Best albums of the 2010s.

Music review- 2010-2020

This list aims to explore the music that made me who I am today through ten years of my life that were exceedingly influential on how I see the world and enjoy music. I wanted to include albums of many different artists, so did not use and albums come from the same person to not repeat. However, removing that restriction would change very little.

Honourable mentions:

Weyes Blood- Titanic Rising (2019)- This album in a couple years time may be further up my list, but as the most recent release, it hasn't had the breathing room that the others have. On first listen, I only thought the album was decent, but it seems to be the one I always pick up when I'm feeling low as it perfectly captures the melodramatic feeling of floating and drowning in sorrow. Weyes's vocals are rich and elegant with a minimal yet drama fuelled production. It is the kind of grand dread that is perfect to cry to as she sings beautifully, "I just lay down and cry". Stand outs: Andromeda, Movies, Something to Believe.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis- This unruly mess I've made (2016)- After an interesting yet over bloated debut, the release of this album was the first time I've ever been excited to buy a rap album. They did not disappoint. As a predominately pop fan, this was new territory for me, so it is special to me for that and how many of the other albums I own are probably because this went well. I've always been fascinated by the sociology and business aspects of the celebrity world, so opening Light tunnels was always going to endear me. The album bounces between deeply serious and silly in an endearing if not difficult to follow fashion, but the songs that hit are strong. Stand outs: Light tunnels, Growing Up, Dance Off, White Privilege.

Troye Sivan- Blue Neighbourhood (2015)- Getting the internet late in my life meant that Troye Sivan's youtube days were never on my radar. Happy Little Pill's euphoria yet underlying darkness brought him to my attention and then his follow up debut made a fantastic introduction. However, though the album is solid throughout, it only becomes next level when the middle third of the album grabs you by the collar, throws you up against the wall and doesn't let go. It's 5 songs that have been left on repeat for many a hour as they perfectly capture many confusing feelings of growing up gay. Stand outs: Heaven, Youth, Lost Boy, SUBURBIA.

Katy Perry- Teenage Dream (2010)- Katy Perry's magnum opus. The gurl knows how to make bubblegum pop hits and damn did she fill this album with them. In every other album of Ms. Perry she seems to write the hits first and leave the album as the after thought. But, here she explores so many different genres and seems to master them all. Teenage dream (song) is the perfect pop song that captures the feeling of summer and is a track that she will never be able to top. In addition, Circle the Drain is the kind of grit that the pop princess has never ventured into though she fits the tome perfectly, it is easily her best song. However, the album also has some huge clangers that weigh it down: California gurls and Last Friday night are infuriating cringefests. Stand outs: Teenage Dream, Circle the drain, Who am I living For, Not like the movies.

My Remix Playlist- I understand that this technically isn't an album, but in the age of Spotify, which rose to the forefront of the musical zeitgeist during the decade, an album is no longer what it used to be. There is no going back to how it was, so we all must embrace that playlists are the new albums. Even big name artists have started bulging their albums with over weight fodder in order to mirror the playlist listening experience. And, though I am still a firm believer in the beauty of a good album, I have not been able to argue against the playlist love. More than any album in the past ten years, I have returned back consistently to this playlist over and over again, so to not represent it on this list would not give you a true representation of the decade for me, nor an understanding of the direction music listening is going into the 20s. Remixes of pop songs melt perfectly the club experience and hype inducing adrenaline that is perfect to get ready to, but also has sing ready lyrics that are often missing on real edm bangers. This list of over 400 tracks is banger after banger. Stand outs: Halo The New Devices remix- Beyonce and G. Lally, Dog Days are Over Optimum remix- Florence and the Machine, Pity Party K Theory Remix- Melanie Martinez and Break the Rules Tiesto Remix- Charli Xcx and Tiesto.

The top 10:

10) Calvin Harris- 18months (2012)- Yes, this album might be as high as it is because of Harris's genius idea of putting Florence Welch onto an edm track; Sweet Nothing, a track that marries a dramatic and desperate vocal performance with the high octane drama of dance, is legitimately my favourite song in existence, so the album has a special place in my heart for that. Not only this, but it contains Rihanna's best track, never has she been able to match the euphoria twinged with an air of sadness that is so endearing. Unless you couldn't tell from above, adrenaline infused edm mixed with godlike vocals and a sing ready chorus is my jam, so an album filled with tracks like that was always going to be on this list. But, what puts this album above any other is the fact that it was what started my love affair with edm. In 2012, we did not have the luxury of the music universe on our spotify tinged fingertips, so having a mainstream and catchy exploration of one of my favourite genres was a stepping stone into a world I would never have explored without it. In addition, it introduced me to some of my favourite artists that I continue to listen to today even if they've partially fallen out of the mainstream by 2020: Example, Ellie Goulding. The reason that this is not higher is because it was glorious at the time but truly a stepping stone to bigger better deals. Tracks other than the singles do not hold up as well and I very rarely return to listen to the full album. Stand outs: Sweet Nothing, We found love, We'll be coming back, Drinking from the bottle.

9) Loic Nottett- Selfocracy (2017)- As tradition, I sat ready to watch Eurovision and rate each act out of ten with my family, but when a young Belgian lad took the stage with an alluring subtle darkness, a voice for days and repeating "pat pat pat", I was not prepared. From that moment, I gave him the ten out of ten he deserved and then forgot about him as the next glittery Eurovision spectacle took control of my attention. But, then two years later his haunting debut album screamed its way back to my attention. Though my family wince when I attempt Nottett's high notes and always think I'm listening to a woman, I can't help but adore his voice and how he takes every song to a vocal eleven. It's so clear why he went viral with a Sia cover because she is clearly one of his vocal influences. Nottett's angsty lyrics and over the top performance work to properly sell how real teenage drama feels at the time. He has a glorious pain to his voice as he cracks on Million Eyes and it is that rawness, that is found throughout the track list, that makes the lyrics seem sincere when in the voices of other artists they would be cringe. Though his second album has more nuanced lyrics and a more varied track list, it didn't capture the drama and desperation that his debut perfected. Stand outs: Mud Blood, Team8, Million Eyes, Dirty.

8) Lana Del Rey- Born to Die (2012)- This album could be any one of Del Rey's fantastic discography, I adore her traditional american yet modern angst aesthetic and with every slice she brings a new alteration to her already perfected mould. Whether it's "Hope is a..." on NFR, "Love" on LFL, "Salvatore" on Honeymoon, or "Money Power Glory" on Ultraviolence, Lana always seems to perfectly lure me back and make sadness seem enjoyable. She has a power to make you own your sadness and to some extent make it feel sexy; it is a sense of feeling powerful while also allowing another person to ruin your world. Listening to her albums feels like you are expensive yet damaged sitting on the balcony as you look longingly on to the beach with a cigarette in hand; she was perfect for the Great Gatsby soundtrack as she propounds that didactic and complicated world. Born to Die has some of the best tracks that ooze glamour, subdued euphoria and desperation drama that I sign up to in a heart beat. It may not have the glorious heights of her other albums, but it also never touches the lows; it is her most consistent album and for that it is the one i return to most to listen in full, whereas the others I cherry pick the best. Stand outs: Gods and Monsters, Born to Die, Video Games, This is what makes us girls.

7) Melanie Martinez- CryBaby (2015)- Exploring adult themes under the microscope of childhood is how To Kill a Mockingbird became my favourite novel. So, when Melanie Martinez began the same endeavour I was always going to love it. With bombastic and catchy hooks paired with a myriad of intoxicatingly delightful imagery, Crybaby has the kind of spunky in your face imagery that makes you sit up and listen. The ambitious and creative production is not only fun, but hits hard: soap and carousel are perfect examples. Some fear that the lyrics and production aesthetic are just skin deep, which it certainly was on her follow up album K-12, but they actually support the narrative and enrich the story. Tag your it, a song about sexual assault, is hauntingly smart and much more uneasy for pairing something so dark with a child game: there are a myriad of playground games that lay the foundations for assault and she reminds the listener that we need to teach children young. This kind of depth is found throughout the album and goes much beyond "Ooo that's an interesting reference to childhood". It's dark, in your face and oh so glorious. In addition, Pity Party will forever be near the top of my all time great songs. Stand outs: Pity Party, Soap, Dollhouse, Sippy Cup.

6) Lily Allen- Sheezus (2014)- Lily Allen has always had the spunky sass that I adore. Her phrasing is always delightfully comedic and over the top. Coming from a privileged background, her way of capturing night life for us mere commoners is rather impressive. Her privilege gives her this quirky charm that's endearing but not overbearing as her tracks are routed on earth even if Air Balloon is high off the ground. Hard out here is the level of topical whit, that comes with a punch, which make Lily so endearing. From the start to the end, the album gives you banger after banger that only gets better with the deluxe tracks. But, it's not all sass and party, Take My Place, about her miscarriage, is a subdued feeling of numbness that is vulnerable though glossy. Though her earlier work is more in your face and spunky, and her follow up was more suited to her wispy vocals, this album stands apart for its consistent quality and fun pop sound. But also because neither of her other albums reaches the incredible heights that Sheezus does. Stand outs: Air Balloon, Our Time, Hard out Here, Sheezus, Take me home.

5) Paloma Faith- Fall to Grace (2012)- Picking up the pieces is without a doubt in my top ten songs of all time. Faith's voice cracks and vocal delivery is so good at portraying a desperate and damaged woman that when she sings your hairs stand on end. It's the kind of over dramatic that I live for and the first half of the decade consisted of me looking out to the rain attempting to hit those high notes. On every single song, Faith hits it out of the park and deep into your emotions. With stand out tracks like Just be perfectly capturing the numb desperation of being in pain and just needing your partner to just be with you and hold you. Or, Black and Blue that begs for empathy and to look past people's flaws. The album is filled with gem after gem and never once gives a second to let you breathe. The euphoric Streets of Glory feels like a fantastic closer as you reflect on the depths of pain you've explored throughout the album knowing you've come out stronger on the other side. Stand Outs: Picking up the pieces, Just Be, 30 Minute love affair, Streets of Glory.

4) Maggie Rogers- Heard it in a past life (2019)- Though at first you may be forgiven to think that Rogers is just a more innocent and playful Florence Welch, her nuanced delivery that recognises her own involvement in her heartbreak certainly makes us see her for who she is. She maintains a vulnerable rawness while keeping catchy pop hooks that will have you returning again and again. The production swirls like an elegant dancer around Rogers gorgeous voice and definitely shows why Parrell Williams plucked her for superstardom. Though at times she attempts impressions of Sia and Florence Welch making her lose her distinct sound, but for artists to chose they are certainly legendary vocalists and for a debut body of work that is certainly impressive. She captures perfectly the feeling of running outdoors with the wind flowing round your body as the airy production is euphoric and takes you on a journey. However, at times some tracks are a tad overproduced with inclusions that muddy the elegant and beautiful simplicity. The album is not perfect, but for a debut it has excited me to no end and Rogers clearly has a very bright future ahead of her. I have no idea what direction she will go for her next album, but I am so excited more so than many other artists on this list. Stand outs: Fallingwater, Alaska, Light on, Burning, Retrograde.

3) Mark Owen- The art of doing nothing (2013)- At this point in the list I would rate every album uniquely perfect, though they may have their flaws, I wouldn't change anything about them as it is those flaws that are so endearing. And that is how I'd perfectly describe Owen's performance on this album: his awkward and cracked vocal delivery means he is not the strongest vocalist on this list, but the distinct texture to his voice is so unique and so endearing that it works so well. Paired against the operatic vocals of Ren Harvieu, whose debut album narrowly missed the list, Owen should not be able to mix so well, but S.A.D. gives me goose bumps every time for being so damaged, flawed yet euphoric; S.A.D. is one of the best songs of all time, and yes, I had to pause writing this paragraph to go away and listen to it again. But, Owen doesn't just peak there and leave the rest behind. Carnival is the perfect song about getting trapped in one's own head and trying to understand the colour and beauty that is possessed inside your mind. Stars is just phenomenal and I'll hear nothing against it. And again, another duet with Jake Emlyn, who adds an endearing rap verse to Heaven's falling, it really shouldn't work but it adds a layer of youthful darkness to the track that elevates it so well. The album is consistently fantastic with more than a handful of tracks that push into the godsmackingly perfect variety. Stand outs: S.A.D., Stars, Carnival, Heaven's falling.

2) Lady Gaga- ARTPOP (2013)- This album is made to be played loud in order to fully experience the weird and wacky way that it was intended. More so than any other Gaga album it's got her quotes "Fuck you pop music, this is Art pop" and "Pop music doesn't have to be low brow" channelling through its veins. None of her contemporaries could have made this album, the gritty squeals of swine, the sarcastic f u in Donetalla, the edgy aura that opens with her manically laughing or the musical theatre Dope, it is the kind of all over the place theatre that only Gaga could pull off. Matching that with big Edm production, this is what I loved about '18 months' turned up to eleven and oh my gaga is it better for it. It is an album writhe with pain and perfect to turn up loud screaming and dancing around your living room like no one is watching. It is the perfect hype machine with enough bite to it that makes it ferocious in scale. But don't think this means Gaga forget the small details on this monster record. It is pop music posing as art, so for every stomping chorus there is a myriad of art references and pretentiousness that is so fun to unpick. In addition, the tiny production choices of the strings in Applause, the dash of glitter in Artpop or the detail of Aura that you cannot hear without headphones means that there is something to explore at all levels. Yes, this album is over produced, pretentious and is a cocktail of genres, but it is all of that that makes it perfect to me as it's an unconventional pop dancefest that has a twinge of edgy darkness that is unparalleled by any perfect bubble gum pop. Stand outs: Artpop, Do What you Want (without R.Kelly), Donatella, Aura, G.U.Y.

1) Florence and the Machine- Ceremonials (2011)- Where can one start with this behemoth of an album. Nearly every song is over four minutes with many going further past five minutes as every single song is epic, orchestral, other worldly, and thundering as it is a lavish spectacle from beginning to end. A tepid listener may drown in the weight of the grandiosity of the album, but for me it is this over bearing and in your face drama that makes it the perfect experience to turn up loud and just drown into the floor as Welch's vocals wash over you, her drums pound into you and the harps make it feel glorious while doing so. Welch has always had a fascination of drowning and it is this album that she matches the lyrics with her production and perfectly mirror the dramatic experience of being entirely consumed by one entity in an intoxicating and unwavering fashion. The album makes you want to scream out even though you know you'll never match Welch's delivery , though, to the dismay of my family, that doesn't stop me trying. She is a master of switching from the vulnerable beauty of Never let me go, to the thunderous and dirty Lover to lover or the haunting No light no light (that high note though, damn gurl). She is everything you can ask for and so so much more. She has always been a master lyricist, her poerty book is testament to that, on ceremonials her over the top ghosts and witchcraft give enough metaphors to make even the slightest of pain feel like an epic war movie. Though after the release of this album the band took it down a notch with the more rock infused HBHBHB and the vulnerably pretty High as Hope, it is more than understandable as no one could get bigger than this. Stand outs: Shake it out, Lover to lover, never let me go, Spectrum, No light No light, Leave My Body.