The website DigitalDreamDoor's list of the Greatest 100 Rock Artists of the 2000s contains an eclectic collection of musicians. Four of the most renowned and critically acclaimed bands include Coldplay, Radiohead, System of a Down and the White Stripes. Led by Chris Martin, Coldplay debuted in 1994 and hit their stride in 2000 with the release of the album "Parachutes," which spawned the hit "Yellow." It was followed up with the album "A Rush of Blood to the Head," which featured the single "Clocks," used extensively in an American car commercial. Radiohead, led by vocalist Thom Yorke, combined pop sensibilities with punk and progressive influences. "Rolling Stone" magazine named its 2000 release, "Kid A," the Number 1 album of the decade. Hailing from Detroit, the White Stripes became a critical darling with the release of 2003's "Elephant," listed as the Number 5 album of the decade by "Rolling Stone." System of Down, from southern California, has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and won one for Best Hard Rock Performance, for "B.Y.O.B," in 2006.
Many of the best blues artists from the 2000s have been around for decades and continue to excel at their craft. Each year, "Living Blues" magazine gives both critics' and readers' choice awards to blues artists. Etta James and B.B. King continued to reap praises for their work during the 2000s. In 2005, James won Female Artist of the Year, and legend B.B. King won Male Artist of the Year. New blues artists cited for their debut recordings included Michael Powers {"Onyx Root") in 2004 and Lil' Joe Washington ("Houston Guitar Blues") in 2005.
George Strait is sometimes referred to as the current king of country music and he has the resume to back it up. He was named the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade for the 2000s and has amassed 57 Number 1 hits during his career. Toby Keith has had the most Number 1 hits during the decade, with 16. But Kenny Chesney may have topped them both. According to "Billboard" magazine, Chesney was the most successful country star of the decade. His song "Somewhere With You" was the most frequently played track in all of country music. It spent 53 weeks on the country charts. Chesney has had the most-listened-to song on the radio 10 percent of the time since 2000.
The jazz genre is a crowded field, and the 2000s was a busy decade. Jazz100.com ranked the Top 100 "New Breed" CDs for the decade. Vocalist/pianist Diana Krall's "Live in Paris" was ranked Number 1, and the Dave Holland Quartet's "Live at Birdland" came in second. Veterans such as Michael Brecker, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter and Pat Metheny also appear in the Top 10.