From Beyonce to Radiohead, great live albums from the 21st century (so far)

For the first half-century or so of rock 'n' roll, it seemed releasing a live album was a rite of passage; a way to show off the sort of passion a studio can't always abide.

With shifting trends, and changes in our listening habits, the live album doesn't always take, well, center stage. But don't assume a dearth of great modern live albums. Legacy acts and rising stars have committed their live show to the permanent record.

Here are just 17 of the great live albums from the 21st century so far.

Radiohead, "I Might Be Wrong" (2001)

Gorgeous, moody ballads and artful rock dodges mark this document of Radiohead's touring behind "Kid A" and "Amnesiac." A recording from Oslo, Norway supplied the only recording of the band's beloved "True Love Waits" for a period of 15 years.

Key tracks: "I Might Be Wrong," "True Love Waits"

Ben Folds, "Ben Folds Live" (2002)

After spending the 1990s surrounded by his Five, Folds' diverging career led to this truly solo disc (save one backing vocal from Cake's John McCrea). The intimate format coaxes out ways Folds' piano-pop songs are truly pocket symphonies and his lyrics contain a novelist's eye for detail.

Key tracks: "Zak and Sara," "Best Imitation of Myself," "Tiny Dancer"

Soul Asylum, "After the Flood: Live from the Grand Forks Prom" (2004)

Keeping a promise to North Dakota high schoolers affected by a massive flood, Soul Asylum plays it delightfully fast and loose, soundtracking the prom with gems from their own catalog as well as covers by the likes of Alice Cooper, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles and Dionne Farris.

Key tracks: "Black Gold," "The Tracks of My Tears"

Wilco, "Kicking Television" (2005)

These alt-country icons have pursued a more minimalistic approach on records from the past decade or so, but Wilco shows have always been fascinating and diverse experiences, every influence and emotion stitched into the band's collective sleeve. Capturing a hometown run through Chicago, "Kicking Television" shows off the best of their live approach.

Key tracks: "Handshake Drugs," "Airline to Heaven"

My Morning Jacket, "Okonokos" (2006)

Perhaps the true model of a modern live record, this document of two nights at San Francisco's iconic Fillmore is dark and ethereal until it's not, becoming jubilant and unbound. The Kentucky band presents a real masterpiece here.

Key tracks: "Dondante," "Run Thru"

Neko Case, "Live From Austin, Tx" (2007)

The Divine Ms. Case is among our best on both sides of the singer-songwriter dash; the emotional potency of her songs and every cranny in her voice come through with precious clarity on this set from the long-running "Austin City Limits" TV show.

Key tracks: "Deep Red Bells," "Furnace Room Lullaby"

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "The Live Anthology" (2009)

On the shortlist of the greatest American acts of all-time, Petty and his ace band play the blues, unleash love songs with huge hooks, and extend their seemingly endless musical goodwill over 48 tracks culled from a near-fathomless archive of live recordings.

Key tracks: "Straight Into Darkness," "Refugee," "Mary Jane's Last Dance"

Tom Waits, "Glitter and Doom" (2009)

Equal parts mad scientist and gentleman crooner, Waits surveys a number of stories and moods from across his career, primarily the '80s through the early aughts.

Key tracks: "Such a Scream," "Make It Rain"

The White Stripes, "Under Great White Northern Lights" (2010)

Jack and Meg White entrance and unsettle on this trek across Canada; the Stripes always sounded greater than the sum of their partners, and this album affectionately captures that surrounding sound.

Key tracks: "Blue Orchid," "Jolene," "Seven Nation Army"

Calexico, "Spiritoso" (2013)

Performing alongside orchestras from Vienna and Berlin, this Tucson, Arizona, band reaches into the dark, cinematic heart of the American West — and exhibits how echoes of that spirit can be heard nearly everywhere.

Key tracks: "Frontera/Trigger," "The News About William"

R.E.M., "Live at the BBC" (2018)

This 104-song offering is a true treasure trove, comprising performances for the British broadcasting institution over nearly 25 years. With so much music here, the set naturally varies at times in quality. But multiple versions of songs, the contextualizing across eras, and some delightful Michael Stipe banter paint a rich portrait of one of America's best.

Key tracks: "Half a World Away," "So Fast, So Numb" (disc 4), "E-Bow the Letter" (with Thom Yorke)

Gang of Youths, "MTV Unplugged" (2018)

Australia's kings of recklessly earnest rock 'n' roll, Gang of Youths deliver an emotion-wringing, fist-pumping set of anthems that lose nothing for leaning into their stripped-down side.

Key tracks: "Fear and Trembling," "Keep Me in the Open," "The Heart is a Muscle"

Beyonce, "Homecoming: The Live Album" (2019)

Always one for deeply intentional, immersive experiences, this record brings home the remarkable vibes from Beyonce's two headlining dates at Coachella 2018. A film version of "Homecoming" exists, but even just these arrangements set the imagination in motion.

Key tracks: The cohesion and through-composed nature of these performances make it hard to settle on just a few tracks. But versions of "Don't Hurt Yourself" and "I Care," and a medley that sweeps up everything from "Baby Boy" to "Countdown," are especially compelling.

The Cure, "Anniversary: 1978-2018" (2019)

This career-spanning set is as sacred and textured as fans expect, with Robert Smith and The Cure creating whole worlds in song, worlds worth getting lost inside.

Key tracks: "High," "A Forest"

Nick Cave, "Idiot Prayer" (2020)

Turning London's Alexandra Palace into something of a cathedral, Cave plays alone at the piano over the course of 22 songs and nearly 85 minutes of music. A wonderfully visceral performer, notes of anguish and joy each receive their true accent in this format.

Key tracks: "Sad Waters," "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry"

The War on Drugs, "Live Drugs" (2020)

One of our day's best live bands turns in a typically killer set, fusing the anthemic side of heartland rock with cinematic washes of sound and color. Frontman Adam Granduciel and Co. bring great intention to every moment on stage, which somehow frees the band to create with an unbound allure.

Key tracks: "An Ocean Between the Waves," "Thinking of a Place"

Drive-By Truckers, "Live at Plan 9" (2021)

Although recently released, this set shows off the Truckers' three-headed era, in which songwriters Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell traded the mic. The album is gritty and soulful, wild yet nearly omniscient about Southern culture and the American ties that bind us all.

Key tracks: "Marry Me," "Goddamn Lonely Love"

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 17 great live concert albums from the 21st century (so far)