Rolling Stone: Albums of the Year

First posted 12/31/2020.

Rolling Stone: Albums of the Year

Since 1977, the American music magazine Rolling Stone has done an annual list of the year’s best albums. This list also includes picks back to 1965, based on best-of-all-time lists created by Rolling Stone. The 2020 list was published on December 4, 2020. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2020: Taylor Swift Folklore 2019: Ariana Grande Thank U, Next 2018: Cardi B Invasion of Privacy 2017: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2016: Beyoncé Lemonade 2015: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 2014: U2 Songs of Innocence 2013: Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City 2012: Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball 2011: Adele 21 2010: Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2009: U2 No Line on the Horizon 2008: TV on the Radio Dear Science 2007: M.I.A. Kala 2006: Bob Dylan Modern Times 2005: Kanye West Late Registration 2004: Kanye West The College Dropout 2003: OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below 2002: Beck Sea Change 2001: Bob Dylan Love and Theft 2000: Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 1999: Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles 1998: Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1997: Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind 1996: Beck Odelay 1995: PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love 1994: Hole Live Through This 1993: Nirvana In Utero 1992: R.E.M. Automatic for the People 1991: R.E.M. Out of Time 1990: Sinéad O’Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got 1989: Neil Young Freedom 1988: Midnight Oil Diesel and Dust 1987: Bruce Springsteen Tunnel of Love 1986: Paul Simon Graceland 1985: Talking Heads Little Creatures 1984: Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1983: R.E.M. Murmur 1982: Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights 1982: Bruce Springsteen Nebraska 1981: The Rolling Stones Tattoo You 1980: The Clash London Calling 1979: Neil Young & Crazy Horse Rust Never Sleeps 1978: The Rolling Stones Some Girls 1977: Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1976: Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life 1975: Bruce Springsteen Born to Run 1974: Elton John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1970-74) 1973: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 1972: The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street 1971: The Who Who’s Next 1970: Black Sabbath Paranoid 1969: The Beatles Abbey Road 1968: The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) 1967: The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 1966: The Beach Boys Pet Sounds 1965: The Beatles Rubber Soul Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” Rolling Stone: “Album of the Year and End of Year Critic Lists” (1977-2020)