S AT U R D AY, J A N U A RY 1 8 , 2 0 2 5 THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY...SO FAR THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY...SO FAR Rolling Stone posted a feature on the 250 Best Albums of the 21st Century...So Far.</p><p> To me–a diligent, obsessive list- maker–them's fighting words.</p><p> At first, I thought, "already?" But oops, we're 25 years into the century so maybe it's not too soon to take a first look at all the great albums already out.</p><p> I haven't counted them up, but my list is substantially different from RS.</p><p> I've got more jazz, more world music, certainly more cast albums (Not even Hamilton? Really, Rolling Stone!) and let's face it, more NPR-type music for adults.</p><p> Are they right? Am I wrong? Nope.</p><p> It's just a reflection of how much terrific music is released (literally, thousands of albums worth every week and I'm not even counting A.I.-generated crap!) Plus, we've all got our biases.</p><p> Rolling Stone needs to be hip and reflect the radio, the kids, the cool stuff.</p><p> Not me.</p><p> I'm so old fashioned I listen to albums –not playlists and certainly not random singles.</p><p> So enjoy this list for what it is, a grab-bag of music from the past 25 years I've loved, some of which I've been playing and enjoying for longer than you've been alive (if perhaps we're talking about one of the older albums and you're, say, 21.) Unlike Rolling Stone, I am allowing only one album per act so I can offer up as many different artists as possible. (But I cheat a little.) So enjoy! And let me know what albums are missing from this list! They're not in any particular order, though perhaps my initial ten picks are ten of my absolute favorites.</p><p> But to prove they're not ranked, I end with Joni Mitchell'sM I C H A E L G I LT Z AT W O R K Michael Giltz is a freelance writer based in NYC and can be reached at mgiltz@pipeline.com FAV O R I T E L I N K S Americablog Five O'Clock Lightning baseball blog Deep Pop -- Lori Lakin's Blog The Back Page -- Jason Page on ESPN Radio Cine-Blog -- George Robinson's Blog Documents On Art & Cinema - Daryl Chin's Blog Brucie G's Wondrous Blog Of Adventure and Mystery -- Bruce Greenspan's Blog B L O G A R C H I V E ▼ 2025 (38) ► March (7) ► February (25) ▼ January (6)More Create Blog Sign In POPSURFING.COM3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 1/11magisterial covers album Both Sides Now and I'm not about to tell Joni Mitchell one of her albums ranks #250 out of 250.</p><p> Uh-uh.</p><p> It's great and I could easily put it at the top.</p><p> So there.</p><p> Pro tip: if you get to the bottom, you'll find a bonus list of the best reissues/boxed sets and a bonus bonus list of the best Christmas albums.</p><p> First, if you're interested, I've also got a list naming my favorite album for every year from 1924 to the Present.</p><p> Yes, 100+ years of great albums! And then I list all of my favorite albums for each year.</p><p> What great albums came out the year you were born? Have you heard them all? Check it out! The Best Albums of the Year: 1924 to the Present If you prefer to stroll through my library or wonder exactly how crazy I am about Paul McCartney or Prefab Sprout or Joni Mitchell or whomever, here are a bunch of albums I've listened to over the years, arranged by artist, going from ABBA to ZZ Top, as well as lists of cast albums, soundtracks, Christmas music and various artist compilations.</p><p> Michael's Music Library: Arranged By Artist From A to Z Like I said, I like lists! Okay, let's get streaming! Here are my picks for...</p><p> THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY...SO FAR SUFJAN STEVENS – (Come On Feel The) Illinoise MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers GREEN DAY -- American Idiot SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Chaos and Creation In The Backyard MAXWELL -- BLACKsummers'night /blackSUMMERnights (two albums in a trilogy) RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- We've Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become OceanTHE ULTIMATE GRAMMY PREVIEW: THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2024 WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 26, 2025 THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY...SO FAR WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 19, 2025 WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 12, 2025 WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 5, 2025 ► 2024 (37) ► 2023 (8) ► 2022 (6) ► 2021 (8) ► 2020 (7) ► 2019 (93) ► 2018 (34) ► 2017 (6) ► 2016 (2) ► 2015 (11) ► 2014 (2) ► 2013 (5) ► 2012 (17) ► 2011 (15) ► 2010 (10) ► 2009 (43) ► 2008 (86) ► 2007 (781) ► 2006 (2405) ► 2005 (5)3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 2/11ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raising Sand KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Heaven And Earth KATE BUSH -- Aerial ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Specialist In All Styles RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Want One KENDRICK LAMAR -- To Pimp A Butterfly AMY WINEHOUSE -- Back To Black ESLABÓN ARMADO -- Nostalgia AIMEE MANN -- Bachelor No. 2 or, The Last Remains of the Dodo VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Music from The Singing Detective And More EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Spring Awakening JOHNNY CASH -- American IV: The Man Comes Around SOLANGE -- A Seat At The Table WILCO -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot FLOATING POINTS AND PHAROAH SANDERS -- Promises COURTNEY BARNETT -- Sometimes I Just Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABATE – In The Heart Of The Moon KING CREOSOTE AND JON HOPKINS -- Diamond Mine BRANDI CARLILE -- In These Silent Days (In The Canyon Haze edition) BRIAN ENO AND ROBERT FRIPP -- The Equatorial Stars KANYE WEST -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy DOLLY PARTON -- Little Sparrow GRUPO FRONTERA -- El Comienzo ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Hamilton TINARIWEN -- Aman Iman: Water Is Life RYAN ADAMS -- Gold IMMANUEL WILKINS -- Omega THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt/Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird ep STURGILL SIMPSON -- Metamodern Sounds In Country Music PJ HARVEY -- Let England Shake 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 3/11ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The Bright Mississippi ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Hadestown (Off Broadway production) PESO PLUMA -- Génesis PETER GARLAND -- The Basketweave Elegies (performed by William Winant) KASEY CHAMBERS -- Dragonfly WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues BEASTIE BOYS -- Beastie Boys Music FIONA APPLE -- Fetch The Bolt Cutters OUTKAST -- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below DIXIE CHICKS -- Home AMADOU AND MARIAM – Dimanche a Bamako RICHARD SWIFT – The Richard Swift Collection, Volume One BRANFORD MARSALIS -- Four MF's Playin' Their Tunes THE EELS – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations BETTYE LAVETTE – I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise JOSH ROUSE -- 1972 ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- The Scottsboro Boys BRIGHT EYES – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning YOUSSOU N'DOUR -- Nothing's In Vain LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) JOSHUA REDMAN AND BRAD MEHLDAU -- Nearness LORETTA LYNNE -- Van Lear Rose MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- The Black Parade LINA RODRIGUEZ -- Lina_ Raül Refree NAS -- Nas TEDDY THOMPSON AND KELLY JONES -- My Love of Country/Once More (w Jenni Muldaur) MIDLAKE -- The Trials of Van Occupanther IRMA THOMAS -- After The Rain BRIAN WILSON -- Brian Wilson Presents Smile THE ROOTS -- The Tipping Point RADIOHEAD -- Kid A KENNY BARRON -- Book Of Intuition PAUL BUCHANAN -- Mid Air BOUBACAR TRAORE -- Mali Denhou 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 4/11MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Bare Bones BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD -- Backhand Deals THE STROKES -- Is This It? EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Fuse THE LEMON TWIGS -- A Dream Is All We Know CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS -- Genuine Negro Jigs ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Avenue Q BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE TONY BENNETT AND BILL CHARLAP -- The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern iLe -- Almadura JASON ISBELL -- The Nashville Sound JOHANN JOHANNSSON -- The Miners' Hymns KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War BECKY G -- Esquinas KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere BOYGENIUS -- The Record CHANCE THE RAPPER -- Coloring Book ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Billy Elliot LIZZO -- Cuz I Love You DWIGHT YOAKUM -- 3 Pears C.</p><p> TANGANA -- El Madrileño BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs MAVIS STAPLES -- Live: Hope At The Holdout BOB DYLAN -- Fallen Angels BOMBINO -- Agadez CAT POWER -- The Greatest D'ANGELO -- Voodoo THE MAVERICKS -- En Español TERENCE BLANCHARD -- A Tale of God's Will LINDA THOMPSON -- Won't Be Long Now THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 50 Song Memoir THE FEELING -- Boy Cried Wolf WILLIAM BASINSKI -- The Disintegration Loops SAULT -- Untitled (Black Is) and Untitled (Rise) JOAN BAEZ -- Day After Tomorrow BALLAKE SISSOKO AND VINCENT SEGAL -- Chamber Music TRACEY THORN -- Love and Its Opposite CHRIS STAPLETON -- Traveller ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Grey Gardens 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 5/11SONNY ROLLINS -- Road Show Vol. 1 TANYA TUCKER -- Sweet Western Sound VARIOUS ARTISTS – I Believe To My Soul A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- Been Around WYNTON MARSALIS -- Standards and Ballads FLEET FOXES -- Helplessness Blues SOLOMON BURKE -- Nashville DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES -- Do It For Love ROSEANNE CASH -- Black Cadillac MAX RICHTER -- The Blue Notebooks ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- The Wild Party (Michael John LaChuisa) KONONO NO. 1 -- Congotronics PETER WOLF -- Midnight Souvenirs BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions American Land Edition JILL SCOTT -- Woman RON SEXSMITH -- Long Player, Late Bloomer BASSEKOU KUYATE AND NGONI BA -- Segu Blue SUZANNE VEGA -- Beauty and Crimes FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Welcome Interstate Managers kd lang -- Hymns Of The 49th Parallel BRAD PAISLEY -- American Saturday Night ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- The Band's Visit BRAD MEHLDAU -- Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays The Beatles WEYES BLOOD -- Titanic Rising ELO aka Electric Light Orchestra -- Zoom CASSANDRA WILSON -- Thunderbird NEIL DIAMOND – 12 Songs THE LICKERISH QUARTET -- Threesome MARGO PRICE -- All American Made AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE -- A Trip To Bolgatonga CLARICE JENSEN -- The Experience Of Repetition As Death PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Pray For The Wicked LOUDON WAINWRIGHT -- High, Wide And Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me DAVID BOWIE -- Heathen THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Now Is Not A Great Time PATTY GRIFFIN -- Children Running Through 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 6/11FATOUMATA DIAWARA -- Fatou JAMES HUNTER -- People Gonna Talk ANDY BEY -- American Song REGINA SPEKTOR -- Begin To Hope VARIOUS ARTISTS -- O Brother, Where Art Thou? THE MONKEES -- Good Times! GILLIAN WELCH -- The Harrow and the Harvest BECK -- Sea Change THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You DIANA KRALL -- The Look Of Love THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS -- The Age Of The Understatement JOHN MORELAND -- Big Bad Luv DR.</p><p> JOHN -- Locked Down M.</p><p> WARD -- Hold Time CHUCK PROPHET -- The Land That Time Forgot MUDCRUTCH -- Mudcrutch 2 JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady THE WHIFFS -- Take A Whiff COWBOY JUNKIES -- Notes Falling Slowly KALI MALONE -- The Sacrificial Code VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Modern Vampires Of The City JUDY COLLINS -- Silver Skies Blue JAMES COTTON -- Cotton Mouth Man LORDE -- Pure Heroin(e) JESSE WINCHESTER -- Love Filling Station BOZ SCAGGS -- But Beautiful JOHN MAYER -- Born And Raised CAROLINE SHAW -- Orange THE CORAL -- Coral Island SHELBY LYNNE -- The Servant JAMEY JOHNSON -- Living For A Dream: A Tribute To Hank Cochran TAME IMPALA -- Currents CHARLIE GABRIEL AND THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- 89 ALLISON RUSSELL -- Outside Child CHEAP TRICK -- The Latest VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood original soundtrack NELLIE MCKAY -- Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute To Doris Day BETA RADIO -- Seven Sisters 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 7/11TOM WAITS -- Bad As Me IRIS DEMENT -- The Trackless Woods ANDY BURROWS AND MATT HAIG -- Reasons To Stay Alive JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST -- Watch the Throne RICK SPRINGFIELD -- The Snake King BETTY BUCKLEY -- Ghostlight STEVE EARLE -- Ghosts Of West Virginia SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA -- Across 110th Street JOE JACKSON -- Mr.</p><p> Joe Jackson Presents Max Champion in "What A Racket!" KEITH JARRETT AND CHARLIE HADEN -- Jasmine MIRANDA LAMBERT, JACK INGRAM, JON RANDALL - - The Marfa Tapes OLAFUR ARNALDS -- Some Kind Of Peace ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Boy Named If MELODY GARDOT -- My One And Only Thrill THE FRATELLIS -- Eyes Wide Tongue Tied MANDY PATINKIN -- Diary: January 27, 2018/April May 2018 AMY LAVERE -- Runaway's Diary NICK HEYWARD -- Woodland Echoes HARRY STYLES -- Harry's House TONY BENNETT & k.d. lang -- A Wonderful World IKE REILLY -- Born On Fire GLEN CAMPBELL -- Ghost on the Canvas WET LEG -- Wet Leg BEYONCÉ -- Cowboy Carter RICHARD THOMPSON -- 13 Rivers BON IVER -- For Emma, Forever Ago THE VINES -- Wicked Nature ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Remain In Light NICK CAVE -- Ghosteen MARIA MCKEE -- La Vita Nuova PAUL KELLY -- Songs From The South: Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits 1985-2019 KRONOS QUARTET AND TRIO DA KALI -- Ladilikan MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 1 MARCUS KING -- Mood Swings TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Honeyburst BUDDY GUY -- Living Proof PET SHOP BOYS -- Super THE FINN BROTHERS -- Everyone Is Here 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 8/11CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae THE SMILE -- Wall of Eyes / Cutout KELLY WILLIS -- Cheater's Game (w Bruce Robison) ARI LENNOX -- Shea Butter Baby TOUMANI DIABATE'S SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA -- Boulevard De L'Independance FRANK TURNER -- Tape Deck Heart BILL FAY -- Life Is People BONES -- Skinny and Rotten and Seabeds (all 2014) WYNTON MARSALIS AND ERIC CLAPTON -- Play the Blues ELLIOT BROOD -- Town and Country THE CURE -- Songs Of A Lost World SZA -- Ctrl FRANK OCEAN -- Channel Orange DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today LADY BLACKBIRD -- Slang Spirituals KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Rattlin' Bones HOWARD TATE -- A Portrait Of Howard ADELE -- 21 LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs From a Zulu Farm JONI MITCHELL -- Both Sides Now BONUS! THE 20 BEST REISSUES/BOX SETS OF THE 21ST CENTURY...SO FAR ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood BOB DYLAN -- Another Self Portrait BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Girl From Chickaswaw County JOHNNY ADAMS -- South Side Of Soul Street (The SSS Sessions)/Only Want To Be With You comp VARIOUS ARTISTS – Does Anybody Know I’m Here? Vietnam Through The Eyes of Black America JOHNNY CASH -- Unearthed VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970 Vol.</p><p> One/Two THE WATERBOYS -- Fisherman Box BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir THE REPLACEMENTS -- Tim: Let It Bleed Edition GARNET MIMMS -- Looking For You: The Complete United Artists and Veep Singles3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 9/11THE BEACH BOYS -- The Smile Sessions boxed set LINDA LEWIS -- Reach For The Truth: Best Of The Reprise Years 1971-1974) EDDIE CONDON -- The Eddie Condon Collection 1927-1961 V ARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds And Nigerian Blues 1970-1976 ROLLING STONES -- Live At The El Mocambo LONE JUSTICE -- Viva Lone Justice EMMYLOU HARRIS, DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT -- Trio: The Complete Collection TABU LEY ROCHEREAU -- The Voice Of Lightness THE BEATLES -- 1962-1966 (The Red Album expanded)/1967-1970 (The Blue Album expanded) BONUS BONUS! THE 13 BEST CHRISTMAS ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY...SO FAR SIA -- Everyday is Christmas SUFJAN STEVENS -- Songs For Christmas/Silver & Gold boxed sets AIMEE MANN -- Drifters in the Snow LOS LOBOS -- Llegó Navidad TRACEY THORN -- Tinsel and Lights WYNTON MARSALIS/JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER BIG BAND -- Big Band Holiday JUDY COLLINS -- Winter Stories BRISTOL BRASS CONSORT -- Festive Brass TORI AMOS -- Midwinter Graces ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- The Christmas Present STILE ANTICO -- A Spanish Nativity THE LIVING SISTERS -- Harmony Is Real: Songs For A Happy Holiday VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Where Will You Be Christmas Day POSTED BY MICHAEL GILTZ AT 12:08 PM 2 C O M M E N T S : ColdSh33p said...</p><p> Coming to you by way of a friend in Florida, I appreciate this list.</p><p> I appreciate that you've taken the time to only give one album per artist even if they do deserve having multiple albums on the list.</p><p> Great work! Thanks for letting me know that Mandy Patinkin has some studio albums out there.</p><p> PS: That's your Panic! At The Disco choice? Come on, man.</p><p> We can do better than that. ;)3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 10/11Newer Post Older Post3:59 PM Michael Giltz said...</p><p> Second! Remember when people would excitedly be the first to comment and say "first!"? Thanks for reading and commenting.</p><p> Re: Panic! Ha, I really also love Vices & Virtues and Too Weird To Live (and the latest).</p><p> I think they're really underappreciated.</p><p> If I'd had more time I would have listened intensely to make my choice between them.</p><p> Some artists boast a clear favorite.</p><p> Other have a wealth of options.</p><p> As for Patinkin, those intimate acoustic recordings are special.</p><p> He has at least nine albums (not counting cast recordings) and I heartily recommend his debut titled Mandy Patinkin and "Oscar and Steve" as great places to start. 4:30 PM Post a Comment Home Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) 3/24/25, 3:08 PM POPSURFING.COM: THE 250 BEST ALBUMS OF THE 21ST CENTURY . ..SO FAR https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-250-best-albums-of- 21st-centuryso.html 11/11
