We are nearly halfway through the 2020s, so it’s a good time as any to reflect on what music best reflects this chaotic era. Amidst the pandemic, political turmoil, capitalist greed, and major shifts in listening habits, great music still shone through with a wide range of artists to stay invested in. Pop mainstays like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey ruled the decade with some of their best work to date. New faces like Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan arrived to carry the pop diva torch. Rock up-and-comers Alvvays, Waxahatchee and Phoebe Bridgers elevated cathartic guitar music to new levels in the decade. Critical darling legends like Fiona Apple, Destroyer and Sufjan Stevens continued on their path to all-time status with some of their most vital songs to date. Jazmine Sullivan and SZA proved R&B will still be at the center of the conversation in the 21st century. Hip-hop became dominated — at least in this list — by shit-talking women like Megan Thee Stallion, Monaleo, GloRilla and Ice Spice.
Many more artists and genres are represented in this list, which is more varied and in-depth than you’re likely to find anywhere else online. Thank you for reading, liking, subscribing, and sharing! More lists like this happen with your readership.
200. Maggie Rogers – “That’s Where I Am” (2022)
Her commercial peak is still her first album, but the lead single to her second album features the most exciting wall-of-sound production in her career.
199. Mach-Hommy – “The Stellar Ray Theory” (2021)
The prolific Haitian-American rapper broke through on his 22nd studio album Pray for Haiti with this smooth-jazz produced referential banger being its standout.
198. MUNA (ft. Phoebe Bridgers) – “Silk Chiffon” (2021)
The synth-pop band got on everyone’s radar with this infectious banger equating queer desire to breezily rollerskating in the park.
197. The Strokes – “The Adults Are Talking” (2020)
The legendary band is still capable of capturing that distinct pop-rock magic for at least a few minutes like on this The New Abnormal opener.
196. Grace Ives – “Lullaby” (2022)
Ives still feels like a well-kept secret in the indie pop world, but this standout from her great album Janky Star will easily convert all those unaware.
195. Axel Boman (ft. Bella Boo) – “Nowhere Good” (2022)
This is a hidden deep-house gem from Swedish producer Axel Boman that sinks you into a tranquil space despite throwing so many different synths and vocals at you.
194. Chat Pile – “Why” (2022)
The OKC noise-rock band excels at rightfully pissed-off social critiques with this one calling bullshit on why all people can’t have shelter.
193. Caribou – “Never Come Back” (2020)
The IDM producer (under multiple monikers through the decades) has an insane catalog of bangers with this being one of the easiest to fall back into.
192. Fleet Foxes – “Can I Believe You” (2020)
Despite being at the center of indie/folk for 15+ years now, Fleet Foxes have never grown tiresome by consistently releasing cathartically relistenable anthems like this Shore highlight.
191. Dean Blunt – “the rot” (2021)
This British artist is one of the most uncategorizable figures in music with his albums routinely featuring dark art-pop gems like this Black Metal 2 closer.
190. Jockstrap – “Greatest Hits” (2022)
Jockstrap refreshingly sound a generation too late with their brand of indie pop that’s genuinely too strange (constant “baby daddy” loop, weirdly-filtered production) to reach the masses.
189. Jane Remover – “Movies for Guys” (2021)
This young emo/hyperpop hybrid producer quickly gained notoriety online on Twitter & SoundCloud, and her debut studio album immediately became a cult classic with this highlight best representing her full distinct style.
188. Grouper – “Kelso (Blue Sky)” (2021)
In all of the experimental-drone folk artist’s legendary catalog, this might be the most explicitly heartbreaking as she deals with the loss of someone due to suicide.
187. Moses Sumney – “Cut Me” (2020)
One of the most distinct beautiful singers in music regularly finds arrangements of pianos, horns and percussion to match like on this græ highlight.
186. Yaya Bey – “keisha” (2022)
Popularity in the music industry is often just randomness and marketing, as in Yaya Bey’s case whose musical output this decade rivals any R&B artist currently working.
185. Jessy Lanza – “Lick in Heaven” (2020)
At her best, Lanza is maybe the premier voice in techno-pop today with this minimalist earworm never losing its luster as her best single.
184. Kelela – “Contact” (2023)
Kelela is Warp Records’ most consistently-great artist as her alt-R&B dance music never fails to deliver.
183. Dawn Richard – “Bussifame” (2021)
Dawn Richard made her most memorable music to date by fully leaning into club beats and blaring synths on this Second Line standout.
182. Cate Le Bon – “Moderation” (2022)
Le Bon spent many years in the Welsh indie scene before signing with Drag City and finding a US audience with expertly-and-spaciously-crafted indie pop like this Pompeii single.
181. Sofia Kourtesis – “La Perla” (2021)
The Peruvian DJ found critical adoration for this mellow house anthem most notable for an addictive choppy snare loop and remorseful Spanish lyrics influenced by her dying father.
180. Tommy Richman – “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” (2024)
Time will tell if this TikTok classic will fade, but the indelible falsetto and synths make it one of the most addictive songs of the summer in some time.
179. Gilla Band – “Backwash” (2022)
Gilla Band changed their name this decade (formerly Girl Band) but still maintained the punchy lyrically-opaque energy that made them stand out in the noise rock world.
178. Amber Mark – “What It Is” (2022)
Those with stock in Amber Mark since her first singles in 2017 saw her potential fulfilled on this standout single that’s already added to the R&B heartbreak canon.
177. Octo Octa – “Late Night Love” (2023)
She hasn’t released an album this decade, but this nearly-twelve-minute trance anthem is one of the most fulfilling electronic releases by anyone in some time.
176. Jessica Pratt – “World on a String” (2024)
Pratt’s wispy-yet-stern vocals are one of the most reliable instruments in music today, and on this Here in the Pitch standout, they’re utilized to blissful endearing perfection.
175. Fever Ray – “Kandy” (2023)
Dreijer remains the most exciting voice in harsh electro-pop with this Radical Romantics standout having one of her most delicate choruses over a trademark synth cavalcade.
174. Joy Orbison (ft. Léa Sen) – “better” (2021)
Getting a full-length release from the producer of “Hyph Mngo” cult status was surprising, but an even better surprise was this microhouse pop banger perfect for any late-night wind-down playlist.
173. Billie Eilish – “LUNCH” (2024)
For those who struggle with Eilish’s oft-muted approach, “LUNCH” is a welcome respite in its playful lyricism and guitar/drum-heavy production.
172. Yaeji – “WAKING UP DOWN” (2020)
In the doldrums of 2020 quarantine, Yaeji made a perfect electro-pop anthem on the constant energy of just fulfilling daily checklists.
171. Bartees Strange – “Mustang” (2020)
Most people’s introduction to Bartees was this beam of pure indie rock catharsis that seemed to singularly rejuvenate the genre.
170. 21 Savage – “redrum” (2024)
21 has to remind people periodically that if you give him a hard beat, he knows how to glide across it in his singular chilling-yet-fierce demeanor.
169. Momma – “Speeding 72” (2022)
The LA alt-rock band came out of nowhere with a driving anthem that would’ve perfectly played on a Guitar Hero soundtrack 15 years ago.
168. black midi – “John L” (2021)
To embrace this noise-prog band is to listen with widening eyes and a chaotic grin as you’re dumbfounded where they could possibly go next.
167. Julie Byrne – “Moonless” (2023)
A six-year wait for her Not Even Happiness follow-up was forgiven as soon as the haunting piano fades in and Byrne sings of a hotel room, nature, and love all coming together.
166. yeule – “Don’t Be So Hard on Your Own Beauty” (2022)
The Singapore artist takes many forms in her eclectic art pop, but this heartbreaking quasi-acoustic “sadgirl” anthem is her most engaging work thus far.
165. Pangaea – “Installation” (2023)
It’s incredibly refreshing in 2024 to hear a club-ready electronic anthem that feels more inspired by Basement Jaxx and late-’90s UK House than anything in the last twenty years.
164. Indigo De Souza – “Hold U” (2021)
De Souza’s best song starts so delicate that you feel the need to hold her, but slowly the song builds and she tightens her grip until you’re at her mercy.
163. Mitski – “Working for the Knife” (2021)
The Laurel Hell lead single sonically could place perfectly within Puberty 2, but as the song builds, Mitski sings of the anxieties of turning 30 in an industry that historically doesn’t let you age gracefully.
162. beabadoobee – “Care” (2020)
She’s remained on the periphery of both critical and commercial stardom throughout this decade, but with alt-rock bangers like “Care”, her place among the elite shouldn’t be in doubt.
161. The Chicks – “Gaslighter” (2020)
In the 14 years between The Chicks’ troubled and endearing 2006 album and tour and Gaslighter, the music critic and mass consensus swung entirely in favor of the country trio, and this comeback single was delightfully added to their extensive sing-along canon.
160. Pale Blue – “I Walk Alone With Acid” (2020)
The electro-clash duo create a tense, terrifying portrait of a woman’s anxious inner monologue as she walks alone at night.
159. Kara Jackson – “dickhead blues” (2023)
At the nexus of Fiona Apple and Lauryn Hill is Kara Jackson singing of the average dirtbag plaguing women’s lives over an exciting percussive arrangement.
158. Earl Sweatshirt – “Making the Band (Danity Kane)” (2023)
Nobody would want to feel like Diddy now, but this short banger is the most energetic and rap-along-worthy that Earl has sounded this decade.
157. Little Simz – “Gorilla” (2022)
Simz’ most critical adoration this decade came from Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, but her best standalone track is the bass-heavy Beenie-Man-referencing joint from her follow-up.
156. Yves Tumor – “Jackie” (2021)
Sean Bowie’s brand of art pop is distinct yet ever-changing like in this anthemic rocker that never fails to jolt you awake in its first notes.
155. Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5” (2022)
Lamar’s “Heart” series has been a reflective lyrical outlet for him outside of the restraints of album cohesion, and the Marvin Gaye-sampling part 5 ended up more substantive than the album that followed.
154. Kali Uchis – “telepatía” (2020)
Uchis’ commercial status had stalled until this infectious single climbed the charts globally and won her a Billboard Music Award for Top Latin Song.
153. DJ Koze – “Blissda” (2023)
As we patiently wait for the Knock Knock follow-up, Koze is filling the void with high-caliber remixes and this aptly-titled acid house single finding bliss in slightly altering an earworm loop.
152. Caroline Polachek – “Billions” (2022)
This glitchy art pop single displays Polachek’s incredible range as a vocalist and aesthete.
151. Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire” (2023)
Pushing through criticisms of being an industry plant or a juvenile songwriter, Rodrigo proved on GUTS and its standout single that she was an undeniable pop balladeering force here to stay.
Bitter Melodies 