Billboard Music Awards Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
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Narrowing down a decade's worth of albums into a list of just 10 is brutal business. Taking all factors into consideration: critical reception, public reaction, radio response and overall impact for the artist as well as the industry, these are the records that stood out. In a ten-year period which saw tremendous change in the musical landscape (goodbye cassette and CD, hello digital download), the artists who not only survived, but thrived, did so mostly on their own terms, distinguishing themselves even further. Ten years from now, we're betting you'll still be listening to, and talking about the discs we've chosen. The Boot presents our top ten albums of the decade.
10. Tim McGraw - 'Set This Circus Down' (2001)
Seven albums into his career, Tim discovered a depth and resonance that had only been hinted at in previous efforts. He also stepped outside mainstream country a bit with the fiery 'Angel Boy,' and broke a few hearts (three million, if sales were any indication) with 'Angry All the Time.'
9. Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - 'Raising Sand' (2007)
A rock god and a country/bluegrass songbird meet in the middle. It shouldn't have worked, but boy did it ever! Boosted by inspired song selection and the distinctive production of T Bone Burnett, every note and every breath between is simply magical.
8. Carrie Underwood - 'Some Hearts' (2005)
The best selling album by an 'American Idol' contestant featured not one, but two Best Country Song Grammy winners -- 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' and 'Before He Cheats.' And although the song selection is strong, Carrie's room-filling vocals are the real star of the show.
7. Johnny Cash - 'American IV: The Man Comes Around' (2002)
The last album released during Johnny's lifetime, this brilliant collection could not have been a more fitting epitaph -- but that doesn't make it any easier to listen to at times. As he says in the title track, and proves in every single one after that, "the hairs on your arm will stand up."
6. Keith 'Urban - 'Golden Road' (2002)
Before becoming a husband and a father, Keith Urban was a young guitar slinger ready to take on the world -- and you can hear that ambition in nearly every track here. At turns sweetly romantic and wildly uninhibited, by the time this hugely popular album had run its course, Keith was a global superstar.
5. Brad Paisley - 'Mud on the Tires' (2003)
The singer-songwriter-guitarist grew by leaps and bounds between his second album and this, his third. Making the mournful 'Whiskey Lullaby' (featuring Alison Krauss) and the hilarious 'Celebrity' (not to mention the first appearance of the PG-rated Kung Pao Buckaroos) work on the same record is one of his better feats.
4. Lee Ann Womack - 'There's More Where That Came From' (2005)
The blockbuster success of 'I Hope You Dance' brought Lee Ann to the attention of a whole new crop of pop fans. This lushly produced, passionately delivered gem took her back to the hardcore traditional country that brought her to the dance in the first place.
3. Dixie Chicks - 'Home' (2002)
The trio's last "country" album, more or less, was a genre-hopping barn burner and a harbinger of things to come. An exhilarating fusion of bluegrass and country, also spotlighting the tremendous songwriting talents of Patty Griffin and Radney Foster, among others.
2. Taylor Swift - 'Fearless' (2008)
Call her pop, call her country, that's really all beside the point. The Taylor love story begins and ends with the simple fact that she's one of the most gifted, articulate songwriters of her generation. The later release of a 'Deluxe Platinum Edition' of the album further proved the point.
1. Various Artists - 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (Soundtrack) (2000)
This rousing Grammy-winning collection became a surprise hit, even eclipsing the success of the film from which it came. Like 'The Beverly Hillbillies' and 'Bonnie and Clyde' in the 1960s, it introduced a whole new audience to bluegrass and old-time music. Essential in every record collection.
10. Tim McGraw - 'Set This Circus Down' (2001)Seven albums into his career, Tim discovered a depth and resonance that had only been hinted at in previous efforts. He also stepped outside mainstream country a bit with the fiery 'Angel Boy,' and broke a few hearts (three million, if sales were any indication) with 'Angry All the Time.'
9. Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - 'Raising Sand' (2007)
A rock god and a country/bluegrass songbird meet in the middle. It shouldn't have worked, but boy did it ever! Boosted by inspired song selection and the distinctive production of T Bone Burnett, every note and every breath between is simply magical.
8. Carrie Underwood - 'Some Hearts' (2005)
The best selling album by an 'American Idol' contestant featured not one, but two Best Country Song Grammy winners -- 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' and 'Before He Cheats.' And although the song selection is strong, Carrie's room-filling vocals are the real star of the show.
7. Johnny Cash - 'American IV: The Man Comes Around' (2002)
The last album released during Johnny's lifetime, this brilliant collection could not have been a more fitting epitaph -- but that doesn't make it any easier to listen to at times. As he says in the title track, and proves in every single one after that, "the hairs on your arm will stand up."
6. Keith 'Urban - 'Golden Road' (2002)
Before becoming a husband and a father, Keith Urban was a young guitar slinger ready to take on the world -- and you can hear that ambition in nearly every track here. At turns sweetly romantic and wildly uninhibited, by the time this hugely popular album had run its course, Keith was a global superstar.
5. Brad Paisley - 'Mud on the Tires' (2003)
The singer-songwriter-guitarist grew by leaps and bounds between his second album and this, his third. Making the mournful 'Whiskey Lullaby' (featuring Alison Krauss) and the hilarious 'Celebrity' (not to mention the first appearance of the PG-rated Kung Pao Buckaroos) work on the same record is one of his better feats.
4. Lee Ann Womack - 'There's More Where That Came From' (2005)
The blockbuster success of 'I Hope You Dance' brought Lee Ann to the attention of a whole new crop of pop fans. This lushly produced, passionately delivered gem took her back to the hardcore traditional country that brought her to the dance in the first place.
3. Dixie Chicks - 'Home' (2002)
The trio's last "country" album, more or less, was a genre-hopping barn burner and a harbinger of things to come. An exhilarating fusion of bluegrass and country, also spotlighting the tremendous songwriting talents of Patty Griffin and Radney Foster, among others.
2. Taylor Swift - 'Fearless' (2008)
Call her pop, call her country, that's really all beside the point. The Taylor love story begins and ends with the simple fact that she's one of the most gifted, articulate songwriters of her generation. The later release of a 'Deluxe Platinum Edition' of the album further proved the point.
1. Various Artists - 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (Soundtrack) (2000)
This rousing Grammy-winning collection became a surprise hit, even eclipsing the success of the film from which it came. Like 'The Beverly Hillbillies' and 'Bonnie and Clyde' in the 1960s, it introduced a whole new audience to bluegrass and old-time music. Essential in every record collection.
