The first six months of 2017 have probably brought more than enough albums to fill a year-end list. Alas, it’s only mid-year, which leaves us with the task of distilling everything we’ve heard so far into quick, concise top 10 lists. Rather than try to define the overarching themes of the year, we’d rather just let the albums we love speak for themselves. Below, you will find both our combined staff top 10, as well as individual lists from our contributors and moderators. Here’s hoping you find something new to love.

Note: You can share your own list in our music forum.

The Top Albums of 2017 (So Far)

The Menzingers – After the Party Paramore – After Laughter Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. Bleachers – Gone Now Lorde – Melodrama Sorority Noise – You’re Not As _____ As You Think Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 Tigers Jaw – spin (TIE) Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Zombies on Broadway (TIE) The Maine – Lovely Little Lonely

Contributors

Jason Tate

The Menzingers – After the Party Bleachers – Gone Now Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. Paramore – After Laughter MUNA – About U Aaron Sprinkle – Real Life Allie X – Collxtion II Acceptance – Colliding By Design The Maine – Lovely Little Lonely Betty Who – The Valley

There’s a lengthier discussion of these picks on a recent episode of Encore.

Craig Manning

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound Steve Moakler – Steel Town Natalie Hemby – Puxico Colter Wall – Colter Wall Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 The Menzingers – After the Party Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Zombies on Broadway Ryan Adams – Prisoner John Moreland – Big Bad Luv Sam Outlaw – Tenderheart

Drew Beringer

Sorority Noise – You’re Not As _____ As You Think Code Orange – Forever Tigers Jaw – spin Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up King Woman – Created In The Image of Suffering Power Trip – Nightmare Logic Paramore – After Laughter Lorde – Melodrama Hundredth – RARE Father John Misty – Pure Comedy

Zac Djamoos

Souvenirs – Posture of Apology Sorority Noise – You’re Not As _____ As You Think Emperor X – Oversleepers International Bleachers – Gone Now Cigarettes After Sex – Cigarettes After Sex Tigers Jaw – spin The Menzingers – After the Party Nana Grizol – Ursa Minor Adult Mom – Soft Spots Lorde – Melodrama

Craig Ismaili

Paramore – After Laughter MUNA – About U The Menzingers – After The Party Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. MisterWives – Connect the Dots Emperor X – Oversleepers International Bleachers – Gone Now Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa Vausdeva – No Clearance Lorde – Melodrama

Ryan Gardner

The Menzingers – After The Party Bleachers – Gone Now Sorority Noise – You’re Not As _____ As You Think Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. Paramore – After Laughter Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound Natalie Hemby – Puxico Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 Code Orange – Forever Power Trip – Nightmare Logic

Kyle Huntington

Hippo Campus – landmark. Marika Hackman – I’m Not Your Man IDLES – Brutalism Bonobo – Migration Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog The Big Moon – Love In The 4th Dimension Tall Ships – Impressions Pumarosa – The Witch Orchestra Baobab – Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng THEY. – Nu Religion: HYENA

Anna Acosta

The Maine – Lovely Little Lonely Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. Harry Styles – Harry Styles Paramore – After Laughter Lorde – Melodrama MUNA – About U Tigers Jaw – spin All Time Low – Last Young Renegade Sorority Noise – You’re Not As _____ As You Think Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom

Aaron Mook

Beach Fossils – Somersault Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog Father John Misty – Pure Comedy Slowdive – Slowdive Mount Eerie – A Crow Looked At Me (SANDY) Alex G – Rocket Homeshake – FRESH AIR King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana Sampha – Process

Jonathan Bautts

Kendrick Lamar -DAMN. Cold War Kids – LA DIVINE Spoon – Hot Thoughts Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory Acceptance – Colliding by Design Ryan Adams – Prisoner Drake – More Life John Mayer – The Search for Everything Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Zombies on Broadway Imagine Dragons – Evolve

Aj Lagambina

The Menzingers – After the Party Paramore – After Laughter Born Without Bones – Young at the Bend Tigers Jaw – spin Lorde – Melodrama Sinai Vessel – Broken Vessel TOPS – Sugar at the Gate Bleachers – Gone Now Camp Cope / Cayetana – Split Rocket – (Sandy) Alex G

Becky Kovach

Sorority Noise – You’re Not As _____ As You Think Have Mercy – Make The Best Of It The Menzingers – After The Party Dryjacket – For Posterity A Lot Like Birds – DIVISI Creeper – Eternity, In Your Arms The Maine – Lovely, Little, Lonely Pet Symmetry – Vision The Early November – 15 Years Born Without Bones – Young At The Bend

Deanna Chapman

The Menzingers – After The Party Paramore – After Laughter Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound John Mayer – The Search For Everything Culprit – Sonder Bleachers – Gone Now Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 The Maine – Lovely Little Lonely Lorde – Melodrama Dave Hause – Bury Me in Philly

Garrett Lemons

Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. Sufjan Stevens, et al – Planetarium Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound Bleachers – Gone Now Future – HNDRXX Ed Sheeran – Divide Future – Future Lorde – Melodrama Paramore – After Laughter

Chrisanne Grise

Dreamcar – Dreamcar The Menzingers – After the Party Paramore – After Laughter Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – Zombies on Broadway Incubus – 8 AFI – AFI (The Blood Album) Acceptance – Colliding By Design Portugal. The Man – Woodstock Bleachers – Gone Now Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound

Scott Surette

Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. The Menzingers – After the Party Lorde – Melodrama Paramore – After Laughter The Smith Street Band – More Scared of You Than You Are of Me Slowdive – Slowdive At the Drive-In – in•ter a•li•a Rise Against – Wolves Gorillaz – Humanz Migos – Culture

Eric Wilson