10 Best 2000s Albums of Each Year (2000-2009)

10 Best 2000s Albums of Each Year: 2000-09

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re revealing our picks for the very best albums of each year from 2000 to 2009.

2000: “Stankonia”

OutKast

By the turn of the millennium, OutKast were already critical darlings, but “Stankonia” catapulted them into the mainstream with unapologetic force. Fueled by hits like “Ms. Jackson” and “B.O.B.,” André 3000 and Big Boi tore up the hip hop playbook. Melding funk, psychedelia, gospel, and even drum-and-bass, they defined a sound that was as futuristic as it was unmistakably Southern. At a time when mainstream rap largely clung to rigid formulas, “Stankonia” embraced maximalism, eccentricity, and political edge, proving there was space in the spotlight for something weirder, bolder, and more genre-defying. In doing so, it didn’t just cement OutKast as visionaries: it paved the way for later boundary-pushers — including, yes, Kanye West — to thrive.

2001: “Songs in A Minor”

Alicia Keys

In a pop landscape dominated by teen idols and glossy production, Alicia Keys’ “Songs in A Minor” arrived like a revelation. Blending classical piano flourishes with R&B, soul, and jazz influences, Keys delivered an album that felt both timeless and unmistakably her own. Her songwriting was intimate yet universal, weaving personal storytelling into radio-ready hooks without pandering to the trends of the day. “Fallin’” was an example of Keys’ ability to showcase a command of musicianship seldom found in early-2000s pop. The industry took notice: “Songs in A Minor” earned Keys five Grammys, including Best New Artist and Best R&B Album, cementing her as a once-in-a-generation talent from the very start.

2002: “Come Away with Me”

Norah Jones

“Come Away with Me” proved that restraint could be as powerful as maximalist spectacle. Norah Jones’ smash-hit debut blended jazz, folk, country, and soul into a warm, intimate sound that stood apart from anything on the charts — and audiences embraced it in droves. Certified Platinum in its year of release, “Come Away with Me” remains the highest-selling debut studio album by a solo artist in the 21st century. Jones’ smoky vocals and unhurried delivery made tracks like “Don’t Know Why” instant modern standards, while the album’s subtle production rewarded repeated listens. The Grammys crowned it Album of the Year, sealing her as a genre-blending force who could conquer the charts without raising her voice.

2003: “Elephant”

The White Stripes

Arriving at the height of the garage rock revival, “Elephant” distilled the movement’s raw energy into its purest form. Former spouses Jack and Meg White built an arena-filling sound from little more than guitar, drums, and sheer conviction, stripping rock back to its chest-beating core. The result was an album that felt both retro and ageless, cementing itself as the era’s defining statement of back-to-basics rock. And then there’s “Seven Nation Army,” with a riff so instantly recognizable it’s been chanted in stadiums, protests, and victory parades ever since. “Elephant” was a triumph for The White Stripes, yes, but it was also proof that minimalism could shake the world.

2004: “American Idiot”

Green Day

Just when it seemed Green Day’s moment had passed, they roared back with a concept album that turned pop-punk into political theater. “American Idiot” was a scathing, hook-packed rock opera that captured the disillusionment and rage of post-9/11 America, offering both a critique of the era’s politics and anthems for a generation who felt lost in the noise. Its ambition was matched by its accessibility: “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and “Holiday” dominated the charts, while the title track became a rallying cry for disaffected young people living through the tumultuous presidential administration of George W. Bush. Bold, bombastic, and unapologetically of its time, “American Idiot” secured their place in rock — and pop culture — history.

2005: “The Emancipation of Mimi”

Mariah Carey

By the mid-2000s, many had written Mariah Carey off, but “The Emancipation of Mimi” was a reminder that she was still pop royalty. Heralded as her comeback record, it was her first album since 1997’s “Butterfly” to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, fueled by a renewed creative spark and a confident embrace of contemporary R&B and hip hop influences. “We Belong Together” and “Shake It Off” hit it big, showing off both her vocal mastery and her knack for crafting irresistible hooks. Polished yet personal, “Mimi” didn’t only restore Carey’s commercial dominance: it reasserted her as one of the defining voices of modern pop.

2006: “FutureSex/LoveSounds”

Justin Timberlake

With this forward-thinking album, Justin Timberlake shed the last remnants of his boy band past and fully embraced his role as pop’s resident avant-garde showman. Reteaming with Timbaland, he delivered a sleek, genre-blurring mix of electro, funk, R&B, and futuristic pop that felt years ahead of its time. The album’s adventurous production set it apart from the safe, radio-friendly pop dominating the charts, while singles including “SexyBack,” “My Love,” and “What Goes Around... Comes Around” became instant classics. Ambitious yet endlessly listenable, “FutureSex/LoveSounds” cemented Timberlake as a solo powerhouse, redefining what mainstream pop could sound like.

2007: “Blackout”

Britney Spears

Released amid personal turmoil and relentless tabloid scrutiny, “Blackout” was initially defined by everything but the music. At the time, its icy, club-ready production and Spears’ detached, almost robotic vocal delivery felt like a sharp departure from her bubblegum-pop roots — and not everyone knew what to make of it. But in the years since, it’s been reevaluated as possibly her most dynamic record, with “Gimme More” and “Piece of Me” influencing a generation of pop artists. Sleek, dark, and unapologetically hedonistic, “Blackout” now stands as not just a career high point for Spears, but a blueprint for modern electro-pop.

2008: “Tha Carter III”

Lil Wayne

By the time “Tha Carter III” dropped, Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter had already declared himself the “best rapper alive” — and this album made that claim hard to dispute. A career-defining culmination of his prolific mixtape run, it blended dizzying wordplay, inventive flows, and unshakable hooks that could dominate any chart. Tracks like “A Milli” and “Lollipop” showed both his lyrical dexterity and pop instincts, while deep cuts proved he could still surprise even the most devoted fans. Sweeping the hip hop Grammys and selling over a million copies in its first week, “Tha Carter III” crowned Wayne at the peak of his powers, making him the king of hip hop in 2008.

2009: “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”

Phoenix

If the 2000s saw indie music break into the mainstream, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” was one of its crown jewels. The French quartet distilled the decade’s indie boom into a sleek, infectious package, balancing shimmering synths, razor-sharp guitars, and hooks so airtight they felt inevitable. “Lisztomania” and “1901” became ubiquitous, soundtracking commercials, TV shows, and countless playlists, while the album’s polish and precision proved indie could compete with pop on its own terms. Winning the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” was the sound of indie stepping confidently into the cultural spotlight.

Which album in our video is your favorite? Are there any you felt deserved a mention? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!