My Favorite Album from Every Year I’ve Been Alive (Part Four: 2000–2009)

The E Street Band Strikes Back

We’ve reached the new millennium in my limited series on my favorite albums from each year I’ve been alive, and it was as much a transitional decade musically as it was in my personal life. The 2000s saw the arrival of my second daughter, the end of my marriage, the completion of my first novel-length work, and proof (for me at least) that 40 was actually not the new 30. The decade was also as pivotal for me from a literary standpoint as a musical one; The Shadow of the Wind, The Thirteenth Tale, The Angel’s Game, and People of the Book were all published during the 2000s.

It was transitional for another reason, as it was the last decade where I would have more impact on my kids’ musical taste than they had on mine; in the final installment covering the 2010s, you will see their influence. It’s also the final decade that Bruce Springsteen will totally dominate, though that’s only fair given his total absence from my 1990s list.

As with previous installments, I want to make clear that this is a listing of my personal favorite albums for each year of the 2000s. It is almost certain now that we’ve left the comfort of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s that my favorites will differ greatly from many of yours, and that’s ok.

Now on to the albums.

2000: Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. On paper, a band fusing metal and rap should not have been in my wheelhouse. Fortunately, they’re on record and not on paper. Mike and Chester were a duo made in heaven, as songs like “In the End” and “One Step Closer” clearly prove.

2001: M!ssundaztood by Pink. Probably the biggest surprise of any of my favorites thus far, and easily the one that got the most radio airplay, but this one is just so damn good. Over the past 21 years, the only phrase I’ve used more often than “don’t let me get me” is “tramps like us.” And like with Alan Jackson’s “Drive,” I still cry every time I hear “Family Portrait.”

2002: The Rising by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Bruce reunites with the E Street Band, which is reason enough for it to be my favorite of the year. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that this is the first true E Street Band album since 1984’s Born in the USA; people think of Tunnel of Love as an E Street record, but on the bulk of the songs Bruce played most of the instruments himself. With songs like “Mary’s Place,” “My City of Ruins,” “Lonesome Day,” and the title track, it was worth the wait.

2003: Meteora by Linkin Park. There was some good competition for my favorite of this year, but in the end (pun intended) Linkin Park wins out over Liz Phair by Liz Phair and Fallen by Evanescence. It’s an outstanding album, with some of my favorite tracks being “Numb,” “Easier to Run,” and “Faint,” but it could have grabbed this spot simply for the song below.

2004: American Idiot by Green Day. There is simply not a bad song on this punk rock opera we never realized we needed. With songs like “Jesus of Suburbia,” “American Idiot,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends” is it any surprise it not only hit #1 in ten countries but was also turned into a stage musical? A distant second for me in 2004 was You Are the Quarry by Morrissey. I hate that Moz gets bumped from this spot, given that You Are the Quarry is such an outstanding album, but it happens to the best of us, especially when going up against a record like American Idiot. Side note for those of you who remember American Idiot as your high school soundtrack: Billie Joe Armstrong is now 50 and his sons are 27 and 23 years old, respectively. You’re welcome for that existential crisis I just caused.

2005: A Beautiful Lie by Thirty Seconds to Mars. I have said for years that Jared Leto should abandon acting and focus solely on music, and from the opening track, “Attack,” this album is proof that I’m right. Bruce released the solo album Devils and Dust this year as well, and while it has some good songs, overall it’s never been one of my favorites as a complete album.

2006: We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions by Bruce Springsteen. 2006 was a solid year, but when it comes to my favorite this collection of classic American folk tunes is miles ahead of the others. My kids and I listened to it non-stop during a road trip to Galveston that summer, which gives it a happy association on top of its brilliance. Honorable mentions: Major Lodge Victory by Gin Blossoms, A Blessing and a Curse by Drive-By Truckers, and Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. In fact, even though the album didn’t end up being my favorite, here’s my favorite song of the year:

2007: Magic by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I wrote a review of this one a while back, calling it the best Springsteen album you’ve never heard, and I stick by that. Songs like “Last to Die,” “Long Walk Home,” and “Gypsy Biker” powerfully take on the Iraq War and its consequences, and “Terry’s Song” is a moving tribute to Bruce’s longtime friend Terry Magovern, who died shortly before the album was released. This is also the final album to feature Danny Federici, the original E Street keyboardist and another of Bruce’s oldest friends, who died from cancer on April 17, 2008. Honorable mention for this year goes to Riot by Paramore.

2008: The ’59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem. This spot would have been empty if not for Jessie Waddell mentioning this band enough times in her articles that I had to check them out. I’m glad I did, and you should too; on this record, I especially like “Miles Davis & The Cool,” “The Patient Ferris Wheel,” and the title track. Though not the best year for albums (for me at least), 2008 was saved by seeing Bruce live on April 13, 2008 during the Magic tour.

2009: Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Closing out the decade is an album that Alex Markham recently did a superb review of here; you should read it, as he does a far better job than I could explaining the brilliance of this record. This is final album featuring the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, before his untimely death in 2011. #BigManForever

As with earlier installments, the playlist below reflects my current favorite song from each of the albums; the links to Parts One, Two, and Three are below that. Next up, the final installment: the 2010s. Until then, keep on rockin’.

And here are Parts 1–3:

If you enjoyed this story, you can support my writing directly by joining Medium here. You’ll get access to all of my articles (including my weekly rants and numerous Springsteen stories) as well as those of all the other great writers here. You can also get my articles in your inbox by subscribing here.