Lars Gotrich's Best of 2002
music editor
2002 can be summed up in two words... Vanilla Coke.
2002 was a good year for rock n roll. Yes, rock n roll made its way back into the mainstream,
and I don't really mind the bands represented (save the post-Pearl Jam wannabes). In fact, I don't
pay much attention to them at all. You just can't expect popular media to embrace important music
anymore. Let them have their Strokeses and White Stripeses, I have my own.
To spare you the long, unnecessary introduction most writers give, here's my BEST OF 2002.
10. Rosie Thomas- When We Were Small [Sub Pop]
Too Good Not to Be Mentioned:
The Albums I Didn't Hear/Buy Until 2002:
Best Split Album:
Best Local Athens Bands:
Most Relevant Song of the Year:
The Song I Still Can't Get Out of My Head:
Teaser of the Year:
Best Artwork/Layout:
The Swedish Bands You Haven't Really Heard About, Yet:
Best Live Shows (in chronological order):
-----
Rosie, will you marry me? Please?
09. The John Wilkes Kissing Booth- A Threat in the Broadcast [Velvet Blue Music]
After an obscure EP, JWKB wrote one of the most impressive debut full-lengths I've heard in a while. Derrick Brown's powerful and violently romantic poetry is worth the price itself.
08. Interpol- Turn On the Bright Lights [Matador]
True, Interpol shares a hand with many others that reminisce the '80s, but I think they bring an interesting side to the era. Paul Banks's dreamy vocals and great lyrics along with the band's creative backgrounds make for much more than another '80s knockoff.
07. Sigur Ros- ( ) [MCA/Fat Cat]
It's a fantasyland of elves and curious creatures soundtracked by a band critics still can't pigeonhole.
06. Spoon- Kill the Moonlight [Merge]
An unexpectedly tough rock n roll album following the moody Girls Can Tell. With every record, Spoon re-invents themselves without going over the top.
05. ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead- Source Tags and Codes [Interscope]
I don't know why I never wrote a review for this remarkable album. From the blistering "It Was There That I Saw You" to the reflective title track, this is sure to be a modern classic.
04. The Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots [Warner]
So how do you follow up the genius of The Soft Bulletin? Good question. While
The Soft Bulletin was a pop masterpiece, Yoshimi is epic. The sweeping
beauty and fragility of Yoshimi and its unintended story about survival created a new
album worth masterpiece status in its own right.
03. The Polyphonic Spree- The Beginning Stages Of... [Good]
A joyous breath of fresh air in a music world surrounded by depression.
02. Low- Trust [Kranky]
For a band that's recorded many albums over the past eight years, one wonders how Low can continue
to release such gems. While remaining true to their roots, the trio expanded into a little rock
and blues (see "Canada" and its single with a great version of Pink Floyd's "Fearless").
The darker side of Low came out once again, but subtly sparkled hope in Trust.
01. Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot [Nonesuch]
Why do I feel like I have to defend this choice? Some critics think they're too good for this
album and I guess they're entitled to their opinion. But music realizes purpose
and certain albums reveal life more than others. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot peeled back my skin
and unfolded new revelations about love and loneliness. Just look at the two buildings on the cover...
so close to each other, but monoliths by relation. We're lonely buildings all standing
so close, but fail the need for compassion when we most need it. People are too stubborn to admit
the need for companionship and love, and even the jaded rock journalist can put away his/her
monolith.
Blackalicious- Blazing Arrow [MCA]
I think Blackalicious accomplished a feat in creating the only hip hop recording I own. This was my summer album as I listened to it every other day while working outside. I would have never thought hip hop could be so smart, creative, and soothing (see "Make You Fell That Way").
Pedro the Lion- Control [Jade Tree]
Further pushing "controversial" boundaries, David Bazan's third (intended) concept album juxtaposed salvation and sex, love and lies, and technology and progress. This is also Pedro's most painful and depressing work, yet.
Liz Janes- Done Gone Fire [Asthmatic Kitty]
A striking solo debut from Liz Janes who reminds us that the soul is the most important thing in songwriting.
LN- Novel [Velvet Blue Music]
Slow, introspective, spiritual songs that make a deep connection through Gary Murray's sluggish bluesy
voice. "Just two days out of the bible-belt we found hell" (-"And the Angels").
Half-Handed Cloud- We Haven't Just Been Told, We Have Been Loved [Asthmatic Kitty]
More focused than John Ringhofer's debut, his sophomore album explored the many sides of rest in just
33 minutes. I want to teach the Sunday school kids at my church these songs. :)
Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose [No Idea]
Gainsville, Florida's Against Me! began as an acoustic punk/folk duo yelling/singing punk rock
anthems in living rooms and tight spaces all over the southeast (I highly recommend picking up
Crime as Forgiven By... on Plan-It-X). This is what
punk rock is all about: hanging out, singing along, and kickball tournaments (well, at least that's
what they do when they come to Athens). Against Me! got me back into punk rock again. Fans of Billy
Bragg, The Clash, and Stiff Little Fingers take note of this intense and inspiring band.
Me Without You [A-->B] Life [Tooth & Nail]
Powerful, flamboyant, and heart-wrenching post-hardcore/punk with Aaron Weiss's deep connection
to suffering and joy. A refreshing and delightful surprise from the label that still puts out
Supertones albums.
There's simply too much music out there and keeping up is impossible. The following are great
albums that came out years ago, but only recently purchased. I bought London Calling
after watching a fantastic documentary on The Clash, and one week later Joe Strummer died. I was lucky
enough to find a copy of Blessed Light's only release, and it's a shame that EP went under the
radar without recognition. And Slanted and Enchanted... wow.
Pavement- Slanted and Enchanted [Matador]
Crooked Fingers- s/t [Warm]
Soul Junk- 1955 [Jackson Rubio]
MC5- Kick Out the Jams [Elektra]
Blessed Light- For Love and Preservation [Made in Mexico]
The Clash- London Calling [Epic]
John Coltrane- Blue Train [Blue Note]
Suffering & the Hideous Thieves/The Hush Hush [Velvet Blue Music]
I have a hard time putting EP's and splits in my top ten lists. Call it a need for a full album and while
this split is essentially the length of a full album, it's still a split. Therefore, it gets its
own category. Anyway... the Hideous Thieves have quickly become one of my top five favorite bands
and this split with the whispery/wintery Hush Hush is a step forward for the Thieves. The pop song
("Apoligies") came out of nowhere, but works remarkably well, and the primal chant in "Creation"
overwhelms me. And "St. Elizabeth" is one of the best songs they've written thus far. Beautiful.
As for The Hush Hush, their intricate Ida-esque music wonderfully fits a snowy background on a
frosted day.
Athens, Georgia is known for its Elephant 6-sound: trippy, pyschedelic pop full of quirk and fun.
However, what's growing in the crazy house shows of the Athens underground is even more refreshing.
Carrie Nations: The local punk scene is small, but loyal. You see the same faces at Tight Pockets
and the Finley House (R.I.P.) every show. Two bucks donation, and maybe a vegan potluck beforehand.
Carrie Nations is Athens's punk treasure. True to the ideals of D.I.Y., they promote their own shows,
print their own t-shirts, and do the artwork for their releases. The best description I can come up
with is "indie-punk": enough pop sensibilities to appeal to indie kids, but with plenty of punk aura.
The Sugar Shakers: Only formed this past January, The Sugar Shakers played their first show
a month later to surprise everyone in attendence (me included). The band claims to bring back the "roll"
in rock n roll with their very danceable party-pop music reminiscent of the Pixies, early B-52's, and
the '60s underground rock movement (in fact, guitarist/vocalist Tim Schrieber hosts the weekly
'60s underground show on WUOG). Be on the lookout for these bright kids.
"Do You Realize??" by The Flaming Lips
Even though I may not agree with everything John Sant writes, he wrote about this song better than I ever would.
"Breathe" by Telepopmusik
It's just so... hypnotic. I love it.
"It's Over" by The Fire Theft
Will, Nate, and Jeremy (all ex-Sunny Day Real Estate) returned from The Rising Tide as
The Fire Theft. The three recorded a demo and put up an MP3 on their website that has kept all
SDRE fans salivating. "It's Over" reminds me a bit of How It Feels to Be Something On, but
Jeremy Enigk's songwriting has progressed greatly since then. I eagerly await The Fire Theft's debut.
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead- Source Tags & Codes
What makes this different most album artwork is that the members of Trail of Dead created every piece. The inconsistency of the artwork takes back from the overall layout, but I give them great credit for sharing more than just their musical talent (and doing it incredibly well, too).
Denison Witmer- Philadelphia Songs
With photography by Brady Sanders, and layout by Scott Hatch and Denison Witmer, this album is worth the booklet itself. The texture of the paper feels like smooth, Kodak paper and I almost feel guilty getting my prints on it because of the breathtaking beauty and warmth coming from every photograph.
The Swedes invaded pop-culture America this past year. Blindside, The Hives, and The (International) Noise
Conspiracy opened a new interest in non-American rock n roll. As always, the press seriously neglected
some great acts.
Kent: This is a post-Bends-era Radiohead-influenced band that deserves as much attention
as Travis, and Coldplay. While their latest album, Vapen & Ammunition (recorded entirely
in their native tongue) didn't live up to the beauty of Hagnesta Hill or Isola, it's still
great. Unfortunately, you can't get most Kent albums stateside. Thank God for the internet.
The Soundtrack of Our Lives: TSOOL just recently got into the mainstream press with
Behind the Music, which actually came out in 2001 in Sweden. Formed out the ashes of Union
Carbide Productions, TSOOL plays an excellent mix of proto-punk (think
The Stooges and The Who) and pyschedelic-pop (think Love or a pop-induced Pink Floyd). This is the
"revivalist rock" that should be paraded around, not The Strokes.
-Crooked Fingers (all acoustic show). February 15. Georgia Hall (University of Georgia), Athens, GA.
-Against Me!, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Carrie Nations. April ??. Finley House, Athens, GA (best punk show... ever).
-Pedro the Lion, Damien Jurado and Gathered in Song, T.W. Walsh. May 11. Echo Lounge, Atlanta, GA.
-Roadside Monument. July 6. Cornerstone 2002, Bushnell, IL.
-Woven Hand. July 6. Cornerstone 2002, Bushnell, IL.
-Andrew WK. September 11. 40 Watt, Athens, GA.
-Wilco. November 1. Classic Center, Athens, GA.
Lars is the music editor for Tangzine.com. E-mail him lots of love at lars59@uga.edu
2002 White Elephant
Productions