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Alan Ramsey |
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| Best New CD's Of 2002 Elvis Costello And The Imposters-WIWC Bruce Springsteen-The Rising Tom Waits-Alice/Blood Money(Tie) Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Tom Petty-The Last D.J. David Bowie-Heathen Warren Zevon-My Ride's Here George Harrison-Brainwashed White Stripes-White Blood Cells Neil Young-Are You Passionate Best Live CD's Released In 2002 Richard Thompson-Semi Detatched Mock Tudor The Blasters-Trouble Bound Bob Dylan-Live 1975 Best Soundtracks Of 2002 Six Feet Under Divine Secrets Of The Ya Ya Sisterhood The Best Of Bond...James Bond Best Reissues/Anthologies Of 2002 Elvis Costello-Imperial Bedroom, Armed Forces, Mighty Like A Rose Warren Zevon-Genius-The Best Of Warren Zevon Frank Sinatra-Classic Duets Hank Williams-Ultimate Collection Uncle Tupelo-89/93-Anthology X-More Fun In The Real World,Ain't Love Grand, See How We Are U2-Best Of U2-1990/2000(2 CD Edition) Rolling Stones - 40 Licks Best Concerts Attended In 2002 Elvis Costello And The Imposters-Columbus OH/ Pittsburgh,PA(Tie) Bruce Springsteen-Pittsburgh,PA Paul McCartney-Cleveland,OH Bob Dylan-Pittsburgh,PA Tom Petty-Burgettstown,PA Best Musical Performance On Television Warren Zevon-The Late Show With David Letterman Not quite sure where to put Cruel Smile though.... Best, Alan Ramsey |
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Andy Finkelstein |
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| 1 - "Up" by Peter Gabriel (big surprise, huh??) :) 2 - "The Transplants" by the Transplants 3 - "Blood Money" by Tom Waits 4 - "Murray Street" by Sonic Youth 5 - "Here Comes The New Folk Underground" by David Baerwald 6 - "When I Was Cruel" by Elvis Costello 7 - "Audioslave" by Audioslave 8 - "Mono" / "Stereo" by Grandpaboy / Paul Westerberg (*yes*, the same guy did *both* of 'em!) 9 - "Heathen" by David Bowie 10 - "One By One" by the Foo Fighters Some disappointments: "The Instigator" by Rhett Miller "Sea Change" by Beck (quite possibly the worst album of the year, IMNSHO) Best re-issues: Sound-quality-wise (all the Peter Gabriel and The The discs that were re-done) Bonus-track-wise (all the Elvis Costello discs that were re-done) |
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Tom Samerivertwice Anonymous Anonymous |
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| All of the selections below would be pushed down one if I were counting Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," a disc that was offically released this year. But as you all well know, if was widely available in 2001, and that's when I listened to it the most and loved it, and I believe (if memory serves) that I made it my #1 album for 2001. If I'm mistaken, then please push everything on this list down one and make Wilco my #1. A monumental achievement, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" was easily my favorite release of 2002. Loki, was it on my 2001 list? If not.... Pop/rock/alt-country/etc.: 1. Elvis Costello -- When I Was Cruel. I listened to this more than any other pop album of the year. While I enjoyed a lot of Costello's 90s collaborations and ballads I was waiting for a rock and roll album. He delivered beyond my expectations. Plus, the tour was fantastic. 2. Bruce Springsteen -- The Rising. In tight competition for the #1 spot, but was edged out by Elvis for the reasons listed above. People seem to be diametrically opposed on this one into love/hate camps. Include me with the loves. 3. Asylum Street Spankers -- My Favorite Record. Hilarious, funky, soulful album that contains copious allusions to many pop/rock/country/swing recordings. "Whatever" is a contender for pop single of the year, or would be if it were released as a single. 4. The Pine Valley Cosmonauts -- The Executioner's Last Songs Vol. 1. A collection meant to forward anti-death penalty campaign. Overlooking the theme, though (the inclusion of this record is neither a political statement nor an invitation to begin a capital punishment debate thread), it's quite simply a wonderful collection of murder ballads interpreted by a plethora of top notch musicians including Steve Earle, Jenny Toomey, Jon Langford, Brett Sparks, Neko Case and others. 5. Tom Waits -- Alice. Wow. 6. Tom Waits -- Blood Money. Another wow. Few people have enough strong material to release one exceptional album in a year. Tom Waits had enough for two. Lucky me. 7. Bobby Bare Jr. -- Young Criminals' Starvation League. Thanks to listers Scott Gibbs and Craig Montoya I took a chance on this one. It paid off in spades. (In fact, I'm listening to it now.) "Dig Deep," a resentful homage to all of Bare's influences (Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, Chuck Berry, Black Francis, Jimi Hendrix), is another contender for single of year. So too is the album's opening track, "I'll Be Around," a tune that displays its Beach Boys influence proudly. 8. Ryan Adams -- Demolition. Hard to believe that an album that hangs together so well was cobbled from four albums' worth of material, all recorded at different times with different bands. Kudos to Ryan the most down to earth show I saw this year. 9. Jenny Toomey -- Tempting, Jenny Toomey Sings The Songs of Franklin Bruno. A late entry since I just picked it up last week, but the beauty of Toomey's voice coupled with the strength of her material places this one firmly on my favorites list. 10. Dan Bern -- The Swastika EP & World Cup, A Sort of Travel Diary. Okay, this is cheating because it's two EPs listed as one favorite, but you'll notice that I didn't list Tom Waits's two releases as one pick above, so let me explain why I'm doing it here. If the EPs were both put on one disc, the length would equal that of a regular, if short, release. Between the two EPs there are ten songs, clocking in for a total of 47 minutes. There are worse ways to spend 47 minutes than with Bern's talking blues. Bubbling under: The Meat Purveyers -- All Relationships Are Doomed To Fail Johnny Cash -- American IV: The Man Comes Around (why oh why did he cover "Desperado"?!) Peter Case -- Beeline. Like Springsteen's "The Rising," a musical repsonse to 9/11. Beck -- Sea Change Rise Above -- 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit The West Memphis Three Jay Bennet and Edward Burch -- The Palace at 4am Jeff Tweedy -- Chelsea Walls (soundtrack) The Bottle Let Me Down, Songs For Bumpy Wagon Rides -- A collection of chidren's songs performed by a bunch of Bloodshot Records luminaries. Top ten jazz/classical/klezmer/other: Steven Bernstein -- Diaspora Blues Mario Pavone -- Mythos Matthew Shipp -- Nu Bop William Parker -- Raining on the Moon Kronos Quartet -- Nuevo Bill Frisell -- The Willies Danny Zamir/Satlah -- Children of Israel Tin Hat Trio -- The Rodeo Eroded John Zorn -- Filmworks Vol. 13, Invitation to A Suicide Matthew Shipp -- Songs Bubbling under: John Adams -- Naive and Sentimental Music Jenny Sheinman -- The Rabbi's Lover David S. Ware -- Freedom Suite Dave Douglas -- The Infinite Organic Grooves -- Black Cherry William Parker Quartet -- O'Neal's Porch Brad Mehldau -- Largo John Zorn's Game Pieces -- Cobra Tonic -- Live at Tonic Vol. 1 Reissues/live recordings just being released for the first time: Bob Dylan -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 5, The Rolling Thunder Review 1975. Just a monster of energy, talent, soul, fun. Fun to rediscover "Isis." Anthony Braxton Quartet -- 8 Standards (Wesleyan) 2001 Naked City -- Live Vol. 1 -- Knitting Facotry 1989 Elvis Costello -- all the reissues, obviously, but especially Brutal Youth, Blood & Chocolate, Mighty Like a Rose and Imperial Bedroom. I enjoy This Year's Model and Armed Forces, but neither offered THAT much in terms of bonus material that we hadn't already heard before. Not that I'm complaining... Alejandro Escovedo -- By The Hand of the Father Alejandro Escovedo -- Thirteen Years Alejandro Escovedo -- Gravity Ornette Coleman -- Live at The Golden Circle, Vols 1 & 2 Rollins Band -- The End of Silence Demos Rollins Band -- The End of Silence (reissue with bonus tracks different from above) Ramones -- Pleasant Dreams Ramones -- Too Tough To Die Ramones -- End of the Century Miniature -- S/T debut Just as "favorites" say more about the listener's tastes than the discs' actual quality, so too do "disappointments" say more about the listener's expectations. If you expect nothing you don't get disappointed. Disappointments: Matthew Sweet -- To Understand, the Early Recordings Steve Earle -- Jerusalem Red Hot Chili Peppers -- By The Way Billy Bragg and the Blokes -- Englad, Half English Maneri Ensemble -- Going to Church |
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Ben Herman |
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| My top 10 of 2002 (a great year!): 1. Roddy Frame - Surf Someday scientists will figure out why Roddy Frame is not a global superstar. 2. Kay Hanley - Cherry Marmalade Yummy pop goodness from the former frontwoman of Letters To Cleo. 3. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel Hey Elvis, next time don't forget that songs need *melodies*, OK? 4. Clinic - Walking With Thee This is the first album in a long time that had a sound unlike anything I'd heard before--totally captivating, hypnotic, eerie. 5. Paul Westerberg - Mono/Stereo Let the bad times roll. 6. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Alpha Bravo Charlie. 7. Pulp - We Love Life We still love Pulp. 8. Peter Case - Beeline His voice has always connected with me in this unique way. 9. Sigur Ros - "()" The official soundtrack of my office. 10. Badly Drawn Boy - About A Boy soundtrack Also one of my favorite movies of the year. Honorable mention: new releases by Guided By Voices, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Apples In Stereo Disappointment of the year: Billy Bragg's crappy album; runner up: Sleater-Kinney's latest |
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Carol Rousseau |
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| Happy New Year Everybody!! I'm back from my winter break, just in time to submit my top 10 of 2002. I was staying with friends who (gasp!) don't have any computers in their homes, so I've been woefully out of touch with everything. So much for my plans to catch up on my e-mails during the holidays... classes start tomorrow!! Anyway, here is my list: Top Albums of 2002 1) White Stipes, "White Blood Cells" 2) George Harrison, "Brainwashed" 3) Elvis Costello, "WIWC" 4) Elaine Stritch, "Live at Liberty" 5) Soft Boys, "Next Door Land" 6) Aimee Mann, "Lost in Space" 7) No Doubt, "Rock Steady" 8) Chris Isaak, "Always Got Tonight" 9) Neil Finn, "One All" 10) James McMurtry, "St. Mary of the Woods" Honorable Mentions 1) Paul Westerberg, "Stereo/Mono 2) Tom Petty, "Last DJ" 3) Tom Waits, "Blood Money" 4) Peter Gabriel, "Up" 5) Eyes Adrift, "Eyes Adrift" Best Singles 1) White Stripes, "Fell in Love with a Girl" 2) Pink, "Get the Party Started" 3) Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" 4) Missy Elliot, "Work It" 5) Eminem, "Without Me" Best Complilation Album "KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 10" Best Soundtrack "Gilmore Girls" Best Reissues ALL of the XTC Albums Biggest Diappointments 1) Elvis Costello, "Cruel Smile" 2) Billy Bragg, " England, Half English" Still Remaining on my Christmas Wish List 1) Beck 2) Sleater-Kinney 3) Weezer 4) Foo-Fighters 5) Tom Waits, "Alice" |
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Connor Ratliff |
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| For me, 2002 was the year that a lot of my favorite artists seemed to have new records out. The odd thing is, they all seemed to be records that I really liked a lot, but most of them weren't records that I went crazy for. For instance, I enjoyed both ALICE and BLOOD MONEY, but I didn't listen to either one as much as I did to MULE VARIATIONS when it came out. The good news was that there were always a couple more new records to look forward to in the not-too-distant future. FIRST, it was a very good year for Costello. WIWC is an album I got a lot of joy out of, and it will be one of those that I will return to from time to time and surprise myself with how much I like it. And CRUEL SMILE was a nice mop-up of the b-sides and remixes, so there's no need for Rhino to reissue it next year. Not that I'm not enjoying the 6 bonus discs and sparkling new liner notes. Bring on the next batch! This was also the year of a superb tour, and EC's brief but wonderful dalliance with the Internet. We can only hope that 2003 will have as many unexpected Costello treats... Other than Costello: Joseph Arthur - REDEMPTION'S SON might be my favorite album of the year. Combined with his 4 JUNKYARD HEARTS EPs and the two amazing concerts I saw, it was also a very good year if you happen to be a JA fan... Bruce Springsteen - THE RISING Wilco - YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT Tom Waits - ALICE and BLOOD MONEY Johnny Cash - WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND Aimee Mann - LOST IN SPACE John Wesley Harding - SWINGS & ROUNDABOUTS Amsterdam - THE CURSE Future Bible Heroes - ETERNAL YOUTH Bob Dylan - BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 5 Ron Sexsmith - COBBLESTONE RUNWAY I'm probably forgetting a few things. I really enjoyed U2's new song from their "Best Of" compilation, "Electrical Storm." |
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Craig Montoya |
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| 1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. 2. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel 3. Buddy Miller - Midnight and Lonesome 4. Ryan Adams - Demolition 5. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising 6. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 5: Live 1975 7. Tom Waits - Blood Money/Alice 8. Patty Griffin - 1000 Kisses 9. George Harrison - Brainwashed 10. Bobby Bare Jr. - Young Criminal's Starvation League Honorable Mentions: Steve Earle - Jerusalem The Gourds - Cow, Fish, Fowl or Pig Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up On Me Aimee Mann - Lost In Space Two Cow Garage - Please Turn The Gas Back On Laura Cantrell - When The Roses Bloom Again Prince & the New Power Generation - One Nite Alone Live The Mercury Program - a data learn the language Los Lobos - Good Morning Aztlan Toshi Reagon - Toshi Sonic Youth - Murray St. The 2002 Wilco Memorial Award for Best Album That Didn't Get Released Due To Record Company Nonsense: John Wesley Harding - The Man With No Shadow Song of the Year: Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel No. 1 Favorite Concerts of the Year: 1. Wilco - Memorial Chapel, Union College, Schenectady, NY 4/27/02 2. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Tower Theater, Philadelphia 10/25/02 3. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville 10/30/02 4. Paul McCartney - AirCanada Centre, Toronto 4/13/02 5. Ryan Adams - Tower Theater, Philadelphia 10/5/02 |
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Craig Pinhey |
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| Hmmm...4 out of 10 are Canadian. What a homey! 1. When I Was Cruel -- Elvis Costello (plus I'll include Cruel Smile in this, but I'm not counting EC reissues as new records) A new style of music from Elvis. Hip hop beats, twangy guitar, plus the always fantastic lyrics. 2. Surf -- Roddy Frame Ex Aztec Camera frontman goes acoustic, with 100% great results. 3. Danko Jones -- Born A Lion Hard Rock, Punk, and Soul mix equally in the best Canuck record of the year. 4. Purge -- Bif Naked Canada's answer to 78-82 era New Wave chick. Think Blondie and Pat Benatar meets harder edge Joan Jett & punkrock. 5. Alice -- Tom Waits A brilliant effort with the usual weird shit plus unforgettable ballads. 6. Blood Money -- Tom Waits Slightly darker than, but as good as, Alice. Waits proves that he is a visionary songwriter. Either that or he's plain nuts. 7. Coat of Many Cupboards -- XTC An essential 4 CD collection of XTC rarities and 'bests' 8. The deTour home -- Scott Merritt This "folk singer with techno tricks" predates Beck's activity in this area, and I think he's the best unknown artist in Canada. Deserved better press than his 'neighbour' Ron Sexsmith's new album. 9. Maladroit -- Weezer More perfect power pop with a good sense of humour. 10. Night Bugs -- Sarah Slean New Canadian siren produced partly by Hawkesley Workman. A great record along the lines of Rufus Wainwright. Other good ones or missed from 2001: Lost in Space -- Aimee Mann, didn't quite catch my ear like previous records, tho. Ron Sexsmith's new one. TMBG -- Mink Car, a cool record, but not one of their best. Ok Go -- I like what I have heard but it is hard (impossible?) to find here. The Gunman and Other Stories -- Prefab Sprout, from 2001, but never actually officially released here in Canada, as far as I can tell. Down at the Khyber -- The Joel Plaskett Emergency, Although released in 2001, it didn't really get heavy distribution 'til early 2002. Simply a great rock and roll record, from ex-Thrush Hermit frontman. Great live, too. One All -- Neil Finn, a bit of a disappointment, with such high expectations. Comfort & Joy -- Clive Gregson, a nice record, but I want a little more edge from Clive. I haven't heard, so couldn't comment on: New Supergrass. Cheers! Craig Pinhey Frog's Pad Freelance Writing, Consulting, and Sommelier Services Specializing in Beer, Wine and Spirits 506 647 8466 (VINO) brufrog@nb.sympatico.ca www.frogspad.ca |
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Danielle |
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| I don't have a top ten. I have come to the conclusion that I hate trying to rank things after Ben told me to do my top twenty films and I couldn't *ever* get the order right after Singin' in the Rain being number one. (Is Rushmore better than Dazed and Confused? Is Heavenly Creatures better than All About Eve?) I eventually had to give up in morose disgust. However, here are things I can remember loving to listen to last year. Mark, thank you for reminding me of the Cornershop album, Handcream for a Generation. It's *terrific*. 'Heavy Soup' is so cool. And although I haven't fully explored the Coral's album I like what I've heard. (But I must briefly disagree with you and say that a) I like Doves well enough and b) that Prodigy song seemed totally bereft of anything decent whatsoever to me apart from the 'rohypnol' part. I mean, did they really have to quote directly from themselves - didn't they use the hook from 'Breathe'? Pshaw.) On the powerpop tip: is it completely untrendy (or too teenybopperish) to love the Phantom Planet album, Guest? Well, so be it, for I love it. I also had a warm feeling about Weezer's Maladroit (and that Muppet video! Deep, abiding soul-love for the Muppet video!). Way too pretty to be believed: *both* of Badly Drawn Boy's releases this year. God, I never want 'Something to Talk About' to end. I always have to play it at least twice over. Possibly entirely too serious for their own good on that last track and sounding a bit too much like black album Metallica, shudder, but otherwise rawking: Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf. (Who I will be seeing in 10 days! Woo!) Also the best air-drumming album of the year. Elvis, of course. I've already mentioned Beck; plus the Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is too lovely. I will go out on a limb and say that 'Do You Realize?' is better than anything on The Soft Bulletin. Plus, they use a giant gong live. Yay. Oh, and of course my darling Supergrass, Life on Other Planets. They never change drastically, but always come through. Missy Elliot, Under Construction. Naturally. Hiphop often seems like such a singles medium, but her whole albums are always worth listening to. Speaking of singles and hiphop: I don't know if Outkast's Sly-esque 'The Whole World' ('I catch a beat runnin' like Randy Moss!') came out in late 2001, but I certainly played the fuck out of it in 2002, along with Missy's 'Work It' (now there's some girl-power, Ben: 'Girls, girls, get that cash/if it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass/ain't no shame, ladies do your thang/just make sure you're ahead of the game') and Nelly's 'Hot in Herre'. And I really really liked 'Underneath it All' by No Doubt, although the lyrics make it sound like Gavin is a bit of a dick to poor Gwen! That band is growing on me, oddly. Oh, and I don't care how many times I hear the Hives' 'Hate To Say I Told You So'. I must have heard it a hundred times in the library workroom and it continues to make me jump up and down foolishly, and it's *very* old by single standards. I was too late on these but my they're awfully good (a huge category! I will forget lots of things here): Can You Dig It? The 70s Soul Experience, which along with the sixties companion box Beg, Scream and Shout! is just embarrassingly wonderful and has made me teary too many times to count. Another 'greatest thing ever that came out years ago' which has a more than a passing relevance to soul music is DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist, 'Brainfreeze'. I will love Alex forever for suggesting this; plus, it also made me seek out Bombay the Hard Way: Guns, Cars and Sitars (funky Bollywood music compilation, huzzah!) *and* the later collaboration Product Placement, which rules. Oh, and I originally missed that Jurassic 5 album from a few years ago, but it's good! Now I should get Safety in Numbers, I suppose. Fun New Zealand releases that no one gives a damn about (unless you read the Face): the Brunettes' debut; Rhombus; the Datsuns; the D4 (the latter two bands are playing at SXSW this year, Austinites). Best live shows: Super Furry Animals, without a doubt. Truly awe- inspiring. 'Best mindfuck yet', as Arnie said, and as they looped over and over and over. Elvis, of course. Cornershop's poorly attended Houston show. The Beta Band. Probably a few I can't remember. Overrated: The Streets, Original Pirate Material. Yeah, I understand. You go clubbing and take E, yeah, 'weak become heroes', and eat egg and chips the next morning and play Playstation and wonder if that girl you pulled really likes you. And, um... piffle. It's all right, I suppose, in parts. It'll date in about three seconds. The NME loved this because it's so damned self-mythologising. I dunno, maybe I would have liked it more if I'd been pilling off my tits at the Brixton Academy more than once in my life. :) Songs and other things that made me laugh: Ween's 'Bananas and Blow', which despite my not really caring about Ween at all just gets funnier and funnier every time I hear it. It's not only the best Jimmy Buffett spoof ever, it's like the coke run *with* the drugs; Andrew W.K.'s 'Party Hard'; the Mr. Show DVD, seasons one and two; the David Cross standup album, Shut Up You Fucking Baby!; my Christmas present, every episode of Strangers with Candy on VCD; Tenacious D, perennially; and Brent, who is still the funniest person in the world and according to my fellow librarians 'deserves his own show'. Best Auckland west coast beach today: Muriwai, with its huge white stone offshore island and enormous gannet colony overlooking the expanse of smooth black volcanic sand. Yeah, like the Finns are gonna move to Boston, Marika. ;) Oh good, I've done all my procrastinating for the day. Nice to get it over with. ------------------------------ (After Carol Rousseau posted her list:) >2) Pink, "Get the Party Started" >3) Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" Oh *yes*! Can't believe I forgot about these! |
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David Caplan |
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| First off, for some interesting alternative top picks, check out: www.pitchforkmedia.com and http://www.neumu.net My Top Picks of 2002 Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot -> Without a doubt, the best album of the year. Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up on Me Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel Nickel Creek - This Side Norah Jones - Come Away With Me Josh Rouse - Under the Cold Blue Stars - A nice album. The Doves - The Last Broadcast - A good (but not great) album. Antibalas - Talkatif - Might be higher on the list, but I haven't been able to find the disc for about several months. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head - Not as good as Parachutes but very listenable. These deserve a mention, would have made my top ten of 2002, if they were released this year. Hives - Veni Vidi Vicous (the better of these two IMHO) The Strokes - Is This It? Honorable Mentions (not top ten worthy though) Youssou N'Dour - Nothing's in Vain - Almost as good as the Babba Maal's excellent Missing You from last year, but more contemporary pop. Belle & Sebastian - Storytelling OST - I haven't lost faith. Beth Orton - Daybreaker - Not as good as Central Reservation, but very listenable. Biggest Disappointments Badly Drawn Boy - Have You Fed The Fish Badly Drawn Boy - About a Boy Steve Earle - Jerusalem Aimee Mann - Lost In Space Gomez - In Our Gun Peter Gabriel - Up There is nothing from the vault here, although I am enjoying the Dylan Live 1975 and the EC reissues. Having said all that, it seems like I bought a lot and still missed a lot this year (like the new Nelly disc). |
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"Aussie" Dave Hyland |
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| Well, it's 5:12pm on Monday and I'm about to knock off work. What better time to submit a top 10? While this list will change each time I listen to anything I bought this year, this is it as of now, and you can count it as my official Top 10. I've also deliberately steered away from reissues - I could probably make a separate Top 10 list out of them! I've also limited myself to one disc per artist. George Harrison - Brainwashed Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man - Out of Season Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel Augie March - Strange Bird Badly Drawn Boy - Have you fed the fish? Peter Gabriel - Up Tom Waits - Alice David Bowie - Heathen Ryan Adams - Demolition Norah Jones - Come Away With Me There's probably stuff I'll kick myself later for omitting, but it's been a very busy year for me, cd-wise. These ones just seem to have spent more time than others on my stereo. |
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DiDi Grimm |
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| It's been hard to narrow things down to only 10 cds from the past year, but I think I can officially claim these as what has brought me the most musical joy in the past 12 months. Here it is before I change my mind again! 1. Ok Go "Ok Go" 2. Andrew Bird "Fingerlings" 3. N.E.R.D. "In Search of..." 4. kevin tihista's Red Terror "Don't Breathe a Word"/"Judo" 5. Bobby Bare Jr. -- "Young Criminals' Starvation League" 6. Common "Electric Circus" 7. Oliver Mtukudzi "Vhunze Moto" 8. Ron Sexsmith "Cobblestone Runway" 9. Neko Case "Canadian Amp"/"Blacklisted" 10.The White Stripes "White Blood Cells" I also really enjoyed that Steve Horan album "Sing Sing", but it arrived too late in the year to get the listening time necessary to make the top 10. Same goes for Super Furry Animals, Missy Elliott "under Construction", Capital D & Molemen "writers block", and pugslee Atomz "24 years later..." Even though it didn't make my top 10, John O. I think you should give that Wilco album another 10 listens *at least*, because you are missing a boatload of its beauty! My favorite compilations: The Pine Valley Cosmonauts -- The Executioner's Last Songs Vol. 1" This is Where I Belong: The Songs Of Ray Davies and The Kinks! The most visually and sonically beautiful box set I've ever gotten: Bjork Family Tree box set Things that were disappointing: Amiee Mann "Lost in Space" just bored by this Elvis Costello "WIWC" and "Cruel Smile" hope this doesnt outrage the ec friends! for someone else this could have been the "master work" or whatever, but for EC - he could have done a lot better. The most exciting live shows: EC @ U. of Chicago & after show festivities, naturally (I dare Elvis to try to top himself!) Baaba Maal @ Old Town School of Folk Music seriously thrilling, what an honor! |
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Eddie O'Connell |
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| 1. Bruce Springsteen -- "The Rising" 2. Elvis Costello -- "When I Was Cruel" 3. Tom Waits -- "Alice" 4. Los Lobos -- "Good Morning Aztlan" 5. Solomon Burke -- "Don't Give Up On Me" 6. Grandpa Boy -- "Mono" 7. Joseph Arthur -- "Redemption's Son" 8. Chris Isaak -- "Always Got Tonight" 9. Chandler Travis Philharmonic -- "Llama Rhymes" 10. Beth Gibbons/Rustin Man -- "Out of Season" Bubbling under ("He ain't heavy . . . .") P.J. O'Connell (with NRBQ) -- "Happy Go Lucky" |
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Erik Pepple |
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| Coming out of lurk mode to join in the list-making festivities. 1. Spoon-Kill the Moonlight 2. Elvis Costello-WIWC 3. Paul Westerberg-Stereo/Mono 4. Blackalicious-Blazing Arrow 5. Tom Waits-Alice & Blood Money 6. The Roots-Phrenology 7. Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 8. The Impossible Shapes-Laughter Fills our Hollow Dome 9. Flaming Lips-Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 10. Beck-Sea Change Honorable Mentions: Brad-Welcome to Discovery Park, Badly Drawn Boy-About a Boy, Missy Elliot-Under Construction, Doves-The Last Broadcast, Greenhornes-Dual Mono, Guided by Voices-Universal Truths & Cycles, Sleater-Kinney-One Beat, Norah Jones-Come Away With Me |
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FB Tony |
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| Coming up to the deadline, so I suppose I should submit my list. 1. Blacklisted&Mac246; Neko Case 2. Beautysleep - Tanya Donelly 3. Don&Mac226;t Give Up On Me - Solomon Burke 4. Fashionably Late&Mac246; Linda Thompson 5. Blue Ridge Reveille&Mac246; Auburn 6. Clay George&Mac246; Clay George 7. Apartment Hunting&Mac246; Mary Margaret O&Mac226;Hara 8. Nightbugs&Mac246; Sarah Slean 9. Come Away With Me&Mac246; Norah Jones 10. If It Was You&Mac246; Tegan and Sara Probably a few in there that nobody else will be familiar with: Neko Case. Well, I hope everyone knows who she is. One of the best voices around, and some fine songs on this album. Much less immediate than Furnace Room Lullaby, but it grows and grows on repeated listens. Also the best live show I saw all year. Tanya Donelly, ex-Throwing Muses, ex-Belly, ex-Breeders. Don't know how I stumbled on this album, but it's a real joy, with some great singing and some surprising hooks. Auburn. Beautifully constructed album of roots/alt-country songs. Clay George. Another independently released album, with witty and perceptive songs mostly with very simple guitar and harmonica accompaniment, but with some fine touches of piano, fiddle and trumpet when needed. Mary Margaret O'Hara. Genius singer. Not quite as wonderful an album as 'Miss America', but still hugely enjoyable (if you're willing to take some effort). Sarah Slean. Emerging Canadian singer/songwriter/pianist. Picking up votes on this list from coast to coast. (Craig also included it in his Top 10.) Tegan and Sara. Twin sisters. A bit raw, but there are several songs on here with irresistable hooks. ------------ And no EC on that list. WIWC was certainly good, and a big relief after PFM. There was a lot to admire on there, but (with notable exceptions) it was with admiration rather than pure enjoyment that I listened to it. It got its fair share of listens, but it didn't demand to be listened to time after time like the albums on my list, and it didn't take many shows before the WIWC songs started to drag live (again with some exceptions). Besides, it doesn't need any more votes from me on this poll. |
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Greg Ogegaard |
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| 1. WIWC. It grows on me more every listen, especially now that my oldest kid can't also get enough of it. I would give credit also to the reissues,and Cruel Smile in this vote, as the Year of Elvis, or the Year of The King. As much as any EC fan could have asked, with the hint of more to come in 2003. 2. Badly Drawn Boy - Have you Fed the Fish, with a strong strong piggyback for the About a Boy Soundtrack. Definite favorite new find artist of the year. 3. Sleater Kinney - One Beat, best pure band out there at this time, IMO. Doesn't hurt that they now live, record and write about my stomping ground, Portland. 4. Ben Kweller - Sha Sha, next favorite new find, with Wasted and Ready favorite single of the year. 5. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Plastic Fang, simply amazing and the UK remix CD that came out recently solidifies JS as a new all-time favorite on my list. 6. Soft Boys - Amazing new music after 20+ years. How come I have to hear that this had been released from someone's best of list. Where is Jason at the UW, the biggest SB's fan anyway these days? Jason I would love to hear of your opinion of this new RH classic. 7. George Harrison - Brainwashed, a nice listen and superb effort from GH given his state of condition. Nice to also have a minimalist production oversight from the worldly Jeff Lynne. 8. Mark Knopfler - Ragpickers Dream, hoping and praying for a return tour in the US sometime next year, he is canvassing Europe soon. 9. XTC, XTC XTC, Cupboards set and the Warbles make it a very XTC X-mas. I could have done without the karaoke Japanese only instrumentals, but the effort is appreciated. 10. Ben Folds Live, even nicer being able to see him live and sound this good in person and on disc. Honorable mentions: All the super GHits sets that are flooding the markets, such as the Rolling Stones, Elvis P., Elton, U2, David Gray, Chris Difford (my wife loves this), JWH Dynablob 4 (something to hold us over while he sorts out the continued legal mess that is his long completed new release, which I got as a promo and it will be high on the 2003 list, wonderful), Joe Jackson Glamour and Pain Remix CD and Rainy Night live CD (both website only, with the much much anticipated new original band release due out in the spring). Sting and The Radiators - Nuclear Waste, hardly a waste and real nice item to see released on CD Soundtrack of Our Lives - Fun 60's type music from my fave Swede act. Sorry Hives boys. All the garage music ala Hives, White Stripes, Strokes and Vines. They put on some great shows as well. Best reissues - Elvis continues to take the prize and my hard earned money. The Stones made for a nice set as well. Cool. Best Box - XTC Nicest continuing trend - all the Stiff releases from UK labels like Metro, Hux and Cherry Red. If you haven't already check out the Stiff website and their associated shopping site The Turkey Zone. Literally every stiff, good prices and perfect service. This site is a worth a F*@K. Best continued release/live - Bob Dylan bootlegs. #5 is amazing. Followed by Phish. The sets released are fun, diverse and frankly makes looking forward to a possible first time see sometime next year. Best Concert - Macca, with the EC shows a close 2nd. The pyrotechnics in Live and Let Die will never be forgotten as noted on the CD set and DVD, not easily replicated. Best Music Moments - Taking #1 Son to his first ever EC show in September and having him get the chance to meet and get photo afterwards. Bonus meeting Tony (many thousand thanks), Charles (has he had a great year or what), Scott, Tak, Jill (how could I forget?), and Mike. Worst was not being able to get to Seattle in May, literally having the trip come crashing down in my hometown of Centralia enroute. Thanks all for the good times and patience. Worst CD experience - First I missed The Who in the Gorge, being on an amazing family trip to Boston/NE around the 4th, and then I shell out more than a few bucks in the sick Completist mode on only 5 of the now 25, 2 each CD sets from the July through September concerts. First the setlists change not one lick, worse they sound identical. Sure Macca has this down to an art form, but he didn't "hoax" his fans into buying 25 versions of the same thing. Second all critical dialogue was edited out, notably Pete's speeches at key shows like the return to LV. Last, their opener in Hollyweird wasn't released due to some stupid rule regarding the venue. Did anyone know that the entire 25 set release is available in a LE box, signed by Pete and Roger, for a cool $1000 plus? Hate to see them make "too" much coin. What would be so wrong with a varied set list once and awhile? Anyone know what the Stones did with their shows, did they spit out the same 20 plus songs every night? Enough on that I guess. Worst Music Moment 2002 - The death of John Entwistle of a alcohol/cocaine binge overdose in the presence of a couple of Vegas's finest call girls. Live your life if you want, but what a damn damn shame. Some 25 years after the death of Moon, the best rhythm section of the history of rock is clearly dead, and even with stand-ins it maybe time for Pete to tell Roger to leave him alone and end "it" once and for all. Sure there are fans, and sold out shows, and CD sets for charity, but at some point enough is enough, if you can't or won't try and record some new Who music. Sounds like an oxymoron with half the band gone. Lastly the arguments on the Who lists about John's "right" to kill himself as he did, doesn't eliminate the simple fact that his death was preventable and far far too horrible to imagine anyone wanting to be public. Coke and whores, whoopee!!! |
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Gary Vollano |
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| 10. Dan Emery - The Dan Emery Mystery Band Limited Edition Epic Notebook Box Set - at 17 CDs a little too much filler, but the 4 CDs worth of musical genius quality killer tracks found within are worth shuffling through for. 9. The Mocking Birds - Still Here - Some make a case for "The Rising" as an artistic response to 9-11, They haven't heard this overlooked gem by an average everyday band, which articulates the emotional responses of the average everyday man much more accurately than anything I've seen, heard, or read yet. The Boss should take note. http://www.independisc.com/themockingbirds.htm 8. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Cruel Smile - Call this the WIWC Bonus Disc. I absolutely adore this CD. I could do without "Smile" (quite possibly the WORST song beside "She" that EC has EVER recorded!) 7. Phantom Planet - The Guest - I must admit to being skeptical about this, but for $1.00 I took a chance. Excellent Pop w/Major hooks galore. Solid - I like. 6. The High Lonesome Plains - Songs For Young Lovers - Simply the finest Alt-Country CD I've ever heard. http://www.independisc.com/highlonesomeplains.htm 5. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - The Last DJ - Sure Petty's preaching to the choir here, and he's still feeding off the hand he's biting, but this CD makes 70s Rock relevant again in such a good way. 4. The Veil - Sophia Speaks - Celtic, Mid-Eastern influenced Ancient Future Rock. Confused? Imagine "The Mummy Returns" done as a musical (that description is not meant to be wince inducing - trust me) http://www.independisc.com/theveil.htm 3. Mill Valley Taters - History of the Mill Valley Taters - "Surf-a-Rific!" I received this double CD retrospect from this CT indie surf band on the last week of November and it already lands in the #3 spot! You figure it out. http://www.independisc.com/millvalleytaters.htm 2. Parker - Delusions Of Grandeur - New "Retro" Wave from Sweden. The best LP to ever follow up The Ramones "Rocket To Russia". http://www.independisc.com/parker.htm 1. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel - Imperial Bedroom Redux! |
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James O'Keefe |
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| I can't fake it: I have only these, and in no order: _Rise_--Kim Richey _Rabbitsongs_--Hem _Rouge on Pockmarked Cheeks_--Brazzaville _Vhunze Moto_--Oliver Mtukudzi "Lost Cause"--Beck (just that one song: isn't that ever enough?) decent concerts--Shawn Colvin, Brad Mehldau Trio three times (in Carnegie Hall, even), Joshua Redman--but didn't care--enough--for the albums they released. musical revelation of the year: I really DO like Motown and I really DON'T ever want to hear "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" ever again. |
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