Albums of 2000
The records from 2000 that made our lists.
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1Mer de NomsA Perfect Circle
Mer de Noms
A dark, melodic alt-metal debut of moody precision. Polished and acclaimed. A strong arrival.
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2Oops!... I Did It AgainBritney Spears
Oops!... I Did It Again
A glossy teen-pop blockbuster, home to its title smash. Bright and huge. A commercial peak.
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3ParachutesColdplay
Parachutes
A gentle, atmospheric debut of melancholic Britpop-adjacent songs, home to 'Yellow'. Tender and tuneful. A quiet success.
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4Like Water for ChocolateCommon
Like Water for Chocolate
A warm, soulful peak of conscious rap with the Soulquarians. Smooth and acclaimed. A high point.
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5VoodooD'Angelo
Voodoo
A slow-cooked, deeply musical neo-soul landmark built on loose, behind-the-beat grooves and Questlove's drums. It rewards patient, repeated listening. One of the genre's defining statements.
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6White PonyDeftones
White Pony
Atmospheric, dynamic and heavy, the record that lifted them above nu-metal peers. Beautiful and crushing by turns. Their finest.
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7DopethroneElectric Wizard
Dopethrone
Monolithic, fuzz-drenched doom of crushing slowness and occult menace. Heavy beyond reason. A stoner-doom classic.
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8The Marshall Mathers LPEminem
The Marshall Mathers LP
A technically dazzling, provocative blockbuster that made him the most discussed rapper alive. Funny, dark and razor-sharp. A defining record of its era.
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9Mama's GunErykah Badu
Mama's Gun
Warmer and more expansive than the debut, blending soul, funk and confession. 'Bag Lady' leads it. A neo-soul high point.
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10Supreme ClienteleGhostface Killah
Supreme Clientele
A dazzling, abstract solo peak of vivid imagery and soul loops. Dense and acclaimed. A Wu-Tang high point.
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11Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenGodspeed You! Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
A monumental post-rock double album of orchestral crescendo. Immersive and acclaimed. A genre landmark.
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12Brave New WorldIron Maiden
Brave New World
A triumphant Dickinson-return comeback of classic Maiden. Bold and beloved. A late peak.
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13Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1Jill Scott
Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1
A warm, poetic neo-soul debut. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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14Hybrid TheoryLinkin Park
Hybrid Theory
A blockbuster blend of nu-metal and rap-rock that defined an era. Tight and enormous. A 2000s landmark.
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15MusicMadonna
Music
A playful, electronic-leaning pop peak, home to its title track. Inventive and big. A strong record.
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16The Moon & AntarcticaModest Mouse
The Moon & Antarctica
An expansive, philosophical indie peak of jagged beauty. Ambitious and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.
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17No Strings AttachedNSYNC
No Strings Attached
A record-shattering boy-band peak, home to 'Bye Bye Bye'. Polished and huge. A pop landmark.
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18StankoniaOutKast
Stankonia
A wildly inventive blend of funk, electro, gospel and rap that pushed Southern hip-hop into the future. 'B.O.B.' and 'Ms. Jackson' anchor it. Restless, joyful and ahead of its time.
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19XTRMNTRPrimal Scream
XTRMNTR
A furious, electronic-punk peak of political noise. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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20Kid ARadiohead
Kid A
Radiohead abandon guitars-first rock for electronics, jazz textures and abstraction, alienating some fans and inspiring countless others. Cold on the surface, it reveals deep feeling underneath. A brave swerve that defined their second act.
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21HeartbreakerRyan Adams
Heartbreaker
A raw, affecting alt-country solo debut of break-up songs and easy melody. Honest and beloved. His finest record.
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22Hot ShotShaggy
Hot Shot
A blockbuster dancehall-pop crossover, home to 'It Wasn't Me'. Bouncy and huge. A commercial landmark.
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23Since I Left YouThe Avalanches
Since I Left You
A joyous, sample-collage masterpiece of sunny plunderphonics. Dazzling and beloved. A singular record.
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24All That You Can't Leave BehindU2
All That You Can't Leave Behind
A back-to-basics comeback of anthems, home to 'Beautiful Day'. Tuneful and big. A commercial peak.