The Couch's Top Albums of the Decade
- Dec 30, 2019
- 16 min read
© Micah Veldkamp, 2019
We're fast approaching the end of 2019, and though 'tis the season to fondly look back at our favorite highlights from the year in entertainment and sports, 2019 marks a different occasion: the end of the decade. As the 2nd decade of the 21st century comes to a close, we here at The Couch want to take a moment to look back not just at this year, but at the last ten years.
We don't assume to speak for everyone reading, but certainly for all of us who participate in this blog, it has been the most formative decade of our lives, and one that has seen an absurd amount of change on the global level. More pertinent to what this blog writes about, pop culture has witnessed massively changing trends and enormous advancements in art of all types. In this piece, we celebrate specifically the music of this decade. This is a decade which has seen music of all genres provide memorable lyrics and catchy hooks, tell painful, honest, and relatable stories, rile listeners up with its energetic braggadocio, and cause all of us to listen, think, and remember. We have seen the rise of teens in music, those whose talent gradually won us over during the course of these 10 years (Justin Bieber, every member of One Direction), those who we would rather never see be popular again (early Rebecca Black, Bhad Babie), and those whose ingenuity exploded onto the scene (Lorde, Billie Eilish, Li'l Nas X). We have witnessed the hip-hop crown being passed from enigmatic-- some would say problematic --icons in Chicago and Detroit to a spazzy poet from Compton and a crass former stripper from the Bronx. We have seen legends of the indie/alternative rock circuit show their staying power by bookending the decade with some of their finest work.
We recognize many of these aforementioned artists, and more in this piece, listing the best of our favorite 25 albums of the decade. This list, of course, just scratches the surface of all the great music we have heard over the last 10 years, but it represents a varied and aggregated music taste between five of us. Your panelists are Couch regulars Daniel Woodiwiss, Michael Rondello, and Daniel Baas, as well as first-time contributors Bekah Waalkes and Gabriel Woodiwiss (little brother of the Editor-in-Chief, owes his entire music taste to his cool older brother). All of us compiled our personal decade rankings and spit out a Top 25 based upon a combination of how many of us loved a certain album, and how intensely we loved it.
Be sure to check out the Spotify link at the bottom! And first, 14 albums (because 25+14 = 39 ... 20+19 = 39.... ja feel?) that we also think very highly of, but just barely missed our cut:
ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott
Black Panther: The Album, Various Artists
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
DAMN., Kendrick Lamar
DAYTONA, Pusha T
Emotion, Carly Rae Jepsen
Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
High Violet, The National
I Love You, Honeybear, Father John Misty
Lost In The Dream, The War On Drugs
Lover, Taylor Swift
Random Access Memories, Daft Punk
This Is Happening, LCD Soundsystem
Traveller, Chris Stapleton
Now, here are your Top 25 albums of the decade, according to The Couch:
25. St. Vincent, St. Vincent (2014)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 0
1st-place votes: 0
Annie Clark has been in the music game for over 15 years now, and already was part of significant musical acts as a member of the massive choral rock group The Polyphonic Spree, and of the touring band for indie icon Sufjan Stevens. But it was as a solo artist, by the name of St. Vincent, that Clark came into her own, and it was St. Vincent's self-titled album that well and truly announced her as the next best thing in rock n' roll. Rocking a new look that can only be described as "methhead Einstein," St. Vincent came into 2014 with guns blazing on this record. Right from the opening chords of "Rattlesnake," you are drawn in, headbanging, knee drumming, fascinated and confused. I can't think of a more apt description for St. Vincent than the one provided by the artist herself: "it's a party record you could play at a funeral." No doubt about that: this album more than any of her others is the most energetic yet dystopian in scope, and put simply, kicks the most ass. -Daniel Woodiwiss
24. Cuz I Love You, Lizzo (2019)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 0
1st-place votes: 0
If you don’t like this album, then you probably had a lame summer and are a boring person. Just kidding! But really, Lizzo’s third studio album (and first majorly commercially successful album) was THE soundtrack to late spring/early summer 2019 and it is pretty near perfection, and not just for early fans like me who have been obsessed since the “Good As Hell” days. Lizzo’s energy and talent shines through here on every song and it’s a damn delight. Please join me in praying for Cuz I Love You B-Sides in 2020. -Bekah Waalkes
23. Currents, Tame Impala (2015)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
Kevin Parker’s music project Tame Impala emerged as one of the best indie rock bands with the release of Lonerism in 2012, but Currents is the peak of Parker’s career. The record took Tame Impala’s sound in a pop direction, drawing from disco and R&B influences, while remaining true to the signature psychedelic rock essence of the project with Parker’s trippy guitar riffs. Tame Impala has the most unique sound of any of the great indie rock artists from the last ten years, and that is evident on Currents. The album was eventually certified gold by the RIAA and “The Less I Know the Better” was certified platinum. Tame Impala established itself as one of the best rock acts of this generation with this record; another legacy-making release consistent with many of the other albums on this list. -Michael Rondello
22. Body Talk, Robyn (2010)
Top 25 lists: 1
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 1
If you haven’t been out at Rocky’s when “Dancing on My Own” comes on around midnight, then you might not understand this pick, and you definitely don’t understand me at all-- cause Body Talk is my personal number one album of the decade. This work of Swedish pop perfection came out in 2010 and has been changing lives--and dance floors--ever since. Sure, there are one or two slight lows on the album (“Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do” among them) but even these are nothing when overshadowed by mega-hits like “Dancing on My Own” and “Hang With Me” and “Indestructible.” Honestly, I can’t think of another album that has held up so delightfully for an entire decade! -Bekah
21. channel ORANGE, Frank Ocean (2012)
Top 25 lists: 1
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 1
Chances are you are either surprised to see this album on the list, or stunned to see this album ranked so low. Such is the nature of Frank Ocean, who while being a huge name in the music world, still hasn't fully broken into the mainstream conscience: you might know him, but if you know him, you likely love him. This album, his first, took him from underground Internet sensation to critical acclaim, earning him a place on most music publications' year-end rankings, and a nomination for 6 Grammys (including Album of the Year and Best New Artist). Over seven years-- and a couple albums -- later, channel ORANGE still holds up not just as Ocean's finest work, but as an album for the ages. From the soulful crooning of "Thinkin Bout You" to the hard-hitting dance funk of "Pyramids," to the heartbreaking introspection on "Bad Religion," Frank weaves personal tales and audio recordings from friends and family throughout the album like the prodigious storyteller he is. -Daniel Woodiwiss
20. The 20/20 Experience, Justin Timberlake (2013)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
JT had long been a mainstay on the pop charts before the release of his enormous double-album in 2013, but part 1 of 20/20 was undoubtedly his best body of work yet, and remains his best to date. Smooth, sexy, and suave are the best words to describe this modern-day crooner’s approach, and the listener is quickly drawn under Timberlake’s spell upon hearing the opening orchestral strings of “Pusher Love Girl." Backed by a chart-topping single featuring Jay-Z and lush production from long-time collaborator Timbaland, this album helped Timberlake briefly rise above former acolytes and new competitors, such as Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars. -Gabriel Woodiwiss
19. AM, Arctic Monkeys (2013)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
The album that ultimately brought Arctic Monkeys across the pond to the last Americans yet to familiarize themselves with the band, AM is still arguably the most complete release from the Sheffield-based rock group. Right from the mesmerizing opening chords of “Do I Wanna Know?”, the album proves to be a masterwork in atmospheric rock. Perfectly striking a balance between built-for-live-performance hits and slower, more brooding tracks, AM proves that some British rockers are still capable of capturing the musical magic so often thought to have been left behind in the 20th century. -Gabriel
18. Coloring Book, Chance The Rapper (2016)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
“Who is Chance the Rapper?”... is a question that no one was asking after the release of this acclaimed mixtape. Dominating the airwaves in the summer of 2016, Chance’s third project also helped launch a fashion trend and questioned the importance of being attached to a music label. An album that is impossible to listen to without wearing a smile, “Coloring Book” elevated Chano to a respected position in the hip-hop industry and gave America something to celebrate in the middle of a particularly difficult year. -Gabriel
17. El Camino, The Black Keys (2011)
Top 25 lists: 3
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
Not very often does it take a musical group seven album releases to firmly enter the public consciousness, but that is exactly what happened with The Black Keys. If their sixth project, Brothers, helped them gain some mainstream exposure, it was El Camino that truly kicked things up to the next level. Nominated for Album of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards, this tight-knit, hard-hitting release grips the listener from start to finish. Whether Camino is truly the group’s best work may be subject to debate, but the legacy of this album as a monument of contemporary rock-n-roll is undeniable. -Gabriel
16. A Seat At The Table, Solange (2016)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
This should be the least shocking pick on this list. Solange proved that she’s more than just Beyonce’s sister--and that the two are completely different artists--with the most thought-provoking album of 2016. While the subject matter between Lemonade and A Seat at the Table, released in the same year, invites interesting comparison, Solange’s masterful album shows that she has always been a serious musician and incredibly talented in her own right. A Seat at the Table is deeply personal, incredibly thoughtful, and pretty much perfect from beginning to end. -Bekah
15. Watch The Throne, Jay-Z & Kanye West (2011)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
2013’s collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye West delivered some of the most iconic songs of the decade. "No Church in the Wild" was used endlessly in trailers, while "Ni**as in Paris" dominated arenas and stadiums then and now. Originally conceived to be a short EP, Watch the Throne blossomed into a larger than life record with 7 singles ultimately released. Released while both rappers were still in their primes, it is a unique snapshot of a period of rap that might never be seen again. -Daniel Baas
14. Trouble Will Find Me, The National (2013)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
Many fans of The National might argue that High Violet, released in 2010, should take the place of Trouble Will Find Me on this list. Neither album was much more popular than the other as both reached the third spot on the Billboard 200 chart, but Trouble Will Find Me gets the nod due to its deeper tracklist. High Violet had arguably The National’s most recognizable song in “Bloodbuzz Ohio”, but Trouble was packed with indie rock hits, like “Don’t Swallow the Cap”, “Sea of Love”, “Graceless”, and “I Need My Girl”. Behind Matt Berninger’s somber baritone vocals, The National became one of the most reliable and consistently good indie rock bands during the 2010s. The band released four good (and occasionally, great) albums during the decade, and Trouble Will Find Me was the best of the bunch despite their 2017 record, Sleep Well Beast, being their only win for Best Alternative Album at the Grammys (Trouble was nominated in 2014 but lost to Modern Vampires of the City). The depth and tone of this record slightly elevates it over their other releases from the decade and cements its place on our list. -Michael
13. 22, A Milion, Bon Iver (2016)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
The third record from Bon Iver feels more polished yet entrancing than their previous records. The distortion of Justin Vernon’s distinctive voice is taken to an extreme that makes 22, A Million a unique entry among the best records of the decade. Where autotune traditionally is found among rap and pop, Vernon weaves it in to his own unique brand of folk in a departure that makes Bon Iver one of the most unique bands of today. -Daniel Baas
12. Melodrama, Lorde (2017)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 0
Lorde’s sophomore album is lush and full of life in a way not many other records of this decade could even dream of. From the highest highs of "The Louvre," to quieter moments in "Liability" or "Writer in the Dark," Lorde modulates not only her sound, but the emotions as well. Co-produced with Jack Antonoff of Steel, fun., and Bleachers, Melodrama is a lush pop record that will hold up for years to come. -Daniel Baas
11. Be The Cowboy, Mitski (2018)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
Be The Cowboy may only be 32 minutes, but in that short time is a densely-packed 14 track record that speaks elegantly about romance and loneliness. Mitski continues to get better and better with each record, and Be The Cowboy is a natural progression to her upward trajectory. Starting with a bang with the song "Geyser," that momentum carries through to "Washing Machine Heart," with a wonderful epilogue in "Two Slow Dancers." Pound for pound, Be The Cowboy stands apart as one of the defining indie records of the decade.
-Bekah
10. The Suburbs, Arcade Fire (2010)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 1
1st-place votes: 1
Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs was number one on my list for a multitude of reasons. First, it was best album this decade by the greatest indie rock band of all time. Second, the expansive sound of the record gives the listener a sense of grandeur; it’s unlike any other great rock album of the last ten years. Lastly, it introduced a new audience to the indie rock genre, thanks to its winning Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards. The Suburbs was eventually certified gold by the RIAA, perhaps due to the post-Grammys push of music listeners trying to figure out who this unknown band was that just won the most prestigious music award. This album continues the legacy-making theme that many of the albums on our list represent. Arcade Fire was already recognized as one of the best indie rock acts this century after releasing Funeral and Neon Bible in the 2000s. While The Suburbs often isn’t regarded as the best Arcade Fire album (that designation belongs to Funeral, their debut album), it’s the album that got them the top spot as the best indie rock artist of all time.
-Michael
9. Yeezus, Kanye West (2013)
Top 25 lists: 3
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
After the maximal and bombastic efforts in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Watch the Throne, Kanye West released Yeezus in 2013. With a much more stripped down and minimalist style, the aggressiveness of Yeezus was a departure from his past work. Despite the minimalism in production, Kanye still made loud pronouncements with the record. It was a left turn for Kanye, but one of many in a winding and incredible career leading to one of the best rap records of the decade -Daniel Baas
8. Carrie & Lowell, Sufjan Stevens (2015)
Top 25 lists: 2
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
It’s rare that I listen to much indie music anymore, and I’m not as big of a Sufjan fan as I was in high school. Yet even despite these caveats--and my contrarian predisposition to dislike any album my dad is obsessed with--Carrie & Lowell is a standout album of the decade. As someone who usually listens to albums on shuffle, Carrie & Lowell demands to be listened to from beginning to end, savored like a giant, heart-breaking novel. And if you saw Sufjan on the Carrie & Lowell tour, you’ll get it even more. (Big shoutout to Daniel who went with me to the concert and didn’t hate me for crying the whole time!) So if you’re anything like me, I tell you this: for once, the indie white men in your life are right about something and it is this album. It’s absolutely haunting. -Bekah
7. BEYONCÉ, Beyoncé (2013)
Top 25 lists: 3
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
You may have heard of Beyoncé. Just a hunch. The pop diva turned cultural and social icon has been a mainstay of popular culture since her Destiny’s Child days at the beginning of the century. But it was the year 2013 in which Beyoncé became Queen B; at the beginning of the year, it was her Super Bowl halftime show that cemented her status as not just a popular singer, but an all-time legendary performer. About 10 months later, Bey dropped a surprise, self-titled album overnight, complete with music videos for the entire tracklist. This album wowed fans and music critics alike and introduced an entirely new Beyoncé to the world, one who spoke openly about her struggles with body image and fame, shared her grief over her miscarriage, who wrote a love song for her daughter Blue Ivy, and most notably, whose brazen sexuality and feminism opened up discussions everywhere about empowerment for women of color and of all marital statuses. 2 years before Lemonade's Grammy snub made Adele cry onstage, BEYONCÉ's Grammy snub made Kanye unfurl a post-ceremony Twitter rant about the lack of respect for black artists. For once, most of America agreed with him.
-Daniel Woodiwiss
6. good kid, m.A.A.d city, Kendrick Lamar (2012)
Top 25 lists: 3
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
Though not technically Kendrick Lamar's first album, good kid was the rapper's major label debut, released one year after his independent record Section.80. It also was, for many, their introduction to the Compton hip-hop artist. good kid perfected the concept album, weaving a semi-autobiographical tale of Lamar's teenage days amidst the gang and drug-laden streets of Compton. It's a captivating story, told with profound depth, but the album's brilliance is that it works on a commercial level, too. The entire tracklist is chock full of bangers, such as "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe," "Backseat Freestyle," "Money Trees," "Swimming Pools" and many more. Unsurprisingly, the album reached #2 on the Billboard lists and earned Kendrick Grammy noms for Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Best New Artist. He was robbed of all 3, but seven years later, this one still holds up as a classic. -Daniel Woodiwiss
5. Brothers, The Black Keys (2010)
Top 25 lists: 3
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
In a decade where great mainstream rock music was difficult to find, Brothers is the quintessential rock record of the 2010s. The Black Keys are the last arena rock band, and this is the record they bolstered this status. Songs like “Tighten Up” and “Howlin’ for You” as well as others from their next record, El Camino, which also made our list, became radio hits that became the forefront of the garage rock revival that occurred earlier in the decade. Brothers won Best Alternative Album at the 2011 Grammy Awards and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. It’s the most popular and memorable rock album of the decade, but it’s also a simple-sounding one; Dan Auerbach plays the guitar and sings, Patrick Carney plays the drums, and that’s it. Together they produce a clean-cut, bluesy garage sound that will always represent a moment in music history. -Michael
4. Lemonade, Beyoncé (2016)
Top 25 lists: 3
Top 10 lists: 3
1st-place votes: 0
I take back what I said about A Seat At The Table: *this* should be the least shocking album on this list. Beyonce’s 2016 album gave us such fun cultural mainstays as “boy, bye” and “Becky with the good hair” that it can be hard to remember how meditative and raw this album is, especially the visual album. It checks all the boxes! In the summer of 2016, I literally cried at the thought of road-tripping without a copy of Lemonade until a friend loaned me hers. From the engaging angry tone of “Sorry” to the haunting ballad of “Sandcastles” and the country vibes of “Daddy Lessons,” Lemonade proved that our queen has got the range. The RANGE! -Bekah
3. Modern Vampires of the City, Vampire Weekend (2013)
Top 25 lists: 4
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
Vampire Weekend cemented their legacy as one of the greatest indie rock bands with their third record in 2013. Modern Vampires is the band’s best album, and the last with multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, before he left the band in 2016. The album was a departure from the world music influences that came through on their eponymously titled first record and created a wider audience for the band. Both “Unbelievers” and “Diane Young” became indie rock hits and the record won Best Alternative Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards and was eventually certified gold by the RIAA. Modern Vampires is the band at its best, from Ezra Koenig’s polished vocals to Rostam’s production and synths. They perfected the indie pop rock sound on this record, making it as mainstream as indie music could be. Although Koenig and company continued their mainstream success this year with a couple hits from Father of the Bride, Modern Vampires will remain the peak for one of the best bands of this generation. -Michael
2. To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar (2015)
Top 25 lists: 4
Top 10 lists: 2
1st-place votes: 0
Most artists would consider themselves lucky to have released one 'classic' album in their lifetime. But to drop a second one, whose quality and accolades exceed your previous classic? That's another feat altogether. Yet, that's exactly what Kendrick Lamar did with To Pimp A Butterfly; after laying fairly low for two and a half years in the wake of good kid, m.A.A.d city's success, he dropped its successor in the springtime of 2015, and music history was forever altered. Think that's an exaggeration? See the Black Lives Matter movement, which adopted the inspiring song "Alright" as its unofficial anthem. See Lamar's awards show performances, whose police car props and prison jumpsuit outfits prompted discussion on every network from MTV to Fox News. See the Grammys, which nominated Kendrick 11 times for their 2016 ceremony, a feat matched only by Michael Jackson, and bestowed him with a clean sweep of the Rap awards. See the Library of Congress, which inducted the album into its hallowed halls as a significant monument of music and literature. To Pimp A Butterfly was and is a cluttered, dense explosion of musicianship and poetry with the exact amount of anger, introspection and love the country needed in 2015. We may never see anything like it again. -Daniel Woodiwiss
1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West (2010)
Top 25 lists: 4
Top 10 lists: 3
1st-place votes: 2
Where to even begin with this album? It is not an exaggeration to say that MBDTF set the tone for the hip-hop dominated decade that was the 2010s. West had been in the music-making and headline-dominating business for at least seven years already, but Twisted Fantasy pushed him to a point of omnipresence. The creation of this album famously came about through a who’s-who of the rap industry assembling in Hawaii and while the Louis Vuitton Don was the glue that held the project together, this album was undoubtedly bolstered by the insane amount (and quality!) of guest features. Kanye’s greatest work basically serves as a warning from the biggest names in hip-hop that screams, “Watch out, popular music. This is our game now.” And sure enough, the musical landscape has never been the same. -Gabriel
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