The 2020s have already produced an extraordinary run of albums that will be remembered for decades. From genre-defying experiments to deeply personal masterworks, here are the ten records that have defined this era in music.
10. SZA – SOS (2022)
SZA returned after a five-year wait with a sprawling, 23-track album that showcased her incredible range. From the pop-punk energy of Kill Bill to the tender vulnerability of Shirt, SOS proved SZA is one of the most versatile artists of her generation. The album spent ten weeks at number one on the Billboard 200.
9. Tyler, the Creator – Call Me If You Get Lost (2021)
Tyler leaned into luxury rap with DJ Drama serving as hype man throughout. The production is lush, the bars are sharp, and tracks like WUSYANAME and LEMONHEAD showcase an artist operating at the peak of his creative powers.
8. Olivia Rodrigo – SOUR (2021)
Rodrigo captured the angst and heartbreak of a generation with her debut. Drivers License became a cultural moment, while songs like Good 4 U and Brutal showed impressive range for a debut artist. SOUR made Rodrigo an instant superstar.
7. Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti (2022)
The most-streamed album on Spotify in 2022, Un Verano Sin Ti blended reggaeton, dembow, indie rock, and mambo into a summer soundtrack that transcended language barriers. Bad Bunny cemented his status as the biggest artist in the world.
6. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers (2022)
Lamar returned with his most personal and challenging work, tackling therapy, family trauma, and accountability over production from The Alchemist, Pharrell, and others. It divided fans but rewarded deep listening.
5. Beyonce – Renaissance (2022)
A love letter to dance music and the Black and queer communities that created it. Renaissance drew from house, disco, Afrobeats, and bounce to create a seamless 16-track journey that demanded movement. Break My Soul became an anthem of joy.
4. Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever (2021)
Eilish matured dramatically on her sophomore album, trading the whispered darkness of her debut for bolder, more emotionally direct songwriting. The title track builds from a quiet ballad into a cathartic rock explosion that ranks among the decade’s most thrilling moments.
3. Adele – 30 (2021)
Adele channeled her divorce into devastating balladry and surprisingly adventurous production. Easy On Me became one of the decade’s biggest hits, while deeper cuts like My Little Love featured raw voice memos that blurred the line between art and diary.
2. Taylor Swift – Folklore (2020)
Created during lockdown with Aaron Dessner of The National, Folklore saw Swift embrace indie folk and fictional storytelling. The result was her most critically acclaimed work, winning Album of the Year and proving Swift could reinvent herself endlessly.
1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020)
Released in the first weeks of the pandemic, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is a percussive, primal, and profoundly liberating work. Apple turned her home into a recording studio, using household objects as instruments. It received the first perfect 10 from Pitchfork in nearly a decade and stands as the defining artistic statement of the 2020s so far.
