Kendrick Lamar (DAMN.), Father John Misty (Pure Comedy), and Tyler, the Creator (Flower Boy) lead the third edition of the best albums of 2017 (so far).

Well DAMN…okay, enough with the puns. But being honest, the album – not the baby curse word – by Kendrick Lamar is one of few elite albums from 2017 so far.  Backing up after such a rough introduction, this list seeks to pick the best albums of 2017 so far.  Honestly, it’s difficult. 2017 has lacked some surefire critically acclaimed efforts, at least IMO.  Nonetheless, there are some very good albums, led by none other than DAMN., which is definitely a pretty damn good album.  Okay – STOP IT!

Okay, that’s what we said before, specifically the first edition of this list in June 2017.  Now, things have heated up.  Kendrick Lamar, Father John Misty, and Chris Stapleton still Tyler, the Creator lead the pack of the best albums of 2017 so far.  BUT the summer (June, July, and August) blessed the listeners with some gems that have shaken up the original edition of the list, as well as version 2.0.  The list has been expanded to include the 40 best albums.  For the purposes of this post, there is no analysis or commentary like the previous lists – just an infographic showing the additions and changes from the previous lists.

40 Best Albums of 2017 (So Far) 3.0 [Written List]

1. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
2. Father John Misty, Pure Comedy
3. Tyler, the Creator, Flower Boy
4. Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Nashville Sound
6. Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up
7. Jay-Z, 4:44
8. Ryan Adams, Prisoner
9. Lorde, Melodrama
10. Kesha, Rainbow
11. Declan McKenna, What Do You Think About the Car?
12. The xx, I See You
13. Sampha, Process
14. Khalid, American Teen
15. Calvin Harris, Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 1
16. SZA, Ctrl
17. Spoon, Hot Thoughts
18. John Mayer, The Search for Everything
19. Logic, Everybody
20. Ed Sheeran, ÷
21. Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life
22. Rex Orange County, Apricot Princess
23. Vince Staples, Big Fish Theory
24. Depeche Mode, Spirit
25. Gabriel Garzón-Montano, Jardín
26. Chuck Berry, Chuck
27. Gorillaz, Humanz
28. Migos, Culture
29. Harry Styles, Harry Styles
30. Paramore, After Laughter
31. Dave East, Paranoia: A True Story
32. 2 Chainz, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
33. Mansionz, Mansionz
34. Daley, Spectrum
35. Arcade Fire, Everything Now
36. A$AP Ferg, Still Striving
37. Russ, There’s Really a Wolf
38. Blackbear, digital druglord
39. Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed, Magic & Bird
40. Alt-J, Relaxer

Photo Credit: Interscope, Sub Pop, Columbia, Mercury, Southeastern