The third studio album from Eminem found the rapper in a far more introspective mood than his previous albums and the honesty paid off. The album would feature hip-hop classics like "The Real Slim Shady" and "Stan", which wasn't based on a true story... but could have been.

Hip-hop gained a new and controversial voice in 2003 with the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin', the debut album from 50 Cent. Produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre, the album would feature Fiddy's sharp wit, unique delivery, and with "In Da Club", a mega-selling hit single.

On the heels of The Soft Bulletin, considered one of the best albums of the 90's, The Flaming Lips managed to go two for two with Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. A melding of psychedelic pop and the Lips' own unique sound, Yoshimi features the anthemic and uplifting "Do You Realize??", voted the Official Rock Song of Oklahoma in 2009.

Who would have thought that a little-known band from Seattle would craft one of the most beautiful albums of the decade? That's exactly what Fleet Foxes achieved with their 2008 debut, a combination of ethereal, Beach Boys-inspired harmonies and instrumentation straight out of The Band's Music From Big Pink.

It's hard to believe that 10 years ago we lived in a world where Franz Ferdinand was only the name of the former archduke of Austria. The 2004 debut from this Scottish band quickly changed that.

Gnarls Barkley isn't a who, it's a they - producer Danger Mouse and singer Cee-Lo. The duo's first album, St. Elsewhere, would feature one of the biggest songs of the decade in the infectious "Crazy".

In 2001, Blur's Damon Albarn and comic artist Jamie Hewlett created Gorillaz, the world's first living, breathing, cartoon band (sorry, Archies, you don't count) and helped introduce Del Tha Funkee Homosapien to an entire generation, thanks to his vocals on "Clint Eastwood" and "Rock The House".

The album that took Green Day from stars to superstars, American Idiot managed to combine short hits of punk brilliance (the title track) with epic, multi-part songs ("Jesus Of Suburbia"). A rock opera that actually rocks.

Amazingly, after more than a decade of departures and delays, in 2008 Chinese Democracy (the album) became a reality. Reason enough for its inclusion on our list. And if you need more proof, just listen to "Better".

PJ Harvey's goal with her 2000 album was simple: "I wanted everything to sound as beautiful as possible." Mission accomplished.

They came, they saw, they rocked. Sweden's The Hives' second album made them one of the bright hopes for garage-rock lovers around the world.

Springsteen-like gutsiness + booze-drenched barroom singalongs = the third album from The Hold Steady.

Released September 11th, 2001 Jay-Z's The Blueprint literally laid the blueprint for hip-hop in the new millenium.

The world first took notice of Norah Jones thanks to her 2002 debut album Come Away With Me, a blend of jazz and pop that's sold over 20 million copies around the world.

A soulful voice that would turn heads throughout the decade, Alicia Keys' debut album would garner her comparisons to Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, and even Prince.

Take one cocky frontman and add in some unabashedly 80's influences and you've got The Killers. Their 2004 debut would generate a series of hits. Smash single "All These Things That I've Done" contains one of the decade's most-quoted lines: "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier."

A battling band of brothers (and cousin) who spent the decade building a loyal fan base finally exploded with this 2008 album, thanks to the hit singles "Sex On Fire" and "Use Somebody".

From out of nowhere Lady Gaga burst onto the music scene and took the world by storm. Her debut album was the first in history to feature 4 number one singles in a row.

Sure, Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980, but that didn't stop them from releasing one of the essential albums of the 2000's. Recorded live in California in 1972, How The West Was Won puts the band's previous live album, The Song Remains The Same, to shame. One of the best live albums of any decade.

The second album from John Legend cemented his status as one of soul and r&b's greatest voices of the decade. Comparisons to Stevie Wonder were well deserved, but with Once Again and songs like "Heaven" and "Again", Legend came into his own.

Before Pete Doherty started making headlines for all the wrong reasons, he and his band The Libertines were making news for the right ones with their now-classic debut album.

The year 2000 saw the debut album from Linkin Park. While they would release other successful albums, none would resonate with listeners more than Hybrid Theory, which features Linkin Park essentials "In The End" and "One Step Closer".

Loretta Lynn, the sixtyish country legend, and Jack White, one of this decade's most revered musicians, seemed an unlikely pairing, but the duo managed to deliver the goods with Van Lear Rose. It doesn't get much better than Lynn and White's duet on "Portland, Oregon".