Kicking the Canon — 2000s Albums

The number 2000 in white font on a red background.

Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP album cover. Sepia tone image of Eminem sitting on the porch of a house.

#1 The Marshall Mathers LP

2000

Eminem | Interscope, Aftermath

#1
The Marshall Mathers LP

Radiohead's Kid A album cover art. Snowy mountains with glitch art style and a red sky.

#2 Kid A

2000

Radiohead | Capitol

#2
Kid A

Outkast's Stankonia album cover. Andre 3000, Big Boi, and the American flag. Classic hip-hop.

#3 Stankonia

2000

OutKast | Arista

#3
Stankonia

D'Angelo's Voodoo album cover. Black and white photo of a shirtless D'Angelo with a cross necklace. Soul music.

#4 Voodoo

2000

D'Angelo | Virgin

#4
Voodoo

The Avalanches Since I Left You album cover. People in boats on a rough, dark blue sea.

#5 Since I Left You

2000

Avalanches | Modular

#5
Since I Left You

Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica album cover. Handshake above a cloudy landscape. Indie rock music.

#6 The Moon & Antarctica

2000

Modest Mouse | Epic

#6
The Moon & Antarctica

At the Drive-In album cover. Features a horse-drawn chariot and building with a yellow and black color scheme.

#7 Relationship of Command

2000

At the Drive In | Grand Royal, Fearless

#7
Relationship of Command

Nelly's Country Grammar album cover. Muscular man with tattoo, necklace, vest. Parental advisory label. Hip-hop music.

#8 Country Grammer

2000

Nelly | Universal

#8
Country Grammer

Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun album cover. Portrait of Badu in a hat, framed with album title text. Soul music.

#9 Mama's Gun

2000

Erykah Badu | Motown/Puppy Love

#9
Mama's Gun

PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea album cover. Woman in sunglasses on a city street at night.

#10 Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea

2000

PJ Harvey | Island

#10
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea

Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory album cover. Soldier with flag, wings, and graffiti. Grunge aesthetic.

#11 Hybrid Theory

2000

Linkin Park | Warner Bros.

#11
Hybrid Theory

Ghostface Killah's Supreme Clientele album cover. Rapper with a mic, beanie, and sunglasses. Classic hip-hop.

#12 Supreme Clientele

2000

Ghostface Killah | Epic, Razor Sharp

#12
Supreme Clientele

Jill Scott album cover: Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. Singer in hat and patterned shirt.

#13 Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1

2000

Jill Scott | Hidden Beach

#13
Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1

Two hands reaching with red burst. Spiritual art. Hands reaching out.

#14 Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

2000

Godspeed You! Black Emperor | Kranky

#14
Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

Nelly Furtado Whoa, Nelly! album cover. Singer lying in grass, green text.

#15 Whoa, Nelly!

2000

Nelly Furtado | Dreamworks

#15
Whoa, Nelly!

White pony outline. Running horse vector illustration. Animal silhouette.

#16 White Pony

2000

Deftones | Maverick

#16
White Pony

Common's Like Water for Chocolate album cover. Black and white photo with Colored Only sign. Music album art.

#17 Like Water for Chocolate

2000

Common | MCA

#17
Like Water for Chocolate

*NSYNC No Strings Attached album cover. Boy band members as puppets on a stage with curtains.

#18 No Strings Attached

2000

N*SYNC | Jive

#18
No Strings Attached

Close-up of evergreen tree branches with the letters GAS superimposed. Nature, foliage.

#19 Pop

2000

Gas | Mille Plateaux

#19
Pop

Yo La Tengo album cover. And then nothing turned itself inside-out album art. Night scene with houses and a figure.

#20 And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out

2000

Yo La Tengo | Matador

#20
And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out

Tom Ze Jogos de Armar album cover art. Features the artist's face, dice, and colorful lettering.

#21 Jogos de Armar

2000

Tom Zé | Trama

#21
Jogos de Armar

Smog Dongs of Sevotion album cover. Ornate church interior with glowing windows and stage. Indie rock music.

#22 Dongs of Sevotion

2000

Smog | Drag City

#22
Dongs of Sevotion

Black and white portrait of a jazz musician playing saxophone. Music performance.

#23 This Is What I Do

2000

Sonny Rollins | Milestone

#23
This Is What I Do

Craig David Born To Do It album cover. Man with headphones, eyes closed, wearing a beanie. Music concept.

#24 Born to Do It

2000

Craig David | Atlantic

#24
Born to Do It

Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish album cover. Features humanoid figures in hot dog-filled water. Parental advisory label.

#25 Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

2000

Limp Bizkit | Interscope

#25
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Rachid Taha Made in Medina album cover. Man seated in a chair, illustrated in a graphic style with yellow and red accents.

#26 Mad in Medina

2000

Rachid Taha | Barclay

#26
Mad in Medina

Merle Haggard If I Could Only Fly album cover. Country music legend with guitar. Sepia-toned.

#27 If I Could Only Fly

2000

Merle Haggard | ANTI-, Epitaph

#27
If I Could Only Fly

Bebel Gilberto album cover art. Brazilian singer with eyes closed. Bossa nova music.

#28 Tanto Tempo

2000

Bebel Gilberto | Ziriguiboom

#28
Tanto Tempo

Aimee Mann's Bachelor No. 2 album cover. Dodo bird illustration. Music.

#29 Bachelor No. 2, or the Last Remains of the Dodo

2000

Aimee Mann | SuperEgo

#29
Bachelor No. 2, or the Last Remains of the Dodo

James Carter Chasin' The Gypsy album cover. Jazz musician's face closeup, moody lighting. Music album art.

#30 Chasin' the Gypsy

2000

James Carter | Atlantic

#30
Chasin' the Gypsy

2001 in white serif font on a red background. Year 2001 graphic.

#30 Chasin' the Gypsy

Missy Elliott So Addictive album cover. Features Missy in a blue-toned futuristic setting with spiky orbs. Pop music icon.

#1 Miss E... So Addictive

2001

Missy Elliott | The Goldmind, Elektra

#1
Miss E... So Addictive

#2 Discovery

2001

Daft Punk | Virgin

#2
Discovery

Black and white art: Woman with bird overlay, Vespertine text, and pebble background. Abstract, surreal, artistic.

#3 Vespertine

2001

Björk | One Little Indian, Elektra

#3
Vespertine

Jay-Z The Blueprint album cover. Rapper smoking a cigar, sitting on a desk. Black and white hip hop album art.

#4 The Blueprint

2001

Jay-Z | Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella

#4
The Blueprint

The Strokes Is This It album cover. Black gloved hand on a white background. Indie rock music.

#5 Is This It?

2001

The Strokes | RCA, Rough Trade

#5
Is This It?

N.E.R.D. In Search Of... album cover. Pharrell Williams playing video games. Parental advisory label. Music album art.

#6 In Search of...

2001

N.E.R.D. | Star Trak, Virgin, EMI

#6
In Search of...

Sigur Rós' Ágætis Byrjun album cover. Features a line drawing of a fetus in the womb. Indie rock music.

#7 Agaetis Byrjun

2001

Sigur Ros | Fat Cat, Smekkleysa

#7
Agaetis Byrjun

Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor album cover. Singer in green hat and jacket. Music album art.

#8 Songs In A Minor

2001

Alicia Keys | J

#8
Songs In A Minor

The White Stripes album cover, White Blood Cells, features Jack and Meg White surrounded by silhouettes. Red, white, and black color scheme.

#9 White Blood Cells

2001

The White Stripes | Sympathy for the Record Company

#9
White Blood Cells

System of a Down's Toxicity album cover. Parody of the Hollywood sign. Rock music.

#10 Toxicity

2001

System of a Down | American, Columbia

#10
Toxicity

Jane Doe Converge album art. Illustration of a woman with eyes closed, looking up, in black and white with gold background.

#11 Jane Doe

2001

Converge | Equal Vision

#11
Jane Doe

The Shins Oh, Inverted World album cover. Blue background with white trees and yellow accents. Indie rock music.

#12 Oh, Inverted World

2001

The Shins | Sub Pop

#12
Oh, Inverted World

Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator) album cover. Woman in floral dress sitting on plaid bench. Americana music.

#13 Time (The Revelator)

2001

Gillian Welch | Acony

#13
Time (The Revelator)

Aaliyah portrait. Singer with long, dark curly hair and halter top. R&B icon.

#14 Aaliyah

2001

Aaliyah | Blackground, Virgin American

#14
Aaliyah

Psychedelic art featuring a muscular figure with anatomical details, surrounded by eyes and a spiral pattern. Spiritual, visionary artwork.

#15 Lateralus

2001

Tool | Volcano

#15
Lateralus

Ludacris' Word of Mouf album cover. Features the rapper and a dog with exaggerated features. Hip-hop music.

#16 Word of Mouf

2001

Ludacris | Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam South

#16
Word of Mouf

Person in 79 shirt, jeans, and belt, posing in front of an American flag. Patriotic fashion.

#17 Gold

2001

Ryan Adams | Lost Highway

#17
Gold

Bob Dylan Love and Theft album cover. Portrait of Bob Dylan with curly hair. Red text overlay.

#18 Love and Theft

2001

Bob Dylan | Columbia

#18
Love and Theft

Kylie Minogue's Fever album cover. Singer in white outfit with microphone. Pop music icon.

#19 Fever

2001

Kylie Minogue | Parlophone

#19
Fever

Sam Phillips Fan Dance album cover. Musician playing an acoustic guitar. Black and white music image.

#20 Fan Dance

2001

Sam Phillips | Nonesuch

#20
Fan Dance

Drive-By Truckers Southern Rock Opera album cover. Road, owl, highway 72 sign. Southern rock music.

#21 Southern Rock Opera

2001

The Drive-by Truckers | Soul Dump

#21
Southern Rock Opera

Orchestra Baobab's Pirates Choice album cover. Man holding vinyl record. African music. World music.

#22 Pirate's Choice

2001

Orchestra Baobab | Nonesuch

#22
Pirate's Choice

Fennesz Endless Summer album cover. Beach sunset scene, ambient music.

#23 Endless Summer

2001

Fennesz | Mego

#23
Endless Summer

Manu Chao Próxima Estación: Esperanza album cover. Musician plays guitar by the sea. Colorful, vibrant music art.

#24 Proxima Estación: Esperanza

2001

Manu Chao | Virgin Records

#24
Proxima Estación: Esperanza

The Moldy Peaches album art. Black and white drawing with band name, faces, and cartoon figures. Indie rock band.

#25 The Moldy Peaches

2001

The Moldy Peaches | Rough Trade

#25
The Moldy Peaches

Orlando Cachaito Lopez album cover. Musician with upright bass, yellow and black design. World music.

#26 Cachaito

2001

Orlando Cachaito Lopez | World Circuit

#26
Cachaito

Sum 41 All Killer No Filler album cover. Faces in a grid, tongues out. Pop punk music.

#27 All Killer, No Filler

2001

Sum 41 | Aquarius, Island

#27
All Killer, No Filler

Chest tattoo of Gotan Project, a tango electronica musical group.

#28 Revancha del Tango

2001

Gotan Project | XL, Ya Basta!

#28
Revancha del Tango

Corridors & Parallels by David S. Ware Quartet. Abstract image with horizontal lines in blue, black, and orange. Music album cover.

#29 Corridors and Parallels

2001

David S. Ware | AUM Fidelity

#29
Corridors and Parallels

René Marie Vertigo album cover. Smiling Black woman, jazz vocalist. MaxJazz vocal series. Black and white photo.

#30 Vertigo

2001

René Marie | Maxjazz

#30
Vertigo

White 2002 text on a red background. Year 2002 graphic.

#30 Vertigo

Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album cover. Features two tall, cylindrical buildings with balconies. Chicago architecture.

#1 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2002

Wilco | Nonesuch

#1
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Norah Jones Come Away With Me album cover. Close-up of Norah Jones. Jazz music.

#2 Come Away With Me

2002

Norah Jones | Blue Note

#2
Come Away With Me

Eminem Show album cover. Red stage curtains, Eminem sitting in the dark, microphone. Music, rap, hip hop.

#3 The Eminem Show

2002

Eminem | Interscope, Aftermath

#3
The Eminem Show

Flaming Lips album cover: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Features a girl facing off against two pink robots. Alternative rock music.

#4 Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

2002

The Flaming Lips | Warner Bros.

#4
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Sea Change album cover. Beck's face with colorful, abstract design. Music album art.

#5 Sea Change

2002

Beck | Geffen

#5
Sea Change

Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf album cover. Red background, black tuning fork.

#6 Songs for the Deaf

2002

Queens of the Stone Age | Interscope

#6
Songs for the Deaf

Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights album cover. Red lights illuminate a dark background. Indie rock music.

#7 Turn On the Bright Lights

2002

Interpol | Matador

#7
Turn On the Bright Lights

Abstract art: Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It In People. Mixed media collage with text and geometric shapes. Modern art.

#8 You Forgot It In People

2002

Broken Social Scene | Paper Bag

#8
You Forgot It In People

Dixie Chicks Home album cover. Three women in black dresses stand on a road. Country music.

#9 Home

2002

The Chicks | Monument, Columbia Nashville

#9
Home

Boards of Canada Geogaddi album cover. Kaleidoscopic tree pattern in warm red and yellow tones. Ambient electronic music.

#10 Geogaddi

2002

Boards of Canada | Warp

#10
Geogaddi

Abstract digital art of a woman's bust. Wireframe, glitch effect, and monochrome. Modern art.

#11 A Rush of Blood to the Head

2002

Coldplay | Capitol

#11
A Rush of Blood to the Head

Avril Lavigne's Let Go album cover. Avril stands in a black outfit with arms crossed against a blurred city background.

#12 Let Go

2002

Avril Lavigne | Arista

#12
Let Go

#13 American IV: The Man Comes Around

2002

Johnny Cash | Universal

#13
American IV: The Man Comes Around

Maroon 5 Songs About Jane album cover. Red-haired woman holding a box. Music album art.

#14 Songs About Jane

2002

Maroon 5 | Octone

#14
Songs About Jane

Album cover art for ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. Orange background with dark text.

#15 Source Tags & Codes

2002

... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead | Interscope

#15
Source Tags & Codes

Abstract ocean texture with ISIS band name. Dark green water background.

#16 Oceanic

2002

Isis | Ipecac

#16
Oceanic

Taking Back Sunday Tell All Your Friends album cover. Green tones, highway, bridge, and band name.

#17 Tell All Your Friends

2002

Taking Back Sunday | Victory

#17
Tell All Your Friends

Sigur Rós album art. Black and white nature scene in a stylized circular frame with band's signature.

#18 ( )

2002

Sigur Ros | MCA, Fatcat

#18
( )

The Streets' Original Pirate Material album cover. Features a high-rise building at night with illuminated windows. Album art.

#19 Original Pirate Material

2002

The Streets | 679

#19
Original Pirate Material

The Mountain Goats Tallahassee album cover art. Red and black abstract design.

#20 Tallahassee

2002

The Mountain Goats | 4AD

#20
Tallahassee

El-P's Fantastic Damage album cover. Abstract art with bold colors and graffiti-style text. Definitive Jux record label.

#21 Fantastic Damage

2002

El-P| Definitive Jux

#21
Fantastic Damage

Scarface The Fix album cover. Mirror reflects Scarface's face. Parental advisory label. Hip-hop music.

#22 The Fix

2002

Scarface | Def Jam

#22
The Fix

Drexciya Harnessed the Storm album cover. Purple background with floral mandala design. Electronic music.

#23 Harnessed the Storm

2002

Drexicya | Tresor

#23
Harnessed the Storm

Raining on the Moon album cover. William Parker Quartet, jazz music, street signs, and abstract art.

#24 Raining on the Moon

2002

William Parker | Thirsty Ear

#24
Raining on the Moon

The Libertines Up the Bracket album cover. Features riot police silhouettes against a red backdrop. Punk rock music.

#25 Up the Bracket

2002

The Libertines | Rough Trade

#25
Up the Bracket

Black Uhuru reggae band portrait. Rastafarian men with dreadlocks, woman in hat. Black and white.

#26 The Best of Black Uhuru

2002

Black Uhuru | Island

#26
The Best of Black Uhuru

Tribalistas band image. Three members: two men, one woman. Black and white graphic style. Brazilian music group.

#27 Tribalistas

2002

Tribalistas | EMI

#27
Tribalistas

The Notwist Neon Golden album cover. Red background, black circle, and band/album name.

#28 Neon Golden

2002

The Notwist | City Slang

#28
Neon Golden

Isabel Pantoja Donde El Corazón Me Lleve album cover. Spanish singer in black dress with red rose. Music icon.

#29 Donde El Corazón Me Lleve

2002

Isabel Pantoja | Mercury

#29
Donde El Corazón Me Lleve

Portrait of Na Ying, a Chinese singer and actress, with long black hair and a serious expression.

#30 Journey

2002

Na Ying | Warner Music Taiwan

#30
Journey

White 2003 text on a red background. Year 2003 graphic.

#30 Journey

Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album cover featuring André 3000 and Big Boi. Hip-hop music.

#1 Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

2003

OutKast | LaFace, Arista

#1
Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Dizzee Rascal Boy in da Corner album cover. Rapper in a corner with yellow background. Music album art.

#2 Boy in Da Corner

2003

Dizzee Rascal | XL

#2
Boy in Da Corner

The White Stripes duo. Meg White in white dress, Jack White in red suit. Album cover.

#3 Elephant

2003

The White Stripes | V2, XL, Third Man

#3
Elephant

Britney Spears In the Zone album cover. Pop music icon with blonde hair.

#4 In the Zone

2003

Britney Spears | Jive

#4
In the Zone

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever to Tell album cover. Indie rock band art with figures, guitar, and bold text. Music album artwork.

#5 Fever to Tell

2003

Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Interscope

#5
Fever to Tell

50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' album cover. Rapper with broken glass effect. Hip-hop music.

#6 Get Rich or Die Tryin'

2003

50 Cent | G-Unit, Interscope

#6
Get Rich or Die Tryin'

The Postal Service Give Up album cover art. Indie pop music, album art.

#7 Give Up

2003

The Postal Service | Sub Pop

#7
Give Up

Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism album cover. Black bird entangled in red string on a tan background. Indie rock music.

#8 Transatlanticism

2003

Death Cab for Cutie | Barsuk

#8
Transatlanticism

The Disintegration Loops IV album cover. Dark cityscape with blurred lights, William Basinski's ambient music.

#9 The Disintegration Loops IV

2003

William Basinski | 2062

#9
The Disintegration Loops IV

The Shins Chutes Too Narrow album cover art. Cartoon landscape with mountains, pond, and pipes. Indie rock music.

#10 Chutes Too Narrow

2003

The Shins | Sub Pop

#10
Chutes Too Narrow

The Wrens The Meadowlands album cover. Sepia toned image of a small, weathered building with a shingled roof.

#11 The Meadowlands

2003

The Wrens | Absolutely Kosher

#11
The Meadowlands

Black Eyed Peas Elephunk album cover. Features elephant graphic and band member portraits.

#12 Elephunk

2003

The Black Eyed Peas | A&M, will.i.am

#12
Elephunk

Four Tet Rounds album cover. Abstract art with holes, text, and a colorful, segmented object. Music album art.

#13 Rounds

2003

Four Tet | Domino

#13
Rounds

Green artichoke pattern. Abstract artichoke plant design with white lines. Food background.

#14 Alcachofa

2003

Ricardo Villalobos | Playhouse

#14
Alcachofa

Abstract organ art. Green background with piano keys and red, yellow circles. Musical instrument painting.

#15 The Ugly Organ

2003

Cursive | Saddle Creek

#15
The Ugly Organ

Belle and Sebastian's Dear Catastrophe Waitress album cover. Indie pop music.

#16 Dear Catastrophe Waitress

2003

Belle & Sebastian | Rough Trade

#16
Dear Catastrophe Waitress

The Books The Lemon of Pink album cover. Gears on a plate with a fork and knife. Indie rock music.

#17 The Lemon of Pink

2003

The Books | Tomlab

#17
The Lemon of Pink

Warren Zevon's The Wind album cover. Singer-songwriter portrait with glasses. Music icon.

#18 The Wind

2003

Warren Zevon | Artemis

#18
The Wind

The Unicorns' album art, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?. Features rainbow, clouds, and lightning bolts.

#18 Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?

2003

The Unicorns | Alien8, Rough Trade

#18
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?

Sleep's Dopesmoker album cover. Desert scene with robed figures, camels, and moons. Stoner metal music.

#20 Dopesmoker

2003

Sleep | Rise Above/The Music Cartel, Tee Pee

#20
Dopesmoker

Cafe Tacuba Cuatro Caminos parking ticket featuring a car graphic and the number 4.

#21 Cuatro Caminos

2003

Café Tacvba | Universal Music Mexico

#21
Cuatro Caminos

Regina Spektor's Soviet Kitsch album cover. Woman in military hat drinks from a bottle, surrounded by Russian nesting dolls.

#22 Soviet Kitsch

2003

Regina Spektor | Sire

#22
Soviet Kitsch

Tiny Voices album cover. Sepia-toned image of Joe Henry with clowns and people in vintage attire.

#23 Tiny Voices

2003

Joe Henry | ANTI-

#23
Tiny Voices

Ms. Dynamite A Little Deeper album cover. Woman sitting on a chair, wearing gloves and a white suit.

#24 A Little Deeper

2003

Ms. Dynamite | Interscope

#24
A Little Deeper

Oumou Sangaré album cover. African singer with headwrap and fur collar. Subway station background. World music.

#25 Oumou Sangaré

2003

Oumou Sangaré | World Circu

#25
Oumou Sangaré

Cat Power You Are Free album cover. Forest scene with trees, grass, and text overlay. Indie music.

#26 You Are Free

2003

Cat Power | Matador

#26
You Are Free

Taj Mahal's Hanapepe Dream album cover. Blues music, Hawaiian shirt, straw hat.

#27 Hanapepe Dream

2003

Taj Mahal & the Hulu Blues | Tradition & Moderne, Tone-Cool Records

#27
Hanapepe Dream

Bloodsutra by Vijay Iyer album cover. Abstract art with red, white, and blue colors.

#28 Blood Sutra

2003

Vijay Iyer Quartet | Artists House

#28
Blood Sutra

Dave Holland Quintet's Extended Play Live At Birdland album cover. Green background with geometric shapes. Jazz music.

#29 Extended Play: Live at Birdland

2003

Dave Holland Quintet | ECM

#29
Extended Play: Live at Birdland

King Sunny Ade album cover. The Best of the Classic Years music CD. Nigerian Juju music, world music.

#30 The Best of the Classic Years

2003

King Sunny Adé | Shanachie

#30
The Best of the Classic Years

The year 2004 in white serif font on a red background.

#30 The Best of the Classic Years

Arcade Fire's Funeral album cover art. Hand holding a feather, floral design, and block lettering. Indie rock music.

#1 Funeral

2004

Arcade Fire | Merge

#1
Funeral

Usher's Confessions album cover. R&B music icon with earring and chain.

#2 Confessions

2004

Usher | Arista

#2
Confessions

Brian Wilson Presents Smile album cover. Blue Smile text over a yellow sun.

#3 Smile

2004

Brian Wilson | Nonesuch

#3
Smile

Kanye West's The College Dropout album cover. Mascot bear sits on bleachers in an ornate frame. Classic hip-hop album art.

#4 The College Dropout

2004

Kanye West | Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

#4
The College Dropout

Iron & Wine Our Endless Numbered Days album cover. Man with beard lying in grass. Indie folk music.

#5 Our Endless Numbered Days

2004

Iron & Wine | Sub Pop

#5
Our Endless Numbered Days

Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway album cover. Close-up of the singer, with the album title and artist name displayed.

#6 Breakaway

2004

Kelly Clarkson | RCA

#6
Breakaway

MF DOOM's iconic metal mask. Madvillainy album cover art. Hip-hop music legend.

#7 Madvillainy

2004

Madvillain | Stones Throw

#7
Madvillainy

Green Day's American Idiot album cover. Hand holding a heart-shaped grenade. Punk rock music.

#8 American Idiot

2004

Green Day | Reprise

#8
American Idiot

Cam'ron Purple Haze album cover. Rapper in purple jacket and hat, city skyline backdrop. Hip hop music.

#9 Purple Haze

2004

Cam'ron | Roc-A-Fella

#9
Purple Haze

The Streets album cover. A bus stop at night with a man inside. Lighter with The Streets text. Music album art.

#10 A Grand Don't Come for Free

2004

The Streets | 679

#10
A Grand Don't Come for Free

The Killers' Hot Fuss album cover. Features the band's name, album title, and buildings against a blue sky.

#11 Hot Fuss

2004

The Killers | Island

#11
Hot Fuss

Album cover for The Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat. Geometric shapes in blue, brown, and white. Indie rock music.

#12 Blueberry Boat

2004

The Fiery Furnaces | Rough Trade

#12
Blueberry Boat

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Abattoir Blues album cover with flowers.

#13 Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

2004

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds | Mute

#13
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus

U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb album cover. Band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. sitting.

#14 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

2004

U2 | Interscope

#14
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Daddy Yankee Barrio Fino album cover. Black and white image of the reggaeton artist wearing a cap.

#15 Barrio Fino

2004

Daddy Yankee | El Cartel

#15
Barrio Fino

Annie, blonde hair, denim jacket. Singer-songwriter, music artist. Album cover.

#16 Anniemal

2004

Annie | 679

#16
Anniemal

Arabic calligraphy of Allah with Youssou N'Dour Egypt text. Islamic art.

#17 Egypt

2004

Youssou N'Dour | Nonesuch

#17
Egypt

She Like Electric album cover by Smoosh. Features yellow sunflower petals and a red center.

#18 She Like Electric

2004

Smoosh | Pattern 25

#18
She Like Electric

Joanna Newsom's The Milk-Eyed Mender album cover. Features a woman's portrait, stitched animals, and celestial objects. Folk art style.

#19 The Milk-Eyed Mender

2004

Joanna Newsom | Drag City

#19
The Milk-Eyed Mender

Prom photo of three people. Man in tuxedo with two women in formal dresses and corsages.

#20 This Island

2004

Le Tigre | Universal

#20
This Island

Squarepusher's Ultravisitor album cover. Features a portrait of the electronic musician with a serious expression.

#21 Ultravisitor

2004

Squarepusher | Warp

#21
Ultravisitor

Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous album cover. Features a whimsical town with trees on a dark background. Indie rock music.

#22 More Adventurous

2004

Rilo Kiley | Warner Bros.

#22
More Adventurous

Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose album cover. Singer in blue gown with guitar in front of a house. Country music.

#23 Van Lear Rose

2004

Loretta Lynn | Interscope

#23
Van Lear Rose

The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike album cover art with tiger, red and black text, and yellow background.

#24 Thunder, Lightning, Strike

2004

The Go! Team | Memphis Industries

#24
Thunder, Lightning, Strike

The Platters All-Time Greatest Hits album cover. Group portrait, suits, formal gown, stage backdrop. Classic R&B music.

#25 All Time Greatest Hits

2004

The Platters | Mercury

#25
All Time Greatest Hits

Papa Wemba The First Twenty Years album cover. African music, Viva La Musica.

#26 The First Twenty Years

2004

Papa Wemba | Stern's Africa

#26
The First Twenty Years

Alison Krauss and Union Station's Lonely Runs Both Ways album cover. Band members in a dressing room.

#27 Lonely Runs Both Ways

2004

Alison Krauss and Union Station | Rounder

#27
Lonely Runs Both Ways

Matthew Shipp's Harmony and Abyss album cover. Abstract twigs form a circle and square around the text.

#28 Harmony and Abyss

2004

Matthew Shipp | Thirsty Ear

#28
Harmony and Abyss

Charlie Haden Land of the Sun album cover. Features Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Jazz music album with orange and blue sky background.

#29 The Land of the Sun

2004

Charlie Haden | Verve

#29
The Land of the Sun

Amadou & Mariam Dimanche a Bamako album cover. African music duo with Manu Chao. World music album art.

#30 Dimanche á Bamako

2004

Amadou & Miriam | Nonesuch

#30
Dimanche á Bamako

White 2005 on a red background. Year 2005 in bold, elegant font.

#30 Dimanche á Bamako

Sufjan Stevens Illinois album cover. Chicago skyline, balloons, man in a suit, and a sheep. Indie folk music.

#1 Illinoise

2005

Sufjan Stevens | Asthmatic Kitty/Secretly Canadian, Rough Trade

#1
Illinoise

Kanye West's Late Registration album cover. Features the Dropout Bear mascot in front of ornate wooden doors.

#2 Late Registration

2005

Kanye West | Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella

#2
Late Registration

Sleater-Kinney's The Woods album cover. Red curtains frame a forest scene on a stage. Indie rock music.

#3 The Woods

2005

Sleater-Kinney | Sub Pop

#3
The Woods

M.I.A. Arular album cover. Features M.I.A.'s portrait with tanks, planes, bombs, and gun imagery. Alternative music.

#4 Arular

2005

M.I.A. | XL, Interscope

#4
Arular

Madonna Confessions on a Dance Floor album cover. Singer in pink outfit and red hair poses. Disco ball.

#5 Confessions on a Dance Floor

2005

Madonna | Warner Bros.

#5
Confessions on a Dance Floor

Gorillaz Demon Days album cover art. Four cartoon band members in square portraits. Music album art.

#6 Demon Days

2005

Gorillaz | Parlophone, Virgin

#6
Demon Days

Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine album cover. Close-up of green beans in a pod. Music album art.

#7 Extraordinary Machine

2005

Fiona Apple | Epic, Clean Slate

#7
Extraordinary Machine

Black and white photo of a woman lying in a hospital bed with flowers. Eerie, dark, and surreal.

#8 I Am a Bird Now

2005

Antony & the Johnsons | Secretly Canadian

#8
I Am a Bird Now

Abstract geometric shapes in pink, blue, and white. Wolf Parade album art.

#9 Apologies to the Queen Mary

2005

Wolf Parade | Sub Pop

#9
Apologies to the Queen Mary

Cityscape art featuring a building, tree, and skyline under a red sun. Urban landscape drawing.

#10 I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

2005

Bright Eyes | Saddle Creek

#10
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Young Jeezy Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 album cover art. Rapper in a hoodie, chain, and dark clothing.

#11 Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101

2005

Young Jeezy | Corporate Thugz, Def Jam

#11
Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101

Mariah Carey in gold dress, album cover. The Emancipation of Mimi album art.

#12 The Emancipation of Mimi

2005

Mariah Carey | Island Def Jam

#12
The Emancipation of Mimi

The Hold Steady's Separation Sunday album cover. City street scene in a hand-drawn frame. Indie rock music.

#13 Separation Sunday

2005

The Hold Steady | Frenchkiss

#13
Separation Sunday

Fall Out Boy's From Under The Cork Tree album cover. Features a stage with an audience and a snowy landscape backdrop.

#14 From Under the Cork Tree

2005

Fall Out Boy | Island

#14
From Under the Cork Tree

Surreal art: Birds in masks carry a city on their backs. Unique, whimsical illustration.

#15 Z

2005

My Morning Jacket | ATO

#15
Z

Person in red hood driving vintage car. Mysterious driver. Automotive.

#16 Frances the Mute

2005

The Mars Volta | Gold Standard Laboratories, Universal, Strummer

#16
Frances the Mute

Kate Bush's Aerial album cover. Features a soundwave graphic against a golden sunset and water reflection.

#17 Aerial

2005

Kate Bush | EMI, Columbia

#17
Aerial

Bloc Party's Silent Alarm album cover. Winter landscape with trees and snow. Indie rock music.

#18 Silent Alarm

2005

Bloc Party | Wichita

#18
Silent Alarm

Vintage illustration of children with birds, collage art, Feels album cover. Animal Collective music.

#19 Feels

2005

Animal Collective | FatCat

#19
Feels

Lee Ann Womack's There's More Where That Came From album cover. Country music singer with blonde hair.

#20 There's More Where That Came From

2005

Lee Ann Womack | MCA Nashville

#20
There's More Where That Came From

Girls Aloud Chemistry album cover. Features the British girl group, with their signature pop music style.

#21 Chemistry

2005

Girls Aloud | Polydor

#21
Chemistry

Pink album cover featuring the band Boris. Music, art, and design.

#22 Pink

2005

Boris | DiwphalanxK

#22
Pink

Musician playing trumpet. Jazz music performance with brass instrument. Concert scene.

#23 Show You Colour

2005

Cui Jian | JingWen Records

#23
Show You Colour

Monk's Casino album cover. Thelonious Monk's complete works. Features colorful, radial designs. Jazz music.

#24 Monk's Casino

2005

Alexander von Schlippenbach | Intakt

#24
Monk's Casino

Portrait of a young Asian woman in chef's uniform. Signature Gege Gepinto visible.

#25 Gepinto

2005

Gepe | Quesmasucabeza, Astro Discos, Darla Records

#25
Gepinto

Hank Williams Turn Back The Years album cover. Country music icon with guitar. Vintage collection.

#26 Turn Back the Years: The Essential Collection

2005

Hank Williams | Mercury

#26
Turn Back the Years: The Essential Collection

Vitalic's Ok Cowboy album cover. Silhouette of a man on a spiral staircase against a blue sky. Urban skyline at the bottom.

#27 OK Cowboy

2005

Vitalic | Citizen/Pias

#27
OK Cowboy

Lucero Nobody's Darlings album cover. Red and black graphic of a person, band's name.

#28 Nobody's Darlings

2005

Lucero | Liberty & Lament

#28
Nobody's Darlings

The World of Nat King Cole album cover. Three Nat King Coles stand in a subway.

#29 The World of Nat King Cole

2005

Nat King Cole | Capitol

#29
The World of Nat King Cole

Girl Group Sounds: Lost & Found album cover. Vintage music design with pink text on black. Retro sound aesthetic.

#30 One Kiss Can Lead to Another

2005

Various Artists | Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Foun

#30
One Kiss Can Lead to Another

The year 2006 in white font on a red background.

#30 One Kiss Can Lead to Another

Donuts album cover by J Dilla. Features a bitten donut over a 24-hour shop, with a plane in the background.

#1 Donuts

2006

J Dilla | Stones Throw

#1
Donuts

Amy Winehouse Back to Black album cover. Singer seated, wearing a white dress and red belt. Retro style.

#2 Back to Black

2006

Amy Winehouse | Island

#2
Back to Black

Bob Dylan's Modern Times album cover. Black and white, city lights background.

#3 Modern Times

2006

Bob Dylan | Columbia

#3
Modern Times

Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds album cover. Singer in suit steps on disco ball.

#4 Futuresex/Lovesounds

2006

Justin Timberlake | Jive

#4
Futuresex/Lovesounds

Painting of a woman with a flower crown holding a framed moth. Crow, skull, and landscape in the background. Fine art.

#5 Ys

2006

Joanna Newsom | Drag City

#5
Ys

Clipse Hell Hath No Fury album cover. Pusha T and Malice on an oven with money background. Hip hop music.

#6 Hell Hath No Fury

2006

Clipse | Jive, Star Trak

#6
Hell Hath No Fury

My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade album cover. Skeleton marching band leader. Emo rock.

#7 The Black Parade

2006

My Chemical Romance | Reprise

#7
The Black Parade

Ghostface Killah's Fishscale album cover. Rapper in leather jacket with group in background. Hip hop music.

#8 Fishscale

2006

Ghostface Killah | Def Jam

#8
Fishscale

Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not album cover. Alex Turner smoking.

#9 Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

2006

Arctic Monkeys | Domino

#9
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

#10 The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me

2006

Brand New | Interscope, Procrastinate!

#10
The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me

TV on the Radio's Return to Cookie Mountain album cover. Bird nest art, indie rock music.

#11 Return to Cookie Mountain

2006

TV on the Radio | Interscope, Touch and Go

#11
Return to Cookie Mountain

John Mayer's Continuum album cover. Music by John Mayer.

#12 Continuum

2006

John Mayer | Aware, Columbia

#12
Continuum

Man covered in fake blood. Horror, gore, and Halloween concept. Red liquid.

#13 Blood Visions

2006

Jay Reatard | Fat Possum, In the Red

#13
Blood Visions

Illustration of a couple: a man in a suit and a woman in traditional dress. Art with vintage style.

#14 The Crane Wife

2006

The Decemberists | Capitol

#14
The Crane Wife

Abstract blue circle design with hexagon pattern. Modern geometric background.

#15 Silent Shout

2006

The Knife | Rabid

#15
Silent Shout

Destroyer's Rubies album cover. Interior scene with bookshelves, furniture, and a person in a pink skirt. Red and white text overlay.

#16 Destroyer's Rubies

2006

Destroyer | Merge

#16
Destroyer's Rubies

E-40 My Ghetto Report Card album cover. Rapper with glasses and hat. Parental advisory label. Hip-hop music.

#17 My Ghetto Report Card

2006

E-40 | Warner Bros.

#17
My Ghetto Report Card

Vince Gill's These Days album cover. Brown text and monogram on a tan background. Country music.

#18 These Days

2006

Vince Gill | MCA Nashville

#18
These Days

The Greatest album cover by Cat Power. Gold boxing glove necklace on pink background.

#19 The Greatest

2006

Cat Power | Matador

#19
The Greatest

Tom Waits Orphans album cover. Sepia tone image of Tom Waits with vintage props and ghostly figures.

#20 Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards

2006

Tom Waits | ANTI-

#20
Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards

Ali Farka Toure's Savane album cover. Blues musician in chair with guitar. Desert blues singer.

#21 Savane

2006

Ali Farka Touré | World Circuit

#21
Savane

The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America album cover. Crowd of people.

#22 Boys and Girls in America

2006

The Hold Steady | Vagrant

#22
Boys and Girls in America

Ornette Coleman's Sound Grammar album cover. Blue circle with sound wave graphic in red, yellow, and black. Jazz music.

#23 Sound Grammar

2006

Ornette Coleman | Sound Grammar

#23
Sound Grammar

Scott Walker's The Drift album cover. Dark, abstract art with red and black textures.

#24 The Drift

2006

Scott Walker | 4AD

#24
The Drift

Rodrigo y Gabriela album cover. Close-up of a reptile eye. Alligator eye.

#25 Rodrigo y Gabriela

2006

Rodrigo y Gabriela | ATO Records

#25
Rodrigo y Gabriela

Collage of diverse young adult faces with varied expressions and hairstyles. Youth culture.

#26 Esquemas Juveniles

2006

Javiera Mena | MENI

#26
Esquemas Juveniles

Shut Up I Am Dreaming album art by Sunset Rubdown. Features colorful figures in a surreal, watercolor-style design.

#27 Shut Up I Am Dreaming

2006

Sunset Rubdown | Absolutely Kosher

#27
Shut Up I Am Dreaming

Rosanne Cash's Black Cadillac album cover. Features a close-up of a dark red rose against a black background.

#28 Black Cadillac

2006

Rosanne Cash | Capitol

#28
Black Cadillac

Ron Blake's All That Is Too album cover. Portrait of an older man with a white beard and dark jacket.

#29 All That Is Tied

2006

Ran Blake | Tompkins Square

#29
All That Is Tied

Andrew Hill Time Lines album cover art. Red background with white lines and text. Jazz music album.

#30 Time Lines

2006

Andrew Hill | Blue Note

#30
Time Lines

The year 2007 in white serif font on a red background.

#30 Time Lines

M.I.A. Kala album cover. Woman with sunglasses. Colorful, pixelated graphic design. Music art.

#1 Kala

2007

M.I.A. | Interscope

#1
Kala

Untrue album cover by Burial. Features a stylized, monochrome portrait. Electronic music.

#2 Untrue

2007

Burial | Hyperdub

#2
Untrue

Miranda Lambert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend album cover. Blonde woman with long hair, country music.

#3 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

2007

Miranda Lambert | Columbia Nashville

#3
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Kanye West Graduation album cover. Cartoon bear floating with graduation hats and college building.

#4 Graduation

2007

Kanye West | Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

#4
Graduation

Radiohead's In Rainbows album cover. Colorful text and abstract imagery. Music album art.

#5 In Rainbows

2007

Radiohead | TBD

#5
In Rainbows

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Raising Sand album cover. Black and white photo of the musicians on a beach.

#6 Raising Sand

2007

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss | Rounder

#6
Raising Sand

Collage of people and animals in water. Bears, tigers, llamas, and people wearing hats. Surreal art.

#7 Person Pitch

2007

Panda Bear | Paw Tracks

#7
Person Pitch

The Dream's Love Hate album cover. R&B singer in a suit, hat, and sunglasses. Parental Advisory label.

#8 Love/Hate

2007

The-Dream | Island Def Jam

#8
Love/Hate

MGMT's Oracular Spectacular album cover. Two men stand side-by-side with the band's name in large letters. Indie pop music.

#9 Oracular Spectacular

2007

MGMT | Red Ink, Columbia

#9
Oracular Spectacular

Close-up of homemade strawberry jam. Fresh, ripe strawberries preserved in a sweet, glossy syrup. Delicious fruit spread.

#10 Strawberry Jam

2007

Animal Collective | Domino

#10
Strawberry Jam

Riot! album art by Paramore. Black and orange text on a white background.

#11 Riot!

2007

Paramore | Fueled by Ramen

#11
Riot!

LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver album cover. Features a camera lens and album title on a textured background.

#12 Sound of Silver

2007

LCD Soundsystem | Capitol, DFA

#12
Sound of Silver

Britney Spears' Blackout album cover. Singer in a hat, pink top, with graphic background. Pop music.

#13 Blackout

2007

Britney Spears | Jive

#13
Blackout

Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga album cover. Black and white photo with a person in silhouette and red text. Indie rock music.

#14 Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2007

Spoon | Merge, ANTI-

#14
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

The National's Boxer album cover. Black and white image of a band performing at a wedding reception.

#15 Boxer

2007

The National | Beggars Banquet

#15
Boxer

The band Rilo Kiley's album cover, Under the Blacklight, features the band members sitting against a brick wall.

#16 Under the Blacklight

2007

Rilo Kiley | Warner Bros.

#16
Under the Blacklight

Mavis Staples We'll Never Turn Back album cover. Two people holding hands, crowd background. Civil rights, music.

#17 We'll Never Turn Back

2007

Mavis Staples | ANTI-

#17
We'll Never Turn Back

Cocol Bordello Super Taranta album cover. Band members performing with drums, guitar, and crowd. Green background.

#18 Super Taranta!

2007

Gogol Bordello | SideOneDummy

#18
Super Taranta!

The Field - From Here We Go Sublime album cover. Minimalist design with handwritten-style text. Music album art.

#19 From Here We Go Sublime

2007

The Field | Kompakt

#19
From Here We Go Sublime

Mirrored music studio with drum set, keyboard, and amps. Reflections create an infinite, surreal effect. Music equipment.

#20 Mirrored

2007

Battles | Warp

#20
Mirrored

Jens Lekman Night Falls Over Kortedala album art. Man with eyes closed getting a haircut with clouds in the background.

#21 Night Falls Over Kortedala

2007

Jens Lekman | Secretly Canadian

#21
Night Falls Over Kortedala

Lil Wayne Da Drought 3 mixtape cover. Rapper portrait with sunglasses. Urban music album art.

#22 Da Draught 3

2007

Lil Wayne | Young Money

#22
Da Draught 3

Geometric cross design. Golden outline on black background. Abstract Christian symbol.

#23 †

2007

Justice | Downtown, Vice

#23
†

Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? by Of Montreal album art. Psychedelic floral mandala design.

#24 Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

2007

Of Montreal | Polyvinyl

#24
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Roscoe Mitchell Composition/Improvisation album cover. Abstract art with chaotic, tangled lines on a white background. ECM Records.

#25 Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2, & 3

2007

Roscoe Mitchell | ECM

#25
Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2, & 3

Patty Griffin's Children Running Through album cover. Woman with red hair, black dress, and vintage car. Music.

#26 Children Running Through

2007

Patty Griffin | ATO Records

#26
Children Running Through

Girls' Generation album cover. K-pop group's first album with silhouettes of members. Pink background.

#27 Girls' Generation

2007

Girls' Generation | S.M. Entertainment

#27
Girls' Generation

The Con by Tegan and Sara album cover. Open book with soil and small twigs filling the center. Indie rock music album art.

#28 The Con

2007

Tegan and Sara | Sire

#28
The Con

Carsick Cars album art. Cartoon alien with gun, power lines, and industrial landscape. Indie rock music.

#29 Carsick Cars

2007

Carsick Cars | Maybe Mars

#29
Carsick Cars

Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday album cover. Jazz music icon with flower in hair.

#30 Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles

2007

Billie Holiday | Columbia

#30
Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles

White 2008 text on a red background. Year 2008 graphic.

#30 Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles

Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III album cover. Features a baby dressed in a suit with tattoos. Hip-hop music album art.

#1 The Carter III

2008

Lil Wayne | Cash Money, Universal Motown

#1
The Carter III

Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak album cover. Red heart balloon on blue background. Music album art.

#2 808s and Heartbreak

2008

Kanye West | Roc-a-Fella, Def Jam

#2
808s and Heartbreak

Abstract letter P graphic. White letterform on teal background. Modern typography design.

#3 Third

2008

Portishead | Mercury

#3
Third

Vampire Weekend album cover. Chandelier, orange lighting, and band name. Indie rock music.

#4 Vampire Weekend

2008

Vampire Weekend | XL

#4
Vampire Weekend

Viva la Vida album cover. Painting of Liberty Leading the People with graffiti. Classic art.

#5 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

2008

Coldplay | Capitol

#5
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago album cover. Features a snowy, blurred landscape with bare trees. Indie folk music.

#6 For Emma Forever Ago

2008

Bon Iver | Jagjaguwar

#6
For Emma Forever Ago

Taylor Swift Fearless album cover. Singer with curly blonde hair. Music, pop culture.

#7 Fearless

2008

Taylor Swift | Big Machine

#7
Fearless

Randy Newman's Harps and Angels album cover. Man plays piano surrounded by motorcycles in an urban setting.

#8 Harps and Angels

2008

Randy Newman | Nonesuch

#8
Harps and Angels

Erykah Badu's New Amerykah album cover. A woman with an afro made of objects, holding a ring that says New Amerykah.

#9 New Amerykah Part One

2008

Erykah Badu | Universal Motown

#9
New Amerykah Part One

Fleet Foxes album cover featuring a Bruegel painting. Busy scene with buildings and many people. Renaissance art.

#10 Fleet Foxes

2008

Fleet Foxes | Sub Pop

#10
Fleet Foxes

Gang Gang Dance's Saint Dymphna album cover. Person wearing a colorful, intricate mask and headdress. Art pop music.

#11 Saint Dymphna

2008

Gang Gang Dance | The Social Registry

#11
Saint Dymphna

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! album cover. Bright, marquee-style lettering. Music, album art.

#12 Dig, Lazarus, Dig!

2008

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds | ANTI-

#12
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!

iSouljaBoyTellem album cover. Close-up of rapper wearing sunglasses reflecting a cityscape. Music, hip hop.

#13 iSouljaBoyTellem

2008

Soulja Boy Tell 'Em | Interscope

#13
iSouljaBoyTellem

Crystal Castles band members. Indie rock music. Ethan Kath and Alice Glass.

#14 Crystal Castles

2008

Crystal Castles | Lies Records

#14
Crystal Castles

Santigold album cover art. Woman with glitter coming from her mouth. Black and white photo with gold glitter.

#15 Santigold

2008

Santigold | Downtown/Atlantic

#15
Santigold

Album cover art: Alopecia with horses in clouds, WHY? text.

#16 Alopecia

2008

WHY? | Anticon

#16
Alopecia

Drive-By Truckers Brighter Than Creation's Dark album cover art. Black and white illustration with gold text.

#17 Brighter Than Creation's Dark

2008

The Drive-by Truckers | New West

#17
Brighter Than Creation's Dark

Amadou & Mariam Welcome to Mali album cover. Malian musical duo, woman singing, man playing guitar. World music.

#18 Welcome to Mali

2008

Amadou & Mariam | Nonesuch

#18
Welcome to Mali

Have a Nice Life album cover, Deathconsciousness. Painting of a man holding a paper, dark and somber.

#19 Deathconsciousness

2008

Have a Nice Life | Enemies List

#19
Deathconsciousness

Japanese pop group Perfume's GAME album cover. Three women in black outfits stand on a green surface.

#20 Game

2008

Perfume | Tokuma

#20
Game

Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall album cover. New York City street scene with taxi cabs. Cuban music.

#21 At Carnegie Hall

2008

Buena Vista Social Club | Nonesuch

#21
At Carnegie Hall

Hercules and Love Affair album cover. Features three stylized figures in yellow, blue, and pink. Retro design.

#22 Hercules & Love Affair

2008

Hercules & Love Affair | DFA

#22
Hercules & Love Affair

Black and white portrait of Chris Difford with curly hair. Squeeze Records. Musician.

#23 Glass Box: A Nonesuch Retrospective

2008

Philip Glass | Nonesuch

#23
Glass Box: A Nonesuch Retrospective

Abstract black & white image. Features geometric shapes, text, and radial design elements.

#24 BCD-2

2008

Basic Channel | Basic Channel

#24
BCD-2

Abstract art: colorful geometric shapes, orange and green pathways, rainbow arch, floating cubes, ocean backdrop, and blue triangles.

#25 Street Horrrsing

2008

Fuck Buttons | ATP

#25
Street Horrrsing

Big Bang album cover featuring song titles like Foolish Love, Sunset Glow, and Remember.

#26 Remember

2008

BIG BANG | YG

#26
Remember

Girl in dark cloak and hat stands in woods. Moody, mysterious, and vintage-style photography.

#27 Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill

2008

Grouper | Type

#27
Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill

Black and white portrait of Nina Simone, iconic singer and civil rights activist.

#28 To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story

2008

Nina Simone | Legacy

#28
To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story

Colorful macaw parrot with fireworks and geometric shapes in the background. Tropical bird art.

#29 Slegranza

2008

El Guincho | Young Turks

#29
Slegranza

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band Season of Changes album cover. Silhouette of bare trees against a bright sky. Sepia tone.

#30 Season of Changes

2008

Brian Blade Fellowship | Verve

#30
Season of Changes

White 2009 text on a red background. Year 2009 graphic design element.

#30 Season of Changes

Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster album cover. Black and white image featuring Gaga with a white wig and black attire.

#1 The Fame Monster

2009

Lady Gaga | Interscope, Konlive

#1
The Fame Monster

Optical illusion: Merriweather effect. Green shapes on a purple background create a moving pattern. Brain teaser.

#2 Merriweather Post Pavilion

2009

Animal Collective | Domino

#2
Merriweather Post Pavilion

White X mark. Cross symbol on black background. Sign for incorrect, error, or deletion.

#3 xx

2009

The xx | Young Turks

#3
xx

Hand crushing an egg. Broken egg with yolk dripping. Cooking fail. Food photography.

#4 It's Blitz!

2009

Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Interscope, DGC

#4
It's Blitz!

Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. album cover. Green face with grid pattern. Music album art.

#5 The E.N.D.

2009

The Black Eyed Peas | Interscope

#5
The E.N.D.

Rihanna Rated R album cover. Black and white portrait of Rihanna with bold makeup and hand covering face.

#6 Rated R

2009

Rihanna | Def Jam

#6
Rated R

Abstract art with geometric shapes and bold colors. Text Grizzly Bear Veckatimest displayed vertically. Modern art album cover.

#7 Veckatimest

2009

Grizzly Bear | Warp

#7
Veckatimest

Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II album cover. Features Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and cleavers. Hip-hop music.

#8 Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II

2009

Raekwon | EMI

#8
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II

#9 Brand New Eyes

2009

Paramore | Fueled by Ramen

#9
Brand New Eyes

Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night album cover. Country music artist with guitar and cowboy hat.

#10 American Saturday Night

2009

Brad Paisley | Arista Nashville

#10
American Saturday Night

Surreal art: Man on the Moon. Colorful portrait silhouette with a moon background in space.

#11 Man on the Moon: The End of the Day

2009

Kid Cudi | GOOD, Universal Motown

#11
Man on the Moon: The End of the Day

#12 Blacksummers'night

2009

Maxwell | Columbia

#12
Blacksummers'night

Two women with blue and red filters, connected by lines. Conceptual art.

#13 Bitte Orca

2009

Dirty Projectors | Domino

#13
Bitte Orca

Mastodon's Crack the Skye album art. Psychedelic fantasy art with figures, cosmic eye, and surreal imagery.

#14 Crack the Skye

2009

Mastodon | Relapse, Reprise

#14
Crack the Skye

The Antlers - Hospice album art. Two hands, one with hospital bracelet, reaching. Indie rock.

#15 Hospice

2009

The Antlers | Frenchkiss

#15
Hospice

Album cover for Tyler, the Creator's Bastard mixtape. Features a group of children with red filter and brick wall background.

#16 Bastard

2009

Tyler, the Creator | Self-released

#16
Bastard

Lily Allen It's Not Me, It's You album cover. Woman in pink dress with legs up against a large black letter L.

#17 It's Not Me, It's You

2009

Lily Allen | Parlophone

#17
It's Not Me, It's You

Fever Ray album art. Black and white illustration of artist with sunglasses and a spooky, rural background.

#18 Fever Ray

2009

Fever Ray | Rabid

#18
Fever Ray

Black and white painting of a woman laughing with her mouth open. Expression of joy. Emotional art.

#19 Midtown 120 Blues

2009

DJ Sprinkles | Mule Musiq

#19
Midtown 120 Blues

Person jumping through a doorway. Red monochrome image of a man in mid-air, leaping. Action shot.

#20 The Ecstatic

2009

Mos Def | Downtown

#20
The Ecstatic

Florence + the Machine Lungs album cover. Singer with lungs imagery and floral background. Indie pop music.

#21 Lungs

2009

Florence + the Machine | Island

#21
Lungs

Matthew Shipp Trio Harmonic Disorder album cover. Abstract art featuring piano, cello, and orange circle.

#22 Harmonic Disorder

2009

The Matthew Shipp Trio | Thirsty Ear

#22
Harmonic Disorder

Girls album cover. Collage of band members, flowers. Indie rock music.

#23 Album

2009

Girls | True Panther Sounds

#23
Album

Allen Toussaint The Bright Mississippi album cover. Man in top hat balancing on fire hydrant. Jazz music.

#24 The Bright Mississippi

2009

Allen Toussaint | Nonesuch

#24
The Bright Mississippi

Passion Pit's Manners album cover. Abstract art with vibrant purple, orange, and yellow hues. Music album art.

#25 Manners

2009

Passion Pit | Frenchkiss

#25
Manners

G-Dragon's Heartbreaker album cover. K-pop star with white hair, heart background. Music album art.

#26 Heartbreaker

2009

G-Dragon | YG

#26
Heartbreaker

Tune-Yards Bird-Brains album cover. Pink and yellow stripes. Indie music.

#27 BiRd-BrAiNs

2009

Tune-Yards | Marriage

#27
BiRd-BrAiNs

Wang Feng Belief Flies in the Wind album cover. Singer in sunglasses and leather jacket. Chinese music.

#28 Belief Flies in the Wind

2009

Wang Feng | MusicNationGroup

#28
Belief Flies in the Wind

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart album cover art. Black and white image of band members. Indie pop music.

#29 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

2009

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart | Slumberland

#29
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Vijay Iyer Trio's Historicity album cover. A brown, egg-shaped object is pressed between wooden boards. Brick wall background.

#30 Historicity

2009

Vijay Iver | ACT Music

#30
Historicity

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