Emerging Landmarks Shaping the Musical Landscape of the 21st Century (Thus Far)

Let's Take a Spin Through the A-List 21st Century Music:

The 21st century has been a whirlwind ride of culture shifts and musical evolution. From the decay of music videos to the boom of digital streaming services, and even the comeback of vinyl records, it's been an incredible journey. So, who are the ones leading the charge in this musical landscape? Below is a lineup of the most impactful artists and their groundbreaking albums that have left a lasting impression on the 21st century so far.

OutKast - Stankonia (2000)

With Stankonia, OutKast crafted one of the first 21st-century rap masterpieces. This genre-bending opus serves up a potent mix of pop, funk, and rap, leaving listeners in awe. The album garnered widespread acclaim, with Rolling Stone dubbing it one of the best albums of 2000, while The Village Voice praised its verses as disarmingly subtle.

The Strokes - Is This It (2001)

The mid-2000s saw indie rock explode onto the scene, and The Strokes played a significant role with their debut album, Is This It. Certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry and spending 58 weeks on the Billboard 200, this seminal rock album still holds a strong influence over 21st-century music. NME even gave it a perfect 10 rating, hailing it as one of the best debut LPs by a guitar band during the past 20 years.

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (2012)

Channel Orange catapulted Frank Ocean into stardom with its captivating blend of genres, from psychedelic influences to electro-funk, soul, jazz, and funk. The album features earnest lyrics that speak to Ocean's emotional vulnerability, making it one of 2012's most iconic albums.

Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

Radiohead has made a lasting impact on the music world with their numerous critically-acclaimed albums, and Kid A is no exception. With poetic, almost mythic influences and an abundance of electronic samples, this album propelled Radiohead's sound into the 21st century. Kid A won a Grammy for Best Alternative Album and was placed at 67th for Rolling Stone's list of Top 500 albums of all time.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (2007)

LCD Soundsystem broke new ground with Sound of Silver, the Grammy-nominated second studio album that gave mid-2000s dance and electronica an emotional depth that had yet to be seen. The album earned high praise from critics, with The Guardian naming it album of the year for 2007.

Beyoncé - Beyoncé (2013)

The queen B brings it home with her self-titled fifth studio album. Beyoncé combined contemporary R&B, soul, and electronic music with her impressive vocal range to create an album that spent 185 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200.

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (2006)

Back to Black cemented Amy Winehouse's status as 21st-century music's first British soul icon. The album won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and today, Amy Winehouse's legacy continues to inspire contemporary artists such as Duffy and Adele.

Keep Your Vinyl Collection Spicc and Span with Big Fudge

Want to keep thoseprecated 21st-century tunes sounding their best? Look no further than Big Fudge's range of recording cleaning accessories and storage solutions. Share your favorite tunes from the 21st century on social media, and be sure to check out our blog for the latest cleaning and storage tips. Shop now at Big Fudge and keep that audio quality squeaky clean!

The mentioned albums from OutKast, The Strokes, Frank Ocean, Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, Beyoncé, Amy Winehouse, form an impressive lineup of groundbreaking 21st-century music that have left a lasting impression on entertainment, mostly in the genres of rap, indie rock, R&B, soul, electronica, and pop. To ensure your vinyl records of these influential albums remain in pristine condition, Big Fudge offers a range of recording cleaning accessories and storage solutions for audiophiles.