12.  Coldplay – A Rush of Blood To The Head (2002)

– If Viva La Vida is this generation’s Joshua Tree…A Rush would be this generation’s Unforgetable Fire.

13.  Ryan Adams – Gold (2001)

– If charting was based on most material released…RA would win by a landslide.  But Gold feels the most personal…that the most time went into crafting this one. (La Cienega Just Smiled)

14.  Jay-Z – The Black Album (2003)

– Jay-Z turned the industry on its head when he allowed the public to freely remix and distribute his momentary swan song.

15.  The Strokes – Is This It (2001)

– The Jam who?  The Strokes tight and underplayed debut was a snub in the face of the loud and obnoxious music of the day. (Soma)

16.  Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am (2006)

– The Jam who?  The AM’s loud and obnoxious debut was a snub in the face of the quiet and mopey music of the day.

17.  Bright Eyes – Lifted Or The Story is in the Soil (2002)

– This is the album that earned him the nickname:  “the next Bob Dylan” or “the next Bob Dylan until the next Bob Dylan comes along.” (You Will.)

18.  Zero 7 – Simple Things (2001)

– If there was ever a soundtrack to this decade…Zero 7 did it first.

19.  Interpol – Antics (2004)

– 20 years later…Ian Curtis is cool again.

20.  Death Cab For Cutie – Plans (2005)

– The emo masterpiece from a band who has done everything in their power to be anything but… (Someday You Will Loved)

21.  Bruce Springsteen – The Rising (2002)

– In the wake of 9/11, it was Bruce who came to the rescue to lead us out of the darkness.  No album has ever said more about the strength and resolute nature of our country than the Rising.

22.  Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)

– The Kings emerged this decade as the last true patriots of American rock n roll.  And no where is that more clear than on their second effort.

 

Buy these albums now.