Music Lists Are Us: Favorite Albums of the '00s

2000

Smile by The Jayhawks

Lovers Rock by Sade

The Harsh Light of Day by Fastball

Riding With the King by Eric Clapton & B.B. King

Mass Romantic by the New Pornographers

Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann

Farmhouse by Phish

Matriarch of the Blues by Etta James

Chanchullo by Ruben Gonzalez

Allow Me by Jules Shear

Wandering Moon by Terence Blanchard

Invincible Summer by k.d. Lang

Figure 8 by Elliott Smith

Motor City Moments by Regina Carter

Two Against Nature by Steely Dan

Live at the Village Vanguard by Chucho Valdes

Wasp Star (Apple Venus vol. 2) by XTC

MTV Unplugged by Shakira

Howdy by Teenage Fanclub

Let the Good Times Roll by B.B. King (a tribute to the music of Louis Jordan)

Discovery of the World Inside the Moone by the Apples in Stereo

Red Dirt Girl by Emmylou Harris

Sailing to Philadelphia by Mark Knopfler

Over the Years by Abbey Lincoln

Transcendental Blues by Steve Earle

McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster by McCoy Tyner, Stanley Clarke & Al Foster

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (movie score) by Tan Dun

Righteous Love by Joan Osborne

Parachutes by Coldplay

O Brother Where Art Thou (movie soundtrack) by various artists (Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, Norman Blake, Gillian Welch, Dan Tyminski [the lead voice of The Soggy Bottom Boys], Emmylou Harris,  The Stanley Brothers, The Fairfield Four, Ralph Stanley, et al.)

All That You Can't Leave Behind by U2

Chasin' the Gypsy by James Carter

Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

Absolute Benson by George Benson (with Christian McBride, Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, Cindy Blackman, et al)

Spike by Puffy AmiYumi

American III: Solitary Man by Johnny Cash

Contemporary Jazz by Branford Marsalis

Telling Stories by Tracy Chapman

Wild and Reckless by Blitzen Trapper

Nickel Creek by Nickel Creek

Jazz Roots by McCoy Tyner

Life'll Kill Ya by Warren Zevon

Alma Caribena by Gloria Estefan

Soulcall by Nnenna Freelon

2001

Oh Inverted World by The Shins

Solo Live in New York by Chucho Valdes

Rockin' the Suburbs by Ben Folds

Songs in A Minor by Alicia Keys

The Complete Pet Soul by Splitsville

Lenny by Lenny Kravitz

Zoom by Electric Light Orchestra (after 15 year hiatus, E.L.O. returns with guest artists George Harrison and Ringo Starr)

The Legend of Tommy Johnson...by Chris Thomas King

Little Sparrow by Dolly Parton

Cachaito by Orlando Cachaito Lopez

Love and Theft by Bob Dylan

Freefall by Kenny Barron & Regina Carter

Bravery, Repitition and Noise by the Brian Jonestown Massacre

Down From the Mountain by various artists (Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, The Cox Family, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krause, John Hartford, the Fairfield Four, The Whites, Emmylou Harris, Dan Tyminski, et al.)

Satellite Rides by The Old 97s

God Bless the Go-Gos by The Go-Gos

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco

Let's Get Lost by Terence Blanchard, with Dianne Reeves, Jane Monheit, Diana Krall & Cassandra Wilson

Is This It by The Strokes

Laundry Service by Shakira

Pretty Together by Sloan

Blue Gardenia by Etta James

The Invisible Band by Travis

It's a Cold Ass World by Chris Thomas King

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch

Poses by Rufus Wainwright

Vietnam: The Aftermath by Billy Bangs

Musicforthemorningafter by Pete Yorn

The Id by Macy Gray

Reveal by R.E.M.

You're My Thrill by Shirley Horn

Simple Things by Zero 7 (with Sia, among others, on vocals)

Moulin Rouge (movie soundtrack) by various artists (Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, David Bowie, Christina Aguilera, Bongo, Pink, Beck, Rufus Wainwright, Massive Attack, Mya, Fatboy Slim, John Leguizamo, et al.)

Wildcard by Terence Trent D'arby

Shoulda Been Home by Robert Cray

The Cactus of Knowledge by Rabeh Abou-Khalil

2002

Don't Give Up On Me by Solomon Burke

Sea Change by Beck

Toshi by Toshi Reagon

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by Flaming Lips

Become You by the Indigo Girls

Good Morning Aztlan by Los Lobos

The Beginning Stages of the Polyphonic Spree by the Polyphonic Spree

Belly of the Sun by Cassandra Wilson

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (movie soundtrack) by Howard Shore

The Game Has Just Begun by Henry Butler

A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay

Silver Lining by Bonnie Raitt

Velocity of Sound by the Apples in Stereo

Shaman by Santana (with Michelle Branch, Seal, Chad Krueger, Macy Gray, Placido Domingo, Dido, et al.)

Brainwashed by George Harrison

Young Man's Blues by Chris Thomas King

The Rising by Bruce Springsteen

Lost in Space by Aimee Mann

Trey Anastacio by Trey Anastacio

Dap Dippin' by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

Mind If We Make Love to You by The Wondermints

Footsteps of Our Father's by Branford Marsalis

Don't Worry About Me by Joey Ramone

Let It Rain by Tracy Chapman

Sha Sha by Ben Kweller

Travelogue by Joni Mitchell

The Last DJ by Tom Petty

Black Ivory Soul by Angelique Kidjo

The Hit Parade by Puffy AmiYumi

Ok Go by Ok Go

Land of Giants by McCoy Tyner (with Bobby Hutcherson, Charnett Moffett & Eric Harland)

Round Room by Phish

Songs by Regina Spektor

Mali Music by Damon Albarn

This is New by Dee Dee Bridgewater

American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash

2003

Welcome Interstate Managers by Fountains of Wayne

Ohio by Over the Rhine

Electric Version by The New Pornographers

Diamonds on the Inside by Ben Harper

Rainy Day Music by The Jayhawks

It's Me by Abbey Lincoln

Chutes Too Narrow by the Shins

Everybody Loves You by Kaki King

Reflections by B.B. King

Rooney by Rooney

Comfort Woman by Meshell Ndegeocello

Feel It by Some Girls

Romare Beardon Revealed by the Branford Marsalis Quintet

Want One by Rufus Wainwright

A Little Moonlight by Dianne Reeves

Team Boo by Mates of State

Young Liars by TV on the Radio

Phantom Power by Super Furry Animals

Glamoured by Cassandra Wilson

Cold Mountain (movie soundtrack) by various artists (Gabriel Yates, Jack White, Alison Krause, et al)

Frank by Amy Winehouse

Vanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison by various artists (Little Milton, Bettye LaVette, Eddie Floyd, Mack Rice, Son Seals, Syl Johnson, William Bell, Henry Butler, et al)

Action Pact by Sloan

Let's Roll by Etta James

Soul Sessions by Joss Stone

Alegria by Wayne Shorter

Nice by Puffy AmiYumi

Kimi Ga Suki by Matthew Sweet

May the Music Never End by Shirley Horn

Doll Revolution by The Bangles

The Promise by Earth Wind and Fire

Sumday by Grandaddy

The Trouble with Being Myself by Macy Gray

Stumble into Grace by Emmylou Harris

I Can't Stop by Al Green

It Still Moves by My Morning Jacket

2004

Together We're Heavy by the Polyphonic Spree

There Will Be a Light by Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama

Legs to Make Us Longer by Kaki King

Hopes and Fears by Keane

Translinear Light by Alice Coltrane

From a Basement on a Hill by Elliott Smith

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes by TV on the Radio

Hymns of the 49th Parallel by k.d. lang

Thunder Lightning Strike by The Go Team

Homeland by Henry Butler

On My Way by Ben Kweller

ClassiKhan by Chaka Khan

Adrian James Croce by A.J. Croce

Genius Loves Company by Ray Charles (with Norah Jones, ...

Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn

Eternal by Branford Marsalis

Mojo Box by Southern Culture on the Skids

Blues to the Bone by Etta James

All That We Let In by the Indigo Girls

Ivey Divey by Don Byron

Miracle Mule by the SubDudes

Oyaya! By Angelique Kidjo

My Favorite Revolution by Eugene Edwards

Feels Like Home by Norah Jones

Why My Guitar Screams and Cries by Chris Thomas King

Keep Your Wig On by Fastball

Outrun the Sky by Lalah Hathaway

Let It Die by Feist

Hang On Little Tomato by Pink Martini

The Life of a Song by Geri Allen

Funeral by Arcade Fire

Finally Woken by Jem

Throwback vol. 1 by Boyz II Men

Chariot by Gavin DeGraw

Have a Little Faith by Mavis Staples

Get Away From Me by Nellie McKay

Hummin' to Myself by Linda Ronstadt

2005

Man-Made by Teenage Fanclub

A Time to Love by Stevie Wonder

Songs for Silverman by Ben Folds

The Forgotten Arm by Aimee Mann

Have You Heard by Toshi Reagon

Make Do With What You Got by Solomon Burke

Out-of-State Plates by Fountains of Wayne

Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 by Shakira

Shine by Trey Anastacio

Good Night and Good Luck (movie soundtrack) by Dianne Reeves

The Alternative to Love by Brendan Benson

The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions by Seu Jorge

Twin Cinema by the New Pornographers

Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 by Shakira

In Space by Big Star

The Ruby Suns by The Ruby Suns

Canvas by Robert Glasper

Unplugged by Alicia Keys

Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple

Oh No by OK Go

Everything's Ok by Al Green

J'ai Deux Amours by Dee Dee Bridgewater

Separate Ways by Teddy Thompson

Silver Rain by Marcus Miller

Illinois by Sufjan Stevens

Where You Live by Tracy Chapman

Naked Guitar by Earl Klugh

Brandi Carlile by Brandi Carlile

In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson

Illumination by Earth Wind and Fire

Love Kraft by Super Furry Animals

Revival by Hugh Masekela

2006

Never Hear the End of It by Sloan

Return to Cookie Mountain by TV on the Radio

The Life Pursuit by Belle and Sebastian

Back to Black by Amy Winehouse

Another Fine Day by Golden Smog

The Town and the City by Los Lobos

It's Never Been Like That by Phoenix

Junjo by Esperanza Spalding

Twelve Stops and Home by The Feeling

Despite Our Differences by the Indigo Girls

Rather Ripped by Sonic Youth

Sonny Please by Sonny Rollins

Songbird by Willie Nelson

Rodrigo y Gabriela by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Modern Times by Bob Dylan

I'll Be Seeing You...by Regina Carter

American V: A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash

Splurge by Puffy AmiYumi

Black Holes and Revelations by Muse

Both Sides of the Gun by Ben Harper

Rockford by Cheap Trick

Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins

Major Lodge Victory by Gin Blossoms

Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind by the Carolina Chocolate Drops

Ray Sings/Basie Swings by Ray Charles & the Count Basie Orchestra

You Don't Know Me by Willie Nelson

Sacred by Los Lonely Boys

Friendly Fire by Sean Lennon

Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor

We Shall Overcome (The Seeger Sessions) by Bruce Springsteen

Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae

Ben Kweller by Ben Kweller

Braggtown by the Branford Marsalis Quartet

Highway Companion by Tom Petty

Genki Shock! By Shonen Knife

Everything All the Time by Band of Horses

Pretty Little Stranger by Joan Osborne

Just Like the Fambly Cat by Grandaddy

Thunderbird by Cassandra Wilson

On an Island by David Gilmore

Sound Grammar by Ornette Coleman

Cantos by A.J. Croce

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood by Neko Case

The River in Reverse by Elvis Costello & Toussaint

Music for Lovers by Dianne Reeves

All the Roadrunning by Knopfler & Emmylou Harris

Givin' It Up by George Benson & Al Jarreau

Blue on Blue by Leigh Nash

Cat by Catherine Russell

Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Adieu False Heart by Linda Ronstadt & Ann Savoy

Under the Covers, Vol. 1 by Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet

Turned to Blue by Nancy Wilson

Free to Stay by Smoosh

Rise by Chris Thomas King

Fast Man, Raider Man by Frank Black

All the Bells and Whistles by Bryan Estepa

2007

Release the Stars by Rufus Wainwright

River: The Joni Letters by Herbie Hancock & various artists (Wayne Shorter, Tina Turner, Dave Holland, Norah Jones, Vinnie Colaiuta, Corinne Bailey Rae, Leonard Cohen, et al)

Challengers by New Pornographers

100 Days, 100 Nights by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Wincing the Night Away by The Shins

Drastic Fantastic by KT Tunstall

The Fragile Army by The Polyphonic Spree

Lifeline by Ben Harper

Oracular Spectacular by MGMT

Red Earth: A Malian Journey by Dee Dee Bridgewater

New Moon by Elliott Smith

A Tale of God's Will (a Requiem for Katrina) by Terence Blanchard

Calling the World by Rooney

Shine by Joni Mitchell

Atonement (movie score) by Dario Marianelli

As I Am by Alicia Keys

Instant Karma: the Amnesty International campaign to save Darfur by various artists (Green Day, Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, U2, Christina Aguilera, Jackson Browne, Youssou N'Dour, Jack Johnson, R.E.M.,

Motown by Boyz II Men

Hey Eugene by Pink Martini

Voila by Belinda Carlisle

Magic by Bruce Springsteen

I'm Not There (movie soundtrack) by various artists (Sonic Youth, Eddie Vedder, Richie Havens, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Iron & Wine, Los Lobos, Willie Nelson, Calexico, Karen O., Charlotte Gainsbourg, Roger McGuinn, Jim James, Stephen Malkmus, Sufjan Stevens, et al)

With Love by the Charles Tolliver Big Band

Raising Sand by Alison Krause & Robert Plant

Honeycreeper by Puffy AmiYumi

Revival by John Fogerty

Big by Macy Gray

Poison's by Poison

The Reminder by Feist

In My Element by Robert Glasper

Fun Fun Fun by Shonen Knife

Long Road Out of Eden by the Eagles

We All Love Ennio Morricone by various artists (Bruce Springsteen, Herbie Hancock, Metallica, Celine Dion, Yo-Yo Ma, Roger Waters, Quincy Jones, Andrea Bocelli, et al)

Into the Blues by Joan Armatrading

New Magnetic Wonder by the Apples in Stereo

Congo Square by Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

Into the Wild (movie soundtrack) by Eddie Vedder

Under the Blacklight by Rilo Kiley

Life in Cartoon Motion by Mika

Funk This by Chaka Khan

Sky Blue Sky by Wilco

Goin' Home: a Tribute to Fats Domino by various artists (John Lennon, B.B. King, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone, Buddy Guy, Tom Petty, Norah Jones,  The Soweto Gospel Choir, Paul McCartney, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Allen Toussaint, Corinne Bailey Rae, Neil Young, Art Neville, Randy Newman, Robbie Robertson, Galactic, Lucinda Williams, Dr. John, Dumpstaphunk,  the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Robert Plant, et al)

Yours Truly, Angry Mob by Kaiser Chiefs

Music City Soul by Beverley Knight

Autumn of the Seraphs by Pinback

We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song by various artists (Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Linda Ronstadt, Queen Latifah, Etta James, Ledisi, k.d. lang, Lizz Wright, Michael Buble, Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, and Ella Fitzgerald herself)

Once (movie soundtrack) by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

From the Plantation to the Penitentiary by Wynton Marsalis

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon

Marry Me by St. Vincent

Oh My Nola by Harry Connick Jr.

Abbey Sings Abbey by Abbey Lincoln

Wild Mountain Nation by Blitzen Trapper

Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer by Of Montreal

2008

Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust by Sigur Ros

It is Time for a Love Revolution by Lenny Kravitz

Re-Arrange Us by Mates of State

Esperanza by Esperanza Spalding

A Piece of What You Need by Teddy Thompson

Dear Science by TV on the Radio

Super Group by Shonen Knife

Ready for the Flood by Mark Olson & Gary Louris

Furr by Blitzen Trapper

@#%&*! Smilers by Aimee Mann

Slumdog Millionaire (movie score) by A.R. Rahman

Loverly by Cassandra Wilson

Mudcrutch by Mudcrutch

Like a Fire by Solomon Burke

Don't Do Anything by Sam Phillips

Forgiven by Los Lonely Boys

Two Men with the Blues by Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis

Juntos para Sempre (Together Forever) by Bebo Valdes & Chucho Valdes

Parallel Play by Sloan

Sentimental Streak by Catherine Russell

Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Novas Bossas by Milton Nascimento

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes

Acid Tongue by Jenny Lewis

Way to Normal by Ben Folds

When You Know by Dianne Reeves

Harps and Angels by Randy Newman

One Kind Favor by B.B. King

Blame It On Gravity by Old 97's

Heritage by the Carolina Chocolate Drops

Viva la Vida by Coldplay

Metropolis: The Chase Suite (ep) by Janelle Monae

Modern Guilt by Beck

Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley

Volume One by She and Him

Play by Brad Paisley

The Way I See It by Raphael Saadiq

Detours by Sheryl Crow

2009

Little White Lies by Fastball

Bright Mississippi by Allen Toussaint

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix

Give Up the Ghost by Brandi Carlile

Blending Times by Ravi Coltrane

Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella by various university a Cappella vocal groups and Ben, Gracie, and Louis Folds

All the Pretty Horses by Rhiannon Giddens & The Elftones

Fantastic Mr. Fox (movie soundtrack) by various artists (Alexandre Desplat, Butler Ives, The Rolling Stones, George's Delerue, Jarvis Cocker, The Beach Boys, Art Tatum et al)

Middle Cyclone by Neko Case

The Truth According to Ruthie Foster by Ruthie Foster

I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

Double Booked by Robert Glasper

Electric Dirt by Levon Helm

Devil's Halo by Meshell Ndegeocello

Aim and Ignite by fun

She Wolf by Shakira

Tinted Windows by Tinted Windows (Taylor Hanson from Hanson on lead vocals, Adam Schlesinger from Fountains of Wayne on  bass, James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins on guitar and Bun E Carlos from Cheap Trick on drums)

Never Going Back by Shemekia Copeland

Up (movie score) by Michael Giacchino

Far by Regina Spektor

Kaleidoscope by The Wondermints

Phantom Limb by Phantom Limb

The Monsters of Folk by The Monsters of Folk (Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, Jim James from My Morning Jacket, and M. Ward)

Normal as Blueberry Pie by Nellie McKay

Joy by Phish

Where the Wild Things Are (movie soundtrack) by Karen O. And the Kids, and Carter Burwell

He and She by Wynton Marsalis

Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen

The Element of Freedom by Alicia Keys

The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Mika

Potato Hole by Booker T. Jones (with Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young)

Wilco (The Album) by Wilco

Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration by various artists (Al Green, Queen Latifah, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Jon Bon Jovi, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph, the Clark Sisters, Aaron Neville, 3 Doors Down, Patti Griffin, Michael McDonald, the Mt. Zion Mass Choir, Johnny Lang, Joss Stone et al)

This Time by Robert Cray

The Crow by Steve Martin

Songs and Stories by George Benson

Quiet Nights by Diana Krall

1969 (ep) by Los Lonely Boys

The Latest by Cheap Trick

Colour Me Fresh by Joss Stone

Love Is by Ruben Studdard

North Hills by Dawes