The Best Albums of the 2010s

12 October 2022, 15:14 | Updated: 21 August 2024, 14:35

Here's Radio X's pick of the essential albums you need from the past decade.

The 2010s have been an eventful decade in the world of music - we've seen many bands split up, and many more new groups and artists blossom into action. Here's our selection of the albums you need from the past decade.

1. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

   

   Released: 25 May 2012. Best tracks: Matilda, Breezeblocks, Tesselate.

2. Arcade Fire - The Surburbs

   

   Released: 2 August 2010. Best tracks: The Suburbs, Ready To Start.

3. Arctic Monkeys - AM

   

   Released: 9 September 2013. Best tracks: R U Mine? Knee Socks, Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, Do I Wanna Know, One For The Road.

4. Richard Ashcroft - These People

   

   Released: 20 May 2016. Best tracks: This Is How It Feels, They Don't Own Me, Hold On

5. Biffy Clyro - Opposites

   

   Released :28 January 2013. Best tracks: Black Chandelier, Victory Over The Sun, Biblical

6. Jade Bird - Jade Bird

   

   Released: 19 April 2019. Best tracks: I Get No Joy, My Motto, Uh-Huh

7. The Black Keys - El Camino

   

   Released: 6 December 2011. Best tracks: Gold On The Ceiling, Lonely Boy, Little Black Submarines

8. Blossoms - Cool Like You

   

   Released: 27 April 2018. Best tracks: There's a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls), I Can't Stand It, How Long WilL This Last?

9. Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow

   

   Released: 3 February 2014. Best tracks: Luna, Carry Me, Feel

10. David Bowie - Blackstar

    

    Released: 8 January 2016. Best tracks: Blackstar, Lazarus, 'Tis A Pity She's A Whore

11. Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg

    

    Released: 15 October 2012. Best tracks: Lightning Bolt, Taste It, Seen It All.

12. Catfish And The Bottlemen - The Balcony

    

    Released: 15 September 2014. Best tracks: Homesick, Pacifier, Kathleen

13. CHVRCHES - The Bones Of What You Believe

    

    Released: 20 September 2013. Best tracks: The Mother We Share, Recover, Gun

14. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

    

    Released: 27 January 2012. Best tracks: Born To Die, Blue Jeans, Video Games

15. Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!

    

    Released: 4 March 2011. Best tracks: Liipy Kids, Neat Little Rows

16. Everything Everything - Get To Heaven

    

    Released: 22 June 2015. Best tracks: Distant Past, Regret, Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread

17. Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles

    

    Released: 13 September 2019. Best tracks: Hypersonic Missiles, Dead Boys, Play God

18. Florence And The Machine - Ceremonials

    

    Released: 28 October 2011. Best tracks: Shake It Out, What The Water Gave Me, No Light No Light

19. Foals - Holy Fire

    

    Released: 11 February 2013. Best tracks: Inhaler, My Number, Out Of The Woods

20. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

    

    Released: 12 April 2011. Best tracks: Rope, Arlandia, Walk

21. Liam Gallagher - Why Me? Why Not

    

    Released: 20 September 2019. Best tracks: Shockwave, Once, One Of Us

22. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

    

    Released: 17 October 2011. Best tracks: Everybody's On The Run, If I Had A Gun..., AKA... What A Life!

23. HAIM - Days Are Gone

    

    Released: 27 September 2013. Best tracks: Forever, The Wire

24. Jamie T - Carry On The Grudge

    

    Released: 29 September 2014. Best tracks: Don't You Find, Zombie, Rabbit Hole

25. Miles Kane - Colour Of The Trap

    

    Released: 3 June 2013. Best tracks: Rearrange, Come Closer, Inhaler

26. The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful

    

    Released: 22 September 2017. Best tracks: The Man, Run For Cover

27. Kodaline - In A Perfect World

    

    Released: 14 June 2013. Best tracks: High Hopes, Love Like This, All i Want

28. London Grammar - If You Wait

    

    Released: 6 September 2013. Best tracks: Hey Now, Strong, If You Wait

29. The Maccabees - Given To The Wild

    

    Released: 9 January 2012. Best tracks: Feel To Follow, Pelican

30. Muse - Drones

    

    Released: 5 June 2015. Best tracks: Dead Inside, Psycho

31. Royal Blood - Royal Blood

    

    Released: 25 August 2014. Best tracks: Figure It Out, Come On Over, Little Monster

32. Stereophonics - Keep The Village Alive

    

    Released: 11 September 2015. Best tracks: I Wanna Get Lost With You, C'Est La Vie

33. Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

    

    Released: 17 February 2010. Best tracks: Something Good Can Work, Undercover Martyn, I Can Talk

34. The Vaccines - What Do You Expect From The Vaccines

    

    Released: 11 March 2011. Best tracks: Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra), If You Wanna, Nørgaard

35. Vampire Weekend - Contra

    

    Released: 11 January 2010. Best tracks: Cousins, Horchata, Holiday

36. Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool

    

    Released: 22 June 2015. Best tracks: Bros, Fluffy, You're A Germ