POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1 Radiohead

A Moon Shaped Pool (XL)

Reworked, updated ideas and songs from years ago jostling with newly minted tracks, lyrics mired in the break-up of Thom Yorke’s relationship, a sonic architecture that fashioned these components into music of breathtaking beauty, menace and poignancy, futuristic and as old as the hills: on their ninth studio album, Radiohead created a work of art that, seven months after its release, continues to surprise.

2 Beyoncé

Lemonade (RCA) In which the enraged Mrs Carter used rumours of Jay Z’s infidelity to create a stunning multi-genre journey through betrayal, fury, estrangement and forgiveness. After this, her sixth studio album, the lemon emoji was never the same again.

3 Bon Iver

22, A Million (Jagjaguwar)