Pop albums often come across as repetitive and that’s annoying.
Through the generations, artists always prove to break those patterns and release the music they want to release. Here are five albums that helped changed music today, released after 2010. They all have done some part in changing either their genre or helping change the world socially. Most of these are known just by their singles, but listening to the albums forward to back can give them a whole new meaning. Enjoy these five albums in whatever setting you please, but headphones and a smile would definitely be recommended. In tradition, because these album track-lists are picked with precision, I will be posting the link to the first song as to not disrupt the formatting.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West (2010)
If 808’s & Heartbreaks was Kanye discovering the new world, this is his Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Coming off of his mother’s death and the humiliating Taylor Swift fiasco, Kanye does not hold back in showcasing this track-list full of greatness. From the raw beginnings to an end that calls out to the heavens, this album mirrors Kanye’s own career path, a fairy tale mixed with its hip-hop foundations when blended together solidify West’s place as a legendary, mystical, demigod. As over-played as it may have seemed in 2010, “All Of The Lights” makes so much more sense in place between the interlude and the next track. “Monster,” which nobody can ever forget, is Nikki Minaj’s second-best verse (beaten only by her iconic opening verse on “Only,”), which she threw down for a payment of $50,000, with no album out. With the reputation of being notoriously secretive during the production process (even Rick Ross was baffled by how tightly the Studio Rules were enforced), it really was enough to change the social status of a man widely-hated amongst America.
Channel Orange by Frank Ocean (2011)
Imagine being 12 years old, trying to pass by the dark hours of the night, deciding whether to play video games or flip through late-night television only to find treasures and commercial breaks that bring you back to the ’80s. That’s this entire album summed into one sentence. Frank Ocean somehow made a blend of songs that feel sexy and sad, while still maintaining a magical feel to it. Tracks like “Lost” and “Pyramids” are still among intimate and post-breakup playlists alike. “Thinkin Bout You” makes you long for a person you didn’t know you loved, and “Bad Religion” makes you feel for all the people who want to love but can’t. Ride it from start to end and let Frank Ocean be your therapist for the night.
Random Access Memories by Daft Punk (2013)
While it may come off as pretentious and many years ahead of its time, it’s slowly starting to prove its place at the top. As dance music slowly starts to creep back (Lil Uzi Vert), Daft Punk was throwing down danceable tracks in 2013 with “Give Life Back To Music”, which actually comes across like the duo begging modern artists to listen to their lyrics and take notes. Collaborations are plentiful, featuring a dance ballad with Pharrell (“Lucky”) and an indie rock/disco hybrid with The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas (“Instant Crush”). This album guarantees musical precision as well as a damn good time, so throw it on and dance with the group that knows how to throw a party.
Give Life Back To Music-
Flower Boy by Tyler the Creator (2017)
Tyler, the Creator, known for “eating one roach and making a lot of money,” backhands his audience with a release that’ll smack them back to reality. Instead of coming out with an album completely catered to himself, he toys with what he decides to cater towards the fans. His first two tracks have him rapping, but also mixing in his incredible singing talent that was before only seen in maybe one song (“IFHY”). However, by the middle of the album, we accept the fact that Tyler might not be rapping, and we’re ok with that because he still brings the heat on “Who Dat Boy.” He also drops subtle hints about his own personal life in songs like “Garden Shed” and “November,” which definitely was a big day for some hip-hop fans. At the end of the day, without this, there is no IGOR, and while that may be a more cohesive album, Flower Boy has Tyler at his most vulnerable, and that means a lot more.
Damn. By Kendrick Lamar (2017)
The most well rounded in his music, the artistic innovator re-invents what it means to make a hip-hop album. Each song, not just a beat, but carefully crafted poems that guide us through the retrospect of a disappointed citizen in this country. Kendrick Lamar challenges everybody: the audience, other rappers, and even political figures. He doesn’t hold back in what seems like a courtroom drama back and forth, Kendrick vs Right America, which ultimately ends in his damnation. I know everyone has listened to the album forward, but it tells a completely different story backwards.
For this one, I’m going to post the last song and let you decide which way to listen.
UPDATE: After Hours by The Weeknd
The Weeknd proves himself as an artist willing to blend the lines between his personality and his art, marking a point of maturity and vulnerability for the young Canadian. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, or as the world knows him, The Weeknd, sets up his audience for a wild 80’s themed descent into madness which feels almost monotonous for the first half-hour. After his “Escape From LA,” you start to notice a change in his lyrics and general composure, which deteriorates by “After Hours,” the title of the album itself. Closing off with a beat produced by MetroBoomin, The Weeknd successfully branches out while also giving the people what they want. The Weeknd lays this album out, the first half beats, the second half songs, exposing his two sides to the same bill (consequentially rolled up and.. well… yeah). While it may not be exactly free from the reigns of pop culture (half the songs were produced by Max Martin), it still drilled the same phrase in everyone’s mind: “his next album is going to be wild af.”
Suggestion: for an even wilder ride, watch Uncut Gems (2019) right before.