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*NSYNC on the cover of the March 30, 2000 Rolling Stone |
While I will continue to stand behind my Top 5 Songs of the Year post, I felt like I also had to weigh in on the musical decade that was: 2000-2009. For most people it was a terrible decade, filled with a paradigm shift due to a terrorism, one of the worst recessions our country has ever seen, and the onset of Perez Hilton and reality television. For others (such as myself), I got the end of high school, an entire college degree (where one of my classes was “100 Years of Horror Films”), a full-time job, and a move to another full-time job. And it all came with a soundtrack.
Either way, from what many are calling one of the worst decades the US has seen, some damn good music still came out. These are my Top 5 favorite records from the 2000s.
5. *NSYNC — No Strings Attached (2000)
 *NSYNC: Glory years at the turn of the century | Love them or hate them (I’ve always loved them), this was one of those defining musical moments, a schism that cemented the Boy Band Era and effectively ended the Nirvanas, Becks, and Smashing Pumpkins’ of the world. Justin Timberlake proved you could go through something that tweens obsessed over and come out on the other side a sex symbol, morphing himself into a career that aged with him instead of trapping him at 16. No Strings Attached’s 2.4 million sold in its first week set records for both Most Records Sold in a First Week, as well being the only album to have ever sold over 2 million records in one week. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
4. Eminem — The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
 Eminem on a TRL performance | …and right in the middle of that Boy Band Era, Eminem decided to step on the scene and change the rap game as we know it. Between this record and Jay-Z’s The Blueprint (which was released on the day the World Trade Center fell), a whole new era of hip-hop was popularized. Eminem was mobbed on TRL. Was starring in 8 Mile with even an Oscar mentioned in the same sentence. Was reaching suburban houses and was theoretically wreaking havoc, causing lawsuits left and right… and it just might be that he’s the greatest rapper of all-time. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
3. Kanye West — The College Dropout (2004)
 Kanye West, circa 2004 | I started listening to this record non-stop while driving back and forth from my apartment to my bartending job just after graduating college, but still living in Columbia, SC. I even got the chance to see Kanye live at what was then called the Carolina Center when he came through on tour in 2004. It was literally just him and his DJ: No entourage, no band, nothing. Just his mic and his DJ, and it was entirely captivating. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
2. The Killers — Hot Fuss (2004)
 The Killers, circa 2004 | I remember reading about The Killers in a Rolling Stone when I was in college. It was their annual “Hot” issue (where they tell you what, suprisingly, is hot). The Killers were named Hot Band in the 2004 issue. I never liked any band Rolling Stone was pimping out, but checked them out anyway. And Hot Fuss (right next to No. 3 above, The College Dropout), ended up becoming the soundtrack to my senior year in college. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
1. August Burns Red — Messengers (2007)
 August Burns Red on tour in 2007 | What I believe to be the best metal record of all-time was released in 2007. Ever since hearing the 808 drop about two minutes into “Back Burner”, I was sold. To this day, this record is in my Top 5 records of all-time. Unbelievable songwriting. Quite possibly some of the best drumming I’ve ever heard. Crisp, clean production. An undeniable record. “Back Burner” “Composure”
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Photos courtesy of , screen capture from Eminem performance on TRL, WPIX.com, Rolling Stone and a photo from my collection. Videos courtesy of Solid State Records.
4 comments on “Top 5 Best Albums of the Decade: 2000s”
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I do recall Fall Out Boy’s – From Under the Cork Tree playing a large part in your life. (Go Armadillo). I hope it got consideration.
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I always knew you had excellent taste in music. Great top 5!
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@Barry Oh absolutely. I still love that record.
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Ummm. No Taylor Swift? Crazy.
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