The Guardian: The 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century

Poll of 45 music writers, posted on September 13, 2019. Link. Each voter picked 20 albums, awarded points 20-1. A total of 454 albums received votes. Original list runs 100-1, so reversed here. My grades in brackets (as of 2019-10-07).

1. Amy Winehouse: Back to Black (2007, Universal) [B+(**)]
2. The Strokes: Is This It (2001, RCA) [A-]
3. Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010, Roc-A-Fella) [A]
4. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015, Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope) [A-]
5. LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver (2007, DFA/Capitol) [A-]
6. Dizzee Rascal: Boy in Da Corner (2003, Matador) [A-]
7. The Streets: Original Pirate Material (2002, Vice/Atlantic) [A]
8. Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006, Domino) [A-]
9. Beyoncé: Beyoncé (2013, Columbia) [B+(**)]
10. Frank Ocean: Blonde (2016, Boys Don't Cry) [B+(**)]
11. Radiohead: In Rainbows (2007, TBD) [A-]
12. Frank Ocean: Channel Orange (2012, Def Jam) [A-]
13. D'Angelo: Voodoo (2000, Virgin) [A-]
14. Kendrick Lamar: Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (2012, Aftermath) [A-]
15. Robyn: Body Talk (2010, Konichiwa/Cherrytree/Interscope) [A]
16. Radiohead: Kid A (2000, Capitol) [B]
17. OutKast: Stankonia (2000, LaFace) [A]
18. Kanye West: Yeezus (2013, Def Jam) [B+(*)]
19. PJ Harvey: Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (2000, Island) [A-]
20. Arcade Fire: Funeral (2004, Merge) [B+]
21. PJ Harvey: Let England Shake (2011, Vagrant) [B+(***)]
22. Joanna Newsom: Ys (2006, Drag City)
23. OutKast: Speakerboxx/The Love Below (2003, Arista) [A-]
24. David Bowie: Blackstar (2016, Columbia) [B+(***)]
25. Beyoncé: Lemonade (2016, Parkwood/Columbia) [A-]
26. The XX: XX (2009, XL/Young Turks) [A-]
27. Björk: Vespertine (2001, Elektra) [C-]
28. Aaliyah: Aaliyah (2001, Blackground)
29. The Deftones: White Pony (2000, Warner Bros.) [B+(*)]
30. Jay-Z: The Blueprint (2001, Roc-A-Fella) [B+]
31. Burial: Untrue (Hyperdub, B+(***))
32. MIA: Arular (2005, Beggars XL) [A-]
33. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (2007, Jagjaguwar) [B]
34. The Avalanches: Since I Left You (2000, Sire/Modular) [B+]
35. Daft Punk: Discovery (2001, Virgin) [B-]
36. Grimes: Visions (2012, 4AD) [B+(*)]
37. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie and Lowell (2015, Asthmatic Kitty) [B+(***)]
38. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever to Tell (2003, Interscope) [B+]
39. Britney Spears: Blackout (2007, Jive) [B+(***)]
40. Antony and the Johnsons: I Am a Bird Now (2005, Secretly Canadian)
41. Frank Ocean: Nostalgia, Ultra (2011, self-released) [A-]
42. At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command (2000, Virgin) [B+]
43. Kendrick Lamar: Damn (2017, Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope) [A-]
44. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City (2013, XL) [A-]
45. Portishead: Third (2008, Mercury) [B-]
46. Grimes: Art Angels (2015, 4AD) [A-]
47. Sleater-Kinney: The Woods (2005, Sub Pop) [B+(**)]
48. The White Stripes: Elephant (2003, V2) [B+]
49. D'Angelo: Black Messiah (2014, RCA) [A-]
50. Interpol: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002, Matador) [C+]
51. The Microphones: The Glow, Pt. 2 (2002, K) [B+(**)]
52. NERD: In Search of . . . (2002, Virgin) [A]
53. St Vincent: St Vincent (2014, Loma Vista/Republic) [B+(***)]
54. The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream (2014, Secretly Canadian) [B+(***)]
55. St Vincent: Strange Mercy (2011, 4AD) [B+(**)]
56. Cannibal Ox: The Cold Vein (2001, Def Jux) [B+]
57. Amy Winehouse: Frank (2003, Universal) [B+(*)]
58. J Dilla: Donuts (2006, Stones Throw) [B]
59. Janelle Monáe: The ArchAndroid (2010, Bad Boy) [B+(**)]
60. Jens Lekman: Night Falls Over Kortedala (2007, Secretly Canadian) [B+(*)]
61. Kanye West: The College Dropout (2004, Roc-A-Fella) [A-]
62. The Knife: Silent Shout (2006, Rabid/Mute) [B+(***)]
63. Jay-Z: The Black Album (2003, Roc-A-Fella) [A-]
64. Kelis: Tasty (2003, Star Trak/Arista) [A]
65. Primal Scream: XTRMNTR (2000, Astralwerks) [A-]
66. Alicia Keys: Songs in A Minor (2001, J) [A-]
67. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000, Interscope) [A]
68. The National: Boxer (2007, Beggars Banquet) [B+(*)]
69. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend (2008, XL) [B+(***)]
70. Lana Del Rey: Born to Die (2012, Interscope) [B+(**)]
71. John Grant: Queen of Denmark (2010, Bella Union) [B]
72. Lily Allen: Alright, Still . . . (2007, Capitol) [A-]
73. Clipse: Hell Hath No Fury (2006, Re-Up Gang/Zomba) [A-]
74. Salif Keita: Moffou (2002, Decca) [B+]
75. M.I.A.: Kala (2007, Interscope) [A-]
76. Wild Beasts: Two Dancers (2009, Domino) [B+(*)]
77. The Bug: London Zoo (2008, Ninja Tune) [B+(*)]
78. Drake: Take Care (2011, Universal Republic) [B-]
79. Kanye West: Late Registration (2005, Roc-A-Fella) [A]
80. Lady Gaga: The Fame (2008, Interscope) [B+(*)]
81. Madvillain: Madvillainy (2004, Stones Throw) [A-]
82. Yo La Tengo: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000, Matador) [B+(***)]
83. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Skeleton Tree (2016, Bad Seeds) [B-]
84. Konono No. 1: Congotronics (2004, Crammed Discs) [A-]
85. Chromatics: Kill for Love (2012, Italians Do It Better)
86. Elliott Smith: Figure 8 (2000, Dreamworks)
87. Justin Timberlake: Justified (2002, Jive) [B+]
88. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (2008, Sub Pop) [B-]
89. Taylor Swift: 1989 (2014, Big Machine) [B+(***)]
90. Katy B: On a Mission (2011, Columbia)
91. Ali Farka Touré/Toumani Diabaté: In the Heart of the Moon (2005, Nonesuch) [A-]
92. Erykah Badu: New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War (2008, Universal/Motown) [B+(***)]
93. Low: Things We Lost in the Fire (2001, Kranky)
94. Peaches: The Teaches of Peaches (2000, Kitty-Yo)
95. Charli XCX: Pop 2 (2017, Asylum) [B+(***)]
96. Missy Elliott: Miss E . . . So Addictive (2001, Goldmind/Elektra) [A-]
97. Róisín Murphy: Ruby Blue (2005, Echo UK)
98. Rokia Traoré: Tchamantché (2008, Nonesuch) [B+(**)]
99. Rihanna: Anti (2016, Roc Nation) [A-]
100. Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012, Clean Slate/Epic) [A-]

Grade Breakdown