This is a list of great albums by year since 2000. Though comprehensive, this list is not in any way meant to be taken as fact, nor is it supposed to be taken as accurate, it is simply an opinion. When determining which albums to put on the list, historical and cultural impact, musical creativity, significance, commercial success, critical success by well-known sources, and Grammy nominations were all taken into consideration.
If you simply want to see the list, as opposed to having to read through everything to find which albums are represented, go to the end of the article right before the “Sources used in this article” section where a list of only the albums and artists is located.
2000
‘N Sync – No Strings Attached
While the boy band sound may have been a great source of irritation to hordes of people, there was no mistake about it: in the late 1990s and early 2000s, boy bands were popular and in full force. Perhaps nothing showed this more than ‘N Sync’s second studio album, No Strings Attached. With the release of the album, ‘N Sync showed its true power and potential as the dominant boy group at the turn of the century. Not only did the album debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, it smashed all previous weekly sales records since Billboard started using Soundscan to track album sales, selling over 1 million copies in its first day and nearly 2.5 million in its debut week. No Strings Attached sent fans and the music industry in a mode of excitement and madness, with numerous fans buying several copies of the album at a time and some stores even opening at midnight just for the album’s release. Spawning the #1 hit single “It’s Gonna Be Me” (and it’s important to note that the Backstreet Boys never had a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100) and ultimately shipping 10 million copies within the US before the year’s end, enough to garner a diamond certification from the RIAA, ‘N Sync made their dominance known to people all around the world with their music and showcased songs that would ultimately remain relevant considerably past the band’s permanent hiatus (after all, who doesn’t still know the chorus to “Bye Bye Bye”?). When taking into consideration all the other catchy and creative songs, as well as the musical style and instrumentation and production, the album is most definitely worthy of a spot on the list of greatest albums of the 2000s.
2001
Bob Dylan – Love and Theft
Though Bob Dylan was already well established in the music industry for many decades prior to the second millennium, and it was clear that he was already a legend by the year 2001, Love and Theft showed a return to great success for him, becoming his first top 5 album in 25 years. Even though it is not as much of a landmark album as No Strings Attached, Love and Theft certainly showed that folk rock does have a mass market and can still attain both great commercial success and critical acclaim. Featuring witty lyrics and crafty melodies that he’s known for, Dylan returned to his artistic basics and greatest songwriting qualities. Love and Theft would receive a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year quickly after its release.
2002
Norah Jones – Come Away with Me
Norah Jones’ debut album, it would spawn her first and only top 40 single, “Don’t Know Why,” but would grant her continued triumph with all successive album releases. Despite the lead single only reaching #30 on the Hot 100, the album peaked at #1. With Come Away with Me, Jones created a unique blend of soul, folk, and jazz centered on a pop sound that would from then onwards be heavily imitated by other artists, but never be brought to life as well as when Jones was singing. While Jones’ style of singing would never be deemed so-called “mainstream,” Come Away with Me brought a distinctive and practically never-before-seen style to the public’s attention that would forever be ingrained in music. The album would go on to earn eight Grammy awards and a diamond certification.
2003
The White Stripes – Elephant
The first album by The White Stripes to make the top 10, Elephant was easily released to both commercial and critical acclaim. With Elephant, The White Stripes took a chance with trying to show the public their music and succeeded remarkably well. The band was able to cause a revival in garage music and show that a garage album can still indeed be successful and impressive, while also showing that a more basic approach to music can have true power and resonance. Using a simpler approach to producing Elephant, the album clashed greatly with heavily-produced mainstream music, but still maintained to gather a great following for the band. With Elephant, The White Stripes brought an honest and less complex quality to the public eye that was rarely seen since the adaptation of turn of the century digital enhancement. Elephant would reach #6 on the charts and win two Grammy awards.
2004
Ray Charles – Genius Loves Company
Following a string of only so-so album releases, Genius Loves Company brought back both great commercial and critical success for Ray Charles, becoming his first #1 album in over 40 years and earning great approval from both fans and critics alike. Compared to his previous studio effort in 1996, in which he attempted to modernize himself, Genius brought him back to his classic style everyone adored him for. But being the “genius” he is, Charles managed to sound new and vibrant, as opposed to sounding like he was completely copying his old form. Additionally, the album showed that classic and original R&B can never actually go out of style, but is a genre to always be honored and adored. The album won eight Grammy awards and earned a triple platinum certification.
2005
Mariah Carey – The Emancipation of Mimi
After going seven years without a #1 album, going four years without a #1 single, and even having one album deemed a horrendous failure (Glitter), Mariah Carey marked a triumphant and significant comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi. After years of failing to have great commercial success with any of her singles, causing critics to declare Carey’s hit-making career as extinct, the queen of number one hits blasted back onto the scene with Emancipation and its heavily successful single, “We Belong Together” (no. 1 for 14 weeks on the Hot 100). Emancipation truly is emancipation for Mariah Carey (or perhaps better identified by her alter ego of “Mimi”). She goes through a stylistic freedom, bringing out shockingly new dance-flavored material, while also keeping her pop/R&B roots to please the longtime fans. In terms of vocal quality, the album features some of her best performances in years, and after many people feared that Mariah Carey’s voice was ruined, she was able to prove that the power, versatility, and (let’s not forget) range that she is known for was indeed not lost. That being said, some vocal imperfections are left in the album, which might sound bad, but actually only increase the emotional quality of songs like “We Belong Together” and “Fly Like a Bird.” The album spawned two #1 hits, “Don’t Forget About Us” in addition to the aforementioned “We Belong Together,” and earned 10 Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. It has since been certified six times platinum.
2006
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Amy Winehouse’s last album released while she was still alive, Back to Black left her legacy upon music history. It features her idiosyncratic style that relies heavily upon 1960s soul. That being said, it is in no way a blast from the past. In only a way that very few people can, Amy Winehouse is able to bring a modern sound to an old style, thus making an intricate combination of pop/soul that allows for an astounding record filled with emotion and quality. Perhaps what made the record so magnificent to the public was that it was greatly autobiographical, showing her struggles and troubles, allowing people to actually connect well with what she was saying. Back to Black is also very blatant in its lyrics, leaving very little to have to be interpreted by the listener, giving people an even greater glimpse into Winehouse’s life. But even with that in mind, what could potentially be the greatest about Back to Black is that it brought old style music to everyone’s attention-even the younger generations-showing that music, of any genre, never dies. Winehouse was able to create a newfound interest for classic soul like nobody else could. The album would peak at #2 and win five Grammys.
2007
Radiohead – In Rainbows
Following four years of not releasing a studio album, In Rainbows was met with remarkable success. Being that Radiohead is an alternative band, the music featured on In Rainbows is in no way going to be liked by everyone. That being said, the soft sound and emotional lyrical content featured on various tracks can make just about anybody connect with the songs. The album is a bit of a departure from Radiohead’s previous style, but not dramatically so, as the band still maintains its roots. All the songs are worthy of listening to, even if alternative isn’t your style, not to mention that In Rainbows gained Radiohead many new fans. The album would ultimately win two Grammy awards and earn a gold certification.
2008
Taylor Swift – Fearless
If you remember the music scene in 2008 to 2009, you’ll probably recall just how big Taylor Swift’s Fearless was. There was absolutely no way to get away from the songs “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.” After establishing herself as a country pop artist with her self-titled first album, Taylor Swift became a world-renowned superstar with Fearless. Channeling Shania Twain, and matching her success, Swift garnered a monstrous amount of achievement. With Fearless, Taylor Swift was no longer just a teen writing songs for teens, she was a woman writing songs for everyone. Now people of either gender everywhere could connect with Swift’s music. Even though the songs on Fearless are still autobiographical, just about anybody can feel the sentiment in them, and her unconcealed honesty only makes it better. Even with more experienced female country pop singers in the market, Swift was able to dominate and establish herself as the leading female country singer. Fearless would go on to make Swift the youngest person ever to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and be certified six times platinum.
2009
Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
“Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh caught in a bad romance,” “Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro,” “T-t-t-t-t-telephone.” These were the lyrics to some of the catchiest and most addicting songs of 2009 and 2010, all of which are found on Lady Gaga’s 2009 extended play, The Fame Monster. Though not even a full length album and despite none of the singles reaching #1 on the Hot 100 (“Bad Romance” managed to make it to #2), Monster achieved a peak of #5 on the Billboard 200. Additionally, Lady Gaga was able to go from a pop star to a solidified pop sensation and forever put her mark on modern music history. After the release of The Fame Monster, there was absolutely no way of escaping Lady Gaga, as her new and unique dance style that channeled older female singers (Debbie Harry and Madonna too name a couple) focused the attention and interest of the world upon her, making her, for at least the time being, the biggest star in the industry. Lady Gaga’s influence would impact other performers (Katy Perry being the most successful example), as electronic and dance pop would soon take the world by storm and be heard on countless hits by other singers. Using captivating melodies and earnest and truthful lyrics, Lady Gaga was able to show that dance and electronic music has great value.
2010
Carole King & James Taylor – Live at the Troubadour
It’s always wonderful when one of the most influential persons in music history releases a new album, but when two release an album together, it’s simply heaven. Nothing exemplified this more in 2010 than when Carole King and James Taylor released their Live at the Troubadour CD/DVD. In the middle of their ongoing and sensational worldwide Troubadour Reunion Tour, the album was released at a perfect time to garner the attention of the public. Debuting at #4, it gave James Taylor a top 10 album in five consecutive decades and Carole King her first to reach the top five since 1976. What makes this album even greater is that it’s live. While there is indeed editing for sonic quality, there isn’t an extensive amount of studio gimmicks, and the soft quality to the music allows listeners to just sit and relax, letting them take a break from the hectic world. There is also a sense of friendship and genuineness present throughout the album, and because the album is live, and at the Troubadour, a very small club in Los Angeles, you get to hear some chatter and humorous conversations between the two musical legends. All the songs on the album are old; many are classics and pop standards, and on several occasions King and Taylor even mention the significance and history of certain songs, giving a personal glimpse into the musical process. Live at the Troubadour is simply perfection and a magnificent piece by two of the biggest legends in music.
2011
Adele – 21
Easily the biggest selling album of 2011, Adele blasted into superstardom with 21. Though having moderate success with her single “Chasing Pavements” and the album 19 in 2008, Adele was now a celebrity and household name with 21. Who could forget the summer of 2011, when whenever you’d turn on the radio “Rolling in the Deep” would come on time after time after time? While 21 is indeed a pop record, it is not the usual pop record you hear nowadays, relying universally on old soul. You can say modern pop meets old soul on the album, with modern-sounding melodies blending with old-sounding styles and singing. The album is minimally edited, with singing flaws being left in (“Someone like You” and “Don’t You Remember” are perhaps the most distinct examples of this), and the lyrics are descriptive of a crumbling relationship. The whole album does have a constant theme of heartbreak and breakup, but different songs feature different emotions, so the theme never gets dull and boring. “Rolling in the Deep” shows anger, “Don’t You Remember” shows sadness and longing, and “Someone like You” shows forgiveness and acceptance. That being said, Adele’s songwriting is in no way fantastic or shockingly amazing, and it’s clear her singing abilities far outweigh her songwriting skills. However, in Adele’s hands the songs come off as perfect. Her vocal performance is able to cover up any lacking the songs may have in music or lyrics. Adele took the world by storm with 21, and rightly so, as it is a unique departure from the overproduced and subpar music that today’s generation has become known for. But besides the musical impact Adele would have with 21, showing that there’s no need to be showy and out-of-this-world to be a good artist, Adele’s cultural impact as being an average, ordinary, everyday person, proving that there was nothing wrong with not being flamboyant and thin, was fantastic.
Recap:
2000
‘N Sync – No Strings Attached
2001
Bob Dylan – Love and Theft
2002
Norah Jones – Come Away with Me
2003
The White Stripes – Elephant
2004
Ray Charles – Genius Loves Company
2005
Mariah Carey – The Emancipation of Mimi
2006
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
2007
Radiohead – In Rainbows
2008
Taylor Swift – Fearless
2009
Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
2010
Carole King & James Taylor – Live at the Troubadour
2011
Adele – 21
Sources used in this article:
‘N Sync
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432516/nsync-shatters-sales-record.jhtml
http://www.allmusic.com/album/no-strings-attached-mw0000256510
http://www.billboard.com/news/n-sync-breaks-the-soundscan-barrier-872742.story#/news/n-sync-breaks-the-soundscan-barrier-872742.story
http://www.billboard.com/column/the-juice/behind-the-scenes-of-4-intimate-nights-with-1005322622.story#/news/fans-buy-buy-buy-n-sync-s-new-album-875502.story
Bob Dylan
http://starling.rinet.ru/music/dylan.htm#Theft
http://www.avclub.com/articles/bob-dylan-love-and-theft,18424/
Norah Jones
http://acharts.us/album/12652
http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,625708,00.html
The White Stripes
http://acharts.us/album/12795
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-white-stripes-elephant-19691231
Ray Charles
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/14/DDG23B9RT71.DTL
http://www.billboard.com/album/ray-charles/genius-loves-company/640227/review#/album/ray-charles/genius-loves-company/640227/review
Mariah Carey
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mariah-carey-frees-herself-on-emancipation-20050131
http://www.billboard.com/album/mariah-carey/the-emancipation-of-mimi/668708/review#/album/mariah-carey/the-emancipation-of-mimi/668708/review
http://www.billboard.com/album/mariah-carey/the-emancipation-of-mimi/668708#/album/mariah-carey/the-emancipation-of-mimi/668708
Amy Winehouse
http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Back+To+Black%22
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/amy-winehouse-back-to-black-19691231
http://www.allmusic.com/album/back-to-black-mw0000736522
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1686204_1686244_1692145,00.html
Radiohead
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/in-rainbows-20071101
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2007/oct/10/radioheadsinrainbowsisita
Taylor Swift
http://articles.boston.com/2008-11-10/ae/29275648_1_big-machine-records-taylor-swift-liz-rose
http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Taylor+Swift
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003892753#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003892753
Lady Gaga
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/nov/22/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/11/album-review-lady-gagas-the-fame-monster.html
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-01-20/entertainment/lady.gaga.career_1_lady-gaga-endorsement-creative-energy?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ
Carole King & James Taylor
http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-troubadour-mw0001968695
http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200?tag=chscr1#/charts/billboard-200?chartDate=2010-05-22
Adele
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8269649/Adele-21-CD-of-the-week-review.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703408604576164631795665192.html
