New Musical Express: Albums of the Year, 1963-2022

New Musical Express: Albums of the Year, 1963-2022

This UK music magazine started as a newspaper in 1952, known for publishing the initial British singles charts. It ceased print publication in January 2018, but still maintains a website. They have published annual album-of-the-year lists since 1974. This list also factors in pre-1974 album-of-the-year awards based on appearances on best-of-all-time lists from NME. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2022: Arctic Monkeys The Car 2021: Sam Fender Seventeen Going Under 2020: Run the Jewels Run the Jewels 4 2019: Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? 2018: The 1975 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships 2017: Lorde Melodrama 2016: The 1975 I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It 2015: Grimes Art Angels 2014: St. Vincent St. Vincent 2013: Arctic Monkeys AM 2012: Crystal Castles Crystal Castles III 2011: PJ Harvey Let England Shake 2010: These New Puritans Hidden 2009: The Horrors Primary Colours 2008: MGMT Oracular Spectacular 2007: Klaxons Myths of the Near Future 2006: Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not 2005: Bloc Party Silent Alarm 2004: Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand 2003: The White Stripes Elephant 2002: Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head 2001: The Strokes Is This It 2000: Queens of the Stone Age Rated R 1999: The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin 1998: Mercury Rev Deserter’s Songs 1997: Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space 1996: Beck Odelay 1995: Tricky Maxinquaye 1994: Oasis Definitely Maybe 1993: Björk Debut 1992: Sugar Copper Blue 1991: Nirvana Nevermind 1990: Happy Mondays Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches 1989: De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising 1988: Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 1987: Public Enemy Yo! Bum Rush the Show 1986: Prince & the Revolution Parade 1985: Tom Waits Rain Dogs 1984: Bobby Womack The Poet II 1983: Elvis Costello Punch the Clock 1982: Marvin Gaye Midnight Love 1981: Grace Jones Nightclubbing 1980: Joy Division Closer 1979: Talking Heads Fear of Music 1978: Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town 1977: David Bowie Heroes 1976: Bob Dylan Desire 1975: Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks 1974: Steely Dan Pretzel Logic 1973: Roxy Music For Your Pleasure 1972: The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street 1971: David Bowie Hunky Dory 1970: John Lennon Plastic Ono Band 1969: The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed 1968: The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) 1967: The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico 1966: The Beatles Revolver 1965: The Beatles Rubber Soul 1964: The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night 1963: Bob Dylan The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan Resources and Related Links: NME.com (New Musical Express official site) RockListMusic.co.uk: “NME Albums of the Year and End of Year Critic Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100+ Albums” (all-time list) Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” First posted 12/30/2020; last updated 12/9/2022.