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The albums that changed my life, after the break!
2024 Update:
Kinda left my legacy here when I finished writing this post at the end of the second decade of the 2000s. Pivoted That Buzzing Sound into a Podcast Series to fill time during the Pandemic Days soon after as the live music scene fell onto life support. Doesn't change the fact that those 10 years we rode those Hollywood roads... blasting new music... will forever be remembered by these 25 records. Defined a huge portion of my youth.
Makes the list below perfect to me. Enjoy
Original Words (from December 2019):
When 2010 began, Bored 4 Music…my first music blog… was just blooming to life. Spent almost every day secretly cheating on the day job grind to add all the new hot tunes – I was literally obsessed with – on the blogger timeline for all to see. Which was strange because around the same time I was really riding high on a career peak. My dream of being apart of the “Hollywood” machine pumped at full pace every second of every day. Wherever I went or stress I put myself through, music was always by side to get me through the moment.
Yeah felt nice to be one of the golden children who got sent on countless adventures, award shows worthy of the elite around town, and one royal wedding across the pond in London. A chain of truly memorable events that didn’t really break, more like evolved each year, until I left in 2017 to go take care of my father in his cancer battle for the next two years. Gave up everything for him.
Don’t regret that decision at all funny enough (as you know). He allowed me to break that gold plated chain (or lamp) for good. Freeing me to go live a normal life once again. That hopeless romantic-crazy money hungry workaholic-glory worshiping-late night wanderer I once was evolved into a man content with just enjoying the music. Happy as one can truly be. Just wish I could’ve kept some of the hair on the top of my head (damn you past stress!).
Sure I hit a sort of rock bottom by the end of the 2010s (highs and lows ya know?), but who cares. Don’t expect me to sit here for very long. That golden child isn’t fully dead. More like shining his brightest (Like a Jojo meme). Who doesn’t love climbing mountains in his free time? Definitely this guy. Especially to amazing music. A pursuit I’ve been doing since 2012.
All I can hope is that this next decade allows my musical passion – that began at a Studio City research desk in 2009 – fuels my life until my story book closes. Cause I really want it to. (Don’t tell me if it happens. Spoilers.)
(Kinda think the next mountain I’m about to climb is the final one. AKA The Everest of my story. Should be a blast!)
But before we move on– how bout we put one final punctuation on these 10 record breaking years with fleeting last look at some of the musical moments that changed my life? Sounds like fun! I have ranked my 25 (!) most memorable albums & why they placed over others below. Hope you do the same and let me know in the comments what were yours too. Gave myself some rules (in case you were wondering). 2 in fact. Which are: All past winners earned a spot & no ties. That’s all!
Enjoy my musical memory fragments presented just for you one last time! These are…
My 25 Favorite Albums of the 2010s
#25: Ben Howard – ‘Every Kingdom’ [2011]
The first of the three albums on this list that never earned an original spot on any of my past countdowns. Cause ‘Every Kingdom’ came into my life in 2012. Not 2011. After news broke that Ben Howard (a UK export) had sold out three nights at the Troubadour back then. That sparked my interest in the record. Fell in love with what I heard almost instantly. So easily jumped at the chance to pick up an overpriced re-sell ticket & covered the show for Guerrilla Nights in June of that year. Got my first taste of Bahamas on that evening too.
Still is one of my favorite Concert Experiences of the past decade. The record has only got better with age. Acts like the yang to ‘Born & Raised’ (which is coming up down below ICYWW) during 2012… aka my year of transformation. Needed to combine the two to make that change.
Hearing ‘Every Kingdom’ now shows flashes of sunlight through the trees of all the hikes my Sister took me on. Beautiful moments that changed me for the best this decade. Owe this record so much. Did I mention it was beautiful?
#24: Drake – ‘Take Care’ [2011]
Another album that missed the 2011 countdown. Still not sure what was wrong with me back then.
Remember listening to ‘Take Care’ on repeat during the quiet moments of 2012 award show grind. Flashes of leaving the Beverly Hilton after another successful Golden Globes performance on a bright sunny SoCal morning up Laurel Canyon come to mind… in the most pretentious Hollywood way possible. Awesome lyrics and beats that fed the ego of a self-proclaimed ‘Underground King’. Yeah was really feeling myself at the start of 2012 before reality smack me across the head only a few months later.
But this record really laid the seeds of change in my head. Just listen to Kendrick Lamar’s “Buried Alive interlude”. Took many of them to heart. Almost cried to “Look What You Done” too. Extremely weird to making victory lap statements at 28 years old. Drake’s best record did that to me. To feel that blessed in one’s life is something I hope every one gets to experience once.
#23: Paramore – ‘After Laughter’ [2017]
My #3 favorite record of 2017. You can read what I originally said here.
Connected with ‘After Laughter’ again during my flashback sessions over the past couple weeks. Still not my #1 Paramore album of all time. Yet it comes close though. ‘Brand New Eyes’ still ranks a bit higher…. but this is one album that summed up many of my emotions at the start of Pa’s cancer battle. Was the personification of “Sad Happy” almost the entire time. So #1 Paramore record of the decade. That works.
#22: twenty one pilots – ‘Vessel’ [2013]
Their best record. Fight me. Crowned it my #4 pick on that 2013 list.
Became so obsessed with ‘Vessel’ in the days before visiting South by Southwest for the first time in 2013. Listened to it countless at the airport before and after the event. Mostly the later cause their quick showcase before Paramore at the Belmont on Day 2 remains a memorable concert highlight that I haven’t got outta my head since. Tyler literally climbed the balcony, touching all us in attendance. That’s the kind of impression you want to make at the buzzworthy festival. Happy their live show intensity blew our collective minds for all the years that followed.
How does it sound now? Great! Brings back that weird Austin learning experience alongside my master, Picksysticks. We conquered the festival fully by 2015. That we did.
#21: Blood Orange – ‘Freetown Sound’ [2016]
2016’s #5 favorite album. Still sounds amazing. Dev & his angels created a perfect soulful pop paradise that I love vacationing in still.
#20: Kanye West – ‘Yeezus’ [2013]
For an artist who I loved & have seen live over 6 times around LA during this past decade… Mr. West has never produced #1 album of any year countdown during the 2010s. Might be an unpopular opinion to some. But I still think “Old Kanye” made better records. Can listen to ‘Graduation’ or ‘808s’ for hours. The later especially.
Nothing against all those who put 2010’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ near the top of your decades’ lists. Understand the mainstream appeal. Just felt ‘Yeezus’ did more to move his & this generation’s art forward. Plus it is one of the few albums Kanye didn’t fix after its release.
If you remember the many GOOD Friday sessions that lead to ‘MBDTF’ allowed Kanye to gauge the early internet opinions. Testing the water slowly. Learning from them to refine songs like ‘Devil in a New Dress’ that added verses from Rick Ross on release. Made it a better track for sure. ‘Watch The Throne’ had a few stylistic makeovers when “H.A.M.” didn’t catch on when it first dropped too. Same with ‘Life of Pablo’. But not my #2 favorite record of 2013. That CD was near perfect… in the strangest minimalist way possible.
Cause who didn’t give a care? Kanye that’s who.
#19: Adele – ’21’ [2011]
Vaguely recall ’21’ being in my top 5 of 2011… which seems to be a fantastic musical year in hindsight… rediscovering it in 2019 left me saying one thing: “it’s still perfect”. Yep. Don’t you agree?
#18: Frank Ocean – ‘Channel Orange’ [2012]
Still thinking about this ‘Oddly Futuristic’ soul project. (Aka My #5 fav of 2012) Love when ‘Channel Orange’ comes on even now. Just a revealing experience that speaks to almost all my loves: video games, anime, R&B, pop, experimental rock, etc. Easily digestible high culture that gave Frank such mythological status during the decade.
#17: Zac Brown Band - ‘Uncaged’ [2012]
#6 favorite album of 2012 & my favorite country record of the decade! Was one of the few records my hometown click didn’t mind me bumping back then. Spent so many vacations getting lost in Zac Brown Band’s discography that it was near impossible to not include them here. Just sucks that I had no room to put in Little Big Town’s ‘Tornado’ or more country artists who charted in these 25 picks. Like Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, or Jason Aldean.
If I have to recommend one country album… it would be ‘Uncaged’. Still rocks! ZBB remains one well-rounded musical collective. Something this album showcases beautifully.
#16: J. Cole – ‘Born Sinner’ [2013]
Boy, look how time has blessed the classics. My #5 album of 2013 has only gotten better with time. Funny cause it came out the same day as ‘Yeezus’ (*looks up*).
‘Born Sinner’ remains the hallmark I judged many hip hop albums during this decade. Love the darkness Cole showed. The styles he mastered. No sophomore slump either. J. Cole proves the path he walked this decade on this record. And I still love it. Listen to it all the time. Mostly for the amazing features.
#15: Damien Rice – ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’ [2014]
Remember when I said that I had waited for this record of 8 years. Well… I did. Will always bow at the altar of Rick Rubin for bringing one of my favorite artists back to me. This beautifully heartbreaking record allowed this author to live out a long time dream & experience Damien live for the first time (twice actually: 2014 & 2015). Which made ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’ even more memorable. This decade wouldn’t have felt the same without them.
#14: Childish Gambino – ‘STN MTN / Kauai’ [2014]
I said no ties… but Childish Gambino’s ‘STN MTN’ Mixtape & ‘Kauai’ EP are available together on Vinyl (which I own) thus I’ve always counted them as one record. With two separate parts. Makes sense? Good! My #4 record of 2014 still represents Donald’s greatest musical project to date. Fun lyrical hip hop that transforms into a soulful paradise-like ballads. A full package that usually goes overlooked by the original CG haters & beloved future fans.
This is the record that masters the blueprint he laid on ‘Because The Internet’ and took his chapter to the next level of genius. Plus it gives all the feels.
#13: Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘E•MO•TION’ [2015]
Oh Ms. “Call Me Maybe”. You made this decade completely yours. Didn’t think sexy saxophones married with romantic synthpop would win me over this bad. Left a more lasting impression than Lady Gaga did on ‘Born This Way’. Or anything Taylor Swift did during her current pop age. Strange huh?
This record is a pop masterpiece that has gotten even better with time. That’s all I can say.
#12: Breaking Benjamin – ‘Dark Before Dawn’ [2015]
Much like Damien Rice, this decade also gave Breaking Benjamin back to me after their long hiatus. Dug ‘Ember’ too, but 2015’s ‘Dark Before Dawn’ blew me away on arrival. Ranking in my top 5 of that year. Such rage, passion, and intensity that had been missing in my musical soul for so long.
This record actually got bumped up on this list rather recently for making me cry at the gym. Definitely the kind of motivation I need at this current moment. Been listening to it a lot.
#11: The Japanese House – ‘Good At Falling’ [2019]
This year’s winner! Only reason why it’s #11 is because of how new to my life it is. Props to our only solo female artist to grab the crown. Go listen to ‘Good at Falling’ now!
#10: Chance The Rapper – ‘Coloring Book’ [2016]
2016’s #1 still brings chills. I know Chance wants to bring something new to the table each project… but ‘Coloring Book’ is a masterpiece for all its musical flavors.
#09: 3LAU – ‘Ultraviolet’ [2018]
Haven’t really gone back to ‘Ultraviolet’ (last year’s winner) since it won 2018. Brings back too many thoughts and feelings. Still an amazing experience.
#08: The Weeknd – ‘The Beauty Behind The Madness’ [2015]
Really wish my words for why ‘The Beauty Behind The Madness’ claimed the #1 spot in 2015 still existed. Really curious how that past version of me felt about it. The current me gets flashes of working like a crazy person, that late-night drive around Hollywood with Ash & Denny, and other random things. Feel like it’s Abel most meaningful project to date. Love the story it tells. Really touches my ego too. Even now.
#07: Kendrick Lamar – ‘DAMN.’ [2017]
You can point out the brilliance of ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ or ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’. I’d probably agree. But have to remind you of my 2017 unpopular opinion that ‘DAMN.’ is Kendrick’s best album so far. Love every single track instead of just a few hallmarks. Kung Fu Kenny karate kicked me out the window with dangerously exact hiiipower.
#06: Fall Out Boy – ‘Save Rock And Roll’ [2013]
Hot damn. My #1 record of 2013 still gets me hyped! Glad they came back together. Fall Out Boy really conquered anthemic rock genre this decade & made a good chunk of my nights a party. Got to see them multiple times promoting this record too. ‘Save Rock and Roll’ remains quite perfect in my book. Keeps that hopeful soul – who wrote that impressive blurb – alive and well.
#05: Future Islands – ‘Singles’ [2014]
I hear my father’s voice whenever I play Future Islands now. Such a strange feeling honestly. Because my love for their music came from his. Especially this record (aka my #1 of 2014). Remember when he brought me this vinyl back from SXSW in 2014. Payment of gratitude for that life-affirming week in Austin, which remains was the greatest gift I ever gave him. Plan on hanging that wax on my wall once the office is done.
Covered Sam & the boys multiple times in the months that followed SXSW. Still an amazing live experience you need to see.
#04: Rick Ross – ‘Teflon Don’ [2010]
My 1st favorite album winner! Before the yearly list was even a thing. Still think it’s better than ‘MBDTF’. Mostly for how much joy it brings to this man. Gets me ULTRA hyped! Flows well. “MC Hammer” really is a hip hop masterpiece. Also showcases how much I feeling myself back in 2010. That’s all I say.
#03: The Civil Wars – ‘Barton Hollow’ [2011]
Have spoken about that legendary day I listened to ‘Barton Hollow’ on NPR’s website and immediately bought a ticket to The Civil Wars’ El Rey show the next day too many times over the past decade. My life had just become altered for the best. Soon that practice would be common place. Shows every week. Photos albums dropping each day. Music blog buzzing for the next decade.
Have John Paul & Joy’s awesome musical chemistry to thank for the life-changing experience. And NPR. This record now holds the memories of my musical baby steps. Forever and ever.
#02: Various Artists – ‘Hamilton (Original Broadway Recording)’ [2015]
This record would’ve probably been my #1 album If I had heard Lin-Manuel’s ‘Hamilton’ Musical operatic masterpiece in 2015. Obviously Instead spent all of 2016 playing this Broadway recording on repeat. Regretting never experiencing it before. Ugh. Still hurts.
Because these beautiful messages were the huge reason I decided to walk away from Late Nights: LA when I did in 2016. Knew I didn’t need to keep chasing my legacy anymore. Could be happy living a life uptown away from the bright Hollywood lights. A feeling that caramelized my 2012 promise to myself with so much flavor. That would be enough. Totally.
#01: John Mayer – ‘Born & Raised’ [2012]
What did you expect? Kinda spoiled this choice a few months ago. Re-listening to the 100 or so meaningful records of the past decade hasn’t changed the fact that ‘Born & Raised’ actually did change me. For the best. Go read what my past self wrote in 2012. Oh that poetic fool. He’s still far better storyteller than I’ve been recently.
Actually have been enjoying ‘Born & Raised’ over the past couple weeks and I’m coming to similar conclusions funny enough. Can’t wait to take all these new life lessons with me into the next decade. This Justin is starting with a clean slate. Excited to rub a little dirt on the rolling stone.
Whew… that’s all. Thanks for sticking around! Didn’t really proof read any of this. So sorry in advance for any mistakes. Hope you dug my choice picks & words. More to come soon! Below you’ll find some of the records… and soundtracks… I really wished I could’ve included in the 25. Enjoy!
The Honorable Mentions…
(that were so close)
- My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’
- The Game – ‘Jesus Piece’
- Dead Sara – ‘Dead Sara’
- Anderson .Paak – ‘Malibu’
- Various Artists – ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Motion Picture Soundtrack’
- Various Artists – ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Motion Picture Soundtrack’
- Various Artists – ‘Inside Llewyn Davis Motion Picture Soundtrack’
- Various Artists – ‘Black Panther Motion Picture Soundtrack’
- John Mulaney – ‘New In Town’
- Desire – ‘Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
- Atticus Ross & Trent Reznor – ‘The Social Network Motion Picture Score’
- Run The Jewels – ‘Run the Jewels 2’
- Mumford & Sons – ‘Babel’
- Justin Timberlake – ‘The 20/20 Experience’
- Kanye West – ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’
- Kendrick Lamar – ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’
- Taylor Swift – ‘Red’
- Flo Rida – ‘Wild Ones’
- Brad Paisley – ‘This Is Country Music’
- Little Big Town – ‘Tornado’
- Eminem – ‘Kamikaze’
- Jay Z & Kanye West – ‘Watch The Throne’
- Sara Bareilles – ‘Kaleidoscope Heart’
- Vampire Weekend – ‘Modern Vampires of the City’
- Daft Punk – ‘Random Access Memories’
- The Cab – ‘Symphony Soldier’
- Travis Scott – ‘Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight’
- Fetty Wap – ‘Fetty Wap’
- A$AP Ferg – ‘Still Striving’
- Kacey Musgraves – ‘Golden Hour’
- Jason Aldean – ‘My Kinda Party’
- Eric Church – ‘Chief’
- Keith Urban – ‘Ripcord’
- Bun B – ‘Trill O.G.’
- Big K.R.I.T. – ‘Cadillactica’
- Kamasi Washington – ‘Heaven and Earth’
- Jessie Ware – ‘Tough Love’
- Arcade Fire – ‘The Suburbs’
- Janelle Monáe- ‘The ArchAndroid’
- Kid Cudi – ‘Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager’
- Jon McLaughlin - 'Promising Promises'
And the 200+ past picks!