Now that the firework smoke and resolutions from the New Year have safely floated into the ether, it’s time for another “Best of the Decade” list. The 2010s were an amazing decade to be a music fan. Smartphones and streaming services like Spotify made it easier and cheaper to listen to anything, anytime, anywhere. I listened to so much great music in the past 10 years, it was tough for me to narrow this list down to only 50 albums. I created a Spotify playlist featuring a song from each album, which you can listen to by clicking here.
I wanted to write a brief description of each of these, but my real job got in the way. If I missed your favorite album, let me know in the comments.
2010-2019
Caleb’s favorite albums
Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate
Jason Isbell - Something More than Free
Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
Dawes - Nothing is Wrong
Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth
War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
Decemberists - The King is Dead
Lana Del Rey - NFR!
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
Beach House - Teen Dream
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for my Halo
Lizzo - Cuz I Love You
Adele - 21
Antlers - Burst Apart
Blood Orange - Freetown Sound
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear
Black Keys - Brothers
The National - High Violet
Solange - A Seat at the Table
Beyonce - Lemonade
Future Islands - The Far Field
Craig Finn - Clear Eyes Full Heart
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
Phosphorescent - Muchacho
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Lorde - Heroine
Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Chris Stapleton - Traveller
Nathaniel Rateliff - Tearing at the Seems
Beirut - The Rip Tide
Mumford & Sons - Wilder Mind
Valerie June - The Order of Time
Florence & the Machine - Between Two Lungs
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
Margo Price - Midwestern Farmer's Daughter
Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
Lana Del Rey - Born to Die
Sharon Van Etten - Are We There
The XX - Coexist
Leon Bridges - Coming Home
Childish Gambino - Awaken My Love
War on Drugs - Deeper Understanding
Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
Brittany Howard - Jamie
Arctic Monkeys - AM
Ashley McBride - Girl Going Nowhere
Ray Lamontagne - Ouroboros
Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar