Top 50 Music Albums of the 2000s
by ForegroundNoise

The 2000s is the only decade at the moment where I feel I've reviewed enough records to make a half decent list, but will amend and add as I listen to more stuff. I've also decided to limit it to one album per artist to ensure that everyone who deserves it gets their time in the limelight. Other notable releases (ONR), solo records, or projects by related artists that I think are worth checking out are mentioned in each entry's notes.

Please feel free to look through my public ratings and leave your suggestions in the comments below! Never someone to turn down the recommendation of a passionate music fan.

Also if you're interested, I've made a chart for my favourite underrated albums of this decade which you can check out via this address: https://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=58986

Below are my favourite short releases of the decade, and below that any stand-out albums that do not qualify as contemporary (retrospective compilations, live albums etc.). As for the term 'short release' this refers to anything that falls under less than half an hour in length, a distinction I prefer to the outdated classifiers of traditional LP/EP boundaries (also makes for more exciting individual lists).

Best Short Releases of the 2000s

1. Jay Reatard - Blood Visions (2006) [US]
garage punk (In The Red, 29:09) - 9/10
2. Jeromes Dream / Orchid - Jeromes Dream / Orchid (2000) [US]
emoviolence (Witching Hour, 11:43) - 9/10
3.Brave Little Abacus - Demo? (2008) [US]
emo • experimental rock (n/a, 21:16) - 8.5/10
4. Joanna Newsom - Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band E.P. (2007) [US]
chamber folk • progressive folk (Drag City, 24:06) - 8/10
5. Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron & Fred Squire - Lost Wisdom (2008) [CA/US]
indie folk (P.W. Elverum & Sun, 24:41) - 8/10

________________________________________________________________

Retrospective/Archival

Bang on a Can - In C (2001) [US]
minimalism • indeterminacy • chamber music (Cantaloupe Music, 45:30) - 9/10

Julius Eastman - Unjust Malaise (2005) [US]
modern classical • minimalism (New World, 192:54) - 8/10

Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something (2000) [US]
indie rock • lo-fi/slacker rock • Midwest emo (Up, 55:15) - 8/10

• Chart updated: 08/11/2025 16:15
• (Created: 02/07/2018 17:07).
• Chart size: 50 albums.

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4. (=)

Madvillainy 

 Madvillain

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abstract hip hop

(Stones Throw, 46:13)

9.5/10

"What's the difference? All you get is lost children
While the bosses sit up behind the desks, it cost billions
To blast humans in half, into calves and arms
Only one side is allowed to have bombs"

ONR: Madlib's groundbreaking production helped define underground hip hop this decade, with Madvillainy being his crowning glory. But the records that paved the way shouldn't be forgotten either: Shades of Blue... is one of the most essential instrumental hip hop albums of all time, whilst his 2000 Quasimoto debut The Unseen's unusual samples and eclectic vocals was a watershed moment for West Coast hip hop.

DOOM's output on the other hand earned him the title of 'your favourite rapper's rapper', whose delivery and production style has since been often emulated but rarely replicated. A concept album around food doesn't sound like it should be one of the best underground hip hop albums of the decade but a quick dive into Mm.. Food tells you otherwise, while underrated gems Born Like This and Take Me to Your Leader (as King Geedorah) aren't too far behind. With genre-bending production and flows likely to leave your chin on the floor however, Vaudeville Villain is DOOM's solo masterpiece. It's a testament to Madvillainy's quality that it's been reduced to a footnote.

Madlib - Shades of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue Note (2003)
intrumental hip hop • jazz rap (Blue Note, 56:58) - 7.5/10

Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain (2003)
abstract hip hop (Sound-Ink, 56:29) - 9/10

MF DOOM - Mm.. Food (2004)
abstract hip hop (Rhymesayers, 49:14) - 8/10
____________________________________________________________________________ [First added to this chart: 02/07/2018]

Year of Release:

2004

Appears in:

1,070 charts

Rank Score:

14,431

Rank in 2004:

2

Rank in 2000s:

8

Overall Rank:

86

Average Rating:

 86 (1,212 votes)

Comments:

94

Total albums: 1. Page 1 of 1

Top 50 Music Albums of the 2000s composition

Country	Albums	%
	25	50%
	10	20%
	5	10%
	4	8%
	2	4%
	1	2%
	1	2%
Show all

Top 50 Music Albums of the 2000s chart changes

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Top 50 Music Albums of the 2000s similarity to your chart(s)

Other decade charts by ForegroundNoise

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ForegroundNoise

Top 50 Music Albums of the 2000s ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 19 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
90/100  !	03/31/2024 14:51	Larcx13	1,144	86/100
85/100  !	06/07/2023 05:06	leniad	673	85/100
90/100  !	06/06/2023 11:15	Johnnyo	2,539	80/100
100/100  !	08/22/2022 13:42	replacementlevel	51	95/100
100/100  !	08/22/2022 13:14	Rm12398	99	89/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 91.3/100, a mean average of 94.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 94.2/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 5.7.

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Top 50 Music Albums of the 2000s comments

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Rating:  

85/100

From leniad 06/07/2023 05:06 | #297428

Great picks, want to see this At 100 albums

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Johnnyo 06/06/2023 11:15 | #297416

Really good chart and interesting comments. Like it a lot

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From Chambord 05/14/2021 18:53 | #269781

I am not familiar with most of these albums. I am giving you 5 stars for your knowledge!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From ExTeaSea 05/17/2020 14:29 | #251626

Great chart! The ones that stick out that I love are Portishead Third and Four Tet Rounds, both wonderful albums. You have awesome taste in music.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From RoundTheBend 12/21/2019 18:47 | #245868

I'm confused. No offense was intended. I'm just saying a lot of people on BEA (clarification: being active users/users who use the forums, etc.) would agree with this chart. And they do... that's all.

Not sure how that's an insult... but yeah... I guess you can take it that way.

Like really, all I was saying is this is a perfectly curated chart that probably nobody would disagree with who actively uses the forums.

Furthermore, I'm not sure if you saw my comment, but you keep suggesting that I should get more into genres I already have listened to and don't enjoy/love... I think you are insinuating I am closed minded because I don't have Burial on my chart...but why would I if I don't enjoy it after multiple listens?

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From RoundTheBend 12/21/2019 00:30 | #245855

This is basically the BEA soundtrack to the 2000s.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From tk421ucopy 06/17/2019 04:43 | #237678

dope chart!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From MCOTho 03/28/2019 00:54 | #234102

I'm more familiar with the albums on this chart than your overall one. Still lots to check out, but I like what I do know a lot. Great resource for discovering new music, which is what this website is all about for me.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From DommeDamian 03/14/2019 10:50 | #233506

Nice collection of albums right there. Cannot get enough of Kid A and Glow Pt2

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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