What better way to celebrate the end of the decade than with a trip down memory lane? And what better way to feel nostalgic than by listening to some of the most popular music from throughout said decade? In this article, I’ll be reviewing the Grammys Album of the Year winners from 2009 to present. -- Grace Triantafyllos, 8th Grade
What better way to celebrate the end of the decade than with a trip down memory lane? And what better way to feel nostalgic than by listening to some of the most popular music from throughout said decade? In this article, I’ll be reviewing the Grammys Album of the Year winners from 2009 to present.
Unfortunately, the 2019 Grammys don’t actually happen until January of 2020 (confusing, I know), so I’ll only be reviewing nine. But the 2019 nominees have been released, and I’ll be making a prediction as to who will win after reviewing the previous winners from this decade.
2018: Golden Hour by Kacey MusgravesEven though this alternative country album was the most recent Album of the Year winner, I hadn’t listened to it until writing this article. Each and every song on this album is undoubtedly pretty, from the gentle background music to the dreamy vocals. The album seems to radiate good vibes and chill beats. But I do have just a few problems.
Sure, the songs are pretty. But at times I found myself bored. Nearly all of the songs feature an acoustic guitar playing some chords, ambient background music, gentle vocals, cliche lyrics about love, and basically nothing else. For me, half of the songs seemed to meld together into a blob of banal sentiments and disappointingly plain music. There were a few great ones, such as “Space Cowboy,” and my personal favorite, “Slow Burn.” I will say that the songs get better the more you listen to them, but on the whole I was pretty underwhelmed. I’m shocked that it won a Grammy for Album of the Year, especially when H.E.R. and, oh my gosh, Janelle Monae, were also nominated for the category. Musgrave’s album certainly has some, uh, bops, if you will. But personally, I think Dirty Computer should have won.
2017: 24K Magic by Bruno MarsAh, yes. We all know this album, don’t we? Featuring those three hits that middle schoolers love to groove to despite the fact that they’re actually moderately inappropriate? Several of the songs on this album are beloved by many and have topped the charts, but I was definitely disappointed by this album overall. Sure, “24K Magic” is a great song to jam to in the car. Sure, the music is groovy. There are some songs on this album that are popular for good reason. But the ones that I’d never heard of… let’s just say I can see why they aren’t so well-known. Songs like “Straight Up & Down” and “Chunky” are all about women’s butts and… other related topics. Everything else about them is good. Groovy music, nice vocals, all that. But the lyrics really pushed me away from some of these songs.
2016: 25 by AdeleSeeing this on the list of Grammy Album of the Year winners didn’t shock me. Countless Adele songs have been overplayed on the radio (and consequently ruined) over the last few years, and rightfully so. She’s written and sang numerous intense ballads, and certainly some uplifting bangers. Ten-year-old me used to scream those songs in the car with my mom. The album has some nice variety, gorgeous vocals, dramatic instrumentals, and heartfelt (though sometimes cliche) lyrics. Adele seems to put tons of emotion into her work, and she’s also amazing live, and her eyeliner is always on fleek. I totally get why this album won a Grammy. This will forever be a nostalgic album for all the dramatic gen Z-ers out there.
2015: 1989 by Taylor SwiftI remember all the words to nearly every song on this album as if I had attended Taylor Swift chorus camp (yeah, that really happened) just yesterday. This album is chock-full of jams! It isn’t the most complex album ever made, and this review might be super unfair since I gave Golden Hour a meh review for that same reason, but 1989 is so much fun and incredibly nostalgic. Taylor Swift didn’t win Artist of the Decade at the AMAs this year for no reason. These songs aren’t the most original, but they’re super groovy, and I don’t think anyone can resist singing along to them (not even my dad). Eight-year-old me approves, current me approves, and the Recording Academy’s Voting Members approve.
2014: Morning Phase by BeckBefore writing this, I had never heard of this album or this artist. The instrumentals in this album are interesting and more complex than those of the previous four. The songs on this album contain less lyrics than most other popular music, but when they do make an appearance they’re poetic and lofty. The vocals are sort of hit or miss for me. They sound good when they don’t sound so forced, but otherwise the songs sound like something an old man would listen to while fishing in a glistening lake surrounded by pines at sunset and thinking about how much bliss comes from simply being. When researching the lyrics, I came across several articles praising Beck’s musical genius, which I’m not entirely sure I agree with. I have mixed feelings. I think I lack the musical knowledge required to fully appreciate the album. Beck’s music is poetic and thoughtful and stuff, but when searching for music, I look for songs you can rock out to and sing along with. This album is more for… you know, fishing old men. Long story short, this album wasn’t my cup of tea.
2013: Random Access Memories by Daft PunkLet me preface this by saying that I’ve never been a fan of electronic music, so of course I’m not in love with the robot voice. Daft Punk is definitely a unique band, and I understand why so many people are obsessed with their music. Every song on this album (perhaps with the exception of “Motherboard” and “Giorgio by Moroder”) is something that you can’t help but dance to, certainly the polar opposite of Morning Phases. That seems to be the essence of this album, and of this band as a whole: it’s dance music. But for everyday, casual listening purposes, it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. The music doesn’t really make me feel anything, which is essential to me when looking for good music. So, to sum up this review: this album really doesn’t suit my taste, but it isn’t bad. I’m not sure that it deserved to win album of the year, though.
2012: Babel by Mumford and SonsI was expecting a fishing-old-man kind of moment from this album, based off of the name and the banjo that jumps out at you as soon as you press the play button… but I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised. Like, maybe an elderly man with a strong arm and a passion for angling would listen to this on occasion, but he would be a very cool old man to hang out with.
The album is full of poetic, heartfelt lyrics, delivered in a voice bordering on strained but not so much that it’s deterring. The lyrics are so deep that I can’t understand most of them without looking them up on GeniusLyrics, and the banjo is so intense that you’ll look behind you to make sure there isn’t a group of farmers with border collies chasing you. And let me tell you, it works really well. I understand why six-year-old me wasn’t moshing to this, but there are definitely some jams on this album. Each song sounds like it should be part of a soundtrack to a fantasy adventure movie (which is strange because of the banjo situation, but they really do). They’re delivered in a dramatic, somewhat angsty way that serves their surreal lyricism justice. I would definitely add this album to my playlist, especially as a fiction writer.
2011: 21 by AdeleThis album! Full of sorrowful breakup ballads that’ll make you want to sob into your pillow and upbeat and feelgood songs that’ll heal your lovesick soul better than a warm bowl of mac n’ cheese. This album will never get old. I know this might come as a shock to some people, but I was a sassy lil’ five year old, and this was one of my favorite albums to belt to (second only to Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway). The vocals. The music. The lyrics. The emotion. This album is simply on point. I’m saying this from a place of inexplicable nostalgia, so maybe I’m a teensy bit biased… but come on, it’s Adele! That’s the only way it can be described. Adele. It’s Adele.
2010: The Suburbs by Arcade FireThis is my favorite new discovery on this list. It’s perfect for when you want to plug in your earbuds and let your angst flow freely out of your soul. Neither the vocals, instrumentals, or lyrics are exactly revolutionary, but when combined, they form something at once simple and mesmerizing. This isn’t something I would have listened to a year ago, let alone when I was four, but now I would gladly chill out to these songs any day.
The Album of the Year winners from the 2010s were all very different from one another (except for the two Adele albums, of course), just as varied and hectic as the decade itself. Now one question remains: which album will be the one to win at the 2019 Grammys?
The 2019 Album of the Year nominees are I, I by Bon Iver, Norman F***ing Rockwell by Lana Del Rey, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish, thank u, next by Ariana Grande, I Used To Know Her by H.E.R., 7 by Lil Nas X, Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) by Lizzo, and Father Of The Bride by Vampire Weekend. I’m not entirely sure which one I want to win, and I also haven’t listened to most of them, but I think the Grammy will go to When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Tune into the Grammys on January 26, 2020 to see who will really take home the award.
Unfortunately, the 2019 Grammys don’t actually happen until January of 2020 (confusing, I know), so I’ll only be reviewing nine. But the 2019 nominees have been released, and I’ll be making a prediction as to who will win after reviewing the previous winners from this decade.
2018: Golden Hour by Kacey MusgravesEven though this alternative country album was the most recent Album of the Year winner, I hadn’t listened to it until writing this article. Each and every song on this album is undoubtedly pretty, from the gentle background music to the dreamy vocals. The album seems to radiate good vibes and chill beats. But I do have just a few problems.
Sure, the songs are pretty. But at times I found myself bored. Nearly all of the songs feature an acoustic guitar playing some chords, ambient background music, gentle vocals, cliche lyrics about love, and basically nothing else. For me, half of the songs seemed to meld together into a blob of banal sentiments and disappointingly plain music. There were a few great ones, such as “Space Cowboy,” and my personal favorite, “Slow Burn.” I will say that the songs get better the more you listen to them, but on the whole I was pretty underwhelmed. I’m shocked that it won a Grammy for Album of the Year, especially when H.E.R. and, oh my gosh, Janelle Monae, were also nominated for the category. Musgrave’s album certainly has some, uh, bops, if you will. But personally, I think Dirty Computer should have won.
2017: 24K Magic by Bruno MarsAh, yes. We all know this album, don’t we? Featuring those three hits that middle schoolers love to groove to despite the fact that they’re actually moderately inappropriate? Several of the songs on this album are beloved by many and have topped the charts, but I was definitely disappointed by this album overall. Sure, “24K Magic” is a great song to jam to in the car. Sure, the music is groovy. There are some songs on this album that are popular for good reason. But the ones that I’d never heard of… let’s just say I can see why they aren’t so well-known. Songs like “Straight Up & Down” and “Chunky” are all about women’s butts and… other related topics. Everything else about them is good. Groovy music, nice vocals, all that. But the lyrics really pushed me away from some of these songs.
2016: 25 by AdeleSeeing this on the list of Grammy Album of the Year winners didn’t shock me. Countless Adele songs have been overplayed on the radio (and consequently ruined) over the last few years, and rightfully so. She’s written and sang numerous intense ballads, and certainly some uplifting bangers. Ten-year-old me used to scream those songs in the car with my mom. The album has some nice variety, gorgeous vocals, dramatic instrumentals, and heartfelt (though sometimes cliche) lyrics. Adele seems to put tons of emotion into her work, and she’s also amazing live, and her eyeliner is always on fleek. I totally get why this album won a Grammy. This will forever be a nostalgic album for all the dramatic gen Z-ers out there.
2015: 1989 by Taylor SwiftI remember all the words to nearly every song on this album as if I had attended Taylor Swift chorus camp (yeah, that really happened) just yesterday. This album is chock-full of jams! It isn’t the most complex album ever made, and this review might be super unfair since I gave Golden Hour a meh review for that same reason, but 1989 is so much fun and incredibly nostalgic. Taylor Swift didn’t win Artist of the Decade at the AMAs this year for no reason. These songs aren’t the most original, but they’re super groovy, and I don’t think anyone can resist singing along to them (not even my dad). Eight-year-old me approves, current me approves, and the Recording Academy’s Voting Members approve.
2014: Morning Phase by BeckBefore writing this, I had never heard of this album or this artist. The instrumentals in this album are interesting and more complex than those of the previous four. The songs on this album contain less lyrics than most other popular music, but when they do make an appearance they’re poetic and lofty. The vocals are sort of hit or miss for me. They sound good when they don’t sound so forced, but otherwise the songs sound like something an old man would listen to while fishing in a glistening lake surrounded by pines at sunset and thinking about how much bliss comes from simply being. When researching the lyrics, I came across several articles praising Beck’s musical genius, which I’m not entirely sure I agree with. I have mixed feelings. I think I lack the musical knowledge required to fully appreciate the album. Beck’s music is poetic and thoughtful and stuff, but when searching for music, I look for songs you can rock out to and sing along with. This album is more for… you know, fishing old men. Long story short, this album wasn’t my cup of tea.
2013: Random Access Memories by Daft PunkLet me preface this by saying that I’ve never been a fan of electronic music, so of course I’m not in love with the robot voice. Daft Punk is definitely a unique band, and I understand why so many people are obsessed with their music. Every song on this album (perhaps with the exception of “Motherboard” and “Giorgio by Moroder”) is something that you can’t help but dance to, certainly the polar opposite of Morning Phases. That seems to be the essence of this album, and of this band as a whole: it’s dance music. But for everyday, casual listening purposes, it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. The music doesn’t really make me feel anything, which is essential to me when looking for good music. So, to sum up this review: this album really doesn’t suit my taste, but it isn’t bad. I’m not sure that it deserved to win album of the year, though.
2012: Babel by Mumford and SonsI was expecting a fishing-old-man kind of moment from this album, based off of the name and the banjo that jumps out at you as soon as you press the play button… but I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised. Like, maybe an elderly man with a strong arm and a passion for angling would listen to this on occasion, but he would be a very cool old man to hang out with.
The album is full of poetic, heartfelt lyrics, delivered in a voice bordering on strained but not so much that it’s deterring. The lyrics are so deep that I can’t understand most of them without looking them up on GeniusLyrics, and the banjo is so intense that you’ll look behind you to make sure there isn’t a group of farmers with border collies chasing you. And let me tell you, it works really well. I understand why six-year-old me wasn’t moshing to this, but there are definitely some jams on this album. Each song sounds like it should be part of a soundtrack to a fantasy adventure movie (which is strange because of the banjo situation, but they really do). They’re delivered in a dramatic, somewhat angsty way that serves their surreal lyricism justice. I would definitely add this album to my playlist, especially as a fiction writer.
2011: 21 by AdeleThis album! Full of sorrowful breakup ballads that’ll make you want to sob into your pillow and upbeat and feelgood songs that’ll heal your lovesick soul better than a warm bowl of mac n’ cheese. This album will never get old. I know this might come as a shock to some people, but I was a sassy lil’ five year old, and this was one of my favorite albums to belt to (second only to Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway). The vocals. The music. The lyrics. The emotion. This album is simply on point. I’m saying this from a place of inexplicable nostalgia, so maybe I’m a teensy bit biased… but come on, it’s Adele! That’s the only way it can be described. Adele. It’s Adele.
2010: The Suburbs by Arcade FireThis is my favorite new discovery on this list. It’s perfect for when you want to plug in your earbuds and let your angst flow freely out of your soul. Neither the vocals, instrumentals, or lyrics are exactly revolutionary, but when combined, they form something at once simple and mesmerizing. This isn’t something I would have listened to a year ago, let alone when I was four, but now I would gladly chill out to these songs any day.
The Album of the Year winners from the 2010s were all very different from one another (except for the two Adele albums, of course), just as varied and hectic as the decade itself. Now one question remains: which album will be the one to win at the 2019 Grammys?
The 2019 Album of the Year nominees are I, I by Bon Iver, Norman F***ing Rockwell by Lana Del Rey, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish, thank u, next by Ariana Grande, I Used To Know Her by H.E.R., 7 by Lil Nas X, Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) by Lizzo, and Father Of The Bride by Vampire Weekend. I’m not entirely sure which one I want to win, and I also haven’t listened to most of them, but I think the Grammy will go to When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Tune into the Grammys on January 26, 2020 to see who will really take home the award.