KGNU’s Top 100 albums of the year, ranked by how many spins each record received. Considering the variety of music programs in our schedule and the sheer number of DJ’s (100+) doing them, it’s no surprise that this is a diverse list. Thanks for listening with open minds and ears. It’s a credit to you, the listeners, that KGNU has been able to offer a true musical alternative for nearly 40 years. You can always check our Top 30 charts as well.
Top 100 Albums on KGNU in 2016
Rank: #1
Artist: Mavis Staples
Album: Livin’ On A High Note
Label: Anti
Genre: Gospel
Rank: #2
Artist: Lucinda Williams
Album: The Ghosts Of Highway 20
Label: Highway 20 Records
Genre: Folk
Rank: #3
Artist: Bombino
Album: Azel
Label: Partisan
Genre: International
Rank: #4
Artist: Loretta Lynn
Album: Full Circle
Label: Legacy
Genre: Country
Rank: #5
Artist: Various Artists
Album: God Don’t Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson
Label: Alligator
Genre: Blues
Rank: #6
Artist: Bonnie Raitt
Album: Dig in Deep
Label: Redwing Records
Genre: Blues
Rank: #7
Artist: Mollie O’Brien, Rich Moore, Brigid Moore & Lucy Moore
Album: Daughters
Label: Remington Road Records
Genre: Folk
Rank: #8
Artist: Baaba Maal
Album: The Traveller
Label: Palm Recordings
Genre: International
Rank: #9
Artist: Elephant Revival
Album: Petals
Label: Thirty Tigers
Genre: Folk
Rank: #10
Artist: Buddy Miller
Album: Cayamo Sessions at Sea
Label: New West
Genre: Country
Rank: #11
Artist: Allen Toussaint
Album: American Tunes
Label: Nonesuch
Genre: Jazz
Rank: #12
Artist: Charles Bradley
Album: Changes
Label: Daptone
Genre: R & B
Rank: #13
Artist: Ziggy Marley
Album: Ziggy Marley
Label: Tuff Gong
Genre: Reggae
Rank: #14
Artist: Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands
Album: The Hazel and Alice Sessions
Label: Spruce and Maple Music
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #15
Artist: Imarhan
Album: Imarhan
Label: City Slang
Genre: International
Rank: #16
Artist: Sam Bush
Album: Storyman
Label: Sugar Hill
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #17
Artist: Del McCoury & David Grisman
Album: Del & Dawg Live (Live Version)
Label: Acoustic Disc
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #18
Artist: Willie Nelson
Album: Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin
Label: Legacy
Genre: Folk
Rank: #19
Artist: Rokia Traore
Album: Ne So
Label: Nonesuch Records
Genre: International
Rank: #20
Artist: David Bowie
Album: Blackstar
Label: Columbia
Genre: Rock
Rank: #21
Artist: The Blue Canyon Boys
Album: The Blue Canyon Boys
Label: Self Produced
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #22
Artist: Sturgill Simpson
Album: A Sailor’s Guide To Earth
Label: Atlantic Records
Genre: Country
Rank: #23
Artist: John Long
Album: Stand Your Ground
Label: Delta Groove
Genre: Blues
Rank: #24
Artist: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Album: The Traveling Kind
Label: Nonesuch Records
Genre: Folk
Rank: #25
Artist: Various Artists
Album: The Rough Guide to Ethiopian Jazz
Label: World Music Network
Genre: International
Rank: #26
Artist: Esme Patterson
Album: We Were Wild
Label: Grand Jury Music
Genre: Folk
Rank: #27
Artist: The Infamous Stringdusters
Album: Ladies & Gentlemen
Label: Compass Records
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #28
Artist: Ceu
Album: Tropix
Label: Six Degrees
Genre: International
Rank: #29
Artist: The James Hunter Six
Album: Hold On!
Label: Daptone Recording Co
Genre: R & B
Rank: #30
Artist: Konono No. 1
Album: Konono No. 1 Meets Batida
Label: Crammed Discs
Genre: International
Rank: #31
Artist: Shpongle
Album: Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland
Label: Twisted Records
Genre: Techno
Rank: #32
Artist: Darrell Scott
Album: Couchville Sessions
Label: Full Light
Genre: Folk
Rank: #33
Artist: Luther Dickinson
Album: Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger’s Songbook), Vols. I & II
Label: New West
Genre: Folk
Rank: #34
Artist: Anchorsong
Album: Ceremonial
Label: Tru Thoughts Records
Genre: Techno
Rank: #35
Artist: Liz Masterson
Album: Mood Swings
Label: Self Produced
Genre: Country
Rank: #36
Artist: M. Ward
Album: More Rain
Label: Merge Records
Genre: Rock
Rank: #37
Artist: Parker Millsap
Album: The Very Last Day
Label: Okrahoma Records
Genre: Country
Rank: #38
Artist: Debo Band
Album: Ere Gobez
Label: Debo Band
Genre: International
Rank: #39
Artist: Alsarah & The Nubatones
Album: Manara
Label: Wonderwheel Recordings
Genre: International
Rank: #40
Artist: John Prine
Album: For Better, or Worse
Label: Oh Boy Records
Genre: Country
Rank: #41
Artist: DJ Shadow
Album: The Mountain Will Fall
Label: Mass Appeal
Genre: Hip Hop
Rank: #42
Artist: John Doe
Album: The Westerner
Label: Thirty Tigers
Genre: Rock
Rank: #43
Artist: Anoushka Shankar
Album: Land of Gold
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Genre: International
Rank: #44
Artist: Michael Daves
Album: Orchids And Violence
Label: Nonesuch
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #45
Artist: Eva Salina
Album: Lema Lema: Eva Salina Sings Šaban Bajramovi?
Label: Vogiton Records
Genre: International
Rank: #46
Artist: Joan Baez
Album: Joan Baez 75th Birthday Celebration
Label: Razor & Tie
Genre: Folk
Rank: #47
Artist: Cyndi Lauper
Album: Detour
Label: Sire
Genre: Country
Rank: #48
Artist: Paul Simon
Album: Stranger To Stranger
Label: Concord Music Group
Genre: Rock
Rank: #49
Artist: Colvin & Earle
Album: Colvin & Earle
Label: Concord Music Group
Genre: Folk
Rank: #50
Artist: Janiva Magness
Album: Love Wins Again
Label: Blu Elan Records
Genre: Blues
Rank: #51
Artist: Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
Album: Sing Me Home
Label: Sony Masterworks
Genre: International
Rank: #52
Artist: Gregory Porter
Album: Take Me to the Alley
Label: Blue Note
Genre: Jazz
Rank: #53
Artist: Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Album: Call It What It Is
Label: Stax
Genre: R & B
Rank: #54
Artist: Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop
Album: Love Letter For Fire
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Folk
Rank: #55
Artist: Margo Price
Album: Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
Label: Third Man Records
Genre: Country
Rank: #56
Artist: Lonesome River Band
Album: Bridging the Tradition
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #57
Artist: Acid Arab
Album: Musique De France
Label: Crammed Discs
Genre: Techno
Rank: #58
Artist: Bossacucanova
Album: The Best Of Bossacucanova
Label: Six Degrees
Genre: International
Rank: #59
Artist: Aesop Rock
Album: The Impossible Kid
Label: Rhymesayers
Genre: Hip Hop
Rank: #60
Artist: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
Album: A Man Alive
Label: Ribbon Music
Genre: Rock
Rank: #61
Artist: Sainkho Namtchylak
Album: Like a Bird or Spirit, Not a Face
Label: Ponderosa
Genre: International
Rank: #62
Artist: The Yawpers
Album: American Man
Label: Bloodshot Records
Genre: Rock
Rank: #63
Artist: Andrew Bird
Album: Are You Serious
Label: Loma Vista
Genre: Rock
Rank: #64
Artist: Shara Worden, Brad Lubman & Signal
Album: Snider: Penelope
Label: New Amsterdam
Genre: Classical
Rank: #65
Artist: Norah Jones
Album: Day Breaks
Label: Blue Note Records
Genre: Jazz
Rank: #66
Artist: M.I.A.
Album: AIM (Deluxe)
Label: Interscope
Genre: International
Rank: #67
Artist: De La Soul
Album: and the Anonymous Nobody…
Label: Kobalt Label Services
Genre: Hip Hop
Rank: #68
Artist: Chatham County Line
Album: Autumn
Label: Yep Roc Records
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #69
Artist: The Claypool Lennon Delirium
Album: Monolith Of Phobos
Label: ATO Records
Genre: Rock
Rank: #70
Artist: Del McCoury Band
Album: Del & Woody
Label: Self Produced
Genre: Folk
Rank: #71
Artist: ZMEI3
Album: Rough Romanian Soul
Label: Six Degrees
Genre: International
Rank: #72
Artist: Sierra Hull
Album: Weighted Mind
Label: Rounder Records
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #73
Artist: Karsh Kale
Album: Up
Label: Six Degrees
Genre: International
Rank: #74
Artist: Mateo Kingman
Album: Respira
Label: AYA
Genre: International
Rank: #75
Artist: OSHUN
Album: Asase Yaa
Label:
Genre: International
Rank: #76
Artist: Aziza Brahim
Album: Abbar El Hamada
Label: Glitterbeat
Genre: International
Rank: #77
Artist: Fred Frith, Ensemble Modern, Ikue Mori & Zeena Parkins
Album: Traffic Continues
Label:
Genre: Classical
Rank: #78
Artist: Dom La Nena
Album: Cantando – EP
Label: Six Degrees
Genre: International
Rank: #79
Artist: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Album: Miss Sharon Jones! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Label: Daptone
Genre: R & B
Rank: #80
Artist: Quantic Presents Flowering Inferno
Album: 1000 Watts
Label: Tru Thoughts
Genre: Reggae
Rank: #81
Artist: Gregory Alan Isakov
Album: Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony
Label: Suitcase Town Music
Genre: Rock
Rank: #82
Artist: Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate
Album: Monistic Theory
Label: Cumbancha
Genre: International
Rank: #83
Artist: Mayer Hawthorne
Album: Man About Town
Label: Vagrant
Genre: R & B
Rank: #84
Artist: Esperanza Spalding
Album: Emily’s D+ Evolution
Label: Concord Records
Genre: Jazz
Rank: #85
Artist: Various Artists
Album: A Salute To The Thin White Duke – The Songs Of David Bowie
Label: Cleopatra
Genre: Rock
Rank: #86
Artist: Tedeschi Trucks Band
Album: Let Me Get By
Label: Swamp Family
Genre: Blues
Rank: #87
Artist: Corb Lund
Album: Things That Can’t Be Undone
Label: New West
Genre: Country
Rank: #88
Artist: Igor Stravinsky & Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Album: Stravinsky Conducts Firebird Suite (1945 Version) & Petrushka Suite (1945 Revised Version)
Label:
Genre: Classical
Rank: #89
Artist: Robbie Fulks
Album: Upland Stories
Label: Bloodshot Records
Genre: Folk
Rank: #90
Artist: Allah-Las
Album: Calico Review
Label: Kemado Records
Genre: Rock
Rank: #91
Artist: The Bad Plus
Album: It’s Hard
Label: Okeh
Genre: Jazz
Rank: #92
Artist: Car Seat Headrest
Album: Teens Of Denial
Label: Matador
Genre: Rock
Rank: #93
Artist: Various Artists
Album: Rough Guide To Blues Women
Label: World Music Network
Genre: Blues
Rank: #94
Artist: Professor Longhair
Album: Live In Chicago
Label: Orleans Records
Genre: Blues
Rank: #95
Artist: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Album: Nonagon Infinity
Label: ATO Records
Genre: Rock
Rank: #96
Artist: Avery Sharpe
Album: Sharpe Meets Tharpe a Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Label: JKNM Records
Genre: Gospel
Rank: #97
Artist: Tacocat
Album: Lost Time
Label: Hardly Art
Genre: Rock
Rank: #98
Artist: Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass
Album: Weary River
Label: Patuxent Music
Genre: Bluegrass
Rank: #99
Artist: Bill Frisell
Album: When You Wish Upon A Star
Label: Sony
Genre: Jazz
Rank: #100
Artist: Carrie Rodriguez
Album: Lola
Label: Thirty Tigers
Genre: International
