Albums of 2001

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1. 1
   AaliyahAaliyah

   Aaliyah

   Aaliyah · 2001 · Soul & R&B

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

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   Labor DaysAesop Rock

   Labor Days

   Aesop Rock · 2001 · Hip-Hop

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

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3. 3
   Songs in A MinorAlicia Keys

   Songs in A Minor

   Alicia Keys · 2001 · Soul & R&B

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

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4. 4
   DrukqsAphex Twin

   Drukqs

   Aphex Twin · 2001 · Electronic

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

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   ConfieldAutechre

   Confield

   Autechre · 2001 · Electronic

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

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   Love and TheftBob Dylan

   Love and Theft

   Bob Dylan · 2001 · Rock

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

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7. 7
   The Cold VeinCannibal Ox

   The Cold Vein

   Cannibal Ox · 2001 · Hip-Hop

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

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8. 8
   Jane DoeConverge

   Jane Doe

   Converge · 2001 · Metal

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

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   DiscoveryDaft Punk

   Discovery

   Daft Punk · 2001 · Electronic

   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.

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    SurvivorDestiny's Child

    Survivor

    Destiny's Child · 2001 · Soul & R&B

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

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    Southern Rock OperaDrive-By Truckers

    Southern Rock Opera

    Drive-By Truckers · 2001 · Country & Americana

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

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    Endless SummerFennesz

    Endless Summer

    Fennesz · 2001 · Electronic

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

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13. 13
    Time (The Revelator)Gillian Welch

    Time (The Revelator)

    Gillian Welch · 2001 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

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

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14. 14
    GorillazGorillaz

    Gorillaz

    Gorillaz · 2001 · Electronic

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

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15. 15
    The BlueprintJay-Z

    The Blueprint

    Jay-Z · 2001 · Hip-Hop

    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.

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16. 16
    FeverKylie Minogue

    Fever

    Kylie Minogue · 2001 · Pop

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

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    Things We Lost in the FireLow

    Things We Lost in the Fire

    Low · 2001 · Alternative & Indie

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

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18. 18
    No More DramaMary J. Blige

    No More Drama

    Mary J. Blige · 2001 · Soul & R&B

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

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19. 19
    Miss E... So AddictiveMissy Elliott

    Miss E... So Addictive

    Missy Elliott · 2001 · Hip-Hop

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

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    StillmaticNas

    Stillmatic

    Nas · 2001 · Hip-Hop

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

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21. 21
    Blackwater ParkOpeth

    Blackwater Park

    Opeth · 2001 · Metal

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

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22. 22
    AmnesiacRadiohead

    Amnesiac

    Radiohead · 2001 · Alternative & Indie

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

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    Melody A.M.Royksopp

    Melody A.M.

    Royksopp · 2001 · Electronic

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

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24. 24
    GoldRyan Adams

    Gold

    Ryan Adams · 2001 · Country & Americana

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

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25. 25
    IowaSlipknot

    Iowa

    Slipknot · 2001 · Metal

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

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    ToxicitySystem of a Down

    Toxicity

    System of a Down · 2001 · Metal

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

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    Oh, Inverted WorldThe Shins

    Oh, Inverted World

    The Shins · 2001 · Alternative & Indie

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

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    Is This ItThe Strokes

    Is This It

    The Strokes · 2001 · Alternative & Indie

    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.

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    White Blood CellsThe White Stripes

    White Blood Cells

    The White Stripes · 2001 · Alternative & Indie

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

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    LateralusTool

    Lateralus

    Tool · 2001 · Metal

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

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    Simple ThingsZero 7

    Simple Things

    Zero 7 · 2001 · Electronic

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

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