By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Jake’s Take is continuing its End of the 2010s celebration. This time, I am turning my attention to the best albums that were released throughout this decade. The 2010s saw a new generation of recording artists such as Adele, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, and Tom Walker conquer the charts.
The 2010s also saw music legends such as Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Mavis Staples, and Tony Bennett rejuvenate their careers. These legends began exciting new chapters that included collaborations with some of this decade’s hottest artists. The 2010s showcased a rotating group of performance-based Reality TV alums launched their careers as Pentatonix and Peter Hollens redefined A cappella music, while Collabro showcased the power of musical theatre. Meanwhile, several members of the American Idol family including Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, and Kelly Clarkson mentor the next generation of recording artists on The X Factor Australia, The Voice UK, and The Voice USA respectively.
Several top artists lost their way, but eventually, a few of them returned to the music industry stronger than ever! Sadly, we lost an incredible amount of music legends during the 2010s. From Leon Russell and Whitney Houston to Prince and Aretha Franklin, the 2010s saw many iconic performers leave their vast music library to inspire future generations of musicians.
Jake’s Take selected 50 albums that represent the 2010s. These albums represent multiple genres of music that range from pop and R&B to A cappella and musical theatre. Did your favorites make the cut? Read on to find out!
2010:
- Bruno Mars: Doo-Wop & Hooligans
2. Elton John & Leon Russell: The Union
3. Katy Perry: Teenage Dream
4. Santana & Various Artists: Guitar Heaven-The Greatest Guitar Classics of All-Time
2011:
5. Adele: 21
6. Britney Spears: Femme Fatale
7. David Guetta & Various Artists: Nothing But the Beat
8. Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch the Throne
2012:
9. The Beach Boys: That’s Why God Made The Radio
10. Carrie Underwood: Blown Away
11. Christina Aguilera: Lotus
12. Kylie Minogue: The Abbey Road Sessions
13. Lionel Richie & Various Artists: Tuskegee
2013:
14. Celine Dion: Loved Me Back to Life
15. Daft Punk: Random Access Memories
16. Fall Out Boy: Save Rock & Roll
17. Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience
2014:
18. Barbra Streisand & Various Artists: Partners
19. Dolly Parton: Blue Smoke
20. Maroon 5: V
21. Peter Hollens: Peter Hollens
22. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek
2015:
23. Darlene Love: Introducing Darlene Love
24. Duran Duran: Paper Gods
25. Janet Jackson: Unbreakable
26. Pentatonix: Pentatonix
27. Various Artists: Finding Neverland-The Album (Songs from the Broadway Musical)
28. The Weeknd: Beauty Beneath the Madness
2016:
29. Beyonce: Lemonade
30. Charlie Puth: One Call Away
31. Gwen Stefani: This Is What The Truth Feels Like
32. High Valley: Dear Life
33. Sia: This Is Acting
34. Various Artists: The Hamilton Mixtape
2017:
35. Ed Sheeran: Divide
36. Kelly Clarkson: Meaning of Life
37. Kendrick Lamar: DAMN
38. Little Big Town: The Breaker
39. P!nk: Beautiful Trauma
40. Sam Smith: The Thrill of It All
41. Shania Twain: Now
2018:
42. Angel City Chorale: One World
43. Clean Bandit: What is Love?
44. Dan + Shay: Dan + Shay
45. Janelle Monae: Dirty Computer
46. Josh Groban: Bridges
2019:
47. Collabro, Love Like This
48. Mavis Staples, We Get By
49. Taylor Swift, Lover
50. Tom Walker, What a Time to Be Alive
@Collabro Love Like This is a beautiful show case for the emotions they they bring to a song through their individual voices and blend of intricate harmonies.