BEYONCE’S politically charged visual album “Lemonade” is the music critics’ favorite album of the year.

    The record, which tackles themes of black empowerment and female identity, topped a “poll of polls” compiled by the BBC. It beat David Bowie’s elegiac swansong “Blackstar,” which was released two days before his death in January. Third place went to Frank Ocean’s “Blonde,” a sprawling, impressionistic take on art-soul.

    Beyonce’s sister Solange also fared well. “A Seat at the Table,” her soulful, thoughtful portrayal of the struggles faced by black women, both historically and in 2016, came fifth.

    The results were compiled from 25 “album of the year” polls, published by the most influential magazines, newspapers and blogs in music — from specialist publications like Billboard and Q Magazine to more mainstream outlets, such as Cosmopolitan and Digital Spy.

    (SD-Agencies)