It was a decade that started with boy bands and Britney, and ended with Bob Dylan singing Here Comes Santa Claus.

In between, an endless stream of over-produced and under-talented American Idol winners managed to keep the big record labels from drowning in a pool of self-inflicted ennui. Yet, through all of this, we managed to find some exceptionally fine music. And you didn’t have to be an indie snob to find it. Here are ten records from the past 10 years that you can feel good about having in your library.

Foo Fighter
In Your Honor
2005

A double album, shows the band at its best -- plugged in and acoustic. It took on the other big double rock album of the decade -- Stadium Arcadium by the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- and won. With a string of radio friendly rockers like the Best of You and DOA, this is the album that made the Foo Fighters the top band of the decade.

Feist
The Reminder
2007

Some critics would place Feist’s debut album, Let It Die, above The Reminder. But let’s face it, The Reminder put Feist at a higher level. It’s also the album that broke the Canadian songstress internationally. It was hard to get tired of 1,2,3,4, even with the monster abuse it took on those iPod commercials. These are well-crafted songs, written with style and originality, and sung in a uniquely alluring voice. Too bad The Reminder launched a thousand copy cats.

Coldplay
A Rush of Blood to the Head
2003

This is the album that single-handedly saved EMI from disaster (the delay of the release of the follow-up X&Y actually caused a run on EMI stock, while Michael Jackson and the Beatles got the mega-label through the rest of the decade). The piano riff on Clocks alone makes this album a must. Coldplay started the decade a U2/Radiohead wannabe and reached 2010 well ahead of both.

Outkast
Speakerboxx/The Love Below
2003

This double album’s two huge ...[next page]