Wet Thud's Mid-Decade Report: The Top 50 Albums of 2010-2014

A mid-decade report may seem unnecessary, and really it is. But let's be honest--come the tail end of 2019, we dweeby music-list-making-types will most certainly be busy counting down our favourite whatevers of the past twenty years, and so while we can, we must acknowledge this non-occasion for what it's worth. Virtually nothing. Here's a look at Wet Thud's favourite fifty albums from the first half of the decade…

050. Warpaint Warpaint (Rough Trade, 2014)

Second album from the California four-piece.

Key tracks: "Love Is To Die", "Disco//very", "Keep It Healthy"

049. Austra Feel It Break (Paper Bag, 2011)

Debut record from Toronto art-pop group.

Key tracks: "Beat and the Pulse", "Lose It", "Spellwork"

048. Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (Purple Ribbon/Def Jam, 2010)

First solo release from the less flamboyant half of OutKast.

Key tracks: "Shutterbugg" [f. Cutty], "Follow Us" [f. Vonnegutt], "Shine Blockas" [f. Gucci Mane], "Fo Yo Sorrows" [f. Too Short, George Clinton & Sam Chris], "General Patton", "You Ain't No DJ" [f. Yelawolf], "The Train Pt. 2 (Sir Lucious Left Foot Saves The Day)" [f. Sam Chris]

047. !!! Thr!!!er (Warp, 2013)

Album number five from the American dance-punk collective.

Key tracks: "Slyd", "One Girl/One Boy"

046. Tanlines Mixed Emotions (True Panther, 2012)

Debut record following a couple of successful EPs for the indie pop duo.

Key tracks: "Brothers", "All Of Me", "Not The Same"

045. Girls Father, Son, Holy Ghost (True Panther, 2011)

Christopher Owens' final release under the Girls moniker.

Key tracks: "Vomit", "Honey Bunny", "Hey Ma", "Love Like A River"

044. Washed Out Within and Without (Sub Pop, 2011)

The first album from Ernest Greene's indie-electropop Washed Out project.

Key tracks: "You and I", "Eyes Be Closed", "Amor Fati", "A Dedication"

043. Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes (LL/Atlantic, 2011)

Sophomore record from the Swedish singer/songwriter.

Key tracks: "Get Some", "I Follow Rivers", "Sadness Is A Blessing", "Youth Know No Pain"

042. Suede Bloodsports (Suede, 2013) 

Darlings of British glam rock back after a decade off with a return to form.

Key tracks: "Barriers", "It Starts and Ends with You", "Hit Me", "For The Strangers"

041. PS I Love You Death Dreams (Paper Bag, 2012)

Second full-length from Canadian noise rock duo.

Key tracks: "Princess Towers", "Toronto", "Saskatoon", "Sentimental Dishes"

040. Perfume Genius Put Your Back N 2 It (Matador, 2011)

Second release from Seattle's Mike Hadreas.

Key tracks: "All Waters", "Hood", "Dark Parts", "Take Me Home", "Normal Song"

039. Sleigh Bells Treats (Mom + Pop/N.E.E.T., 2010)

Debut record from Brooklyn noise pop duo.

Key tracks: "Tell 'Em", "Infinity Guitars", "Rill Rill", "Riot Rhythm"

038. Damon Albarn Everyday Robots (Parlophone, 2014)

First solo record from Blur/Gorillaz frontman.

Key tracks: "Everyday Robots", "Lonely Press Play", "Mr. Tembo", "Heavy Seas Of Love"

037. Azealia Banks Broke with Expensive Taste (Prospect Park, 2014)

Much-delayed first long-player from the Harlem rapper.

Key tracks: "212" [f. Lazy Jay], "Yung Rapunxel", "Heavy Metal and Reflective", "Chasing Time", "Ice Princess", "Soda"

036. Beach House Bloom (Sub Pop, 2012)

Fourth studio album from Baltimore dream pop band.

Key tracks: "Myth", "Lazuli", "Wishes", "Other People", "The Hours"

035. Cut/Copy Zonoscope (Modular, 2011)

Third record from the Australian electro group.

Key tracks: "Take Me Over", "Need You Now", "Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution", "Sun God"

034. The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian, 2014)

Third release from Philadelphia-based guitar rock outfit.

Key tracks: "Red Eyes", "Under the Pressure", "Burning", "Eyes to the Wind"

033. The Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch, 2011)

Seventh long-player from the Ohio blues rock duo.

Key tracks: "Lonely Boy", "Gold on the Ceiling", "Dead and Gone", "Run Right Back"

032. Drake Take Care (Young Money/Cash Money/Republic, 2011)

Sophomore studio album from the Toronto rapper.

Key tracks: "Marvin's Room", "Headlines", "Make Me Proud" [f. Nicki Minaj], "The Motto", "Take Care" [f. Rihanna], "HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right)" [f. Lil' Wayne], "Crew Love" [f. The Weeknd], "Lord Knows" [f. Rick Ross]

031. FKA twigs LP1 (Young Turks, 2014)

Debut full-length from British songstress.

Key tracks: "Two Weeks", "Pendulum", "Video Girl"

030. Tame Impala Lonerism (Modular, 2012)

Second release from Australian psych rockers.

Key tracks: "Elephant", "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards", "Apocalypse Dreams", "Mind Mischief"

029. Yeasayer Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian, 2010)

Second record from the experimental Brooklyn group.

Key tracks: "O.N.E.", "I Remember", "Madder Red", "Ambling Alp"

028. Arcade Fire Reflektor (Merge, 2013)

Fourth album from globe-conquering Canadian indie band.

Key tracks: "Afterlife", "Reflektor", "We Exist", "Flashbulb Eyes", "You Already Know"

027. St. Vincent St. Vincent (Loma Vista/Republic, 2014)

Record number four to come from gifted guitarist Annie Clark and her art rock alter-ego, St. Vincent.

Key tracks: "Birth in Reverse", "Digital Witness", "Prince Johnny", "Regret"

026. The National High Violet (4AD, 2010)

The fifth full-length from the Cincinnati-via-Brooklyn indie darlings.

Key tracks: "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Anyone's Ghost", "Terrible Love", "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"

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