Best Albums of the 2010s

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Explore the best albums of the 2010s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 61,000 charts. Last updated: 2 hours ago

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2010s decade summaryThe best artists of the 2010s were Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Tame Impala, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Frank Ocean, Sufjan Stevens, The National, Radiohead and Nick Cave.

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31.

Plastic Beach

Gorillaz

"Just what pop music needed at the moment. Q magazine said it was the 'most forward thinking pop music' and I couldn't agree more. It kicks off with a sublime orchestral score which gets you in the mood for an escape into the realm of 'Plastic Beach.' The first few tracks, which have a very hip-ho..." Reply

- ami2Dhami | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 6

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

777 charts

Rank Score:

6,098

Rank in 2010:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

261

Average Rating:

80 (1,279 votes)

Comments:

32.

Let England Shake

PJ Harvey

"I’m a big fan of PJ Harvey, but this album is not growing on me. In fact, the more I hear it, the _less_ I like it. I realize she’s going for something stripped down and primal here, but the songs seem underwritten, underproduced and hastily thrown together. “Bitter Branches” and “In the Dark Pla..." Reply

- subtleman22 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2

Year of Release:

2011

Appears in:

834 charts

Rank Score:

5,998

Rank in 2011:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

268

Average Rating:

80 (968 votes)

Comments:

33.

An Awesome Wave

alt-J

"Alt-J sounds like The XX with Marcus Mumford singing. I'll let you decide what you think of that prospect." Reply

SquishypuffDave | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 11

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

732 charts

Rank Score:

5,930

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

274

Average Rating:

78 (1,014 votes)

Comments:

34.

The Smile Sessions

The Beach Boys

"Absolutely phenomenal. If this were to come out in the 60's, it might be in the top 10 of this site. The fact this album stands unfinished, but so heralded is a testament to the genius of Wilson and co. Has a jovial taste and excites constantly in a very abstract way. Best album of 2011 wasnt eve..." Reply

- josh333 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 11

Year of Release:

2011

Appears in:

478 charts

Rank Score:

5,748

Rank in 2011:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

281

Average Rating:

85 (852 votes)

Comments:

35.

Titanic Rising

Weyes Blood

"Definitely an early contender for my favorite album of 2019 (along with Grey Area). Natalie Mering’s voice gives me Joni Mitchell and Nico vibes while still feeling completely new. The instrumentation is beautiful. There's the folky, twangy guitars, lush pianos, strings, synths... it's all perfec..." Reply

- mjp11 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 7

Year of Release:

2019

Appears in:

653 charts

Rank Score:

5,723

Rank in 2019:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

282

Average Rating:

82 (706 votes)

Comments:

36.

Trouble Will Find Me

The National

"To all those who hate it, GIVE IT ANOTHER LISTEN! There's always something that'll catch your ear and have you returning to listen to this great album again" Reply

- SaAaS | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 7

Year of Release:

2013

Appears in:

716 charts

Rank Score:

5,713

Rank in 2013:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

284

Average Rating:

79 (956 votes)

Comments:

37.

Halcyon Digest

Deerhunter

"Art rock done extremely well. Two notable things to this album; 1) It has very engaging atmospherics ranging from distantly dreamy to psychedelically fuzzy with it's layers of guitar coming to the fore in certain songs. 2) It is a complete album of exceptional songs without a filler or mediocre m..." Reply

Strangel | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

794 charts

Rank Score:

5,652

Rank in 2010:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

287

Average Rating:

81 (928 votes)

Comments:

38.

Twin Fantasy (2018)

Car Seat Headrest

"This album is a masterpiece! I mean it might just be me, but, this feels like the album I’ve been waiting my entire life for to come out. It just hits me in a way few albums are able to do. It’s really a beautiful creation. Also people are complaining about the songs being too long but it’s not l..." Reply

Glitterboiii | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 9

Year of Release:

2018

Appears in:

556 charts

Rank Score:

5,568

Rank in 2018:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

291

Average Rating:

82 (848 votes)

Comments:

39.

Melodrama

Lorde

"The most shocking turnaround in an artist I can remember. Her debut wasn't bad by any means, but this sophomore effort is leaps and bounds in a whole other elite class of pop music. Without a doubt the best pop album of 2017 and it might stay that way as good as it is. Crisp, picture perfect prod...""The most shocking turnaround in an artist I can remember. Her debut wasn't bad by any means, but this sophomore effort is leaps and bounds in a whole other elite class of pop music. Without a doubt the best pop album of 2017 and it might stay that way as good as it is. Crisp, picture perfect production in every track coupled with truly exceptional songwriting/pop lyrics that do her generation justice, in originality and infectiousness. You know an album is truly something special when the lead single isn't even the best track on the album. I wouldn't bother trying to pick which track(s) are the best, they're all remarkable. It's best just to enjoy the album from front to back skipping nothing, probably with your headphones on in a dark room. Katy Perry should take notes, along with any other professed pop diva or queen. Just like that, within 40 minutes, Lorde becomes my favorite pop artist in the business today. Not only that, but maybe the greatest youngest artist I listen to. Nas' illmatic released at the tender age of 19 probably still ranks as the best, but this album at 20 is perhaps just as impressive. I never remember ever being so caught off guard by an artist's sophomore release. I had my hopes and expectations for something good, but I did not expect to be blown away by a modern pop masterpiece. Credit has to be given to producer Jack Antonoff who has truly outdone himself along with his lead artist. Kudos to the other guest producers as well (Flume, S1). I guess I should clarify what this album is and what this album isn't. Is this the greatest album of the decade? No. That still belongs to Kanye IMO. Time will tell where this ranks when this decade is all said and done. Is it the greatest female pop album of the decade? Debatable. I still give the nod to Queen Bey and her genre crushing Lemonade, but this album can't be too far behind. Is it album of the year? Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. would like to have a word with you. Is it the most SHOCKINGLY impressive release so far this year? I say yes. Does it deserve all the pop Grammy awards this year? As it stands now, yes. This year to date, "Liability" is the most emotionally moving track I have heard, and that's saying something. Though as stated before the production is immaculate throughout, I like the double-track song "Hard Feelings/Loveless" and "Sober II (Melodrama)" as prime examples of it. And "Perfect Places" sounds like a massive victory lap for her as the album's closing track. At a moment in time where I began to question whether I could enjoy anything anymore and where younger generations were headed, Ella or Lorde swept in for the strongest, most refreshing form of reassurance I couldn't imagine that not all hope was lost. With lyrics well beyond her years and focused production to boot, Lorde becomes a new torch-holder for an entire generation. Even more respectable is that she could easily have rested on her laurels, being in the pop genre, and released a safe project that would have sold high numbers regardless, but clearly Lorde has loftier ambitions for herself and she should pat herself on the back for this one and rest assured it was a job well done and she hit her mark in spades. With a big tour to go along with it all I'm sure Lorde won't rest, but she really should and enjoy/bask in all the glory/recognition/acclaim/awards this album truly deserves. Favorite lyrics: "Blowing shit up with homemade dynamite" "Broadcast the boom boom boom boom, make 'em all dance to it" "They say, "You're a little much for me, you're a liability" "Bet you wanna rip my heart out Bet you wanna skip my calls now Well guess what? I like that ‘Cause I’m gonna mess your life up Gonna wanna tape my mouth shut Look out, lovers We’re L.O.V.E.L.E.S.S Generation" "We told you this was melodrama You wanted something that we offer" "All of the things we're taking 'Cause we are young and we're ashamed Send us to perfect places All of our heroes fading Now I can't stand to be alone Let's go to perfect places"" Reply

- smrtboi2120 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 6

Year of Release:

2017

Appears in:

727 charts

Rank Score:

5,526

Rank in 2017:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

294

Average Rating:

80 (805 votes)

Comments:

40.

Atrocity Exhibition

Danny Brown

"I'm only one listen in but this is easily Danny's best. I love XXX but there are a few duds on that album, this is all killer no filler. His flow is as crazy as always and on tracks like Ain't It Funny he's spitting faster than I've ever heard him. His rhymes are as interesting and clever as ever..." Reply

babyBlueSedan | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Year of Release:

2016

Appears in:

649 charts

Rank Score:

5,232

Rank in 2016:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

314

Average Rating:

83 (728 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 4 of 100

Best Albums of the 2010s composition

Year	Albums	%

2010	92	9%
2011	124	12%
2012	103	10%
2013	112	11%
2014	95	10%
2015	108	11%
2016	84	8%
2017	114	11%
2018	92	9%
2019	76	8%

Artist	Albums	%

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard	9	1%
Lana Del Rey	6	1%
Drake	6	1%
Death Grips	6	1%
The Weeknd	5	1%
Beach House	5	1%
Julia Holter	5	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	559	56%
	216	22%
	69	7%
	32	3%
	28	3%
	20	2%
	9	1%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	990	99%
Yes	10	1%

Live?	Albums	%
No	994	99%
Yes	6	1%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	994	99%
Yes	6	1%

Best Albums of the 2010s chart changes

Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month
Up 7 from 93rd to 86th Congratulations by MGMT
Up 6 from 101st to 95th Little Dark Age by MGMT
Up 5 from 103rd to 98th Pure Comedy by Father John Misty

Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month
Down 6 from 85th to 91st You Won't Get What You Want by Daughters
Down 3 from 72nd to 75th Black Messiah by D'Angelo And The Vanguard
Down 3 from 96th to 99th Shields by Grizzly Bear

New entries New entries in top 100 since last month
Up 6 from 101st to 95th Little Dark Age by MGMT
Up 5 from 103rd to 98th Pure Comedy by Father John Misty

Leavers Leavers from top 100 since last month
Down 2 from 99th to 101st Magdalene by FKA Twigs
Down 2 from 100th to 102nd My Woman by Angel Olsen

« View best albums of the 2000sView best albums of the 2020s »

Best Ever Artists

1. The Beatles

2. Radiohead

3. Pink Floyd

4. David Bowie

5. Bob Dylan

6. Led Zeppelin

7. The Rolling Stones

8. Arcade Fire

9. Neil Young

10. Nirvana