Music Critic Articles | Top Ten Albums 2001

Top Ten Albums 2001

 

the music that freed our souls

by: bill aicher

 

So, 2001 has ended and the question on many peoples' mind is:

Was there any good music this year?

Well indeed there was, and Music-Critic.com (now in it's 4th year serving the people) has taken a long, hard look back over the past year. True, there was a lot of forgettable music. True, there were more than ten great albums.

But what were the best? We're bringing them to you, one album at a time. Check back daily until we unveil our number one album pick for 2001!

And now, without further ado....

Music-Critic.com's Top Ten Albums of 2001.

Stereophonics

Number 10en

Stereophonics

Just Enough Education to Perform

Welsh band, Stereophonics blew our mind this year when they released their 3rd studio album. A beautiful combination of intelligent, emotional lyrics and spot-on instrumentation, JEEP is perfectly at home as our #10 album for 2001.

full review https://musiccritic.com/rock/stereophonics_jeep

 

Basement Jaxx

Number 9ine 

Basement Jaxx 

Rooty

The dancefloors were left steaming this year after club-goers were exposed to "Romeo" and "Where's Your Head At?" off of The Jaxx's second album. Mixing fruity loops, salsa beats, and a hefty helping of sass, Rooty was hands-down the best dance album of 2001.

 

Number 8ight:

Lucinda Williams 

Essence

Lucinda Wiliams released the followup to her Grammy-winning Car Wheels on a Gravel Road this year. Essence, with its not-quite-folk and not-quite-country approach, was one of the year's most beautiful albums. A true exploration in honesty, without the perversion.

 

Number 7even:

Spiritualized

Let It Come Down

Spiritualized latest disc, the follow-up to Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space, was a tremendous voyage of spirituality through music. From the rocking "On Fire" to the sublime gospel choirs of "Stop Your Crying," Let It Come Down is a disc we won't soon forget.

 

Ben Folds

Number 6ix:

Ben Folds 

Rockin' the Suburbs

Ben Folds released his first solo album since the breakup of Ben Folds Five, and the album was unbelievably good. Title track aside, the album was an exploration of piano, guitar, heart, and soul. Ben Folds remains an artist to watch out for for great things in the future.

 

Low

Number 5ive:

Low

Things We Lost in the Fire

Duluth slowcore had us all abuzz with a glorious hum of layered instrumentation and beautiful vocal harmonies. Sure, it's not fast music, but it sure is good. With Fire... Low has proven that the cold of Minnesota can't hold them down.

 

Radiohead

Number 4our:

Radiohead

Amnesiac

The follow-up to Kid A didn't turn as many people on their heads, but that could have been because people finally knew what to expect. Once again turning rock on its side, Thom Yorke and Radiohead continue to redefine rock music.

 

Bjork

Number 3hree:

Bjork

Vespertine

With her first "official" album since Homogenic, Bjork changed pace to a more beautiful, operatic style - a definite influence from her work on Dancer in the Dark (Selmasongs). Using a mix of orchestra, music boxes, and lyrics only Bjork can sing, Vespertine was a welcome return from this Icelandic Queen.

full review https://musiccritic.com/rock/bjork_vespertine

Number 2wo:

Sparklehorse

It's a Wonderful Life

Sparkelhorse's genius lies in Mark Linkous, who in 2001 created one of the more beautiful albums heard in years. Equal parts Mercury Rev and Neil Young, Linkous re-established our love for music and life in general.

full review https://musiccritic.com/rock/sparklehorse_wonderfulllife

 

Number 1ne:

Sigur Ros 

Agaetis Byrjun

Our pick as greatest album of 2001, Sigur Ros's Agaetis Byrjun was a real treat. Beautiful floating melodies take the listener to a higher plane altogether. Sure it's all sung in Icelandic, but does it really matter when it's this good?

full review https://musiccritic.com/electronica/sigurros_agaetisbyrjun