Philadelphia, Broken Beak put together an album filled with raw emotion and excellent lyricism all compacted into a wonderful 24 minute experience. The album, produced by Modern Baseball's Jake Ewald, is certain to be a favorite of mine for years to come.

Essential Tracks: "Glass Honey", "Matches", "Saint"

14. Standards - Into It. Over It.

Evan Weiss, or better known by his stage name, Into It. Over It. has come through with yet another amazing album which is possibly his best to date. Standards is an amazing album that doesn't hide Weiss' influences, such as Death Cab For Cutie, as the album sounds almost as if it is an answer to their album Transatlanticism. His first album since turning 30, the sound of the album is definitely more mature than his other albums. As one of the so called "elder statesmen" of the emo revival, Weiss proves that not only can he stick around with the younger guys, he can still create music that resonates with fans of the genre.

Essential Tracks: "No EQ", "Vis Major", "Closing Argument"

13. Lemonade - Beyonce

Did you really think that a top albums of 2016 list could be complete without the Queen? I'm almost convinced that Beyonce can do no wrong, and Beyonce's latest album, Lemonade, is a true reminder that no one can dethrone the queen. The album is brilliantly produced, with features from artists like Jack White and Kendrick Lamar to solidify an already amazing album. The album may be one of the best things Beyonce has ever made in her career, and everything she does is great. Lemonade can also be considered a statement from Beyonce, a symbol for Black Feminism from undoubtedly the most influential African-American female artist of all time.

Essential Tracks: "Formation", "Don't Hurt Yourself". "Sorry"

12. Blush - Moose Blood

Okay, I'll admit it. Moose Blood may possibly be the greatest band of all time. But in all seriousness, Moose Blood's sophomore album Blush is perfect from beginning to end. Influenced by bands such as Brand New and Jimmy Eat World, this album is a great mix of anthemic jams and raw emotion. This album brought the band a ton of attention, with songs such as "Honey" and "Pastel" becoming very popular, creating an even bigger following to the band than there was before. A perfect follow up to 2014's I'll Keep You in Mind, From Time to Time , Blush is every bit full of emotion as it's predecessor, and is every bit as good, too.

Essential Tracks: "Honey", "Sulk", "Pastel"

11. Coloring Book - Chance The Rapper

Oh, Chance. How you never fail to come through with works of art that are produced flawlessly. If you are a fan of Chance's Acid Rap, you are definitely going to love his newest project. While an amazing artist on his own, Chance brought along some of the biggest names in the music industry to create what could only be known as a masterpiece. Artists such as Kanye West, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Future, and even Justin Bieber are just some of the names that appear on Coloring Book. From the excellent production to the pure lyrical genius of Chance, there is one thing that all music fans can agree on. This album's got zero problems, big fella.

Essential Tracks: "No Problem", "Mixtape", "All We Got"

10. Cody - Joyce Manor

Man, did Joyce Manor have a good 2016 or what? After touring with Modern Baseball in the spring, the boys of Joyce Manor released Cody in October and announced a headlining tour set for early 2017. Cody is a drastic change from the more punk sound of Joyce Manor's previous album Never Hungover Again. The album is definitely more polished than previous releases, and it is evident with the production levels on this album. The album even includes a feature from Nate Reuss, further indicating this change in sound. The different sound does not take away from the album as a whole, creating a great experience for fans of the band, old and new.

Essential Tracks: "Last You Heard Of Me", "Eighteen", "Angel In The Snow"

9. Blonde - Frank Ocean

1502 days. That is how long we waited for Frank Ocean to release a new album after the release of 2012's Channel Orange. Fans were left wondering if Frank would ever even release his long awaited second album. However, when Blonde was finally released (along with a surprise visual album Endless), fans of Frank Ocean were not disappointed. Frank came through with a beautiful album, blowing away everyone and reassuring everyone that the album was worth the wait. To prove how simply amazing this album is, Beyonce was featured as a background vocalist on the song "Pink+White". Yes, you read that right. Blonde is simply a masterpiece, and an album that will stick with me for years to come.

Essential Tracks: "Godspeed", "Futura Free", "Solo"

8. Weezer(The White Album) - Weezer

Weezer has returned with yet another self-titled album and what is undoubtedly their best album since Pinkerton. The White Album is a mix of what made everyone love Weezer back in the 90's and this new sound that has catapulted the band back into mainstream relevancy. Rivers Cuomo and the gang are still their same, dorky selves on this record, but the lyrics on The White Album seem to show a sort of confidence that earlier records were lacking. Rivers really hit his groove when writing this album, and produced some of the best tracks he has ever written. If you are a fan of The Blue Album or Pinkerton but never really got into Weezer past that, you are in for a treat.

Essential Tracks: "Jacked Up", "Thank God For Girls", "L.A. Girlz"

7. We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service - A Tribe Called Quest

If you ever want a perfect example of how to come back from a long hiatus and create a masterpiece, then look no further. A Tribe Called Quest hadn't released an album since 1998's The Love Movement, but definitely came back with a bang this year with We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. The name of the album comes from the late Phife Dawg, a member of the group up until his untimely death earlier this year. A socially aware album with a variety of themes that coincide with the crazy world we live in in the year 2016 and a collection of beautiful jazz sound mixed with some of the best rap you will ever hear, A Tribe Called Quest delivers what can only be described as masterful.

Essential Tracks: "We The People..." , "Ego", "Dis Generation"

6. Camp Cope - Camp Cope

Camp Cope, the trio of women from Melbourne, Australia, with their self-titled debut album have amazed me more than any other artist this year. Seemingly forming out of nowhere, Georgia Maq and company put together an album of catchy songs built towards pointing out the issues that women in today's society have to deal with. Lyrics such as "hearing cat calls from a construction yard, they’ll say, 'take it as a compliment, they’re only being nice'" point out the issue of women being sexually harassed and not being able to do anything about it. This album makes it loud and clear, these girls are out on a mission and they won't stop until change is brought upon society.

Essential Tracks: "Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams", "Done", "Lost: Season One"

5. 22, A Million - Bon Iver

What can I say about Bon Iver that hasn't already been said before? Justin Vernon has turned in what is possibly the best Bon Iver record to date with 22, A Million. This album may take a while to get used to, however, as it is a much more experimental sound than previous Bon Iver records. The unusual sound of the album combined with the amazing lyricism of Vernon is what draws me in the most on this record, and has kept me coming back to it for more. It's the type of album you would listen to when you want to relax and think about life. 22, A Million is deeply emotional, and is difficult to understand in the context of what Vernon means, which makes the album's theme of uncertainty that much more clear. With that being said, 22, A Million is an album that will be remembered as one of the most important albums of this time.

Essential Tracks: "29 #Strafford APTS", "22 (OVER S∞∞N)", "00000 Million"

4. "Awaken, My Love!" - Childish Gambino

You might be asking yourself why I'm rating this album so high on my list when it was only just released at the beginning of this month. However, Donald Glover blew me away with his latest Childish Gambino project, "Awaken! My Love". While some have criticized Glover for his sudden change in musical style, I believe what he has done with this album is something extraordinary. A huge change from Camp and Because the Internet, "Awaken! My Love" is a psychedelic trip that everyone needs to experience. The instrumentals on this project are powerful and leave you breathless as Glover abandons his rap roots for a more funk-like sound. The album is masterfully produced, and further proves the point that Donald Glover can do absolutely nothing wrong.

Essential Tracks: "Redbone", "Stand Tall", "Me and Your Mama"

3. The Dream Is Over - PUP

Canadian punk-rockers PUP are really something special. The band's sophomore album The Dream Is Over is everything you could ask for in a punk album. The band has built on their 2014 self-titled release PUP, and has come back with 10 more songs that will get you pumped up for anything. The melodic hooks on this album will have anyone singing along, and the unique sound of the band is something that has never been seen from a punk band before. The title of the album comes from a quote that front man Stefan Babcock's doctor told him after he sustained a dangerous vocal cord injury that could have ended his music career. But rest assure, after an amazing album like this, the dream is definitely not over for the boys in PUP.

Essential Tracks: "If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will", "Familiar Patterns", "Doubts"

2. Holy Ghost - Modern Baseball

Placing this album at #2 may be a little biased due to the fact that Modern Baseball is my favorite band, but don't let that take away from how great this album is. Unlike 2012's Sports or 2014's You're Gonna Miss It All,Holy Ghost is a change from the usual themes that Modern Baseball conveys in their songs, dealing with with issues such as depression and loss rather than girls and social media. The album shows the growth of Brendan Lukens and Jake Ewald as they move further into adulthood and out of the "young adult" stage. The most personal album that Modern Baseball has released yet, Holy Ghost lets listeners see into the lives of the group, and is a pop punk masterpiece because of it.

Essential Tracks: "Mass", "Apple Cider, I Don't Mind", "Just Another Face"

1. WORRY. - Jeff Rosenstock

I cannot express how many times I have listened to Jeff Rosenstock's WORRY. Jeff Rosenstock basically described the nightmare that is today's society perfectly with this album. Rosenstock goes on about many issues on this album, such as police brutality and the age of internet trolls that plague our society. A well-informed and catchy album, Rosenstock ties in each together perfectly in what is one of the most well-mixed albums I have ever heard. An excellent follow up to last year's We Cool?, Rosenstock creates what is his best album yet and what I think is one of the best albums I have ever heard in my life. This album is a reflection of all the awful things going on in America, and it describes the something we all do a little too much... worry.

Essential Tracks: "Festival Song". "...While Your Alive", "HELLLLHOOOOLE"

Honorable Mentions-

• My Woman-Angel Olsen
• Can’t Die-Chris Farren
• The Home Inside My Head-Real Friends
• The Life Of Pablo-Kanye West
• Welcome-Slaughter Beach, Dog
• Death Of A Bachelor-Panic! At The Disco