The albums that defined
the 2000s.
Our picks for where to start with 2000–2009 — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
The 2000s are when the music industry as we knew it ends and something quieter takes its place. Napster opens the decade, Spotify closes it. CD sales collapse. Pitchfork supplants Rolling Stone as the consensus tastemaker, and "indie" stops meaning a label and starts meaning an aesthetic. The album doesn't die — but it stops being the only unit that matters.
The records, though: extraordinary. Radiohead's Kid A redefines what a big-band rock album can be. Outkast's Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below open hip-hop to anything and everything. Kanye drops his first three albums and reorders the genre's center of gravity. Arcade Fire, The Strokes, Wilco, Sufjan Stevens, M.I.A., Beyoncé — every quadrant has its decade-defining record. The early '00s are also when "soundtrack rock" — the strain that fits perfectly into prestige TV and indie film — calcifies into a recognizable thing.
Where to start: Kid A for art-rock's first 21st-century classic, Funeral for the indie record that taught a million bands how to feel big, Late Registration for hip-hop's best mid-career run, Sea Change for Beck's quiet masterpiece, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot for the alt-country record that turned out to be about the future. The '00s are easy to dismiss as the decade rock peaked too late — but the catalog is deeper than its reputation.
Top of the 2000s
Twenty-four picks from 2000–2009, ranked by where we would start.
Prince
Planet Earth
A vibrant fusion of funk, R&B, and pop with an environmental consciousness woven throughout the melodies.
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David Guetta
Pop Life
Upbeat electro-pop anthems merge with infectious hooks, creating a vibrant soundtrack for club culture and summer festivals.
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Prince
The Slaughterhouse
An eclectic fusion of funk, R&B, and experimental sounds that showcases Prince's innovative spirit and boundary-pushing artistry.
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"Weird Al" Yankovic
Straight Outta Lynwood
A vibrant blend of parody and clever wordplay, showcasing Yankovic's unique humor against a backdrop of contemporary pop sounds.
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David Guetta
Guetta Blaster
A pulsating blend of infectious house rhythms and catchy pop melodies that dance through the highs and lows of nightlife.
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"Weird Al" Yankovic
Poodle Hat
A playful blend of quirky humor and catchy melodies, weaving pop culture references into a colorful tapestry of parody.
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John Coltrane
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
A vibrant tapestry of improvisation where Monk's idiosyncratic piano meets Coltrane's soaring saxophone in a spellbinding live performance.
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John Coltrane
My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport
A mesmerizing blend of modal explorations and free jazz improvisation that captures the essence of Coltrane's live energy.
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Stevie Wonder
The Definitive Collection
A vibrant fusion of soul, funk, and pop that showcases Stevie Wonder's unparalleled melodic genius and emotional depth.
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Stevie Wonder
A Time to Love
A rich tapestry of soulful melodies and intricate rhythms that showcase Wonder's enduring artistry and emotional depth.
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Neil Young
Chrome Dreams II
A sprawling sonic journey blending introspective folk with rock's raw energy, marked by lyrical depth and a sense of wanderlust.
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Neil Young
Living with War - “In the Beginning”
A raw, politically charged collection blending rock and folk with urgent, protest-driven lyrics.
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Sarah Connor
Soulicious
A vibrant blend of soul classics reimagined with contemporary pop sensibilities and Sarah Connor's powerful vocals.
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Sarah Connor
Christmas in My Heart
A contemporary pop-infused collection of holiday classics layered with lush arrangements and heartfelt vocals that evoke seasonal warmth.
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Kate Bush
Aerial
Aerial weaves ethereal soundscapes with intricate storytelling, blending pop and experimental elements into a dreamlike listening experience.
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Tupac Shakur
Tupac: Resurrection
A haunting blend of introspective lyrics and hard-hitting beats that encapsulates Tupac's complex legacy in hip-hop.
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Tupac Shakur
Until the End of Time
A posthumous collection that melds introspective lyricism with hard-hitting beats, showcasing Tupac's multifaceted artistry.
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50 Cent
Curtis
A blend of braggadocious anthems and introspective narratives set against polished beats and catchy hooks.
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50 Cent
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
This album is where 50 Cent solidified his presence in the music industry, combining catchy melodies with authentic narratives that reflect his life experiences. It marks a pivotal point in his career, making it essential for understanding his evolution as an artist.
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Busta Rhymes
Anarchy
A frenetic blend of aggressive beats and intricate wordplay, showcasing relentless energy and lyrical dexterity.
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Markus Schulz
Without You Near
A soaring blend of ethereal melodies and driving beats that captures the essence of early 2000s trance.
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Markus Schulz
Thoughts Become Things
A seamless blend of euphoric melodies and driving beats, creating an immersive trance experience that invites reflection and movement.
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Busta Rhymes
The Big Bang
A high-energy fusion of brash lyricism and infectious hooks that showcases Busta's unique flow and charismatic presence.
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Lily Allen
It's Not Me, It's You
A sharp blend of pop hooks and biting lyrics wrapped in an upbeat, synth-driven soundscape.
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By genre
The 00s, one tradition at a time.