Warning: Some of the albums listed here contain explicit lyrics. Reader discretion is advised.

The 2010s were an amazing collection of musical efforts from some of the world’s most talented creators. We’re continuing our countdown of the best albums of the decade with #30 – #21. Let’s get back to it.

30) Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory (2017)

The wild thing about Vince Staples is how underrated he is. Sure, his album rollouts are met with critical acclaim, but otherwise? He gets no real love from the rap community. 2017’s Big Fish Theory is a nice actualization of the glimmers of greatness we hear on 2015’s Summertime ’06 and Prima Donna in 2016. Three albums in three years might lead to listener attrition, but Staples is equal parts pop-minded for the ultimate hook as well as a gifted storyteller. The best parts of West Coast rap are in his sound, style, and lyrics. Never anything but authentic, Staples nailed every track of this 36 minute record with the precision of a GOAT.

29) Sun Kil Moon – Benji (2014)

Four albums into a solo career, Benji is the former Red House Painters frontman Mark Kozelek’s most focused record. While I love all of his work, the 22 minute ramblings about gun control or missing a one night stand he met in the 90s isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Benji‘s opening track is about a distant cousin who dies the same way as an uncle; a fiery explosion. It’s dramatic, but the lyrics are poignant and thoughtful in a way that shows maturity, not emotional distress. While singing about his parents, sexual experiences of his youth, or even the death of his friends, Kozelek is disorienting and about as innovative as you can be with an acoustic guitar and minimal background instrumentation. You can hate his new stuff, but Benji is a triumph.

28) The Head and the Heart – The Head and the Heart (2011)

The year after Mumford and Sons brought folk revival to the mainstream, the genre’s more subdued roots broke through music’s soil with a self-titled record from Seattle outfit, The Head and the Heart. 2011 seems so long ago that it’s hard to believe a time where indie folk wasn’t a regular sound to come across on college radio charts, but the band’s blend of quiet, hometown-style harmonies made this coming of age album seem more mature than its members. Follow up records fail to capture the magic of this first record, but it doesn’t tarnish the purity behind lyrics like “these are the places you can find me hiding.” There’s no air of fear in this record of being so vulnerable and scared of the future. In fact, it’s refreshing, and continues to find its way to the sounds of today’s top indie folk acts.

27) Modern Baseball – Sports (2012)

With two excellent songwriters sharing the frontman role, Modern Baseball’s debut record Sports is a combination of why people love pop punk and can’t give it up after the lyrics and themes seem a little juvenile. A little less crass than Blink-182 and a little sloppier than bands like Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory, the key to Sports is the shared duty of artists Brendan Lukens and Jake Ewald. The varying approaches to songwriting from both singers helps the album feel unpredictable, even though you know every song is going to be about girls not liking you back or getting drunk when you’re sad. It’s indulgent and very much in on the joke about punk pop records being dramatic. Who doesn’t love a little drama, especially when it is executed this well.

26) Adele – 21 (2011)

Anyone who claims to dislike this record is lying, and I’ll gladly say it to their face. Adele may be overhyped, overplayed, and far more flawed than her fans and critics allow her to seem, but guess what? She’s really damn good at what she does. Her vocals on 2011’s 21 are stronger than 19, and she returns with a presence of someone who has spent decades writing heart wrenching love songs. For someone so young to put out an album this wretched and wreathed in hopeless dread isn’t some accident. The emotions you feel at 21 years old are fast, sweeping, and suffocating. It’s hard to explain how you’re feeling when you get hurt by someone you love for the first time, but now we don’t need to find the words. Adele recorded them for us.

25) Noname – Telefone (2016)

Rap was begging for an artist like Noname when the Chicago based artist emerged from spoken word and poetry circles to record an album far more fluent and focused than peer Chance the Rapper. Telefone is like being read a story from someone who has seen a lot of things in her short time on Earth. The soul and tell-it-like-it-is style of her lyrics and delivery represent a talent lightyears ahead of her competition, and that’s the thing: who is Noname’s competition? It’s not male rappers who seem stuck on misogynistic musings about getting some you-know-what. Her competition isn’t the pool of female rappers trying to get a seat the boy’s table, or claiming it doesn’t matter. She’s unparalleled in her performance, and has a long career of teaching us a thing or two ahead of her. Let’s be thankful for that.

24) Big Thief – U.F.O.F. (2019)

It seems like cheating when considering 2019 albums that are clear Album of the Year material in a decade-long critique. That being said, U.F.O.F. isn’t just another AotY candidate. It’s a piece of work from a band and lead songwriter on a historic tear. Adrianne Lenker has four albums to her solo name, and this 2019 release is the third album in the band’s discography. A fourth was released months later in 2019, marking 8 incredible albums in four years. U.F.O.F. is the most sonically developed, and thematically complete work any indie rock band has put out since the band was founded. For years, we’ll look back on this run and wonder how they did it, entirely grateful that they did.

23) Run the Jewels – RTJ 2 (2014)

El-P and Killer Mike weren’t well-known names in rap before forming Run the Jewels in 2012. As they’re famous for rapping about, they’re both from cities full of inequality, racism, and power structures set to keep the little people down. The dual personalities and perspective of black and white men concerned with the interests of the 99% is a sort of activism a lot of people can access without really enjoying rap at all. In Run the Jewels’ crosshairs on their second record, police brutality, racist politicians, and anyone who thinks they’re not the greatest rap duo ever all have a death wish. Spoiler alert: Mike and LP are going to get theirs.

22) St. Vincent – St. Vincent (2015)

St. Vincent’s early career was all about exploring the wildest sides of Annie Clark’s imagination. In a much more straightforward, pop-leaning effort, 2014’s self-titled record is catchy and just as creative as ever. Live performances saw Clark introducing choreography, wild outfits and backdrops, and a much more over-the-top style than we had seen before. Her next effort would end up returning the artist to her melancholy, introspective roots, but in 2015, Clark was queen and nobody was saying otherwise.

21) Pinegrove – Cardinal (2016)

As Pinegrove fans like to joke, the band’s straight-laced indie rock and polite demeanor make it seem like you should tuck your shirt in while listening to their songs. With the insanely amazing vocals of Evan Stephens Hall paired with an incredible rhythmic intuition from Zack Levine, the rest of the band’s members have shifted since its early days. No matter the lineup, the core keeps the band floating right between emo, alt-country, and indie rock. Every fan base involved can find something to love here. In fact, it’s hard to find people writing more likable music this decade. Their album Cardinal rounds out our next ten entries of the best albums of the decade project.

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Editor’s Note: The list is complete! Check out 40-31, 20-11, and 10-1 to round out this decade!