As some you may be aware, I quite like my music. Whether I’m been studying for my exams in my bedroom, or I’ve been walking home at 3am in the morning after being on the lash all night, 90% of time I’m listening to music. As most people my age, the music which I’ve listened to throughout the last decade has highly influenced my personality and friendships. On top of this, being the age which I am, albums released within 2010’s have had a major impact on my early life. Whilst making this list, I’ve narrowed it down mostly through my own personal opinion but also, to a certain extent, the context which surrounded the albums at the time which they were released. Let’s have it.
But first, some Honourable mentions –
Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
Everything Everything – Get To Heaven
Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost
The Maccabees – Marks To Prove It
The Last Shadow Puppets - Everything You've Come To Expect
10) David Bowie – Blackstar
A harrowing start to the list, Blackstar probably would not have made my top ten if it wasn’t for the context surrounding the album. The British Icon died two days after the release of the album which makes the lyrics, especially within the songs ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Blackstar' (both of which are also are accompanied by two extremely emotive videos), incredibly daunting. The album brings together art-rock and jazz which leaves an amazing sound throughout and proves the already known transitional genius of Bowie. If this truly was always made to be Bowie’s parting gift to the world, Bowie remained the same mysterious genius and poet he was throughout his career and this was the most beautiful of send-offs.
Top Track – ‘Lazarus’
9) The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
If this album came about five years earlier, not only would it probably have been number one, but also one of the most highly decorated indie-rock albums of the 21st century. Hard-hitting with a head-banging sound, the debut album from The Vaccines brought an album jam-packed with anthems which would get any crowd going wild. Unlike most on this list, this album doesn’t take its place based around its lyrical genius and message, but mostly due to its classic indie and fast-paced sound, and the overall fun which accompanies it.
Top Track – Probably hasn’t aged the best from a lyrical perspective, but ‘Norgaard’
8) Slaves - Are You Satisfied?
The first Slaves album opened up my ears to a completely new genre of music which I had barely listened to before the arrival of Are You Satisfied? back in 2015. The whole album is just a lot of fun from start to finish. Songs such as ‘The Hunter’, ‘Cheer Up London’ and ‘Hey’ are catchy, loud and the catalyst for some of the best live performances which I have been lucky enough to attend over the years. The songs are short, simple but release a wave of high energy and is just a joy from start to finish.
Top Track – ‘The Hunter’
7) IDLES – Joy As An Act Of Resistance
As someone once said to me recently, Joy As An Act Of Resistance is an album which defines a generation, and they got it spot on. One thing I love with a record is when it grows and grows on you the more you listen to it and understand the meaning behind it. IDLES created no exception here. An assumption many make is to judge punk-rock solely by its heavy-hitting sound, but this album is essential due to its lyrical message and the issues which IDLES address throughout. Such things as toxic-masculinity, grief, immigration and, of course, Brexit are all brought up throughout the album which led to IDLES create one of most necessary albums of the latter years of the decade.
Top Track – ‘Never Fight A Man With A Perm’
6) Foster The People – Torches
‘Pumped Up Kicks’ became a massive hit for Foster The People back at the earlier stages of the decade, weirdly enough, my least favourite song on the album. Torches has always been one of my favourite albums as it was a record which kick-started my love for indie music. Saying that, it is hard to categorise the album into one genre as it goes from indie to a mixture of pop as well. I don’t think there is one weak song on the album whatsoever with catchy tracks from ‘Call It What You Want’ to ‘Don’t stop (Color on the Walls)’, to more harmonic tunes such as ‘Warrant’ and ‘Waste’. Not only this, but the album also boasts one of my favourite album artworks – not too sure why.
Top Track – opener ‘Helena Beat’ and closer ‘Warrant’
5) DMA’s - Hills End
I don’t want to compare them but growing up too young to fully appreciate Oasis at the peak of their career, DMA’s are the worthy modern-day version. The Australian band’s debut album was one which I became obsessed with straight from the first listen and I can’t believe that they haven’t got as big as the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen and Blossoms. Songs on the album such as ‘Delete’ and ‘Play It Out’ beautifully show the great vocals of lead singer Tommy O’Dell whilst hard-hitting tracks such as ‘Melbourne’ and ‘Lay Down’ display the blistering Rock’n’Roll side of the album. A belter of a debut record.
Top Track – ‘Play It Out’
4) Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
For an album that was released at the start of the decade, The Suburbs seems just as relatable at the end of it. Themes such as loss of innocence, childhood and anxiety of growing old and the changing world surrounding one, all feature to make this the Grammy award winning masterpiece that it is. The album is lyrically amazing and creates a sense of something almost apocalyptic lurking around the corner throughout. The album constantly changes from high-tensed tracks such as ‘Empty Room’ to slower, smoother songs such as ‘Deep Blue’ but there always remains a lingering feeling of dread and anxiety about the future whilst also being scared of growing older. In all, Arcade Fire started the decade with one of the most well-structured and harmonic albums of the next ten years.
Top Track – Album opener, ‘The Suburbs’ which sets the tone for the whole album
3) Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love
This top three left me in a bit of a pickle as all are unreal albums. But anyway, who remembers Paolo Nutini? The Scottish singer-songwriter produced one of my most beloved ever albums in 2014 with Caustic Love and I wait for his return. The album has a great mixture of Soul, Motown, Blues and a little bit of funk. Once more, it seems criminal that this album has flown under the radar with many despite its success in the charts. The instrumentals used throughout the album create and amazing sound, especially evident in songs such as ‘One Day’ and ‘Diana’ – both magical songs. But the song which stands out on this album, and perhaps my favourite song of all time, is the amazing ‘Iron Sky’ which is not only Nutini’s greatest work, but one of the biggest musical triumphs of the last decade.
Top Track – Take a guess.
2) The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream
No doubt the most emotional record on this list. Lost In The Dream displays one of the most beautiful mixtures of strong, meaningful lyrics and dazzling chord changes. Frontman Adam Granduciel tackled his struggles with depression and isolation to create one of the most formidable albums I have ever listened to. Every song just gets better and better the more it goes on. Also, I don’t think I have ever emotionally connected to an album as much as this stunning sensation from The War On Drugs. Songs such as ‘Under The Pressure’, ‘An Ocean In Between The Waves’ and ‘Disappearing’ are long and magical with amazing guitar-riffs and Granduciel’s voice helps to compliment this. The whole album takes you on an emotive, engrossing journey into the mind of those experiencing a mentally dark phase of their lives and, the more I listen to it, the more I come to love it and the band who created this masterclass of a record
Top Track – ‘Red Eyes’
1) Arctic Monkeys – AM
Yeah, it just had to be didn’t it? Pure, raw Rock’N’Roll helped Arctic Monkeys create not only in my eyes, but in the eyes of many, the greatest album of the last decade. From the dramatic opener of the drums in ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ to the harmonic ending of ‘I Wanna Be Yours’, Arctic Monkeys created a perfect album. The record was inspired by numerous sounds including Hip-Hop and R&B which was mixed together with a darker rock sound which Turner and co had never created before. This helped to make this the defining album of their career that many didn’t think was possible since their debut album of 2006. Many late nights and days have been spent listening to this album and there isn’t a clear best song on the album with each bringing their own sound, rifts and catchy chorus’s. We can only hope that Arctic Monkeys can reach the heights of AM once more in the next decade.
Top Track – bloody all of it.
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