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Jill "Jilbeast" "Karen" Rydman |
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| Okay for my top ten... 1. When I Was Cruel (Loved the last three songs very much, and didn't hear them on tour enough!) 2. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco 2. Imperial Bedroom Bonus Disc 3. Blood and Chocolate Bonus Disc 4. Armed Forces Bonus Disc 5. Brutal Youth Bonus Disc 6. MLAR Bonus Disc 7. This Year's Model Bonus Disc 8. Cruel Smile 9. Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers and Hammerstein 10. "Almost You" The songs of Elvis Costello - Various There...satisfied Daddy!?? I threw this together with little thought...I hope the Wilco fans are happy I pushed them up a bit! :-) These are the order in which I remembered them I suppose! I'd put the other reissued bonuses on there, but they are from last year! |
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loki |
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| 1. EC - When I Was Cruel 2. Johnny Cash - American Music IV: When the Man Comes Around 3. Doves - The Last Broadcast 4. Audra McDonald - Happy Songs 5. Bob Dylan - Live 1975 6. Future Bible Heroes - Eternal Youth 7. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me 8. Ursula 1000 - Kinda Kinky 9. Roddy Frame - Surf 10. Pretenders - Loose Screw Honorable Mention: David Bowie - Heathen EC - Cruel Smile Dirty Vegas - Dirty Vegas Ron Sexsmith - Cobblestone Runway Various - Six Feet Under s/t Le Funk - VHS or Beta Lisa Loeb - Cake and Pie Original Cast - Hairspray Tony Bennett & k.d. lang - A Wonderful World Great Compilations: Various - CBGBs and the Birth of US Punk Blasters - Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings Single of the Year: When I Was Cruel #2 (album version; he'll never catch that lightning in a bottle again) Disappointments: Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (breaks my heart...) John Meyer - Room for Squares (because I paid money for it) Note: Overall, I'd say I was swayed by light, iPod/commuter-friendly music this year. Also, I'm sure the Sexsmith will grow on me with time, but this is how I feel about it now. He was bumped thanks to me receiving Roddy Frame's CD last week... |
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Jason Brown |
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| Top Ten albums of 2002: 1. The Model Rockets - Tell the Kids the Cops Are Here 2. Imperial Teen - On 3. Guided By Voices - Universal Truths and Cycles 4. Sleater-Kinney - One Beat 5. The Soft Boys - NextDoorLand/Side Three 6. Paul Weller - Illumination 7. Supergrass - Life on Other Planets 8. Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around 9. Tom Waits - Alice 10. Badly Drawn Boy - About a Boy Six way tie for 11th place: Hot Hot Heat - Make Up The Breakdown Calvin Johnson - What Was Me Aimee Mann - Lost In Space Badly Drawn Boy - Have You Fed the Fish? Beck - Sea Change The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Other Great or Good Albums: All-Time Quarterback - All-Time Quarterback Frank Black and the Catholics - Black Letter Days Frank Black and the Catholics - Devil's Workshop David Bowie - Heathen Guided By Voices - The Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet John Wesley Harding - Swings and Roundabouts Robyn Hitchcock - Robyn Sings Imperial Teen - Live at Maxwell's Ivy - Guestroom Jurassic 5 - Powers In Numbers The Long Winters - The Worst You Can Do is Harm The Lucksmiths - Where Are We? Doug Martsch - Now You Know Kimberley Rew - Great Central Revisited Ron Sexsmith - Cobblestone Runway Teenage Fanclub and Jad Fair - Words of Wisdom and Hope They Might Be Giants - No! Tom Waits - Blood Money Good but way over rated: Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Disappointments: The Apples in Stereo - Velocity of Sound Belle & Sebastian - Storytelling Billy Bragg and the Blokes - England, Half English Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel Peter Gabriel - Up Rhett Miller - The Instigator Martin Newell - Radio Autumn Almanac Totally Crap: Elvis Costello - Cruel Smile |
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Jessica Liese |
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| I took a bit of a list vacation this past month for various reasons of busy-ness/stress, but like all good addicts, I'm back now, for the following three reasons: 1. I just found out last night that Elvis is officially single as of the same week I myself became officially single. Wonder if he's up for a rebound fling... 2. I'm going to Vegas this weekend and thought I'd see if anybody had any last-minute must-sees for me. 3. There was no way I was going to miss the annual top-10 thread. Mine as follows: 10. Chris Isaak - Always Got Tonight: I learned this year that above all else, I'm a big fan of what they call "both kinds of music" back where I come from. This isn't purely country, but I still get chills from the man's voice. 9. Warren Zevon - My Ride's Here: I liked "Life'll Kill Ya" better, but "Genius" is amazing. I'll miss him when he's gone. 8. Beck - Sea Change: I haven't listened to it enough times to give a really fair opinion, but I like it so far, and it's good for a wallow. 7. Neil Young - Are You Passionate?: The album that finally got me liking his voice. 6. Ed Harcourt - Here Be Monsters: Introspective, insecure, dark, moody, and clever. 5. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me: Her cover of "Cold Cold Heart" gives me chills. 4. Cassandra Wilson - Belly of the Sun: Not much to say here. It's just plain beautiful, and has sentimental value, having shaped most of my year. 3. Dixie Chicks - Home: I read a review someplace saying that this album was the next "Tapestry" or "Sweet Baby James". It's not quite, but it's damned good. Very bluegrassy and rootsy but polished. 2. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel: It didn't hold up to repeated listenings as well as some of his older stuff, but I'm not going to complain when my favorite artist releases his first rock album since I've been an obsessive fan. Counting mini-sets, I saw him five times this year and he just gets better and better. 1. Eminem - The Eminem Show: I'm a little late jumping on the bandwagon, I know, but I. Love. This. I know there's probably much better rap to be had out there, but I'm most impressed by the sheer cleverness of it, and by Shady's awareness of how he fits into the big picture, culturally speaking (the Elvis Presley comparisons and such). Stuff I don't count because it technically came out in 2001 or is a greatest hits collection or actually didn't really come out: Elvis Presley - 30 #1 Hits Andrew WK - I Get Wet John Mayer - Room for Squares Neil Finn - One Nil (HATED "One All") Pink - Missundaztood John Wesley Harding - The Man With No Shadow (find this if you can; it's fantastic) From the "uh...NO" file: Tom Waits - Blood Money ("Woyzeck" gave me nightmares) |
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John Martz |
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| 1. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 2. Bright Eyes - Lifted 3. Hot Hot Heat - Make Up the Breakdown 4. Nada Surf - Let Go 5. Ron Sexsmith - Cobblestone Runway 6. Beck - Sea Change 7. Ben Kweller - Sha Sha 8. Wilco - YHF 9. Lambchop - Is a Woman 10. When I Was Cruel |
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Josie Pursell |
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| 1. elvis costello - when I was cruel 2. wilco - yankee hotel foxtrot 3. the church - after everything now this 4. steve earle - jerusalem 5. tom waits - blood money 6. dan bern - the swastika ep 7. beck - sea change 8. paul westerberg - stereo/mono 9. solomon burke - don't give up on me 10. rhett miller - the instigator honorable mentions: doves - the last broadcast, tom waits - alice, shelleydevoto -buzzkunst biggest disappointments: flaming lips (one outstanding song, "do you realize", but the rest just too goofy), coldplay (one outstanding song, "the scientist", but the rest pretty boring), springsteen (lyrics by hallmark; and "let's be friends" -- is worse than rem's "shiny happy people") |
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John C Ottaviano |
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| Yes, I'm sure you've all been waiting for this. Well, maybe not, but here it is anyway. 2002 Top Ten 10 &Mac246; The Flaming Lips&Mac246; Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots&Mac246; Full, rich lush, great instrumentals and a lovely sentiment throughout. After all these years, an overnight success. 9 Tahiti 80 - Wallpaper for the Soul OK, I'm a sucker for these guys. Airy French electro-pop. It's impossible to stay in a bad mood while listening this. Audio sunshine. 8 &Mac246; Elvis Costello&Mac246; When I Was Cruel&Mac246; Unlike many others, songs like 15 Petals and WIWC#2 haven&Mac226;t aged well for me. On the other hand, Radio Silence, My Little Blue Window & Soul For Hire (sans annoying rhythm track) just keep getting better. 7 &Mac246; Ely Guerra&Mac246; Lotto Fire&Mac246; Latin alternative out of Mexico. She has an soft sensuous voice ala Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields. Mixes up tempos and genres including alternative, electronica, jazz and more. 6 &Mac246; Warrior King&Mac246; Virtuous Woman&Mac246; All those yuppies whose sole reggae album is Bob Marley&Mac226;s Legend will someday own at least one Warrior King album. These new roots reggae artist will soon crossover to the bigtime. Never Go Where the Pagans Go just might turn you into a believer. Buy this now and say you new him when. 5&Mac246; N E R D&Mac246; In Search Of&Mac183; - THIS is the funkiest album of the year. From the guys who produced everyone&Mac226;s most commercially accessible hits (as the Neptunes) comes lots of great, off-beat, dare I say Kinky, lyrics to go with some killer beats. 4 &Mac246; Neko Case&Mac246; Blacklisted&Mac246; She sings like a Œ00&Mac226;s version of Patsy Cline, writes great, sad songs, has great taste in covers (Runnin&Mac226; Out of Fools) and bares her breasts in public. Why this women is not the queen of Nashville, I can&Mac226;t understand. 3 &Mac246; The Streets&Mac246; Original Pirate Material&Mac246; I&Mac226;m a sucker for a British accent, and to be honest, most Brits sing like Americans. But this guy sounds definitely British in delivery, his garage style beats, and his brilliant rhymes which, like Elvis Costello&Mac226;s, sound great even when I don&Mac226;t have a clue what they mean. And you can beat the vernacular. Makes me proud to be a Geezer. 2 &Mac246; Princess Superstar&Mac246; Is&Mac246; This is the album Eminem wanted to make. Unfailingly funny, witty, sexy and provocative with the one thing Eminem was missing: great beats and melodies. Although she has great musical talent (she&Mac226;s an active D J in NYC), she still knows enough, unlike Eminem, to bring in talented people to help her with the music. The most fun you&Mac226;ll have listening to music this year. And she puts on a partying show. 1 - Sleater-Kinney&Mac246; One Beat&Mac246; This one had it all: great hooks and rocking beats, sharp musical performances and the best, most poignant lyrics of their career. No one addressed 9/11 in more personal or more relevant manner. Listen carefully and you&Mac226;ll hear some of the political drive we lost when Joe Strummer died. Oh, did I mention that these women rocked harder than ANYONE in concert this year, including Elvis. Great, great music. Honorable Mention Solomon Burke&Mac246; Don&Mac226;t Give Up on Me&Mac246; Beautiful Songs, beautifully sung Jaguar Wright&Mac246; Denials, Delusions, Decisions&Mac246; The overlooked R & B Diva steps out from her work with the Roots Cornershop&Mac246; Handcream for a Generation&Mac246; A bit uneven, but really great in spots. D J Shadow &Mac246; The Private Press&Mac246; Pretty much the same as Cornershop. Laura Cantrell&Mac246; When the Roses Bloom Again&Mac246; Stronger on covers than originals, she should rule Nashville too. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot&Mac246; A fine album that was overburdened by too much hype. Steve Horan&Mac246; Sing Sing&Mac246; A fine album that has been underburdened by too little hype. I&Mac226;ll give a full review shortly. Bunji Garlin&Mac246; Revelation&Mac246; The Ragga Soca King, combining dancehall reggae and soca. A talent to be reckoned with. Glen Washington&Mac246; Your Love&Mac246; A gorgeous voice, a true r & b reggae crooer. Eminem&Mac246; The Eminem Show&Mac246; By far the best rhymes of his career. Unfortunately he decided to do the music on his own, instead of the man who made him who he is, Dr. Dre Best Compilations Soca Gold 2002 & Soca 101&Mac246; Volume 2&Mac246; Both from VP records, the former are top hits, the latter a history lesson. Proof that the Baja Men are just the beginning of the Soca Explosion. The really good stuff is yet to Come Punk-O-Rama 7&Mac246; A great punk Sampler The Annual 2002&Mac246; Ministry of Sound Label&Mac246; A great taste of electro-dance music from the premier electronic label Reggae Gold 2002&Mac246; The who&Mac226;s who of current reggae is on this one. Dancehall 101 Vol 3&Mac246; The best dancehall compilation I&Mac226;ve ever heard. Period. Best Reissue Elvis Costello&Mac246; Blood & Chocolate&Mac246; I thought for sure that I would love the IB Demo&Mac226;s more, but the bonus disc on B & C, while not as interesting or as revelatory, doesn&Mac226;t have a single weak track. And hearing Elvis doing doo wop on All These Things is worth the price of admission on it&Mac226;s own. Watch for more from: Yeah Yeah Yeahs&Mac246; They&Mac226;re 15 minutes could be up already, or they could be the next The Strokes Biggest Dissapointments: Wilco&Mac246; Yankee Hotel Foxtrot&Mac246; could never live up to the hype. Eminem&Mac246; The Eminem Show&Mac246; call Dre up one more time, please. Beck&Mac246; Sea Change&Mac246; The most beautiful song of his career. And he keeps singing it for the whole damn record. Top Musical losses: Joe Strummer John Entwistle Peggy Lee Dave Van Ronk Waylon Jennings Lisa Left Eye Lopes Layne Staley Dee Dee Ramone Rosemary Clooney Lionel Hampton Jam Master Jay Mary Hansen Zal Yanofsky Best Live Shows Prince&Mac246; Lincoln Center Downtown Messian @ the Bottom Line&Mac246; Various Artists Elvis Costello @ The Bowery Ballroom&Mac246; NYC Elvis Costello/Laura Cantrell&Mac246; Orlando, FL Sleater-Kinney/Yeah Yeah Yeahs&Mac246; Irving Plaza Princess Superstar/The Peak Show&Mac246; Knitting Factory, Orlando White Stripes&Mac246; Nurnberg Femi Kuti&Mac246; Berlin They Might Be Giants&Mac246; Plainview, LI Angry Samoans&Mac246; Las Vegas The Roots&Mac246; Jones Beach Theater Moby&Mac246; Jones Beach Theater Best Live Album Prince&Mac246; One Nite Alone&Mac183; Live Best Single Sean Paul&Mac246; Gimme the Light |
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Kelly Hale |
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| Okay, this is kind of long, so be forewarned. I bought 15 albums this year, unless I'm forgetting some. In order of purchase, but not in top ten order they were/are: 1-Natalie Merchant "Motherland" 2-Elvis Costello "When I was Cruel" 3-Wilco "Yankee Foxtrot Hotel" 4-Norah Jones "Come Away with Me" 5-John Mayer "Room for Squares" 6-Counting Crows "Hard Candy" 7-Henry Mancini "All Time Greatest Hits" 8-Elvis Costello "Cruel Smile" 9-ColdPlay "A Rush of Blood" 10-Jackson Browne "The Naked Ride Home" 11-Elton John "Greatest Hits 1970-2002" 12-Dixie Chicks "Home" 13-Solomon Burke "Don't Give Up on Me" 14-Al Green "Unchained Melody" $5.99 15-Glen Campbell "The World of Glen Campbell Live" $3.99 The last five acquisitions I bought the night before New Year's Eve as a last hurrah. I bought the Al Green and Glen Campbell CDs because they were such incredible bargains and because of TV appearances they made this year that made me long for their music. Al Green, of course, was on the Grammys and Glen Campbell did a Larry King show that was outta sight. He sang all his hits during the show and it was just him and his guitar and he was amazing and way humble and a showman extraordinaire. My mother had his Galveston album. I seem to remember its cover being pink? So I've always liked him, cause she liked him. We sang his and Baccarach's songs in Middle School chorus. Sex and the City rules TV, for me, at this moment in time, and Carrie and Mr. Big succeeded in making "Moon River" their song, imho. For this reason, I had to go buy some Henry Mancini, and it's wonderful magic. Was that Eric Clapton Tony Soprano was listening to in the show's season finale, which I thought was great?? And wasn't Eric Clapton mean to Sheryl Crow? I'm sorry, but I don't like Eric Clapton. When faced with my last hurrah purchase, there was no doubt in mind that I wanted the Elton John collection, ... nostalgia favorite and just plain dependable. And there are so many wonderful gems not even on this. Empty Sky is all but forgotten. Disappointments: Wilco "YFH." I'm sorry but I gotta agree with Pete. It didn't move me, and I like them and like it, but it didn't move me like "Being There." Big blah. So here's my top ten, for what it's worth. Being on this list has made me realize I'm no music expert, I just like what I like. My Top Ten: 1-Elvis Costello "WIWC." I want to have his baby. 2-Elvis' "Cruel Smile" was such a sweet surprise. I have to confess, it almost ties for 1st place, based on 'Smile' and 'Almost Blue' redux, alone, not to mention the perfect succession into '15 Petals' and 'Spooky Girlfriend.' I would not have included 'Soul for Hire' on this however. I would have included 'The Judgement,' and that's why it's not a total tie. Also, I think Elvis in black tie, and in front of an old mike and a big orchestra should open the "R&RHOF" ceremony with 'Smile.' It would be awesome and appropro of the times and very classy, imo. 3-Dixie Chicks "Home." Why did I wait so long to go buy this?? It's amazing. Natalie Maines is amazing. "Swing me way down South. Sing me something brave from your mouth. And I'll bring you pearls of water on my hips, and the love in my lips, all the love from my lips." 4-John Mayer "Room for Squares." Really a gift, but still mine, and I love it. He's a poet and he's a baby funkmeister and he's full of sweetness, promise and charm and rhyme. I loved it on first listen. 5-Counting Crows "Hard Candy." Adam Duritz is a psychologist/poet and he is funky and sexual too in a very soulful way, and I want to do him bad. 6-Natalie Merchant "Motherland." The first anticipated album I bought in 2002, though it may actually have come out in Dec. '01? She played the Beacon the night after EC and the Mingus orchestra and they were using the Motherland cover photo in their showcase. Motherland is a great song. I am in awe of her beauty. She is goddess incarnate. 7-Jackson Browne "The Naked Ride Home." I love Jackson. 8-Elton John "Greatest Hits 1970-2002." I love Elton and Bernie. 9-Solomon Burke "Don't Give up on Me." Wow. 10-ColdPlay "A Rush of Blood." I'm still loving "Yellow." |
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Kim Coddington |
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| 1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 2. Tom Waits - Blood Money/Alice 3. Elvis Costello - WIWC 4. Neil Finn - One All 5. Neil Finn - 7 Worlds Collide 6. Neko Case - Blacklisted 7. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me 8. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising 9. ( ) - Sigur Ros 10. Jay Bennett and Ed Burch - The Palace at 4am |
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Mark Perry |
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| Top 10 Albums: 1. ŒAlice&Mac226;&Mac246; Tom Waits Well, it was worth the wait. Although I prefer a couple of the demo versions of these songs (which have circulated illegally for quite a while) the finished album is indeed a major triumph. ŒFish & Bird&Mac226; is my favourite song of the year, an absolute masterpiece with not a note or a word out of place. Following up the classic ŒMule Variations&Mac226; by releasing two excellent albums at the same time is taking the piss, though. This guy is on a roll. 2. Œ( )&Mac226;&Mac246; Sigur Ros I&Mac226;ve ummed and ahhed about whether to make this my number one or not (yes I should be doing something better with my time, I know&Mac183;). In the end I stuck with the Tom Waits, although it was a close run thing. If ever a record deserved the oft-abused description „beautiful‰ then this, surely, is it. 3. ŒWhen I Was Cruel&Mac226;&Mac246; Elvis Costello In which our hero finally takes his head out of his arse for long enough to make a proper Elvis Costello album instead of yet another OK-but-ultimately- unsatisfying collaboration. Not quite the whacky effort I was hoping for after seeing the off-beat solo performance at Meltdown. Calling a regular band in at the last minute might be seen as a bit of a cop-out by some. Who cares, though, when there are tracks of the quality of ŒRadio Silence&Mac226; and&Mac226;15 Petals&Mac226;? 4. ŒHandcream For A Generation&Mac226;&Mac246; Cornershop Contrary soul that he is, it seems that Tjinder Singh deliberately sought out everything in music that is deemed „uncool‰ these days and just threw it all into the mix for this one. Lengthy soloing &Mac183; cheesy 70s guitar riffs&Mac183; children&Mac226;s choruses&Mac183; largely impenetrable lyrics... It shouldn&Mac226;t really work, but somehow it does. And somebody&Mac226;s got to stand up and speak out against the TSB Rock School, right? 5. ŒHeathen&Mac226;&Mac246; David Bowie When I were a lad just getting into pop music, gnarled old DJs and journos would, from time to time, feel moved to make the puzzling claim that Elvis Presley was „back‰. How I&Mac226;d feel sorry for them, getting all sweaty and excited over some half-assed, square-sounding record like ŒBurning Love&Mac226; while I was grooving to ŒJohn, I&Mac226;m Only Dancing&Mac226;. Then my own idols grew older and started „losing it‰ and I realised how those old rockers had felt. Every now and again there&Mac226;d be a fuss over a new Bowie album and I&Mac226;d try to kid myself that this was the one I&Mac226;d been waiting for, that he could still do it. Just when I&Mac226;d given up hope, along comes ŒHeathen&Mac226;. It's taken more than 20 years but thanks, Dave! 6. ŒSwings and Roundabouts&Mac226;&Mac246; John Wesley Harding Pop&Mac226;s most intelligent lyricist responds to the music biz corporate nonsense which has (for the moment) buried his excellent ŒThe Man With No Shadow&Mac226; album by shrugging his shoulders, heading off into the studio and bashing out another fine collection of songs (released as part of his ongoing for-the-fans ŒDynablob&Mac226; series). Proof, if it were needed, of a picturesque claim that Hastings&Mac226; most prolific tunesmith once made to me that „JWH eats music and shits lyrics and refers to himself in the third person‰. 7. ŒThe Coral&Mac226;&Mac246; The Coral These young scallies might yet turn out to be another big Gomez-style disappointment, but their debut album is certainly a lot of fun. In an era when most new English groups seem so depressingly one-dimensional (has there ever been anything in the history of recorded sound as dull as Doves, for instance?) this lot are a real breath of fresh air. Forget all the lazy Beefheart comparisons, though. They&Mac226;re not The Captain. Then again, neither is he these days. 8. ŒSt Arkansas&Mac226;&Mac246; Pere Ubu I can&Mac226;t believe that I ignored the god-like genius of David Thomas for so many years. Now it&Mac226;s costing me a fortune to plug the gaps in my collection with goodies from his sprawling back catalogue. The least he and his cronies could do is to not keep putting out great records like this while I try to catch up. 9. ŒFinisterre&Mac226;&Mac246; Saint Etienne With the apparent abdication of Louise Wener and Justine Frischmann, Sarah Cracknell takes over the mantle of top pop fox. „I believe in Donovan over Dylan / Love over cynicism...‰ Sigh. Isn&Mac226;t she lovely? 10. ŒSea Change&Mac226;&Mac246; Beck I can understand those who say it&Mac226;s dull. I thought the same at first. Persevere, though, and some interesting colours and shapes do start to emerge from the apparent grey void. Steer well clear of the Springsteen-on- Mogadon dirge that is ŒGuess I&Mac226;m Doing Fine&Mac226;, though. That one just doesn&Mac226;t improve, no matter how many times you grit your teeth through it. Bubbling under: ŒThe Eminem Show&Mac226;&Mac246; Eminem (the Dylan of his generation?), ŒBlood Money&Mac226;&Mac246; Tom Waits Best single: ŒBaby&Mac226;s Got A Temper&Mac226;&Mac246; The Prodigy (all together now: „we love rohypnol&Mac183;‰) Best reissues: ŒMy Generation (deluxe edition)&Mac226; &Mac246; The Who; ŒOut Of Our Heads - UK&Mac226;, ŒAftermath&Mac246;UK&Mac226; ŒBetween The Buttons - UK&Mac226;, ŒBeggars Banquet&Mac226;, ŒLet It Bleed&Mac226;&Mac246; The Rolling Stones Turn The Fucking Drums Down This Is A Recording Studio Not A Stadium Award (for ruining a perfectly decent set of songs with crap, over-the-top production): ŒA Rush Of Blood To The Head&Mac226;&Mac246; Coldplay, ŒHighly Evolved&Mac226; - The Vines Still Boring After All These Years: ŒThe Rising&Mac226; - Bruce Springsteen, ŒAre You Passionate?&Mac226; - Neil Young Best music radio show: ŒLate Junction&Mac226; (BBC Radio 3) Best concert: David Thomas and 2 pale boys (Exeter Phoenix) Best music TV show: Er, well I suppose it has to be ŒLater with Jools Holland&Mac226; (BBC 2) although Jools seems to get more and more irritating with each passing year, what with that piercing foghorn voice and those stupid celebrity „interviews‰ which break up the show&Mac226;s momentum. [That's enough awards - Ed.] |
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Michael Deasy |
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| When I was cruel Elvis Costello Illumination Paul Weller A rush of blood to the head Coldplay The Rising Bruce Springsteen Sean Nos Nua Sinead O'Connor Brainwashed George Harrison The Jam at the BBC The Jam Heathen chemistry Oasis England,half English Billy Bragg Demolition Ryan Adams Happy new year. |
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Mike Hernandez |
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| My top ten: 1. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco 2. The Rising - Bruce Springsteen 3. Live 1975: The Rolling Thunder Revue - Bob Dylan 4. Blood Money - Tom Waits 5. When I Was Cruel - Elvis Costello 6. One Beat - Sleater-Kinney 7. The Executioner's Last Song - Pine Valley Cosmonauts 8. Bramble Rose - Tift Merritt 9. Ralph Stanley - Ralph Stanley 10. Struts & Shocks - Seana Carmody Just missing the cut: Is A Woman - Lambchop Handcream For A Generation - Cornershop Alice - Tom Waits On - Imperial Teen Good Morning Aztlan - Los Lobos Don't Worry About Me - Joey Ramone When The Roses Bloom Again - Laura Cantrell Spend The Night - The Donnas Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips Brainwashed - George Harrison Honorable mentions: Now Again - The Flatlanders Kinky - Kinky Float Away With The Friday Night Gods - Marah Loose Screw - The Pretenders Sabbatum - Rondellus Nextdoorland - The Soft Boys Fashionably Late - Linda Thompson Maladroit - Weezer One By One - Foo Fighters A Wonderful World - Tony Bennett & k.d. lang All Over Creation - Jason Ringenberg Unfortunately, there are always a few disappointments: England, Half English - Billy Bragg (I listened to it several times this year and I still can't recall how most of the songs go. No Power Without Accountability just doesn't fly as a cool rallying call. Tears Of My Tracks was a lovely, heartbreaking song, though.) Are You Passionate? - Neil Young The Last DJ - Tom Petty Favorite reissues: The Stones! XTC original album packaging reissues! TYM, AF, IB, B&C, BY - EC (of course!) The Last Waltz - The Band (I know it's 4 CDs, but can I have even more?) Strangers, Branded Man, I'm A Lonesome Fugitive, Mama Tried, Sing Me Back Home, Okie From Muskogee - Merle Haggard End Of The Century, Pleasant Dreams, Subterranean Jungle, Too Tough To Die - The Ramones The Specials, More Specials, The Special AKA - The Specials More Fun In The New World, Ain't Love Grand, See How We Are - X (I actually got a "who are these guys?" from the clerk at the music shop when I went to pay for these) More Sinatra Capitol and Reprise, particularly No One Cares Favorite compilations: The Grace EPs - Jeff Buckley Robyn Sings - Robyn Hitchcock Frank Sinatra In Hollywood 1940-1964 - Frankie A Coat Of Many Cupboards - XTC 25 Hits From The British Invasion - v/a The Stiff Generation - v/a (surprisingly enjoyable Stiff tribute) 24 Hour Party People - soundtrack |
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Mike Bodayle |
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| 1. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel 2. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising 3. Josh Rouse - Under the Cold Blue Stars 4. Swan Dive - June 5. Wilco - Yankee Foxtrot Hotel 6. Laura Cantrell - When the Roses Bloom Again 7. Patty Griffin -1,000 Kisses 8. Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up 9. Isaac Freeman & the Bluebloods - Beautiful Stars 10.Paul Thorn - Mission Temple Fireworks Stand Best Tribute Record This Is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks Best Live LP Ben Folds Live Best Reissue (other than Elvis Costello) Bob Dylan Live 1975 Best Songs Not on One of My Top Ten CDs 1. Chris Difford - Cowboys Are My Weakness 2. Ryan Adams - Nuclear 3. California - Phantom Planet 4. Vinyl Records - Todd Snider 5. Summertime Thing - Chuck Prophet Best Nashville Concerts 1. Elvis Costello & the Imposters - Ryman Auditorium 2. Glenn Tilbrook - Bluebird Café 3. Nick Lowe - Belcourt Theater 4. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (Birmingham, AL) 5. NRBQ - Uptown Mix 6. Wilco - Ryman Auditorium 7. Lucinda Williams - Uptown Mix 8. Marianne Faithfull - Belcourt Theatre 9. Swan Dive - The Basement 10. Steve Earle (Guitar Town) - Ryman Auditorium |
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Mike Carter |
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| These are in no order. Just keying them in as I think of them: Peter Gabriel - Up Elvis Costello - When I was Cruel The Doves - Last Broadcast The Lord of the Rings - Two Towers Soundtrack Badly Drawn Boy - About A Boy Soundtrack Wilco - YHF Lambchop - Is a Woman Thievery Corporation - The Richest Man in Babylon N.E.R.D. - In Search of Bruce Springsteen - The Rising Best Reissue : Bob Dylan Bootleg Series 5 Favorite 2002 song : "Gollum's Song" -Emiliana Torrini (So help my Tolkien geeked, Bjork-loving soul, you Cossstello lisssterses. I cannot *wait* for this dance remix. I'm absolutely serious.) BTW, I've sung the praises of the Criterion Collection's DVD of _Rushmore_ here before, I believe. (Wanna see Ronnie and Donnie Blume's screen tests? Allegedly, Anderson saw those kids fighting in a department store, walked up to them, and asked if they wanted to be in a movie.) _Heathers_ or _Sixteen Candles_ was more my high school era zeitgeist. However, _Donnie Darko_, while a flawed movie, nailed 1988 perfectly. That great montage down the school halls to "Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears? And Hobie tee-shirts! God Almighty, Hobie *fucking* tee-shirts! |
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Peter Haas |
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| No offense intended, but despite seeing it all over the NYT 10-best lists, I must profess that I still don't have a clue as to why it (YHF) such a critics' darling...just thinking about playing it makes me cringe. All I can say for sure is that if you think this album is the best of the year, then odds would be you'd think any Pavement album is the best of the decade. I honestly don't know if I bought much more than 10 albums that were bona fide 2002 releases, but I did like: Low - Trust Queens of the Stone Age -- Songs for the Deaf (even though or perhaps because Mike H. sez it's "stoner rock") Bryan Ferry - Frantic Cracker - Forever Luna - Romantica (am I the only one who heard this?) Pulp - We Love Life (not quite as good as previous, but Jarvis rools) EC - WIWC (well duh) Best single: "Bad Babysitter" by Superstar ('01?) Honorary gotta mention: Warren Zevon - My Ride's Here On the remissive side, that New Order album from last year is mighty fine. On the re-release side, the Rolling Stones series is just fabulous -- and actually often sounds better than the EC re-re-re-releases, IMO. Having procured the SACD technology, I also have to recommend the SACD versions of jazz-fusion classics like Heavy Weather (Weather Report), Headhunters (Herbie Hancock), and Blow by Blow (Jeff Beck). Woof! Don't know when they were re-released, but I'm also digging "Band on the Run," and "Who's Next," just for the audible upgrade aspect. Ditto the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab versions of "Murmur," "Fables of the Reconstruction," and <ahem> "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." Disappointments: Bruce Springsteen "The Rising" (it don't move me) Neil Young "Are You Passionate?" (methinks he should have listened to "Passion is No Ordinary Word" before he released this) Tom Waits "Alice"/"Blood Money" (counts as one selection) (can't get a toehold on either of these, but bear in mind I thought Mule Variations kinda sucked too....) Best concerts: EC at the Paramount in Oakland, Bryan Ferry at the Warner in SF Your results may vary. |
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Scott Hudson |
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| Top 10 List can be found at http://www.ScottHudson.20m.com/ | ||
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Scott Gibbs |
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| 1. Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 2. Elvis Costello-When I Was Cruel 3. Bobby Bare, Jr-YCSL 4. Neko Case-Blacklisted 5. Grandpaboy-Mono 6. The Flaming Lips-Yoshimi 7. Solomon Burke-Don't Give Up On Me 8. Badly Drawn Boy-Have You Fed The Fish? 9. Tom Waits-Blood Money 10. The Gourds-Cow Fish Fowl or Pig ---------------------------------------------------------- 11. Asylum Street Spankers-Favorite Record 12. Dylan-Live 1975 13. Spoon-Kill the Midnight 14. Sleater-Kinney-One Beat 15. Alejandro Escovedo-By the Hand of the Father 16. Pedro the Lion-Control 17. Jay Farrar-Thirdsgiftgrottoslack 18. Richmond Fontaine-Winnemucca 19. Bennett & Burch-The Palace at 4AM Part 1 Honorable Mentions (No Particular Order): Brendan Benson-Lapalco The Eels-Souljacker Aimee Mann-Lost in Space George Harrison-Brainwashed Beck-Sea Change Springsteen-The Rising Super Furry Animals-Rings Around the World Steve Earle-Jerusalem Hives-Veni Vidi Vicious Ryan Adams-Demolition Haven't Had A Chance to Hear (Yet): Slobberbone/Rhett Miller/Iron And Wine/Josh Rouse/TCG/Interpol/Soft Boys/Chuck Prophet/Mayflies USA/Missy Roback/Waxwings/Peter Bruntnell/Buckner/Los Lobos/Bigger Lovers/Grand Champeen/Waits-Alice/Lambchop/Mendoza Line Records I Just Couldn't Get Into: Queens of the Stoneage-Songs For The Deaf Coldplay-A Rush Of Blood To The Head |
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Scott Silvia |
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| Top 10 of 2002 1. Aimee Mann - Lost In Space - This album seemed to take an awful lot of heat on this list, but I absolutely LOVE it! While is isn't a huge depature (at least musically - lyrically, the two seem vastly different) from Bachelor No. 2, the songs are incredibly strong. 2. Phantom Planet - The Guest - I just picked this one up, and can't stop listening to it. This is one catchy set of tunes! 3. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel - WIWC indicates to me that EC can have the best of all worlds, musically speaking. He managed to put out a record that was both experimental and a "return to form". Although, strangely, the songs that I think are weakest on the album (Radio Silence, 15 Petals) are the ones a lot of others cite as the true gems. I prefer Tart, 45 and Spooky Girlfriend myself. 4. Audioslave - Audioslave - I used to really love Soundgarden, and I enjoyed the first two Rage Against The Machine albums. When I heard that Chris Cornell was taking over the Zack de la Rocha slot in RATM, I admit I was skeptical. I really didn't want to hear Chris Cornell rap, and I wasn't convinced that Rage could back a real singer musically. How wrong I was! The Rage rhythm section actually knows how to use dynamics (Tom Morello even drags out an acoustic guitar on some tracks) and Cornell can still belt 'em out! 5. George Harrison - Brainwashed - It is so nice to here George's voice again. For someone who was in such rough physical shape, he sounds damn good on this album. Hard to believe that he's gone... 6. Paul McCartney - Back In The US - Now, I realize that technically, this is not a new album, but I love it just the same. For those of us who couldn't afford Macca's outrageous ticket prices, this is the next best thing. The hairs on my arms stand up during his solo acoustic set. His voice is a shade rough around the edges, but every so often, it can tear the back of your head off. Witness "Live And Let Die". 7. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me - Her voice struck me the first time I heard it. The album itself straddles the line between pop and jazz in a very interesting way. It hasn't fully worked its way into my head, but every time I listen, I like it a little more 8. Elvis Costello - Cruel Smile - This one belongs on here just based on "When I Was Cruel, No. 1" alone. Now for the flip side: CDs I just don't get Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Another list fave, but I am really having a hard time getting my head around it. Based on the good word from the list, I went out and bought Summer Teeth first. I enjoyed it, but didn't fall in love with it. Then, YHF came out, and was all the rage (pun intended) here. Some of it is OK, but it isn't hitting me with the same intensity as others. I'll keep trynig, I guess... Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head - I feel the same way about this one as I do about YHF. I must have some phobia. Post-"Bends" Radiohead has the same effect on me. Groups/Artists that I can't seem to get into Bruce Springsteen - To be fair, I am making progress. I bought Nebraska, and it is starting to grow on me. Everything else though has a very pretentious, for lack of a better word, feel to it. I think Bruce actually suffers from overproduction. Tom Waits - Bought Swordfishtrombones. Don't get it. Not sure I ever will XTC - Strangely, I figured that this group would be easy for me to get into. Something about them puts me off - I can't put my finger on it. Again, I need to keep trying Ryan Adams - I bought Gold, and some of the songs are OK, but it hasn't hit me yet either. Another one to try again some other time That's it for now. If you read this far, sorry for the rambling! |
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Stephen Newbold |
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| Not a good year for the CDs by my recollection. I was struggling to come up with 10 sitting here at "work", though I'm sure I've probably missed something. WIWC is in there even though I'm not sure whether it would edge in to my Top 10 EC albums. Cruel Smile? Definitely not - a ragbag collection that is outclassed by the various boots of 2002 shows that are circulating the list. EC concert moment of the year? "Clowntime Is Over" at the May 2002, Seattle show. Any way, here's my $0.02 1 Beck - Sea Change 2 Paul Weller - Illumination 3 The Doves - Last Broadcast 4 Bowie - Heathen 5 Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head 6 Dylan - Live 1975 7 EC - WIWC 8 Sigur Ros - () 9 Keith Jarrett - Always Let Me Go 10 The Jam - The Jam at the BBC 10 Neil Finn - One All (does this count as a 2002 release?) Haven't heard the Beth Gibbons album yet - will have to go online and order that one. |
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Steve Getchell |
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| OK Comrades, I'll start...and remember, no yelling! The Top Ten Releases of 2002 1. Ron Sexsmith - Cobblestone Runway w/ Grand Opera Lane 2. Elvis Costello - IbMePdErRoIoAmL Bonus Disc 3. Bob Dylan - Live 1975 4. Ryan Adams - Demolition 5. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel 6. Roddy Frame - Surf 7. XTC - A Coat Of Many Cupboards 8. Robyn Hitchcock - Robyn Sings 9. Tom Waits - Alice 10. Go-Betweens - Before Hollywood Bonus Disc Honorable Mentions... Neko Case - Blacklisted The Supers - Mystery On Pop Mountain Tom Waits - Blood Money Elvis Costello - Cruel Smile Uncut's Instant Karma 2002, A Tribute To John Lennon Elvis Costello - This Year's Model Bonus Disc Go-Betweens - Spring Hill Fair Bonus Disc Marc Olsen - Musings Of A Creekdipper Go-Betweens - Send Me A Lullaby Bonus Disc George Harrison - Brainwashed First Time On Disc releases of 2002 Harry Chapin - Sniper And Other Love Songs Harry Chapin - Short Stories ...this means I no longer have to listen to staticy LP's burned onto disc! Biggest disappointments of 2002 you ask? Elvis Costello - Armed Forces Bonus Disc Aimee Mann - Lost In Space Elvis Costello - Brutal Youth Bonus Disc Chris Difford - I Didn't Get Where I Am Elvis Costello - Mighty Like A Rose Bonus Disc Bruce Springsteen - The Rising Elvis Costello - Blood & Chocolate Bonus Disc Who's Next, Bueller, anyone, Bueller? |
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Stebe Talkowski |
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| 1. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 2. Interpol - Turn on The Bright Lights 3. Beck - Sea Change 4. The Soft Boys - NextDoorLand/Side Three 5. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel 6. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head 7. David Bowie - Heathen 8. Sigur Ros - ( ) 9. Laura Cantrell - When The Roses Bloom Again 10. Soundtrack from "24 Hour Party People" |
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Tim Brooks |
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| My little (!) musical year in review goes as follows ALBUMS 1 Lil Beethoven Sparks For a band in 30th year this is a stunningly amazing original album, amazing vocals, great orchestral backings - sounds like nothing else around - miles ahead of : 2 When I was Cruel Elvis Costello - His finest in over 10 yrs, album of year for 11 months 3.Fuzzy Warbles 1 Andy Partridge (XTC) and Fuzzy Warbles 2 Andy Partridge (XTC) The man's demos/outtakes beat pretty much anything else 4. New Music Revolution (Free NME compilation showing that suddenly music is sounding great again - Libertines, Coral, Datsuns,Von Bondies YYY's etc) 5. The Coral The Coral - On same note great eclectic album from a young bunch of scousers that may just becomes the decades Madness (and christ knows the UK scene needs a great "pop" group) 6. Tori Amos : Scarlets Walk 7. Yoshimi... Flaming Lips - Not as good as the hype, but 5 great trxs 8. Cruel Smile : Elvis Costello (B sides and rarities compilation from this year but well worth it for When I was Cruel No1 alone) 9 Pet Shop Boys : Release (in truth another disappointing PSB album - good, just third in a row not to be great) 10.Pulp : I Love Life Also really keen to hear Polyphonic Spree's album, not managed yet SINGLES : 1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Miles Away (s/t EP) (raw, exciting, they will probably never do another song this good ) 2. Pet Shop Boys Sexy Northerner (B side "its more than fags and alcohol" - better than anything on Release) 3. Electric Soft Parade : Silent to The Dark 2 4. Coral Dreaming Of You 5 Sugarbabes/Gary Numan (I'm crediting him even if they don't ouch) Freak Like You (Round Round also excellent) 6. Fischerspooner Emerge (overhyped, cver produced but sounding great) 7. Hives : hate To Say I Told You So 8. White Stripes Fell In Love 9. Ms Dynamite : Ms Dynamite (believe the hype - a real UK soul star in the making) 10. Ladytron 17 (great new band) Reissues Imperial Bedroom ECs finest album now in amazing 2Cd version (all EC remasters are a must) Coat of Many Colours boxset XTC (spoilt by including previously released album traxs) Dexys Don't Stand Me Down (includes Tell Me What She's Like - finest 13 minute song ever recorded) Specials - Special/More Specials Videos : Pulp Bad Cover Version (Band Aid remembered - classic) Coldplay Scientist(not a band I have been convinced by up to now, always put then in same category as Travis - competent but DULL, but this is a great song with video to match ) White Stripes : Dead Leaves and Fell In Love (lotsa LEGO) Gigs (well I only saw three) : 1. White Stripes/Von Bondies/Dirtbombs - Q Shepherds Bush Wonderful bill, first WS experience better than I could have imagined 2. Sparks : Lil Beethoven Royal Festival Hall First hearing of new album, better than I had expected and loved it on first hearing, great evening. 3. Pet Shop Boys : Astoria NME Valentines Day Great to see them in small venue, think wife now forgiven me for my Valentine's evening absence |
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Tim Fleming |
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| Well, I have bought very little in the way of music over the past 12 months and have attended just one concert, so my best of list comprises my best things for 2002: Absolute highlights: Making it to my 50th on March 26th Birth of my second son, Liam Tomoyasu, on April 9th Concerts: Elvis Costello, Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Friday concert) CDs: When I Was Cruel Alice/Blood Money Heathen Monsoon Wedding Soundtrack Cruel Smile DVDs: Brian Setzer Orchestra Live in Japan Complete Monterey Pop Criterion The Best of David Bowie Regurgitator - Jingles (Infomercials) Utada Hikaru - Single Clip Collection Vol.3 History of American Roots Music Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamukakeshi) DVD and Studio Ghibli Limited DVD Player package (wood grain finished player complete with woodgrain patterned batteries for the remote which is shaped like a large acorn) - to see is to believe! Amelie Tin Kurosawa DVD Collection Limited Box (Madadayo, Re-mastered Ran, and Kurosawa documentary) Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Collector's Set |
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...and Steve Horan |
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| Back in 1987 a brash new talent burst on the music scene. Boasting a fine tenor voice and dance moves evoking a youngJames Brown, his career showed great promise straight out the gate. He wasan R&B classicist long before D'Angelo hit the charts. He was tagged as a Prince in waiting at the time but he lacked Prince's multi-instrumental prowess and he looked more like a travel-size Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli. He soon scored a couple of big hits with the catchy "Wishing Well" and the tender "Sign Your Name". Coincident with his quick rise to stardom he found himself in a pickle. Partly because he was a bit of a poseur: he grew up in Florida but found his fame in the UK which was apparently where he adopted the regal sounding name Terence Trent D'arby (more likely taken from a hometown roast beef joint than from Burke's Peerage). But worse than his preening finery were his claims that <pp> his debut album was the best record since Sergeant Pepper's! D'arby's self-confidence precipitated a big backlash. This braggadocio was smart in the sense that it became a major story and any publicity is good publicity. But still he was setting himself up for a fall. Where did he get off all high and mighty, comparing himself to the Beatles, hrrrumph! Oh, this young buck will get his comeuppance! And sure enough his next album ("Neither fish nor fowl or somesuch...") either tanked or layed an egg... whatever, it wasn't good. But, in retrospect, was his self-confidence that horrible a thing? You need to believe in what you're doing; if you don't, why bother? Also, as the creator of his music he's able to tailor it exactly to his taste. If he's not able to do this then he's not in control of his craft. So why am I bringing this up? As an explanation of why I don't have a Top 10 list. I finished a couple of homemade CD's this year and they have eclipsed all other new releases from my POV - including EC's disappointing WIWC. Not that I've heard that much (not that I ever hear that much!), but the stuff I have heard (Beck's single, Bruce's single,...etc) hasn't piqued much interest. So, were I to compose an honest top 10 list, my two CD's would be the only entries on it! Lousy vocals and all :-) Because my stuff was done the way I wanted it, I prefer it to any other stuff out there. So, if I think of "Mi Mi Mi" as the best debut since...oh, I dunno.... "The Hard Line According To Terence Trent D'arby" maybe?, please don't think me too arrogant and forgive my delusions of grandeur. I'm only human after all. Of flesh and blood I'm made. Any other observations...? Oh yes, season 4 of the Sopranos was a major disappointment. Slo, who has neither a fine tenor voice nor the ability to dance like James Brown |
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