The albums that defined
the 2010s.
Our picks for where to start with 2010–2019 — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
The 2010s are streaming's first full decade, and music opens up. Genre walls collapse. Hip-hop becomes the dominant pop format, period — and pop, in turn, absorbs hip-hop's rhythms, its chord-free production, its conversational vocals. Beyoncé reinvents the album as event with Lemonade. Frank Ocean reinvents it as mystery with Blonde. Kendrick Lamar makes To Pimp a Butterfly and the Pulitzer-Prize jazz-funk-rap album becomes a thing that exists.
The decade rewards listeners who can hold contradictions: the most ambitious mainstream pop ever made and the most fragmented underground at the same time. Sufjan Stevens makes Carrie & Lowell on a laptop. Taylor Swift makes 1989 with the most expensive pop production team alive. Both are great. Country gets weirder. Indie gets quieter. Rock retreats to its niche but the niche is excellent.
Where to start: To Pimp a Butterfly for the decade's most ambitious record full stop, Lemonade for pop as auteur cinema, Blonde for headphone music as a statement of self, Currents for the bedroom-disco crossover that influenced everything after, A Crow Looked at Me for the singer-songwriter record that hits like nothing else in this century. The 2010s catalog is enormous; these are the doors back into it.
Top of the 2010s
Twenty-four picks from 2010–2019, ranked by where we would start.
Prince
Art Official Age
A vibrant fusion of funk, R&B, and electronic textures that showcases Prince's enduring creativity and playful lyrical wit.
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Prince
Piano & a Microphone 1983
An intimate showcase of Prince's raw talent, blending poignant piano melodies with heartfelt vocals in a stripped-back setting.
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Bastille
Haunt
Ethereal synth melodies intertwine with anthemic choruses, creating a blend of introspection and exuberance that defines Bastille's early sound.
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"Weird Al" Yankovic
Mandatory Fun
A playful mix of sharp wit and catchy melodies that satirizes contemporary culture through clever musical parodies.
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David Guetta
Listen
A vibrant blend of pulsating beats and catchy melodies that epitomizes the euphoric sound of contemporary dance music.
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"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alpocalypse
A playful blend of sharp satire and catchy melodies, encapsulating pop culture through humorous lenses.
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Bastille
Laura Palmer EP
A blend of atmospheric synths and emotive lyrics creating a haunting yet uplifting soundscape.
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David Guetta
Nothing but the Beat
This album encapsulates Guetta's signature sound, featuring hit tracks that exemplify his mastery of production and collaboration. It's accessible yet impactful, providing an excellent overview of his work.
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John Coltrane
Blue World
A collection of exploratory improvisations that breathe new life into classic Coltrane compositions with a meditative yet vibrant energy.
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John Coltrane
Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album
Exploratory and spontaneous, this album captures Coltrane's fearless improvisation in a lush sonic landscape of modal jazz.
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Kate Bush
Before the Dawn
A haunting blend of theatricality and introspection, merging lush instrumentation with Bush's ethereal vocals.
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Neil Young
Le Noise
Raw, electric soundscapes intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a stark yet intimate atmosphere throughout the album.
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Neil Young
Hitchhiker
A collection of introspective folk-rock ballads that reflect on personal and societal themes with Neil Young's signature raw honesty.
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Kate Bush
The Other Sides
An eclectic mix of reimagined classics and new material that showcases Bush's ethereal vocals and imaginative arrangements.
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Sarah Connor
Muttersprache
Intimate pop melodies intertwine with heartfelt lyrics, showcasing a mature vulnerability and depth in Sarah Connor's artistry.
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Sarah Connor
Real Love
A blend of heartfelt ballads and upbeat anthems showcasing emotive vocals over polished pop production.
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50 Cent
Animal Ambition
A gritty exploration of ambition and survival, layered with hard-hitting beats and introspective lyrics.
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50 Cent
5 (Murder by Numbers)
A gritty exploration of street life and ambition, underscored by sharp beats and 50 Cent's signature delivery.
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Markus Schulz
Thoughts Become Things II
A euphoric journey through progressive trance, blending melodic depth with pulsating rhythms and atmospheric soundscapes.
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Dr. Dre
Compton
A powerful blend of G-funk grooves and hard-hitting lyricism reflecting life in Compton's complex socio-political landscape.
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Markus Schulz
Do You Dream?
Euphoric melodies and driving beats intertwine seamlessly, creating an immersive sonic landscape that invites listeners to lose themselves in the music.
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Lily Allen
No Shame
An introspective blend of pop and R&B, laced with sharp observations and confessional lyrics that reflect personal and societal struggles.
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Lily Allen
Sheezus
A playful blend of pop and grime, laced with sharp wit and social commentary that reflects contemporary culture.
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Busta Rhymes
Year of the Dragon
A vibrant blend of rapid-fire verses and eclectic production, showcasing Busta Rhymes' dynamic style and lyrical dexterity.
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By genre
The 10s, one tradition at a time.