The Top Psychedelic Rock Albums of the 2000s

In this blog post, we take a look at the top psychedelic rock albums of the 2000s. We’ll explore what made these albums so special and influential in the genre.

The White Stripes – ‘White Blood Cells’

When The White Stripes released their third album ‘White Blood Cells’ in 2001, it was clear that Jack and Meg White were onto something special. A raw and energetic blend of punk, blues, and garage rock, the album announced the Stripes as one of the most exciting new bands around. It’s also one of the most psychedelic albums of the 2000s, full of mind-bending repetition, off-kilter time signatures, and surreal lyrics. Whether it’s the mind-melting riffage of ‘Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground’ or the hallucinatory lilt of ‘Hotel Yorba’, ‘White Blood Cells’ is an essential listen for anyone interested in psychedelic rock.

Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Songs for the Deaf’

Released in 2002, this is the album that made Queens of the Stone Age one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. It’s a record that oozes cool, from the desert-noir sleeve art to the riff-heavy, prog-infused sound. The highlights are many, but ‘No One Knows’ – with its catchy “woo-hoo” refrain – is perhaps the most memorable.

The Mars Volta – ‘De-Loused in the Comatorium’

The Mars Volta’s debut album is aconceptual work based on the lifeand suicide of their friend Julio Venegas.It’s an ambitious and uncompromisingalbum that features intricate musicianship,Incredible technical proficiency, and seller emotion.

Their second album, ‘Frances the Mute’, is another concept work, this time based on a notebook found by singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Once again, it’s a musically and emotionally demanding listen, but it’s also a rewarding one.

The Mars Volta are one of the most unique and controversial bands of the 2000s, and ‘De-Loused in the Comatorium’ is their greatest achievement.

System of a Down – ‘Toxicity’

System of a Down’s ‘Toxicity’ is one of the most important metal albums of the 21st century. It took the metal world by storm when it was released in 2001, and to this day it remains one of the best-selling metal albums of all time. ‘Toxicity’ is a perfect example of how to update the classic sound of metal for a new generation, and it paved the way for a whole new wave of bands who would go on to dominate the 2000s.

Tool – ‘Lateralus’

In May 2001, Tool released their third album ‘Lateralus’. The album was a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over three million copies in the US. ‘Lateralus’ is a concept album that explores the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio. The album artwork is based on the Golden Ratio, and the song structures are based on the Fibonacci sequence.

‘Lateralus’ is a masterpiece of psychedelic rock. It is an ambitious and complex album that rewards repeated listenings. The album opener ‘The Grudge’ is a tour de force of driving riffs and drumming, while ‘Parabola’ is a beautiful, atmospheric track that features some of Maynard James Keenan’s most emotive singing. ‘Schism’ is a radio-friendly hit that showcases the band’s tight musicianship, while ‘Ticks & Leeches’ is a dark and heavy track that features some of Adam Jones’s best guitar work.

Tool are one of the most successful psychedelic rock bands of the 2000s, and ‘Lateralus’ is their definitive statement.

Muse – ‘Absolution’

Muse’s third album, ‘Absolution’, was released in 2003 to critical acclaim. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize and won Best Rock Album at the 2004 Brit Awards. The album saw the band experimenting with a more electronic sound, and is widely considered to be their best work to date.

Foo Fighters – ‘One by One’

Foo Fighters – ‘One by One’
In 2002, the Foo Fighters released their fourth album, One by One. The album was a departure from the band’s previous releases, as it was more experimental and featured a greater focus on psychedelic rock. While the album was not a commercial success at the time of its release, it has since been hailed as one of the best psychedelic rock albums of the 2000s.

Nine Inch Nails – ‘With Teeth’

Trent Reznor’s spooky, sometimes-abrasive outfit Nine Inch Nails began the 2000s by dramatically expanding its guitar-based industrial metal sound for the synth-driven ‘With Teeth.’ The result was more immediate and less hung up on electronics than any of the band’s prior records, yet still retains their signature dark energy.

Audioslave – ‘Audioslave’

Audioslave was one of the first supergroups of the 21st century, bringing together the talents of Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2002 to great acclaim, debuting at Number Seven on the Billboard 200 and going on to be certified double platinum.

‘Audioslave’ is a masterclass in psychedelic rock, with Morello’s experimental guitar work complementing Cornell’s powerful vocals perfectly. The album includes the hit singles ‘Like a Stone’ and ‘I Am the Highway’, both of which have gone on to become classics of the genre.

Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Era Vulgaris’

Era Vulgaris is the fifth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on June 8, 2007 by Interscope Records. The album was preceded by two singles: “Sick, Sick, Sick”, which peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and “3’s & 7’s”. Era Vulgaris received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its experimental nature while others found it to be uneven. Nevertheless, it was a commercial success, reaching number fourteen on the Billboard 200 and selling 61,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States. Three additional singles were subsequently released: “Make It Wit Chu”, “Suture Up Your Future”, and “Into the Hollow”.