Top 30 Albums Of The Decade

The 2010's were a very transformative time in the music industry, and saw a steady evolution of what kind of music was considered "popular". Pop music as we knew it in the 2000's stayed constant with artists such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, but new artists emerged such as Adele, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande that kept this genre alive. This decade also saw the increasing popularity of Hip-Hop, Rap and R&B carried by powerhouses such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Nicki Minaj. These were probably the main genres that defined the 2010's, but every kind of style in between remained constant in between the cracks. This was the decade that brought me some of my favorite artists and albums of my lifetime. The list is comprised of not only my favorite albums to listen to from this decade, but also those that were critically acclaimed by music reviewers and the Recording Academy. I tried my best to include those albums that I believe are the best technically, but also the best based on my personal opinion. Also to avoid potential overkill, I limited myself to only two albums per artist. All that being said, here is my list of the top 30 albums that helped define the decade for me.

30. Sweetener- Ariana Grande (2018)

Ariana Grande was a staple artist of the 2010s. She released all five of her albums thus far within this decade and her fourth effort Sweetener was one of my personal favorites. This album received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike, but me and the Recording Academy agree that this one of her best. Sonically this was a departure from her usual dancey pop, but her new laid back sounds were a pleasant surprise. Cohesive and uplifting, this album showed the strongest sides of Grande after one of the hardest periods of her life, and demonstrated that no matter how tough things get, she will come back even better than she ever was.

29. Heard It In A Past Life- Maggie Rogers (2019)

Rogers' debut album so masterfully and cleverly combines her folk roots from her childhood with electronic sounds and dance music. In this album, Rogers' is credited as a writer, performer and producer for all 12 amazing tracks. She really had a hand in every process of making this album exactly what she wanted, and she does so with such artistry and maturity. Her voice soars on every single song, giving a kind of indie pop inflection that doesn't ever seem forced or gimmicky. Beyond that, her production is entrancing and inventive, providing us with sounds we've never heard before. This is easily one of the best indie albums of the decade.

28. Bloom- Troye Sivan (2018)

Troye Sivan's sophomore album is one that makes significant strides for the LGBTQ+ community. It is one of the first pieces of art I've experienced that talks about gay love in a completely normalized way, as it should. Sivan very bravely discusses his love, crushes and relationships with boys in the exact same way the media has portrayed straight relationships since the beginning. Aside from the lyrical content, Troye's music is the definition of vibey. A masterclass in synth pop, this album can make you dance and sway while still giving you the freedom to lay down and chill to it. His soothing voice mixed with bright production and profound lyrics will have you entranced from start to finish.

27. Mylo Xyloto- Coldplay (2011)

This album was my introduction to Coldplay, a band that had been beloved and hated by many. Although not my favorite band in the world, Coldplay really outdid themselves with this extremely fun and energetic folk-pop effort. Mylo Xyloto allowed the band to step into the world of pop while still staying true to their original laid back sound. Singles such as "Paradise" and "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" dominated mainstream radio back in 2011, but deep cuts like "Major Minus" and "Up In Flames" demonstrate that Coldplay can do much more than write some catchy tunes for the masses. The production and instrumentation on this record are near flawless, and when mixed with Chris Martin's soft yet demanding vocal, you have a masterful body of work.

26. 24K Magic- Bruno Mars (2016)

As Bruno Mars was one of the most successful and well-known artists of the 2010's, it only seemed fitting that I include his Grammy award winning third studio album 24K Magic. This smooth and sultry disco album brings us some of Mars' best anthems yet, from the smash hit title track to the sexy "Versace On The Floor". The production brings us back to the 70's disco era while still managing to ground us in the sounds of today. Mars' lyrics have never been more mature, and his voice overpowers it all, sometimes reaching extreme pitches I didn't even know possible. This award winning album is universally recognized as his best yet, but I have a feeling we will see much more of him in the 2020's. Get ready Recording Academy.

25. thank u, next- Ariana Grande (2019)

Already reaching my second Ariana Grande pick on the list, we have her fifth studio album thank u, next. This album was written, recorded and released in just four months following the release of Sweetener. After that short of a period of time she still somehow managed to release her best album yet. The songs on this record are the most cohesive out of any of her albums, and the production is out of this world. Every single song on this album is great. Following the tone she sets on Sweetener, Ariana has never sounded more comfortable in her own voice with her blend of soft, airy production, her usual pop star belt, and the return of her whistle tones. This feels like the album that critics and fans alike will reference when talking about the mega star for years to come.

24. Lights- Ellie Goulding (2011)

Ellie Goulding was one of the first breakout artists of the 2010's that I was absolutely enthralled with. Her voice is simply mesmerizing and her debut album captures her talent perfectly. This is traditional pop, but not as you have ever heard it before. Goulding brings something new and fresh to the genre with Lights and it is a style that makes you want to listen forever. The title track spent 57 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at the number 2 spot. Other stand out tracks include the whimsical and masterfully produced "Guns and Horses", the lyrically beautiful ballad "The Writer", the pop smash "Your Biggest Mistake", and her absolutely breathtaking cover of Sir Elton John's "Your Song". The album artwork perfectly captures the essence of this album; bright, soothing and beautiful.

23. Night Visions- Imagine Dragons (2012)

Next up we have another artist that captured my attention in the early part of the decade and kept my attention all the way through. Although some may laugh and call Imagine Dragons the blandest and most cookie cutter band of the decade (can't relate), few can deny that Night Visions is still their most impressive work to date. Opening the album with radio smash hit "Radioactive", this album draws you in from the get go and keeps you there till the anthemic ending "Nothing Left To Say". This album is as cohesive as it is fun, but lyrically you might have to take a few listens to explore its depth. Lead vocalist Dan Reynolds' performance on this album is one to be matched, and the musicality of the rest of the band deserves just as much praise. The album explores banjo folk music, pop hits like "It's Time" and alternative rock, blending multiple genres into an interesting and invigorating sound. They may be the internet's new Nickelback, but they will forever be one of my favorite bands.

22. The Blessed Unrest- Sara Bareilles (2013)

Perhaps the most prolific singer-songwriter of the 21st century so far, Sara Bareilles lands my number 22 spot with The Blessed Unrest. If I had to use one word to describe this album, I would simply use the word "beautiful". The beauty of this album never stops from start to finish, and it is undoubtedly Bareilles' greatest work yet. The first track on the album, "Brave" spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and yet it gives the listener almost no insight into how the rest of the album sounds. Tracks like "Hercules", "Satellite Call" and "Cassiopeia" really give you a good idea as to how odd the sounds Bareilles uses on the album are, but also how entrancing they can be. The production is unlike anything you have ever heard from an album of this genre, and it has yet to be replicated by anyone else. There is a good reason this masterclass of songwriting, singing and producing was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys.

21. Dirty Computer- Janelle Monáe (2018)

Monáe's third studio album is a beautiful, important work of art by an inspirational and revolutionary artist. The music on this particular album is a pop and R&B hybrid that has an infectious sound you can vibe to. The lyrics of this album make enormous strides for women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community. She discusses themes such as racism, sexism and homophobia all while layering on an irresistible beat. Her vocal is so nuanced and powerful, and her extraordinary bars are unexpected from an artist who has such amazing singing chops. The sexy pop anthem "Make Me Feel" may have been the breakthrough radio hit, but the rap song "Django Jane" and lyrically poignant "Americans" are really the thematic cornerstones of the record. This is an extremely important album for all listeners, and it is one of my most highly recommended of the decade.

20. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - Billie Eilish (2019)

Billie Eilish's debut album starts off my top 20 albums of the decade. This record blends pop, rock, alternative and singer-songwriter music. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? was written entirely by Eilish herself and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the entire album singlehandedly. The reason this album works is because of O'Connell's masterful and inventive production that samples things such as taking out an Invisalign retainer and the crosswalk sounds in Australia. Each track feels entirely new and unlike anything you've ever heard before. This album is macabre and almost frightening while somehow still being fun and dancey. Eilish's soft vocal that sometimes feels almost like whispering is absolutely entrancing to listen to, even if her voice isn't the most conventionally powerful. Each song on this album transports you to a new world and covers extremely mature topics such as drug use and suicide. At only the age of 17, Eilish managed to release a timeless album that sticks out from many of her more seasoned counterparts.

19. A Thousand Suns - Linkin Park (2010)

Linkin Park found fame in creating head-thrashing nu metal found in their breakout albums Hybrid Theory and Meteora. However, after a decade together as a band, Linkin Park found themselves in a stale part of their career. They didn't set out to make an album. Rather, they were playing with different sounds and mixes just to see if it would spark inspiration. What they found was that these "cacophonous samples", as they put it, could find a home in a new kind of non-conventional album. A Thousand Suns plays with these interesting sounds in a whimsical and mysterious way that draws listeners in with curiosity if not anything else. The album flows brilliantly from the very first second of "The Requiem" all the way to the heart-breaking ballad, "The Messenger" delivered by the late great lead vocalist Chester Bennington. There is rarely a stop in the sound, giving the illusion that the entire album is one song; one thought. It is one of the best produced albums of all time, and it is clear that each and every member of the band put their hearts and careers on the line to create this experimental yet extremely successful project.

18. The Search for Everything - John Mayer (2017)

John Mayer has been around for a very long time, and during his time in the music industry he has created quite the soundscape. Over the course of his 6 previous studio albums, Mayer explored many different genres including pop, rock, folk, country and singer-songwriting. He delves into these different styles while still maintaining his signature sound. His seventh album, The Search for Everything is a beautifully masterful combination of, and homage to all of the different sounds he has explored and created throughout his career. "Helpless" feels very much like a cut track off of his extremely successful Continuum, whereas "In the Blood" definitely feels like it could belong in Born & Raised. Although Mayer is far from retiring, this album feels like a capstone to an incredible career full of groundbreaking songs and virtuosic guitar playing.

17. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry (2010)

If you listened to the radio from 2010-2012, odds are you heard almost the entirety of this album. Out of the 12 tracks on the original release of Teenage Dream, seven of those became singles, and five of those singles hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In fact,

Perry was the first woman and second artist ever (after Michael Jackson) to receive five number one singles from one album. Katy Perry was all over the radio following the release of this record and for good reason. This is one of the only albums that I consider to be a pop masterpiece. Every single track on this album is a total hit. The production is flawless and Perry's vocals really showed the world just how talented she is. This record will go down in history as a defining moment not only of the 2010's, but of pop music forever.

16. Trench - Twenty One Pilots (2018)

Twenty One Pilots third major studio release was one that made a huge splash in the alternative rock scene. The sounds created in this album are not necessarily brand new, but they follow the alternative formula so well that they were extremely playable on alt radio. That being said, TOP has always had a way of incorporating pop sounds that make them a great crossover band, accessible for all types of listeners. Beyond the sonics of this record, Tyler and Josh used the lyrics and the visuals for the album to create an amazing story about a character named Clancy who has to escape the dark city of Dema (representing his own depression) and find refuge in Trench. This story was unfolded through layers of online clues and connecting dots from previous albums, as well as award show speeches and narratives displayed in the music videos. The average listener would never know any of this, but to the extreme fan this record was about so much more than the music, making it one of the most intelligent projects of the decade.

15. Melodrama - Lorde (2017)

Lorde's sophomore effort was a slow burn for me, but once I let it sit, I began to notice just how much of an artistic masterpiece it is. Nominated for Album of the Year, this record showed the world just how much of a force to be reckoned with Lorde is. Her vocal on this album is poignant yet eery, her tone melancholy yet entrancing. This is one of those projects that completely proves how important production can be to the success of an album. Although Lorde's vocals and impeccable songwriting lend a great deal to the record, it is Jack Antonoff's production that makes this project a smash. It is filled with weird and quirky sounds never been done before and sensations that bring Lorde's songs to life. Songs such as "Green Light" and "Perfect Places" may be the ones that get any sort of radio play, but it is the entire project as a whole that will turn Lorde into one of the greats in the music industry.

14. 1989 - Taylor Swift (2014)

Taylor Swift's career has taken her through many different phases of life and through many different genres. 2012's Red saw her dabble in pop music, but her fifth studio album 1989 began her career as a full-fledged pop star. This is the other album other than Teenage Dream that I consider to be pop perfection. From top to bottom this album is a synth pop dance party, and one that Taylor Swift pulls off extremely well, considering her country heritage. This album produced hit singles such as "Blank Space", "Style", and "Bad Blood". When this album was released, the radio stations went wild for her infectious pop sound, but what many people don't realize is that the entire album is full of classics, including lesser known songs "Welcome To New York", "How You Get The Girl" and "Clean". This was a career defining moment for Swift, and even still to this day she is one of the strongest forces in pop music and music in general.

13. Wasting Light - Foo Fighters (2011)

The Foo Fighters remain one of the only traditional rock bands still making music, and their seventh studio album, in my opinion, is perhaps the greatest of the genre made in recent memory. Dave Grohl and gang somehow managed to make one of their best albums 16 years into their career. The album is a headbanger from top to bottom and will please any fans of classic rock. That being said, this album also has some modern influence that makes it somewhat accessible for the average listener (except for maybe "White Limo" of course). Tracks like "Rope" and "Walk" (which landed the group a Grammy for Best Rock Song at the 54th awards ceremony) are reminiscent of the rock genre, but are also very forward looking to the pop sounds of the 2010's. It is a masterful album filled with out of this world instrumentation and natural talent, and Grohl's vocal is so powerful and stylistically perfect that any listener will be in awe of the musicianship of this band.

12. Lover - Taylor Swift (2019)

Speaking of seventh studio albums that are career toppers, I present Taylor Swift's Lover as my number 12 pick. Much like the aforementioned 1989, this album is a pop lover's paradise, filled with synth sounds and bright production that will send the listener into an all out dance party. That being said, this album is different in that it goes much further than upbeat, fun and good vibes. This is easily Taylor's most mature album to date. Many would argue that Red should take that title, but this album speaks more to her growth as a woman and as an artist. Songs like "The Man" speak about the injustice of gender imbalances, slow ballad "Soon You'll Get Better" pleads for her mother's healing in a battle of cancer. and "You Need To Calm Down", although somewhat cookie cutter musically, declares that marginalized parties deserve the same rights as those in favor with the public eye. Her lyrics and story telling in this album clearly show that she is a seasoned adult in the music industry, and they are complimented so well by the amazing sounds created by main producer Jack Antonoff, and Swift's bright vocals that have never sounded better before. This is a capstone album for Taylor Swift's career, but also an exciting transition into the next phase of her life and music.

11. Halcyon - Ellie Goulding (2012)

The sophomore slump in the music industry is a very real thing. It means that many times artists will release an amazing first project that is followed by a second effort nowhere near as good. Ellie Goulding did the exact opposite. Her sophomore album is by far her greatest work, and one of the best pop albums created in recent memory. This album is eery and dark and really makes you think about how artistic a pop album can go. Goulding found a balance of high art and accessible pop music that is masterful. This is a work of art that could go toe to toe with the likes of Lorde's Melodrama and Linkin Park's A Thousand Suns, but its infectious melodies could also stand up to Teenage Dream and 1989. That's what sets this album apart. It is a genre bending, yet somehow conforming piece of artistry that masterfully demonstrates how a widely popular artist can change the game while still maintaining her popularity. Ellie Goulding's unique voice matches the sonics of the album perfectly, and the way she manipulates her own vocal production is the sign of a true musician. But it's the way this album makes the listener feel that is at the core of its success. It is a record that inexplicably latches onto your soul from the first few notes of the intro all the way to the end, and for that alone it should be celebrated.

10. 21 - Adele (2011)

We have finally reached the top 10. Starting it off is one of the greatest voices to ever come into the music industry, Adele. When Adele started her music career at the age of 19, she only had a very small fanbase and really only one breakthrough hit with "Chasing Pavements". However, when she released her sophomore album 21, the world went crazy. This album is a masterclass in singing. Her range and power that she manipulates with ease is something incredible to behold for listeners everywhere. This album brought about smash hits "Rolling in the Deep", "Rumour Has It", "Set Fire to the Rain" and "Someone Like You". Each of these songs prove that Adele can write a radio hit, but what they don't tell you is just how profound the rest of the album is. Every song is so carefully written and composed to show you the beauty of Adele's mind and voice. The way she cares for every single pitch she sings is just magnificent, and her weighty lyrics that most frequently deal with heartbreak are deeply intellectual for someone only the age of 21. This is surely a staple album of the 2010's and it proves just how great music can still be.

9. Native - OneRepublic (2013)

Ryan Tedder, lead singer of OneRepublic, is one of the most well-known pop songwriters of the decade, writing for the likes of Beyoncé, Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and many more. With those names in mind, you would think that OneRepublic would be a one man band that produced only radio singles. Although that might be the case today, in 2013 my attention was turned to one of the greatest indie pop-rock records of all time. Native explores a rich soundscape that infuses pop, rock, folk and many other genres to produce something that should sound experimental, but actually comes across as polished and perfected. Tedder's vocal is out of this world, but it is really the rest of the band and the masterful production that brings this album all together. Few can forget the radio play of "Counting Stars", but even fewer will truly understand how deep this album goes, exemplified by tracks like "I Lived", "Can't Stop" and "Au Revoir". This is a record that has truly withstood the test of time for me, and every time I come back to it I am amazed at how much nostalgia it brings about, but also how much it holds up to the music of today.

8. Blurryface - Twenty One Pilots (2015)

Coming to my second TOP pick of this list is the album that put the alternative duo on the map. Blurryface is an extraordinary exploration of the pain and suffering that comes with depression and anxiety, and it does so with upbeat, alt-pop compositions. Coming off of their first major studio release Vessel, no one expected this band to crossover into the mainstream world, but they did it masterfully with songs like "Stressed Out", "Ride", and "Tear In My Heart". That being said, not every track on this record would have done well on the radio, and the band very intelligently maneuvers through mainstream sounds and their signature quirkiness that made me fall in love with them in the first place. Tyler's vocal here is so strident and unique, but also so traditionally conventional, proving that he is a vocalist unlike any other. Josh's percussion is the driving force throughout the record and it is clear that if taken away, we wouldn't have such an amazing product. Together their production is uncommon and individualistic, but they somehow manage to make it accessible to any listener. Another album that withstands the test of time, I encourage anyone to go back to this today and see for themselves just how masterful of a record this truly is.

7. Hamilton Cast Album (2015)

An unconventional yet necessary pick, I have the revolutionary Hamilton Cast Album as my number 7 pick. Written by musical theater legend Lin Manual Miranda, this new musical opened on Broadway in 2015 and absolutely stunned audiences. Very quickly tickets became nearly impossible to acquire and people all around the world were buzzing about the new broadway smash sensation. This musical tells the story of America's founding fathers using the modern sounds of hip-hop and rap. When writer Miranda discovered Ron Chernow's biography on Alexander Hamilton, his immediate thought was that this historical figure embodied what hip-hop stands for. Although most would consider this an outlandish idea, the way the music in this show is crafted proves just how much of a genius Miranda is. The music also features elements of pop, jazz and R&B to produce something absolutely revolutionary and fresh. After listening to this album on repeat for 4 years and seeing the show twice, I can 100% say that it lives up to the hype. Everything about this show is brilliant, and what it has done for musical theater is nothing short of amazing. This is the greatest piece of theater created in the 21st century, and the cast album will remain a reminder of just how much of a masterpiece this truly is.

6. ÷ (Divide)- Ed Sheeran (2017)

Ed Sheeran is one of the clearest breakout artists of the decade. His debut album + (Plus) made a huge impact in the UK upon its initial release in 2011, and eventually made headway in the US with hit single "The A Team". By the time his third album was released in 2017, Sheeran was a global superstar. This album has it all. It is a top of the line pop album that features sounds from many different regions of the world including Ireland and Africa. These sounds are a result of a three year media hiatus in which he traveled around the world and met new people that really helped him to open up to new musical and lyrical ideas. This is an album that truly has something for everybody, from bright pop to R&B and hip-hop influence to smooth and beautiful singer-songwriter styles. His uptempo hits may be what draw you into this infectious album, but anytime Ed Sheeran strips his sound down to his undeniable voice and acoustic guitar, you know why he became famous in the first place. Don't let "Shape Of You" fool you into thinking this is just another basic radio trash album. This record will go down in history as one of the most popular and worthy albums of the decade. After all there's a reason this album tour is the highest grossing of all time.

5. Born & Raised - John Mayer (2012)

Top 5 here we go. As I said before, John Mayer is someone who has dabbled in so many different sounds that it is almost impossible to fit him into a single genre. His fifth studio album Born & Raised is perhaps his most stylistically bewildering work he has ever released. Following his most rock influenced albums Continuum (2006) and Battle Studies (2009), the world surely did not expect Mayer to release a folk-country album that relies almost entirely on an acoustic guitar and laid back percussive and vocal elements. However, what he created in this experimental phase of his career was his best album to date. This is one of those albums that makes you feel something inexplicable. It takes you on a very relaxed journey that is so encapsulating, it is hard to let go and think about anything else. Nothing on this album is over the top or that exciting, but the way it so accurately portrays the human experience in such subtle and nuanced ways is nothing short of extraordinary. John Mayer is such an incredible lyricist, and if the sonics of this album don't excite you, surely his poetry will. The way he uses words to capture an essence of emotion is something that so many artists nowadays can't do. Every time I revisit this album I am reminded of how brilliant of a musician John Mayer is, and I encourage all listeners to dive into this extraordinary work of art.

4. After Laughter - Paramore (2017)

Paramore is a band that is most notably known for their emo roots and intense lyrics on hits like "Misery Business". Their second studio album Riot! is what really put them on the map, but unfortunately after that record, many people stopped following the amazing evolution that Paramore undertook. After many heartbreaking years of personnel changes and lost friendships, Paramore seemed to be a lost cause. But when lead guitarist Taylor York became inspired by so many new sounds and ideas, he convinced lead vocalist and powerhouse Hayley Williams to keep the band alive. The project that this inspiration produced is one that will go down as one of the band's finest. This album is best described as a New Wave album with elements of electro pop. It is a huge departure from Paramore's early sounds, but nothing truly shocking once you look at the band's previous evolutions and trajectories. This record describes the absolute darkest parts of the human experience, and Williams' painful lyrics show you just how troubling of a time she and the band went through. That being said, if you didn't pay attention to what she was saying, you would have absolutely no idea that this album is about hard times (pun intended) and depression/anxiety. The instrumentation, production and vocal styles are all bright and upbeat, and some of the most fun sounds I have ever heard from an album. The juxtaposition of heartbreaking lyricism and buoyantly playful sonics create a musical experience that is unlike any other. Cry hard, but dance harder.

3. X (Multiply) - Ed Sheeran (2014)

Although his third studio album may have been a memorable collection of different styles and bright production, it is Ed Sheeran's second album that really stands out from the rest. X (pronounced Multiply) differs from Divide in that it really sticks to the genres of pop and singer-songwriter and does so beautifully. It is extremely cohesive and a masterclass in song-writing and composition. This is the album that really showed the world just how amazing of a musician and vocalist Sheeran truly is. Tracks like "I'm a Mess" and "Thinking Out Loud" show just how vulnerable of a lyricist he can really be while singles "Sing" and "Don't" show just how fun and tongue in cheek he is. This album mostly relies on his acoustic guitar and famous loop pedal, but it isn't as stripped back as you might think. Sheeran finds ways to create amazingly playful sounds with his instrument, and utilizes creative production to enhance the effect. This is the album that I would use to demonstrate what kind of a powerhouse and musician Ed Sheeran is even more so that his other works, because in his laid back production and live instrumentation, he shows that he can create something popular and award worthy with only his natural talent and hard work. After all, it isn't every day that an album and an artist comes along that can sell out three consecutive nights at Wembley Stadium and release a successful documentary about the experience. I hope that this goes down in history as Sheeran's greatest album of the decade, because to me it is a no-brainer.

2. Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves (2018)

Kacey Musgraves is an artist that somehow went unnoticed by me until the release of this spectacular record. Her Grammy Award winning third studio album Golden Hour at its most basic description is a country album, but I don't think it can quite be placed into any genre of music that exists at this moment in time. This is one of those rare albums that completely transcends music. It very quickly became so much more than an album to me; it became a life experience. It describes such specific parts of the human condition that I didn't even know you could put into words. Kacey so eloquently writes lyrics that will hit you in the gut and make you cry from their shear beauty. Her music will lull you into a dreamy world that you never want to leave. Beyond that, the production of this record is so hypnotizing and calming. It is like you have been put to sleep and had the most amazing sensory dream about a world filled with love and absent of any war. This description sounds absurd, but from the moment the first strum of "Slow Burn" reaches your ears, you understand just how fascinating this musical experience is. I don't imagine that this record will ever age or become outdated. It is too critically tied to how humans feel and act that it will remain an essential album in many people's lifelong collections.

1. Paramore - Paramore (2013)

Here we finally are at not only my favorite album of the decade, but my favorite album of all time. This album followed the split of Paramore's lead guitarist and drummer, brothers Josh and Zac Farro. This separation caused a lot of turbulence in where the band was headed, and in my opinion it could not have been better for Paramore. This personnel change allowed the band to really explore different sounds and areas of music apart from their emo Warped Tour signature sound. This album is the product of that exploration, and it is a record filled with bright pop, heavy rock, ukulele interludes and tear-jerking ballads. All those sounds together may sound like a recipe for disaster, but this album flows so naturally. The ups and downs of this record really draw you in and make you want to keep listening all the way to the end. The most recognizable song from this album is smash hit "Ain't It Fun", which won the group their only Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. This is a career defining song for them and it really gives a great glimpse into what this album is all about. It is fun and upbeat, but poignant and strong lyrically. Hayley's vocal throughout the album is probably her most impressive because of her natural ability to switch genres so frequently, and make every single song sound fresh. Jeremy Davis' bass lines do so much more than add a foundation to the music and Taylor York's lead guitar is as fun and inventive as ever before. This album truly has it all for me and the amount of nostalgia that it brings about is incredible. I credit this project as the album that helped me to define my musical taste, and it is the cornerstone for all of the records you saw on this list. This album deserves all the praise in the world, and I just know that many years down the line, this will be the Paramore record that gets the highest of praises.