5. Slowdive – “Slowdive”

After a 22 year hiatus, the pioneering dream pop band is back with an album that can not only stand among their three established classic records but among the best albums by many other modern shoegaze artists. Slowdive’s self-titled opens with a song that is easily among the best they’ve ever done, “Slomo,” and continues to be consistently great. It’s one of the few truly great “comeback” albums ever and deserves to be recognized as such.

4. Fleet Foxes – “Crack Up”

Fleet Foxes’ third album is their best yet. A dense, gorgeous collection of folk odysseys that reveal themselves more and more with each listen, the songs are influenced by folk contemporaries such as Joanna Newsom. The group’s songwriting and vocal harmonies have never been better, with the sprawling “Third of May” and theatrical “Mearcstapa” ranking among the finest songs they’ve ever done. With each successive album, the band proves that they’re not a one-album wonder.

3. (Sandy) Alex G – “Rocket”

More so than his Bandcamp contemporaries such as Car Seat Headrest, Alex Giannascoli has proven himself to be an outstanding songwriter, and “Rocket” is his most accomplished album yet. Spanning from alt-country on songs like “Proud” to jazz (“County”) to industrial (“Brick”), what the project lacks in focus, it makes up for in creativity and great songwriting. Every song and change in style on the album is exciting, and it remains a wonderful surprise after countless listens.

2. St. Vincent – “MASSEDUCTION”

Annie Clark has been making albums that are technically pop music under the name St. Vincent since 2007, but her 2017 effort “MASSEDUCTION” is the furthest direction she’s taken the style, and the results are stunning. The album’s first half is the best stretch of music she’s ever put out, with highlights being the manic “Pills,” and the noisy, anthemic title track. What really makes the album work, however, is the numerous piano ballads, such as “New York,” that serve as a break from the chaos surrounding them, and makes what could’ve been a forgettable pop album a surprisingly poignant listen.

1. Tyler, The Creator – “Flower Boy”

On “Flower Boy,” California rapper Tyler, The Creator has finally grown up. His production sensibilities have always been sharp, but his lyrics have held him back, often amounting to little more than an attempt at shock-value. There’s none of that here, with the rapper moving past his problematic previous efforts and focusing on positivity, with a delicately arranged that makes for perfect listening on a hot summer afternoon. He hasn’t fully lost his edge though, as for every sentimental love song like “See You Again,” Tyler delivers an angrier, more upbeat traditional rap song like “I Ain’t Got Time!” Not to mention, the arrangements are surprisingly lush and often beautiful, in a genre that usually isn’t described as such.

Honorable Mentions: Brockhampton – “Saturation Trilogy,” Lorde – “Melodrama,” Paramore – “After Laughter,” Foxygen – “Hang,” Charli XCX – “Pop 2,” Oneohtrix Point Never – “Good Time (Original Score)”