Best of 2002
Top 5's of 2002
William Seale
12-16-02
Top 5 new albums of the 2002
1. GlassJaw - Worship and Tribute
--Aggressive and demure. Driving with the force of pentup anger, and guided by an unseen intellect, this album carries the burden of a questioned reality. Moments of discharged passion leave behind space for contemplation. The vocals take a little time getting used to, but soon they just sound "right". And the talent behind the instruments is staggering. Each listen I pick out a different person, and listen to the incisiveness of the band members. This album should have gone down in some history, but I'll be glad if people just find it and realize it's strengths. It's for the heavier crowds, but it's jazz-rock idealisms might just persuade a new audience to join in on the fray.
2. Sixpence None the Richer - Divine Discontent
--Sixpence has had a weird journey from art-pop, to alt.rock, to art.rock,to mellow rockapop. With this album, they give in to what I'd call "label-appeasing" moments. There are a few glorious pieces of music saturated with talent, such as "still burning", and "parachutes", but overall, the album is just a notch less than it could be. Even with this, though, 90% of the album is wonderful (unfavorites:waiting on the sun,don't dream it's over) and worthy of many listens. The eloquent lyrics come from a very honest place, and the music just wafts along the scent. With the extremely talented hand of matt slocum crafting these wonders, and leigh nash leading the charge, a good bit of these tracks will stand the test of time's critical eye. And these good songs make one of the best albums of the year.
3. Badly Drawn Boy - About a Boy
--Crafted pop never sounded so good. Damon Gough just has a knack for writing lyrics that avoid the common trap of rhymining and cliche, while maintaing a simplicity that is highly pleasing. "Above You, Below Me" is just a wonderfully simple track that never leaves the head. Though there are one or two misteps on the album (the electronic dabbles), as a whole, it's a venture into pristene musicmaking. Oh, and he has a wonderful voice to compliment these things.
4. Sigur Ros - ()
--This is a freaking weird album. The lyrics aren't real, and the music is very theme-based. I don't know why this music works, but it does. It's an aural opera designed to play like a soundtrack to an unseen art. It's subtle and beautiful, and makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. But please, if you do figure out what it means, don't tell me. It's like a beautiful portrait of a stranger.
5. Ryan Adams - Demolition
--Ryan Adams is the wonderboy of the alt.country movement. People say he writes songs with the same effort we brush our teeth with. Truthfully, I don't know how he does it, but he writes fine songs. This album of "demos" shows that even the b-sides are better than most people's albums.
Top 5 old albums of the year
1. Rich Mullins - Songs
--Rich Mullins crafted songs out of his faith and his knowledge of life and cultures. There isn't any lifehouse vagueity to be found here. He doesn't pretend he is high-and-mighty, instead, he just tells about his life, and his passions. This collection has a good survey of his life and career, but if you're looking for a little more, give a listen to "Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth". Honest and intelligent, this is the kind of music I should here more often, but don't. Instead I here people singing about their love of money. Every time I hear someone cater soley to the masses, I hear a note made for the cash. This music is personal while also being accessable. Most will be turned off by his subject matter, but that shouldn't dissuade those who can realize he's not preaching, but trying to communicate.
2. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
--Meaning through storytelling dominates this portrait of a wandering man. Though the lyrics are very well written, my favorite part of this album is dylan's voice. Not the best singer, but he can emote. He lends gravity to tales of strippers and past loves. Simple Twist of Fate is my favorite track, but every one is worth a couple listens. there's a reason this is one of the most revered albums of all time, and it doesn't take long to figure out why.
3. Dismemberment Plan - Change
--Earlier punk aggression settled into mature explorations on this album. The orchestration may seem simple, but each note is full of meaning, and the lyrics are alternatively painful, biting, and poignant. " I've watched the rich risk it all for fifteen minutes in a heathrow bathroom / I've shuddered as an unseen mouth slid down my spine every night " This album is catchy and meaningful. Why didn't I listen to this one before this year? I guess I should have listened to sean.
4. Whiskeytown - Faithless Street (reissue)
--Reissued in 2002, this album is just a wonder of reinvigorated cliches. Somehow the generic bluegrass I normally avoid got mixed in with country and alt rock and formed this alt.country wonderband. And the best track (Here's To the Rest of the World) is only on the reissue for those wondering. This album should have shown the nashville popular country whores what music was, as opposed to the twangy recycled garbage you hear from them now. I prefer the lo-key moments (black arrow, lo-fi tennessee mountain angel), but even the upbeat songs are good.
5. Louis Armstrong - Hellow Satchmo! Again
--This is what that crap smooth jazz they play on elevators on the on the radio wants to be. This is smooth, but it's still got emotion and texture and personality. Classics songs and solid execution make this album great.
Top 5 Television Episodes of the Year
1. Buffy - The Musical (season 6, episode 7)
--Ok, I'll pause for people to leave... anyone still there? ok.
--Joss whedon is one of the best writers and directors working in hollywood today. This episode combines satire with drama with comedy in a seamless concoction of embattled emotions. The music moments are all the right pitch, and the singing (though sometimes processed) feels right in place with the narrative. Let's see the sopranos pull this one off. This show has had its share of heavyhanded moments, but it has enough sense to laugh at the world every now and again. In this episode, whedon made good on his promise as a writer, and as a director. This episode was about being alone when you are surrounded, and how fear can be balanced with hope. Leave it to a musical to be one of the defining elements of a story about people coming to grips with the real world.
2,3. 24 - 5:00am - 7:00am (2 episodes)
--These two episodes completed the first act, and carried the show from an action-movie throwback into a real complex story of survival. Up until this point, I was not convinced that this show was worth my time. But after 7:00am, I was hooked. This is where the elements gelled into a real winner. Sure, the whole season was great, but these episodes were definitive in their denial of the "easy way out" tv standard.
4. Scrubs - My Occurance
--Brendan Fraser is funny. Brendan can act. Why doesn't he do more? This episode is meaningful without being overbearing, and funny without being calous. Scrubs is deserved of all the praise it gets, and this episode shows why.
5. Andy Richter Controls the Universe - Pilot
--Funny as hell. This show is just funny. No need to explain.
Top 5 Movies of 2002
To be filled in after christmas....
Current Places:
4. About a Boy
5. Solaris
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