When you hear the phrase “a classic” in music, a few albums immediately spring to mind. Maybe that’s ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ by Pink Floyd, ‘Abbey Road’ by The Beatles, or even ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac. However, the one thing in common with these albums is that they were all released 40+ years ago. Therefore, today we will be talking about modern albums that I believe have the potential to go down as classics.
A few very quick disclaimers, these are all my own opinions! If you think I missed an album please let me know in the comments as I’d love to know which albums you think deserve to be here! I try to bring some genre diversity to these albums but ultimately I listen to pop the most so that’s the genre within most of these albums. Also, throughout this list we are separating the art from the artist, and these albums are in no specific order, enjoy!
Lemonade - Beyoncé (2016)
Perhaps the album I am most certain will become a classic in years to come, if not already, is Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’. By far Beyoncé’s most raw album, she explores topics such as infidelity within her marriage, and accepting her blackness. An album that resonated and spoke to so many, is inevitable to go down as a classic. Music journalist Marcus J. Moore wrote, “ …but never before Lemonade has she offered anything tailored so directly to black, and specifically black female, listeners.”, making Lemonade, “such a bold artistic statement”.
Born To Die - Lana Del Rey (2012)
When picking the albums I wanted to include in this article, I knew there was a spot for Lana Del Rey. However, I really struggled to decide between ‘Born To Die’ and ‘Norman F*cking Rockwell’. And whilst many would argue that NFR is the better album, ultimately Born To Die had the bigger impact. Whilst there were countless criticisms of the album upon its release, years later the majority can appreciate the artistry behind the album. Lana created a shift in pop music with this album and she brought exposure to the subgenre “sad pop”, that is extremely popular now, with artists such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and still, Lana Del Rey dominating the charts.
Blonde - Frank Ocean (2016)
‘Blonde’ by Frank Ocean will forever be spoken about due to the lengthy break Frank has taken since its release, but also because of its impact on music and society. Introducing a softer and less “pop” tone than ‘Channel Orange’, this album brings a vulnerability to music, sometimes rare to see in mainstream artists. Exploring topics such as love, self-esteem, drug addiction and mental health, this creates a raw and emotionally tolling album that paved the way for future R&B albums to come. Frank’s song writing and production gives a sense of timelessness in which this album will be continuously played for many years.
Teenage Dream - Katy Perry (2010)
Completely shifting genre, the next album to touch on is Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’. However, an album with 5 No.1 singles, was bound to make this list. The only other album to achieve this number of singles is Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’. This album was a defining time for pop music and truly changed pop music forever. Every single song on this album is a bop and people frequently refer to this album when talking about iconic pop. I truly believe that the title track, ‘Teenage Dream’ itself is one of the best pop songs ever made. Mark Elliot wrote, “Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ is widely regarded as a pop classic, and proved that Katy had both star quality and staying power.” Overall, this album perfectly depicts an ideal life as a teenager without worries.
Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa (2020)
Seen as the saviour of pop, Dua Lipa’s ‘Future Nostalgia’ is what many artists strive to achieve in pop music now. GQ described the album as “the decade’s first great pop album”. Many believe that pop hadn’t been successfully achieved since the early 2010s with albums like ‘Teenage Dream’ an ‘1989’. That was until Dua Lipa released her second studio album. Selling over 4 million copies, this album clearly topped the charts and was received very well by the public. Many of the songs trended on TikTok including ‘Don’t Start Now’ and ‘Levitating’, causing the album to receive even more exposure to a younger audience. Since its release, we have seen many upcoming artists attempt to make a pop album like it, but we are yet to see something as ground-breaking as ‘Future Nostalgia’.
Folklore - Taylor Swift (2020)
Similarly to Lana Del Rey, I was struggling to decide between including ‘folklore’ or ‘1989’ by Taylor Swift. However, after the public reaction to folklore, I knew there was little debate. During a time when everyone was stuck inside, searching for an escape, folklore was perfect. Taylor has always been extremely talented in a story-telling aspect. But folklore took this to a whole different level. This album represents the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia and the highs and lows that come along with it. Due to Taylor’s mostly pop albums over the previous years, this album presents an indie spin on pop, which many fans were not expecting. Making this, a defining album for not only Taylor but also pop music in 2020.
21 - Adele (2011)
Introducing a new sincerity to pop music, ‘21’ by Adele was a huge album, holding her best-selling single “Rolling in the Deep”. Both Adele and her art has always been raw and true to herself. She has never been afraid to share her opinions and exactly what she is feeling. This relatable approach to stardom was undoubtedly one of the key reasons for her success. However, 21 was a defining moment for Adele and her career. With theatrical pop artists such as Lady Gaga, Ke$ha and even Katy Perry dominating the charts, Adele was an unexpected success for the time, but god did she deserve it. Whether it's the beautiful melodies, heart-wrenching lyrics or Adele’s powerhouse voice, this album is perfection.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West (2010)
Whilst pop is my preferred genre of music, it’s hard to argue that ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ by Kanye West doesn’t have the potential to become a classic. This is my favourite Kanye album and truly shaped hip-hop for the next decade. In my opinion, the storytelling in this album was Kanye’s peak. After the 2009 VMA interruption, which is something I will not be sharing my opinions on as I’m sure you can imagine how I feel, Kanye needed a monumental album, and that’s exactly what he did. The stakes were high, and he delivered. It’s safe to say this album was a career defining moment for Kanye, and changed the course of hip-hop in the following years.
P.S. I think that ‘All Of The Lights (Interlude)’ might be one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.
Melodrama - Lorde (2017)
Whilst I love all of these albums, Lorde’s ‘Melodrama’ might be one of my favourites. This album brings a whole new nostalgia to pop music and I am yet to find an album that compares. The post-chorus of ‘The Louvre’ actually sends me into another dimension. Since she wrote this album in her late teens, it has a sense of relatability for those of that age, resulting in this album being a phenomenon amongst teens. I believe this album is perfect for nostalgic summer nights. Through her skilful song writing, she brings a feeling of comfort to these scary feelings such as heartbreak and growing up. This makes this album my favourite comfort album.
An Evening With Silk Sonic - Silk Sonic (2021)
Whilst this is the newest album on this list, it is by far the one that transports listeners back in time the most. Silk Sonic’s (made up of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars) debut album ‘An Evening With Silk Sonic’ makes music so incredibly fun. Upon its release, Mary Siroky wrote, “There is exactly one problem with An Evening With Silk Sonic … and it’s that the album is not long enough.” This pair are the perfect dynamic duo and made pure perfection with this album. When listening to this album it is clear to see that every track has been thoroughly thought out and crafted in order to give the listener the best experience. Both artists were so committed to this album and it clearly paid off as this album, I believe, will truly go down as one of the best R&B/Soul albums of today. And I think it’s safe to say we are all waiting for the next release from Silk Sonic.
Honourable mentions:
Born This Way - Lady Gaga
Take Care - Drake
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
The Divine Feminine - Mac Miller
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