Year: 2015
Original Rank: Honorable Mention on my 2015 lists
Genre: Rock
Lead singer Frances Quinlan's growl is unlike anything else you'll hear in modern rock music. The Philadelphia outfit was originally a solo project for Quinlan and still smartly uses her as its differentiator on this record that shines from top to bottom.
Year: 2018
Original Rank: 23/25 ranked on my 2018 lists
Genre: Indie
This debut record from Baltimore based Snail Mail is the intersection of dreampop and emo. The *ahem* lush instrumentation is at the forefront while the teenaged Jordan rehashes the themes of the decade she was born in her lyrics. A follow up has not yet been released, but logic says one should soon be on the horizon.
Year: 2014
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2014 lists
Genre: Alternative
Lost In The Dream pays homage to the '80s, layering chugging drums and synthesizers under some top shelf rock music. "Red Eyes" was the lead single, but the album leading "Under The Pressure" became the band's first charting single in the US.
Year: 2010
Original Rank: Honorable Mention on my 2010 lists
Genre: Indie
Echoing what I said in my 2019 recaps... Danger Mouse tends to make everything better. This side project of the producer and frontman James Mercer of the Shins burst onto the scene with massive singles "The High Road" & "The Ghost Inside" right at the turn of the decade.
Year: 2013
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2013 lists
Genre: Indie
San Fermin was the result of a classically trained composer collaborating with 22 friends to make what essentially amounted to an art project. The outcome was a spectacular collection of indie pop songs with some of the more unique and distinct instrumentation that you'll encounter anywhere.
Year: 2010
Original Rank: 4/10 ranked on my 2010 lists
Genre: Alternative
Former Blink-182 guitarist Tom Delonge started Angels & Airwaves in the wake of Blink to further his obsession with the universe at large. This record features massive hooks alongside shimmering guitars and any vaguely space like sound you could possibly create. The band put out a feature length film to accompany the release.
Year: 2016
Original Rank: 1/20 ranked on my 2016 lists
Genre: Alternative
Retreating a bit from the sound of his previous record, A Sailor's Guide To Earth was Simpson's memo to his newborn son on how to live his life. The record was nominated for the general classification Album of the Year Grammy, earning Simpson a performance slot on the show.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2011 lists
Genre: Folk
Fleet Foxes, despite only having three albums to their name, would be counted among the influences and inspirations of many other entries on this list. Robin Pecknold's 12-string and his meticulous song composition is certainly worthy of such praise, and it's all on display in this early decade release.
Year: 2013
Original Rank: Honorable Mention on my 2013 lists
Genre: Alternative
This side project from Justin Vernon and Phil Cook produced a fun record of blues infused alternative rock. These songs vary widely from Vernon's more traditional offerings, but nonetheless pack the songwriting and musical punch that you would expect from something carrying his name. This is the band's only formal release.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2012 lists
Genre: Punk
Borrowing from the Pitchfork review of this record: "[Parquet Courts] are slackers in the most classical sense, conjuring up just about every post-collegiate, pre-responsibility tendency you can think of." This is a maturely immature record, one that seems whip smart and absolutely moronic at the same time.
Year: 2010
Original Rank: 7/10 ranked on my 2010 lists
Genre: Rap
Kanye West, no matter how much you want to believe otherwise, is one of the voices of our generation. Many consider this 2010 release to be his masterpiece, and while it is certainly a great effort, he has some marginally better in my mind.
Year: 2015
Original Rank: 10/10 ranked on my 2015 lists
Genre: Americana
Chris Stapleton broke the country music mold with Traveller. It's not a stretch to say that he is responsible for ending the bro-country era in Nashville. Traveller has broken almost every conceivable sales record, including remaining the best selling country music vinyl of 2019, a full half decade after its release.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2012 lists
Genre: Pop-Punk
Sports is a record made by people who have rarely, if ever, played them. It's the story of seemingly damaged people, ones nibbling at the outskirts of society and yet making it work just the same.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2012 lists
Genre: Punk
One of the more aggressive offerings on this list, Attack On Memory is Cloud Nothings as a bunch of pissed off kids looking for an outlet. It's a quick hitter (just over 30 minutes in total), but the record gets to the point and it's got plenty of catchy hooks.
Year: 2012
Original Rank: 6/10 ranked on my 2012 lists
Genre: Rock
Springsteen's first record of the 2010s is by far his best, showcasing The Boss at his most rock n' roll in decades. This recording was the last to feature legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons in any capacity.
Year: 2011
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2011 lists
Genre: Folk
The Seattle band's debut finds them at their best and most vulnerable. Reliant on big three-part harmonies over sparce instrumentals, the record has a very old time sentimental feel. "Rivers & Roads" has become woven in the fabric of pop-culture after a few prominent features in TV and movies.
Year: 2016
Original Rank: 13/20 ranked on my 2016 lists
Genre: Indie
In one of the largest tonal shifts on this ranking, Bon Iver released 22, A Million as a pseudo electronic record. Bypassing his traditional acoustic folk compositions made this record feel unpredictable musically, however the songs were strong as ever. This opened a new era of Bon Iver.
Year: 2019
Original Rank: 1/25 ranked on my 2019 lists
Genre: Rock
Jack White's other other band made the best record of 2019 by sticking to the garage rock sound that has made him so famous. The writing here is top notch and the album delivers that sense of satisfaction that is sometimes difficult to find in a straightforward guitar driven record.
Year: 2013
Original Rank: Not ranked in my 2013 lists
Genre: Indie
Winner of the 2013 Mercury Prize, Overgrown is the vehicle that brought on the fully realized version of James Blake that we see today. "Retrograde" is the best example of the electronic soul music Blake does so well and is one of the better songs of the decade.
Year: 2016
Original Rank: 20/20 ranked on my 2016 lists
Genre: R&B
Fresh off his featured spots on Dr. Dre's Compton in 2015, Anderson .Paak released his breakout Malibu. His R&B/Soul stylings are effortlessly paired with more traditional rap trademarks to present a varied and complete record that will keep you on your toes from start to finish.
Check back tomorrow as the countdown continues with #40-#21.
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