Music in 2018 was a battle to become the biggest meme. So many headlines were about relationship drama, internet trolling, and social media presence—but in some cases it was actually about the music! At Genius, and in the Genius community at large, we appreciate the noise, but music intelligence reigns above all else. The value of a mastercrafted album full of interesting ideas and boundary-pushing sounds cannot be overstated.

Beyond all the spectacle and chatter is one eternally uncompromising question: is the music good? This year saw legends succeeding in the struggle to stay relevant, and newcomers proving their worth by forging something entirely new. Both can work, and our list is reflective of that. It’s equal parts fuzzy nostalgia and ambitious innovation. To generate this diverse spread, some of our most dedicated and knowledgeable music lovers came together to rank and review the most compelling projects of the year. Contributors voted on an initial poll, spent weeks discussing revisions and replacements, and elected to write about their favorite albums. Here are the Genius Community’s 50 Best Albums of 2018.

[Editor’s Note—The Genius list accounts for albums released between Dec. 2017 and Dec. 7, 2018. Albums released after Dec. 7, 2018 do not qualify for this year’s list and will be considered next year.]