Top 10 Best Pop Albums of 2000s
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Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best Pop Albums of 2000s. For this list, we’ll be looking at the greatest collections of songs released by an artist or band in the aughts. What album from the 2000s is still in heavy rotation on your playlists? Let us know in the comments.
In 2002, Christina Aguilera moved to strip away her PG image and replace it with a more mature and hard-hitting persona. Her name was Xtina and she was a strong feminist who owned her sexuality. Aguilera’s new side wasn’t shy about getting down and “Dirrty”. If there was any doubt, the similarly-titled lead track that introduced Xtina would correct that notion. Songs like “Beautiful” and “Fighter” also resonated with audiences. Although the album was a huge hit, critics at the time had mixed feelings about it. But “Stripped” has earned a greater respect from critics in years since. It’s also been cited by artists like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato as a major influence on their work. “Stripped” is an album that keeps on giving.
While the band had played around with new sounds and genres in the previous decade, they decided to get back to their rock roots as they entered the 2000s. U2 showed off their shift in their “All That You Can't Leave Behind” album. Most fans and critics quickly agreed that it was a “Beautiful Day” when it was released. The tracks alternated between epic ballads and emotional melodies. Thanks to the variety, every listener could find at least one song that struck a chord with them. The album reached the top of the charts in over 30 different countries and allowed the band to take home 7 Grammy Awards. You might say that U2 elevated their game on this one.
“A Rush of Blood to the Head” is arguably the main reason Coldplay became such a pop culture staple. This powerful and well-produced album contains a few of their most iconic melodies. While listening to this classic, you’ll get everything from the Grammy-award winning “In My Place” to the moody “Warning Sign”. The sobering “Politik” was written as a stirring response to the tragic world events of 2001. And although they once considered leaving “Clocks” off the album, the billboard topping song became a smash hit. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the emotion that comes through the album’s tracks. Years after selling millions of copies, “A Rush of Blood to the Head” is still considered to be one of Coldplay's greatest works.
It’s incredible to look back at the outlandish success of Perry’s 2008 album, “One of the Boys”. She stirred up equal parts controversy and acclaim with the upbeat and head turning track “I Kissed a Girl”. After its release, it shot to the top of the billboard charts and went on to be a top selling track of the 21st century overall. But that wasn’t the only song that put this album on the map. Both “Waking Up in Vegas” and “Hot n Cold” were celebrated for their good vibes and catchy beats. Through “One of the Boys”, Perry established herself as one of the best popstars of the century.
Anyone who doubted that Justin Timberlake would be able to be successful away from NSYNC was proven wrong in the best way by his first solo album, 2002’s “Justified”. (xref) He then followed up that premiere by bringing both success and sexy back with 2006’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds”. JT’s second album was a more mature and risky effort that took chances to get people to listen and sing along. Whether fans were falling for “Summer Love” or couldn’t stop replaying “Lovestoned”, tracks from this album were inescapable. Luckily, listeners were into it and helped Timberlake sell over 10 million copies. It was clear the artist had gone above and beyond to give fans something fresh. As the saying goes, “What Goes Around... Comes Around”.
Taylor Swift began her journey to pop mega-stardom by blending the genre’s sensibilities with country music vibes. The resulting mashup gave us the unforgettable “Fearless”. When revisiting this romantic and nostalgic album, the hardest thing to do is pick a favorite track. “Love Story” is the sweet song that perfectly captures the feeling of young love. The title song “Fearless” is a bold and unapologetic window into the singer’s heart. And every time we replay the album, we have to sing “You Belong with Me” at the top of our lungs. It’s not hard to see why the album dominated the U.S. Billboard 200 after its release. There are undoubtedly many Swifties who became dedicated to the star after this great album.
In 2008, Lady Gaga sang her fame into existence with the release of her first similarly-titled studio album. (xref). Just one year later, the star burst right back onto the scene with a tremendous collection of tracks. Gaga had everyone singing about a guy named Alejandro with the similarly titled song. When she wasn’t making waves solo, she was just casually recording an iconic collab with Beyoncé for the Telephone track. At the time, no club playlist or dance party seemed complete without at least one song from the Fame Monster. It's brilliant tracks paved the way for Gaga to go on a historic tour. Years later, we can safely say we didn’t have a “Bad Romance” with this wonderful album.
If you like albums where popstars showcase their range and confirm why we loved them in the first place, then this self-titled work is for you. On “Britney” the popstar unashamedly embraces bold and sensual lyrics that instantly garnered attention. But she also captures the complex struggles of growing up in the industry and in general with “I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman”. Along the way, Spears hit us with a fantastic cover of the beloved “I Love Rock ‘n’Roll”. This stellar collection of tracks marked a major turning point in her career that we were all there for. Without its solid foundation, we may not have gotten the brilliant Circus and tracks like “Womanizer”.
We have to warn you in advance. If you start playing “Good Girl Gone Bad”, you might not be able to stop the music until you finish listening to all the absolute bangers on this album. Everyone remembers where they were when they first heard tracks like “Rehab” or “Umbrella”. Not only were these songs infinitely replayable, but they were excellent showcases for the variety you could expect from a Rihanna album. She also showed how easily she could loop talented megastars like Jay-Z and Ne-Yo into her work. Rihanna received tons of acclaim and award nominations for the spectacular “Good Girl Gone Bad”. Before she soared to even greater heights, we could “Shut Up and Drive” to this album all day.
Before we highlight our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Madonna said goodbye to the 90s with her great 1998 album “Ray of Light” and hello to the 2000s with another high-quality effort entitled “Music”. As she is prone to do, Madonna broke through musical boundaries with this album. Hits like “Don’t Tell Me” blend pop and country music influences effortlessly. The third single off the album, “What It Feels Like for a Girl” is a synth-pop tune. And the title track, which landed atop the Billboard Hot 100, melds electro and disco into one dance-tastic ditty. Madonna shattered records for sales when this impressive song collection dropped. With her 8th studio album, Madonna proved once again that she still reigned as the “Queen of Pop”.
#10: “Stripped” (2002)
Christina AguileraIn 2002, Christina Aguilera moved to strip away her PG image and replace it with a more mature and hard-hitting persona. Her name was Xtina and she was a strong feminist who owned her sexuality. Aguilera’s new side wasn’t shy about getting down and “Dirrty”. If there was any doubt, the similarly-titled lead track that introduced Xtina would correct that notion. Songs like “Beautiful” and “Fighter” also resonated with audiences. Although the album was a huge hit, critics at the time had mixed feelings about it. But “Stripped” has earned a greater respect from critics in years since. It’s also been cited by artists like Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato as a major influence on their work. “Stripped” is an album that keeps on giving.
#9: “All That You Can't Leave Behind” (2000)
U2While the band had played around with new sounds and genres in the previous decade, they decided to get back to their rock roots as they entered the 2000s. U2 showed off their shift in their “All That You Can't Leave Behind” album. Most fans and critics quickly agreed that it was a “Beautiful Day” when it was released. The tracks alternated between epic ballads and emotional melodies. Thanks to the variety, every listener could find at least one song that struck a chord with them. The album reached the top of the charts in over 30 different countries and allowed the band to take home 7 Grammy Awards. You might say that U2 elevated their game on this one.
#8: “A Rush of Blood to the Head” (2002)
Coldplay“A Rush of Blood to the Head” is arguably the main reason Coldplay became such a pop culture staple. This powerful and well-produced album contains a few of their most iconic melodies. While listening to this classic, you’ll get everything from the Grammy-award winning “In My Place” to the moody “Warning Sign”. The sobering “Politik” was written as a stirring response to the tragic world events of 2001. And although they once considered leaving “Clocks” off the album, the billboard topping song became a smash hit. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the emotion that comes through the album’s tracks. Years after selling millions of copies, “A Rush of Blood to the Head” is still considered to be one of Coldplay's greatest works.
#7: “One of the Boys” (2008)
Katy PerryIt’s incredible to look back at the outlandish success of Perry’s 2008 album, “One of the Boys”. She stirred up equal parts controversy and acclaim with the upbeat and head turning track “I Kissed a Girl”. After its release, it shot to the top of the billboard charts and went on to be a top selling track of the 21st century overall. But that wasn’t the only song that put this album on the map. Both “Waking Up in Vegas” and “Hot n Cold” were celebrated for their good vibes and catchy beats. Through “One of the Boys”, Perry established herself as one of the best popstars of the century.
#6: “FutureSex/LoveSounds” (2006)
Justin TimberlakeAnyone who doubted that Justin Timberlake would be able to be successful away from NSYNC was proven wrong in the best way by his first solo album, 2002’s “Justified”. (xref) He then followed up that premiere by bringing both success and sexy back with 2006’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds”. JT’s second album was a more mature and risky effort that took chances to get people to listen and sing along. Whether fans were falling for “Summer Love” or couldn’t stop replaying “Lovestoned”, tracks from this album were inescapable. Luckily, listeners were into it and helped Timberlake sell over 10 million copies. It was clear the artist had gone above and beyond to give fans something fresh. As the saying goes, “What Goes Around... Comes Around”.
#5: “Fearless” (2008)
Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift began her journey to pop mega-stardom by blending the genre’s sensibilities with country music vibes. The resulting mashup gave us the unforgettable “Fearless”. When revisiting this romantic and nostalgic album, the hardest thing to do is pick a favorite track. “Love Story” is the sweet song that perfectly captures the feeling of young love. The title song “Fearless” is a bold and unapologetic window into the singer’s heart. And every time we replay the album, we have to sing “You Belong with Me” at the top of our lungs. It’s not hard to see why the album dominated the U.S. Billboard 200 after its release. There are undoubtedly many Swifties who became dedicated to the star after this great album.
#4: “The Fame Monster” (2009)
Lady GagaIn 2008, Lady Gaga sang her fame into existence with the release of her first similarly-titled studio album. (xref). Just one year later, the star burst right back onto the scene with a tremendous collection of tracks. Gaga had everyone singing about a guy named Alejandro with the similarly titled song. When she wasn’t making waves solo, she was just casually recording an iconic collab with Beyoncé for the Telephone track. At the time, no club playlist or dance party seemed complete without at least one song from the Fame Monster. It's brilliant tracks paved the way for Gaga to go on a historic tour. Years later, we can safely say we didn’t have a “Bad Romance” with this wonderful album.
#3: “Britney” (2001)
Britney SpearsIf you like albums where popstars showcase their range and confirm why we loved them in the first place, then this self-titled work is for you. On “Britney” the popstar unashamedly embraces bold and sensual lyrics that instantly garnered attention. But she also captures the complex struggles of growing up in the industry and in general with “I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman”. Along the way, Spears hit us with a fantastic cover of the beloved “I Love Rock ‘n’Roll”. This stellar collection of tracks marked a major turning point in her career that we were all there for. Without its solid foundation, we may not have gotten the brilliant Circus and tracks like “Womanizer”.
#2: “Good Girl Gone Bad” (2007)
RihannaWe have to warn you in advance. If you start playing “Good Girl Gone Bad”, you might not be able to stop the music until you finish listening to all the absolute bangers on this album. Everyone remembers where they were when they first heard tracks like “Rehab” or “Umbrella”. Not only were these songs infinitely replayable, but they were excellent showcases for the variety you could expect from a Rihanna album. She also showed how easily she could loop talented megastars like Jay-Z and Ne-Yo into her work. Rihanna received tons of acclaim and award nominations for the spectacular “Good Girl Gone Bad”. Before she soared to even greater heights, we could “Shut Up and Drive” to this album all day.
Before we highlight our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Come Away with Me” (2002), Norah Jones
Jones’ Debut Took Home Grammys for Album of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Album“Vampire Weekend” (2008), Vampire Weekend
You Should Definitely Invite This Fabulous Vampire Weekend Album Into Your Home“Songs in A Minor” (2001), Alicia Keys
We Just Keep Fallin’ Back in Love with This Album Every Time We Listen to It“Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” (2004), Gwen Stefani
This Album Left No Doubt About Stefani’s Ability to Make It as a Solo Artist“Robyn” (2005), Robyn
We Only Want to Say Konichiwa to This Stellar Album#1: “Music” (2000)
MadonnaMadonna said goodbye to the 90s with her great 1998 album “Ray of Light” and hello to the 2000s with another high-quality effort entitled “Music”. As she is prone to do, Madonna broke through musical boundaries with this album. Hits like “Don’t Tell Me” blend pop and country music influences effortlessly. The third single off the album, “What It Feels Like for a Girl” is a synth-pop tune. And the title track, which landed atop the Billboard Hot 100, melds electro and disco into one dance-tastic ditty. Madonna shattered records for sales when this impressive song collection dropped. With her 8th studio album, Madonna proved once again that she still reigned as the “Queen of Pop”.
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