As we approach the middle of the decade, it’s natural to reflect on all the meaningful music that has found its way into our lives. These 25 albums stand out as some of the best to come out of the 2020s.

25. the record by boygenius

The long-awaited first studio album from Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers rewrites alternative folk-rock. The indie starlets band together for warm vocal performances and genius melodies.

24. Zach Bryan by Zach Bryan

The heartbreaker country star’s fourth full-length album embodies exactly that. Bryan takes his lyrics and packs them into one quick punch — and you can’t help but fall in love.

23. A Great Chaos by Ken Carson

This record is a reflection of its title — in the best way possible. The Atlanta rapper’s fourth studio album develops a rich and intimate atmosphere from start to finish, and the listener is never bored.

22. Women in Music Pt. III by HAIM

The three sisters behind HAIM offer their introspective songwriting to you like a gift. At its core — this is a lush and nostalgic album about girlhood and the glamorization of being a late-20s to early-30s woman.

21. UTOPIA by Travis Scott

Five years after the release of his critically acclaimed album “ASTROWORLD” — Travis Scott returns with incredible features and expands the world of experimental hip-hop.

20. The New Abnormal by The Strokes

The 2020 album shows Julian Casablancas at his best with his tasteful and catchy songwriting. This marked the end of the band’s 7-year hiatus and proved that they are back and better than ever.

19. Submarine by The Marías

The band’s second full-length album is a dream-pop wonderland that fuses English and Spanish flawlessly. The average listening experience makes you feel like you’re swimming in the clouds with zero gravity — and you can’t get enough of it.

18. BRAT by Charli xcx

The cultural impact of Charli xcx’s sixth studio album is undeniable. With music and features and a tour that encapsulates the summer of 2024 — she does it all while maintaining being musically interesting, both lyrically and sonically.

17. RENAISSANCE by Beyoncé

Beyoncé crafts a celebration of black and queer culture — using house and disco-infused R&B with smooth vocals and cult classics. This album is the first part of her album trilogy, and it’s all about radiating confidence and pure liberation.

16. I Know I’m Funny haha by Faye Webster

Faye Webster’s warm and thoughtful songwriting pairs beautifully with understated folk and R&B influences. Her quirky desperation matches her lullaby-like tone of voice — creating a very well-balanced listening experience.

15. CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, the Creator

The recent album from Tyler, the Creator dives into a vivid soundscape, blending funk, soul, and dark experimental hip-hop. His brash storytelling and brisk, invigorating production stands out as his best to date.

14. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny is painfully and playfully charming on his ‘Summer Escape’ album with hints of reggaeton, trap, dembow, and merengue influences. The Puerto Rican artist creates a perfect Caribbean summer with his genre-defying LP.

13. Laurel Hell by Mitski

A modern take on 80’s synth-pop with Mitski’s signature raw lyricism explores themes of existential pining and chronic burnout syndrome—in a both gorgeous and painfully real manner.

12. Drop Cherries by Billie Marten

The raw instrumentation feels like a warm hug on Billie Marten’s fourth full-length album. The singer’s ethereal vocals and purgative themes about womanhood resemble a new-age Joni Mitchell.

11. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish

An album of contrasts, Billie Eilish balances eerie production with heartfelt ballads and a therapeutic climax on her third studio album. Working alongside her brother, FINNEAS, her newest album shows an evolution of chemistry between the two.

10. SOS by SZA

SZA’s second studio album was released nearly seven years after her debut — and her cathartic truths about herself in a diary-entry format create a sprawling emotional journey and an overall liberating listening experience.

9. Sling by Clairo

This record is better described as a collection of fabled sonnets that dissect the fear and unknowing about raising a family and passing life onto others so your legacy lives on longer. The one-of-a-kind voice that Clairo offers is just the cherry on top.

8. Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

In a kaleidoscopic blend of alt-pop and experimental sounds, Magdalena Bay creates a futuristic fairyland and everyone listening is just flying around in it. The ambitious artistry from the duo is magical and the sounds are silky smooth.

7. Desire, I Want to Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek

The latest record from Caroline Polachek proves that she can continue to do what she does best. Consistently pushing sonic boundaries with her ethereal and avant-pop style — the innovation and immersiveness of this project marks it as one of the best of the decade.

6. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan’s explosive debut is nothing short of hypersexual sapphic pop perfection. Diving deep into the anthemic pop bangers and gritty craftsmanship of the record — she proves herself as our very own super graphic ultra modern Midwest princess.

5. Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975

Marty Healy is unhinged and a menace to society, but at least he can admit it. Throughout the band’s entire discography — they evolve and expand sonically with each album and this one is no exception.

4. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey

In the hauntingly introspective eighth studio album from Lana Del Rey, she delivers a cinematic and intimate collection of music that explores themes like family, legacy, and identity. While embracing minimalism — she hasn’t lost her way with words and she uses them powerfully.

3. Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

On one of the most heart-wrenching and soul-crushing records of the century, Phoebe Bridgers takes on a delicate adventure through heartbreak, pragmatic dread, and melancholia. It’s undeniably breathtaking to watch her ideas come to life while capturing universal desolation.

2. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar crafted a scattered yet cohesive and deeply personal album about generational trauma, fatherhood, and his formative years as a young man for his fifth full-length record. The meticulously crafted poetry in the music makes for a genre-defining masterpiece — and it was audibly therapeutic for Lamar to create.

1. Home Video by Lucy Dacus

Home Video is not just an album, it’s a series of vignettes that recount the various past sorrows in Lucy Dacus’ life. It’s a coming-of-age story about the complexity of being a person — playing one after another as if you’re watching her home videos. From the concept to the production to the storytelling on this record, nothing can even come close to compare to the artistry on this LP.