The end of 2022 marks the end of 10 year birthdays for albums released in 2012. Here are 10 of the best albums that reached the decade mark this year.

Born To Die - Lana Del Rey

The major label debut of singer Lana Del Rey was perhaps the most influential album of the 2010s. Though only her first album, it was also her most successful due to hits like “Video Games,” “Blue Jeans”, and “Summertime Sadness.” The longest charting female debut album ever, and the second longest charting female album ever, Born to Die marked a shift in the music industry, and inspired the new genre of “sad pop”. Artists such as Billie Eillish, Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Adele, etc. have taken inspiration from Del Rey.

Red - Taylor Swift

Swift's first real dive into pop music, the album was well received by the public with numerous hits like “22”, “I knew You Were Trouble,” and “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Last year, Red Swift re-recorded due to management conflicts in 2021. Nominated for album of the year at the Grammys, Red made quite an impact on the mainstream.

Electra Heart - Marina and The Diamonds

The genre counterpart of Lana Del Rey’s Born To Die, Electra Heart was another of the 2012 boom in sad pop. A concept album based around Marina’s alter ego, Electra Heart, she described it as the “antithesis of everything that I stand for.” Themes of corruption and then dark side of the American ideology litter the album. The single “Primadonna” was released to a positive response, and many of the songs have been used as Tiktok audios in the 2012s.

Visions - Grimes

Before she was known for her relationship with Elon Musk, she was known for her music. This album brought Grimes to fame and secured herself a record deal with Jay-Z. Visions was entirely created with GarageBand on Grimes’s iPad. An electronic album, the lead single “Genesis” was her first real hit despite her having multiple albums prior.

The Idler Wheel… - Fiona Apple

Apple's first album after a seven year hiatus was worth the wait. The Idler Wheel… was made up of standard Fiona Apple production: piano, drums, strings, and wordy lyrics. The album received widespread critical acclaim and was followed by a small tour. Apple wrote all the songs herself, a claim not many artists can make. Despite the acclaim, The Idler Wheel… is perhaps the least popular of Apple's albums. The toned down melody and production are some of the cleanest and bare in her discography.

channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean

An R&B masterpiece, channel ORANGE is the first installation of a small but flawless discography. Ocean utilizes themes of electro-funk, jazz, soul, as well as ambient noise throughout the project. Stunning vocals, production, and fantastic lyrics brought this album to the spotlight. The record features stunning singles like the 9:52 minute banger “Pyramids,” and the album opener “Thinkin About You.”

good kid, m.A.d city - Kendrick Lamar

Easily one of the greatest rap albums in existence, Kendrick Lamar does not shy away from the dark themes that polluted his early life. Lamar is unapologetically honest on this record and lays everything on the table, the good, the bad, and even prayer.

Unapologetic - Rihanna

Home of her smash hit “Diamonds,” Unapologetic was the perfect fusion of R&B, rap, and pop. The album acts as a sort of mixtape, moving between slow heartache ballads, techno beats, and plenty of collaborations. The album opens with a harsh club beat, a stunning opening for a stunning album.

Kill For Love - Chromatics

The fourth album from American electronic band Chromatics was released to fantastic reception by music critics. The album opener, “Into The Black” is a fantastic synth cover of a Neil Young song. The band has since disbanded, and singer Ruth Radalet has gone on to pursue a solo career.

MDNA - Madonna

Most likely Madonna's worst album, the album speaks more of her than the actual music. MDNA showed Madonna's ability to adapt to the ever-changing music scene: whether her 1998 Techno album Ray of Light, her 2008 Timbalind produced Hard Candy, or this project, an EDM club album. It’s an unfortunate show of an ending career but is also a clear attempt to hang on to some relevance. Madonna is never going to be forgotten, but her music post 2010 certainly will.