2001: The Year In Music

2001 – Wikipedia is launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Netherlands becomes the first country in the world to make same-sex marriage legal. Two passenger planes hijacked by terrorists crash into New York’s World Trade Centre, causing the deaths of 2606 people. The US invasion of Afghanistan begins. In lighter news, I was born in 2001 … and the music wasn’t half bad!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Independent Women Part 1 (Destiny’s Child)

An absolute bop to kick 2001 off in style.

“Independent Women Part 1” is my favourite Destiny’s Child song – it’s a feminist anthem.

9 – Again (Lenny Kravitz)

Quite a boring ballad compared to Kravitz’s other, more exciting tunes.

8 – Thank You (Dido)

Let’s be honest, far more people remember this hook from Eminem’s song “Stan” than for the original Dido piece “Thank You”.

I still like it either way, and Dido’s vocals are haunting.

7 – Let Me Blow Ya Mind (Eve feat. Gwen Stefani)

Cool guitar hook, the rest I can take or leave.

6 – If You’re Gone (Matchbox Twenty)

Matchbox Twenty can stay in the 2000’s.

5 – I’m Real (Murder Remix) (Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule)

The remix makes it a bit groovier, but otherwise “I’m Real” is quite forgettable.

4 – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) (Train)

Is it corny? Yes, but “Drops of Jupiter” remains an endearing, catchy staple of early 2000’s Pop.

3 – All for You (Janet Jackson)

I’m glad Janet Jackson is still making hits in the 2000’s. This particular song, however, doesn’t do anything for me.

2 – Fallin’ (Alicia Keys)

It’s all about Keys’ vocals in “Fallin'”.

The harmonies are exquisite, and I like the various vocal melodies that expand as the song goes on.

1 – Hanging by a Moment (Lifehouse)

… Why was this the top song of the year?

It’s generic, unoriginal, and I can’t believe audiences in 2001 ate this up.

FAVOURITE – “Fallin'” (Alicia Keys)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “If You’re Gone” (Matchbox Twenty)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Parabola (TOOL)

We’re starting off with a strong shout for song of the year.

“Parabola” has one of the heaviest riffs I’ve ever heard, and the existential lyrics always get under my skin.

9 – New Slang (The Shins)

With a name like “The Shins”, I was expecting “New Slang” to be a bit heavier.

It’s not a bad song at all. In fact, the acoustic songwriting is quite refreshing.

8 – Hard To Explain (The Strokes)

My second-favourite song on “Is This It” behind “Last Nite” (which didn’t make this top ten, but oh well).

It’s jittery and full of energy, and I love how the choruses cut off.

7 – The Glow, Pt. 2 (The Microphones)

“The Glow, Pt. 2” hits you like a ton of bricks.

It slows drastically after those first few seconds, and it reminds me of Neutral Milk Hotel a fair bit.

6 – Lateralus (TOOL)

Hey, it’s the math song!

“Lateralus” is proof that you should stay in school, kids.

5 – Schism (TOOL)

Even looking past the insane bassline, “Schism” is iconic.

It was my favourite TOOL song for a time … until I found “Parabola” on the same album.

4 – Avril 14th (Aphex Twin)

Purely a piano track, which makes “Avril 14th” stand out that much more.

This is so different from other Aphex Twin songs I’ve heard, and I really like how simple it is.

3 – I Want Wind to Blow (The Microphones)

“I Want Wind to Blow” is the album opener, and I like its subtle groove.

It’s very stripped-back and bare, which invites the listener to focus more on the smaller details.

2 – Someday (The Strokes)

One of the better songs from “Is This It”.

It doesn’t have the edge of other tracks, but I can see why people like it.

1 – Pyramid Song (Radiohead)

“Pyramid Song” might not be my personal pick for song of the year, but I can absolutely see why people voted it as number one.

It’s a simple chord progression, but the off-beat inflections and metre makes the whole track deeply unsettling yet oddly beautiful.

BEST SONG OF 2001 – “Parabola” (TOOL)

No Muse, Daft Punk, System Of A Down or Gorillaz songs is a bit strange … but 2001 is shaping up to be a strong year!

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Lateralus (TOOL)

I’m sure this is a boring and very uncultured opinion, but I think “Lateralus” is the best TOOL album.

It has lots of my favourite TOOL songs, like the title track, “Schism” and especially “Parabola”, and each track flows together nicely.

4 – Vespertine (Bjork)

Bjork continues to innovate in the 2000’s … and, against all odds, “Vespertine” is even weirder than before.

“Hidden Place” is a hypnotic opener, “Pagan Poetry” is packed with layers, and then she’ll throw in a dreamy instrumental like “Frosti”. Weird, but I dig it.

3 – Discovery (Daft Punk)

There’s no point beating around the bush – “Discovery” is one of my favourite albums of all time, and it will definitely be my favourite album of 2001.

I love almost every song dearly, with personal highlights including “One More Time”, “Digital Love”, “Harder Better Faster Stronger”, “Voyager” and “Face To Face”. Even the closer “Too Long”, which was my least favourite for years, has grown on me considerably – now there are no weak tracks!

2 – Amnesiac (Radiohead)

It would’ve been too much to ask of Radiohead to follow “OK Computer” and “Kid A” with another of the greatest albums of all time, but they didn’t do too badly with “Amnesiac”.

It doesn’t flow as well as their all-time greats, but I love individual songs like “Pyramid Song”, “I Might Be Wrong” and “Knives Out”.

1 – Is This It (The Strokes)

It could be argued that The Strokes, especially their landmark album “Is This It”, were the most influential act of 2001.

Julian Casablancas’ lazy Lou Reed-esque delivery is entrancing, and songs like “Last Nite”, “Someday” and “Hard To Explain” have stuck in the public consciousness.

BEST ALBUM OF 2001 – “Discovery” (Daft Punk)

Gorillaz’s self-titled debut, “Origin of Symmetry” by Muse (a personal favourite), “The Blueprint” by Jay-Z, “White Blood Cells” by The White Stripes, “Toxicity” by System Of A Down AND “The Glow Pt. 2” by The Microphones all missed out on the top five … this is one of the strongest years yet!

Final Thoughts

Some of the best albums ever came out in 2001, and there were some good hits as well. If the hits were more consistent this could’ve been the first A+.

Overall Grade: A

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: