For me, the last decade was defined by musical discovery. As a teenager in the 00s, I was tethered to convention - mostly classic rock and jazz, my eyes rolling at pretty much anything else. But my twenties brought so much more to the table. The musical world blossomed in about a hundred different ways, and I suddenly found myself happily wandering through terrain that earlier in life would've been unthinkable. Prog rock and thrash metal, hip hop and K-pop, bluegrass and gospel. They've all opened up to me - musical galaxies swirling overhead.
Below you'll find my 50 favorite songs released in the last ten years, presented in alphabetical order. For the morbidly curious, make a playlist and dive right in. Enjoy!
- 715 - CR∑∑KS by Bon Iver: This hauntingly gorgeous vocoder composition is the song I didn't know I needed. It might also be my most replayed song on this list. It's an eccentric, emotional ballad that is maybe my favorite song of the decade. Seriously.
- 1985 by Haken: This is a blood-pounding prog-rock epic with just the right amount of 80s-style cheese, awash with glorious synthesizers and some of the best drumming...ever?
- Bag of Bones by ZZ Ward: This simple, stunning track fully displays the vocal and lyrical prowess of ZZ Ward. It's a stomp-and-clap jam with soul-blazing intensity.
- Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars: If there's an award for harmony, then this folk/country tune by The Civil Wars should win it a thousand times over. And somehow, the live version is even better.
- Betty Phage Goes to Bronxtown by Novallo: I'm not exactly sure what the hell this song is, but I love every manic, wild-eyed second of it. This is auditory adrenaline, so try to hang on.
- Black Smoke Rising by Greta Van Fleet: Yes, they're Zeppelin knock-offs and uninspired and blah blah blah. I don't care. This song is a wonderfully written, well-performed rock & roll throwback.
- Blue Moon by Beck: I've always been a fan of Beck, and although he's a master of all genres, I like him best doing folksy acoustic tunes. And this is truly one of his loveliest.
- Burnout Fugue by Alexandra Streliski: This classical piano piece is achingly beautiful. The perfect soundtrack for midnight walks and broken hearts.
- Bury a Friend by Billie Eilish: I was mighty skeptical of Eilish for a while, but this was the song that won me over. Its spooky, trance-like vibe is hypnotic and addictive.
- Chucky vs. The Giant Tortoise by Dance Gavin Dance: This full-throated, drum-blasting, guitar-shredding track is pure post-hardcore awesomeness. Love the lyrics, too.
- Clean by Big Data (feat. Jamie Lidell): I'm not a huge electropop guy, but Clean is too groovy, too unabashedly fun, for me to care. It's impossible not to fall in love with this song.
- Cleopatra by Weezer: With honey-sweet vocals, a shockingly busy guitar solo, and some casual time-signature shifts, this is the best Weezer tune (from the best Weezer album) of the decade.
- Congregation by Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways is my favorite Foo album of all-time, and this song is the best of the best. A perfect arrangement with perfect performances.
- Daddy Lessons by Beyonce: I honestly could've picked any track from Lemonade, but this is the one that never fails to conjure chills and tears out of thin air. What an impressive, amazing song.
- Damn Your Eyes by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa: The blues might not be a popular genre anymore, but with a voice like Hart's and guitar-work by Bonamassa, it's time for a comeback.
- Dark Necessities by Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Chili Peppers are my favorite band, and this humble yet funky chart-topper is an exquisite showcase of the band's chemistry and ability.
- The Dark Sentencer by Coheed and Cambria: In the realm of prog rock, there is no better modern act than Coheed. This is a thunderous, fist-in-the-air anthem that'll set fire to your soul.
- Dead Wishes by Chris Cornell: Is there a better rock vocalist than Cornell? On this song, his lyrical vulnerability and sheer vocal talent are beyond impressive - they are immaculate. Rest in peace, Chris.
- Don't You Know by Snarky Puppy (feat. Jacob Collier and Big Ed Lee): Snarky Puppy is the best prog jazz band in existence, and this head-bobbing, toe-tapping jam is their masterpiece.
- Faith by Ghost: With furious guitars, satanic lyrics, and drums like artillery fire, this is metal music at peak metalness. And that unholy chant during the bridge? Ghastly, groovy, and gargantuan.
- Feel Real by IAMDYNAMITE: If Sting took a bunch of Xanax and decided to make a synth-pop album, it would sound like this. Textured vocals, unique harmonies, and the deepest of pockets.
- Fever by Eva Cassidy: An amazing rendition of an amazing song performed by a singularly amazing artist. If you've never heard of Eva Cassidy, start here. You won't be disappointed.
- Game by Harrison Fjord: What a fun, funky, refreshing little pop tune this is. While it's good across the board, especially the vocals, I'm absolutely enamored with the synth solo near the end.
- Get Up by clipping (feat. Mariel Jacoda): A rap song that uses the drilling, monotonous buzz of an alarm clock as its foundation? I mean, you'll probably hate it, but I think it's brilliant.
- Gray Duck by Doomtree: Speaking of hip hop brilliance, Doomtree is probably the best around. From the driving chorus to several blistering features (with none other than Dessa, the queen of flow, stealing the show), this song is one of a kind.
- Hard Times by Paramore: I never dreamt that Paramore would return with this bubbly, afropop 80's throwback. But you know what? I'm ecstatic they did. This song is sunshine and silly-string. Enjoy.
- Hideaway by Jacob Collier: Collier, making a rare second appearance on this list, is a musical genius. This is the piece that made me fall in love with his eclectic, eccentric sound.
- The High Road by Joss Stone: This Broken Bells cover builds upon the modest funk of the original and blooms into the best soul song of the decade. Joss Stone's voice is a miracle.
- Illuminate by Leprous: From the stuttery syncopation to the mountaintop chorus, this is the track that got me hooked on Leprous. Whether you're a fan of metal or not, you'll probably really dig this.
- Interrobang by Bayside: My favorite song from 2019 is also the best pop-punk tune of the entire decade. The lyrics are killer, but so are the vocals and instrumentation.
- Kill This Love by BLACKPINK: Without question - This. Song. Slays. BLACKPINK are the undisputed empresses of K-pop, and this is their royal anthem. Bow down, everyone.
- Laugh & the World Laughs with You by Artifex Pereo: This post-hardcore beatdown is exhilarating, but the second-act shift into soulful punk-funk is divine.
- Midnight Flyer by The Night Flight Orchestra: A soaring chorus, boisterous rhythm section, and guitar/synth showdown make this one of the best rock songs in recent memory.
- Mr. Invisible by Thank You Scientist: You'll find this song at the busy intersection where jazz and rock meet. The sax solo, with its pseudo-bebop feel, is second to none.
- Mute by Native Construct: Back to prog (sorry), but this piece is wacky and wonderful. With tempo shifts aplenty and some bizarre time signatures, there's plenty here for music nerds to admire.
- Not Afraid by Eminem: This call-and-response rap song is iconic Eminem - searing lyrics, an unforgettable hook, and spitfire flow. This is one of the first tunes that helped me love hip hop.
- The Place that I Call Home by The Infamous Stringdusters: I love bluegrass for two reasons - vocal harmonies and insane instrumental solos. Here, you get the epitomes of both.
- The Revival by The Dear Hunter: The Dear Hunter is my newest favorite band, and while this track might not be their best, it's the first one I ever heard. It's a throwback 50's jam that swings harder than anything else in town. And that bridge? Those vocals? Come on. Perfection.
- Satellite by David Maxim Micic (feat. Dan Wieten): This is a tour-de-force metal experience with some bravura guitar-work and ballsy, bluesy vocals.
- Scarecrow in the Garden by Chris Stapleton: A ballad of whiskey and wheat stalks, of sermons and sunsets, this is Stapleton saving country music from its own frivolity. Amen, brother.
- Screwed by Janelle Monae (feat. Zoe Kravitz): This is Stevie Wonder, Prince, Madonna, and Lauryn Hill all folded into one. It's a shimmering hit with cutthroat lyrics and a middle-finger aura.
- Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato: The banger to end all bangers, this uproarious pop showstopper slaps harder than anything else in the last ten years. (It's also a ton of fun to drum along to!) I can't get enough of it.
- Still Feel by half.alive: I discovered this song at the tail-end of a terrible day, and it helped wash all the bad vibes away. It's one-part pop, one-part trap, one-part indie rock, and 100% awesome.
- Stranger by The New Basement Tapes: This country-western hymn was built around the bones of abandoned Bob Dylan lyrics, but with an exquisite arrangement and a gorgeous guitar solo, it feels like so much more.
- Strangers by City and Colour: This is the most inconspicuous song on my list, and its nonchalant charm is what makes it so great. I love its understated, underrated pop-rock brilliance.
- There Will Be Time by Mumford & Sons, Baaba Maal: By joining forces with Senegalese singer Baaba Maal, Mumford & Sons crafted a heavenly, once-in-a-generation chorale - complete with booming African percussion and fiery vocals.
- This is Gospel by Panic! At the Disco: Everybody shut up, okay? Brendon Urie has the best voice in modern music and this song, which constructs a beautiful rainbow road between punk and pop, is astounding. The stripped-down piano version is equally wonderful.
- Ultralight Beam by Kanye West: Kanye is a genius, and while I could've included several of his songs on this list ("Monster," "Use This Gospel," anything from Kids See Ghosts), "Ultralight Beam" is an exquisite blend of gospel and rap. From its earth-rumbling choir to Chance the Rapper's fragile vocals, this one has it all. This is a God dream. It is everything.
- Waiting for the End by Linkin Park: On the other end of the rap spectrum, where the car windows are always down and summer wind tousles your hair, is this upbeat pop tune by Linkin Park. If it doesn't make you smile and sing along, I don't know what will.
- Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas by Brandon Flowers: I visited Vegas a lot in the 2010s, and no song captures the battered, lustful, grimy, grand sentiment of the city than this song. With astute lyrics, a perfect country-pop production, and Flowers' melodramatic voice, this tune is peerless.
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