In 2013, the industry suits continued to cry that the end was nigh while the actual people continued to listen to more music than ever, and the best of that music was as strong as ever, too.
But compiling this best albums of 2013 list reinforces just how much great music was made in 2013, and how varied it was. There was no defining movement -- though the EDM scene came closest during the summer -- but there was progressive country (Kacey Musgraves, Brady Clark), song-centric electronic music (Disclosure, James Blake), bold experiments (Kanye West, Janelle Monae), teen breakouts (Miley, Lorde) and impeccable comebacks (Justin Timberlake and Daft Punk).
And then, of course, there was the continued surge of the Canadian scene, with Tegan and Sara going pop and Arcade Fire getting their groove on while folkie Basia Bulat fulfilled her promise and Drake became not just one of the biggest international artists of our generation but also one of the best thanks to his expansive and daring "Nothing Was The Same," which was above all an album statement even as it claimed two of the year's best singles.
So without further ado, here are our top 68 albums of 2013.