Local DJs: Best albums that are worth your money

Out of all the albums that are being released each day, only a few managed to achieve worldwide popularity. Today, Local DJs will list down our featured albums that you should consider buying or listening to. Take a look at the best albums that are worth your money this 21st century below:

21

21 is the 2nd album released by English singer Adele. It was named after the singer’s age during its production. The album draws its influence from the Southern blues and American country music that Adele began listening to during her tour named An Evening with Adele. 

The album was also composed after the singer got separated from her partner which is why it explored themes of healing, forgiveness and heartbreak. Adele aimed to have more contemporary and upbeat songs for her 2nd studio album. However, due to the breakdown of her relationship, she channelled her feelings into her compositions instead. Take a look at the key details about album 21 below:

• Artist: Adele
• Origin: United Kingdom
• Release date: January 24, 2011
• Worldwide sales: 31 million
• Genre: Soul, R&B, Pop
• Label: XL Columbia
• Producers: Adele Adkins, Jim Abbiss, Paul Epworth, Frase Smith, Rick Rubin, Dan Wilson, Ryan Tedder

At the age of 23, Adele’s album 21 won and was nominated for various international awards, making the singer the youngest artist to win ‘Grammy’s Triple Crown’. However, this record was broken by Billie Eilish when she won 4 Grammys in 1 night at the age of 18. Check out some of the prestigious awards the album 21 won below:

Ceremony	Year	Category
American Music Awards	2011	Favourite Pop or Rock Album
Danish Music Awards	2011	International Album of the Year
GAFFA Awards	2011	Best Foreign Album
Independent Music Companies Association	2011	European Independent Album of the Year
Billboard Music Awards	2012	Top Billboard 200 Album
Billboard Music Awards	2012	Top Pop Album
Brit Awards	2012	British Album of the Year
ECHO Music Awards	2012	Album of the Year
Grammy Awards	2012	Best International Album
Grammy Awards	2012	Album of the Year
Grammy Awards	2012	Best Pop Vocal Album
Juno Awards	2012	International Album of the Year
Premios Oye!	2012	Best English Album
Guinness World Records	2012	The first album in United Kingdom music chart to reach sales of at least 3 million within a calendar year
Guinness World Records	2012	Album with the most consecutive wins in the United Kingdom by a solo female
Guinness World Records	2012	Digital album with the biggest sales in the United Kingdom
Guinness World Records	2012	Digital album with the biggest sales in the United States
World Music Awards	2014	World’s Best Album

Take a look at this album’s tracklisting below:

1. Rolling in the Deep
2. Rumour Has It
3. Turning Tables
4. Don’t You Remember
5. Set Fire to the Rain
6. He Won’t Go
7. Take It All
8. I’ll Be Waiting
9. One and Only
10. Lovesong
11. Someone Like You
12. I Found a Boy
13. If It Hadn’t Been for Love
14. Hiding My Heart

The Eminem Show

The Eminem Show is American rapper Eminem’s 4th studio album that was released in May 2022. Most of the songs in the album were written by the rapper himself but some were composed by Dr Dre and Jeff Bass. Take a look at the key details about this album below:

• Artist: Eminem
• Origin: United States
• Release date: May 26, 2002
• Worldwide sales: 27 million
• Genre: Rap-rock, hip hop
• Label: Interscope, Aftermath, Shady
• Producers: Eminem, Dr Dre, Mr Porter, Jeff Bass

The album uses rap-rock and its theme is based on Eminem’s rising prominence in the hip hop genre. It also features his views on the United State’s political scene, making The Eminem Show the rapper’s most personal album. 

When the album debuted, it instantly secured its place in the top of the Billboard 200 for 6 weeks and sold more than 1.3 million copies within 2 weeks. Check out the peak positions this album achieved in various international music charts below:

Chart	Country	Peak Position
Ultratop Flanders	Belgium	1
Oricon	Japan	3
Top Catalog Albums (Billboard magazine)	United States	2
Top Rap Albums (Billboard magazine)	United States	14

Take a look at The Eminem Show’s tracklisting below:

1. Curtains Up
2. White America
3. Business
4. Cleanin’ Out My Closet
5. Square Dance
6. The Kiss
7. Soldier
8. Say Goodbye Hollywood
9. Drips
10. Without Me
11. Paul Rosenberg
12. Sing for the Moment
13. Superman
14. Hailie’s Song
15. Steve Berman
16. When the Music Stops
17. Say What You Say
18. Till I Collapse
19. My Dad’s Gone Crazy
20. Curtains Close
21. Brain Damage
22. The Way I Am
23. The Real Slim Shady
24. Thank You’s
25. 8 Mile
26. Slim Shank Redemption
27. New Victims
28. Without Me

Fallen

Fallen is the debut album of the rock band Evanescence that was released on March 4, 2003. Evanescence is composed of Amy Lee for vocals, Ben Moody for guitars and David Hodges for keyboards, Francesco DiCosmo for bass and Josh Freese for drums. Take a look at the key details about their debut album below:

• Artist: Evanescence
• Origin: United States
• Release date: May 26, 2002
• Worldwide sales: 17 million
• Genre: Metal
• Label: Wind-up
• Producer: Dave Fortman

The band started writing some of the songs in the album ever since their formation in 1995. After the album’s debut, it sold over 17 million copies worldwide. This made Fallen one of the top-selling albums of the 21st century. Check out the peak positions this album achieved in various international music charts below:

Chart	Country	Peak Position
Ultratop Flanders	Belgium	3
Oricon	Japan	7
Official Charts Company	United Kingdom	1
Billboard 200	United States	3
Top Catalog Albums (Billboard magazine)	United States	1
Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard magazine)	United States	18

Take a look at Fallen’s tracklisting below:

1. Going Under
2. Bring Me to Life
3. Everybody’s Fool
4. My Immortal
5. Haunted
6. Tourniquet
7. Imaginary
8. Taking Over Me
9. Hello
10. My Last Breath
11. Whisper
12. Farther Away

Let Go

Let Go is Canadian singer Avril Lavigne’s debut album that was released in June 2002. The singer struggled initially when it came to the musical direction under Arista Records. She then relocated to Los Angeles where she worked with the production team The Matrix who quickly grasped what she wanted her album to sound like.

After debuting in 2002, Let Go became the biggest pop debut of the year and garnered a lot of positive reviews from critics. It sold more than 16 million copies, paving the way for pop-punk music to enter the mainstream music scene and contributing to the rise of bands with female leads. Take a look at the key details about her debut album below:

• Artist: Avril Lavigne
• Origin: Canada
• Release date: June 4, 2002
• Worldwide sales: 16 million
• Genre: Pop punk, post-grunge, alternative rock
• Label: Arista
• Producer: Clif Magness, The Matrix, Peter Zizzo, Curt Frasca

Let Go earned many international awards from all over the world, making her the Best New Artists of MTV Video Music Awards in 2002. She also won the Best-Selling Canadian Singer award at the World Music Award in the same year. She received 5 Grammy nominations under Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album and Song of the Year. Check out some of the prestigious awards the album 21 won below:

Ceremony	Year	Category
Radio Disney Music Awards	2002	Best Album
Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards	2002	Top 10 Best Selling Foreign Albums
Hungarian Music Awards	2003	Foreign Modern Rock Album of the Year
Japan Gold Disc Award	2003	Rock and Pop Album of the Year
Juno Awards	2003	Album of the Year
Juno Awards	2003	Pop Album of the Year
MTV Video Music Awards Japan	2003	Album of the Year
Premios Oye!	2003	Main English Female Record

Take a look at Let Go’s tracklisting below:

1. Losing Grip
2. Complicated
3. Sk8er Boi
4. I’m with You
5. Mobile
6. Unwanted
7. Tomorrow
8. Anything but Ordinary
9. Things I’ll Never Say
10. My World
11. Nobody’s Fool
12. Too Much to Ask
13. Naked
14. Why
15. Get Over It

The Fame

The Fame is Lady Gaga’s debut album that was released in August 2008 under Interscope Records. Gaga worked with various producers for this album to displace synth-pop, dance-pop and electronic music vibes from the 1980s. The album also aims to mirror her love for fame by using subjects such as money, drugs and sexual identity.

Take a look at the key details about her debut album below:

• Artist: Lady Gaga
• Origin: United States
• Release date: August 19, 2008
• Worldwide sales: 15 million
• Genre: Synth-pop, dance-pop, electropop
• Label: Kon Live, Interscope, Streamline
• Producer: Lady Gaga, Brian & Josh, Rob Fusari, RedOne, Space Cowboy

Take a look at The Fame’s tracklisting below:

1. Just Dance
2. Love Game
3. Paparazzi
4. Poker Face
5. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)
6. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich
7. The Fame
8. Money Honey
9. Starstruck
10. Boys Boys Boys
11. Paper Gangsta
12. Brown Eyes
13. I Like It Rough
14. Summerboy
15. Disco Heaven
16. Again Again
17. Retro Dance Freak
18. Bad Romance
19. Alejandro
20. Monster
21. Dance in the Dark
22. Telephone
23. So Happy I Could Die
24. Teeth.