Best Albums of the 2010s

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Explore the best albums of the 2010s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 59,000 charts.
Last updated: 3 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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21.

Bloom

Beach House

"I’m not going to fight it. I’m addicted to the sparkling, candy colored songs of Beach House. Beach House go full-on arena-sized for this album. Launching the grandeur of the Cocteau Twins straight to the upper rafters. I completely give in to its waves of Cure and Loveless-era MBV guitars washin..." [+] Reply

Repo | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +13 votes (13 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

887 charts

Rank Score:

7,656

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

197

Average Rating:

82 (1,178 votes)

Comments:

22.

This Is Happening

LCD Soundsystem

"Almost as good as Sound of silver, which is no small feat. Come back, James Murphy. Music needs you." Reply

9999 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +7 votes (7 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2010

Appears in:

927 charts

Rank Score:

7,559

Rank in 2010:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

199

Average Rating:

82 (1,153 votes)

Comments:

23.

Yeezus

Kanye West

"I don't think anyone was expecting another My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, an album which is as good as any hip-hop release since 2000 or so, but I gotta be honest, what the hell are the critics listening to? If this was any other artist besides Kanye, they would've destroyed this album's lyri...""I don't think anyone was expecting another My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, an album which is as good as any hip-hop release since 2000 or so, but I gotta be honest, what the hell are the critics listening to? If this was any other artist besides Kanye, they would've destroyed this album's lyrical content, because the lyrics are not that great in some spots, but alright in others. Someone mentioned this and I think it could be possible, that critics were paid off to give praise to this album. The people giving this album 4.5-5 stars are insane, I love this album musically and it's something new and different for Kanye which I enjoy, but it seems critics chomp at the bit nowadays to praise something just because it's the slightest bit "experimental" which is absurd. As always on a Kanye album, the beats and production in my opinion are very good and the standout, on this album. But the lyrics in most spots just aren't good. There is no "All of the Lights", "Runaway" or "Blame Game" to be found on this album. And a big problem I have with Yeezus, is that whatever political statement and viewpoints he's trying to make and could feasibly be interesting to analyze and dissect is too muddled by all the immaturity in those same songs and unnecessary vulgarity, which seems to be a big theme by him lately as he's gotten older. Jesus Walks or Gold Digger even didn't have as much profanity or whatever, and it just seems like it comes off forced and him trying to portray himself as such a tough rapper even as he's closing in on 40. I'd give this album a slight recommendation. I think a 3.5/5 or 7/10 is fair. Kanye knows good music when he hears it and it shows through sometimes. He is excellent at getting guest artists and utilizing them to the best of their capabilities. Him collaborating with Justin Vernon I really feel has helped both of their careers because all the songs they've done together, to me have been memorable and Hold My Liquor is one of the best songs on this album. New Slaves and Blood On the Leaves would be the other 2 songs I recommend on this album. Check it out if you're a hip-hop fan or like modern music. Though the lyrics aren't that good in my opinion, there's a lot of other artists who are just as bad lyrically now too. Give me Kanye over 2 Chainz any day of the week lol." [+] Reply

- Ds0589 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +8 votes (21 helpful | 13 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2013

Appears in:

783 charts

Rank Score:

7,110

Rank in 2013:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

24.

Queens Of The Stone Age

"This is their best album and I Appear Missing is their best song. Furthermore this is the definition of all killer, no filler." Reply

- Aruji | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +18 votes (18 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2013

Appears in:

786 charts

Rank Score:

6,998

Rank in 2013:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

220

Average Rating:

83 (1,178 votes)

Comments:

25.

Safe Mode: On

Reflektor

Arcade Fire

"I remember seeing Win Butler on Colbert saying that he'd like to make people dance with a little tear coming down their face. That pretty much sums up this album, I've never had such a strong urge to dance and cry at the same time as I do listening to this album." Reply

andy_hunter | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +10 votes (13 helpful | 3 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2013

Appears in:

899 charts

Rank Score:

6,932

Rank in 2013:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

26.

"In a year when most of the hugely acclaimed releases sprang from the electronic genre (The Avalanches' "The Wildflowers", Blood Orange's "Freetown Sound" or ANOHNI's "Hopelessness", just to name a few) and the rest were experimental in some way (Frank Ocean's "Blond", Radiohead's "A moon shaped p..." [+] Reply

9999 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +9 votes (9 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2016

Appears in:

722 charts

Rank Score:

6,845

Rank in 2016:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

229

Average Rating:

83 (855 votes)

Comments:

27.

Safe Mode: On

The Money Store

Death Grips

"I'm not sure what just happened but I think I enjoyed it a lot." Reply

Mechalodon | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +23 votes (23 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2012

Appears in:

686 charts

Rank Score:

6,697

Rank in 2012:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

236

Average Rating:

82 (978 votes)

Comments:

28.

Igor

Tyler, The Creator

"Having only listened to “Flower Boy” from Tyler, I like “Igor” much much more. The atmosphere the album builds throughout its songs is very pleasing, and that's exactly what I loved about his past record. It's not 'agressive rap', which many times I don't quite like. It's more 'jazzy'; like somet..." [+] Reply

lleon79 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +11 votes (11 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2019

Appears in:

674 charts

Rank Score:

6,595

Rank in 2019:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

240

Average Rating:

83 (823 votes)

Comments:

29.

Damn.

Kendrick Lamar

"After giving this a half-dozen more listens, I've got a few thoughts: As has been mentioned, DAMN. asks the question "Who is Kendrick Lamar?" We think we know Kendrick. And we do, don't we? This is that Compton kid, that Section.80 kid, that good kid, who broke out of his M.A.A.D. city with one m...""After giving this a half-dozen more listens, I've got a few thoughts: As has been mentioned, DAMN. asks the question "Who is Kendrick Lamar?" We think we know Kendrick. And we do, don't we? This is that Compton kid, that Section.80 kid, that good kid, who broke out of his M.A.A.D. city with one mission: To give back. And how does Kendrick Lamar give back? By doing his best to give life, hope, and power back to his community, back to his black brothers and sisters. Is it enough? Fox News doesn't understand him. He's exhausted by the work. Blind women might shoot him dead if he's at the wrong place at the wrong time when he's just trying to do right. Why do we demand great things from Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar is not shy about comparing himself to Jesus, albeit implicitly. The complement to DAMN., I'm finding, is none other than Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: Another record about a distinct personality aiming to be understood. Kanye West is a brilliant, frustrating genius. On MBDTF, he asks that we forgive his humanity. DAMN. is coming from the other direction. We put Kendrick, King Kendrick, on a pedestal--one for which he did not ask. But he'll do what it takes to keep his family secure. He'll be the example his nieces and nephews need. He knows he's lucky to be a success. Yet, why can't he make mistakes? Why can't he let down his principles once or twice? Why can't he do a Maroon 5 feature for other reasons than to make some side cash? What does Kendrick Lamar owe us, if anything at all? DAMN. may not be a great record. Personally, I think it falls ever so short. Maybe that'll change for me. What I do believe is that, for once, Kendrick Lamar gets to tell his story. It doesn't have to be for Tammy or Keisha. It doesn't need to be about Compton. It doesn't need to be about the black experience in America. Maybe it's because he finally gets to speak to his wants and concerns, about his own well-being, that this, while not Kendrick's best work, is maybe his most important as an artist, because DAMN, it's really hard being Kendrick Lamar." [+] Reply

HoldenM | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +17 votes (21 helpful | 4 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2017

Appears in:

832 charts

Rank Score:

6,588

Rank in 2017:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

30.

Swans

"Fantano also gave The Money Store 10/10 yet you don't see it at the top of 2012.He thought MBDTF was average but BEA has it as second best of 2010.So no,it's not first because a famous critic gave it a perfect score." Reply

- newbands1 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +19 votes (20 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2014

Appears in:

647 charts

Rank Score:

6,053

Rank in 2014:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

268

Average Rating: