Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s by JamesMowbray

Sorry I'm inconsistent with adding notes, I'll add the rest when i get time.

• Chart updated: 02/15/2022 20:45
• (Created: 11/26/2016 01:17).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 2 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 4 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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1. (=)

To Pimp A Butterfly 

 Kendrick Lamar

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With To Pimp A Butterfly Kendrick made one of the great rap albums ranking with the top tier releases of the genre. Whilst individual songs on the album are strong individually it comes into its own when viewed as a collective work. For example to album version of 'i' has a far more bittersweet feel to it because of the previous hour of often very dark music. On top of this the jazz influence across the album makes it one of the best sounding rap albums of recent years. There's also lots of variation in the mood of the songs ranging from combative ('hood politics'), to playful ('for free'), to contemplative ('mortal man'). It is a vital album in terms of both music as a whole, and its impact on society.
Best track: Alright [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

1,775 charts

Rank Score:

37,214

Rank in 2015:

1

Rank in 2010s:

1

Overall Rank:

19

Average Rating:

 89 (2,223 votes)

Comments:

364

3. (2) 1

Blond 

 Frank Ocean

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(continued form all time chart)

'White Ferrari' continues the calmer atmosphere created by the previous tracks, drawing attention back to the now more focused and contemplative lyrics. The final verse apparently uses heavy effects but I still kind of can't believe that it's not actually Justin Vernon singing. Either way it's a brilliant way to close the track.

This segues into the wonderfully moody Seigfried, which features even more stripped back production giving further focus to the lyrics. This is the most contemplative track on the album with “Maybe I’m a fool, maybe I should move and settle, two kids and a swimming pool”. The sense of self conflict and uncertainty is also built by lines like “Been living in an idea from another man’s mind” and “I’d rather live outside, I’d rather go to jail, I’ve tried hell. What would you recommend I do”. The spoken word that enters at the end of the song seeks to resolve some of this, with the change in delivery marking a change in attitude, and the repeated lie of “I’d do anything for you” simplifies things and closes the track out.

‘Godspeed’ marks a shift from the sadder songs that preceded it. It also marks a massive growth in maturity with lines like “I let go of my claim on you, it’s a free world”. Its short length prevents it from outstaying its welcome, so it doesn’t really matter much that the track doesn’t go anywhere.

Closer ‘Futura Free’ is the only track with more focus on production than the comparatively weak lyrics. The mix of the electronic elements with the repeated piano notes gives a more upbeat atmosphere to the record. However the lyrics pick up when the electronic elements fade away giving more power to Frank’s stream of consciousness lyrics. The interview that ends the album gives a lot of extra personality and while it doesn’t end the record with a band, ‘Blonde’ is precisely the kind of album that doesn’t need to.

Overall ‘Blonde’ is a masterpiece of emotional music throughout almost all its tracks. The weaker tracks remain interesting and the strongest are completely overwhelming. Whilst the production isn’t revolutionary it fits everything that Frank is trying to get across on the record. The growth across the runtime makes for an immense experience, giving a very full picture of one of the artists we know less about on a more personal level.

Best Track: Nights [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]

Year of Release:

2016

Appears in:

840 charts

Rank Score:

14,442

Rank in 2016:

2

Rank in 2010s:

8

Overall Rank:

91

Average Rating:

 84 (1,061 votes)

Comments:

91

4. (3) 1

To Be Kind 

 Swans

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The highlight of Swans' incredible trilogy of massive albums trades some of the atmosphere of The Seer for heavier songs. This gives almost every track a huge amount of energy equalling that of earlier albums such as Filth, but without going for a completely brutal sound. The album also manages to perfect a balance of eerie songs such as 'some things we do' and enormously powerful songs such as the album's centrepiece 'bring the sun/ Toussaint L'Ouvateure'. With most songs going beyond ten minutes Swans give themselves the time in most songs to have them go through various phases whilst still including their very effective use of repetition.
Best track: Bring the sun/ Toussaint L'ouvateure [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]

Year of Release:

2014

Appears in:

609 charts

Rank Score:

7,129

Rank in 2014:

2

Rank in 2010s:

29

Overall Rank:

242

Average Rating:

 82 (857 votes)

Comments:

100

5. (4) 1

Divers 

 Joanna Newsom

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On Divers Joannna Newsom moved away from the medieval sounds of Ys whilst still maintaining her original style on the more electronic sound of this album. On the mainly downbeat selection of songs on Divers Newsom touches on subjects of war and heartbreak. This mood is kept across the album despite significant variation in some of the tracks.
Best track: Leaving the city [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

354 charts

Rank Score:

2,309

Rank in 2015:

14

Rank in 2010s:

116

Overall Rank:

775

Average Rating:

 80 (340 votes)

Comments:

19

6. (=)

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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 

 Kanye West

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Kanye West's masterpiece was a revolution in hip hop coming just after the end of the genre's worst decade. This album finally made mainstream rap relevant again and was vital in incorporating emotions into hip hop, building on Drake's So Far Gone and West's own 808s And Heartbreaks. The first few songs all cover various aspects of the drawbacks of fame and injustice in America. These are followed by a breather from the darker content with 2 fantastic posse cuts where just about every verse feels new and inventive, and after this the emotional side of the album really kicks in with songs like 'runaway' and 'blame game'. The variation and strength of the performances in this album are what makes it so widely popular both inside and outside of the hip hop community.
Best track: Gorgeous [First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

1,682 charts

Rank Score:

26,147

Rank in 2010:

1

Rank in 2010s:

2

Overall Rank:

33

Average Rating:

 85 (2,294 votes)

Comments:

276

7. (9) 2

Aviary 

 Julia Holter

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[First added to this chart: 01/28/2019]

Year of Release:

2018

Appears in:

196 charts

Rank Score:

1,365

Rank in 2018:

17

Rank in 2010s:

197

Overall Rank:

1,282

Average Rating:

 79 (194 votes)

Comments:

17

9. (8) 1

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do 

 Fiona Apple

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[First added to this chart: 11/25/2016]

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

565 charts

Rank Score:

5,695

Rank in 2012:

7

Rank in 2010s:

41

Overall Rank:

316

Average Rating:

 81 (745 votes)

Comments:

64

10. (11) 1

Igor 

 Tyler, The Creator

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[First added to this chart: 06/16/2021]

Year of Release:

2019

Appears in:

603 charts

Rank Score:

6,739

Rank in 2019:

2

Rank in 2010s:

32

Overall Rank:

262

Average Rating:

 84 (776 votes)

Comments:

62

11. (10) 1

Halcyon Digest 

 Deerhunter

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[First added to this chart: 09/24/2020]

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

718 charts

Rank Score:

6,658

Rank in 2010:

7

Rank in 2010s:

33

Overall Rank:

264

Average Rating:

 82 (897 votes)

Comments:

59

14. (=)

Benji 

 Sun Kil Moon

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[First added to this chart: 02/15/2017]

Year of Release:

2014

Appears in:

548 charts

Rank Score:

4,898

Rank in 2014:

3

Rank in 2010s:

48

Overall Rank:

368

Average Rating:

 80 (767 votes)

Comments:

88

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s composition

Year	Albums	%
2010	5	5%
2011	6	6%
2012	7	7%
2013	5	5%
2014	7	7%
2015	11	11%
2016	15	15%
2017	9	9%
2018	19	19%
2019	16	16%

Artist	Albums	%
Frank Ocean	3	3%
Black Dresses	3	3%
Swans	3	3%
Beach House	3	3%
Kendrick Lamar	2	2%
Uboa	2	2%
Radiohead	2	2%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	57	57%
	17	17%
	14	14%
	6	6%
	4	4%
	2	2%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 73 from 94th to 21st Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides by SOPHIE
Up 24 from 95th to 71st All My Heroes Are Cornballs by JPEGMAFIA
Up 3 from 5th to 2nd The Origin Of My Depression by Uboa

Biggest fallers
Down 14 from 67th to 81st Heaven And Earth by Kamasi Washington
Down 10 from 85th to 95th Persona by Rival Consoles
Down 9 from 87th to 96th Saturation III by Brockhampton

New entries
The Apple Of Every Eye by Uboa & Muddy Lawrence
Flood Network by Katie Dey
Uboa And Bolt Gun by Uboa And Bolt Gun
Love And Affection For Stupid Little Bitches by Black Dresses
Coma Wall by Uboa
Thank You by Black Dresses

Leavers
I Also Want To Die In New Orleans by Sun Kil Moon
Life Metal by Sunn O)))
Daytona by Pusha T
A Shadow In Time by William Basinski
You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen
Untitled Unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s similarity to your chart(s)

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s ratings

Showing all 4 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
80/100	01/22/2020 22:40	sssvnnn	2,824	83/100
90/100	01/25/2018 21:00	thirstyDog	107	86/100
100/100	02/11/2017 18:25	buzzdainer	671	90/100
95/100	12/26/2016 02:27	Seab	2,017	93/100

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s comments

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From JamesMowbray 02/14/2017 15:00

Thanks man, I'll probably do write ups for the top 50 for the moment so I don't have to end up removing albums with notes sometime later.

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From buzzdainer 02/11/2017 18:31

Wow, thanks for the incredibly detailed and thoughtful notes on many of the top albums on this chart! They really add a lot of personality, and they make me want to hear some of the albums I've either passed over too quickly or ignored altogether, such as Undun. I love many of the albums here, especially Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit; St. Vincent; Visions; and Lost in the Dream. Great work!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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