20 Forgotten Pop Albums from 2001

When thinking about the year 2001 in music, names like NSYNC, Destiny’s Child, Madonna, and Linkin Park immediately come to mind. These artists undeniably left a strong mark on music history, but at the same time, numerous albums were released that over time became less visible, even though at the moment of their release they were widely heard and reflected the main trends of early 2000s pop music. We have compiled 20 of these albums to bring them back into the musical context and show how diverse the scene was at that time.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the music market was more saturated than ever: radio, MTV, CD compilations, and the first digital releases coexisted. In this environment, albums with only a few standout hits could quickly “fade into the background, ” even if their sound was modern and fresh.

A notable example is the second studio album by Mandy Moore — Mandy Moore, released in June 2001. Moore took control of her material and experimented with a mix of R& B, pop-rock, hip-hop, and Eastern-inspired elements. Its commercial success was moderate, but the album demonstrates how artists of the time sought new forms and musical styles.

Compilations such as Totally Hits 2001 also reached high chart positions and included hits like Usher — U Remind Me and Alicia Keys — Fallin’. These collections perfectly capture the early 2000s pop atmosphere, though today they are seen more as hit compilations rather than independent creative works by the artists.

Even commercially successful albums like Destiny’s Child — Survivor, NSYNC — Celebrity, and Madonna — Music are often remembered through individual songs rather than as complete albums. Nonetheless, these releases topped the Billboard 200, were certified platinum, and received significant media promotion at the time.

There are several reasons why many albums from 2001 became less visible: most releases featured only a few key singles; competition in the music market was very high due to the sheer volume of music being released; and the industry generally focused more on radio hits and popular singles than on the full album concept.

By compiling these 20 “conditionally forgotten” pop albums from 2001, we can see that even among less-promoted releases there are interesting experiments, unique sounds, and music that deserves renewed attention today. These albums provide a clearer understanding of the atmosphere of the early 21st century, when pop music was diverse, ambitious, and full of artistic exploration, even if some individual hits have not stood the test of time.