One Hundred Favorite Albums of the 2000s
(A companion to my One Hundred Favorite Albums of the 1980s and 1990s, with the same rules, i.e. (1) the albums are ranked in something like my order of preference; (2) the decade is marked from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2009; and (3) I’ve allowed myself multiple albums per artist when I thought it was warranted. I’ve also forbidden myself from choosing compilations unless the material was mostly unavailable on earlier albums, as with #25 and #47.)
Melody Mountain by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra
The Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley
The Ape of Naples by Coil
Miniatures by Alog
Dataplex by Ryoji Ikeda
Insen by Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto
Blemish by David Sylvian
Bodily Functions by Herbert
High by The Blue Nile
Ceramik City Chronicles by Jarle Bernhoft
Hometime by Alison Moyet
Adelie Land by Handsomeboy Technique
Duck-Rabbit by Alog
Revep by Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto
Alas, I Cannot Swim by Laura Marling
Ladies First by Jack the Ripper
Free the Bees by The Bees
Let It Die by Feist
To Sing You Apple Trees by Rockettothesky
IBM 1401, a User’s Manual by Jóhann Jóhannsson
Courier by Richard Shindell
Handsome Devil by Jim Bianco
Inland Empires by Joel RL Phelps and the Downer Trio
Homesongs by Adem
Moon’s Milk (In Four Phases) by Coil
Lost and Safe by The Books
Paper Anniversary by Christine Fellows
All Hail West Texas by The Mountain Goats
Moonstruck by Barbara Buccholz
Riot on an Empty Street by Kings of Convenience
Veggie by Food
Black Antlers by Coil
Undertow by Sidsel Endresen
Tales of the Road by Justin Sullivan & Friends
Master and Everyone by Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Petra Haden and Bill Frisell by Petra Haden & Bill Frisell
The Green World by Dar Williams
Slow Motion Orchestra by Solveig Slettahjell
Test Pattern by Ryoji Ikeda
Score by The RAah Project
The Ghetto Symphony by Geno Young
List of Lights and Buoys by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra
Give Up by The Postal Service
Snow Borne Sorrow by Nine Horses
Moo, You Bloody Choir by Augie March
Since I Left You by The Avalanches
Shockadelica—50th Anniversary Tribute to the Artist Known as Prince by Various Artists
Endless Summer by Fennesz
The Snake by Wildbirds and Peacedrums
I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons
Eternal Youth by Future Bible Heroes
Now by Maxwell
Anchors & Anvils by Amy LaVere
1000 Kisses by Patty Griffin
This Is the Way the World Ends by Boondogs
If I Ever Kiss It ... He Can Kiss It Goodbye by Swamp Dogg
Wayward Angel by Kasey Chambers
The Dark Age of Love by This Immortal Coil
Toygopop by Modified Toy Orchestra
The Dust of Retreat by Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
Untrue by Burial
Ten New Songs by Leonard Cohen
Goodbye Swingtime by The Matthew Herbert Big Band
6 by Supersilent
Kalk Samen Kuri No Hana by Sheena Ringo
Medea by Rockettothesky
Getting Away With It … Live by James
Alice by Tom Waits
The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1 by Randy Newman
Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets by Gary Jules
Haunted by Poe
The Black Sessions No. 248 by The Divine Comedy
The Deep Forbidden Lake by The Jazz Mandolin Project
Sing by Jim Bianco
Live by Ellis Paul
More Adventurous by Rilo Kiley
St. Elsewhere by Gnarls Barkley
(3) by Soul Center
Cartography by Arve Henriksen
Grindstone by Shining
Flower of Evil by Susanna
Castaways and Cutouts by The Decemberists
The Book of Lies by Jack the Ripper
Songs from the Deep Forest by Duke Special
Trouble by Ray LaMontagne
Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 by Jill Scott
Man @ Work by Colin Hay
The Happiness Project by Charles Spearin
3 by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra
Breakfast on the Morning Tram by Stacey Kent
Everybody Knows by Sharon Robinson
5 by Supersilent
Le fil by Camille
The Reminder by Feist
Summer in the Southeast by Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor
Digital Prophecy by Dhafer Youssef
Verses from the Union Chapel by Laura Marling
Morals and Dogma by Deathprod
Blow Out Your Candles by David Yetton
— June 4, 2025