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Artists of the 2000s

Our artists of the decade made great music, sure. Not one-and-done, either -- they knew how to repeat. Just as important, they staked their claims in the grand parade of popular culture. From Groban to Gaga, the 50 recording artists we would've had to invent if they didn't exist.

50. Dave Matthews Band
At a time of dying albums, DMB have had five straight debuts at No. 1. Plus: the bandleader's awesome Ozzy impersonation on 'SNL.'



49. Lily Allen
"Do you get a little kick out of being small-minded?" England's MySpace success story sang on her oh-so-charming kiss-off, 'F--- You.' She'll do it her way, thank you very much.

48. Bright Eyes
Conor Oberst survived the "new Dylan" tag, simultaneously released two albums (one acoustic, one electronic) in 2005 and called out President Bush on 'The Tonight Show.' What did you do in the '00s?

47. Usher
Already "the next Michael Jackson" when the first one stepped off this mortal coil.

46. Daft Punk
These French robots were already house-music vets when they made a breakthrough 'Discovery' in '01. Harder, better, faster, stronger.

45. John Mayer
Any rock star who will put on a neon-green thong for laughs can be shortlisted as an artist of the next decade, too.



44. Gwen Stefani
Girls who love to play dress-up have their ideal big sis in Mrs. Gavin Rossdale, who launched her own clothing line while establishing a pop identity for herself apart from No Doubt.

43. 50 Cent
If he'd released 'In Da Club' and made not another peep, the once and future Curtis Jackson would have been eligible. Twenty million album sales, G-Unit kicks, several books and a body spray make it clear ol' Fiddy hasn't exactly been resting on his sinewy laurels.

42. Miley Cyrus
Meet Miley Cyrus, the once and forever Hannah Montana. Now doing the family name proud, she's had the best of both worlds before her 17th birthday.

41. Keith Urban
He hit the top spot on the country chart an even 10 times in the 2000s, one for each year. Marrying fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman only made his star burn that much hotter.

40. Neko Case
When this Canada-philic American covered Johnny Paycheck, she sang 'If I'm Gonna Sink (I Might as Well Go to the Bottom).' She's a riot, she's gorgeous, she twangs: What's not to love?



39. Alicia Keys
She made her first appearance at age 4 on 'The Cosby Show,' and Clive Davis, who knows a musical prodigy when he sees one, signed her just before she left her teens.

38. Josh Groban
Classically trained and plugged into pop culture, he's the next generation's Pavarotti hottie.

37. Black Eyed Peas
Way before Obama, this multicultural hip-hop group was pushing the can-do spirit, funneling its relentless positivity into an unbroken string of emphatic party tunes.

36. M.I.A.
Fearless in a time of fierce border politics, this Sri Lankan firecracker makes the most politically motivated dance music since the Clash. "Third-world democracy," she declared on her breakout hit, 'Paper Planes.' "I got more records than the KGB."

35. Taylor Swift
Yes, Kanye stole her moment. Just turning 20, she'll have plenty more where that came from.



34. Linkin Park
What they've done is sold 50 million records and worked with Jay-Z. Can't argue.

33. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Cool kids belong together," Karen O sang on her band's debut. She ended the decade with the same thought, scoring 'Where the Wild Things Are.'

32. Susan Boyle
For rendering Simon Cowell speechless, for once.

31. Lady Gaga
Having become a headliner just in the past year, the divine Ms. G has crammed her short time in the limelight with enough outrageous costuming and persona to retroactively power the entire decade.

30. Fall Out Boy
Best band named for a 'Simpsons' reference.



29. Death Cab for Cutie
Their songs showed up on soundtracks from 'The O.C.' to 'New Moon,' and when Ben Gibbard took a break from the band, he started the Postal Service. In his spare time, he married Zooey Deschanel.

28. John Legend
He earned a diploma from an Ivy League university, but Legend's musical education came from a different institution of higher learning: the Old School of Soul, where he was taught by Professors Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway.

27. Kings of Leon
Like the Jonas Brothers, the Followill family were home-schooled and brought up in church. Unlike their Disney counterparts, the Kings have evidently not abstained.

26. The Strokes
No amount of hype could approach what the Strokes endured around their very deserving first album. The real achievement was that they remained standing in the aftermath.

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Frank

The DIXIE CHICKS have bigger balls than tobe keith could ever grow.

January 01 2010 at 6:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank

The DIXIE CHICKS have bigger balls than tobe keith could ever grow.

January 01 2010 at 6:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frank bernard

Miley Cyrus? The Jonas Brothers? Seriously?

January 01 2010 at 4:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frank bernard

Miley Cyrus? The Jonas Brothers? Seriously?

January 01 2010 at 4:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Missy

It's our own fault that all these artists have influenced American culture. Maybe when they open there mouth's we shouldn't buy there movies or CD's. Hit them where it hurts, MONEY!! and maybe they will stop trying to run the country and let the people we hired to do it.

January 01 2010 at 4:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Missy

It's our own fault that all these artists have influenced American culture. Maybe when they open there mouth's we shouldn't buy there movies or CD's. Hit them where it hurts, MONEY!! and maybe they will stop trying to run the country and let the people we hired to do it.

January 01 2010 at 4:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mark

The Dixie Chicks are leftwing lunies, and they SUCK !! Otherwise, have a Happy New Year and get the idiots out of the white house.

January 01 2010 at 3:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mark

The Dixie Chicks are leftwing lunies, and they SUCK !! Otherwise, have a Happy New Year and get the idiots out of the white house.

January 01 2010 at 3:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tinytim101

ok where is System of a Down album of the year 2001 aol needs to stop with these lists they are so bad

January 01 2010 at 2:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tinytim101

ok where is System of a Down album of the year 2001 aol needs to stop with these lists they are so bad

January 01 2010 at 2:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply