In this Feb. 13, 2005 file photo, Kanye West poses with his three awards at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. West won for best rap album, “The College Dropout,” best rap song and best R&B song {thanks, AP}

Let’s speak in simple terms for a moment. The ’70s? Led by the hippies. The ’80s? A Flock of Seagulls haircuts. The decade after that is still branded the “grunge” era. This is all very generic and easy (problematic, too, but that’s another story), but there’s something about these sweeping generalizations that continue to stick.

Will the aughts of the 21st century be remembered for anything? It seems too splintered, too disjointed to label any sound a proper representation. Which is completely fine, as it allowed our most important, coveted artists emerge. Here are our 10 most important albums of this decade:

1. Kanye West — The College Dropout
For all of his egotistical mishaps, Kanye West’s legacy as a hip-hop pioneer is cemented with his forward-thinking, soul-sampling debut LP. Even today, Dropout sounds wholly unique — a true one of one.

2. The Strokes — Is This It
The hype eclipsed this quintessential New York City band (word is the group is finally scheduled to hit the studio together in 2010, but we’ll see), but The Strokes’ debut set a blueprint for rock bands still enthralled with tight hooks, nonchalant attitudes and the American garage band sound.

3. Arcade Fire — Funeral
Out of nowhere (or Canada), Arcade Fire’s Funeral proved the power of Pitchfork, blogs and file-sharing. That’s all well and good, but the lasting power remains in the songs. “Wake Up” is still one of the biggest anthems of this decade.

4. Jay-Z — The Blueprint
We’ll be debating if The Blueprint is Jay’s greatest work (Reasonable Doubt anyone?) but there’s no denying the excellence of this succinct, pitch-perfect rap album. With only one feature (an incensed Eminem), Jay proved he was the undisputed heir to Biggie’s throne.

5. Interpol — Turn On the Bright Lights
Although the 9/11 tragedy happened almost a year before Interpol’s debut album was released, America had a cloud of ambivalence hanging over its head. No other record captured this sense of uncertainty like Turn On the Bright Lights. Mixed with anxiety and disconnect, there’s still truth to discover in these beautiful, droning songs.

6. Justin Timberlake — FutureSex/LoveSounds
Never underestimate Justin Timberlake. While plenty of us wanted to write off his solo career as typical, boring pop, it was impossible. His second album showed Timberlake was uninterested in duplicating his former fame, and was more interested in pushing radio’s expectations. Remember hearing “SexyBack” for the first time, and wondering what the hell was going on? It was just Timberlake shifting and expanding pop’s landscape.

7. Outkast — Stankonia
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below gets a lot of credit for being the artsy Outkast album (hey, there’s no rapping on “Hey Ya!” Cool!), but if I could only have one ‘Kast album, Stankonia is it. We’re dealing with rap artists with eclectic tastes, that one moment drive 300 mph (”B.O.B.”) and then slow it down to get high and party (”We Luv Deez Hoez”).

8. LCD Soundsystem — Sound of Silver
Is it OK to dance to such melancholy? “Someone Great” laments a fallen friend. “North American Scum” turned a dirty mirror on our culture. And LCD’s James Murphy crafted a true masterpiece, “All My Friends,” that spoke to not only his generation, but any generation that lost track of time and the relationships that come and go. There’s a strong backbeat to the entire album, but it’s the emotional core that keeps it vibrant.

9. Amy Winehouse — Back to Black
It’s a true shame that Amy Winehouse’s public persona has deteriorated to the point that many forget she put out a wonderful album. She was only 23, but she conveyed pain in the timeless way only great singers can pull off. Producer Mark Ronson brought a needed energy to the project that is at once a throwback and a livening of the senses. Winehouse did the rest.

10. Bright Eyes — I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
After countless recordings of Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst hitting and missing with tortured emo, Oberst released “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning,” reaching a potential many fans knew he had but wondered if he’d ever achieve. No need to worry — Oberst painted starkly vivid images (”Lua,” “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now”) and showed true, armor-down heart (”First Day of My Life,”
“Poison Oak”). A true classic in the singer-songwriter canon.

Correction: This post originally mentioned the Woodstock Festival occurring during the 1970s. It took place in August 1969. The reference has been removed.

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