I've put together this list of the best albums from the year 2001 in my opinion. Why the year 2000? Well I'm doing it for every year of this decade starting with the earliest. It is more rock orientated than anything else with a few blues and reggae albums thrown in the mix. Read and enjoy!
The last person on this countdown is the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne. You remember, he’s the dad from that show the Osbournes? His eighth studio album, Down to Earth proved that you can clearly see Ozzy sings much better than he talks. This is a great album with an all-star band playing. Zakk Wyle is on guitar duties, and is arguably the best guitarist alive. Then you have Mike Bordin on drums from Faith No More and Robert Trujillo, who recorded this album with Ozzy and then joined Metallica. Another good one from the Ozzman.
Recommended Downloads:
Running Out of Time
Gets Me Through
Black Illusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFyenx9L4rA -No Easy Way Out
http://www.myspace.com/ozzyosbourne
Days of the New are next on the list of the best of 2001. Days of the New III, also known as the red album, is probably the weakest of the trio of Days of the New albums. It still maintains the acoustic elements found in their first album but they tried something different with this one like they did with their second album. It’s still an album that’s nice having and has one of their best songs ever featured on the album, Dirty Road. Do yourself a favor and try out this album.
Recommended Downloads:
Dirty Road
Die Born
Best of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJWsFJtL6B4 -Days in Our Life
http://www.myspace.com/daysofthenew
Staind’s second major label album is numero ocho. Break the Cycle is a great album and sold around seven million copies around the world! This is an album where you don’t want to skip any of the songs. You have surely listened to a few of the tracks like Outside or It’s Been Awhile on the radio. If those are the only songs you’ve listened to, buy the album or “borrow it from a friend”, than give it a try than.
Recommended Downloads:
Warm Safe Place
Open Your Eyes
For You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxpi2M38dAM -Fade
http://www.myspace.com/staind
God Hates Us All, did that get your attention? This is the name of the Christian Rock Icons, Slayer’s, eighth studio album that was criticized for its name. Slayer Guitarist, Kerry King, said that the name doesn't actually mean that God hates every individual and that it is more like people having a bad week feeling like God must hate them at that time. Despite any controversy, Slayer proved on this album that they can perform and record albums like they used to by being more aggressive and realistic with their lyrics. If you like listening to some heavy metal than this is for you.
Recommended Downloads:
War Zone
Disciple
Seven Faces
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxPk-sPbyY -Bloodline
http://www.myspace.com/slayer
A mother approved album comes in at number 6, Iowa by Slipknot. This is their second major label album and Iowa is a fan favorite. It has some of the heaviest tracks like the Heretic Anthem that make you wanna get up and destroy something that is not yours. The album doesn't have hardly any radio friendly songs. You might have heard the song My Plague from the first Resident Evil movie's soundtrack. Iowa defines why they are still one of the most popular metal acts today. This is an album that you need to hear for yourself even if you’re not a big fan of theirs.
Recommended Downloads:
Disasterpiece
My Plague
The Heretic Anthem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ABw6EnUnb4 -Left Behind
http://www.myspace.com/slipknot1
Coming in at number five on the list is Drowning Pool’s first album, Sinner, which was fronted by the late Dave Williams. Listening to this album is always an adrenaline rush. Yea a lot of people by now probably don’t think its very hardcore listening to Bodies 10 times in a row, but the album is still a nice one to have in your collection. Radio stations continue to play songs from this album like Bodies and Tear Away. I also had a soft spot for Sinner since Drowning Pool is from Dallas and you have to show some love to the talented local bands. Pick this album up if you don't already have it.
Recommended Downloads:
Reminded
Tear Away
All Over Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEkl1bWGQqU -Sinner
http://www.myspace.com/drowningpool
Remember Alien Ant Farm? Yea you do. ANThology was there first and best album to this day. While the band is still together, you just don't hear much from them. They did follow ANThology with traANT which had some good ones on it. The band received lots of radio time with songs like the Movies or Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal from this album. Smooth Criminal wasn't even going to be their single from the album at first. A New York City DJ started playing it and people kept calling in wanting to hear it again and again. That's how their popularity began. No matter how much people talk about them now, the songs that didn’t get the air time are even better and the whole album is worth kicking back and listening to.
Recommended Downloads:
Stranded
Flesh and Bones
Wish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxeNZOLNh4c -Smooth Criminal
http://www.myspace.com/alienantfarm
Number 3 on this list is one of the best metal albums I’ve ever listened to. Iced Earth has always sounded a little like Iron Maiden which is a good thing since they can pull of the power metal sound perfectly. Horror Show is Iced Earth’s sixth album and features Richard Christy on drums for the first time, he’s on the Howard Stern Show. Mathew Barlow performed vocals on this album and I think he is the best vocalist that Iced Earth has ever had. He left the band shortly after Horror Show was released to become a police office based on the tragic events of 9/11. Earlier this year, he rejoined the band so hopefully their new album, The Crucible of Man, can be good as Horror Show. I just got the new album and it sounds like it might be in the top ten albums of 2008.
Recommended Downloads:
Jack
Wolf
Imhotep (Pharaoh's Curse)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzAXkwzL3nQ&feature=related -Dragon’s Child
http://www.myspace.com/icedearth
Saliva’s second album, Every Six Seconds, is easily their best effort. Nowadays, Saliva is still popular but none of their newer songs are that great. I think they stopped writing good songs after their second album, Back into Your System. You probably know the song Click Click Boom from this album as it was featured in every movie for awhile. This album was great and every song fits well with the album and are worth listening to. They may not be the most stand out band but I’ll be listening to this album until they day I die.
Recommended Downloads:
Your Disease
Doperide
Greater Than/Less Than
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzOsVAxU6hY -After Me
http://www.myspace.com/saliva
Coming in at Number one is Sevendust’s third album, Animosity. This is one of their best albums along with Seasons and their self titled debut. The album is well balanced with heavier tracks such as Praise or T.O.A.B. and mellow songs like X-Mas Day and Angel’s Son. I checked out some other reviews on this album and most "professional music critics" said that this isn't anything special. Well you know what? Screw them! This album is great and no song on it is worth skipping over. If you’ve never listened to Sevendust or just want to hear a terrific rock album, this is the one for you.
Recommended Downloads:
Angel’s Son
Beautiful Praise
Praise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uopk7uch0Ro&feature=related -Redefine
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=3851140
The List only went to 10 but there were plenty of other good albums to come out that year. Click here to see the ones that almost made the list. Click on the title for more.