criteria:

• released in 2002
• actually owned by me
• inspired by kexp's best records of the year site.

top 5:

• Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter - "Reckless Burning"
  • damn, this is a good album! love the music, the lyrics and the guitar playing makes me want to learn myself.
• Neko Case - "Blacklisted"
  • just bought an earlier album ("Furnace Room Lullaby") and wish i'd heard of her a couple of years ago, so i could say "i've been listening to her since way back when..."
• Mirah - "Advisory Committee"
  • the clear beats, song structure and lyrics that i don't quite know what they mean... my kind of album. "Cold Cold Water" rules.
• Carrie Akre - "Invitation"
  • second album from this strong-voiced singer/songwriter. I actually like the first album better (this one seems almost overproduced and too commercial in comparison), but this is still a high quality cd.
• Bruce Springsteen - "The Rising"
  • sounds like the old Bruce, back with theh E Street Band. not too soft, not too hard, with some post 9-11 stuff that doesn't hit you over the head. "my city of ruins" is actually about asbury park, nj and was written before 9-11. also had to get at least one guy on the list.

others worth mentioning (in no particular order):

• Aimee Mann - "Lost in Space" - bought this one for a friend, have heard it on the radio and liked what i heard, but don't own it myself.
• They Might Be Giants - "Dial-a-Song: 20 Years of They Might Be Giants" - gotta get everything you can by Them.
• Meat Purveyors - "All Relationships are Doomed to Fail" - the album title is worth recommendation alone, but the songs are country-bluegrass meets punk/rock 'n roll. If you haven't heard it, imagine Ratt's "Round and Round" done in a frantic punk-bluegrass style.
• Susanna Baca - "Espiritu Vivo" - i bought this for the beautiful cover (in spanish) of Bjork's "Anchor Song" but love the luscious vocals and "live spirit" of everything on it.
• Chemical Brothers - "Come With Us" - had heard of this band, but never heard them. really liked the pure electronica - can imagine myself playing with the sounds and rhythms in the same way (if I had the time, talent and cool equipment).
• Super Furry Animals - "Rings Around the World"
• Johnny Cash - "American IV - The Man Comes Around" - still trying to figure out if this is a sincere effort, or just a way to put some dough in the bank. it is mostly covers, and some leave you scratching your head about why he did them (and others make you like songs you didn't like originaly). "Sam Hall," "We'll Meet Again" and "I Hung My Head" make me think it's the real deal.
• Marianne Faithfull - "Kissin Time"
• They Might Be Giants - "No!" - "kids album" but still plenty for Their faithful.
• Nirvana - "Nirvana" - have gradually come to appreciate Nirvana, after being initally turned off by their pop success, commercialism, and courtney love. so figured a "greatest hits with new material" album was a fair place to start.
• Lemon Jelly - "Lost Horizons" - if you can get "all the ducks are swimming in the water" out of your head after hearing "nice weather for ducks," let me know how you did it.
• Frank Black and the Catholics - "Black Letter Days"
• Dixie Chicks - "Home" - they are way too popular, but i don't care. this ablum seems to be more rootsy - some good instrumentalists are here including Chris Thiele, who i first heard years ago when he was a 14-year old mandolin prodigy.