Top 10 Best Pop Albums of 2010s

In 2010, Robyn had an idea to release three mini albums rather than one big one. However, for one reason or another, after the release of the first two small LPs (Body Talk Pt. 1 and Body Talk Pt. 2), she went ahead and put out a full-length record. “Body Talk” was both a separate album and a compilation of five new tracks as well as the best songs from part 1 and part 2. Fans had been waiting five years since the singer’s eponymous “Robyn” and the Swedish pop star didn’t disappoint. From “Indestructible” to “Call Your Girlfriend,” Robyn gives catchy dance pop a deeper intellectual appeal. And speaking of appeal, Rolling Stone magazine called it the 196th greatest album of all time.

“After Laughter” was Paramore’s first album since the return of three former members who’d left over the course of the previous decade. However, while the personnel might’ve been familiar, the music sure wasn’t. Known for their alt and pop-punk sounds, Paramore took their inspiration for this album from the New Wave music of the 1980s. It might not have been what we were used to from them, but given the album’s debut at number six on the US Billboard 200, we sure aren’t the only ones who liked it. Besides the catchy tunes, the dichotomy of the fun sound with the lyrical themes of mental exhaustion and anxiety in songs like “Hard Times” and “Fake Happy” provides the listener with a thought-provoking experience.

The first album to ever have five of its singles top the Billboard Hot 100 was Michael Jackson’s “Bad.” The second album to do it was Katy Perry’s 2010 Pop-tastical “Teenage Dream.” Two years prior, Perry had kissed a girl, liked it, and became a pop sensation. With “Teenage Dream,” she slayed any doubts that she was a one-shot pop music firework. The hit-filled album let everyone know that this California Gurl was here to stay. From playful to inspiring, Perry’s album saw commercial success and while some critics didn’t get it, some - like The A.V. Club - saw “Teenage Dream” for what it was… pure “Pop perfection.”

Ariana Grande’s 2019 album, “Thank U, Next,” featured her first two number-one hits. However, we would argue that as good a pop LP as it was, it was her previous year’s effort, “Sweetener,” which stands out as her best complete album, and one of the best of the 2000s. On the album Grande speaks about everything from sex to anxiety and does it in a pop context that isn’t afraid to explore some new and unexpected sounds - including house and trap. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine went so far as to say that the album “proved trap was the new pop.” Grande has always had an amazing vocal range, and with “Sweetener,” she expanded her sonic range as well.

After gaining a following with her debut EP, “Don't Smile at Me,” Billie Eilish took a massive leap to pop music stardom with the release of her first studio album in 2019. Born from Eilish’s night terrors, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” has some very darkly comic undertones. She has her mind set on world domination in the record’s first single, “You Should See Me in a Crown.” On the Record of the Year winning track “Bad Guy,” she turns the pop-stereotype on its head, taking a dominant position usually reserved for the male POV. For such a young artist (she was born in 2001), Eilish showed an impressive maturity in her songwriting abilities both musically and lyrically.

Taylor Swift’s fourth album, “Red,” saw her begin to step into the pop world and away from her country music beginnings. However, it was her next album, “1989,” that saw her transition completely into the pop icon she was to become. As she even said at the time, “This is my very first documented, official pop album.” And what a debut it was! With three of the album’s singles, “Shake It Off," "Blank Space," and "Bad Blood" all hitting number one, Swift proved her genre-jumping abilities were on point. “1989” also went on to win Swift Grammys for both Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album.

It’s hard to believe, but when the decade of the 2010s started most people probably didn’t even know who Justin Bieber was. But that all changed in March of 2010 with the release of his debut album, “My World 2.0.” Maybe even more amazing is that in just five years he went from the baby-faced “Baby” singer to the tatted-up Bieber leading a new pop generation with “Purpose.” With "What Do You Mean?" and "Sorry," the Biebs brought a little dancehall and house to his pop stylings. With “Love Yourself,” he stripped everything away for a beautifully minimalist, acoustic track that became the album’s third straight number one hit.

Lemonade may be a drink that children sell on the corner for a dollar, but there’s nothing childish about Beyoncé’s 2016 similarly-titled album. In the aftermath of her husband’s cheating, “Lemonade” is the roadmap of Bae’s emotional and mental healing set against a broader cultural framework. More than just an album, “Lemonade” is an art-pop masterpiece that flows in and out of various genres to tell its story. A story it also told via a “Lemonade” movie Beyoncé released in conjunction with the LP. “Lemonade” isn’t just a collection of songs, it’s a complete artistic experience. And a great one at that!

Talk about consistency. Along with being a huge commercial hit, Lady Gaga’s 2011 album “Born This Way” garnered the pop superstar her third straight Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. And deservedly so. Following the success of “The Fame” and “The Fame Monster,” Gaga had a lot to live up to. But if she felt any pressure, she sure didn’t show it. Her signature dance-pop sound is definitely present throughout the album with the title track and others. However, Gaga also named Bruce Springsteen as one of her main influences on the record, which can be heard in songs like “The Edge of Glory.” In an interview prior to its release, Gaga stated that the album is “the greatest music [she’s] ever written.”

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Pure Heroine” (2013), Lorde
Lorde Became Pop Music Royalty to Some After This Great Debut Album

“Emotion” (2015), Carly Rae Jepsen
We Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Like This Album

“Ceremonials” (2011), Florence and the Machine
Florence Put the Machine to Work and Produced This Best Pop Vocal Album Nominee

“The 20/20 Experience” (2013), Justin Timberlake
No Hindsight Needed Here, We Knew How Good This Album Was in 2013

“Dirty Computer” (2018), Janelle Monáe
A Funky Pop Album That Makes You Feel Good

Adele’s debut album, “19,” was a hit and led to her taking home the Grammy for Best New Artist. However, no one could have predicted the worldwide phenomenon that was her follow-up, 2011’s “21.” The LP rolled in with “Rolling in the Deep.” She followed up that great track with a beautiful expression of love, loss, and heartache in “Someone like You.” Both songs were number one hits, and that streak continued with the album’s third single, “Set Fire to the Rain” - a beautiful showcase of Adele’s vocal gifts. A gift so many of us were happy to bring into our homes. So many that the album stands among the top 20 best-selling albums ever, paving the way for more hits like “25.”

What pop album from the previous decade do you still have on heavy rotation? Pop into our comments and let us know.