Slope Picks: Best of the Decade
Slope Music Department
Alas, another decade has gone by. While everyone continues to dote over their Spotify Decade Wrapped, there’s been countless debates on what albums have truly marked the 2010’s. With that, Slope’s Music Department brings to you some of our top picks from the past decade. With the music that’s come out the past few years, we’re sure there’s only bops in store for the 2020’s.
blond - Frank Ocean (2016)
Syjah Harris ‘20
Arguably the album of the decade (and not just to me). This album came out day two of orientation my freshman year, and was honestly exactly what I needed in my transition to college. Four years since Channel ORANGE, Frank’s R&B continues to veer from the standard. Instrumentals paired with stellar vocals take you on a journey of love, self reflection, and revelations. The only real way to listen to this album is from start to finish, letting yourself feel through each track. If this album isn’t in your rainy day rotation, delete my number. Then again, I have seen this album live and subsequently got a tattoo because of it so…biased.
Lonerism - Tame Impala (2012)
Lara Harvey ‘23
While the 2015 album Currents garnered more attention and popularity for Tame Impala in the 2010’s, I think that Lonerism is a much more formative album for listeners to admire. Lonerism, which came out in 2012, has all of the classic Tame hits that first introduced me to their music, like “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”, “Elephant”, and “Apocalypse Dreams”. This was Tame Impala’s sophomore album, which graduated from Innerspeaker’s dreamy synths and rock guitar solos into a similar, but more sophisticated, body of work. Lonerism is sun-soaked and summery, with a sense of clarity that feels like the soundtrack to a highlight reel of adolescence. Not to mention, Kevin Parker and his bandmates absolutely KILL this album live. It’s truly “Music to Walk Home By”.
beerbongs & bentleys - Post Malone (2018)
Katie Fehrenbaker ‘21
Lemonade - Beyoncé
Angela Sem ‘23
No one is out here in the music industry doing what Beyoncé does. Every album she comes out with is a classic, but when looking at the Album of the Decade, her sixth album Lemonade fits the bill. Lemonade is easily Beyoncé’s most experimental album yet, with her taking inspiration from her southern roots in songs like, “Daddy Lessons”, as well as bringing forth more electronic sounds within songs like, “Love Drought”. The production is incredible, and the story Beyoncé tells of her complicated relationship with husband Jay Z and the effects it has had on her life is completely on display. The album’s climax “Sandcastles” is definitely a highlight, and Beyoncé’s most raw form. This album is definitely fans’ closest look into the life of Beyoncé, and you leave it knowing exactly where she stands in life. All the risks she took with this album definitely paid off.
CTRL - SZA (2016)
Grace Reddington ‘23
In her poignant, brutally honest album Ctrl, SZA becomes a close friend whose transparency grounds you. Her intent, salient voice draws on a soul and jazz sound to compliment acoustic and/or pop instrumentals. This warm sound creates a familiar means of communicating her imperfect romantic experiences and the duality of the feminist image. From discussions on adolescence in addition to sexuality, her stream-of-consciousness lyrics are an ode to the dangers of wanting complete control. Highlighted by a recorded phone call with her mother in the first and last song of the album, the idea of desire for control is literally the foundation of the album.
Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande (2016)
Sara Mills ‘21
When I Get Home - Solange (2019)
Kiara Taylor ‘23
Solange’s When I Get Home is a dreamy exploration of the self. Both the album itself and the 45-minute visual piece that accompanies it work in synergy to produce the twinkly, floaty feeling only Solange can evoke. When I Get Home, much like A Seat At The Table, recognizes and celebrates Black culture in a way that is deeply personal. With features that include Tyler the Creator, Dev Hynes, and Gucci Mane, WIGH covers a lot of ground and creates a distinguished sound that’s nearly impossible to replicate. For these reasons and more, When I Get Home is my album of the decade. 10/10!
Melodrama - Lorde (2017)
Andie Chapman ‘23
Freudian - Daniel Caesar (2017)
Keymani Dunkley ‘20
If you're feeling like crying, or smiling, or reminiscing, or anxious...Danny C delivers the cure to all these moods in his debut album Freudian. Every song has its own smooth R&B sway seamlessly transitioning into the next angelic tune (WITHOUT the crossfade option by Spotify, for those Apple Music hoes). Danny C's use of acoustics, layers, and range, along with his beautifully crafted lyrics allow us to join him and begin our own journey into exploring our subconscious. Highly recommend listening on your back, your stomach, while walking, while traveling, or literally doing anything to begin an unexpected awakening from Caesar's Freudian adaptation.
1989 - Taylor Swift (2014)
Gaby Maurice ‘20
Taylor Swift’s music never really did it for me. I’m not a country music fan so I never was on that bandwagon, then 1989 came out. I never thought Taylor Swift would be able to vocalize a lot of my inner thoughts and feelings. She also managed to successfully transition from country to pop music, differently for each song. From This Love” to “Out of The Woods,” Taylor showcased a different artistic side of her that I thought didn’t exist. 1989 contains lyrics that I think everyone can relate too and has a song for every mood, whether its “Bad Blood” or “I Wish You Would.” The songs on 1989 don’t need to be applied to romantic relationships, it can be any type of relationship or internal struggles. She made an album with songs that I know every word to and one of my favorite albums of all time. She was able to make an album that resonated with me on a very personal level and completely took me by surprise and that’s why 1989 is my album of the decade.
Hamilton - Original Broadway Cast (2015)
Aarushi Machavarapu ‘23
Hamilton undoubtedly broke boundaries this decade. The soundtrack erased the boundary between Broadway music culture and popular music culture, specifically because the integration of hip hop in the soundtrack widely appealed to Generation Z and millennial masses. Personally, Hamilton was my first official introduction to Broadway, and got me excited to learn more about Broadway shows and musical styles. Additionally, Hamilton provides a historical education used from elementary schools to colleges. Overall, the Hamilton soundtrack helped define this decade by bringing Broadway and history to all.