The Best Folk & Singer-Songwriter Albums of the 2010s
Our pick of the essential folk & singer-songwriter records released in the 2010s, ranked.
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1Carrie & LowellSufjan Stevens
Carrie & Lowell
A hushed, devastating meditation on his late mother, stripped back to whispered vocals and fingerpicked guitar. Almost unbearably intimate. A modern folk masterpiece.
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2Bon Iver, Bon IverBon Iver
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
A lush, layered second album that expanded the hushed debut into widescreen beauty. Gorgeous and Grammy-winning. A peak.
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3Helplessness BluesFleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues
More ambitious and searching than the debut, rich with harmony and questioning lyrics. Expansive and lovely. A folk high point.
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4I Love You, HoneybearFather John Misty
I Love You, Honeybear
A lush, sardonic and surprisingly sincere song-cycle about love and modern life. Witty and beautifully arranged. His breakthrough.
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5Once I Was an EagleLaura Marling
Once I Was an Eagle
A sprawling, mature folk peak of literary depth. Beautiful and acclaimed. A creative high.
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6Titanic RisingWeyes Blood
Titanic Rising
A gorgeous, orchestral chamber-pop record of climate dread and longing. Lush and acclaimed. A modern folk-pop high point.
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7You Want It DarkerLeonard Cohen
You Want It Darker
A graceful, mortality-haunted final album. Powerful and acclaimed. A profound farewell.
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822, A MillionBon Iver
22, A Million
A glitchy, fractured electronic reinvention of the folk sound. Bold and acclaimed. A daring pivot.
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9The Age of AdzSufjan Stevens
The Age of Adz
A maximal, electronic turn from the hushed folk of Illinois. Bold and acclaimed. A creative swerve.
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10Pure ComedyFather John Misty
Pure Comedy
A sweeping, sardonic song-cycle on humanity and modern life. Ambitious and acclaimed. A bold statement.
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11MuchachoPhosphorescent
Muchacho
A warm, atmospheric Americana peak. Beautiful and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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12The Wild HuntThe Tallest Man on Earth
The Wild Hunt
A spare, Dylan-esque folk peak of raw intimacy. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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13SoutheasternJason Isbell
Southeastern
A raw, sober Americana peak of vivid storytelling. Honest and acclaimed. His masterpiece.
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14Burn Your Fire for No WitnessAngel Olsen
Burn Your Fire for No Witness
A raw, electric indie-folk peak of fierce emotion. Bold and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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15Beast EpicIron & Wine
Beast Epic
A warm, mature folk peak of gentle craft. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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16ApocalypseBill Callahan
Apocalypse
A spare, wry folk peak of deadpan depth. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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17I Speak Because I CanLaura Marling
I Speak Because I Can
A mature, literate folk peak. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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18Semper FeminaLaura Marling
Semper Femina
A graceful, intimate folk peak. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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19BabelMumford & Sons
Babel
A bigger, anthemic follow-up that swept the Grammys. Rousing and huge. A commercial peak.
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20The LumineersThe Lumineers
The Lumineers
A warm, stomp-along folk-pop debut, home to 'Ho Hey'. Tuneful and beloved. A breakthrough.
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21The Lion's RoarFirst Aid Kit
The Lion's Roar
A harmony-rich folk peak of Swedish-Americana beauty. Warm and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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22CapacityBig Thief
Capacity
A tender, intimate indie-folk peak of vivid songwriting. Warm and acclaimed. A standout.
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23Stranger in the AlpsPhoebe Bridgers
Stranger in the Alps
A hushed, melancholic indie-folk debut. Intimate and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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24Sprained AnkleJulien Baker
Sprained Ankle
A spare, devastating solo debut of voice and guitar. Intimate and acclaimed. A striking arrival.
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25Turn Out the LightsJulien Baker
Turn Out the Lights
A spare, devastating indie-folk record of faith and pain. Intimate and acclaimed. A quiet peak.
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26HistorianLucy Dacus
Historian
A literate, melodic indie peak of memory and grief. Warm and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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27LushSnail Mail
Lush
A sharp, melodic indie-rock debut of teenage clarity. Tuneful and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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28DesignerAldous Harding
Designer
A spare, idiosyncratic art-folk peak. Singular and acclaimed. A high point.