Katy Perry—“Witness” June 9

This electropop album reached the top of the charts in a variety of countries. Fans hadn’t heard a new song from Perry since “Prism,” which released in 2013, and many were eager to hear what other music she would come out with. Her hope and sole purpose for “Witness” is to allow listeners to relate to and be inspired by her music, and Perry succeeds with songs that vary from fun to dance-y to dark to light. Standout singles include “Chained to the Rhythm” featuring Skip Marley, “Bon Appétit” featuring Migos and “Swish Swish” featuring Nicki Minaj. Specifically, when the album first came out, “Chained to the Rhythm” was a song that everyone knew and one that became extremely popular quite quickly.

Kesha —“Rainbow” Aug. 11

“Rainbow” was an exciting release for Kesha fans, as her last album “Warrior” dropped back in 2012. The singer’s personal and professional struggles lead this new album to be creative and unique. Kesha began writing “Rainbow” while she was in rehab; the album emphasizes topics regarding forgiveness, letting go of the past and understanding one’s own self-worth. “Praying” is a stand-out song on the album which successfully showcases the story of hope and forgiveness on others. It draws the attention of listeners as a result of the energy and passion Kesha sings with. She turned a bad situation into a hit song. This album shows maturity that listeners have never heard from Kesha in her past musical ventures.

Kendrick Lamar—“DAMN.” April 14

“DAMN.” made its No.1 debut on the U.S. Billboard 200 this year as well as being certified double platinum, and it earned that title with a triple threat of standout singles: “Humble,” “Loyalty” and “Love.” For the first time, Lamar records his songs in the album with beats inspired by trap, as opposed to his usual hip-hop style. The album has been characterized as conscious rap that draws on elements of trap, R&B and pop. “DAMN.” represents the ideal rap album of 1995 because of Lamar’s efforts to build a modern version of a bridge to the past with his classic style of rap. The album showcases Lamar’s powerful writing skills as he constructs a powerful story through lyrics. and rhythm.

Ed Sheeran—“Divide” March 3

The follow-up to 2014’s “Multiply” reached the top of the charts in 14 different countries. Ed has made a statement with the singles on the album “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You.” These songs draw students and listeners into this album, leaving fans wanting to hear more from Sheeran. The artist leaves a mark on his listeners through the way he slightly steps away from his comfort zone through his new sound. “Divide” is an album filled with catchy songs that listeners quickly got hooked on. Students enjoy listening to the music as it has remained popular throughout the entire year since its release date. Sheeran has made himself known throughout the past few years, and his albums continue to get better, earning him the attraction of more and more fans with each new release. He adds another impressive album to his already impressive lineup of songs and increases his popularity in the music world as a serious performer while also adding familiar songs for his old fans.

Drake — “More Life” March 18

“More Life” includes a broad range of genres, including hip hop, trap and pop music. The people took notice of the album as soon as it was released to the public. Some standout singles on the album that listeners cannot stop listening to include “Fake Love” and “Passionfruit.” Specifically, in the summer, “Passionfruit” was played in many public places and many radio stations. Drake’s songs have been a major hit with fans wanting to hear more new music Drake has come out with. It is obvious to listeners that the music in “More Life” was carefully planned out, as the album creates a story for its listeners. The mood, production and melody of the music each comes together to create a perfect sense of time and momentum throughout “More Life.” Drake fans were not disappointed by his album, as it includes a mixture of songs about Drake’s life held together by incredible vocals and beats. It’s something different and a fresh addition to Drake’s canon.

Taylor Swift—“Reputation” Nov. 10

The old Taylor may be “dead,” but “Reputation” breathes new life into what fans came to expect from this beloved pop star. This pop-oriented album is electronic inspired, including elements of dubstep and trap. Swift explains to her fans that “Reputation” represents her feelings towards the beginning of creating the album, to her feelings when the album recording process ended. Through her music, Swift aspires to send a message to her listeners with every song on the album. She gives her listeners’ the advice to live their lives, instead of worrying about searching for romance. “Reputation” includes both Ed Sheeran and the rapper Future, which is an exciting and interesting twist for Swift fans. Overall, the album introduces Swift’s new sound and fully emphasizes her complete musical transformation from her “Red” days. Most students say that they enjoy listening to Swift more with her new sound, rather than with her old music and persona.