Year-End Lists

Michael Sicinski: The 30 Best Avant-Garde Feature Films of the 2010s, as published by Mubi, "the selection of which presents a challenge of access, sensibility, and privilege"

[see also 25 Great Experimental Films of 2023 • The Best Experimental Films (That I Saw) in 2022 • Top 50 Films of 2018 • Top 30 Experimental Films of 2018 • Top 25 Films of 2017 • Top 10 Films of 2016 • Top 12 Films of 2014 • Top 10 Films of 2013 • Top 12 Films of 2012]

1. The Extravagant Shadows
   David Gatten
2. The Grand Bizarre
   Jodie Mack
3. The Giverny Document (Single Channel)
   Ja’Tovia Gary
4. PROTOTYPE
   Blake Williams
5. Differently, Molussia
   Nicolas Rey
6. Streetscapes [Dialogue]
   Heinz Emigholz
7. Sixty Six
   Lewis Klahr
8. Park Lanes
   Kevin Jerome Everson
9. American Colour
   Joshua Bonnetta
10. Episode of the Sea
    Van Brummelen & De Haan and the inhabitants of Urk, Netherlands
11. Field Niggas
    Khalik Allah
12. The Realist
    Scott Stark
13. Watching the Detectives
    Chris Kennedy
14. Terror Nullius
    Soda_Jerk
15. American Falls
    Phil Solomon
16. Daredevils
    Stephanie Barber
17. The Lanthanide Series
    Erin Espelie
18. The Illinois Parables
    Deborah Stratman
19. Tondal's Vision
    Stephen Broomer
20. Seeking the Monkey King
    Ken Jacobs
21. Easy Rider
    James Benning
22. Science Without Substance
    Daniel Barnett
23. Two Years at Sea
    Ben Rivers
24. Invention
    Mark Lewis
25. Three Landscapes
    Peter Hutton
26. 88:88
    Isiah Medina
27. The Royal Road
    Jenni Olson
28. Circle in the Sand
    Michael Robinson
29. Ouroboros
    Basma Alsharif
30. Where the Chocolate Mountains
    Pat O'Neill

Slant Magazine: The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
   Kanye West
2. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
3. Norman Fucking Rockwell!
   Lana Del Rey
4. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
5. Body Talk
   Robyn
6. Modern Vampires of the City
   Vampire Weekend
7. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
8. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
9. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
10. 1989
    Taylor Swift
11. Let England Shake
    PJ Harvey
12. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
13. The ArchAndroid
    Janelle Monáe
14. Devotion
    Jessie Ware
15. Art Angels
    Grimes
16. Kill for Love
    Chromatics
17. Melodrama
    Lorde
18. Born to Die
    Lana Del Rey
19. LP1
    FKA twigs
20. Born This Way
    Lady Gaga
21. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
22. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
23. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
24. Teen Dream
    Beach House
25. True Romance
    Charli XCX
26. Black Messiah
    D’Angelo and The Vanguard
27. Dirty Computer
    Janelle Monáe
28. Ghosteen
    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
29. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
30. Honey
    Robyn
31. Pure Heroine
    Lorde
32. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
33. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
34. Ctrl
    SZA
35. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
36. Something To Tell You
    HAIM
37. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
    A Tribe Called Quest
38. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
39. Blackstar
    David Bowie
40. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
41. Yeezus
    Kanye West
42. Magdalene
    FKA twigs
43. Strange Mercy
    St. Vincent
44. The Suburbs
    Arcade Fire
45. The Idler Wheel…
    Fiona Apple
46. Golden Hour
    Kacey Musgraves
47. This Is Happening
    LCD Soundsystem
48. Anima
    Thom Yorke
49. The Ghosts of Highway 20
    Lucinda Williams
50. Blond
    Frank Ocean
51. Settle
    Disclosure
52. Hive Mind
    The Internet
53. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
54. Take Care
    Drake
55. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
56. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
57. Cupid Deluxe
    Blood Orange
58. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
59. Utopia
    Björk
60. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
    Sturgill Simpson
61. Tough Love
    Jessie Ware
62. Brothers
    The Black Keys
63. Skeleton Tree
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
64. 4:44
    JAY-Z
65. Treats
    Sleigh Bells
66. Need to Feel Your Love
    Sheer Mag
67. Whokill
    Tune-Yards
68. Wildheart
    Miguel
69. (II)
    Crystal Castles
70. Purple Mountains
    Purple Mountains
71. Be the Cowboy
    Mitski
72. Shaking the Habitual
    The Knife
73. Celebration Rock
    Japandroids
74. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
75. Coloring Book
    Chance The Rapper
76. The Most Lamentable Tragedy
    Titus Andronicus
77. Hell on Heels
    Pistol Annies
78. Trouble Will Find Me
    The National
79. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen
80. Vulnicura
    Björk
81. Master of My Make-Believe
    Santigold
82. 50 Song Memoir
    The Magnetic Fields
83. Smother
    Wild Beasts
84. House of Balloons
    The Weeknd
85. The Practice of Love
    Jenny Hval
86. Knock Knock
    DJ Koze
87. Run the Jewels 2
    Run the Jewels
88. reputation
    Taylor Swift
89. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
    M83
90. Kaputt
    Destroyer
91. Caution
    Mariah Carey
92. On A Mission
    Katy B
93. The Epic
    Kamasi Washington
94. Flower Boy
    Tyler, The Creator
95. Syro
    Aphex Twin
96. James Blake
    James Blake
97. Real Life Is No Cool
    Lindstrøm & Christabelle
98. Electric
    Pet Shop Boys
99. U.F.O.F.
    Big Thief
100. Life Is Easy
     Bright Light Bright Light

Chris Willman: The Best Albums of the 2010s, as published by Variety

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018]

1. 1989
   Taylor Swift
2. By The Way, I Forgive You
   Brandi Carlile
3. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
   Billie Eilish
4. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
5. Same Trailer Different Park
   Kacey Musgraves
6. Whiteout Conditions
   The New Pornographers
7. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
8. Look Now
   Elvis Costello & The Imposters
9. Mental Illness
   Aimee Mann
10. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen

And not to forget

• Dreams and Daggers
  Cécile McLorin Salvant
• Southeastern
  Jason Isbell
• We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
  A Tribe Called Quest
• Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
  Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Original Broadway Cast
• Nudes
  Lucius
• God’s Favorite Customer
  Father John Misty
• All Your Favorite Bands
  Dawes
• Four the Record
  Miranda Lambert
• Heathers the Musical Original West End Cast Recording
  Laurence O'Keefe & Kevin Murphy
• Blackstar
  David Bowie
• Interstate Gospel
  Pistol Annies
• Help Us Stranger
  The Raconteurs
• Hero
  Maren Morris
• Sweetener
  Ariana Grande
• The 2nd Law
  Muse
• Triplicate
  Bob Dylan
• Body Talk
  Robyn
• Gone Away Backward
  Robbie Fulks
• 21
  Adele
• Dark Matter
  Randy Newman
• Melodrama
  Lorde
• What's Inside: Songs from Waitress
  Sara Bareilles
• The Fool
  Ryn Weaver
• Bad as Me
  Tom Waits

Refinery29: The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s

[see also 2018]

1. Anti
   Rihanna
2. Lemonade
   Beyoncé
3. 21
   Adele
4. Golden Hour
   Kacey Musgraves
5. Pure Heroine
   Lorde
6. Body Talk
   Robyn
7. Dirty Computer
   Janelle Monáe
8. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
9. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
   Billie Eilish
10. 1989
    Taylor Swift

Jim Harrington: 50 Best Albums of the Decade, as published by San Jose Mercury News

[see also 2018 • 2017]

1. Pure Heroine
   Lorde
2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
   Kanye West
3. Born to Die
   Lana Del Rey
4. Same Trailer Different Park
   Kacey Musgraves
5. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
6. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
7. Melodrama
   Lorde
8. Beyoncé
   Beyoncé
9. The Outsiders
   Eric Church
10. Channel Orange
    Frank Ocean
11. To Pimp A Butterfly
    Kendrick Lamar
12. The Weight of These Wings
    Miranda Lambert
13. mbv
    My Bloody Valentine
14. California Nights
    Best Coast
15. The Bones Of What You Believe
    Chvrches
16. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
17. Norman Fucking Rockwell!
    Lana Del Rey
18. Teens of Denial
    Car Seat Headrest
19. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
20. Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
    Metallica
21. Red
    Taylor Swift
22. Look Up Child
    Lauren Daigle
23. Teen Dream
    Beach House
24. Push the Sky Away
    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
25. Hero
    Maren Morris
26. Body Talk
    Robyn
27. 13
    Black Sabbath
28. All That Reckoning
    Cowboy Junkies
29. Born Sinner
    J. Cole
30. Kiss
    Carly Rae Jepsen
31. American Teen
    Khalid
32. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
33. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
    Billie Eilish
34. Blackstar
    David Bowie
35. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
    Sturgill Simpson
36. DAMN.
    Kendrick Lamar
37. Pharmacy of Love
    Bettie Serveert
38. Ghosteen
    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
39. The Suburbs
    Arcade Fire
40. We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
    A Tribe Called Quest
41. A Moon Shaped Pool
    Radiohead
42. Vulnicura
    Björk
43. Invasion of Privacy
    Cardi B
44. Jesus Is King
    Kanye West
45. You Want It Darker
    Leonard Cohen
46. Chief
    Eric Church
47. 1000 Forms of Fear
    Sia
48. Cuz I Love You
    Lizzo
49. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
50. Days Are Gone
    Haim

The Guardian: The 50 Best Albums of 2019

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Norman Fucking Rockwell!
   Lana Del Rey
2. Psychodrama
   Dave
3. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
   Billie Eilish
4. Remind Me Tomorrow
   Sharon Van Etten
5. IGOR
   Tyler, The Creator
6. All Mirrors
   Angel Olsen
7. Magdalene
   FKA twigs
8. Ghosteen
   Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
9. Nothing Great About Britain
   slowthai
10. Titanic Rising
    Weyes Blood
11. Pang
    Caroline Polachek
12. Kiwanuka
    Michael Kiwanuka
13. Father of the Bride
    Vampire Weekend
14. GREY Area
    Little Simz
15. 2020
    Richard Dawson
16. thank u, next
    Ariana Grande
17. A Bath Full of Ecstasy
    Hot Chip
18. Reward
    Cate Le Bon
19. When I Get Home
    Solange
20. Immunity
    Clairo
21. Charli
    Charli XCX
22. Dogrel
    Fontaines D.C.
23. Miss Universe
    Nilüfer Yanya
24. Designer
    Aldous Harding
25. U.F.O.F.
    Big Thief
26. On the Line
    Jenny Lewis
27. Lover
    Taylor Swift
28. Cuz I Love You
    Lizzo
29. The Practice of Love
    Jenny Hval
30. No Home Record
    Kim Gordon
31. Assume Form
    James Blake
32. Jaime
    Brittany Howard
33. Saves the World
    Muna
34. Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
    Bill Callahan
35. When I Have Fears
    The Murder Capital
36. The Center Won't Hold
    Sleater-Kinney
37. Two Hands
    Big Thief
38. Schlagenheim
    black midi
39. Incidental Music
    W.H. Lung
40. Sound & Fury
    Sturgill Simpson
41. Inside the Rose
    These New Puritans
42. Good at Falling
    The Japanese House
43. LEGACY! LEGACY!
    Jamila Woods
44. House of Sugar
    (Sandy) Alex G
45. Purple Mountains
    Purple Mountains
46. American Love Call
    Durand Jones & The Indications
47. Flamagra
    Flying Lotus
48. Cheap Queen
    King Princess
49. Serfs Up!
    The Fat White Family
50. Hoodies All Summer
    Kano

Slant Magazine: The 25 Best Films of 2019

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Uncut Gems
   Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie
2. Transit
   Christian Petzold
3. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
   Quentin Tarantino
4. The Irishman
   Martin Scorsese
5. Parasite
   Bong Joon-ho
6. Ash is Purest White
   Jia Zhang-ke
7. La Flor
   Mariano Llinás
8. The Souvenir
   Joanna Hogg
9. Long Day's Journey Into Night
   Bi Gan
10. Marriage Story
    Noah Baumbach
11. A Hidden Life
    Terrence Malick
12. Atlantics
    Mati Diop
13. An Elephant Sitting Still
    Hu Bo
14. Black Mother
    Khalik Allah
15. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
    Marielle Heller
16. Pain and Glory
    Pedro Almodóvar
17. Peterloo
    Mike Leigh
18. I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians
    Radu Jude
19. High Life
    Claire Denis
20. The Beach Bum
    Harmony Korine
21. Climax
    Gaspar Noé
22. Ad Astra
    James Gray
23. The Competition
    Claire Simon
24. Chinese Portrait
    Wang Xiaoshuai
25. The Gospel of Eureka
    Donal Mosher and Michael Palmieri

The Runners-Up

26. The Plagiarists
    Peter Parlow
27. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
    Céline Sciamma
28. The Lighthouse
    Robert Eggers
29. What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire?
    Roberto Minervini
30. End of the Century
    Lucio Castro
31. Ray & Liz
    Richard Billingham
32. The Wild Pear Tree
    Nuri Bilge Ceylan
33. Honeyland
    Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov
34. In My Room
    Ulrich Köhler
35. Varda by Agnès
    Agnès Varda
36. Her Smell
    Alex Ross Perry
37. Dragged Across Concrete
    S. Craig Zahler
38. The Image Book
    Jean-Luc Godard
39. Diane
    Kent Jones
40. Asako I & II
    Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
41. I Lost My Body
    Jérémy Clapin
42. Gemini Man
    Ang Lee
43. Shadow
    Zhang Yimou
44. In Fabric
    Peter Strickland
45. Us
    Jordan Peele
46. The Mountain
    Rick Alverson
47. Our Time
    Carlos Reygadas
48. Little Women
    Greta Gerwig
49. The Dead Don't Die
    Jim Jarmusch
50. Diamantino
    Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt

Michael Glover Smith: Top 25 Films of 2019, posted on his blog White City Cinema

1. Vitalina Varela
   Pedro Costa
2. The Irishman
   Martin Scorsese
2. Rolling Thunder Revue
   Martin Scorsese
3. The Image Book
   Jean-Luc Godard
4. Coincoin and the Extra-Humans
   Bruno Dumont
5. A Hidden Life
   Terrence Malick
6. I Was at Home, But
   Angela Schanelec
7. High Life
   Claire Denis
8. Uncut Gems
   Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie
9. Atlantics
   Mati Diop
10. Black Mother
    Khalik Allah

The Runners-Up

11. Pasolini
    Abel Ferrara
12. The Souvenir
    Joanna Hogg
13. Little Women
    Greta Gerwig
14. Long Day's Journey Into Night
    Bi Gan
15. Pain and Glory
    Pedro Almodóvar
16. Hale County This Morning, This Evening
    RaMell Ross
17. Parasite
    Bong Joon-ho
18. Richard Jewell
    Clint Eastwood
19. Grass
    Hong Sang-soo
19. Hotel by the River
    Hong Sang-soo
20. The Wild Pear Tree
    Nuri Bilge Ceylan
21. Asako I & II
    Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
22. Saint Frances
    Alex Thompson
23. Varda by Agnès
    Agnès Varda
24. An Elephant Sitting Still
    Hu Bo
25. Knives and Skin
    Jennifer Reeder

Tiny Mix Tapes: Favorite 100 Music Releases of the Decade

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Eccojams Vol. 1
   Chuck Person
2. Black is Beautiful
   Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland
3. Yeezus
   Kanye West
4. Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
   Sophie
5. Just A Taste Vol. 1
   DJ Rashad
6. Floral Shoppe
   Macintosh Plus
7. R Plus Seven
   Oneohtrix Point Never
8. Pop 2
   Charli XCX
9. Blond
   Frank Ocean
9. Endless
   Frank Ocean
10. PC Music x DISown Radio
    PC Music
11. “BBF” Hosted By DJ Escrow
    Babyfather
12. Far Side Virtual
    James Ferraro
13. The Light That You Gave Me To See You
    E+E
14. &&&&&
    Arca
15. Ruins
    Grouper
16. An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
    The Caretaker
17. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
18. Barter 6
    Young Thug
19. Replica
    Oneohtrix Point Never
20. Bish Bosch
    Scott Walker
21. White Flame
    Lil B
22. A Crow Looked at Me
    Mount Eerie
23. DS2
    Future
24. The Smoke
    Lolina
25. Quarantine
    Laurel Halo
26. The Redeemer
    Dean Blunt
27. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
    Kanye West
28. To Pimp A Butterfly
    Kendrick Lamar
29. Elysia Crampton
    Elysia Crampton
30. Kaputt
    Destroyer
31. Anti
    Rihanna
32. XXX
    Danny Brown
33. James Blake
    James Blake
34. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
35. Beyoncé
    Beyoncé
36. Dark Energy
    Jlin
37. Product
    Sophie
38. Devotion
    Tirzah
39. The Money Store
    Death Grips
40. Double Cup
    DJ Rashad
41. Everywhere at the End of Time
    The Caretaker
42. The Idler Wheel…
    Fiona Apple
43. Before Today
    Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
44. Black Messiah
    D’Angelo and The Vanguard
45. Some Rap Songs
    Earl Sweatshirt
46. My Teenage Dream Ended
    Farrah Abraham
47. Playboi Carti
    Playboi Carti
48. Mutant
    Arca
49. Sounds of Sisso
    various artists
50. Loud City Song
    Julia Holter
51. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
52. good kid, m.A.A.d city
    Kendrick Lamar
53. Melodrama
    Lorde
54. Songs About Nothing
    Jason Lescalleet
55. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
56. Triad
    Triad God
57. Half Free
    U.S. Girls
58. Classical Curves
    Jam City
59. Double Negative
    Low
60. Tommy
    Klein
61. Oh No
    Jessy Lanza
62. Modern Jester
    Aaron Dilloway
63. Vroom Vroom
    Charli XCX
64. Late Nights: The Album
    Jeremih
65. The Monitor
    Titus Andronicus
66. Visions
    Grimes
67. MIXTAP3
    18+
68. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
    Colin Stetson
69. Live In Paris
    Lolina
70. Dark Web
    Giant Claw
71. Channel Orange
    Frank Ocean
72. COIN COIN Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres
    Matana Roberts
73. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
74. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
75. Stadium
    Eli Keszler
76. Almighty So
    Chief Keef
77. Public Strain
    Women
78. A Seat at the Table
    Solange
79. Teen Dream
    Beach House
80. Photographs
    Graham Lambkin & Jason Lescalleet
81. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
82. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
83. Luxury Problems
    Andy Stott
84. Fresh Roses
    D/P/I
85. The Original Faces
    Helen
86. Tha Tour Part 1
    Rich Gang
87. Through Donkey Jaw
    Amen Dunes
88. Shaking the Habitual
    The Knife
89. Carve Out the Face of My God
    Infinite Body
90. Blood Bitch
    Jenny Hval
91. Blackstar
    David Bowie
92. R.I.P.
    Actress
93. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
94. New Slaves
    ZS
95. Lemonade
    Beyoncé
96. A History Of Every One
    Bill Orcutt
97. Halcyon Digest
    Deerhunter
98. Daytona
    Pusha T
99. Grafts
    Kara-Lis Coverdale
100. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
     John Maus

NPR: Favorite Movies Of 2019

• 1917
  Sam Mendes
• Atlantics
  Mati Diop
• Avengers: Endgame
  Anthony and Joe Russo
• Booksmart
  Olivia Wilde
• The Cave
  Firas Fayyad
• The Farewell
  Lulu Wang
• Fast Color
  Julia Hart
• Gloria Bell
  Sebastián Lelio
• Hustlers
  Lorene Scafaria
• I Lost My Body
  Jérémy Clapin
• The Irishman
  Martin Scorsese
• Knives Out
  Rian Johnson
• The Lighthouse
  Robert Eggers
• Little Women
  Greta Gerwig
• Marriage Story
  Noah Baumbach
• Midsommar
  Ari Aster
• Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
  Quentin Tarantino
• Pain and Glory
  Pedro Almodóvar
• Parasite
  Bong Joon-ho
• Us
  Jordan Peele