The following lists contain a bunch of albums and tracks that made a mark on me over the past decade and continue to resonate years later. Some are clever, some are dumb. Some have gone some way to innovate or influence but many don’t have that universal significance; they may simply be personal mementos or soundtracks to memories. Few would argue that ‘Complete Surrender’ by Slow Club is the artistic equivalent of Kendrick’s ambitious and groundbreaking ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ but guess which one I would rather take on a desert Island? These lists, with their neat orders, therefore, are personal snapshots and are not designed to be authoritative in any one, strict sense. They are, in a roundabout way, the albums I have loved and listened to the most over the past ten years. I’ve divided them loosely by genre (which in and of itself is a challenge – how do you categorise an artist like Grimes, whose very existence hinges on her ability to blur the lines between genres?) in an effort to bring some coherence to the task.
If it’s hard to select my favourite albums of the decade then it’s harder still to select tracks – not least because individual songs are perhaps even more dependent on their context. How could one compare a delicate piano ballad like Paul Buchanan’s ‘mid air’ to Daft Punk’s inescapable and irrepressibly catchy ‘Get Lucky’? Ask me what my favourite song is and it will depend very much on my mood, the time of day, what I’ve had to drink and the activity I’m partaking in. For example; Nothing shook me quite like ‘212’ by Azealia Banks, a song that followed me around the clubs the summer I graduated from University. Nothing moved me quite like Perfume Genius’ ‘Mr Peterson’, a song so fragile and spare that its very existence almost feels impossible. If I’m being clear headed then no song summarises the decade as perfectly as ‘Love It If We Made It’ by The 1975, which is somehow the funniest, smartest and scariest post-modern pop song of the century. It sounds like right now. And yet this song I have listened to more than any other is surely ‘DVP’ by PUP, a driving punk anthem that sounds as if it could have been released at any point over the past thirty years. It’s not that any one of these songs is better or the best. You wouldn’t mosh to ‘Mid Air’ and you wouldn’t shed a tear for ‘DVP’. No song alone is definitive or all encompassing.
All that said, If I could choose just one album to represent this decade it would be Kanye’s ‘Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’, an album which staggered me at the time and, miraculously, still has that capacity ten years on. Kanye’s audacity and ambition, his technical mastery, and his singular vision made it a truly groundbreaking record in 2010. It made me look at Hip Hop in a new way and everything that’s happened to the genre since has grown in its shadow. It was fascinating to watch Kanye untangle and wrestle with his own notorious neuroses. He was then, and still is, the most extraordinarily unique star and ‘My Beautiful, Dark Twisted Fantasy’ is perhaps the only moment in which he’s ever tried to face up to his own reflection. It’s deep and dippy and like nothing I’ve heard before or since. I still hear new things every time I spin it (which is often).
So without any further ado…
Alternative Rock albums
- Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs
- AM by Arctic Monkeys
- I Like It When You Sleep By The 1975
- Complete Surrender by Slow Club
- Avi Buffalo by Avi Buffalo
- Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest
- Currents by Tame Impala
- Congratulations by MGMT
- Suck It and See by Arctic Monkeys
- The Drums by The Drums
- At Best, Cuckold by Avi Buffalo
- Teens of Denial by Car seat Headrest
- Serotonin by Mystery Jets
- Lonerism by Tame Impala
- Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend
- Light Upon the Lake by Whitney
- Sometimes I Sit and Think by Courtney Barnett
- Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
- Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by Arctic Monkeys
- Father, Son, Holy Ghost by Girls
- I’m all ears by Lets Eat Grandma
- A brief enquiry Into online Relationships by The 1975
- Do Hollywood by Lemon Twigs
- Sunbathing Animal by Parquet Courts
- Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Alternative Rock tracks
- Love It If We Made It by The 1975
- Beach Life in Death by Car Seat Headrest
- It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala
- Thinking of a Place by The War on Drugs
- Sex by The 1975
- Best of Friends by Palma Violets
- Everything Now by Arcade Fire
- Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys
- Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts
- Step by Vampire Weekend
- Undercover of Darkness by The Strokes
- Donnie Darko by Let’s Eat Grandma
- Beautiful Blue Sky by Ought
- Tell em by Sleigh Bells
- Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
- Seasons by Future Islands
- Book of Stories by The Drums
- Avant Gardener by Courtney Barnett
- No Destruction by Foxygen
- Fizzy by Sleaford Mods
- Wreckin’ Bar by The Vaccines
- I Didn’t Think It Would Hurt to Think if You by The Heartbreaks
- Superball by Magic Kids
- Archie, Marry Me by Alvvays
- Zombie by Jamie T
Folk/Country/Singer-songwriter albums
- Carrie and Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
- U.F.O.F by Big Thief
- A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie
- Burn Your Fire For No Witness by Angel Olsen
- Have One on Me by Joanna Newsom
- Submarine by Alex Turner
- Titanic Rising by Wyes Blood
- Voyageur by Kathleen Edwards
- Without Why by Rose Elinor Dougall
- On Your Own Love Again by Jessica Pratt
- Benji by Sun Kil Moon
- Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner
- Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
- Are We There Yet by Sharon Van Etten
- Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell
- Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club
- Birthdays by Keaton Henson
- Mid-Air by Paul Buchanan
- About Farewell by Aleala Diane
- Prisoner by Ryan Adams
- Beachcomber’s Windowsill by Stornoway
- I’m a Dancer by Sweet Baboo
- Turn Out the Lights by Julien Baker
- I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling
- A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart by Bill Ryder Jones
Folk/country/singer-songwriter tracks
- Now Only by Mount Eerie
- The Only Thing by Sufjan Stevens
- Mid Air by Paul Buchanan
- Mr Peterson by Pefume Genius
- House Full of Empty Rooms by Kathleen Edwards
- Ben’s My Friend by Sun Kil Moon
- Your Love Is Killing Me by Sharon Van Etten
- Sister by Angel Olsen
- Lying to You by Keaton Henson
- Marked by EMA
- Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club
- Wrecking Ball by Ryan Adams
- Motion sickness by Phoebe Bridgers
- Happy and Sad by Kacey Musgrives
- The Greatest Bastard by Damien Rice
- Without You by Ryan Adams
- Have One in Me by Joanna Newsom
- Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens
- Night Shift by Lucy Dacus
- Hey Ho by The Lumineers
- Shark Smile by Big Thief
- White Fire by Angel Olsen
- Pretend You Love Me by Sonny and the Sunsets
- Song for Zulu by Phosphorescent
- I’m a dancer by Sweet Baboo
Pop albums
- Melodrama by Lorde
- Red by Taylor Swift
- Progress by Take That
- 1989 by Taylor Swift
- 21 by Adele
- The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake
- Art Angels by Grimes
- Caustic Love by Paolo Nutuni
- Natalie Prass by Natalie Prass
- In the Lonely Hour by Sam Smith
- Pure Heroine by Lorde
- Body Talk by Robyn
- + by Ed Sheeran
- Born to Die by Lana Del Rey
- Lover by Taylor Swift
- Nothing’s Real by Shura
- Lupercalia by Patrick Wolf
- Devotion by Jessie Ware
- Night Driver by Busted
- Emotion by Carly Rae Jepson
- 5 Seconds of Summer by 5 Seconds of Summer
- Family Jewels by Marina and the Diamonds
- 24K Magic by Bruno Mars
- Harry Styles by Harry Styles
- Immunity by Clairo
Pop tracks
- Flesh Without Blood by Grimes
- Dancing on My Own by Robyn
- Royals by Lorde
- Video Games by Lana Del Rey
- Someone Like You by Adele
- We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
- Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson
- Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
- I Really like You by Carly Rae Jepson
- Everything Is Embarrassing by Sky Ferrara
- Pink and Blue by Hannah Diamond
- Iron Sky by Paulo Nutini
- Pretty Girl by Clairo
- I Love It by Icona Pop
- Hotline Bling by Drake
- Sadness Is a Blessing by Lykke Li
- The City by Patrick Wolf
- What’s It Gonna be by Shura
- Perfect by Ed Sheeran
- Hollywood by Marina and the Diamonds
- Good Grief by Bastille
- Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
- Break Free by Ariana Grande
- Goodness Gracious by Ellie Goulding
- Heart Skipped a Beat by Olly Murrs
Dance/Electronic/experimental albums
- Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
- Our Love by Caribou
- James Blake by James Blake
- Vulnicura by Bjork
- This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem
- Settle by Disclosure
- It’s Album Time by Todd Terje
- Hurry Up We’re Dreaming by M83
- What is this Heart by How to Dress Well
- Immunity by Jon Hopkins
- In Colour by Jamie XX
- SBTRKT by SBTRKT
- Trouble by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
- Funk Wav Bounces by Calvin Harris
- Within and Without by Washed Out
- Glow by Tensnake
- Swim by Caribou
- Glass Swords by Rustie
- Sepalcure by Sepalcure
- Surf Noir by Beat Connection
- Personality by Scuba
- Compassion by Forest Swords
- Singularity by Jon Hopkins
- Safe in the Hands of Love by Yves Turner
- Compro by Skee Mask
Dance/electronic/experimental tracks
- Get Lucky by Daft Punk
- White Noise by Disclosure ft. Aluna George
- Coma Cat by Tensnake
- Dance Yrself Clean by Lcd Soundsystem
- Wildfire by SBTRKT
- Our Love by Caribou
- CMYK James Blake
- Ready for the World by How to Dress Well
- Black Lake by Bjork
- Gabriel by Joe Goddard
- I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times by Jamie XX
- In the Water by Beat Connection
- The Shrew Would Have Cushioned the Blow by Joy Orbison
- Delirium Dynamite by Todd Terje
- Warmer Places by Delorean
- Slide by Calvin Harris
- Amor Fati by Washed Out
- The Throw by Jagwar Ma
- Cheerleader by OMI
- Are You Leaving by Sassy 009
- Your Love by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
- Electricity by Silk City
- I Need Air by Magnetic Man
- In the Rain by Teengirl Fantasy
- You Weren’t There Anymore by Negative Gemini
Hip Hop albums
- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
- To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
- RTJ2 by Run the Jewels
- Take Care by Drake
- Good Kid Maad City by Kendrick Lamar
- Colouring Book by Chance the Rapper
- Goblin by Tyler the Creator
- Konichiwa by Skepta
- Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B
- Yezus by Kanye West
- Doris by Earl Sweatshirt
- Damn by Kendrick Lamar
- We Got It From Here by A Tribe Called Quest
- Sir Lucius Left Foot by Big Boi
- Whack World by Tierra Whack
- Daytona by Pusha T
- Nothing Was the Same by Drake
- Yesterday’s Gone by Loyle Carner
- 1992 Deluxe by Princess Nokia
- Igor by Tyler the Creator
- Room 25 by Noname
- Forest Hills Drive by Jay Cole
- Piñata by Freddie Gibb and Madlib
- Surf by Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment
- Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
Hip Hop tracks
- 212 by Azalea Banks
- Monster by Kanye West
- Yonkers by Tyler the Creator
- Close Your Eyes by Run the Jewels
- Blessings by Chance the Rapper
- Backseat Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar
- How Much a Doller Cost by Kendrick Lamar
- i like it by Cardi B
- Headlines by Drake
- Man by Skepta
- French by Odd Future
- Super-bass by Nicki Minaj
- Shutdown by Skepta
- Pretty Girl by Stefflon Don
- We the People by A Tribe Called Quest
- Niggas in Paris by Kanye West and Jay Z
- Ain’t Nothing Changed by Louie Carner
- Starships by Nicki Minaj
- New Slaves by Kanye West
- If You Know, You Know by Pusha T
- Funky Friday by Dave
- Earl by Earl Sweatshirt
- Vossi Bop by Stormzy
- All Night by Big Boi
- Black Beatles by Rae Stremmurd
Rock/Metal/punk/Emo albums
- Stage Four by Touché Amore
- You’re Gonna Miss It All by Modern Baseball
- Here and Nowhere Else by Cloud Nothings
- Days are Gone by Haim
- Transgender Dysphoria Blues by Against Me
- Sunbather by Deafheaven
- Opposites by Biffy Clyro
- Morbid Thoughts by Pup
- Holy Ghost by Modern Baseball
- Yuck by Yuck
- Cody by Joyce Manor
- The Dream is Over by Pup
- Drenge by Drenge
- Need to Feel Your Love by Sheer Mag
- High by Royal Headache
- Love In the Time of Email by Antarctica Vespucci
- Worry by Jeff Rosenstock
- Neighbourhoods by Blink 182
- Wild Pink by Wild Pink
- Kill the Lights by Tony Molina
- After Laughter by Paramore
- Late Nights In My Car by Real Friends
- Talon of the Hawk by Front Bottoms
- Spanish Love Songs by Schmaltz
- Science Fiction by Brand New
Punk/metal/emo/Rock tracks
- Dvp by Pup
- Your Graduation by Modern Baseball
- I’m Not Part of Me by Cloud Nothings
- Younger Us by Japandroids
- Just Can’t Get Enough by Sheer Mag
- Hard Times by Paramore
- If I Could Change Your Mind by Haim
- Biblical by Biffy Clyro
- Friendly Ghost by Harlem
- Fuckmylife666 by Against Me!
- We Used to Wait by Arcade Fire
- Young Pros by Bass Drum of Death
- I Remember by Bully
- Best Intentions by Hodera
- Popular Music by Life
- Late Nights in my Car by Real Friends
- Madness by Muse
- Arlandria by Foo Fighters
- Wasted Days by Cloud Nothings
- Queen of My School by The Lemon Twigs
- 21st Century Breakdown by Greenday
- Bloodsports by Drenge
- Sixteen Saltines by Jack White
- I Love You All the Time by Eagles of Death Metal
- Cutting Class by Cerebral Ballzy
R&B/Soul albums
- Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
- House of Balloons by The Weeknd
- Lemonade by Beyonce
- Wild heart by Miguel
- Blond by Frank Ocean
- 4 by Beyonce
- Woman by Rhye
- Process by Sampha
- LP1 by FKA Twigs
- Drunk by Thundercat
- Lost and Found by Jorja Smith
- Cupid Deluxe by Blood Orange
- The Electric Lady by Janelle Monae
- Nostalgia Ultra by Frank Ocean
- Unbreakable by Janet Jackson
- Mirrorwriting by Jamie Woon
- Black Messiah by D’Angelo
- CTRL by SZA
- Beauty Beneath the Madness by The Weeknd
- Hive Mind by The Internet
- Take Me Apart by Kelela
- Isolation by Kali Uchis
- Devotion by Tirzah
- Apollo XXI by Steve Lacy
- A Seat at the Table by Solange
R&B/Soul tracks
- Pyramids by Frank Ocean
- BTSU by Jai Paul
- What You Need by The Weeknd
- My Baby Don’t Understand Me by Natalie Prass
- Take Care by Drake
- Losing You by Solange
- Bad Religion by Frank Ocean
- Can’t Feel my Face by The Weeknd
- Just Hold On We’re Going Home by Drake
- Love on Top by Beyonce
- Fuck You by Car-Lo Green
- Blinded by your Grace by Stormzy
- Don’t Matter to Me by Drake
- Open by Rhys
- Leaves by Miguel
- Climax by Usher
- Gee Up by Kindness
- Best Thing I Never Had by Beyonce
- Man Down by Rihanna
- On My Mind by Jorja Smith
- Young Dumb and Broke by Khalid
- No Sleep by Janet Jackson
- Want to Want me by Jason Durelo
- Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
- Jealous by Labyrinth