'best of 2002' lists

Andy

Equal parts pop, in the early Beatles tradition, while as lyrically seditious as Beck ever was Wilco’s mostly melancholy blue-eyed soul has never sounded so striking. Beautiful melodies, captivating production and Tweedy’s vocal appeal make for as compelling a ‘rock’ record I’ve listened to in a while. This is my pick for best of the year.

Has my appreciation for quiet, mid tempo heart-on-your-sleeve trad-rock quadrupled this passed year or have there been several great releases in this manner?

Beck’s offering was instantly beautiful to me. I had read somewhere a few weeks ago most of the songs were written and recorded over a short period of time – which I feel lends to the urgency within much of this record. It’s just great to hear such ache from the man who also brought us “Satan Ate A Taco”. And he does it so very well.

On the heels of a ‘Sea Change’ epiphany, I invested in a few Nick Drake records, and by and large, found myself drawn way in. My favorite was his 1st. Much has been written and discussed of Drake’s life and music – I’ll just say that he strikes me as quite a genuine and remarkable singer and musician.

I am NOT one to go rum out and buy re-mastered shit by a wealthy posse of aging Brit-fucks – 35 years after the fact nonetheless…but I do especially recommend listening to any of the 1st quarter of the Stones catalog that has been redone. The difference in quality of sound and volume levels are considerable as compared to what has been available on disc in the past.. If you like the Rolling Stones, I recommend giving a listen.

Alright, I know this also came out like, fucking 3 years ago or whatever – but I’m still hearin’ it, yuh dig? Freak-smoke-warped hip-hop-funk from an inspired mind – Madlib is a badass.

1st of all – As far as I’m concerned, Chali 2Na has the best delivery of any MC in Hip-Hop. So from lines like “Got people screaming ‘free Mumia Jamal!’, but 2 out of 3 of y’all will probably be at the mall” to the sneaky-simple production from Cut Chemist and all, this disc has been in my car for months….this crew is among the best in hip-hop.

seems to me he is the Lenny Kravitz of hip-hop, in as much as he rips everyone's styles - but does it all very very well. A lyricist who draws from morally higher ground - but not ever from a soapbox. Just the track "Satisfied" is worth the price of admission. DJ Spinna produces many tracks. Best hip-hop disc of the year.

bass player from Buena Vista Social Club offers up uniquely delicious portions of Clava Cubano Beef, psychedelic-style with a hazy-molasses reggae gravy. Highly recommended.

Ick

• Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips
• Sea Change - Beck
• One Beat - Sleater-Kinney
• Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
• Seed To Sun - Boom Bip
• The Last Broadcast - The Doves
• The Glow Part 2 - The Microphones
• Moby - Play
• Nirvana - Nirvana (Best of yeah I know...)
• Murray St. - Sonic Youth
• No! - They Might Be Giants

Joe

Beck “Sea Change”-A lot has been written about this so I won’t waste any time, oh wait I just did.

Cornelius “The Point”-I dare you to find an album released last year with more stereo panning than this one

Elvis Costello “When I Was Cruel”/ “Cruel Smile”-Not only did Costello release an album that ranks up there with some of his classics; he also released a companion disc with b-sides and remixes from that album. Add up the continuation of the Rhino reissues and his first major US tour in years, it was a good year for Costello fans

Drums and Tuba “Mostly Ape”-I was very reluctant to buy this. “How much am I going to listen to a improve jazz disc featuring a Tuba. Turned out that I would listen to it a lot, huh guess I was wrong.

Flaming Lips “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”- For some reason everyone likes the Flaming Lips now. I’m not sure why but I’m happy to see a little extra money go their way. IF any other band released this it would have been the album of their career. The follow-up to “Soft Bulletin” is very good, but only a mid level title in the string of Lips masterpieces.

Eels “Souljacker”-This came out overseas in 2001 so it sort of doesn’t count but I really think it rocks so I’m going to add it anyway.

Ben Kweller “Sha Sha”-Great indie-pop following in Ben Folds’ footsteps.

Queens of the Stone Age “Songs for the Deaf”-Wow, this album kicks. Very eclectic for a “hard rock” disc.

Sonic Youth “Murray Street”-Their best disc since “Washing Machine”.

Super Furry Animals “Rings around the World”-Props to an indie band that gets Paul McCartney to “eat celery” on their record.

Beth Orton-“Day Breaker”-I was at first worried about this disc due to all of the guest stars but it turned out alright.

Tom Waits “Blood Money”/ “Alice”- 2 more Waits masterpieces.

Sleater Kinney “One Beat”-A more fleshed out sounding S-K. Some of the best songwriting of their career.

Ugly Cassanova “ Sharpen your Teeth”- Modest Mouse side project. I think this is what Indie rock made by pirates would sound like.

The Mooney Suzuki “Electric Sweat”-The most underrated and best of the “garage rock” bands. One of the most exciting live shows I saw last year.

Mobius Band “Three”-Why are these guys not super popular? You shouldn’t be playing this type of stuff in empty bars, you should be playing it in pack clubs in major metropolitan cities and overseas. Go see the sound of tomorrow, today, in a bar where no one is paying attention.

Jurassic 5 “Power in Numbers”-Another great J5 disc.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives “Behind the Music”-Technically came out last year overseas but didn’t get released domestically until this year. I bought an import copy of this early last year and was raving about it. They were going to be huge in America but it didn’t happen. Oh Well.

Wilco “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”- If this isn’t on your list you probably haven’t heard it yet. This did get a bit hyped but was worth the hype.

Christina Aguilera “Stripped”-The one disc I will probably have to defend the most. This is very well made, well-written, pop music and there is no reason why a pop album can’t be really good. The whole “sexy” image thing doesn’t really do the album justice. Go check this out, trust me.

Josh

Music critics complained endlessly about the minimal packaging of this release. What about the music? It is fabulous. In almost every way this album surpasses their previous effort. My only complaint is that I had been listening to a lot of these songs for almost an entire year before they were released on CD. In this respect this album was a bit anticlimactic.

More yummy melodic exploration from Iceland. This time around the focus is much more on traditional instruments and song structures. I still listen to "Yesterday was dramtic..." more often but this album is a real treat and it definitely ranks among my favorites of the year.

This is what electronic pop music should sound like. I wish there were more bands traveling this road.

This one came out in 2000 but I just discovered it this year. Since first hearing it 6 months ago I've listened to it at least once a week. The lead singer's voice is a bit jarring at first but once you acquire a taste for it you'll fall in love with the lyrics.

This one is from 2001, but it missed last year's list; and it was in heavy rotation the entire Summer of 2002, so I'm including it here.

Very organic sounding electronics and cello. I could do without the superfluous vocal samples but this is still a beautiful album.

These are some of the prettiest pieces of minimalism I've ever heard. I'm sure there is plenty of theory behind these compositions, but I just like the way they make me feel. Listen to them at low volume and they are quite soothing. Play them loud enough and you might start to see things.

Perfectly executed American Death Metal. This genre doesn't get any better than this.

Fountain of Snow is a compilation of Shirley Collins' British folk songs. These songs were recorded in the 60's and 70's but they are very traditional renditions (Shirley worked with Alan Lomax in America as a Musical Anthropologist before starting her recording career). This album was originally released in 1992 and I purchased it, dubbed it to cassette, and returned it to Newbury Comics at that time. I rediscovered it on Soulseek this year (I lost the dub years ago) and I play it constantly.

Also from last year, but too good to leave off the list. Glitchy treated guitar. There are some Beach Boys covers in there somewhere but this sure doesn't sound like "Help Me Rhonda" or even anything on "Pet Sounds".

Dark, dirty, hateful black metal from Finland. The musical equivalent of having a fistful of dirty slush and snow forced up your nostrils.

Sounds a bit like Black Sabbath with Martin Atkins on drums. This album is immediately familiar and yet also alien. I'm not sure how well its combination of driven stoner proto-metal and tribal drumming will hold up, but right now I like it a lot.

Best Live performances:
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at the Somerville Theatre
Acid Mothers Temple at Terrastock
Kinski at Terrastock

Shrimpy

R.L. Burnside “Burnside on Burnside”: Great album by a true modern blues talent. Just enough old school learning mixed with new school style.
So what if I got it last Christmas!!!!

20 Miles “Keep it Coming…”: A pure enjoyment album. Not breaking any new ground, but a solid, solid outing from Judah Bauer of Blues Explosion. Kind of like the early Stones…or Zeppelin without all the raw power. These tunes make me happy.

My M.Doughty Mix: Former Soul Coughing singer breaks out and grows up a bit. Some songs are off his “Skittish” album, others I’ve just accumulated over time. Don’t ask me any titles…It’s just good. I made it three years ago and it was stolen from my car.
P.S. Some asshole stole my Keith Caputo CD too.

Spoon “Kill the Moonlight”: Short and sweet. Kind of reminds me of BS2000…but for the Brit Popper in us all. It’s actually way more respectable than BS2000…no wait, what the hell am I talking about! BS2000 is the Bizzittleomb!

Kelly Joe Phelps “Sky Like A Broken Clock”: At first I didn’t like this disc. I wanted acoustic blues but I got a subliminal Power Trio. The drummer from Morphine, and othere, accompany Mr. Phelps through an incredible recording journey. Each song was recorded live, in the studio, in one take. If they messed up…start over. What they got was an extremely intimate, warm, and delicate mix of wonderful songs. I still dislike Morphine though.

Tel.Jim.Jesus “self – titled”: This kid is good…what else can I say? He does it all, and he’s definitely the best producer in the Anticon Crew…as well as the Happiest.

Sage Francis “Personal Journals”: Good Hip-Hop album.

Kittie’s “Oracle” and BigDumbFace’s “Duke Lion Fights the Terror” are my recommendations to those who think they want to rock out to ANDREW W.K. (Again…I don’t care if they were 2001…I’ve got no metal picks from 2002!) Isn’t that sad?

This Year I’ve accumulated a lot of the Blues. Some Acoustic Standouts (not necessarily from 2002) Mississippi John Hurt “Live” 2002 Vanguard Records
Son House “The Original Delta Blues” Mojo Workin’ series
R.L. Burnside “Mississippi Hill Country Blues”
John Lee Hooker “The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker”
Blind Gary Davis “Harlem Street Singer” (Reverend Gary Davis)
Odetta “My Eyes Have Seen

My favorite Club mix of 2002 was Dan’s Eternity Awaits.