247 Album Verdict
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25th Anniversary · 2001

25th Anniversary Albums (2001)

Quarter-century landmark. Albums that felt modern when you first heard them — now officially classic.

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LateralusTool
2001 · Metal

Lateralus

Tool

An ambitious, mathematically intricate suite that asks to be heard whole. Hypnotic and immersive. Many fans consider it their finest.

Vinyl → CD →
Blackwater ParkOpeth
2001 · Metal

Blackwater Park

Opeth

The album that perfected their blend of death-metal heaviness and acoustic, proggy beauty. Dynamic and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.

Vinyl → CD →
Time (The Revelator)Gillian Welch
2001 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Time (The Revelator)

Gillian Welch

A spare, haunting Americana landmark of voice and guitar. Beautiful and acclaimed. Her masterpiece.

Vinyl → CD →
Jane DoeConverge
2001 · Metal

Jane Doe

Converge

A chaotic, cathartic metalcore masterpiece of raw emotion and ferocity. Intense and influential. A genre landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
Southern Rock OperaDrive-By Truckers
2001 · Country & Americana

Southern Rock Opera

Drive-By Truckers

An ambitious double-album meditation on the American South. Bold and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.

Vinyl → CD →
Is This ItThe Strokes
2001 · Alternative & Indie

Is This It

The Strokes

The lean, effortless debut that sparked the 2000s garage-rock revival, all taut riffs and detached cool. Short and near-perfect, it influenced a generation of guitar bands. Still sounds fresh.

Vinyl → CD →
The BlueprintJay-Z
2001 · Hip-Hop

The Blueprint

Jay-Z

Released to instant acclaim, it paired Jay-Z's confident writing with soul-sampling production from a young Kanye West and Just Blaze. Cohesive, quotable and influential. A peak of early-2000s rap.

Vinyl → CD →
DiscoveryDaft Punk
2001 · Electronic

Discovery

Daft Punk

A euphoric, nostalgic blend of house, disco and filtered French touch, home to 'One More Time' and 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'. Glossy, joyful and impeccably sequenced. The duo's most beloved record.

Vinyl → CD →
ToxicitySystem of a Down
2001 · Metal

Toxicity

System of a Down

Frenetic, political and weirdly catchy, blending thrash with Armenian melody. Inventive and huge. A defining 2000s metal record.

Vinyl → CD →
Oh, Inverted WorldThe Shins
2001 · Alternative & Indie

Oh, Inverted World

The Shins

A jangly, lo-fi indie-pop debut of bittersweet melody. Charming and beloved. A 2000s favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
Songs in A MinorAlicia Keys
2001 · Soul & R&B

Songs in A Minor

Alicia Keys

A classically informed neo-soul debut that announced a major talent, anchored by 'Fallin''. Soulful and assured. A blockbuster on release.

Vinyl → CD →
GorillazGorillaz
2001 · Electronic

Gorillaz

Gorillaz

A grimy, eclectic debut blending hip-hop, rock and dub, home to 'Clint Eastwood'. Fresh and fun. A striking arrival.

Vinyl → CD →
IowaSlipknot
2001 · Metal

Iowa

Slipknot

A brutal, claustrophobic peak of nu-metal aggression. Heavy and intense. Their darkest record.

Vinyl → CD →
White Blood CellsThe White Stripes
2001 · Alternative & Indie

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

The breakthrough that distilled their sound to its purest, urgent and tuneful. Lean and exciting throughout. The album that made them stars.

Vinyl → CD →
FeverKylie Minogue
2001 · Pop

Fever

Kylie Minogue

A glittering disco-pop comeback, home to 'Can't Get You Out of My Head'. Glossy and irresistible. Her peak.

Vinyl → CD →
StillmaticNas
2001 · Hip-Hop

Stillmatic

Nas

A focused, lyrical comeback, home to the famous 'Ether'. Sharp and acclaimed. A return to form.

Vinyl → CD →
Melody A.M.Royksopp
2001 · Electronic

Melody A.M.

Royksopp

A warm, melodic downtempo debut of Scandinavian cool. Smooth and beloved. A chill-out staple.

Vinyl → CD →
Simple ThingsZero 7
2001 · Electronic

Simple Things

Zero 7

A lush, downtempo debut of warm, soulful chill-out. Smooth and beloved. A genre highlight.

Vinyl → CD →
Love and TheftBob Dylan
2001 · Rock

Love and Theft

Bob Dylan

A loose, witty roots-music peak of American song forms. Warm and acclaimed. A late high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Miss E... So AddictiveMissy Elliott
2001 · Hip-Hop

Miss E... So Addictive

Missy Elliott

A futuristic, Timbaland-driven peak, home to 'Get Ur Freak On'. Inventive and huge. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
No More DramaMary J. Blige
2001 · Soul & R&B

No More Drama

Mary J. Blige

A triumphant, empowered peak of hip-hop-soul. Powerful and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
SurvivorDestiny's Child
2001 · Soul & R&B

Survivor

Destiny's Child

A confident, hit-stuffed peak, home to its title anthem. Polished and huge. A commercial high.

Vinyl → CD →
ConfieldAutechre
2001 · Electronic

Confield

Autechre

A dense, abstract IDM landmark of generative complexity. Challenging and acclaimed. A genre high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Things We Lost in the FireLow
2001 · Alternative & Indie

Things We Lost in the Fire

Low

A hushed, slowcore peak of fragile beauty. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
AaliyahAaliyah
2001 · Soul & R&B

Aaliyah

Aaliyah

A polished, forward-thinking final album of cool sophistication. Smooth and acclaimed. A poignant peak.

Vinyl → CD →
Endless SummerFennesz
2001 · Electronic

Endless Summer

Fennesz

A gorgeous blend of guitar and glitch, warm and melodic. Singular and beloved. An ambient-pop landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
GoldRyan Adams
2001 · Country & Americana

Gold

Ryan Adams

A sprawling, classic-rock-leaning solo peak. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
DrukqsAphex Twin
2001 · Electronic

Drukqs

Aphex Twin

A sprawling double album swinging between brutal drill-and-bass and tender prepared-piano miniatures. Eclectic and divisive. A maximal late peak.

Vinyl → CD →
AmnesiacRadiohead
2001 · Alternative & Indie

Amnesiac

Radiohead

A companion to Kid A of fractured electronics and jazz, more abstract still. Cold and rewarding. A grower among fans.

Vinyl → CD →
The Cold VeinCannibal Ox
2001 · Hip-Hop

The Cold Vein

Cannibal Ox

A dense, sci-fi underground landmark over El-P's beats. Bold and acclaimed. A cult classic.

Vinyl → CD →
Labor DaysAesop Rock
2001 · Hip-Hop

Labor Days

Aesop Rock

A dense, verbose underground peak of intricate wordplay. Bold and beloved. A cult landmark.

Vinyl → CD →