Geographically isolated and persistently ostracized by coastal tastemakers, Kansas City’s various music communities have developed unhealthy underdog postures since 2000. The wrong artists, consequently, are often embraced for erroneous reasons. The following ranking of one observer’s favorite albums by Kansas City artists released in the first 25 years of the new millennium is intended as a benevolent corrective. It’s also a celebration of excellence. Artists are limited to single selections. A corresponding list of jazz albums is here.
1. Fat Tone- Only in Killa City (2002)
2. Tech N9ne- Everready (2006)
3. Joyce DiDonato- Diva, Divo (2011)
4. Blackstarkids- Surf (2020)
5. Making Movies- A La Deriva (2014)
6. Mac Lethal- 11:11 (2007)
7. Ron Ron- Mr. No It All (2007)
8. Janelle Monaé- The ArchAndroid (2010)
9. Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys- The Spectacular Sadness of… (2000)
10. SleazyWorld Go- Where the Shooters Be (2022)
11. Huerco S.- Plonk (2022)
12. The Grisly Hand- Country Singles (2013)
13. Little Hatch- Rock With Me Baby (2003)
14. Rich the Factor- Rose Out the Concrete (2016)
15. Kelly Hunt- Even the Sparrow (2019)
16. Sandbox Percussion- Seven Pillars (2021)
17. Stik Figa- The City Under the City (2013)
18. Samantha Fish- Chills & Fever (2017)
19. Coalesce- Ox (2009)
20. Waxahatchee- Tigers Blood (2024)
21. Ces Cru- Capture Enemy Soldiers (2004)
22. The Get Up Kids- There Are Rules (2011)
23. Ebony Tusks- Heal Thyself (2020)
24. Krystle Warren- Circles (2009)
25. Reggie and the Full Effect- Songs Not to Get Married To (2005)