Jose P’s Top 8 Albums of the Decade

[Jose P 23,341]

The last thing GGD needs is another top albums of the decade list. But well that’s too bad  We stan bandwagoning  

8. Madame X (2019) - Madonna

A polarizing album for sure. Very experimental and bizarre, it’s definitely not for everyone. Here we see Madonna finally being creative and regaining her artistic inspiration after 3 rather unimaginative albums. There’s tons of musical flavor in here coupled with meaningful political lyrics. A refreshing revival of Madonna’s artistry, and no one should deny the amount of effort and thought that went into this record.

7- Save Rock and Roll (2013) - Fall Out Boy

This album was Fall Out Boy’s big comeback after an undefined hiatus, and it marks a change in the band’s musical sound, moving from pop punk to pop rock. This album is overall just tons of fun to listen to. The melodies are catchy, the production is amazing, the choruses are anthemic, and the collabs are amazing, especially Elton John and Foxes. 
 

6- There is Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It, There is a Heaven Let’s Keep It a Secret (2010) - Bring Me The Horizon

For BMTH, this record provided proof that the band was more than just a bunch of “scene kids” making angsty music. In this album, the British band begins to incorporate newer sounds into their usual metalcore sound, adding a whole new dimension to their music. We see the band moving into much more complex and intricate territory with their artistry, and allowed them to assert themselves as a band that should be taken seriously.

5- The Pale Emperor (2015) - Marilyn Manson 

Continuing with the pattern of reinvention and artistic awakening, The Pale Emperor was proof that Manson still had it. After 3 rather mediocre efforts, the shock rocker decides to move away from his usual industrial sound to a less aggressive blues rock sound. With self-reflective philosophical lyrics, this album contains Manson’s best songwriting since Holy Wood. We’re also provided with a more melodic sound than usual, showcasing some of Manson’s best vocals. This record was, overall, a true career revival.

4- ARTPOP (2013) - Lady Gaga

Largely under-appreciated at the time of its release, I’m sure every person on here remembers how chaotic this whole era was, and the amount of backlash Gaga received for her antics and pretentiousness. Now that she’s in a better place in her career, the album is remembered more fondly by music critics. The album is a conceptual mess, yes, but in my opinion that’s what makes it so great. It’s an explosion of color and sound, a wild ride from beginning to end, an album that shines in all its chaos. Extravagant, loud, colorful, sexy, and sassy, ARTPOP still stands as one of Gaga’s most exciting records.

3- Sempiternal (2013) - Bring Me The Horizon

Now this is where it gets really tough for me to rank. It’s an extremely close race from now on.

Sempiternal is, in few words, BMTH’s magnum opus. The band’s musical evolution began with There is A Hell, and their increasing artistry peaked with Sempiternal. A metalcore album with orchestral arrangements, electronic sounds and ambient production, all of that alongside powerful choruses worthy of screaming at the top of your lungs, this is one of those records I would consider as a “religious experience” to listen to. An epic masterpiece, Sempiternal is an album the British band will find it impossible to surpass.

2- Melodrama (2017) - Lorde

Maybe at this point it’s kind of predictable to include this album at the top of a decade-end list, but there’s a reason why. It’s just THAT good. Conceived after Lorde’s separation from her boyfriend, Melodrama is an album about love, heartbreak and loneliness. The magic of Melodrama lies in how perfectly Lorde manages to convey her feelings, going from ecstasy and joy to sadness and pain, with her masterful songwriting and the well-crafted production to create a vibrant and touching narrative. A perfect album, every track in here feels absolutely necessary to the story and flow of the album. Another album I’d call a masterpiece.

1- Born This Way (2011) - Lady Gaga

From all the albums Gaga has released, this is the one I consider the most “Gaga”, a representation of everything has stood for since the beginning of her career. This album is an exhilarating journey. It’s flamboyant, campy, bizarre, and crazy. But most of all, it’s incredibly powerful and inspiring. An album for the misfits, the freaks, the marginalized, the weirdos. An amalgamation of everything that makes this woman we love so much Lady Gaga. All of these are the reasons why Born This Way is an album I will always hold very close to my heart, and why it’s one of the most important albums in Gaga’s career.

[Bling 31,509]

Our tastes are incredibly similar - glad to see The Pale Emperor getting THAT praise it deserves. Madame X, even though one of my favorites of 2019, was honestly ruined by the amount of autotune. I'm a huge Madonna stan and found the vocal effects to be so distracting.