The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

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hectorthebat
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The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by hectorthebat »

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/ ... st-century

100 Fiona Apple
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012)

99 Rihanna
Anti- (2016)

98 Rokia Traoré
Tchamantché (2008)

97 Róisín Murphy
Ruby Blue (2005)

96 Missy Elliott
Miss E … So Addictive (2001)

95 Charli XCX
Pop 2 (2017)

94 Peaches
The Teaches of Peaches (2000)

93 Low
Things We Lost in the Fire (2001)

92 Erykah Badu
New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008)

91 Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté
In the Heart of the Moon (2005)

90 Katy B
On a Mission (2011)

89 Taylor Swift
1989 (2014)

88 Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes (2008)

87 Justin Timberlake
Justified (2002)

86 Elliott Smith
Figure 8 (2000)

85 Chromatics
Kill for Love (2012)

84 Konono No 1
Congotronics (2004)

83 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Skeleton Tree (2016)

82 Yo La Tengo
And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000)

81 Madvillain
Madvillainy (2004)

80 Lady Gaga
The Fame (2008)

79 Kanye West
Late Registration (2005)

78 Drake
Take Care (2011)

77 The Bug
London Zoo (2008)

76 Wild Beasts
Two Dancers (2009)

75 MIA
Kala (2007)

74 Salif Keita
Moffou (2002)

73 Clipse
Hell Hath No Fury (2007)

72 Lily Allen
Alright, Still (2006)

71 John Grant
Queen of Denmark (2010)

70 Lana Del Rey
Born to Die (2012)

69 Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend (2008)

68 The National
Boxer (2007)

67 Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

66 Alicia Keys
Songs in A Minor (2001)

65 Primal Scream
XTRMNTR (2000)

64 Kelis
Tasty (2003)

63 Jay-Z
The Black Album (2003)

62 The Knife
Silent Shout (2006)

61 Kanye West
The College Dropout (2004)

60 Jens Lekman
Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007)

59 Janelle Monáe
The ArchAndroid (2010)

58 J Dilla
Donuts (2006)

57 Amy Winehouse
Frank (2003)

56 Cannibal Ox
The Cold Vein (2001)

55 St Vincent
Strange Mercy (2011)

54 The War on Drugs
Lost in the Dream (2014)

53 St Vincent
St Vincent (2014)

52 NERD
In Search of… (2001)

51 The Microphones
The Glow Pt 2 (2001)

50 Interpol
Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)

49 D’Angelo
Black Messiah (2014)

48 The White Stripes
Elephant (2003)

47 Sleater-Kinney
The Woods (2005)

46 Grimes
Art Angels (2015)

45 Portishead
Third (2008)

44 Vampire Weekend
Modern Vampires of the City (2013)

43 Kendrick Lamar
Damn (2017)

42 At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command (2000)

41 Frank Ocean
Nostalgia, Ultra (2011)

40 Antony and the Johnsons
I Am a Bird Now (2005)

39 Britney Spears
Blackout (2007)

38 Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Fever to Tell (2003)

37 Sufjan Stevens
Carrie & Lowell (2015)

36 Grimes
Visions (2012)

35 Daft Punk
Discovery (2001)

34 The Avalanches
Since I Left You (2000)

33 Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)

32 MIA
Arular (2005)

31 Burial
Untrue (2007)

30 Jay-Z
The Blueprint (2001)

29 Deftones
White Pony (2000)

28 Aaliyah
Aaliyah (2001)

27 Björk
Vespertine (2001)

26 The xx
xx (2009)

25 Beyoncé
Lemonade (2016)

24 David Bowie
Blackstar (2016)

23 OutKast
Speakerboxxx / The Love Below (2003)

22 Joanna Newsom
Ys (2006)

21 PJ Harvey
Let England Shake (2011)

20 Arcade Fire
Funeral (2004)

19 PJ Harvey
Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (2000)

18 Kanye West
Yeezus (2013)

17 Outkast
Stankonia (2000)

16 Radiohead
Kid A (2000)

15 Robyn
Body Talk (2010)

14 Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d. city (2012)

13 D’Angelo
Voodoo (2000)

12 Frank Ocean
Channel Orange (2012)

11 Radiohead
In Rainbows (2007)

10 Frank Ocean
Blonde (2016)

9 Beyoncé
Beyoncé (2013)

8 Arctic Monkeys
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006)

7 The Streets
Original Pirate Material (2002)

6 Dizzee Rascal
Boy in da Corner (2003)

5 LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver (2007)

4 Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

3 Kanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

2 The Strokes
Is This It? (2001)

1 Amy Winehouse
Back to Black (2006)
Cold Butterfly
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Cold Butterfly »

I guess i’m not to surprised to see Amy Winehosue at #1 coming from a British publication, but I always felt that Back To Black was just second-rate plastic soul.

I am glad to see Blonde in the top ten. That album is truly Ocean’s best album, and yes, one of this century’s best albums. It’s one of those works which has played a huge role in my life, and i’m glad to see it get the respect it deserves.

But the cherry on top for me is the inclusion of The Cold Vein. That album is one of my favorite albums ever, and deserves to be included more on lists like these. Today’s experimental hip hop owns a huge debt to this album, which is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It’s one of those rare albums which can really be considered revolutionary. Tracks like “Iron Galaxy”, “Atom”, and “The F-Word” have to rank among rap music’s most powerful tracks, but this entire album is simply gorgeous. Absolutely a must-listen if you haven’t checked it out!
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by mileswide »

Cold Butterfly wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:41 pm I guess i’m not to surprised to see Amy Winehosue at #1 coming from a British publication, but I always felt that Back To Black was just second-rate plastic soul.
It's a strong list overall. I can see what you're saying about Back to Black but Winehouse's honesty, humour and clear love for the genres she's pillaging override for me any feeling of inauthenticity the production sometimes gives off. Stoked that Frank made top 60 as well.

There's no glaringly undeserved inclusions but the main omissions for me are no Sea Change, no Flaming Lips or Tame Impala and absolutely no jazz (aside from the nods to it on the Winehouse, Bowie and Kendrick choices).

I can also see some on the forum taking umbrage with the lack of Mitski, Animal Collective, Lorde and Courtney Barnett...
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Harold »

I find myself wondering if there are other publications that will do a "Best of the First 20 Years of the Century" list instead of an end-of-decade.

In terms of their overall level of acclaim, the two most glaring omissions, by far, are Illinois and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

A little surprised to see only two Radiohead albums. Late Registration is way too low, but the four Kanyes all belong here. No Dylan?

I'm particularly thrilled to see John Grant's Queen of Denmark here. That's easily top 5 of the decade for me, and I hope it gets more recognition on these lists.
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by _______________ »

Cold Butterfly wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:41 pm Cold Butterfly blabla
You're too harsh on Amy (if tendentially on point), but wooooo yeah, bro fist for the Cannibal Ox comment. Do you have a boyfriend by any chance?
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Cold Butterfly »

jade.palooka wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 10:09 pm
Cold Butterfly wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:41 pm Cold Butterfly blabla
You're too harsh on Amy (if tendentially on point), but wooooo yeah, bro fist for the Cannibal Ox comment. Do you have a boyfriend by any chance?
I have a girlfriend actually, but baaaaack to the topic, i’m glad to see some love for Cannibal Ox over here. The Cold Vein definitely represents one of rap music’s all-time highs :music-rockon:
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by mowino »

My beautiful dark twisted Fantasy :mrgreen:
Jimoincolor
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Jimoincolor »

So, 32 albums from the 2010s and 68 from the 2000s. That's a huge difference, don't you think?

Anyway, I'm surprised Adele is nowhere to be found on this list.
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Nick »

Jimoincolor wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 11:25 am So, 32 albums from the 2010s and 68 from the 2000s. That's a huge difference, don't you think?

Anyway, I'm surprised Adele is nowhere to be found on this list.
Lists like this always have whatever the opposite of a recency bias is.

Expect a similar ratio between 2010-2014 albums and 2015-2019 albums on most EOD lists in a few months.
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Jimoincolor »

I think so.

By the way, it's very obvious that MBDTF and TPAB will be crowned the two best albums of the decade, deservenly so. Hip Hop ruled the 2010s and its only getting bigger.
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Cold Butterfly »

Jimoincolor wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:09 pm I think so.

By the way, it's very obvious that MBDTF and TPAB will be crowned the two best albums of the decade, deservenly so. Hip Hop ruled the 2010s and its only getting bigger.
Hip-Hop is what this decade in music will be remembered for, and deservedly so. To Pimp A Butterfly is my favorite record of all time, and I really hope it ends up as the #1 album for the 2010s.
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by _______________ »

Cold Butterfly wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 4:19 pm
Jimoincolor wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:09 pm I think so.

By the way, it's very obvious that MBDTF and TPAB will be crowned the two best albums of the decade, deservenly so. Hip Hop ruled the 2010s and its only getting bigger.
Hip-Hop is what this decade in music will be remembered for and more Cold Butterfly stuff
it's basically kdot's There's A Riot Goin' On v kanye's Maggot Brain, or Purple Rain against Purple Rain
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Cold Butterfly »

jade.palooka wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:03 pm
Cold Butterfly wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 4:19 pm
Jimoincolor wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:09 pm I think so.

By the way, it's very obvious that MBDTF and TPAB will be crowned the two best albums of the decade, deservenly so. Hip Hop ruled the 2010s and its only getting bigger.
Hip-Hop is what this decade in music will be remembered for and more Cold Butterfly stuff
it's basically kdot's There's A Riot Goin' On v kanye's Maggot Brain, or Purple Rain against Purple Rain
Ehh, in the grander scheme of things i'd argue it's Kendrick's London Calling vs. Kanye's Exile On Main St., but I think that's a story for another day.
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by _______________ »

?why would you pull white people records into his hahaha you a nut you a coconut 8D
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by Cold Butterfly »

jade.palooka wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:58 pm ?why would you pull white people records into his hahaha you a nut you a coconut 8D
I was trying to put African-American art in the same vein as critically acclaimed white rock classics, because they're deserving of the same praise and status imo :whistle:
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Re: The Guardian 100 best albums of the 21st Century

Post by _______________ »

Cold Butterfly wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2019 12:08 am
jade.palooka wrote: Sat Sep 21, 2019 11:58 pm ?why would you pull white people records into his hahaha you a nut you a coconut 8D
I was trying to put African-American art in the same vein as critically acclaimed white rock classics, because they're deserving of the same praise and status imo :whistle:
i live on the other side of the timeline and I did tremendous progress by not calling white people records "Boy"
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