Rick Henry's Top 100 Albums of The Decade 2010 - 2019

Each year since 2011, I have published my list of Top 15 albums of the year. Therefore I felt it appropriate that I combine those years (plus 2010) to publish my Top 100 albums of the decade. Hope you enjoy my list.

Top 100 Albums of the Decade

2010-2019

100. "Storytone" by Neil Young (2014)
99. "Vulnicura" by Bjork (2015)
98. "Azul, Mis Dientes" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2017)
97. "Surfing The Void" by Klaxons (2010)
96. "Le Noise" by Neil Young (2010)
95. "Violence" by Editors (2018)
94. "Lurid Glow" by Reptar (2015)
93. "I Learned The Hard Way" by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2010)
92. "Otra Cosa" by Julieta Venegas (2010)
91. "Saudade" by Theivery Corporation (2014)
90. "Fear Inoculum" by TOOL (2019)
89. "A Lovejoy" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)
88. "Ninety Miles" by Stefon Harris with David Sanchez and Christian Scott (2011)
87. "Blunderbuss" by Jack White (2012)
86. "Hippopotamus" by Sparks (2017)
85. "Utopia" by Bjork (2017)
84. "Black & White America - Lenny Kravitz (2011)
83. "Sunken Condos" by Donald Fagen (2012)
82. "Sound and Fury by Sturgill Simpson (2019)
81. "Zoo" by Ceremony (2012)
80. "A World Of Masks" by Heliocentrics (2018)
79. "Gloss Drop" by Battles (2011)
78. "Mountain Moves" by Deerhoof (2017)
77. "My Way" by Willie Nelson (2018)
76. "To The Sea" by Jack Johnson (2010)
75. "Mojo" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2010)
74. "Some Need It Lonely" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)
73. "Little Broken Hearts" by Norah Jones (2012)
72. "Is This The Life We Really Want" by Roger Waters (2017)
71. "In The Spirit World Now" by Ceremony (2019)
70. "Odd Blood" by Yeasayer (2010)
69. "Nontourniquet" by The Mars Volta (2012)
68. "Small Car Big Wheels" by Enjoy (2018)
67. "Another Word For Joy" by Enjoy (2016)
66. "Radio Music Society" by Esperanza Spalding (2012)
65. "Woman Gives Birth To Tomato" by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2013)
64. "Concrete Jungle" by Blktop Project (2016)
63. "Memories" by Mind.In.A.Box (2015)
62. "Reveries" by Joe Henry (2011)
61. "Ride Me Back Home" by Willie Nelson (2019)
60. "Oklahoma" by Keb' Mo' (2019)

59. “The Reflection” by Keb’ Mo’ (2011)

58. “More Fast Songs About The Apocalypse” by Moby (2017)

57. “Boarding House Reach” by Jack White (2018)

56. “Thrum” by Joe Henry (2017)

55. “Roman Lips” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

54. “Call It What It Is” by Ben Harper (2016)

53. “All The Light Above It Too” by Jack Johnson (2017)

52. “Western Stars” by Bruce Springsteen” (2019)

51. “Exposure” by Esperanza Spalding (2017)

50. “Standing In The Breach” by Jackson Browne (2014)

49. “Sad Clowns and Hillbillies” by John Mellencamp (2017)

48. “For The Good Times” by The Little Willies (2012)

47. “Tribute To Bobby” by Stephen Hobbs (2018)

46. “From The Deep” by Heliocentrics (2017)

45. “This Land” by Gary Clark Jr (2019)

44. “The Road From Memphis” by Booker T. Jones (2011)

43. “Algo Sucede” by Julieta Venegas (2015)

42. “Mantra Hiroshima” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2010)

41. “Lazeretto” by Jack White (2014)

40. “Africa Speaks” by Santana (2019)

39. “The Genius Of Eddie Jefferson” by Allan Harris (2018)

38. “Raise Vibration” by Lenny Kravitz (2018)

37. “These Systems Are Failing” by Moby (2016)

36. “Soul of A Woman” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2017)

35. “Black Star” by David Bowie (2016)

34. “Hypnotic Eye” by Tom Petty (2014)

33. “Someday World” by Brian Eno & Karl Hyde (2014)

32. “Black Sun” by Gold Fields (2013)

31. “Rammstein” by “Rammstein (2019)

30. “Last Man Standing” by Willie Nelson (2018)

29. “Umbrella Mistress” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

28. “in.ter.a.lia” by At The Drive-In (2017)

27. “The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim” by Gary Clark, Jr. (2015)

26. “Sonic Creed” by Stefon Harris (2018)

25. “Harry Styles” by Harry Styles (2017)

24. “New Devices” by Roller Trio (2018)

23. “The Sea” by Corinne Bailey Rae (2010)

22. “Soldier Of Love” by Sade (2010)

21. “Un Corazon de Nadie” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2012)

20. “Rattle That Lock” by David Gilmour (2015)

19. “Sinatra & Jobim @ 50” by John Pizzarelli and Daniel Jobim (2017)

18. “The Music In My Head” by Michael Franks (2018)

17. “Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John Frusciante” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John

      Frusciante (2010)

16. “Twin Danger” by Twin Danger (2015)

15. “Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Songs of Billie Holiday” by Jose James (2015)

14. “Day Breaks” by Norah Jones (2016)

13. “The Endless River” by Pink Floyd (2014)

12. “Monolith of Phobos” by Claypool Lennon Delirium (2016)

11. “A Sailor’s Guide To Earth” by Sturgill Simpson (2017)

10. “The L-Shaped Man” by Ceremony (2015)

With this album Ceremony is as close to Joy Division as a band can get yet still maintaining their own unique sound and style

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00TL6QU5S/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

9. “Lean On Me” by Jose James (2018)

A fantastic R&B jazz filled tribute to the music of Bill Withers

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07F5CPBMM/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

8. “Corazones” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2016)

This is one of ORL’s most pop oriented efforts of his entire career. His voice is engaging, guitar work flawless and the songs are filled with catchy hooks

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01IQMMAQ0/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

7. “TajMo” by Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal (2017)

R&B and blues from two legends of the genre

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B06XH1Q5K8/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Grammy Winner

6. “The Heart Speaks In Whispers” by Corinne Bailey Rae (2016)

Sweet voiced Corinne Bailey Rae shines on what I call her best effort

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01C7PNOAS/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

5. “Foreverly” by Billie Joe + Norah (2013)

Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong harmonize beautifully on this stirring tribute to the Everly Brothers’ 1958 “Songs Our Dady Taught Us”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00G4EXNNM/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

4. “South Of Reality” by Claypool Lennon Delirium (2019)

Les Claypool (Primus) and Sean Ono Lennon team up to create an album that rivals the best of the best by the Beatles and for that matter Pink Floyd.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07JX4SG54/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

3. “12 Little Spells” by Esperanza Spalding (2018/2019)

Esperanza gets in touch with her inner soul on this album as she beautifully sings her experimental jazz songs and plays bass like no other woman in music

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B07PBT5T2Y/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Grammy Winner

2. “Birth Of A Ghost” by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2017)

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez steps out of his comfort zone and composes a classical album - and guess what he - succeeded way beyond expectation

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B071VT31MM/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

1. “Emily’s D+Evolution” by Esperanza Spalding (2016)

One word for this one: CLASSIC. Esperanza takes her jazz to a new level and adds some rock to it. Esperanza co-produced this album with David Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B019PL3BYG/ref=nosim/populasongsmu-20

Top 10 Artists
2010 - 2019
10. Gary Clark, Jr.
9. Willie Nelson
8. Ceremony
7. Keb' Mo'
6. Corinne Bailey Rae
5. Jose James
4. Norah Jones
3. Claypool Lennon Delirium
2. Esperanza Spalding
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Top Female Performers
5. Sharon Jones
4. Sade
3. Corinne Bailey Rae
2. Norah Jones
1. Esperanza Spalding

Top Male Performers
5. Gary Clark, Jr.
4. Willie Nelson
3. Keb' Mo'
2. Jose James
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Breaking them down by genres

Top Jazz Performers
5. Michael Franks
4. Twin Danger
3. Stefon Harris
2. Jose James
1. Esperanza Spalding

Top Country Music Performer
5. Tim McGraw
4. The Little Willies
3. Billie + Norah
2. Sturgill Simpson
1. Willie Nelson

Top R&B/Soul Performers
5. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
4. Lenny Kravitz
3. Gary Clark, Jr.
2. Corinne Bailey Rae
1. Jose James

Top Soft Rock Performers
5. Julieta Venegas
4. Jack Johnson
3. Harry Styles
2. David Gilmour
1. Norah Jones

Top Hard Rock Performers
5. Rammstein
4. At The Drive-In
3. Jack White
2. Ceremony
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Top Classic Rock Performers

5. David Bowie

4. David Gilmour

3. Pink Floyd

2. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

1. Claypool Lennon Delirium

Top Alt-Rock Performer
5. Moby
4. Jack White
3. Ceremony
2. Claypool Lennon Delirium
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Top New Wave/Punk/Post-Punk Performers

5. Enjoy

4. Brian Eno / Karl Hyde

3. Gold Fields

2. Moby

1. Ceremony

Top Electronic/Electronica Performers
5. Gold Fields
4. Roller Trio
3. Pink Floyd
2. Moby
1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez


Top Americana Performers
5. M. Ward
4. Neil Young
3. John Mellencamp
2. Joe Henry
1. Keb' Mo'

Top Blues Performers
5. Taj Mahal / Ben Harper (tie)
4. Booker T. Jones
3. Jose James
2. Gary Clark, Jr.
1. Keb' Mo'

Top Latin Performers

5. David Sanchez

4. Daniel Jobim

3. Santana

2. Julieta Venegas

1. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Thank you for checking out my blog... I hope you enjoyed this post. 

Please leave a comment!!! I'd love to hear from you!!!

Rock Music XXI: The Best Albums of 2019

It's the end of a decade and I am presenting my 9th annual "15 Favorite Albums" of the year. I started this in 2011 and have continued every year since. In the next month or so I will post my 15 or maybe 20 favorite albums of the decade 2010 - 2019.

As always my best of list contains a diverse variation of musical genres including jazz, blues, rock, electronic, experimental, country and Americana. 

Scroll to the end of this blog post to see the links to my "Best Albums" posts from 2011 to 2018.

15. "What A Wonderful Industry" by M. Ward

Link to "What A Wonderful Industry" (Click Here)

I have long been a fan of Ward's lofi Alt-Country, indie folk sound. "What A Wonderful Industry" finds Ward dipping more into alt-rock guitar with "Sit Around The House" and "Return To Neptune" and hints of surf guitar in "Shark" and "Motorcycle Ride."

"Miracle Man" by M. Ward (2019)

14. "Help Us Stranger" by The Raconteurs

Link to "Help Us Stranger" (Click Here)

One name stands out here and that is of course Jack White. He is the star of the band. His distinctive voice is prominent throughout the album as well as his recognizable guitar work. But let's be certain Raconteurs is not a one-person show. Brendan Benson's contribution to this spotless garage rock album is just as important as White's. Benson's co-wrote all the songs with White (with the exception of the Donovan song). However much of the album does move like a followup to Jack White's 2018 masterpiece "Boarding House Reach," especially in the White's use of electronics and synthesizers and Vance Powell's and Joshua V. Smith's work in engineering and mixing both albums. 

"Help Me Stranger" by Raconteurs (2019)

13. "Ride Me Back Home" by Willie Nelson

Link to "Ride Me Back Home" (Click Here)

Willie Nelson presents his special blend of jazz infused country music. 2019 finds Nelson in top form and sounds better than ever with a supporting band that suits his voice perfectly.

Willie treats us to his dry humor with "Seven Year Itch" while he and his sons Micah and Lukas join him on a great cover of Mac Davis.

"Seven Year Itch" by Willie Nelson (2019)

12. "Inoculum" by TOOL

Link to "Fear Inoculum" (Click Here)

It was a long 13 year wait for this fifth studio album from Tool. It was well worth the wait. This album contains all the elements with love about Tool. The depth of musicianship - which borders on ethereal, experimental, progressive and all out rocking, intense dark lyrics and the intricate guitar work.

"Fear Inoculum" by TOOL (2019)

11. "This Land" by Gary Clark Jr.

Link to "This Land" (Click Here)

What captured me regarding this album is Gary Clark Jr's fearless ability to speak up on what he believes and has experienced in his life. 

In the title track Clark clearly speaks out on racism in the United States as he poignantly sings, "This is where I come from. This land is mine." Clark continues this theme throughout the album calling out the plight of a government that works for some but not all. Thematically this is a tough album that is heavy with Clark's viewpoints shaped from his life experiences.

Beyond the lyrical themes of the album, the musicianship is tihht and Gary Clark Jr's guitar work once again proves he is amongst today's finest and most exciting guitarists.

One of the highlights of the album is the inclusion of Sheila E on drums. She plays on 6 of the 15 tracks. 

"This Land" by Gary Clark, Jr.

10. "Steamy!" by The Jukka Eskola Soul Trio 

Link to "Steamy!" (Click Here)

This was one of the most exciting albums of 2019. This Finnish trio delivers an eight cut explosion of soulful and progressive jazz numbers with a heavy influence of 1960’s and 70’s aesthetic that tilts on the experimental side on occasion.

"Hanky Panky" by The Jukka Eskola Soul Trio (2019)

#jukkaeskola #steamy! #exciting

9. "Africa Speaks" by Santana 

Link to "Africa Speaks" (Click Here)

Carlos Santana and his band have been on a roll for the past 20 years. In 1999 he made a huge come back with his classic album "Supernatural," which has sold more than 30 million copies around the world. "Africa Speaks" follows suit reaching #3 in the US and Top 20 throughout the world.

"Africa Speaks" incorporates tribal rhythms and African choral vocals. Spanish singer Buika provided the lead vocals and co-wrote all the songs. 

8. "Oklahoma" by Keb' Mo'

Link to "Oklahoma" (Click Here)

From the beginning of his career blues man Keb' Mo' has consistently released quality music filled with great vicals, guitars and insightful lyrics. "Oklahoma" follows that trend of great music. The album includes guest appearnces by Rosanne Cash and Taj Mahal. Mo' touches on his views on immigration and other current day political issues. (Take a good close look at the album cover - Keb included many of the things that are important to him)

"Oklahoma" by Keb' Mo' (2019)

7. "A Tuba To Cuba" by The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Link to "A Tuba To Cuba" (Click Here)

"A Tuba To Cuba" is the soundtrack from the documentary of the same name. The film follows the Preservation Jazz Hall Band's leader Ben Jaffe as he worked to retrace the connection of New Orleans jazz to indigenous Cuban music, which was a dream of his late father, Preservation Hall founder Allan Jaffe. 
  
“A Tuba To Cuba” is the identity of great jazz music in the modern age.

"Keep Your Head Up" by The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (2019)

6. "Sound & Fury" by Sturgill Simpson

Link to "Sound and Fury" (Click Here)

Country music rebel, Sturgill Simpson, shook off his cowboy hat and country twang in favor of an edgy alt-rock essence with crisp guitar chords, sharp drum rhytms and synth vibes. Simpson has produced another winnig album.

Link to “Sound & Fury” by Sturgill Simpson: 

The album was released along with an original Netflix dystopian anime film titled "Sturgill Simpson Presents Sound and Fury," written and produced by Simpson with Japanese director Junpei Mizusaki of the animation studio Kamikaze.

"Sing Along" by Sturgill Simpson (2019)

5. "Drift Series 1 Sampler" by Underworld

Link to "Drift Series 1 Sampler Edition" (Click Here)

This release is a sampler of a much larger work spanning 6 unique discs recorded and originally released in 2018 and 2019. 

Each track is beautifully produced with a discernible intention toward the arrangement of electronic layers to establish powerful, thematic settings.

Each song is layered with danceable beats, ambient moods and creative artistry designed to pull the listener in to listen to this entire sampler from start to finish.

Just as compelling as the music are the music videos. Each music video contains images that thrill as well as tell a story of each song.

"Listen To Their No" by Underworld (2019)

4. "Rammstein" by Rammstein

Link to "Rammstein" (2019)

Fans waited ten long years for this album. Are we disappointed? Not in the least. They're back with hard rock guitars, grinding industrial synths and pounding drums. Let's hope the next one doesn't take 10 years.

"Radio" by Rammstein (2019)

#rammstein

3. "Plastic Anniversary" by Matmos

Link to “Plastic Anniversary” (Click Here)

This gets the tags of most original and most creative album of 2019. 

The interesting fact of this album is the that all the sound originates from plastic objects. The album is intended to explore our relationship to plastic and how its qualities of "durability, portability, and longevity" are both useful for humans and harmful to the environment.

The plastic objects used as instruments include vinyl fragments, exercise ball, ATM card, DNA kit, pelican cases, plastic containers, billiard balls, bakelite dominoes, salad bowl, plastic flutes, PVC panflute, poker chips, riot shield, nurdles, toilet brushes, PVC pipes, LEGO bricks, whistles, plastic gloves, packing tape, plastic emergency stretcher and various plastic objects. The most interesting object is a silicone gel breast implant used in the song, "Silicone Gel Implant."

The songs are all mixed and augmented with synthesized sounds and electronic sequencing and sampling.. 

The album is playful and experimentally poppy while conveying a very serious message on the darker implications of ignoring the havoc we are imposing on the earth all for the sake of convenience.

"Silicone Gel Implant" by Matmos (2019)

#mostoriginal #most creative #original #creative #matmos

2. "South of Reality" by The Claypool Lennon Delirium

Link to "South Of Reality" (Click Here)

There's a lot of connections here which make this album appealing to a wide range of people. There are connections to the Beatles, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Primus, Les Claypool, Cake and to a lesser degree Pink Floyd. Beyond these stellar connections it is the music first and foremost that propels this unit.

Sean Lennon and Les Claypool teamed again for their second album and gifted us with an album that far surpasses their debut album. That was a tall order to fill as their first album was above and beyond exceptional. 

Sean Ono Lennon's influence is quite a bit more prevalent on this album which gives it more of a Beatlesque feel than their debut. Both Sean Lennon and Les Claypool produced the album, wrote all the songs and played several of the instruments.

The album makes good use of humor - not so much in a silly manner - but in a dark and dry manner. But to be certain they also touch on some important topics such as the levels of mercury found in fish and in the oceans of the world which makes its way into the stomachs and bodies of human beings. I will be so bold as to call this album a work of genius. 

Those that have asked, "is possible for the offspring of a Beatle to produce an album as good as a Beatles album?" My answer is yes and Sean Lennon (with Les Claypool) has succeeded in accomplishing this.

"Love and Rockets/Saga of Jack/Too The Moon" by Claypool Lennon Delirium (2019)

1. "12 Little Spells" by Esperanza Spalding

Link to “12 Little Spells” (Click Here)

This is the second time Esperanza Spalding has topped my Favorite Albums list. Her first list topper was 2016's "Emily's D+Evolution." She also made my list in 2012 with "Radio Music Society." 

“12 Little Spells” finds Spalding conjuring in the medium of musical creation, through an exploration of the body, human energy and healing. 

Esperanza does not write pop songs… so this is not for the one that wants pop hooks and catchy melodies. Esperanza is an artist of the utmost sense of experimentalism and eclecticism. She is not like anybody else out there. She records albums, not individual songs looking for that hit single. Her goal is to express her inner soul and create a work of art instead of a work of commercialism – I respect her for that. Now to be certain with the vocal ability Esperanza possesses and the musical talent with which she is gifted, she has the ability to produce the most polished pop music out there and make hits – but that is not who she is. She is an artist – not a product.

With this album, Esperanza calls her songs spells instead of songs. I am guessing because there’s a magical quality to each and every one of them. Each song (‘er spell) is about a body part.

 "Thing" by Esperanza Spalding (2019)

Worthy Mentions

These are the ones that did not make the Top 15 but are worth mentioning
"She Remembers Everything" by Rosanne Cash
"Look Alive" by Guster
"What's My Name" by Ringo Starr
"Rewind, Repeat, Rebound" by Volbeat
"Phase" by Jessy Wilson

Links to previous "Best Albums" posts:

2011: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2011/12/rock-albums-post-x-15-favorite-albums.html 

2012: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2012/12/rock-albums-post-xii-favorite-albums-of.html

2013: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2013/12/rock-albums-xiii-favorite-albums-2013.html

2014: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2014/12/rock-albums-xiv-my-favorite-albums-of.html

2015: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2015/12/rock-albums-post-xv-top-15-albums-of.html

2016: http://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2016/12/rock-albums-post-xvi-top-15-albums-of.html

2017: https://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2017/12/rock-albums-post-xix-best-albums-of-2017.html

2018: https://rock-music-more.blogspot.com/2018/12/rock-albums-xx-best-albums-of-2018.html

Thank you for visiting! :)