Hello folks,

As always, I compile a list of Top Ten albums I’m listening to each month. Well, being that it is near year’s end, I realized that I could not limit a list to only ten CD’s. This year, has been a great one for music! There were many great albums released, even in this dreadful time of over-produced, hyped, packaged, generic! music by the Major Label Machine. I have also included my favorite Books, Films, DVD’s and other tidbits as well.

20 Top Albums of 2002

1.) The Golden Age Of Radio – Josh Ritter

2.) Sleeping On Roads - Neil Halstead

3.) See The Morning In - Grand Drive

4.) ( ) – Sigur Ros

5.) Bramble Rose - Tift Merrit

6.) Yankee Hotel Foxtrot – Wilco

7.) Rabbit Songs – Hem

8.) A New Day at Midnight – David Gray

9.) Night On My Side – Gemma Hayes

10.) Sean-No’s Nua – Sinead O’Connor

11.) Fashionably Late – Linda Thompson

12.) Here Comes The New Folk Underground – David Baerwald

13.) Illumination – Paul Weller

14.) Lost In Space – Aimee Mann

15.) Live In Bahia – Caetano Veloso

16.) Radio Bemba Sound System – Manu Chao

17.) A Rush Of Blood To The Head – Coldplay

18.) Melody A.M. – Royksopp

19.) Old Low Light – Kathryn Williams

20.) Red Letter Days – The Wallflowers

Other artists that had releases I enjoyed during the year:

Lemon Jelly, Cousteau, Phantom Planet, Joseph Arthur, Oysterband, Orchestra Baobob, The Be Good Tanya’s, Total Lee, the Songs of Lee Hazelwood-Various Artists, U2, Uncle Tupelo, James Taylor, Dixie Chicks, Brendan Benson, The Streets.

Best CD art & Packaging:

1. Lost in Space - Aimee Mann
2. Home (limited edition) – Dixie Chicks
3. ( ) – Sigur Ros

Best CD liner notes:

Sean-No’s Neau – Sinead O’Connor

CD’s that could have made the list, but purchased last year as an import:

1.) Nothing But A Dream – Paul Kelly

2.) Barricades And Brickwalls – Kasey Chambers

3.) One All – Neil Finn

Most Promising Debut:

1.) Tift Merritt

2.) Hem

Most Welcome Return:

1. David Baerwald
2. Linda Thompsom

Maybe Next Time (disappointing albums)

1. Storytelling - Belle & Sebastian
2. Daybreaker - Beth Orton
3. Up – Peter Gabriel

Best Films:

1. The Two Towers -The Lord Of The Rings (I know it hasn’t been released yet, but I know it’s going to be great. Peter Jackson is amazing!)
2. Frida
3. Far From Heaven
4. Y Tu Mama Tambien

Worst film:

Best DVD:

1. The Fellowship Of the Rings: The Lord Of The Rings – Special Extended Edition
2. Amelie
3. Getting away With It-James- The great U.K. band’s final concert

Best Books:

1. At Swim, Two Boys - Jamie O’Neill
2. Life Of Pi – Yann Martel
3. Tropical Truth A Story Of Music & Revolution – Caetano Veloso (I think you have to be a fan!)

That’s All Folks!

Happy Holiday Season to you all.

Cheers,

Kevin