Music Lists Are Us: Favorite Albums of the '00s
Last updated: Wednesday February 22nd, 2023
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Best 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