Best albums of 2001

This was my soundtrack for most of 2001, as it rarely left my CD player. Every song is great and builds off the foundation they laid out on their excellent debut. Why it took them 2 albums to break through I have no idea.
Favorite song: "Atwa"

Favorite song: "Tomorrow Comes Today"

So much honesty and passion on display here. It might be even better without the seemingly random screaming on some of the tracks, but it's certainly no worse for it.
Favorite song: "Paris In Flames"

I'm sure you've at least heard the singles off the debut album from the Toadies, Rubberneck, which came out in 1994. Well, they recorded a follow-up album in 1997, but Interscope Records claimed they didn't hear a single & wouldn't release it. So the Toadies went back to work & created this album, which Interscope released in 2001 but never got around to promoting. And that's why you probably didn't even know it exists, which is a shame.
Favorite song: "Jigsaw Girl"

Favorite song: "Cul de Sac"

I was shocked when I finally listened to this album & discovered that EVERY song on it is great. I figured Afroman was just a short-lived novelty act, but The Good Times proved he had some great songs in him. The fact that he composed the majority of it himself also speaks to his talent. Despite the talent on display here, however, I haven't really checked out any of his music that followed (and yes, he's still around).
Favorite song: "Hush"

Favorite song: "Art Star"

Look at that album cover. I couldn't stop looking at it, which encouraged me to take the album for a spin at my (then) local indie music store. And what I heard confirmed I needed it as a part of my collection.

If I had one complaint, it'd be that the final track goes on WAY longer than is necessary.
Favorite song: "The Garden Was Crowded and Outside"

Favorite song: "Dog Faced Boy"

So much fun.
Favorite song: "Double Team"

Favorite song: "The Union Forever"

This maybe shouldn't be here since there's one song ("Our Father") I tend to skip over whenever I listen to the album, but that doesn't mean it's not a great debut. It's definitely light-years ahead of most hip-hop.
Favorite song: "Coded Language"

Favorite song: "Sink to the Beat"

My only gripe with this album is that there's a little more filler than necessary, mostly in the form of interludes between the actual songs. They all contribute to the overall album experience, but most of the time I just skip over them to hear all the great songs Mike Patton, Dan the Automator, and Jennifer Charles composed.
Favorite song: "Book of the Month"

Favorite song: "Letters to You" (this version is a little more polished than the one found on Falling Into Place, but still excellent)

Wherein Murder City Devils showed a bit of growth, maturity, & willingness to expand their sound. Then, sadly, they broke up. Fortunately we may finally get to hear what they might have done next, as the band is said to be working on a new album now after having reunited a few years ago.
Favorite song: "364 Days"

Favorite song I could find a video for: "Gotta Go"
(Very strange to me that it's for a video game, but whatever.)

Much better than any album Skinny Puppy recorded in my opinion, mostly because it's listenable from start to finish. (Not that I dislike Skinny Puppy; I just don't enjoy their music as much as I used to.)
Favorite song: "Earthworm"

R.I.P. Bianca Halstead
Favorite song: "No Integrity"