The 2010s was a decade to cherish. From one-hit wonders and the girl/boy band phenomenon (Little Mix, One Direction) to breakthrough artists that broke big records (Adele, Taylor Swift), we saw a plethora of great musicians coming and leaving the music industry during that decade.

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As we continue into the 2020s, which, let's be real, hasn't been easy for many of us, there is never a better time to look back at the 2010s and reminisce about the top ten pop albums that defined the decade.

10 'Lemonade' - Beyoncé

Often hailed as one of the best albums of the century, Queen B delivers a powerful message of empowerment and sexuality with her 2016 album, Lemonade.

Unfortunately, the album's critical acclaims and 1.5 million copy sales in the U.S. alone were not enough to convince the Grammys to crown it the Album of the Year. It was a tough competition for that title, though, as Lemonade was up against Adele's 25.

9 'Born To Die' - Lana Del Rey

Despite its controversies, Lana Del Rey's 2012 album, Born to Die was a piece of art that captured the 2010s aesthetic so well. From its iconic music videos, haunting vocals, and Del Rey's controversial melodramatic and public persona, Born to Die helped the singer cement cult status among pop culture fans. It's worth listening to.

8 'Anti' - Rihanna

It's hard to pinpoint which Rihanna album deserves to be on the list because our Bad Gal RiRi owned the decade with such a solid discography of albums: Loud, Talk That Talk, Unapologetic, and Anti.

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However, our pick would go for the latter, and here's why. Artistically, 2016's Anti was Rihanna's departure from her dancehall music genre to pop and R&B. It was also the best performing album by a black female artist, as Billboard noted.

7 '1989' - Taylor Swift

Speaking of musical shift, who wouldn't add Taylor Swift's name to a list of 2010s best pop albums? In her 2014 album, 1989, Swift says goodbye to the "American sweetheart country girl" persona we knew from the earlier days of her career with and replaces it with banger after banger. The album was so good that even 50 Cent, who is notably a "gangster rapper," admitted to loving the record!

6 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' - Billie Eilish

It is fantastic to witness Billie Eilish's career skyrocket from bedroom singer to worldwide phenomenon. After several successful singles and her Don't Smile At Me EP, everyone was highly anticipating her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, which released in 2019. With this album and her signature dreamy-pop sound, Billie easily claimed her spot as the hottest artist on the rise.

5 'Unorthodox Jukebox' - Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars is a complete performer. Whether you're in for a good party or a sad 3 AM breakdown, his 2012 album, Unorthodox Jukebox is the perfect album to reach for. His retro showmanship somehow reminds us that real music that actually requires amazing voice control still exists. Furthermore, Bruno Mars' Super Bowl half-time show performance in 2014 perfectly captured the essence of the album.

4 'Teenage Dream' - Katy Perry

And then there's Katy Perry's Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream album from 2010. The Santa Barbara singer kicked off the decade with several unforgettable singles off this album, including Calfornia Gurls, featuring the one and only Snoop Dogg, Firework, Teenage Dream, and The One That Got Away. Its 2012 reissue set the record as the most multi-Platinum singles from one album in the digital era.

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3 'The 20/20 Experience' - Justin Timberlake

Often hailed as the best solo album from the NSYNC alumni, The 20/20 Experience was one of the best selling albums of 2013 in the U.S. and peaked at number three worldwide. This album birthed hit songs, Mirrors and Suit & Tie, which is enough for a testament of how iconic Justin Timberlake was in the 2010s.

2 'Up All Night' - One Direction

Despite not being the highest-selling One Direction album, we put the boys' 2011 debut Up All Night on the list because it was the start of something special. Following a successful venture on the British talent show, X-Factor, Harry, Liam, Zayn, Niall, and Louis were dubbed as "teen idols" with this bubblegum teen-pop album. There's something about the One Direction phenomenon that reminds us of the "British Invasion" era of the 1960s when The Beatles burst onto the scene.

1 '21' - Adele

Lastly, there's 21 by Adele finishing out on the top. As many people have turned away from buying physical CDs and tapes toward purchasing a subscription to online streaming services, Adele's 21, released in 2011, still managed to score a whopping 31 million copy sales overall. Thus far, it is the highest album from the 21st century to hit such a milestone.

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