2002 Review – Albums #150 – 141
Nada Mucho presents:
2002 Review – Albums 150 – 141
By Matt Ashworth
Yeah yeah yeah, we know its been more than six months since 2002 came to a close. And that everyone else ran their year-end picks already. What are you complaining about? Just when you’re starting to miss the rock lists that define your very existence we’re here to remind you about everything you forgot last year. The Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Two was a fine one for albums. In fact, more than 300 records were deemed worthy of our 2002 Favs list by a voting populace of readers, artists and our very own editorial staff.
Because artists are generally pretentious dicks and readers are usually idiots, we cut the list down by over half to eliminate most of the crap. The result is a
Nada Mucho presents:
2002 Review – Albums 150 – 141
By Matt Ashworth
Yeah yeah yeah, we know its been more than six months since 2002 came to a close. And that everyone else ran their year-end picks already. What are you complaining about? Just when you’re starting to miss the rock lists that define your very existence we’re here to remind you about everything you forgot last year.
The Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Two was a fine one for albums. In fact, more than 300 records were deemed worthy of our 2002 Favs list by a voting populace of readers, artists and our very own editorial staff.
Because artists are generally pretentious dicks and readers are usually idiots, we cut the list down by over half to eliminate most of the crap. The result is a list of 150 albums worth checking out. We hope that you’ll do so by visiting the label’s website, and even you’re feeling extra saucy why don’t you go ahead and email us with your complaints, compliments and other random thoughts.
150. Plays That Good Old Rock And Roll — Neil Hagerty (Drag City)
We’re pretty sure this only made the list because it features a song called “Shaved Cunt.” Neil Hagerty’s two bands, Pussy Galore and Royal Trux, both captured his sporadic genius and his tendency for arty, self-indulgent bullshit in equal measure. Plays that Good Old Rock, like most things Neil’s involved with, lies somewhere in between.
149. American Supreme — Suicide (Blast First)
Suicide are responsible for most of the crappy synth pop that plagued 80s record bins, a fact that’s forgiven only because they used to get in fist fights with their audience and recorded “Frankie Teardrop.” American Supreme picks up about where they left off 20 years ago, all the way down to the crappy recycled funk and hip-hop beats.
148. Super System — El Guapo (Dischord)
In addition to owning one of the greatest band name’s ever, El Guapo are perhaps the best evidence against the theory that “All Discord bands sound like Fugazi.” Opting for odd computer noises and cool dance beats rather than the patented D.C. mix of syncopated percussion, angular guitars and political agendas, El Gaupo have made an album that is equally likely to drive you insane as it is to make your ass shake. In fact, don’t buy Super System – it’s ridiculous and everyone who voted for it is an idiot.
147. The River Made No Sound — Pan American (Kranky)
Chicago’s Kranky records put out a number of very good albums last year, most of which were electronic in nature and/or serve as excellent scores for the background music of your life. Chief among them in 2002 was the third release from Pan American.
146. Italian Platinum — Silkworm (Touch and Go)
Silkworm are a Seattle band powered by the duel songwriting abilities of Andy Cohen and Joel Phelps. Their eighth album, Italian Platinum, features guest vocals from Nada favorite Kelly Hogan and was produced by indie-rock-producer-legend-guy Steve Albini. It also features some super-terrific songs and stuff.
145. All Roads Lead to Salzburg — Mice Parade (Bubblecore)
Our musician friends tell us these guys are the shit, so we’re running with it. One critic called New York City’s Mice Parade “experimental electronica/post-rock”. We think that means they’re totally arty, and that they enjoy jazz, both of which fit with the sounds contained on All Roads Lead to Salzburg.
144. A Little Deeper — Ms. Dynamite (Interscope)
Ms. Dynamite is a Jamaican-born British 2-step DJ who beat out the Streets, the Coral and David Bowie at last year’s Mercury Awards. She kinda makes me feel like gettin’ funky, which I will be doing as soon as I finish this article.
143. Under Cold Blue Stars — Josh Rouse (Slow River)
Seems like Josh Rouse is gonna have to settle for the non-hyperbolic adjectives critics have been using to describe his music since he released his excellent 1998 debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska. Not that there’s anything wrong with being called “solid,” “satisfying,” “promising” or “gifted” – those words just always seem to be selling him short.
142. Lord Willin’ — Clipse (Star Trak/Arista)
Clever East-Coast hip-hop about selling drugs and being a mothafuckin’ gangster is touched by the Almighty hands of deified producers The Neptunes and released to the masses. Club anthems and adept wordplay don’t always go hand in hand, so be thankful for Lord Willin’ tracks like “Grindin” and “When the Last Time.”
141. The Best Bootlegs in the World Ever — Various Artists (bootleg, duh)
Music purists concerned with the proliferation of file-sharing can catch a glimpse of what the rest of the known universe is privy too with this collection of illegally-produced remixes. Worth the price of admission for “Smells like Booty” alone (which masterfully sets the Destiny’s Child vocal track from “Bootylicious” to “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”) Available on the Rough Trade website last we heard, but they swear they’ve never of heard of it either.
See #’s 140 – 131
See #’s 130 – 121 