After writing about the albums and songs that made a mark on me last year, time to do the same again, but instead starting from 2010. This actually took sometime for me to decide what albums belong on this list. Some factors I considered were which albums was it pretty much difficult for me to ever skip a track when listening, albums from newcomers who have gradually gained a massive following, albums that critics everywhere raved about which drew me in, and some that in my opinion were hugely underrated and overlooked and deserved far more praise commercially and critically. As I intend to write a blurb about each and every album, I’m going to split the list in two blog posts, so for this one I will list #40-21. Also, I am allowing multiple albums from the same artist to be included in the list because I honestly believe that the different albums from the same artists I’ve included have their own distinct sound and themes to them and each is a body of work on their own, even if it is the same vocals. Despite being one month in of 2015, I’m omitting albums released this year so far as I feel it’s too soon to determine where certain albums that I’ve enjoyed stand in this list. Now time to countdown:
40. MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS – THE FAMILY JEWELS (2010)
To kick off the list, we have the debut album of the quirky Greek-Welsh Marina Diamandis, whose album embodies several styles from baroque pop to classic disco. What really makes this unique is her writing ability in which take many dark turns (i.e. Hollywood, which describes the harsh reality of fame, and The Outsider – the title speaks for itself) and yet the musical arrangements and her animated vocals make them sound quite the opposite!
39. BIRDY – BIRDY (2011)
I don’t care for cover albums. I really don’t. Yet I have this album included. Birdy’s self-titled debut is a huge exception in my books due to her non-conventional choices of bands to cover (such as Phoenix, The National, The xx, Bon Iver) as opposed to typical pop artist songs that get stripped down with a piano or guitar by aspiring singers on YouTube or reality talent shows. She gets extra points for her ability to completely make the songs sound like her own. Oh and she was 15 upon this release, that does count for something!
38. HURTS – EXILE (2013)
The songs on Exile either fall on two extremes: explosive, anthemic pop as heard on songs like “The Road” and “Miracle,” and soft and passionate as heard on songs like “Somebody To Die For.” Comprehensively, both ends of the musical spectrum create one very cinematic album that remains attached to the main electronic and new wave sounds of HURTS, with surprises in between.
37. JANELLE MONAE – THE ARCHANDROID (2010)
One of the most adventurous and futuristic albums on this list – even in 20 years from now it’ll still sound ahead of its times. It was very unpredictable as Monae would change up her style every few tracks and pull it off wonderfully. Kicks off with some r&b funk and pop tunes (including Tightrope and Cold War – which I still haven’t gotten sick of 5 years later), then progressing to psychedelic (Mushroom & Roses) to even indie rock (Make The Bus).
36. LINKIN PARK – LIVING THINGS (2012)
I’ve always found Linkin Park albums to either be a hit (Hybrid Theory) or a miss (A Thousand Suns). Living Things to me is definitely the former! It demonstrates the band’s ongoing musical development, as it steers away from pure nu-metal and adds some electronics and synths to the mix. They haven’t completely abandoned their original sound and it works. Lyrically, it’s also impressive as it takes a more personal approach .
35. D’ANGELO AND THE VANGUARD – BLACK MESSIAH (2014)
The most recent release on this list, I definitely did not see this surprise comeback coming but I’m glad it did! Black Messiah was needed in this day and age where certain recent issues in society are prevalent. The multi-genre album may have taken years to create but the end results sound so effortless through some old school sounds and D’Angelo’s smooth vocals.
34. LITTLE BOOTS – NOCTURNES (2013)
In Little Boots’ sophomore album, there’s a ton of influence from 70’s, 80’s and 90’s dance music. Still, Nocturnes is very consistent throughout, as all it takes to make an excellent dance-pop album is some hopping electro beats, soft vocals, and catchy hooks. The structure is simple but sometimes house and dance is best heard when there is no extreme production needed. Listen to Motorway or Strangers if you don’t believe me!
33. ELLIE GOULDING – LIGHTS (2010)
Similar to Nocturnes, Ellie Goulding’s debut relies mainly on electro-dance beats and synths but also blends it with some acoustic folk, as proven in the opening track Guns and Horses. Goulding is an artist who knows her strengths artistically and knows how to work them together. She sings very softly in many tunes that you would think aren’t fitting for a dance track, like in Lights, but again, she pulls it off. This is the album that has caused her to grow gradually throughout the decade.
32. THE WAR ON DRUGS – LOST IN THE DREAM (2014)
Despite its main lyrical themes revolving about depression, confusion, this album to me was full of life, where in the longer tracks like Under The Pressure, it felt like multiple songs playing with a song. Lost of the Dream can really put one at ease with its shoegazing vibes and restless guitar sounds that are constantly heard and felt throughout the mood changes in the album.
31. BASTILLE – BAD BLOOD (2013)
While not hugely favoured among music critics, I really admired Bad Blood for its great use of all sorts of instruments from keyboards to strings, Dan Smith’s bold voice (especially in choruses) and overall harmless pop fun! Truly set the stage for a band I predict can only get better from here and manage to win everyone over.
30. PEARL JAM – LIGHTNING BOLT (2013)
More than 20 years since they entered the music world with the legendary album “Ten”, Pearl Jam proves on album no. Ten (see what I did there?) that they have not lost their large riffs and Eddie Vedder’s growls that the band is best known for (i.e. Mind Your Manners, My Father’s Son). However, they show more of their sensitive side in tracks like Sirens, and probably my favourite, Infallible. Pearl Jam is a rock band that has truly aged gracefully, and can’t wait to hear more from them.
29. THE XX – COEXIST (2012)
Following their spectacular debut xx, The xx continues their “less is more” approach in their sophomore release and honestly, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. However, Coexist does dabble a little more on various uses of percussion and even some deep house – all while staying true to their minimalist sound. And I could listen to the soft yet rich voices of Romy and Oliver singing back and forth to one another about heartbreak and dysfunctional relationships all day!
28. LYKKE LI – WOUNDED RHYMES (2011)
After her playful 2008 debut with Youth Novel, Lykke Li returned with a more harsh and loud album 3 years later. She demonstrates a greater vocal range, heavy usage of tribal drums (Get Some, Youth Knows No Pain), and ’60s pop influence (Sadness Is A Blessing). This is a very pure, artistic pop record that can only be crafted so carefully, and Li achieves it!
27. DRAKE – NOTHING WAS THE SAME (2013)
Drake continues with his signature style of talk-rap and singing, mostly about his faults and regrets in a very beautiful manner, but it shows how human he really is. The 40-produced beats remain chill and mesmerizing and the support of artists like Jhene Aiko, Jay-Z and Sampha only strengthen the album more.
26. FLORENCE + THE MACHINE – CEREMONIALS (2011)
Massive production and efforts were used in Flo’s second album, and the result is beautiful! With the continuity of harps and thrashing drums, along with Flo’s unique vocals and a gospel-like choir to back up on songs like Lover To Lover and No Light No Light, it’s only natural to describe Ceremonials as confident. A spooky yet soulful record!
25. TV ON THE RADIO – SEEDS (2014)
After the untimely death of their bassist Gerard Smith, TV On The Radio returns in album where much of it copes with grief, acceptance, and finally moving on. The songs so sound less experimental than earlier work but are more polished and comfortable. That’s far from a bad thing as we can sit and enjoy the music of a band that has evolved and found their style, and will continue to develop again in years to come.
24. OH LAND – OH LAND (2011)
Once again I’ve included an album from a Scandinavian pop artists – what can I say, they really know how to make great pop music in that region of the globe! Oh Land’s self-titled album is clever, witty, and catchy! It bounces back and forth from sounds of mysterious darkness (Perfection, Wolf & I) to cheerful bubblegum (Sun Of A Gun, White Nights) while maintaining that originality Oh Land carries in her singing and songwriting.
23. SIA – WE ARE BORN (2010)
Just shortly before Sia was known worldwide for writing smash hits for artists like Rihanna and swinging on chandeliers, she released We Are Born, which looking bad, was a foreshadow of how the pop world would look this decade thanks to her contributions. This album is a pure party album, full of hooks, disco (You’ve Changed), anthems (Bring Night), and ballads (Be Good To Me). We Are Born is very whole-hearted, what more could you ask for?
22. ELLIE GOULDING – HALCYON (2012)
The first artist repeater on my list, Ellie Goulding took greater risks on Halcyon and it paid off! The arrangements are louder and more diverse and Goulding shows off more of a vocal range – although for the most part she still sticks with her trademark bird voice. Halcyon steers more towards the electronic a genre without going overboard, and it shows that Goulding is growing up and becoming more confident as an artist.
21. PENDULUM – IMMERSION (2010)
A band who primarily focused on drum ‘n bass in their first two studio albums, Immersion introduces us to a much more versatile Pendulum. While we continue to hear the sound this band is known for, there are many surprises to hear from including industrial rock, dub step, acoustic, and electro-house. It’s a shame a Pendulum album hasn’t been released since, as Immersion made me very hungry for more!
That concludes part one! If you think albums #40-21 are an indication of what to expect in the second half, I am sure you’ll see many surprises 😉
