Unless your name rhymes with Schmendrick Tamar, chances are you didn't release an album in 2017's first half that the entire music-listening world knows and loves. So far, 2017 has mostly been for smaller favorites: Next-gen rappers pushing hip-hop into the future, emerging indie stars adding new voices into the pop-rock mix, and even some chart-topping stars of yesteryear proving that they've managed to stay contemporary and interesting for longer than you may have realized.

Of course, that's not to imply top 40's ruling class didn't have their say, too, with plenty of attention left to divide amongst the big guns -- just that there's been more life given to the names lower on the marquee this year. In no order but alphabetical, here are our 50 favorite albums of 2017 so far.