Metacritic: Best Albums of 2001

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Best Of 2000

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62 50 Cent
70 AFI
65 Air
70 Alice In Chains
53 Kris Allen
78 Amerie
79 Annie
76 Anti-Pop Consortium
86 The Antlers
75 Arctic Monkeys
68 As Tall As Lions
82 Atlas Sound
77 The Avett Brothers
67 Backstreet Boys
59 Bad Lieutenant
68 Devendra Banhart
71 Lou Barlow
88 Baroness
69 Basement Jaxx
81 David Bazan
72 Beak>
72 Brendan Benson
84 Biffy Clyro
72 The Big Pink
95 Big Star
46 Billy Talent
75 The Black Crowes
72 The Black Heart Procession
68 Blitzen Trapper
75 BLK JKS
53 Bon Jovi
76 A.A. Bondy
65 Boys Like Girls
76 Brand New
73 Tyondai Braxton
83 Brother Ali
72 Ian Brown
75 Michael Buble
77 Built To Spill
61 Colbie Caillat
78 Califone
69 Mariah Carey
81 Brandi Carlile
72 Julian Casablancas
83 Rosanne Cash
71 Castanets
65 The Cave Singers
82 Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
64 Exene Cervenka
79 Vic Chesnutt
75 Choir Of Young Believers
81 Circulatory System
67 The Clean
84 The Clientele
72 Cold Cave
85 Converge
71 Eric Copeland
76 The Cribs
79 Cymbals Eat Guitars
62 Dashboard Confessional
71 Datarock
59 Dead By Sunrise
76 Dead Man's Bones
77 Del The Funky Homosapien & Tame One
88 Destroyer
73 Do Make Say Think
63 The Dodos
77 Drive-By Truckers
67 Bob Dylan
58 Echo & The Bunnymen
61 Electric Six
44 The Entrance Band
69 Fanfarlo
71 Jay Farrar And Benjamin Gibbard
63 Felix Da Housecat
68 Fink
66 Orenda Fink
79 The Flaming Lips
66 Flight Of The Conchords
79 Florence And The Machine
67 John Fogerty
83 Fuck Buttons
71 Nelly Furtado
47 Gary Go
68 Ghostface Killah
79 Girls
69 Gossip
62 David Gray
66 David Guetta
65 Calvin Harris
79 Richard Hawley
74 Mayer Hawthorne
66 Headlights
79 HEALTH
77 Joe Henry
67 Hockey
67 Whitney Houston
80 Hudson Mohawke
68 Imogen Heap
59 Jack Ingram
79 Islands
74 Jamie T
65 Jay-Z
51 Jet
68 Daniel Johnston
76 Norah Jones
77 Karen O And The Kids
72 Toby Keith
69 Kid Cudi
75 Kid Sister
66 Kings Of Convenience
62 Sean Kingston
64 KISS
63 Mark Knopfler
73 Kris Kristofferson
68 KRS-One & Buckshot
76 La Roux
85 Miranda Lambert
72 Ledisi
71 Sondre Lerche
56 Juliette Lewis
62 Leona Lewis
82 Lightning Bolt
74 Little Dragon
44 Pixie Lott
83 Patty Loveless
73 Lyle Lovett
79 Lucero
75 Baaba Maal
77 Madness
84 Madonna
85 Manic Street Preachers
61 Maps
73 Mario
55 Massive Attack
57 Matisyahu
62 John Mayer
67 Reba McEntire
66 Tim McGraw
65 Brian McKnight
79 Mew
75 Mika
68 Amy Millan
76 Mission Of Burma
75 Molina And Johnson
80 Monsters Of Folk
66 Morrissey
85 Mount Eerie
76 The Mountain Goats
62 Múm
72 Muse
66 Willie Nelson
82 Nirvana
96 Nirvana
80 No Age
71 Noah And The Whale
75 Noisettes
79 Nudge
64 OneRepublic
47 Dolores O'Riordan
74 Os Mutantes
78 Osso
67 Alec Ounsworth
81 Owen
73 Paramore
78 Pastels And Tenniscoats
54 Sean Paul
80 Pearl Jam
69 Jemina Pearl
72 Jack Penate
65 Phish
82 Pissed Jeans
61 Pitbull
79 A Place To Bury Strangers
79 Polvo
72 Porcupine Tree
72 Port O'Brien
79 Q-Tip
79 R.E.M.
88 Raekwon
69 Rain Machine
70 Ramona Falls
75 Dizzee Rascal
74 The Raveonettes
79 Real Estate
76 Jay Reatard
81 Rodrigo Y Gabriela
66 Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
78 Russian Circles
69 Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions
78 Say Anything
61 Sally Shapiro
78 Shudder To Think
70 Simian Mobile Disco
58 Simple Minds
72 Six Organs Of Admittance
80 Slayer
61 The Slits
77 Speech Debelle
58 Spiral Stairs
55 Steel Panther
75 Sufjan Stevens
52 Rod Stewart
68 Joss Stone
83 Barbra Streisand
77 A Sunny Day In Glasgow
74 Susanna And The Magical Orchestra
79 The Swell Season
80 David Sylvian
83 Taken By Trees
80 Tegan And Sara
68 The Temper Trap
78 The Dutchess & The Duke
71 The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
74 Them Crooked Vultures
72 Themselves
82 They Might Be Giants
66 J Tillman
69 Times New Viking
57 Tokio Hotel
67 Trey Songz
73 Frank Turner
71 The Twilight Sad
60 Carrie Underwood
56 The Used
68 Various Artists
69 Various Artists
77 The Very Best
70 Kurt Vile
65 Vivian Girls
71 Volcano Choir
73 Rufus Wainwright
78 Wale
57 Weezer
81 White Denim
76 Why?
83 Wild Beasts
80 Wildbirds & Peacedrums
69 Robbie Williams
59 Andrew W.K.
65 Wolfmother
84 The xx
79 Yo La Tengo
83 Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
52 Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
59 Zero 7

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

The following table displays the highest-scoring albums for the year in Metacritic's database with a minimum of 7 reviews. Also listed at the bottom of the page are year-end top ten lists provided by various critics and publications.

You may also view an index of all albums in our database alphabetically by artist.
In addition, you may view the top-rated albums by year: All | 2008 | '07 | '06 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00

The 30 Best-Reviewed Albums of the Year
1	Love And Theft by Bob Dylan	2001	93
2	Canto by Los Super Seven	2001	91
3	Is This It? by The Strokes	2001	90
4	Since I Left You by The Avalanches	2001	89
5	Miss E... So Addictive by Missy Elliott	2001	89
6	Wicked Grin by John Hammond	2001	88
7	Vespertine by Bjork	2001	88
8	The Blueprint by Jay-Z	2001	88
9	Leaves Turn Inside You by Unwound	2001	87
10	The Argument by Fugazi	2001	87
11	Cold House by Hood	2001	87
12	Things We Lost In The Fire by Low	2001	87
13	Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós	2001	87
14	Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch	2001	86
15	Fixed::Context [EP] by Labradford	2001	86
16	Blues Dream by Bill Frisell	2001	86
17	White Blood Cells by The White Stripes	2001	86
18	Little Sparrow by Dolly Parton	2001	86
19	Ocean's Eleven OST by David Holmes	2001	86
20	The Convincer by Nick Lowe	2001	86
21	Party Music by The Coup	2001	85
22	Girls Can Tell by Spoon	2001	85
23	Pause by Four Tet	2001	85
24	Tenacious D by Tenacious D	2001	85
25	Old Ramon by Red House Painters	2001	84
26	Change by Dismemberment Plan	2001	83
27	Isolation Drills by Guided By Voices	2001	83
28	lilac6 by The Lilac Time	2001	83
29	Idiology by Mouse On Mars	2001	83
30	Poses by Rufus Wainwright	2001	82

Music Critics' Year-End Top Ten Lists

Village Voice 2001 Pazz & Jop Poll (a survey of 621 critics) Read The Full Results
1	Bob Dylan: Love And Theft
2	The Strokes: Is This It?
3	Björk: Vespertine
4	The White Stripes: White Blood Cells
5	Radiohead: Amnesiac
6	Ryan Adams: Gold
7	Jay-Z: The Blueprint
8	The Coup: Party Music
9	Lucinda Williams: Essence
10	Rufus Wainwright: Poses

Alternative Press

1. Radiohead: Amnesiac

2. Tool: Lateralus

3. Björk: Vespertine

4. Squarepusher: Go Plastic

5. Clinic: Internal Wrangler

6. Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American

7. theStart: Shakedown!

8. Air: 10,000 Hz Legend

9. System Of A Down: Toxicity

10. Lars Frederiksen and The Bastards: S/T

Alternative Press

1. Radiohead: Amnesiac

2. Tool: Lateralus

3. Björk: Vespertine

4. Squarepusher: Go Plastic

5. Clinic: Internal Wrangler

6. Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American

7. theStart: Shakedown!

8. Air: 10,000 Hz Legend

9. System Of A Down: Toxicity

10. Lars Frederiksen and The Bastards: S/T

Entertainment Weekly
(David Browne)

1. The Strokes: Is This It?

2. Mary J. Blige: No More Drama

3. Leonard Cohen: Ten New Songs

4. Eve: Scorpion

5. Eliza Carthy: Angels & Cigarettes

6. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

7. New Order: Get Ready

8. Loudon Wainwright III: Last Man On Earth

9. Lucinda Williams: Essence

10. Spiritualized: Let It Come Down

Entertainment Weekly
(Chris Willman)

1. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

2. Kirsty MacColl: Tropical Brainstorm

3. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live In New York City

4. Dave Matthews Band: [The Lillywhite Sessions]

5. Destiny's Child: Survivor

6. Ben Folds: Rockin' The Suburbs

7. Gillian Welch: Time (The Revelator)

8. Angie Stone: Mahogany Soul

9. Buddy & Julie Miller: Buddy & Julie Miller

10. Jon Brion: Meaningless

Los Angeles Times
(Robert Hlburn)

1. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

2. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

3. Angie Stone: Mahogany Soul

4. Lucinda Williams: Essence

5. Jill Scott: Experience: Jill Scott

6. The Coup: Party Music

7. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: B.R.M.C.

8. Mercury Rev: All Is Dream

9. Radiohead: Amnesiac

10. Alicia Keys: Songs In A Minor

Los Angeles Times
(Consensus)

1. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

2. (tie) Björk: Vespertine

2. (tie) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: B.R.M.C.

4. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

5. Radiohead: Amnesiac

6. Joe Henry: Scar

7. India.Arie: Acoustic Soul

8. (tie) Gorillaz: Gorillaz

8. (tie) System Of A Down: Toxicity

10. Alicia Keys: Songs In A Minor

Magnet

(Magnet only provides a Top 20 list, with no order designated among the 20)

Air: 10,000 Hz Legend

Frank Black & The Catholics: Dog In The Sand

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: B.R.M.C.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: No More Shall We Part

Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

Guided By Voices: Isolation Drills

Idlewild: 100 Broken Windows

Minders: Golden Street

Minus 5: Let The War Against Music Begin

Mogwai: Rock Action

New Pornographers: Mass Romantic

Portastatic: Looking For Leonard

Radiohead: Amnesiac

Sparklehorse: It's A Wonderful Life

The Strokes: Is This It??

Varnaline: Songs In A Northern Key

Rufus Wainwright: Poses

Webb Brothers: Maroon

White Stripes: White Blood Cells

Steve Wynn: Here Come The Miracles

Mixer

1. Gorillaz: Gorillaz

2. Daft Punk: Discovery

3. Zero 7: Simple Things

4. Basement Jaxx: Rooty

5. Groove Armada: Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)

6. Larry Heard: Love's Arrival

7. Aphex Twin: Drukqs

8. Charles Webster: Born on the 24th of July

9. Tricky: Blowback

10. The Crystal Method: Tweekend

Mojo

1. Super Furry Animals: Rings Around The World

2. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

3. The Strokes: Is This It??

4. Gillian Welch: Time (The Revelator)

5. Rufus Wainwright: Poses

6. Sparklehorse: It's A Wonderful Life

7. Björk: Vespertine

8. Nick Lowe: The Convincer

9. Ryan Adams: Gold

10. Radiohead: Amnesiac

New Musical Express

1. The Strokes: Is This It??

2. Spiritualized: Let It Come Down

3. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

4. Jay-Z: The Blueprint

5. Starsailor: Love Is Here

6. Slipknot: Iowa

7. Mercury Rev: All Is Dream

8. Rufus Wainwright: Poses

9. Andrew WK: I Get Wet

10. Aphex Twin: Drukqs

The Onion
(Andy Battaglia)

1. Herbert: Bodily Functions

2. Björk: Vespertine

3. Ryan Adams: Gold

4. Jay-Z: The Blueprint

5. Destroyer: Streethawk: A Seduction

6. Basement Jaxx: Rooty

7. Jan Jelinek: Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records

8. Radiohead: Amnesiac

9. Daft Punk: Discovery

10. Circulatory System: Circulatory System

The Onion
(Josh Modell)

1. The Dismemberment Plan: Change

2. Crooked Fingers: Bring On The Snakes

3. Clem Snide: The Ghost Of Fashion

4. Low: Things We Lost In The Fire

5. Fugazi: The Argument

6. Danko Jones: I'm Alive And On Fire

7. Clinic: Internal Wrangler

8. Radiohead: Amnesiac

9. Jeff Mangum: Live At Jittery Joe's

10. Death Cab For Cutie: The Photo Album

The Onion
(Noel Murray)

1. Spoon: Girls Can Tell

2. Pernice Brothers: The World Won't End

3. American Analog Set: Know By Heart

4. Whiskeytown: Pneumonia / Ryan Adams: Gold

5. The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic

6. Daft Punk: Discovery

7. Rufus Wainwright: Poses

8. The Strokes: Is This It??

9. Electric Light Orchestra: Zoom

10. Stephen Malkmus: Stephen Malkmus

The Onion
(Keith Phipps)

1. Björk: Vespertine

2. The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic

3. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

4. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

5. Radiohead: Amnesiac

6. Stephen Malkmus: Stephen Malkmus

7. Pernice Brothers: The World Won't End

8. R.E.M.: Reveal

9. Rufus Wainwright: Poses

10. Nick Lowe: The Convincer

The Onion
(Nathan Rabin)

1. Aceyalone: Accepted Eclectic

2. The Coup: Party Music

3. Atmosphere: The Lucy Ford LP

4. Timbaland & Magoo: Indecent Proposal

5. Masta Ace: Disposable Arts

6. Tha Liks: X.O. Experience

7. J-Zone Presents: The Old Maid Billionaires: Pimps Don't Pay Taxes

8. DJ Hi-Tek: Hi-Teknology

9. Stephen Malkmus: Stephen Malkmus

10. Various Artists: The Funky 16 Corners

The Onion
(Stephen Thompson)

1. Microphones: The Glow, Pt. 2

2. Fennesz: Endless Summer

3. The Avalanches: Since I Left You

4. Unwound: Leaves Turn Inside You

5. Circulatory System: Circulatory System

6. Radiohead: Amnesiac

7. Mum: Yesterday Was Dramatic, Today Is OK

8. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

9. The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic

10. Prefuse 73: Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives

Playlouder

1. The Strokes: Is This It??

2. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

3. Squarepusher: Go Plastic

4. Mercury Rev: All Is Dream

5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: No More Shall We Part

6. Mogwai: Rock Action

7. Spiritualized: Let It Come Down

8. Super Furry Animals: Rings Around The World

9. Beta Band: Hot Shots II

10. Daft Punk: Discovery

Rolling Stone

1. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

2. Alicia Keys: Songs In A Minor

3. Mick Jagger: Goddess In The Doorway

4. Björk: Vespertine

5. Jay-Z: The Blueprint

6. Garbage: Beautiful Garbage

7. Manu Chao: Proxima Estacion:Esperanza

8. The Strokes: Is This It??

9. O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Soundtrack

10. Radiohead: Amnesiac

Spin

1. System Of A Down: Toxicity

2. Radiohead: Amnesiac

3. Basement Jaxx: Rooty

4. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

5. Björk: Vespertine

6. Gorillaz: Gorillaz

7. Jay-Z: The Blueprint

8. Daft Punk: Discovery

9. Weezer: Weezer [Green Album]

10. Tori Amos: Strange Little Girls

Spin Cycle

1. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

2. Ryan Adams: Gold

3. Radiohead: Amnesiac

4. The Strokes: Is This It??

5. Björk: Vespertine

6. Gorillaz: Gorillaz

7. New Order: Get Ready

8. Missy Elliott: Miss E... So Addictive

9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: B.R.M.C.

10. Tool: Lateralus

Uncut

1. Ryan Adams: Gold

2. The Avalanches: Since I Left You

3. Bob Dylan: Love And Theft

4. N*E*R*D: In Search Of...

5. Pernice Brothers: The World Won't End

6. Hamell On Trial: Choochtown

7. Jim White: No Such Place

8. Basement Jaxx: Rooty

9. Mercury Rev: All Is Dream

10. Turin Brakes: The Optimist LP

Urb (No order specified)

Adult: Resuscitation

The Avalanches: Since I Left You

Basement Jaxx: Rooty

Cannibal Ox: The Cold Vein

DJ Krush: Zen

Marumari: Supermogadon

Missy Elliott: Miss E... So Addictive

Prefuse 73: Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives

The Poets of Rhythm: Discern/Define

Slam: Alien Radio

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Music

The 30 Best-Reviewed Albums of the Year

Music Critics' Year-End Top Ten Lists