Favorite 50 Albums of the Quarter Century

(2001)

"She walks the mile, makes you smile, all the while being true
Don't take for granted the passions that she has for you
You will lose if you choose to refuse to put her first
She will and she can find a man who knows her worth"

One of the most impressive debuts of the century so far. In addition to vocals and piano, she wrote and produced most of the album.

(2001)

"Through the warmest cord of care
Your love was sent to me
I'm not sure what to do with it
Or where to put it..."

I think of Björk's recordings more as "aural art" than mere music. Her other notable (and challenging) albums of this century included Medulla (2004), Biophilia (2011), and Vulnicura (2015).

(2002)

"My hi-fi is waiting for a new tune

My glass is waiting for some fresh ice cubes

I'm just sitting here waiting for you

To come on home and turn me on.”

The perfect album for when you’re in a quiet mood, or need help getting to a quiet mood.

(2002)

"I feel like a ghost who's trying to move your hands
over some Ouija board in the hopes I can spell out my name..."

This is the same Aimee Mann who sang the 80s hit "Voices Carry" with her band 'Till Tuesday. While she hasn't had any hits during her solo career, she has consistently put out solid albums (like 2000's Bachelor No. 2 or, The Last Remains of the Dodo and 2017's Mental Illness) and has long been a critics' favorite.

(2002)

”Lost track of how far I've gone
How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
On my back's a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder, a half-mile line…”

This was Bruce’s comeback and reunion with the E Street Band, after laying low for most of the 90s. As the story goes, shortly after 9/11 a driver spotted Bruce and called to him out the window, “We need you now.” Bruce answered the call with this 9/11-themed album. I will never forgive the Grammys for giving the Album of the Year award to Come Away With Me (as good as that album was) instead of this.

(2004)

"I've got a right to be wrong
My mistakes will make me strong
I'm stepping out into the great unknown
I'm feeling wings though I've never flown
Got a mind of my own..."

This sounds like an undiscovered classic soul album from the early 70s…with no skips!

(2005)

"Balance: Black and White,
North and South,
Tears and Joy,
Melody and Rhythm,
Let's celebrate Love and Freedom!
Step into the Dance!"
[translated from Portuguese]

Sara Tavares is my favorite musical discovery of this century. She’s based in Portugal, but her ancestry is from the island nation of Cape Verde, and her music reflects that mixed heritage.

The love and joy in her voice transcends any language barrier. Her upbeat songs will lift your soul, and her ballads will soothe it.

(2005)

"And I think the world of myself
But the world doesn't think much of me
As long as the day is full of time
There will always be room
for your hand in mine

I’ve been so glad to see her slow, steady climb to stardom. I discovered her with her second album, 2007’s The Story, and went back to find that her debut was just as good.

(2005)

"May the light of friendship shine through me
drawing noble companionship."
[translated from Sanskrit]

This is chant music and the songs are Sanskrit mantras. But you don't need to be into meditation, yoga, or eastern mysticism to let her music put you into a relaxed and peaceful state. Her voice is heavenly and the production is exquisite. Her other worthwhile albums are Love Is Space (2000) and Embrace (2002).

(2006)

"A rainy Lithuanian
who's dancin' as an Indian
Painted in my tiger skin
especially in Michigan
Double chins and bowling pins
unholy Presbyterians...”

Sure, they could have trimmed this double album down to a single CD, but you gotta hand it to them for being so prolific. Same with 2002’s By The Way which was a single album with 16 songs clocking in at 68 minutes.

(2006)

"When you trust your television
what you get is what you got
'Cause when they own the information, oh
they can bend it all they want..."

Love him or hate him (for any number of reasons), there's no denying that this is an excellent album. Nothing he did before or after even comes close.

(2006)

”Bona fide is the old deal

Fake is the new real.”

It’s impossible to categorize this genre-hopping album, but the thing holding it all together is Smith's powerful and soulful voice. The arrangements are packed with quirky interludes and unexpected twists and turns. It's a shame her career never went anywhere after this impressive debut. It's probably because they didn't know how to market her, since she wouldn't fit in a box.

(2007)

"Please understand me
My walls came falling down
There's nothing here that's left for you
But check with lost and found."

The most unlikely pairing since Bowie and Crosby. Their voices blend perfectly on this excellent album of obscure covers produced by T-Bone Burnett.

(2007)

"Sometimes you are a river,
overflowing with love
Sometimes you are a desert,
thirsting for affection
I know you are lonely too
If I could see you somehow...
(translated from Uzbek)

Sevara is an international star with a wonderful voice who has worked with Peter Gabriel. On this album she combines electronics with traditional instruments from her native Uzbekistan.

(2007)

"I see a woman with a picture-perfect smile
A man walks by with silver screen eyes
Living their life in thirty second dreams
sound byte conversations, TV lullabies..."

From AllMusic: "Global Jazz, Worldbeat, Acappella, African Traditions, Afro-Pop, International Fusion, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock."

Her 2008 follow-up, ReCreation was also good and even more challenging.

(2007)

"I'll minimize the evil kind of love destroying
All the evil kind of thoughts installed
Settle down my evil start
Minimize my evil side..."

If Bjork and Gollum had a love child, she might sound like the singer of this duo. (The other half plays the drums effectively and tastefully). Their music is moody, mellow, and atmospheric and has been compared to Massive Attack and Portishead.

(2008)

"Walking by myself
down avenues that reek of time to kill
If you see me keep going
Be a pass-by waver
Build me up, bring me down
Just leave me out you name dropper..."

I had this album playing in the car when one of my kids said, "I thought you didn't like music with a lot of electronics in it." To which I replied, "I like it when they use them creatively!" I wouldn't even call it an electronic album; much of it reminds me of 80s New Wave. In any case, this was a very promising debut but it's too bad her follow-ups weren't any good!

(2008)

”Sing low and take it slow
I'm inclined to agree
’Cause ain't nobody living
Can try to hurry me”

Yes, THAT Al Green. QuestLove helped produce this comeback record that retains his classic sound, with guest appearances by John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, Anthony Hamilton, and the Dap-Kings horns.

(2008)

"Nazarras [Europeans] think that
Nine poor people plus one rich man
Inevitably makes ten poor people

Are we not rich in Congo-Zaire?
Are we not rich in Nigeria?
Are we not rich in Mali?

Of course, our richness only brings us
wars and slaughter
famine and diseases
But we are rich.”
[translated from Bambara (Mali)]

From AllMusic.com:
"She has fashioned a new sound from the tenets of Malian folk forms with her unique blend of guitars (electric and acoustic), n'gouni, classical harp, and kora, all layered in staggered rhythms with snares, a full drum kit, and percussion...The taut weave of instruments above the rhythms creating an intoxicating tapestry of root sounds that somehow transcend their basic tonalities and become something new... There isn't a weak moment on Tchamantché...Highly recommended."

(2008)

"My voice is all I have left
but soon
It’s gonna echo."
[translated from Portuguese]

I discovered this album after hearing a track on the UnderCurrents radio program (www.undercurrentsradio.net) and then listening to the rest of the album on Spotify. The app’s "related artists" feature led me on a journey of discovery of other modern Latin and World artists, most notably Sara Tavares. This album has modern takes on genres such as samba, bossa nova, jazz, and reggae, combining traditional acoustic instrumentation and percussion with spacy state-of-the-art (for 2008) production and effects.

(2008)

"Hey man, what you doing here?
I don't remember letting you in
Hey man, how d'you get in here?
You're in my heart without consent..."

Lizz Wright, with her smooth contralto, is the best jazz/blues/soul vocalist of the century you've never heard of.

(2009)

"Beneath the tattered clothes
and blackened nails
the beauty of the African sun shone through
They say he was an educated man
A man of words and letters
They say he was a renaissance man
who lost his way..."

Smooth, silky, sensual jazz/pop with African musicians and influences.

(2009)

"Music is God's smile
Always inspiring us
Flow with the music, open hearted
Give and receive a little more every moment
Come alive with music.”
[translated from Portuguese]

If there was one unknown artist I could recommend the most highly, it would be Sara Tavares. After discovering these two albums I wanted to hear more, but as late as 2017 I was disappointed that she hadn’t released any new music. It turns out that the reason for her lack of output was that she was battling a brain tumor, which she finally succumbed to in 2023. She has now joined the ranks of artists whose flame burned bright for much too short of a time. My hope is that perhaps now her music might be finally discovered by the English-speaking world.

(2010)

”Can't you hear my call?
Are you coming to get me now?
I've been waiting for you to come rescue me
I need you to hold
all of the sadness I can not
Live withinside of me…”

I like the way Sia uses toy pianos, bells, and kids' voices in her music, as well as crayons, markers, and pipe cleaners in her visuals. She’s definitely in touch with her inner child. This album is a whole lot of fun, until you get to the devastating "I'm In Here."

(2010)

"Our love will sail in this ark
The world could end outside our window
Let's find forever
And write our name in fire on each other's hearts."

This is supposed to be a concept album telling the story of a messianic android, but I don't pay any attention to the so-called "story" -- it's all about the music for me. It's impossible to pick a single representative song from this album. She spans more genres and styles on a single album than anyone since Queen or (dare I say?) the Beatles!

(2010)

”When the day comes
and I've counted all my sins
How many? I'll see
I want to be able to say that I did more
More than pray, I did more
Than just spend my money
Just writing letters
Than just going out marching
I did more than talking
and saying the right thing
wearing the right thing
It's time for an uprising…”

The "Put Your Records On" singer came out with this surprisingly eclectic album that includes a few solid rock 'n roll tracks.

(2011)

"When the thunder calls for me

Next time, I'll be braver

I'll be my own savior

Standing on my own two feet..."

The great songs just keep coming one after another. THIS is the Adele album that deserved its Album of the Year Grammy, not the one before or after!

(2011)

"This empty heart, you left me with
The ribbon on my parting gift
I'm falling hard for every yard
of the dream you sold me..."

This album was even more rocking and more fun than their 2010 breakthrough Brothers, and they've continued to crank out albums with catchy songs year after year since then.

(2011)

You don't need to understand Portuguese to enjoy these 70 minutes of danceable Latin funk!

(2011)

"Two tours served never once has he cried
The same can't be said for his brand new bride
Bills pile up with no hand to hold
It takes a lot of lovin' comin' out of the cold."

An acoustic-based, understated singer-songwriter with a soulful voice, Amos Lee is like a 21st century James Taylor, but even Sweet Baby James himself never released an album with nine solid back-to-back tracks like this one.

(2012)

"And on that fateful day
you know I will be waiting
You'll smile at me, then say
you loved me all along
And you'll come home."

Hard to categorize, but AllMusic.com calls him "a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation who combines many passions into a unique brand of vocal jazz." His 2014 follow-up While You Were Sleeping was also excellent and even more eclectic.

(2014)

"I'm taking landscapes
I'm taking still lifes
I'm taking bad self portraits
of a lonely woman..."

When this album came out I saw them at the 700-person Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Last year they played Madison Square Garden. I was glad to see them find their audience without the help of any hit singles.

(2014)

”Time evermore
You just found what you're looking for:
A tiger rose growing through your prison door
Reaching for sunlight, can't see it anymore
Just a mile from my back door.”

This album felt like a follow up / continuation / improvement upon his 2002 album Sea Change. It's as mellow as your favorite early-70s singer-songwriter, but as spacy as Dark Side of the Moon. This was the album Kanye said didn't deserve its Album of the Year Grammy, but he later recanted after actually listening to it.

(2014)

"Feet crushing plastic
Moving windows tossing bottles dry
I can't get past it
Waste and dust still choking road and sky
The trees remember days of plenty
Before rivers cried..."

Jazz/pop chanteuse Somi wrote this concept album about her time in Nigeria, supplementing her American band with African guest musicians to create what she calls "New African jazz."

(2015)

"I feel like I'm living in parentheses
And I got trouble with the bills
Do the kids remember me?
Well I got gifts for them,
and for you and sorrow
But I'm feeling kind of drowsy now
so I'll finish this tomorrow.."

Prog Rock for the 21st century. This concept album was inspired by the news story of the 38-year-old London woman who died alone in her apartment and wasn't noticed for over two years. It's being adapted into a stage production.

(2015)

”How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a
Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten
spot in the Caribbean by providence,
impoverished, in squalor,
grow up to be a hero and a scholar?”

Here's what I posted on Facebook after first listening to it in November 2015. I maintain that the cast album stands as classic on its own, without even needing to see the stage show.

"Listened to the soundtrack to Hamilton from start to finish on our drive to Boston yesterday, all 2.5 hours of it. Believe the hype. Believe the superlatives. IT'S THAT GOOD...It's so dense, so ambitious, so audacious, but it WORKS. I've never liked rap, or even most hip-hop, but it all works. I was only able to follow a fraction of the story, the words, the references, etc. so it is definitely a work that requires repeated listenings to fully digest. I say 'listenings' because tickets to see the show will be unobtainable for years to come."

(2015)

"You only need a roof when it's rainin'
You only need a fire when it's cold
You only need a drink when the whiskey
is the only thing that you have left to hold..."

Yes, he employs all the standard Country tropes (he mentions whiskey in six songs), but that's forgivable since he's the best new male vocalist of the century so far!

(2016)

"As you go, I won't bleed forever
Over a time, the worlds will turn to leather
If I survive, I will reach for someone new
I hope I die before I do."

John Paul White is a singer-songwriter who was half of the Americana duo called The Civil Wars, but he more than holds his own here.

(2016)

"I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves!"

Beyoncé took the awful experience of being cheated on, channeled that pain into art, and created a concept album that was the most acclaimed of her career. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!

(2018)

"The sky has finally opened
The rain and wind stopped blowin'
But you're stuck out in the same ol' storm again
You hold tight to your umbrella
Well, darlin', I'm just tryin' to tell ya
That there's always been a rainbow
Hanging over your head."

I discovered this album via Spotify last year (along with 2024's Deeper Well) and didn't even realize that it had won the Grammy for Album of the Year (a rare winner I agree with!) I don't even care for Country music, but Ms. Musgraves is an excellent songwriter (both music and lyrics) and she manages to successfully blend elements of modern music with traditional Country. The song "Oh, What A World" must be the only song in the history of recorded music to use both a vocoder and a banjo!

(2019)

"Don't mistake our plea as a cry for war
'Cause we've seen enough brutalities right outside our doors
And don't silence me by mislabelling
The fact of our pleas, shouldn't be you against me."

Memphis soul, funk, and R&B with positive messages, played by real musicians on actual instruments, and sung with SOUL. Their 2021 follow-up album Be The Love You Want was also excellent. This band is also fantastic live, and their lead singer is a firecracker.

(2019)

I remember when you used to tell me,
"Better run, better run
Go back where you come from
We don't want your kind
We think you's a dog born."
Fuck you, I'm America's son
This is where I come from.

Finally, a guitar hero for the 21st century. When this album was getting hyped I assumed it would consist of incessant guitar solos, but I was glad to be wrong. There's plenty of great guitar work but only in service to the songs themselves. It has 17 tracks and delivers an hour and 12 minutes of solid blues-based gimmick-free ROCK (along with R&B, reggae, and other influences thrown in). An unexpected keeper of the rock flame in the 2020s.

(2019)

"When you've found someone to love
And you think that's enough
That your work is done
You relax just too much
Let a beautiful thing turn to rust…”

Produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, this album doesn't sound anything like them. Many of the songs are country flavored, but others sound like 60s pop from fellow British songstresses Petula Clark or Lulu.

(2021)

"The body I was born with
Is it not what you wanted?
If I wear what is comfortable,
I am not a woman
If I shed the layers, I'm a slut
Though you've never seen my body,
you still judge it
And judge me for it
Why?”

Her first album was one of the most impressive debuts of the century so far. The pressure for the the follow-up must have been intense, but Billie and her producer brother Phineas hit this out of the park. I like all three of her albums, but I've picked this one to represent her on this list.

(2022)

”I've just one more song to sing

One more story to tell…”

Yes, this is the same duo that had all those hits in the mid-80s. This was their first album in 18 years, after having been in development for ten. But this is no exercise in mere nostalgia: it has ten solid songs, the production is state-of-the-art without being trendy or gimmicky, and their voices are still in fantastic shape. This is worth checking out whether you liked their 80s hits or not.

(2023)

"Just how long do you want to hatе
with all that anger to burn?
You dream of revеnge
and you dream of reply
You'd hope that someday we'd learn
Every time you think of that hurt
It spins around in your mind
With an eye for an eye again and again
until the whole world is blind."

After waiting 21 years for a new Peter Gabriel album, it was glorious to hear That Voice Again!

(2023)

"Oak Avenue sweats in the summer heat
We bought a blow-up pool to get away for a week
Set it up in your mom’s back yard
Towels rolled out on the concrete beach..."

Beautiful harmonies as only siblings can produce. The strength of their music relies on the melodies and harmonies, not on the production or gimmicks.

(2024)

"Say a prayer for what has been
We'll be the ones to purify our fathers' sins
American Requiem
Them old ideas are buried here
Amen."

While this album just HAD to win the Album of the Year Grammy to make up for the award being denied to Lemonade, this album also happened to deserve it!

(2024)

"Bless my soul, is that you?
Do you have tears in your eyes?
I'm sure I must be seeing things
Oh, have you finally learned how to cry?
Told you back on the day you left
That one day you'll get your due,
It feels good to say 'I told you so'
Those tears that you're wearing
Sure look good on you."

Classic soul with a modern sheen. A solid album with no skips (well, except the last three minutes!) In a more just world she would be much bigger than she is.

(2024)

"Call the boy, ask the girl
Have no regrets when you leave this world
'Cause you know
No one gets out alive."

Her earlier albums would definitely fall in the Country category, but on this she's perfectly comfortable with Americana, Blues, and ballads, like Bonnie Raitt or the Tedeschi-Trucks Band.