This list of my top 10 favorite albums is based on how the album flows as a whole and how many skips it has. I listed albums that I think have unique writing making them stand out against what an average artist would make, and I find myself listening to these frequently because of that. I didn’t want to rank these albums because I feel like they are too different to compare due to the different styles. 

“Folklore” – Taylor Swift 

“Folklore” is an indie folk/alternative rock style album that was released in 2020. So many songs on this album have an impeccable amount of thought behind each lyric. Swift always incorporates a love triangle story line through her songs with characters she wrote Betty, James, and Augustine. What I find so captivating about the album is the amount of vulnerability it carries with each song. I think that anyone who listens to this could find a way to relate to one of the songs. Out of all the albums on this list, this is the one I would recommend most. I can picture “Folklore” being an album that ages like fine wine and becomes a classic in music history. 

“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” – The Smashing Pumpkins 

“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” is an alternative rock grunge style album released in 1995. I just recently revisited this album and forgot how much I liked it. I think it’s probably one of the most bizarre albums I’ve ever listened to, but it just makes sense. This album ages well due to how they had a concept and ran with it. There are many classics that came out of it like “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.” Even the ones that aren’t “mainstream” have so much character, so it’s overall a more than enjoyable listen. 

“After Hours” – The Weeknd 

“After Hours” is an R&B alternative style album that was released in 2020. This was the album that initially turned me into a regular listener of The Weeknd’s music. What stands out about this album is the character The Weeknd embodies himself in, which is a character wrapped in bloody bandages. This was to represent how people change themselves just to impress the public eye, especially people in the Hollywood spotlight. His writing for this album is unique because of the dark and twisted meanings but upbeat tracks that contrast with them. 

“Cry Baby” – Melanie Martinez 

“Cry Baby” was an alternative indie pop album released in 2015. Melanie Martinez, only being 16, had just been on hit show “The Voice” but eventually got voted off. Three years later she dropped the album that would form a huge fan base. “Cry Baby” is so impressive to me because of how it introduced something new into the music industry that artists hadn’t seen before. In the album, Martinez takes concepts from nursery rhymes and things that associate with childhood, but puts a dark and sinister writing to them.

“Beyonce” – Beyonce

“Beyonce” was the fifth album that Beyonce released back in 2013. This album is so fun because of the many styles it has through every song ranging from hip-hop to R&B to pop. It isn’t even in her top three most sold albums, which shocks me because I feel like this album has the most hits and best writing. The energy from these songs go really well together, so it actually feels like you’re in an experience. Vocally, she really outdoes herself. 

“Pink Friday” – Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj has been in the rap game for years. “Pink Friday,” a hip hop and pop album, was the first album in her career that really took off. The verses in these songs are extremely memorable while also meaningful. A lot of rappers lack a unique touch in their songs today because they are trying to be what this album is. This was also the album where Minaj introduced her alter ego “Roman” with the song “Roman’s Revenge.” This would go on to inspire her next album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.” 

“Pure Heroine” – Lorde

“Pure Heroine” was an indie pop album released in 2013. She created “Pure Heroine” when she was only 16 years old, even writing some of the best tracks when she was younger. Writing is something that’s super important to me when it comes to music and you can tell that every song Lorde sings for this album was written with intention. I think that anyone could enjoy “Pure Heroine” because the topics she sings about make you feel nostalgic for your childhood. 

“The Fame” – Lady Gaga 

“The Fame” by Lady Gaga was a pop/rock disco album released in 2008. In my opinion, this is the best album she has ever released. There is barely even a skip. So many iconic hits came from this album like “Paparazzi”, “Just Dance”, “Poker Face”, “Love Game.” Even the ones that aren’t extremely popular are good. This is the exact album you would want to listen to if you were at a party. The music industry hadn’t seen something like Gaga since Madonna and this album was so powerful and critical for the music industry. 

“1989” – Taylor Swift 

“1989” by Taylor Swift was released in 2014 as a synth pop album. “1989” was truly an era for Miss Swift. This is a no skip album and every single track hits in a different way. The thing I love about “1989” is that there are so many different emotions you can associate with it, ranging from songs like “Welcome To New York” to “Bad Blood.” I can picture this album aging really well in decades to come and people considering it a classic of the 2010’s. 

“Dookie” – Green Day 

“Dookie” was a punk rock album released in 1994. It’s one of the most influential albums in punk rock and has held up that title for nearly three decades. A lot of the songs on this album are memorable; Green Day even had their first number one hit with “Longview” and this was most people’s introduction to the band. If you haven’t listened to this album I would definitely recommend it, and if you want to start listening to punk rock this would be exactly where you would want to start.