Pitchfork's 200 Best Songs and Albums of the 2010s

[Gorka]

Well, it might be October 2019 but a bunch of publications have published their lists of the decade with the taste-makers at Pitchfork at the forefront! 

The lists went up a couple of days ago and they're certainly...interesting but they reflect the decade's trends somewhat at least. I'm not going to copy and paste the lists in full but so here is the 200 best albums of the 2010s and here's the 200 best songs of 2010s. However, here's the top fifty of each:

200 Best Albums of the 2010s

Quote

1: Frank Ocean: Blonde (2016)

2: Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

3: Beyoncé: Beyoncé (2013)

4: Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

5: Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012)

6: Solange: A Seat at the Table (2016)

7: Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City (2013)

8: Robyn: Body Talk (2010)

9: D’Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah (2014)

10: Frank Ocean: Channel Orange (2012)

11: Grimes: Art Angels (2015)

12: Rihanna: ANTI (2016)

13: Drake: Take Care (2011)

14: Lorde: Melodrama (2017)

15: Kanye West: Yeezus (2013)

16: Joanna Newsom: Have One on Me (2010)

17: Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell (2015)

18: Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d. city (2012)

19: Lana Del Rey: Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019)

20: DJ Rashad: Double Cup (2013)

Spoiler

 

21: Beach House: Teen Dream (2010)

22: Destroyer: Kaputt (2011)

23: Kacey Musgraves: Golden Hour (2018)

24: SZA: CTRL (2017)

25: Jamie xx: In Colour (2015)

26: Angel Olsen: Burn Your Fire for No Witness (2014)

27: Earl Sweatshirt: Some Rap Songs (2018)

28: FKA twigs: LP1 (2014)

29: Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest (2010)

30: Mitski: Puberty 2 (2016)

31: Beyoncé: 4 (2011)

32: Bon Iver: Bon Iver (2011)

33: Big Thief: U.F.O.F. (2019)

34: Vince Staples: Summertime ’06 (2015)

35: Blood Orange: Cupid Deluxe (2013)

36: Rosalía: El Mal Querer (2018)

37: David Bowie: Blackstar (2016)

38: Tierra Whack: Whack World (2018)

39: Bill Callahan: Apocalypse (2011)

40: Charli XCX: Pop 2 (2017)

41: Beyoncé: Lemonade (2016)

42: Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (2010)

43: Sky Ferreira: Night Time, My Time (2013)

44: A Tribe Called Quest: We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service (2016)

45: Mount Eerie: A Crow Looked at Me (2017)

46: The Knife: Shaking the Habitual (2013)

47: Carly Rae Jepsen: E•MO•TION (2015)

48: ANOHNI: Hopelessness (2016)

49: Oneohtrix Point Never: Replica (2011)

50: Grimes: Visions (2012)

 

 

 

200 Best Songs of the 2010s

Quote

1: Kendrick Lamar: "Alright" (2015)

2: Grimes: “Oblivion” (2012)

3: Robyn: “Dancing on My Own” (2010)

4: Beyoncé: “Formation” (2016)

5: Frank Ocean: “Thinkin Bout You” (2012)

6: Azealia Banks: “212” (2011)

7: Mitski: “Your Best American Girl” (2016)

8: Solange: “Cranes in the Sky” (2016)

9: Lana Del Rey: “Video Games” (2011)

10: Lil Uzi Vert: “XO TOUR Llif3” (2017)

11: Bill Callahan: “Riding for the Feeling” (2011)

12: Sky Ferreira: “Everything Is Embarrassing” (2012)

13: Chief Keef: “I Don’t Like” [ft. Lil Reese] (2012)

14: Angel Olsen: “Shut Up Kiss Me” (2016)

15: Rihanna: “Work” [ft. Drake] (2016)

16: The 1975: “Love It If We Made It” (2018)

17: Jamie xx: “Gosh” (2015)

18: Kanye West: “Runaway” [ft. Pusha T] (2010)

19: Vampire Weekend: “Hannah Hunt” (2013)

20: M83: “Midnight City” (2011)

Spoiler

21: Drake: “Hold On, We’re Going Home” [ft. Majid Jordan] (2013)

22: ANOHNI: “Drone Bomb Me” (2016)

23: Rosalía: “Malamente (Cap.1: Augurio)” (2018)

24: Todd Terje: “Inspector Norse” (2012)

25: FKA twigs: “Cellophane” (2019)

26: Bon Iver: “Holocene” (2011)

27: M.I.A.: “Bad Girls” (2010)

28: Beyoncé: “Countdown” (2011)

29: Joanna Newsom: “Good Intentions Paving Co.” (2010)

30: Cardi B: “Bodak Yellow” (2017)

31: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: “Round and Round” (2010)

32: Fiona Apple: “Every Single Night” (2012)

33: LCD Soundsystem: “Dance Yrself Clean” (2010)

34: Future Islands: “Seasons (Waiting on You)” (2014)

35: Rae Sremmurd: “Black Beatles” [ft. Gucci Mane] (2016)

36: Carly Rae Jepsen: “Run Away With Me” (2015)

37: Jai Paul: “BTSTU (edit)” (2011)

38: Kanye West: “Monster” [ft. Justin Vernon, Rick Ross, JAY-Z, and Nicki Minaj] (2010)

39: SOPHIE: “Bipp” (2013)

40: Frank Ocean: “Nights” (2016)

41: Courtney Barnett: “Avant Gardener” (2013)

42: SZA: “The Weekend” (2017)

43: Lorde: “The Louvre” (2017)

44: Big Thief: “Mary” (2017)

45: Robyn: “Call Your Girlfriend” (2010)

46: The Knife: “Full of Fire” (2013)

47: Tame Impala: “Let It Happen” (2015)

48: Ariana Grande: “thank u, next” (2018)

49: Gyptian: “Hold Yuh” (2010)

50: Arcade Fire: “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” (2010)

 

 

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

I haven't trawled through the list yet, but searching for a few of my favourite albums and having them not appear can only mean either myself or the subjective views of the list creators are wrong, and I know which one it is. The first album I own on the list is After Laughter by Paramore, ranked 169th.

And I get that there are fucking loads of albums in the span of a decade but not including Death of a Bachelor by Panic at the Disco is a travesty. It's a million times better than the Paramore album.

Okay after going through it all it turns out that that Paramore album is literally the only one on the list I own so I evidently know nothing about music.

[Benjamin]

Literally the only one in the top 10 I haven't listened to is Vampire Weekend because what is a Vampire Weekend, and Body Talk. 

Norman Fucking Rodwell was a total shite album, though, LDR's worst I've heard. Of course critics would rate it. 

[tristy]

Good to see Kendrick Lamar remains overrated.

[RPS]

On 11/10/2019 at 21:24, Benjamin said:

Literally the only one in the top 10 I haven't listened to is Vampire Weekend because what is a Vampire Weekend, and Body Talk. 

Norman Fucking Rodwell was a total shite album, though, LDR's worst I've heard. Of course critics would rate it. 

Check out Body Talk. It is great.

On 11/10/2019 at 19:38, Jericode said:

I haven't trawled through the list yet, but searching for a few of my favourite albums and having them not appear can only mean either myself or the subjective views of the list creators are wrong, and I know which one it is. The first album I own on the list is After Laughter by Paramore, ranked 169th.

And I get that there are fucking loads of albums in the span of a decade but not including Death of a Bachelor by Panic at the Disco is a travesty. It's a million times better than the Paramore album.

Okay after going through it all it turns out that that Paramore album is literally the only one on the list I own so I evidently know nothing about music.

Pitchfork is mainly for indie rock, electronic, hip hop and pop. They tend to underrate pop punk and emo. There readers are only interested in pop punk or emo albums that are attempting to crossover. 

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I'm glad that Robyn gets the respect she deserves for her talent and choonage.

Also seeing M.I.A high up in the singles is correct.

 

That said, this shows that the 2010s is not the decade where my favourite genres thrived in anything near the mainstream.

[probablyoliver]

I am absolutely fine with Blonde being number one. Such a stunning album from start to finish, and easily a modern classic.

[tristy]

9 hours ago, Ollie said:

I am absolutely fine with Blonde being number one. Such a stunning album from start to finish, and easily a modern classic.

I personally love Nostalgia Ultra wayyyy more, but I’m fine with anything Frank Ocean being that high.

[RPS]

On 14/10/2019 at 01:43, tristy said:

I personally love Nostalgia Ultra wayyyy more, but I’m fine with anything Frank Ocean being that high.

"It's only awkward if you fucking him too"

[Benjamin]

On 14/10/2019 at 04:18, Ollie said:

I am absolutely fine with Blonde being number one. Such a stunning album from start to finish, and easily a modern classic.

Solo is easily one of the best songs ever written, I think. 

[METALMAN]

I’ve listened to all of these albums in the top 20 with the exception of Beyonce, Fiona Apple and DJ Rashad.

I quite like them all, but none of them would get anywhere near my own top albums except Art Angels and the Robyn one. 

Edited October 16, 2019 by metalman

[Naitch]

I don't know who half of these people are so I'll just presume that the list is meant for people with very different music tastes to myself.

[METALMAN]

Pitchfork is for sadbois

[Moses Julep]

It is kind of nice though that PItchfork spent the bulk of the 00s shitting on most rap, mainstream pop and R&B albums and now a decade later their best albums list is pretty much nothing but rap, mainstream pop and R&B albums.

[Gorka]

And the results of the Readers' Poll went up today. Much of the same with a few additions (like Danny Brown, Death Grips, Tame Impala  (album wise)), so here's the top fifteen out of fifty overall:

Tracks

1. Kanye West: "Runaway"
2. Frank Ocean: "Pyramids"
3. Kendrick Lamar: "Alright"
4. LCD Soundsystem: "Dance Yrself Clean"
5. Robyn: "Dancing On My Own"
6. Grimes: "Oblivion"
7. Tame Impala: "Let It Happen"
8. Kanye West: "Ultralight Beam"
9. Carly Rae Jepsen: "Run Away with Me"
10. Bon Iver: "Holocene"
11. Beyonce: "Formation"
12. Kanye West: "POWER"
13. Vampire Weekend: "Hannah Hunt"
14. Arcade Fire: "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"
15. M83: "Midnight City"

Albums

1. Kanye West: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
2. Kendrick Lamar: "To Pimp a Butterfly"
3. Frank Ocean: "Blonde"
4. Kendrick Lamar: "good kid, m.A.A.d city"
5. Frank Ocean: "Channel Orange"
6. Kanye West: "Yeezus"
7. Vampire Weekend: "Modern Vampires of the City"
8. Sufjan Stevens: "Carrie and Lowell"
9. Arcade Fire: "The Suburbs"
10. Lorde: "Melodrama"
11. Tame Impala: "Currents"
12. Bon Iver: "Bon Iver"
13. Radiohead: "A Moon Shaped Pool"
14. Beyonce: "Lemonade"
15. LCD Soundsystem: "This is Happening"

[Jimmy]

I've only just seen this list. Mostly enjoyed it for the nostalgia of re-discovering albums I'd loved years ago that I'd forgotten about. I totally forgot Wu Lyf and EMA were a thing. I've had a lovely time this morning pretending it's 2011 again. 

I never think you can put too much stock in a list like this, but there's a bunch of great stuff on it. It definitely misses out certain genres and leans quite heavily towards others. But it's definitely a bit more comprehensive than some other lists of similar ilk in my opinion. 

On 12/10/2019 at 00:38, Jericode said:

I haven't trawled through the list yet, but searching for a few of my favourite albums and having them not appear can only mean either myself or the subjective views of the list creators are wrong, and I know which one it is. The first album I own on the list is After Laughter by Paramore, ranked 169th.

And I get that there are fucking loads of albums in the span of a decade but not including Death of a Bachelor by Panic at the Disco is a travesty. It's a million times better than the Paramore album.

Okay after going through it all it turns out that that Paramore album is literally the only one on the list I own so I evidently know nothing about music.

have we chatted about this before - do you prefer this to A Fever You Can't Sweat Out?

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

@Jimmy we may have done at Y Not.

Both are great albums, but Fever has more filler to it in my opinion. I honestly believe Panic got better when it became a Brendon Urie solo project,  which is why he's now huge and the other older members have faded into obscurity.

[Jimmy]

13 minutes ago, Jericode said:

@Jimmy we may have done at Y Not.

Both are great albums, but Fever has more filler to it in my opinion. I honestly believe Panic got better when it became a Brendon Urie solo project,  which is why he's now huge and the other older members have faded into obscurity.

And I couldn't disagree more. 

[METALMAN]

Panic at the disco should have been banned for those stupid “look at us we’re so quirky” song titles they used on their first album. 

Although I have a little bit of affection for that album for nostalgic reasons - although I didn’t actually like it when I was 15 or so. 

That famous one they did (can’t even remember the name of it) I always hear in my head as “closing the gosh darn door” because this religious girl in my class liked the song but didn’t want to blaspheme.

Edited November 6, 2019 by metalman

[Jimmy]

21 minutes ago, metalman said:

Panic at the disco should have been banned for those stupid “look at us we’re so quirky” song titles they used on their first album. 

Although I have a little bit of affection for that album for nostalgic reasons - although I didn’t actually like it when I was 15 or so. 

That famous one they did (can’t even remember the name of it) I always hear in my head as “closing the gosh darn door” because this religious girl in my class liked the song but didn’t want to blaspheme.

I Write Sins Not Tragedies obvs.

gosh, stop being so dumb 😕