Properly Rating The Needle Drop's 10/10 Albums

In his 12 years of being YouTube's most popular music critic, Anthony Fantano has only given a perfect 10/10 to 6 new albums. But how good are these albums, really? Having listened to his most recent 10/10 review, I think I can wrap my mind around this.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

This is really nerdy, but I have to bring it up. During the 2010s, 5 albums were given a perfect score. But when Fantano made his "best albums of the decade" list, these were ranked #4-1 and #7. This means 2 albums out there are grouped among the perfect. I feel like I should give them a moment to shine.

2010 LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening 

Really glad there's an album in this bunch that isn't totally freaking random. A lot of people love LCD Soundsystem. I am one of them. This was the #22 most critically-acclaimed album of the decade. On my own end-of-decade list, I had it at #10. Still sounds great after all these years. A fun, loud, heartfelt album from the usually pretentious world of indie pop. 

MY SCORE: 100

2019 Charli XCX Charli 

The word Fantano uses to describe this album is "futuristic." The phrase I'd use to describe this album is "attempting to be futuristic." This album goes back-and-forth between mind-blowing moments and head-scratching headaches. Nothing against this genre of music. Just not my favorite approach to it. In the world of PC Pop and hyperpop, I very much prefer SOPHIE's 2018 album. 

MY SCORE: 70

THE REAL 10/10's

Here are the only albums given a perfect 10/10 from The Needle Drop.

2012 Death Grips The Money Store 

Nobody cares about Death Grips anymore. Unless you're Anthony Fantano. He's given a top 5 year-end spot to 5 different Death Grips albums. I've come to terms with this band over the years. I'm a fan of Exmilitary and No Love Deep Web. And especially The Money Store. It was an artistic leap that put them in the spotlight. This is truly a standout in producing industrial and electronic music. I think it still sounds fresh and has aged well enough for me to consider it one of the modern classics. 

MY SCORE: 99

2014 Swans To Be Kind 

So this album is over 2 hours long. I haven't listened to it in 2 years. But I must have enjoyed it, because I ranked it somewhere in my top 15 albums of the decade. 10 post-rock songs that are both parts frightening and powerful. An album built like a pyramid. 

MY SCORE: 100

2015 Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly 

So this is the #1 most critically-acclaimed album of the decade. It was Fantano's #1 album of the decade. It was my #1 album of the decade. And despite my kinda forced public displays of obsession with it throughout 2015, I actually think I underestimated what made it so good. Making a great 80-minute rap album is really hard. But to have every word delivered be so thoughtful and impactful...This is just Kendrick reaching out to connect with the listener. Not talking down at us. And we love him for that.

MY SCORE: 100

2018 KIDS SEE GHOSTS Kids See Ghosts 

While I think this is a fine album, I have no idea what the heck Fantano is talking about. This 1-off collab project between Kanye West and Kid Cudi is under 25 minutes of well-produced and generally likable hip-hop songs. While I'm impressed that these 2 artists gave us a colorful and cohesive release in 2018, I don't see it as anything beyond that. And the band name sucks. 

MY SCORE: 79

2018 Daughters You Won't Get What You Want 

This was a great find. This is why I follow The Needle Drop. While I don't listen to everything he promotes, I find myself trying out something new if his review intrigues me. And I love this album. While I don't think it's perfect (a couple songs just sound like Nine Inch Nails), this is structured like a miniature dark journey. It slowly pulls you in, and leads you to its hellish, dynamic climax. I ranked this somewhere in my top 50 albums of the decade.

MY SCORE: 90

2021 Spellling The Turning Wheel 

I think every review of this album gives the same compliments. It's just a matter of how much you like those factors. Somehow, Fantano only name-drops Kate Bush once in his review, which is funny, because this album has 12 songs. And all 12 songs sound like Kate Bush. Specifically her whimsical early work; pre-Hounds Of Love. Maybe some will see this as a bloated listen. But I'm pretty impressed with its consistency in modernized production and intricate musical compositions.  

MY SCORE: 80