My Favourite Albums and Tracks of the Decade

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

1. Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs
2. AM by Arctic Monkeys
3. I Like It When You Sleep By The 1975
4. Complete Surrender by Slow Club
5. Avi Buffalo by Avi Buffalo
6. Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest 
7. Currents by Tame Impala
8. Congratulations by MGMT
9. Suck It and See by Arctic Monkeys
10. The Drums by The Drums
11. At Best, Cuckold by Avi Buffalo 
12. Teens of Denial by Car seat Headrest 
13. Serotonin by Mystery Jets
14. Lonerism by Tame Impala
15. Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend 
16. Light Upon the Lake by Whitney
17. Sometimes I Sit and Think by Courtney Barnett
18. Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
19. Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino by Arctic Monkeys
20. Father, Son, Holy Ghost by Girls
21. I’m all ears by Lets Eat Grandma
22. A brief enquiry Into online Relationships by The 1975
23. Do Hollywood by Lemon Twigs
24. Sunbathing Animal by Parquet Courts
25. Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Alternative Rock tracks

1. Love It If We Made It by The 1975
2. Beach Life in Death by Car Seat Headrest
3. It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala
4. Thinking of a Place by The War on Drugs
5. Sex by The 1975
6. Best of Friends by Palma Violets
7. Everything Now by Arcade Fire
8. Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys
9. Light Up Gold by Parquet Courts
10. Step by Vampire Weekend
11. Undercover of Darkness by The Strokes
12. Donnie Darko by Let’s Eat Grandma
13. Beautiful Blue Sky by Ought
14. Tell em by Sleigh Bells
15. Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
16. Seasons by Future Islands
17. Book of Stories by The Drums
18. Avant Gardener by Courtney Barnett
19. No Destruction by Foxygen
20. Fizzy by Sleaford Mods
21. Wreckin’ Bar by The Vaccines
22. I Didn’t Think It Would Hurt to Think if You by The Heartbreaks
23. Superball by Magic Kids
24. Archie, Marry Me by Alvvays
25. Zombie by Jamie T

Folk/Country/Singer-songwriter albums

1. Carrie and Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
2. U.F.O.F by Big Thief
3. A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie
4. Burn Your Fire For No Witness by Angel Olsen
5. Have One on Me by Joanna Newsom
6. Submarine by Alex Turner
7. Titanic Rising by Wyes Blood
8. Voyageur by Kathleen Edwards 
9. Without Why by Rose Elinor Dougall
10. On Your Own Love Again by Jessica Pratt
11. Benji by Sun Kil Moon
12. Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner
13. Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
14. Are We There Yet by Sharon Van Etten
15. Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell
16. Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club
17. Birthdays by Keaton Henson
18. Mid-Air by Paul Buchanan 
19. About Farewell by Aleala Diane
20. Prisoner by Ryan Adams
21. Beachcomber’s Windowsill by Stornoway 
22. I’m a Dancer by Sweet Baboo
23. Turn Out the Lights by Julien Baker
24. I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling 
25. A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart by Bill Ryder Jones

Folk/country/singer-songwriter tracks

1. Now Only by Mount Eerie
2. The Only Thing by Sufjan Stevens 
3. Mid Air by Paul Buchanan 
4. Mr Peterson by Pefume Genius
5. House Full of Empty Rooms by Kathleen Edwards
6. Ben’s My Friend by Sun Kil Moon
7. Your Love Is Killing Me by Sharon Van Etten
8. Sister by Angel Olsen
9. Lying to You by Keaton Henson
10. Marked by EMA
11. Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club 
12. Wrecking Ball by Ryan Adams 
13. Motion sickness by Phoebe Bridgers
14. Happy and Sad by Kacey Musgrives 
15. The Greatest Bastard by Damien Rice
16. Without You by Ryan Adams
17. Have One in Me by Joanna Newsom
18. Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens
19. Night Shift by Lucy Dacus 
20. Hey Ho by The Lumineers
21. Shark Smile by Big Thief
22. White Fire by Angel Olsen
23. Pretend You Love Me by Sonny and the Sunsets
24. Song for Zulu by Phosphorescent
25. I’m a dancer by Sweet Baboo

Pop albums

1. Melodrama by Lorde
2. Red by Taylor Swift
3. Progress by Take That
4. 1989 by Taylor Swift
5. 21 by Adele
6. The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake
7. Art Angels by Grimes
8. Caustic Love by Paolo Nutuni
9. Natalie Prass by Natalie Prass
10. In the Lonely Hour by Sam Smith
11. Pure Heroine by Lorde
12. Body Talk by Robyn
13. + by Ed Sheeran
14. Born to Die by Lana Del Rey
15. Lover by Taylor Swift
16. Nothing’s Real by Shura
17. Lupercalia by Patrick Wolf
18. Devotion by Jessie Ware
19. Night Driver by Busted
20. Emotion by Carly Rae Jepson
21. 5 Seconds of Summer by 5 Seconds of Summer
22. Family Jewels by Marina and the Diamonds
23. 24K Magic by Bruno Mars
24. Harry Styles by Harry Styles
25. Immunity by Clairo

 Pop tracks

1. Flesh Without Blood by Grimes
2. Dancing on My Own by Robyn
3. Royals by Lorde
4. Video Games by Lana Del Rey
5. Someone Like You by Adele 
6. We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
7. Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson
8. Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
9. I Really like You by Carly Rae Jepson
10. Everything Is Embarrassing by Sky Ferrara 
11. Pink and Blue by Hannah Diamond
12. Iron Sky by Paulo Nutini
13. Pretty Girl by Clairo
14. I Love It by Icona Pop
15. Hotline Bling by Drake
16. Sadness Is a Blessing by Lykke Li
17. The City by Patrick Wolf
18. What’s It Gonna be by Shura
19. Perfect by Ed Sheeran
20. Hollywood by Marina and the Diamonds
21. Good Grief by Bastille
22. Sign of the Times by Harry Styles
23. Break Free by Ariana Grande
24. Goodness Gracious by Ellie Goulding
25. Heart Skipped a Beat by Olly Murrs

Dance/Electronic/experimental albums

1. Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
2. Our Love by Caribou 
3. James Blake by James Blake
4. Vulnicura by Bjork
5. This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem 
6. Settle by Disclosure
7. It’s Album Time by Todd Terje
8. Hurry Up We’re Dreaming by M83
9. What is this Heart by How to Dress Well
10. Immunity by Jon Hopkins
11. In Colour by Jamie XX
12. SBTRKT by SBTRKT
13. Trouble by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
14. Funk Wav Bounces by Calvin Harris 
15. Within and Without by Washed Out
16. Glow by Tensnake
17. Swim by Caribou
18. Glass Swords by Rustie 
19. Sepalcure by Sepalcure
20. Surf Noir by Beat Connection
21. Personality by Scuba
22. Compassion by Forest Swords
23. Singularity by Jon Hopkins
24. Safe in the Hands of Love by Yves Turner
25. Compro by Skee Mask

Dance/electronic/experimental tracks

1. Get Lucky by Daft Punk
2. White Noise by Disclosure ft. Aluna George
3. Coma Cat by Tensnake
4. Dance Yrself Clean by Lcd Soundsystem
5. Wildfire by SBTRKT
6. Our Love by Caribou
7. CMYK James Blake
8. Ready for the World by How to Dress Well
9. Black Lake by Bjork
10. Gabriel by Joe Goddard
11. I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times by Jamie XX
12. In the Water by Beat Connection
13. The Shrew Would Have Cushioned the Blow by Joy Orbison
14. Delirium Dynamite by Todd Terje
15. Warmer Places by Delorean
16. Slide by Calvin Harris
17. Amor Fati by Washed Out
18. The Throw by Jagwar Ma
19. Cheerleader by OMI
20. Are You Leaving by Sassy 009
21. Your Love by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
22. Electricity by Silk City
23. I Need Air by Magnetic Man
24. In the Rain by Teengirl Fantasy
25. You Weren’t There Anymore by Negative Gemini

Hip Hop albums

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
2. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
3. RTJ2 by Run the Jewels 
4. Take Care by Drake
5. Good Kid Maad City by Kendrick Lamar
6. Colouring Book by Chance the Rapper
7. Goblin by Tyler the Creator
8. Konichiwa by Skepta
9. Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B
10. Yezus by Kanye West
11. Doris by Earl Sweatshirt
12. Damn by Kendrick Lamar
13. We Got It From Here by A Tribe Called Quest
14. Sir Lucius Left Foot by Big Boi 
15. Whack World by Tierra Whack
16. Daytona by Pusha T
17. Nothing Was the Same by Drake
18. Yesterday’s Gone by Loyle Carner
19. 1992 Deluxe by Princess Nokia
20. Igor by Tyler the Creator
21. Room 25 by Noname 
22. Forest Hills Drive by Jay Cole
23. Piñata by Freddie Gibb and Madlib
24. Surf by Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment
25. Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

Hip Hop tracks

1. 212 by Azalea Banks
2. Monster by Kanye West
3. Yonkers by Tyler the Creator
4. Close Your Eyes by Run the Jewels
5. Blessings by Chance the Rapper
6. Backseat Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar
7. How Much a Doller Cost by Kendrick Lamar
8. i like it by Cardi B
9. Headlines by Drake
10. Man by Skepta
11. French by Odd Future
12. Super-bass by Nicki Minaj
13. Shutdown by Skepta 
14. Pretty Girl by Stefflon Don
15. We the People by A Tribe Called Quest
16. Niggas in Paris by Kanye West and Jay Z
17. Ain’t Nothing Changed by Louie Carner
18. Starships by Nicki Minaj
19. New Slaves by Kanye West
20. If You Know, You Know by Pusha T
21. Funky Friday by Dave
22. Earl by Earl Sweatshirt
23. Vossi Bop by Stormzy
24. All Night by Big Boi
25. Black Beatles by Rae Stremmurd

Rock/Metal/punk/Emo albums

1. Stage Four by Touché Amore
2. You’re Gonna Miss It All by Modern Baseball
3. Here and Nowhere Else by Cloud Nothings
4. Days are Gone by Haim
5. Transgender Dysphoria Blues by Against Me
6. Sunbather by Deafheaven
7. Opposites by Biffy Clyro 
8. Morbid Thoughts by Pup
9. Holy Ghost by Modern Baseball
10. Yuck by Yuck
11. Cody by Joyce Manor
12. The Dream is Over by Pup
13. Drenge by Drenge
14. Need to Feel Your Love by Sheer Mag
15. High by Royal Headache
16. Love In the Time of Email by Antarctica Vespucci
17. Worry by Jeff Rosenstock
18. Neighbourhoods by Blink 182
19. Wild Pink by Wild Pink
20. Kill the Lights by Tony Molina
21. After Laughter by Paramore
22. Late Nights In My Car by Real Friends
23. Talon of the Hawk by Front Bottoms
24. Spanish Love Songs by Schmaltz
25. Science Fiction by Brand New

Punk/metal/emo/Rock tracks

1. Dvp by Pup
2. Your Graduation by Modern Baseball
3. I’m Not Part of Me by Cloud Nothings
4. Younger Us by Japandroids
5. Just Can’t Get Enough by Sheer Mag
6. Hard Times by Paramore
7. If I Could Change Your Mind by Haim
8. Biblical by Biffy Clyro
9. Friendly Ghost by Harlem
10. Fuckmylife666 by Against Me! 
11. We Used to Wait by Arcade Fire
12. Young Pros by Bass Drum of Death
13. I Remember by Bully
14. Best Intentions by Hodera
15. Popular Music by Life
16. Late Nights in my Car by Real Friends
17. Madness by Muse
18. Arlandria by Foo Fighters
19. Wasted Days by Cloud Nothings
20. Queen of My School by The Lemon Twigs
21. 21st Century Breakdown by Greenday
22. Bloodsports by Drenge
23. Sixteen Saltines by Jack White 
24. I Love You All the Time by Eagles of Death Metal
25. Cutting Class by Cerebral Ballzy

R&B/Soul albums

1. Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
2. House of Balloons by The Weeknd
3. Lemonade by Beyonce
4. Wild heart by Miguel
5. Blond by Frank Ocean
6. 4 by Beyonce
7. Woman by Rhye
8. Process by Sampha
9. LP1 by FKA Twigs
10. Drunk by Thundercat
11. Lost and Found by Jorja Smith
12. Cupid Deluxe by Blood Orange
13. The Electric Lady by Janelle Monae
14. Nostalgia Ultra by Frank Ocean 
15. Unbreakable by Janet Jackson
16. Mirrorwriting by Jamie Woon
17. Black Messiah by D’Angelo
18. CTRL by SZA
19. Beauty Beneath the Madness by The Weeknd
20. Hive Mind by The Internet
21. Take Me Apart by Kelela
22. Isolation by Kali Uchis
23. Devotion by Tirzah
24. Apollo XXI by Steve Lacy
25. A Seat at the Table by Solange

R&B/Soul tracks

1. Pyramids by Frank Ocean
2. BTSU by Jai Paul
3. What You Need by The Weeknd 
4. My Baby Don’t Understand Me by Natalie Prass
5. Take Care by Drake
6. Losing You by Solange 
7. Bad Religion by Frank Ocean
8. Can’t Feel my Face by The Weeknd
9. Just Hold On We’re Going Home by Drake
10. Love on Top by Beyonce
11. Fuck You by Car-Lo Green
12. Blinded by your Grace by Stormzy 
13. Don’t Matter to Me by Drake
14. Open by Rhys
15. Leaves by Miguel
16. Climax by Usher
17. Gee Up by Kindness
18. Best Thing I Never Had by Beyonce 
19. Man Down by Rihanna 
20. On My Mind by Jorja Smith
21. Young Dumb and Broke by Khalid
22. No Sleep by Janet Jackson
23. Want to Want me by Jason Durelo
24. Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
25. Jealous by Labyrinth 

New Arctic Monkeys and more…

You’ve probably heard ‘Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’ by now, but in case you’ve had your head in the sand for the past couple of days you can check it out below. I’m still undecided – whilst I’m positive that I like it, I certainly don’t love it and I have reservations about a few aspects of the sound and style – and I’ve never had any reservations about an Arctic Monkeys single before. The album ‘Suck It And See’ (yet more reservations about that title) will be out on the 5th June, it also includes ‘Brick by Brick’ (which I like) and ‘Piledriver Waltz’ (which I love!).

Also below is the new single from ex-Busted and Fightstar frontman Charlie Simpson, a song inspired by Jackson Browne and The Beach Boys. It’s yet another interesting change in direction for Simpson, someone I’ve always admired, and I look forward to hearing the album.

Then there is a new song from the recently deceased LCD Soundsystem, covering ‘Live Alone’, a stand out from Franz Ferdinand’s 2009 album ‘Tonight’.

Finally, Mellowhype (of Oddfuture) popped by to some American Tv show to give a performance of ’64’. Interestingly they are backed by another brilliant new band, ‘Bass Drum of Death’, and you can also check out their new single below.

Arctic Monkyes ‘Humbug’ – Review

Arctic Monkeys first performed at Reading and Leeds festival in 2005, in the smallest tent, to a packed audience that knew all the words before a single had been released. The following year they were back after the release of the fastest selling debut of all time to play beneath Muse. That performance was energetic and stunning but the band looked like rabbits caught in headlights, they rarely talked and when they did it was to apologize for one thing or another or to ask if the crowd were enjoying themselves. Of course they were, but the Monkeys seemed unsure of themselves and their talents. They were famous for refusing to play the game properly; stopping any song that may have been a hit, declining to appear on totp, and releasing an E.P just months after the album. Arctic Monkeys were scared to be rock stars.

They played Reading and Leeds again this week, just days after the release of ‘Humbug’, the follow up to the confused masterpiece that was ‘Favourite worst Nightmare’, and the difference was obvious. They dressed in leather and denim rather than tshirts and tracksuits, Alex peered confidently through black shades and cookie ripped out guitar solo after solo to the delight of the crowd. The band are still reluctant stars (and their attempt to squash their popularity and media coverage has been largely successful) but their new confidence is a wonder to behold.

It is most evident on ‘Humbug’, a record that is steeped in pop melody and rock n roll attitude. It is their most guns blazing record yet, but also their most subtle. Many have attributed this to two things – Producer Josh Homme and the ‘Last Shadow Puppets’ album – both are red herrings. Josh Homme does bring a lot to the table but it isn’t monster riffs and heavy feedback. Likewise this isn’t ‘Age of the understatemnt’ minus strings as some would have you believe. Many of these songs have been in gestation since 2007 (See ‘Fire and The Thud’ and ‘pretty Visiters’) and the change can be attributed to the new found confidence I was talking about.

The album opens with ‘My Properller’, a track that begins in a not dissimilar way to ‘View from The Afternoon’ or ‘Brianstorm’ but after only a few seconds it shifts into a mid tempo burner that See’s Alex singing some of the funniest lyrics he’s written. Its basically one big double entendre, as the album as a whole could well be – ‘Suck it and see’ they say of the album title. ‘Humbug’ reveals it’s charms over time, not instantaneously as their previous albums have, and this is best expressed in the opener and best symbolised by the title.

New single ‘Crying Lightning’ was an odd choice, and it hardly set the charts on fire in the way previous singles have. Nonetheless it is a wonderful track, lyrically the best thing they have ever done and musically setting the tempo and attitude for the tracks that follow. ‘Dangerous Animals’ and ‘Potion approaching’ are not a world away from ‘Crying Lightning’  but they are also fantastic tracks, restrained and moody with excellent production that brings the tunes to life. ‘Potion Aproaching’ is probably the only song that sounds like the band of old but even this  has twists and turns that surprise. ‘Would you like me to build you a Go Kart?’ Alex spits at then end after the tempo has shifted back and forth. It brings the first half (and this is an old fashioned, two sided album) to a belting close.

Whilst these early songs are heavy and intense there are some pretty moments as well. Cornerstone is the natural successor to ‘Mardy Bum’ and ‘Fluorescent Adolecent’ and for my money is the best thing they have ever done. It has an excellent story that involves the protagonist searching for a lookalike of his old girlfriend, ‘I asked her if I could call you her name’. Secret Door is also sweet with a sour aftertaste. Musically rich and classic, lyrically bitter and tormented. Many of the tracks deal with this similar theme of a mystery woman (presumably Alexa Chung’) who can make your propeller spin. It is at times sad to see the band move away from their observational territory and the move to more personal, mysterious imagery is not wholly successful. Nonetheless every now and then Alex proves he is still the best lyricist in England, as on ‘Pretty Visiters’, the fiercest song on here. ‘Split sleep reaps rewards and ill fitting thoughts’ he rambles; in classic Turner territory, once again.

Favourite Worst nightmare in retrospect sounds like a transitional record, equally made up of the post punk spirit of the debut and the psychedelic heavy pop of ‘Humbug’. Songs like ‘Dance Little Liar’ and ‘Jewelers Hands’ are the natural heirs to ‘If you were there beware’ and ‘This House is A Circus’ but there isn’t anything as exciting as ‘Teddy Picker’. Whereas James Ford treated those old songs in a modern, new rave inspired manner, Josh Homme went for a more traditional approach, recording in analogue at his home studio. Because of this the album sounds unique, strange and classic – like no other record this year, let alone another Arctic Monkeys one. Josh Homme has certainly proved himself as a producer and he has shaped ‘Humbug’ beuatifuly.

All things considered ‘Humbug’ is not a perfect record. For all its highlights it fails to match their previous albums for standout tracks and it doesn’t sound as fresh or as inspired. Musicly and lyricly it repeats itself to often and you sometimes long for something as fresh and funky as ‘Bet you Look Good on The Dancefloor’. However the band should be applauded for what they have achieved. It has been moulded as all classic albums have been – devoid of any filler, thematically cohesive, divided into two halves and packaged in a brilliant sleeve. That they did not self destruct as so many before have is in itself a miracle and therefore any faults ‘Humbug’ has are easily forgiven. You get the impression that even better is to come and I think this will be viewed as their ‘Rubber Soul’ in years to come; at least I hope so.

‘Humbug’ is as accomplished and confident as anything I’ve heard all year. Not as fresh and genius as their debut perhaps but much more thought out and certainly better crafted. All things considered ‘Humbug’ proves thatArctic Monkeys are still the best British band around.

9/10