2002 was a year packed full of ups and downs. In politics, we've seen the Republicans take over Congress, [Not My] President Shrub almost take us to war, and Trent Lott showing just how ignorant our government officials can be. In sports, neither the Bears or Cubs won their respective leagues [and that's all that matters in sports, frankly]. And in music, the year has had more twists and turns than ever. Lott, the same man I lambasted earlier, might actually be the one responsible for saving internet radio - we'll just have to wait and see. The RIAA's webpage was hacked more times than I can even remember [and was under the free hand of hackers less than 24 hours ago]. And once again, it was proved that if there is a god, he's assembling one hell of a rock band up there with the passings of Dee Dee Ramone and Joe Strummer among many others.
But you didn't come here to read my bland editorializing, you came here to see my ego-stroking list of what was good and bad this year. So, without further ado, here are my choices for 2003. Click on the title of any of the albums to read a review, where applicable.
THE TOP TEN RECORDS OF 2002
Honorable mentions go to: Karate - Some Boots, Andrew WK - S/T, Unwritten Law - Elva, Sparta - Wiretap Scars, Ben Folds - Ben Folds Live, Slow Gherkin - Run Screaming, Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health, Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head, The Gadjits - Today Is My Day, Foo Fighters - One By One, OK Go - S/T, Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Superdrag - Last Call For Vitriol
10. The Stereo - Rewind Record / Slowreader - S/T [Fueled By Ramen]
9. The Anniversary - Your Majesty / Get Up Kids - On A Wire [Vagrant]
8. Mates Of State - Our Constant Concern / Aloha - Sugar [Polyvinyl]
7. The One AM Radio - The Hum Of Electric Air! [Alone]
6. The Ghost - This Is A Hospital [Some]
5. Engine Down - Demure [Lovitt]
4. Bad Religion - The Process Of Belief [Epitaph]
3. Thrice - The Illusion Of Safety [Sub City]
2. Ben Kweller - Sha Sha [ATO/BMG]
1. The Promise Ring - Wood/Water [Anti-/Foreign Leisure]
THE TOP FIVE EPS OF 2002
5. Autopilot Off - S/T [Island]
4. Mike Felumlee/Dan Andriano - split CD [Double Zero]
3. Dillinger Escape Plan w/Mike Patton - Irony Is A Dead Scene [Epitaph]
2. Rainer Maria - Ears Ring [Polyvinyl]
1. Cursive/Eastern Youth - Eight Teeth To Eat You [Better Looking]
THE FIVE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2002
5. Face To Face - How To Ruin Everything [Vagrant]
4. Hot Snakes - Suicide Invoice [Swami]
3. Weezer - Maladroit [Geffen]
2. Radio 4 - Gotham! [Gern Blandsten]
1. Jets To Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness [Jade Tree]
THE THREE ALBUMS I JUST DIDN'T "GET" IN 2002
3. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot [Nonesuch]
2. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Source Tags and Codes [Interscope]
1. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf [Interscope]
THE MOST DEPRESSING ALBUM OF 2002
Beck - Sea Change [Interscope]
THE BEST ALBUM BY AN UNSIGNED BAND IN 2002
Motion City Soundtrack - I Am The Movie
THE BEST RETROSPECTIVE ALBUM OF 2002
Jawbreaker - Etc. [Blackball]
THE BEST ALBUM OF 2001 THAT I DIDN'T GET UNTIL 2002
Breaking Pangaea - Cannon To A Whisper [Undecided]
THE BEST ALBUM OF 2002 BY A BAND YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
The Braves - That's The Hot Part [Arms Reach]
THE TEN BEST CONCERTS I SAW IN 2002
10. Motion City Soundtrack/All-American Rejects/Northstar in Rockford, IL
9. The Anniversary/Detachment Kit in Chicago
8. Further Seems Forever/Breaking Pangaea in Freeport, IL
7. Dillinger Four in Rock Island, IL
6. Promise Ring/Schatzi in Iowa City
5. Jimmy Eat World/Promise Ring in Chicago
4. Dismemberment Plan/Cex in Galesburg, IL
3. Karate/K. in Iowa City
2. Get Up Kids/Hey Mercedes in Iowa City
1. Brand New/Pretty Girls Make Graves in Iowa City
THE TOP THREE PUNKNEWS.ORG STORIES OF 2002
3. The Promise Ring breaking up
2. Drive-Thru threatening to sue us because they can't handle anonymous name calling
1. Joe Strummer passing away
THE PUNKNEWS.ORG MIXTAPE
This is something new we're doing this year. Aubin, Adam, and myself each designed our ideal mixtape containing 20 of our favorite songs of the year 2002, 10 per side. These songs might not be from the best bands, or have come off the best albums, but I'll be damned if all these songs aren't amazing. Personally, it was nearly impossible to make this list [and I'm still contemplating swapping stuff out] due to the high amount of plain kick ass commercial [radio/MTV] singles this year. Phantom Planet ["California"], Foo Fighters ["All My Life"], Nirvana ["You Know You're Right"], Queens Of The Stone Age ["No One Knows"], OK Go ["Get Over It"], The Vines ["Get Free"], Sparta ["Cut Your Ribbon"], Audioslave ["Cochise"], and Unwritten Law ["Seein' Red"] all easily could have made this list. But I'm sticking with the following 20. Click on the song title to download an MP3, where applicable.
SIDE A
1. Dillinger Four - Noble Stabbings!
2. Slow Gherkin - Sally Boulevard
3. Andrew WK - We Want Fun
4. Motion City Soundtrack - The Future Freaks Me Out
5. Glassjaw - Ape Dos Mil
6. Thrice - A Subtle Dagger
7. Hot Water Music - Wayfarer
8. The Gadjits - Optimism
9. Bad Religion - Sorrow
10. The Ghost - By The Books
SIDE B
1. Rainer Maria - Ears Ring
2. Seven Storey - Unknown Satellite
3. The Braves - I Am A Patriot
4. Superdrag - Way Down Here Without You
5. David Singer - I Will Come Back From The War
6. Coldplay - God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
7. Get Up Kids - Stay Gone [live on Conan O'Brien]
8. The Stereo - 1994
9. The Anniversary - Devil On My Side
10. Weezer - Death and Destruction [live]
If anyone actually wants me to make this mixtape [or CD] for them, get in touch [email: scott@punknews.org / AIM: toko2000 / YIM: scott_heisel] and we'll work something out.
THE MOST ANTICIPATED RECORDS OF 2003
2002 was a banner year for music, but 2003 is already shaping up to blow most of us away. New music that I'm eagerly anticipating: Rainer Maria, Cursive, Radiohead, Thursday, The Descendents, Social Distortion, The Blood Brothers, The Weakerthans, Alkaline Trio, Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Elliott, Further Seems Forever, THICK's "OIL" compilation, Reggie and the Full Effect, Breaking Pangaea, Cave In, Rise Against, Third Eye Blind, Boy Sets Fire, the Seven Storey/Camber split, Saves The Day, Dashboard Confessional, and tons more.
THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN 2003