Top Ten Country Albums of the 2000 Decade

Growing up in the Deep South one thing there was never a shortage of was twangy country music. By the time I had reached my teens, I had heard enough of George Jones, Murrel Haggard, Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette to last a life time and swore off country music forever. That was until the Eagles ushered in a new sound that soon became known as country rock.

I, like so many others of my generation loved it. Blending the heart and soul and masterful storytelling of country music with the electrified edge of rock and roll, it was a sound that few of us could resist.

Country music continued its evolution into the 70's and throughout the 80's with the likes of Willie, Waylon and the boys and it still belonged to the boys well into the 90's. Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Brooks and Dunn dominated the country music charts.

By the time Y2K rolled around though, it was time for something new and it was the women who stepped up and brought not only some of the best vocalists and talent country music had ever seen, but the top ten best country music albums of the decade as well. And it went like this:

The Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Home, & Taking the Long Way

Love em' or hate em' you cannot talk about country music in the 2000's, without talking about The Dixie Chicks. Though their debut and sophomore albums, Wide Open Spaces and Fly, respectively, were originally released in the late 1990's, it was in the early 2000's, that both of these albums rocketed The Dixie Chicks to international fame and success.

Their first single, the toe-tapping "I can Love You Better" from Wide Open Spaces, turned more than a few heads, but, it was the next single off the record, also entitled "Wide Open Spaces" that sealed the deal for the Chicks.

No one, and I mean, no one could match their vocals, their harmonies, their energy and frankly, their looks. Not only were The Dixie Chicks outstanding artists and musicians, but these gals had the 'cool factor' all sewn up. They rapidly became country music's darlings and could do no wrong.

With the powerhouse vocals of Natalie Maines and the perfectly blended harmonies of sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, many of us were certain, and damn happy, that The Dixie Chicks would dominate the country music landscape for a very long time. That is, until a very unpopular war began and Natalie used her powerhouse vocals for something other than singing.

Ironically enough, it was during the Top of The World Tour that Natalie uttered those famous last words...."We're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." And just like that, The Dixie Chicks fell from the sky and, well; you know the rest of the story.

But, politics aside, no one can argue with the talent and superior musicianship The Dixie Chicks brought to country music and for that alone, hands down, I think they deserve at least, 4 spots in the top ten country music albums of the decade, with Wide Open Spaces, Fly, Home and their Grammy winning Taking the Long Way.

Faith Hill - Breathe

Another blonde chick from the South, Faith Hill, had already established herself as a country music force with her soulful blend of blues, country, R&B and gospel, by the time she made the best selling cross-over album, Breathe.

With her husband, a country superstar himself, Tim McGraw, Faith gave us what will probably become some of the most enduring country music duets ever. But it was with the album Breathe that Faith made an indelible stamp, not only on the country music charts, but as a cross-over artist in both pop and contemporary music as well.

For that feat, along with Faith's irresistible husky, soulful singing on the album, Breathe, she deserves a place in the top ten country albums of the 2000's.

Alison Krauss and Union Station - New Favorite

Alison Krauss, an undisputed musical prodigy who began playing professionally with the big boys in her teens, also got her running start in country music in the late 1990's with the Grammy winning album, and one of my all time favorites, So Long, So Gone , along with her multi-talented, bluegrass band, Union Station.

Alison Krauss & Union Station put bluegrass and traditional country music back on the map and it was out of that success, that Union Station snagged a Grammy with their bluegrass soundtrack to the movie, O' Brother, Where Art Thou.

After a brief hiatus to pursue solo careers, Alison Krauss and Union Station teamed up again and gave us New Favorite. One of the first singles off the record "The Lucky One", showcased, once again, Alison's angelic vocals.

But it's the haunting melodies in "Let Me Touch You For Awhile" that are Alison's strengths as a vocalist and musician and without a doubt, the knee-slapping, head-bobbing banjo in Momma Cried is the signature sound of Alison Krauss & Union Station.

For sticking to her roots and making bluegrass cool, once again, Alison Krauss & Union Station have a solid spot in country music's top ten albums of the decade.

Sugar Land - Twice the Speed of Life & Enjoy the Ride

When it comes to country music duos, few have been able to match the stellar success of Brooks and Dunn. Until of course, a little ole' group from Georgia, ya'll, by the name of Sugarland stepped onto the scene.

With their first hit, "Baby Girl" off their debut album, Twice the Speed of Life, released in 2004, Jennifer Nettles made it very clear she was in it to win. But it was the soulful and heart tugging ballad "Just Might (Make Me Believe)" that made a believing fan out of me.

In 2006, their sophomore album, Enjoy the Ride spawned two more number one hits and a Grammy for the deeply emotional and gut wrenching, "Stay." (Just try not to cry when you hear it. )

The following year, in 2007, Sugarland gave the boot the country's longest lasting duo, Brooks & Dunn and took home their first CMA for Vocal Duo of The Year. And it was well deserved.

After a Country Crossroads concert with Bon Jovi, Jennifer showed she could not only croon and yodel, but she could rock too.

The sky is the limit for Jennifer Nettles and Sugarland and I for one think both of their albums Enjoy the Ride and Twice the Speed of Life should hold down two more spots for top ten country albums in the 2000's.

Taylor Swift - Fearless

It was my 10 year old daughter who first brought Taylor Swift to my attention. I thought she was cute, yeah, but next to enduring country music greats like George Straight, Faith Hill and the up and coming Carrie Underwood, she seemed like nothing more than another blonde teeny-bopper in a pair of cowboy boots.

That was of course, until I heard what an incredible song writer this young woman really is. In fact, it's Taylor Swift's astonishingly clever, intelligent and insightful lyrics for such a young girl that sets her apart.

Taylor's first hit, "Tim McGraw" earned her a number one spot on CMT's music charts and also won her an award as Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.

If that were not enough success for the budding country music star, she opened for both Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on their Soul2Soul tour in 2007 and also went on to open for George Strait, Brad Paisley and the hugely popular, Rascal Flatts.

In 2008, Taylor released her sophomore and most successful album to date, Fearless - though it's hard to imagine that anything could have topped the success of her self-titled debut album.

In 2009, Taylor was the youngest artist in history to win both CMA's Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year (and only the second female). She swept the 2009 Grammy's and walked away with five wins and the Entertainer of the Year Award at the American Music Awards.

In May 2009, Taylor sold out a concert in two minutes at the Los Angeles Staple Center, only to best herself one week later at the Madison Square Garden in New York, by selling out in an astonishing one minute.

Clearly, Taylor is more than just a flash in the pan of country music. She not only rounds out the top ten country albums of the decade with Fearless, but she also makes it very clear that the next decade will likely be hers as well.

Sources:

XOMBA - Sugarland Wins 2007 CMA Best Country Duo

Wikipedia - Dixie Chicks Discography

Alison Krauss Official Website

Faith Hill Official Website

Wikipedia - Sugarland

Wikipedia - Taylor Swift