Q Magazine: Albums of the Year

First posted 12/31/2020.

Q Magazine: Albums of the Year, 1965-2019

The British music magazine Q launched in 1986 and ceased publication in July 2020. They published year-end lists from 1986 through 2019, but this list includes albums dating back to 1965 based on best-of-all-time lists also published by the magazine. In some cases, the year-end lists did not rank the albums. In such cases, the album of the year was determined by which album on the list ranked highest in Dave’s Music Database. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2019: Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell 2018: Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino 2017: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2016: David Bowie Blackstar 2015: Tame Impala Currents 2014: The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream 2013: Arctic Monkeys AM 2012: Bobby Womack The Bravest Man in the Universe 2011: Florence + the Machine Ceremonials 2010: Arcade Fire The Suburbs 2009: Kasabian West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum 2008: Kings of Leon Only by the Night 2007: Arcade Fire Neon Bible 2006: Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 2005: Coldplay X & Y 2004: Streets A Grand Don’t Come for Free 2003: The White Stripes Elephant 2002: Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head 2001: Travis The Invisible Band 2000: Coldplay Parachutes 1999: The Chemical Brothers Surrender 1998: Madonna Ray of Light 1997: Radiohead OK Computer 1996: Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go 1995: Pulp Different Class 1994: Oasis Definitely Maybe 1993: Nirvana In Utero 1992: R.E.M. Automatic for the People 1991: Primal Scream Screamadelica 1990: Depeche Mode Violator 1989: The Stone Roses The Stone Roses 1988: Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 1987: U2 The Joshua Tree 1986: The Smiths The Queen Is Dead 1985: Kate Bush Hounds of Love 1984: Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack) 1983: Def Leppard Pyromania 1982: Michael Jackson Thriller 1981: The Human League Dare! 1980: Joy Division Closer 1979: The Clash London Calling 1978: The Jam All Mod Cons 1977: The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols 1976: Ramones Ramones 1975: Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here 1974: Kraftwerk Autobahn 1973: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 1972: David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1971: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV 1970: Nick Drake Bryter Layter 1969: The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed 1968: The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) 1967: The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 1966: The Beatles Revolver 1965: The Beatles Rubber Soul Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” Q magazine: “Lists – End of Year”