We’ve all heard about which Beatles album or obscure 90s indie band every music nerd insists is the pinnacle of musical creation, but what about the newer acts? Sure, the classics are classics for a reason but there comes a time where those who have innovated beyond the classics must be acknowledged. This is a collection of 10 albums of the last 15 years or so that I believe have set the tone for the modern musical landscape. Through these projects, we can understand the current state of music and the major trends within that space. But above all else, they’re just enjoyable, fun records with a lot to offer any listener.
We’ve all heard about which Beatles album or obscure 90s indie band every music nerd insists is the pinnacle of musical creation, but what about the newer acts?
#10 - Electra Heart (2012) by Marina and the Diamonds
Simply put, Marina has enough on- and off-stage charisma to power a small country for a few decades. Electra Heart takes a satirical core and dresses it up with powerful melodies and punchy guitars, creating an iconic whirlwind of early 2010s drama with a healthy side of culture criticism.
Necessary Tracks: “Bubblegum Bitch,” “Sex Yeah,” “Teen Idle,” “Heartbreaker,” “Hypocrates”
#9 - Pink Planet (2021) by Pink Sweat$
This right here is proof that romance is not dead! On top of that, proof that romance should have its own genre classification on Spotify! Lush production combines with killer writing for an iron-clad conceptual record. Pink Sweat$ is an immense young talent with a knack for structure and dynamics. The full album carries 18 tracks and if a single one of them was cut, the whole project would suffer.
Necessary Tracks: “Beautiful Life,” “PINK MONEY,” “Not Alright,” “Icy,” “PINK FAMILY”
#8 - Feel Something (2017) by Movements
I’d be lying if I said this was an easy album for me to talk about. In their debut studio album, Movements tackle everything from mental health to watching a loved one suffer with Alzheimer's Disease, all with a startling amount of grace and eloquence. At times the vocal delivery resembles spoken word poetry more than anything, desperate and full of emotion, while mirroring the guitar production. It feels immensely cathartic to listen to someone put words to such difficult emotions on your behalf.
It feels immensely cathartic to listen to someone put words to such difficult emotions on your behalf.
Necessary Tracks: “Deadly Dull,” “Full Circle,” “Daylily,” “Suffer Through,” “Colorblind,” “Under the Gun”
#7 - Sawayama (2020) by Rina Sawayama
Despite being her debut studio album, Rina Sawayama took several massive risks by choosing to genre-hop from metalcore to dance pop to ballad and back again in just 13 tracks. Every last decision paid off tenfold. The command she has over her vocal performance is astounding and every track leaves the listener wanting more. As debuts go, this is as big of a splash as you could possibly make.
Necessary Tracks: “Tokyo Love Hotel,” “Bad Friend,” “XS,” “STFU!,” “Paradisin’”
#6 - American Candy (2015) by the Maine
This will always be the first album I put on after a few drinks on a Friday night. Catchy, danceable, and lovably goofy, every track is dripping with personality. The band has incredible synergy (which, might I add, is even better live) and an ability to take everything and nothing seriously at the same time–striking the perfect tonal balance. While most bands resigned themselves around this time to producing and reproducing the same toothless pop punk album over and over again, the Maine dared to have fun, and the result is a timeless album that feels as youthful as it did the day it came out seven years ago.
Necessary Tracks: “Diet Soda Society,” “Miles Away,” “English Girls,” “Am I Pretty?,” “Another Night on Mars”
#5 - Planet Her (2021) by Doja Cat
Doja Cat is a bonafide, cold-blooded superstar. Her delivery is flawlessly charismatic, her rhythms are precise and addictive, her lyrics are beyond genius, and her music is a perfect reflection of her personality. The end product is engaging and unique beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I mean, it’s Doja Cat. What else is there to say?
Doja Cat is a bonafide, cold-blooded superstar.
Necessary Tracks: “I Don’t Do Drugs (ft. Ariana Grande),” “Get Into It (Yuh),” “Kiss Me More (ft. SZA),” “Woman,” “Need to Know"
#4 - Lemonade (2016) by Beyoncé
Considering Beyoncé is one of the most notoriously private superstars currently active, people were naturally a little more than shocked when the icon decided to drop a concept album on rapper and husband Jay-Z’s torrid affair. Not to mention, it was a complete surprise drop with no promotion. That shock and awe only continued as each and every song on this tracklist delivered on the hype. A cultural moment, Lemonade will forever be remembered.
Necessary Tracks: “Hold Up,” “Sorry,” “Freedom (ft. Kendrick Lamar),” “All Night,” “Daddy Lessons”
#3 - Paramore (2013) by Paramore
We can all argue over which album should be considered Paramore’s best until the sun explodes (my vote in that case would actually go to Brand New Eyes), but it’s an unspoken truth at this point that every one of their albums can be considered a masterpiece in its own right. However, among their impressive discography, their self-titled record represents not only a shift in the band’s image, but a declaration of their staying power. Following a series of scandals regarding the band’s revolving door lineup, with former members making certain grievances public, this album proved Paramore didn’t need angst and drama to make headlines. To use the term “pop perfection” would be putting it lightly. Hayley Williams has never sounded more free and open as a vocalist, and her technique is as rock solid as a diamond. All the while, Williams delivers some of the most high energy, emotionally resonant songs to see the light of day. As far as I’m concerned, this album should be considered gospel music.
Necessary Tracks: “Grow Up,”“Still Into You,”“Proof,” “Anklebiters,” “Last Hope,” “Part II”
#2 - Love Yourself: Answer (2018) by BTS
I fought with myself long and hard over which BTS album to include. Of course The Most Beautiful Moment series is a perfect reflection of idealized youth, You Never Walk Alone captures the essence of inner turmoil while referencing classic German literature, and Map of the Soul: 7 completely recontextualized their 7 year long career while also casually incorporating Jungian Psychology as a structural guide. Love Yourself: Answer is characterized by the same flawless production and detail-oriented storytelling as their other projects, but what sets it apart for me is the story’s emotional core.
BTS’ strength has always lied with their ability to take hyper-specific, nuanced emotions and articulate them with simple precision, while creating flawlessly engineered instrumentals to structurally support the emotional core.
A compilation of songs released over the course of a full year—a year in which we saw BTS reach international success few even dream of—Love Yourself: Answer tells an honest story of growth and fear and hardship. After a nearly 2 hour runtime, the seven members have arrived at the end unified in their cultural, artistic, and individual identities. BTS’ strength has always lied with their ability to take hyper-specific, nuanced emotions and articulate them with simple precision, while creating flawlessly engineered instrumentals to structurally support the emotional core. This album is the best showcase of that skill set. Every song is an absolute banger.
Necessary Tracks: “Idol,” “Trivia: Seesaw,” “Trivia: Love,” “Euphoria,” “Tear,” “Dimple”
#1 - The Black Parade (2006) by My Chemical Romance
Chances are you don’t even need me to explain why this one made the list. There is not one album to come out before or after The Black Parade which has managed to match its sheer scale and visual intrigue. Couple that commitment to concept and incredible visionary storytelling with some of the most gut-punching lyrics in rock and roll history, sprinkle in some god-level instrumentation (with a vocal cameo from Liza Minelli for good measure), and you have one of the most culturally significant records of the century. When I heard it for the first time in its entirety at 13 years old, my mind melted out of my ears, and I haven’t recovered since. This was the record to make me realize what exactly can be accomplished with a few guitars, a bass, a drum set, and a microphone. I would give up all my worldly possessions for the ability to experience it for the first time once more.
Necessary Tracks: “Dead!” “The Sharpest Lives,” “House of Wolves,” “Mama,” “Disenchanted,” “Famous Last Words”
