With a growing list of album releases over the course of the past few years, all while fighting for the top, we're breaking down some of the many of our top albums over the past 10 years. With fresh new faces in the industry to moguls who continue to release more art, and even a surge of new genres, the past few years have given listeners some of the best music for our playlists.
Vanity Fair | Britt Hennemuth | Nick Riley Bentham
Tyla - "Tyla"
South African-based singer has taken the music industry by storm with her self-named debut album "Tyla", which found success amidst its genre-cross over from Afrobeats to R&B to Pop. The official part one of two became the ideal introduction for music lovers to further explore Tyla's artistry and gorgeous vocals. The track "Jump" featuring Gunna & Skillibeng contained elements of dancehall, a genre within Jamaican music and quickly toped the charts and stream count of over 185 million. She secured 3 awards from the South African Music Awards, including Best Pop Album, Female Artist of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year.
Tori Kelly - "TORI."
With her recognizable and powerful vocals, Tori Kelly released her debut albun "TORI.", which explores the depths of the R&B and HipHop genre, straying away from the pop music space. The single, "missin u" gained major traction for its nostalgic qualities as the singer drew inspiration from the primary sounds of the 2000s. Tori odes the themes of her new body of work to that of Destiny's Child, Aaliyah, and numerous other dominant female singers of the previous decade. The more mature energy from this new release marks a milestone for the artist as she further adventures through her craftsmanship and brings her fans along for the ride amidst the 15 track drop.
Ariana Grande - "Eternal Sunshine"
Longtime music fans have been patiently awaiting the 7th installment of Ariana's iconic and lengthy discography. Despite keeping the new release under wraps for months, the pop singer finally announced her new album, "Eternal Sunshine". Although longtime AG lovers were given no teaser into what's to come, the artist described its sound similar to that of "thank u, next" and "Sweetener", two of her most successful albums. What is now known as one of her most vulnerable pieces of art to date as she explicitly details her previous relationship as well as her current one, Grande has found yet another way to deeply connect with her devoted fans.
People Magazine | Brenton Blanchet | FOXXATRON
Victoria Monet - "Jaguar II"
What is listed as the deluxe version of her 2020 album, "Jaguar", the follow up release is an elevated version of her previous body of work. This R&B addition to her discography a is beautiful collection of nostalgic yet modern sounds, pushing the boundaries without straying away from the contemporary sounds. The track "On My Mama" breached over 145 million streams and is the leading song from her 11 track album. Monét continues to put her own twist on music and secures her place as one of the most successful & unique story-tellers of our generation.
Noah Kahan - "Stick Season"
Folk singer, Noah Kahan has found massive success with his 2022 release "Stick Season" and following deluxe albums. Following the viral status of the single "Stick Season" on popularized social media platforms, fans far & wide were drawn to his music immediately for its distinctive and relatable themes, such as mental health and departing from your hometown. These culturally relevant themes weren't sugarcoated within the deep lyricism crafted by Noah himself and instead were splayed out for those who needed it. The expanded and deluxe versions of the tracks included features from multiple artists who inspire the singer himself, including Lizzy McAlpine, Post Malone, Hozier, Brandi Carline, and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Post Malone - "F-1 Trillion"
Following the 2019 release of "Hollywood's Bleeding" where the rapper included countless features, from Swae Lee, Ozzy Osbourne, SZA, Travis Scott, Halsey and more, he's shied away from his previous pop-based sound and further explored the roots of Country music with "F-1 Trillion". This brand new work showed not only his broad range and unique artistry, but casted a wide net for an even larger fanbase. This new album was met with critical appraisal by many for its purely joyful qualities and homage to those who have paved the way for modern Country musicians, such as Chris Stapleton, Billy Strings, Morgan Wallen, Dolly Parton, and Tim McGraw. The body of work is currently pending a Grammy for Best Country Album.
Beyoncé - "Cowboy Carter"
The one and only talented singer, songwriter entrepreneur, and more has continued her musical conquest across genres with her latest work, "COWBOY CARTER". This Country and Americana piece of art brought us a unique piece of Beyoncé's history & upbringing through its experimentation of sounds, celebration of simplistic sounds, and focus on the raw elements of her craft. Countless moguls within the industry took part in the creative process of this release, including Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, and Nile Rodgers. More industry natives, such as Dolly Parton were featured as well as some smaller acts, such as Shaboozey, Tanner Addell, and more.
Numéro | Violaine Schütz | Jordan Bako
Charli XCX - "brat"
The cultural shift of the hyper-pop and house album, "brat" brought back the nostalgic early 2000s dance scene with a compilation of eclectic sounds and inspiration from the London rave scene. Charli's success at curating a world of "brat" where she's coined the album name as a both a lifestyle and a descriptor, she's shifted the industry in the direction of more old school music. The extended edition of her original album was home to a wide array of collaborators, including Addison Rae, Ariana Grande, Yung Lean, Troye Sivan, and The Japanese House. It's currently awaiting over 3 Grammy nominations.
Luke Combs - "This One's For You Too"
The talented Luke Combs blessed our playlists with his 2018 Country album that set himself apart from other current talents. His masterful crafting of this piece of work kicked off his career in the industry where he found massive success amidst his song "Hurricane", "One Number Away", and "She's Got The Best Of Me". Unlike other musicians who curate their albums to mirror one another, Combs purposefully uniquely created songs that sound dissimilar to each other, creating an ongoing listening experience. The entirely solo-based album found its way high on the charts and on repeat amongst millions.
Billie Eilish - "HIT ME HARD & SOFT"
The Oscar winning singer & producer has continued to pave her own way in music through her introspective lyricism, authenticity, and apparent joy she has with releasing music. Her newest release, "HIT ME HARD & SOFT" has gained critical appraisal and for good reason. It's classification of "bedroom pop" is the perfect description, furthering its genius as the production sounds are simplistic, yet of high quality in a plethora of ways. Its lo-fi beat and autonomy in which it explores alternate realms makes for a unique collection of tracks. The single "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" has surpassed 1.3 billion streams and is the leading song on the album. The continuative collaboration with her brother, Finneas brings a sense of excitement and familiarity as the duo have yet another hit on their hands.
Kali Uchis - "Red Moon In Venus"
Latin singer & songwriter, Kali Uchis drew from the deep depths of her soulful vocals with an R&B masterpiece that tugged at your heart strings. This timeless release openly discussed femininity, emotional turmoil, and the continuous expression of desire. The single "Moonlight" continues to hold the title for one of her biggest hits to date with over 800 million streams. With favorable reviews from verified sources, and worldwide adoration, she's expanded the realm of soul music.
Twitter | Conan Gray
Conan Gray - "Found Heaven"
Gray's work on his latest release, "Found Heaven" has expanded his artistry into various other genres in the music industry, including dance pop, pop rock, and new wave. The previous works centered around the indie-pop category, with the commonly known tracks "Heather"and "Wish You Were Sober". With generally favorable reviews, the more mature sounds and lyricism allowed Gray to spread his wings as a musician and explore both modern sounds blended with an 80s twist.
Hozier -"Hozier"
The 2014 hit and self-titled album, "Hozier" is a beautifully crafted world created by none other than the singer himself. Each of the 13 tracks continue to find. cultural relevance within the music industry today as the central themes revolve around love and loss, which many musicians find inspiration from. The biggest and most prominent hit, "Take Me To Church" remains at the top of his discography at over 2.7 billion streams to date. The piece of art introduced many listeners to the gospel-pop and indie rock categories, which furthered these genres' acclaim.
Gracie Abrams - "The Secret Of Us"
After accompanying Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour, Gracie Abrams released her gut-wrenching album, which combines a few categories of folk, blended with pop sounds. The singer found solitude whilst embarking on the highly anticipated performance and wrote alongside the infamous singer, specifically in the song "us.", which is pending a Grammy win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance". The deluxe edition of this new piece of work also found itself charting on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.
T-Mobile Center | J.Cole
J.Cole - "KOD"
One of the most prevalent artists within the HipHop space, J.Cole crafted one of the most unique releases for his discography. The 2018 track list takes elements from other genres, such as Jazz & Trap to tell the intimate & personal stories of the artist's life, such as familial struggles, the changes within the genre's community, fame, and self-destruction. Many journalists claim this body of work to be one of the most significant releases to date and once again crowns the musician as one of the reigning forces within the industry. "KOD" was nominated for Album of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards as well as Favorite Album within the People's Choice Awards.
Lizzy Mcalpine - "Five Seconds Flat"
The soft and smooth vocals of Lizzy Mcalpine didn't go unnoticed and weren't under appreciated in her 2022 album, "Five Seconds Flat". The elaborate piece of work embodied a vat of emotions, from the early bits of the morning to the crescendo of the midday energy, the singer brought you along the true journey of heartbreak through each of the 14 tracks. The artist related her music to that of death as heartbreak is closely related to such. The song "Ceilings" breached viral status on multiple social media platforms as it stood out amongst the other songs.
Shaboozey - "Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going"
HipHop and Country music singer, Shaboozey has become a massive name across the industry since the successful of "Start A Riot", which made its way onto the animated film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse". His latest feature on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" album has since furthered his talents and led to his 2024 project "Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going". He's found the sweet spot between HipHop & Country music where the origins and nature of each category fit well within one another. The song "A Bar Song (Tipsy) has remained at #1 on multiple certifications and has opened up doors for others to follow suit and blend multiple styles into a gorgeous track list.
Elle Magazine | Becky Burgum
Griff - "Vertigo"
English singer has been spreading her wings towards being one of the most successful & unique artists to date with her latest release, "Vertigo". The synth-pop sounds to the euphoric lyricism and emotional heartache has given Griff's new discography a whole new meaning. Many related her artistry to that of Lorde & Sabrina Carpenter where she curated 16 original tracks to set music lovers on a full-fledged rollercoaster.
Kelsea Ballerini - "Patterns"
The Country music star, Kelsea Ballerini has continued to mend multiple sounds together into a a modern yet old school collection of self-written songs that speak volumes amidst a plethora of themes. Her vulnerability is laced through each lyric as she delves into the personal heartbreaking moments of divorce and the emotions that follow suit. The initial song on the album featured folk singer, Noah Kahan on the track "Cowboys Cry Too", which discusses masculinity and the cultural norms that follow. "Patterns" is the epitome of growth as she navigates her public relationships, works to undo the trauma, and find love on the other side.
Khalid - "American Teen"
The 2017 body of work from Khalid caused a shift within the R&B and Pop music space for its call to youthfulness and ease brought into the industry. With this this ner project being his first public release as an artist, he found a whirlwind of success with the tracks "Young Dumb & Broke" and "Location", which charted on Billboard Hot 100 list. The spectacular and intricate vocals combined with the eloquently curated tracks quickly became a generational project that continues to be a gem within the R&B realm.
GQ Magazine | Willa Bennett | Daniel Prakopcyk
Role Model - "Rx"
Alternative singer, Role Model released his 2020 album, "Rx" to discuss the simultaneous power yet healing nature of a woman in his life where he finally tells the tale of the first time he fell in love. As he allows his fans into his private life for a few short moments, you're encapsulated by the raw fun and joy he experiences with his lover, as you immediately relate to the feelings of being swooned by another. The track "neverletyougo" is one of the first songs to explicitly yet silently announce his partner to the world. The accompanying visualizer includes his then girlfriend, and breached over 5.1 million views.
Sabrina Carpenter - "Short n' Sweet"
With a sold out tour, consistent release of some of the biggest songs of the year, and quickly becoming one of the most successful pop artists of the generation, Sabrina has found her artistic calling with the 2024 album, which is on its way to potentially snagging Album of the Year at the upcoming Grammy awards. The track "Espresso", which delves into themes of self-confidence & femininity, garnered worldwide appraisal, and has become a key piece of pop culture. The entirely solo-based album discusses her previous relationships as well as her current ones, which has made headlines on multiple media outlets.
Travis Scott - "Astroworld"
The 2018 album, "Astroworld" touches on old school Hip Hop territories as well as the realm of Psychedelic Music, which marks this hit album as one of the highest streamed rap albums to date. In addition to the positive critical reception his body of work received, the rapper carried his success from his previous projects, such as "Butterfly Effect", "Watch", and "Green and Purple", all of which were initially made available on SoundCloud and attracted more music lovers to his work. The 17 track album and follow up tour led him to ranking across multiple music publications and winning BET's Album Of The Year.
Halsey - "The Great Impersonator"
Following her label change from Capitol Records to Columbia, Halsey has curated a personalized confessional concept album to discuss her medical diagnoses and emotional struggles with present & past life events. The pop-folk and rock sounds from the 21 track body of art allows us to see another side to the singer, pivoting away from her older works. Winning favorable reviews from music critics and making headlines for her impersonator campaign, Halsey's new drop is a testament to her unique art as she pays homage to musicians who've inspired her craft.
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