As we come to the end of 2020, OP is inspired to create a list of her top 10 favorite albums of the decade. OP has no authority for any of this and throws herself upon your mercy.
*but there are also three from 2020 because OP can't read her own post
In no particular order:
1. Ceremonials by Florence + the Machine
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2011
Standout tracks: Seven Devils, Never Let Me Go, Shake It Out
Why it’s on the list: Was anyone not listening to this album in the Tumblr era? OP is lukewarm on Florence’s other albums, but there’s just something about those underwater siren queen vibes that really worked for her here. (And no, “Never Let Me Go” is not a romantic song.)
2. Back to Forever by Lissie
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2013
Standout tracks: The Habit, Sleepwalking, What It’s Like
Why it’s on the list: You may recognize Lissie as the singer from the cover of “You Can Go Your Own Way” that was featured in the trailer for a bad Nicholas Sparks movie. Her album Back to Forever is modern female rock meets California cool, tackling themes such as fame, student loans, and environmental disasters. Trust OP on this!
3. Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2020
Standout tracks: Cool, Physical, Break My Heart
Why it’s on the list: Does OP even need to explain? Future Nostalgia is a seamless merge of 2020 and the 1980s, with Dua Lipa serving hit after hit (and even choreography!). The album is nearly flawless from start to finish, and luckily the only two duds (“Good in Bed” and “Boys Will Be Boys”) are at the very end so you can skip them easily.
4. Voy by Nella
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2019
Standout tracks: Voy, Volveré a Mi Tierra, Me Llaman Nella
Why it’s on the list: Venezuelan chanteuse Nella won the 2019 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, and unlike some Grammy winners (*cough*) she deserved it. OP had the pleasure of sitting less than ten feet away from her during one of her concerts and became an immediate stan—her voice is stunning and she is so nice and beautiful and her songs are incredible, including an emotional “Volveré a Mi Tierra” about her desire to return to Venezuela someday after the current troubles are over. If you listen to no other album on this list, pick this one!!
5. good to know by JoJo
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2020
Standout tracks: Gold, Pedialyte, Think About You
Why it’s on the list: This album got OP through the beginning of quarantine. You wanna feel yourself? Listen to “So Bad” and “Lonely Hearts,” then refuse to lower your standards while you hunt for a “Man.” You wanna embrace your messiness? Booty call an ex on “Comeback” and then recover from your hangover on “Pedialyte.” No matter what you choose, JoJo’s sexy tunes will have you covered.
6. Sale el Sol by Shakira
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2010
Standout tracks: Sale el Sol, Addicted to You, Devoción
Why it’s on the list: Shakira’s discography has been a bit uneven in recent years, but Sale el Sol proved that she can still put out a great album (we’ll ignore the fact that she followed it up with a Blake Shelton feature on Shakira). With plenty of bops (“Loca,” “Gordita,” “Rabiosa”) and the sing-your-heart out “Sale el Sol,” this album is fantastic from start to finish (well, okay, OP finds “Lo Que Más” pretty boring but you can skip that).
7. Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2015
Standout tracks: I Put a Spell on You (Annie Lennox), Love Me Like You Do (Ellie Goulding), One Last Night (Vaults)
Why it’s on the list: The Fifty Shades of Grey franchise is determined to copy Twilight in every way possible, including having an excellent soundtrack for a mediocre at best movie (that was actually pretty good considering the source material). From the opening montage set to Annie Lennox’s powerful vocals on “I Put a Spell on You” to the sweeping, epic romance of Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” with oldies but goodies such as the Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden” and Frank Sinatra’s “Witchcraft,” this soundtrack has some great fucking songs.
8. folklore by Taylor Swift
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Listen on Spotify
Year: 2020
Standout tracks: august, seven, invisible string
Why it’s on the list: Perhaps a controversial pick for ONTD, folklore is nevertheless one of Taylor Swift’s most cohesive albums to date, a return to form for the singer-songwriter and basically what we’ve all been asking for ever since she did “Safe & Sound” with The Civil Wars. “august” may just be one of the best songs of her career, and OP will fight someone over this.
9. The Hunger Games soundtrack
![]()
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2012
Standout tracks: Safe & Sound (Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars), Come Away (Maroon 5), Rules (Jayme Dee)
Why it’s on the list: The theme of the first Hunger Games soundtrack is “Songs from District 12,” which makes the album a surprisingly good collection of folk-style songs (a nod to District 12 being in the Appalachian region). Some of the artists on this soundtrack ventured outside their comfort zones, namely Taylor Swift on “Safe & Sound” with The Civil Wars and Maroon 5 on “Come Away” (which sounds like literally nothing OP has ever heard by them).
10. Old World Romance by Sea Wolf
![]()
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2012
Standout tracks: Whirlpool, Dear Fellow Traveler, Old Friend
Why it’s on the list: Another throwback to a bygone Tumblr era. OP heard “Whirlpool” on a fanmix for Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid (don’t ask) and fell in love with its melancholic sound. The rest of the album is more upbeat, with “Dear Fellow Traveler” and “Old Friend” being perfect for your indie-themed fall playlists. It’s one of those albums where you don’t tend to notice specific songs so much as the overall vibe, and it makes for very enjoyable background music (no shade intended, honestly, love that shit).
Honorable mentions:Reputation by Taylor Swift (don’t @ me), the soundtrack album they should have released for True Detective season 1, and Tumblr fanmixes c. 2012 that all had “King and Lionheart” and “Born to Die” no matter what the fandom/pairing was.
Source: OP's iTunes/Spotify account. YouTube videos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
ONTD, what are your favorite albums of the 2010s?
*but there are also three from 2020 because OP can't read her own post
In no particular order:
1. Ceremonials by Florence + the Machine
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2011
Standout tracks: Seven Devils, Never Let Me Go, Shake It Out
Why it’s on the list: Was anyone not listening to this album in the Tumblr era? OP is lukewarm on Florence’s other albums, but there’s just something about those underwater siren queen vibes that really worked for her here. (And no, “Never Let Me Go” is not a romantic song.)
2. Back to Forever by Lissie
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2013
Standout tracks: The Habit, Sleepwalking, What It’s Like
Why it’s on the list: You may recognize Lissie as the singer from the cover of “You Can Go Your Own Way” that was featured in the trailer for a bad Nicholas Sparks movie. Her album Back to Forever is modern female rock meets California cool, tackling themes such as fame, student loans, and environmental disasters. Trust OP on this!
3. Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2020
Standout tracks: Cool, Physical, Break My Heart
Why it’s on the list: Does OP even need to explain? Future Nostalgia is a seamless merge of 2020 and the 1980s, with Dua Lipa serving hit after hit (and even choreography!). The album is nearly flawless from start to finish, and luckily the only two duds (“Good in Bed” and “Boys Will Be Boys”) are at the very end so you can skip them easily.
4. Voy by Nella
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2019
Standout tracks: Voy, Volveré a Mi Tierra, Me Llaman Nella
Why it’s on the list: Venezuelan chanteuse Nella won the 2019 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, and unlike some Grammy winners (*cough*) she deserved it. OP had the pleasure of sitting less than ten feet away from her during one of her concerts and became an immediate stan—her voice is stunning and she is so nice and beautiful and her songs are incredible, including an emotional “Volveré a Mi Tierra” about her desire to return to Venezuela someday after the current troubles are over. If you listen to no other album on this list, pick this one!!
5. good to know by JoJo
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2020
Standout tracks: Gold, Pedialyte, Think About You
Why it’s on the list: This album got OP through the beginning of quarantine. You wanna feel yourself? Listen to “So Bad” and “Lonely Hearts,” then refuse to lower your standards while you hunt for a “Man.” You wanna embrace your messiness? Booty call an ex on “Comeback” and then recover from your hangover on “Pedialyte.” No matter what you choose, JoJo’s sexy tunes will have you covered.
6. Sale el Sol by Shakira
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2010
Standout tracks: Sale el Sol, Addicted to You, Devoción
Why it’s on the list: Shakira’s discography has been a bit uneven in recent years, but Sale el Sol proved that she can still put out a great album (we’ll ignore the fact that she followed it up with a Blake Shelton feature on Shakira). With plenty of bops (“Loca,” “Gordita,” “Rabiosa”) and the sing-your-heart out “Sale el Sol,” this album is fantastic from start to finish (well, okay, OP finds “Lo Que Más” pretty boring but you can skip that).
7. Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2015
Standout tracks: I Put a Spell on You (Annie Lennox), Love Me Like You Do (Ellie Goulding), One Last Night (Vaults)
Why it’s on the list: The Fifty Shades of Grey franchise is determined to copy Twilight in every way possible, including having an excellent soundtrack for a mediocre at best movie (that was actually pretty good considering the source material). From the opening montage set to Annie Lennox’s powerful vocals on “I Put a Spell on You” to the sweeping, epic romance of Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” with oldies but goodies such as the Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden” and Frank Sinatra’s “Witchcraft,” this soundtrack has some great fucking songs.
8. folklore by Taylor Swift
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2020
Standout tracks: august, seven, invisible string
Why it’s on the list: Perhaps a controversial pick for ONTD, folklore is nevertheless one of Taylor Swift’s most cohesive albums to date, a return to form for the singer-songwriter and basically what we’ve all been asking for ever since she did “Safe & Sound” with The Civil Wars. “august” may just be one of the best songs of her career, and OP will fight someone over this.
9. The Hunger Games soundtrack
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2012
Standout tracks: Safe & Sound (Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars), Come Away (Maroon 5), Rules (Jayme Dee)
Why it’s on the list: The theme of the first Hunger Games soundtrack is “Songs from District 12,” which makes the album a surprisingly good collection of folk-style songs (a nod to District 12 being in the Appalachian region). Some of the artists on this soundtrack ventured outside their comfort zones, namely Taylor Swift on “Safe & Sound” with The Civil Wars and Maroon 5 on “Come Away” (which sounds like literally nothing OP has ever heard by them).
10. Old World Romance by Sea Wolf
Listen on Spotify
Year: 2012
Standout tracks: Whirlpool, Dear Fellow Traveler, Old Friend
Why it’s on the list: Another throwback to a bygone Tumblr era. OP heard “Whirlpool” on a fanmix for Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid (don’t ask) and fell in love with its melancholic sound. The rest of the album is more upbeat, with “Dear Fellow Traveler” and “Old Friend” being perfect for your indie-themed fall playlists. It’s one of those albums where you don’t tend to notice specific songs so much as the overall vibe, and it makes for very enjoyable background music (no shade intended, honestly, love that shit).
Honorable mentions:Reputation by Taylor Swift (don’t @ me), the soundtrack album they should have released for True Detective season 1, and Tumblr fanmixes c. 2012 that all had “King and Lionheart” and “Born to Die” no matter what the fandom/pairing was.
Source: OP's iTunes/Spotify account. YouTube videos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
ONTD, what are your favorite albums of the 2010s?