Best Albums of the 2000's

This was prompted by the Debbie downers commenting in the previous post that the music of the past decade was "awful."  "MAR" went so far as to say "music sucks big time today."  Whatever, man.  There have been some great tunes released these last 10 years, but you obviously don't know where to look or are just content to remain stuck in the past.  So please sit back while I educate you on the best 6 albums of the 2000's. 

6.  REM - And I Feel Fine...: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 (2006)

Before Michael Stipe actually started pronouncing his lyrics, REM was probably the greatest rock band of the 1980's and maybe even of the entire post 1960's era.  Their raw but eclectic sound was impossible to define but it was really awesome.  They're terrible now but last time I checked this compilation was released in 2006 so it's allowed on our list.   

5.  The Beatles - Help! (Remastered edition, 2009)

I was estatic when this was finally released a few months back.  The reason this CD is so great is because I didn't even have to buy it: it sounds exactly like the same one released 44 years ago which I already own.  So it's just as good.  Which means it's great.

4.   The Drifters  - The Millenium Collection:  The Best of the Drifters (2000)

Save the Last Dance For Me, Sand in My Shoes, Up on the Roof, Saturday Night at the Movies.  All conveniently placed into one CD that will make those hour-long July drives to Tybee go that much faster.  And all originally recorded in the 1950's and 60's. 

3.  The Temptations:  The Millenium Collection: Best Of The Temptations, Vol.1 - The '60s (2000)

When I first heard this CD I thought "Man!  This sounds just like the songs from my parents' old CD's!"  For this reason it easily gets the #3 spot. 
 
2.  The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Remastered, 2009)  

I immediately fell in love with this album upon its release.  And then I figured out why:  I already owned it.  Rubber Soul marked a turning point in the direction of rock music and I'm not really sure why I like it so much because I think it's evident by now that I'm not a huge fan of much of the music that has come after this turning point.   

1.  The Beatles - 1 (2001)
 
Easily the decade's best album for the simple reason that these songs sound identical to the ones already on Beatles albums.  Somehow or another, McCartney and Lennon were able to come together and recreate the same songs from their original time together.  I thought Lennon was dead but apparently not because you can clearly hear his voice on here.  The songs are so identical to the ones originally released in the 1960's it's almost spooky.  What the producers were able to do by taking the original recordings and simply copying and compiling them onto a new disc is nothing short of amazing.    


Honorable Mentions:  Jackson 5 - The Millenium Collection (2000), Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (2004), Various - Power Hour Blues (2004), Marvin Gaye - The Millenium Collection (2000), Various - 25 Beach Music Classics (2003)