Other Music's Staff Picks for 2002

[Always a good thing to have handy. Click more for the actual staff picks, which are usually more interesting than the top sellers.]

1. Boards of Canada "Geogaddi" (Warp)
2. Interpol "Turn on the Bright Lights" (Matador)
3. Mum "Finally We Are No One" (Fat Cat)
4. Yo La Tengo "Sounds of the Sounds of Science" (Egon)
5. Clinic "Walking With Thee" (Domino)
6. Notwist "Neon Golden" (City Slang)
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Yeah Yeah Yeahs" (Touch and Go)
8. Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" (Warner)
9. Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
10. Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (Nonesuch)
11. Gary Wilson "You Think You Really Know Me" reissue (Motel)
12. Ladytron "Light and Magic" (Emperor Norton)
13. Beth Gibbons and Rustin' Man "Out of Season" (Go Beat)
14. Smokey and Miho "Smokey and Miho" (Afro Sambas)
15. Soviet "We Are Eyes We Are Builders" (Head)
16. RJD2 "Deadringer" (Def Jux)
17. Black Dice "Beaches and Canyons" (DFA)
18. Sigur Ros "()" (MCA)
19. A Certain Ratio "Early" (Soul Jazz)
20. Belle and Sebastian "Storytelling" (Jeepster/Matador)
21. Sleater-Kinney "One Beat" (Kill Rock Stars)
22. Various Artists "Blue Skied an' Clear" (Morr)
23. Various Artists "In the Beginning There Was Rhythm" (Soul Jazz)
24. The Streets "Original Pirate Material" (Pure Groove/Locked On)
25. DJ Shadow "Private Press" (MCA)
26. Beck "Sea Change" (DGC)
27. Pavement "Slanted & Enchanted/Luxe & Reduxe" reissue (Matador)
28. Cody Chesnutt "Headphone Masterpiece" (Ready Set Go)
29. Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ)
30. Boards of Canada "Twoism" reissue (Warp)

GEOFF ALBORES
Alice Coltrane "Universal Consciousness" reissue (Verve)
A Certain Ratio "Early" (Soul Jazz)
Mr. Lif "I Phantom" (Def Jux)
Super Collider "Raw Digits" (Rise Robots Rise)
Burnt Sugar "Volumes 1-3" (Trugoid)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
Town and Country "C'mon" (Thrill Jockey)
Fertile Ground "Seasons Change" (Counterpoint)
Derrick Carter "Square Dancing in a Round Room" (Classic)
Stereotyp "My Sound" (G Stone)
Nicole Mitchell "Afrika Rising" (Dreamtime)
William Parker "Raining on the Moon" (Thirsty Ear)
Sticks and Stones "Sticks and Stones" (482)
Mia Doi Todd "Golden State" (Sony)
Ethiopiques 11 "Alemu Aga/Harp of King David" (Buda Musique)

MATT CONNORS
A Certain Ratio "Early" (Soul Jazz)
Future/Human League "Golden Hour of the Future" reissue
(Black Melody)
Richard Hawley "Late Night Final" (Bar/None)
Horace Andy "Dance Hall Style" reissue (Wackies)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
Clinic "Walking With Thee (Domino)
Closer Music "After Love" (Kompakt)
Donovan "Open Road" reissue (Repertoire)
Ethiopiques 11 "Alemu Aga/Harp of King David" (Buda Musique)
Interpol "Turn on the Bright Lights" (Matador)
[V.A.] "8 Women/Original Soundtrack" (Rhino)
Devendra Banhart "Oh Me Oh My" (Young God)

J DENNIS
Closer Musik "After Love" (Kompakt)
[V.A.] "Disco Not Disco 2" (Strut)
Donna Regina "Northern Classic" (Karaoke Kalk)
Annie Gosfield "Flying Sparks and Heavy Machinery" (Tzadik)
Hrvatski "Swarm and Dither" (Planet Mu)
Love Joys "Lovers Rock" & "Reggae Vibes" reissues (Wackies)
Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ)
The Sound "Jeopardy" reissue (Renascent)
Swayzak "Dirty Dancing" (K7)
Theorem THX "Experiments in Synchronicity" (Minus)
Akufen "My Way" (Force Inc.)
Thomas Fehlmann "Visions of Blah" (Kompakt)
Smash TV "Electrified" (Bpitch)
Stereotyp "My Sound" (G Stone)
Tom and Joyce "Partir" (Yellow)

DANIEL DEROGATIS
Sutekh "Fell" (Orthlorng)
DJ/Rupture "Minesweeper Suite" (Tigerbeat6)
Ethiopiques 11 "Alemu Aga/Harp of King David" (Buda Musique)
Lawrence "Lawrence" (Ladomat)
Rhythm & Sound/Chosen Brothers "Making History" (Burial Mix)
Ekkehard Ehlers "Plays" (Staubgold)
Michael Mayer "Immer" (Kompakt)
William Basinski "Disintegration Loops" (Mosex)
Justus Kohncke "Was Ist Musik?" (Kompakt)
Missy Elliot "Under Construction" (Elektra)

LISA GARRETT
Revlon 9 "Revlon 9" (Self-released)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Yeah Yeah Yeahs" (Touch and Go)
Rapture "House of Jealous Lovers" 12"-single (DFA)
[V.A.] "Studio One Hustle" (Soul Jazz)
Rogers Sisters "Purely Evil" (Troubleman)
Missy Elliot "Under Construction" (Elektra)
ESG "Step Off" (Soul Jazz)
Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ)
Polyphonic Spree - Live Show, Brooklyn Lyceum, CMJ 2002
Hot Hot Heat "Knock Knock Knock" (Sub Pop)

ANDY GILES
Orchid "Gatefold" (Ebullition)
Xiu Xiu "Knife Play" (5RC)
Frog Eyes "Bloody Hand" (Global Symphonic)
Sigur Ros "()" (MCA)
Death of Marat "All Eyes Open" (Stickfigure)
Josef K "Young and Stupid" reissue (LTM)
Jacobites "Robespierres Velvet Basement" reissue
(Secretly Canadian)
Die Todliche Doris "Kinderringellreihen Fur Wahren Toren" reissue
(Psychedelic Pig)
Swans "Great Annihilator" reissue (Young God)
Nikki Sudden/Roland S. Howard "Kiss You Kidnapped Charabanc"
reissue (Secretly Canadian)

DANIEL GIVENS
Nettle "Build a Fort, Set That on Fire" (Agriculture)
Josh Abrams "Busride Interview" (Lucky Kitchen)
William Basinski "Disintegration Loops" (Mosex)
Rhythm and Sound "10-inch Series" (Basic Channel)
Guillermo E. Brown "Soul at the Hands of the Machine"
(Thirsty Ear/Blue Series)
Me'Shell NdegeOcello "Cookie" (Warner)
[V.A.] "Studio One Series" (Soul Jazz)
Stereotyp "My Sound" (G Stone)
Derrick Carter "Squaredancing in a Round House" (Classic)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
Ethiopiques 11 "Alemu Aga/Harp of King David" (Buda Musique)
ESG "Step Off" (Soul Jazz)

GERALD HAMMILL
Revlon 9 "Revlon 9" (Self-released)
Michael Mayer "Immer" (Kompakt)
ESG "Step Off" (Soul Jazz)
Mum "Finally We are No One" (Fat Cat)
[V. A.] "In the Beginning There Was Rhythm (Soul Jazz)
Love Joys "Lovers Rock" reissue (Wackies)
Donna Regina "Northern Classic" (Karaoke Kalk)
Keith Fullerton Whitman "Playthroughs" (Kranky)
Clinic "Walking With Thee" (Domino)
[V.A.] "Disco Not Disco 2" (Strut)
Noonday Underground "Surface Noise" (Setanta)
Rapture "House of Jealous Lovers" 12"-single (DFA)

ROB HATCH-MILLER
A Certain Ratio "Early" (Soul Jazz)
Notwist "Neon Golden" (City Slang)
[V.A.] "Can't Stop It" (Chapter)
Black Dice "Beaches and Canyons" (DFA)
Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (Nonesuch)
Marz "Love Streams" (Karaoke Kalk)
Casino Verus Japan "Whole Numbers Play the Basics" (Carpark)
Love Joys "Reggae Vibes" reissue (Wackies)
Archie Shepp "Yasmina, a Black Woman" reissue (Sunspots)
Fennesz "Field Recordings" (Touch)
Single of the Year: Rapture "House of Jealous Lovers" (DFA)

DUANE HARRIOTT
Amerie "Why Don't We Fall In Love" 12"-single (Sony)
Rapture "House of Jealous Lovers" 12"-single (DFA)
Revlon 9 "Revlon 9" (Self-released)
ESG "Step Off" (Soul Jazz)
Saint Etienne "Action" 12"-single (Heavenly)
Linda Lewis "Reach for the Truth" reissue (Rhino/WSM/Reprise)
[V.A.] "Disco Connection" (WSM)
Slum Village "Trinity" (Capitol)
Akfuen "Deck the House" 12"-single (Force Inc.)
Metro Area "Miura" 12"-single (Environ)

KEAN HOLTKAMP
Eliane Radigue ""Adnos 1 to 3" (Table of the Elements)
Minamo ".kgs" (360 Degree)
Mitchell Akiyama "Temporary Music" (Raster-Noton)
Michael Hurley "Blueberry Wine" reissue (Locust)
Toshiya Tsunoda "Pieces of Air" (Lucky Kitchen)
Phil Niblock "G2, 44+x2" (Moikai)
Charlemagne Palestine "Music for Big Ears" (Staalplaat)
Stina Nordenstam "This Is" (Independiente)
Music Tapes "2nd Imaginary Symphony" (Self-released)

DAN HOUGHLAND
The glow-sticks in the Paul McCartney "Back in the USA"
CD/DVD/Cassette commercial
Woodbine "Woodbine" (Domino) -skip to track 3, then it's expert
sailing
Trad, Gras Och Stenar "Djungelns Lag" reissue (1/2 Special)
Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ) & live at Joe's Pub on 12/27/02
Black Dice "Beaches and Canyons" (DFA)
Black Dice "Lost Valley" EP (Tigerbeat6)
Animal Collective "Hollinndagain Live" (Secretly Canadian)
The Double "CD-R" (forthcoming release)
The Occasion "CD-R" (forthcoming release)
No Neck Blues Band "Mr. a Fan" (Trademark Quality)
Vote Robot "Five Score Six Bicycle" (Catsup Plate)

MICHAEL KLAUSMAN
Devendra Banhart "Oh Me Oh My" (Young God)
Michael Hurley "Blueberry Wine" reissue (Locust)
Eliane Radigue "Geelriandre/Arthesis" (Fringes)
William Basinksi "Disintegration Loops" (Mosex)
Dando Shaft "Anthology" (RPM)
Ilitch "10 Suicides" reissue (Fractal)
Fairport Convention "Heyday" reissue (Island)
Duncan Browne "Duncan Browne" reissue (RAK/EMI)
Chris Smither "Don't Drag It On" reissue (Tomato)
23 Skidoo "Gospel Comes to New Guinea" (Ronin)

NICOLE LANG
Iron and Wine "Creek Drank the Cradle" (Sub Pop) - Favorite album
of 2002!
William Basinski "Disintegration Loops" (Mosex)
Henry Flynt "C Tune" (Locust Music)
Missy Elliot "Under Construction" (Elektra)
Sondre Lerche "Faces Down" (Astralwerks)
Joshua "Gold Cosmos" (Feather One's Nest)
Duncan Browne "Duncan Browne" reissue (RAK/EMI)
Les Rallizes Denude "Live 1977" reissue (Fun Fun Fun)
Out Hud "S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D. (Kranky)
Breeders "Title TK (4AD/Elektra)

NOAH LENNOX
Theorem THX "Experiments in Synchronicity" (Minus)
Thomas and Richard Frost "Visualize" reissue (Revola)
Donna Regina "Northern Classic" (Karaoke Kalk)
Jay-Jay Johansen "Antenna" (RCA UK)
Lawrence "Lawrence" (Ladomat)
Durutti Column "Return of the Sporadic Recordings" reissue (Kooky)
Kaito "Special Life" (Kompakt)
Coldplay "A Rush of Blood to the Head" (Capitol)
Maja Ratkje "Voice" (Rune Grammafon)
Youngsbower "Relayer" (VHF)

JOSH MADELL
Devendra Banhart "Oh Me Oh My" (Young God)
Akufen "My Way" (Force Inc.)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
Notwist "Neon Golden" (City Slang)
Noonday Underground "Surface Noise" (Setanta)
Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ)
ESG "Step Off" (Soul Jazz)
Polyphonic Spree "Beginning Stages of" (Good)

LIANE MOCCIA
Brendan Benson "Lapalco" (Star Time)
Ms. John Soda "No P. or D." (Morr)
Deerhoof "Reveille" (Kill Rock Stars)
Interpol "Turn on the Bright Lights" (Matador)
Tyondai Braxton "History That Has No Effect" (JMZ)
Bola "Fyuti" (Skam)
Revlon 9 "Revlon 9" (Self-released)
Michael Hurley "Blueberry Wine" (Locust)
Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ)
El-P "Fantastic Damage" (Def Jux)

SCOTT MOU
Michael Mayer "Immer" (Kompakt)
[V.A.] "Opensource.code" (Source)
Carsten Jost "Pink/Silver" (Sender)
M. Mayer "Love is Stronger Than Pride" (Kompakt)
Donna Regina "Northern Classic" (Karaoke Kalk)
Suntanama "The Suntanama" (Drag City)
Future/Human League "The Golden Our of the Future" reissue
(Black Melody)
Lawrence "Lawrence" (Ladomat)
Jane - NYC - "Coconuts" (Self-released)
Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist "Hollindagain Live" (Secretly
Canadian)

JENNIFER OROZCO
Michael Hurley "Blueberry Wine" reissue (Locust)
Leslie Winer "Witch" reissue (Virgin France)
Love Joys "Lovers Rock" reissue (Wackies)
Sharon Jones "Dap Dippin'" (Daptones)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
A Certain Ratio "Early" (Soul Jazz)
ESG "Step Off" (Soul Jazz)
Nagisa Ni Te "On the Love Beach" reissue (Jagjaguwar)
Breeders "Title TK" (4AD/Elektra)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer "The Musical"

JEREMY SPONDER
Ryan Adams "Demolition" (Universal)
Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (Nonesuch)
Interpol "Turn on the Bright Lights" (Matador)
Akufen "My Way" (Force Inc.)
Anti-pop Consortium "Arrhythmia" (Warp)
Paul Westerberg "Stereo/Mono" (Vagrant)
Metro Area "Metro Area" (Environ)
Coldplay "A Rush of Blood to the Head" (Capitol)
Doves "Last Broadcast" (Heavenly)
Mum "Finally We are No One" (Fat Cat)
Single of the Year: Rapture "House of Jealous Lovers" (DFA)

ROY STYLES
Destroyer "This Night" (Merge)
Richard and Thomas Frost "Visualize" reissue (Revola)
Sunshine Company "Sunshine Company" reissue (Revola)
Blades of Grass "Are Not for Smoking" reissue (Revola)
Sandy Salisbury "Falling to Pieces" reissue (Revola)
The Moon "Without Earth and the Moon" reissue (Revola)
Eternity's Children "Eternity's Children" reissue (Revola)
Polyphonic Spree "The Beginning Stages of" (Good)
Josef K "Only Fun in Town" reissue (LTM)
Mum "Finally We are No One" (Fat Cat)
Bola "Fyuti" (Skam)
[V.A.] "Blue Skied an' Clear" (Morr)
Black Dice "Lost Valley EP" (Tigerbeat6)
Clientele "Lost Weekend EP " (Acuarela)
Hrvatski "Swarm and Dither" (Planet Mu)

CHRIS VANDERLOO
Grandpaboy "Mono" (Vagrant)
Paul Westerberg "Stereo" (Vagrant)
[V.A.] "Kompakt Total 4" (Kompakt)
William Basinski "Disintegration Loops" (Mosex)
Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (Nonesuch)
Marz "Love Streams" (Karaoke Kalk)
Walkmen "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone" (Star Time)
Donovan "Open Road" reissue (Repertoire)

PHIL WALDORF
Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" (Nonesuch)
Destroyer "This Night" (Merge)
Spoon "Kill the Moonlight" (Merge)
Fennesz "Field Recordings" (Touch)
Loscil "Submers" (Kranky)
Pavement "Slanted & Enchanted/Luxe & Reduxe" reissue (Matador)
Gary Wilson "You Think You Really Know Me" reissue (Motel)
Okkervil River "Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See"
(Jagjaguwar)
Television Personalities "Painted Word" reissue (Fire)
[V.A.] "Madagascar: Merina Country" (Ocora)
Nikki Sudden (Various LPs reissued this year on Secretly Canadian)

Posted by Brian Stefans at January 9, 2003 09:42 AM