Retrospective Thread

[vesper]

This thread is rather open-ended, built for any sort of reflection on music now past. As for me, I'm taking the opportunity to re-examine 2002 and what I now think are the best records of the year.

Now, six months into 2003, all of last year's output (that I actually own/heard) has reached the point where it has either fully-saturated itself or out-played itself. Records I loved now find themselves only liked or dated; albums I thought were great - some even "just good" - have proved enduring and fresh.

So, in retrospect:
1. Do Make Say Think - & Yet & Yet
2. Enon - High Society
3. LIARS - They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top

and best re-release:
Spoon - A Series of Sneaks (Merge) w/ "Laffitte Don't Fail Me Now" and "The Agony of Laffitte" tagged on the end. This disc was as criminally ignored as Do Make Say Think's latest.

Wilco, Beck, Interpol, and ...Trail of Dead be DAMNED.

[johansen smith]

I still agree with my assertation that the two Papa M EPs, Songs of Mac and Three Songs were the best "album" of 2002. However, if I had to choose a "real" album for best of 2002, I'd have to move up what I think was my fourth or fifth favorite at the end of 2002, and say that Didn't it Rain by Songs: Ohia was definitely my favorite album released last year.

[pabost]

I've come to believe that "Turn on the Bright Lights" is one of my favorite debuts ever.

Ditto Johansen on the Songs:Ohia record.

[earl grey]

I'm surprised at how poorly Yankee Hotel Foxtrot has aged for me. I really, really loved that album last year - listened to it all the time, and it was the album that got me really into Wilco. I still love them, but when I listen to YHF now I just don't feel it. Something about it just doesn't grab me like it used to. It's Being There and Summerteeth I reach for more and more....

[t.d.]

I still think that Beck's album last year was outstanding, it is one of the all time best 'I am super depressed' albums that I have run across. Interpol has been a very good repeat listener. Other than that I really only listen to Spoon and I totally feel that Trail of the Dead was a bit too overhyped. And I hate to say it, but so was the last Flaming Lips record too.

[tinobeat]

with Wilco, Beck, and the Flaming Lips, I wonder how bad an album they would have to make in order for it to NOT be included in most peoples best-of lists...

in retrospect, my favorite album from 2002 is Awake Like Sleep by Greg Weeks.. so beautiful and so fucking creepy at the same time, but somehow not "dark". always beware of anything referred to by critics as "dark." usually just stands for "self-important."

[Joseph]

Tinobeat, I read your bit about Greg Weeks and decided to look into his record myself -- and what I found has shocked and appalled me! It seems that the album in question was actually released in 2001! You have soiled this thread and I think you owe everyone here an apology.

[Funk]

Originally posted by Joseph
It seems that the album in question was actually released in 2001! You have soiled this thread and I think you owe everyone here an apology.

The Liars album mentioned in the lead-off thread originally came out in 2001, so tinobeat didn't spoil the thread.

[jarv]

these pious types think they can get away with anything!

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6612496%255E1702,00.html

[tinobeat]

sorry, all... I stand corrected...

in that case, the best album of 2002, in retrospect is Chicoutimi by Flin Flon.

and I SWEAR I thought it was a dog...

[DefenderOfPants]

very, very disappointing.

it is a good thing i didn't get it on vinyl.

[Ladt]

I never got into Interpol- thought I was the only one. Last year the best album was What We did Last summer by a indie band called the supernaturals who broke up last year, damn good though.

[music dude]

There's this band called sonic youth that put out an amazing album last year called murray st.

destroyer's this night kicked mucho behind

for you to say that yhf and sea change were not still good albums well...my friend...maybe i have no taste, but i totally disagree...

golden also dropped a hot property last year...apollo stars


"but it was just my imagination, once again, running away with me."

[earl grey]

Murray Street is a fantastic record - one that I loved from the start and has gotten even better with age. I think it's one of their brightest moments, up there along with Washing Machine and Daydream Nation in my book. (I'd put A Thousand Leaves up there too if Kim's vocals on that album weren't so painful ... the Thurston and Lee songs are perfect.)

My only complaint about Murray Street is that it's too short ... Daydream and Washing Machine have a perfect trajectory, but Murray Street always leaves me wanting more.....

[Joseph]

Originally posted by music dude
There's this band called sonic youth that put out an amazing album last year called murray st.

Who is this "Sonic Youth" you speak of? I am intrigued.

[music dude]

I agree that it is too short, but I think that sy has come to this point where they are making songs that don't fit in to a 3 and 4 minute mark format, so they kind of have to make shorter albums because most of the songs are like 6 plus minutes long, and the days of rock albums that are 70 or 80 minutes seems a thing of the past. Murray St. is a jewel though, and I'm also glad you respect washing machine, and fine fine album that was.

a thousand leaves was also a fine album, and one of my favorite songs is one of Kim's

free time, free time...I feel combustible that's the way to say it all.

[music dude]

I found it wierd that everyone was saying that yhf is so different from wilco's other records, when i see a huge similarirty in being there and summerteeth, just not as many wierd sounds, but good observation there mr. grey


"I dreamed about killing you again last night, and it felt alright to me."

[earl grey]

Hmmm... gotta disagree with you on the Sonic Youth assuming I'm right on which song you're talking about. I think "French Tickler" is probably my least favorite song on the album, that or "Contre Le Sexisme" (which I always skip anyway). "Female Mechanic Now On Duty" is the Kim highlight for me on that album. The second half especially, with the guitar washes ... incredible live....

[bitterfruit]

Originally posted by music dude
I found it wierd that everyone was saying that yhf is so different from wilco's other records, when i see a huge similarirty in being there and summerteeth, just not as many wierd sounds, but good observation there mr. grey


"I dreamed about killing you again last night, and it felt alright to me."

I loved YHF when it came out, but I can't sit through the entire thing without losing patience nowadays. Maybe I'll be able to revisit the record down the road without feeling like I should be listening to better music.

[SlackMF]

Loved and still in heavy rotation:

Yo La Tengo - The sounds of the sounds...
Out Hud - S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D.
Notwist - Neon Golden (wasn't that last yr?)
Sonic Yute - Murray St.
Beck - Sea Change

Loved but languishing:

Blackalicious
Boards of Canada
Wilco
Flaming Lips (I've been listening to Transmissions alot lately though)

Dissapointments:

Interpol: I don't get it
Spoon (Series of Sneaks kicked my ass, I miss the huge guitar hooks)
Pretty Girls Make Graves: I don't get it
Delgados (downhill since Peloton)
Saint Etienne

[hottt]

neon golden got released here in the US by domino this year. before that it was an import. i still think it is an amazing album...still in my top 5 of the year.

[SlackMF]

I had the City Slang release of Neon Golden. I was actually questioning whether it came out in 2002 or 2001!
Also, regarding Source Tags and Codes, Madonna didn't impress me enough to even warrant a purchase of the new one. I downloaded a couple mp3s and they reinforced my lack of enthusiasm for ...Trail of Dead.

[Funk]

Originally posted by SlackMF
I had the City Slang release of Neon Golden. I was actually questioning whether it came out in 2002 or 2001!

January 2002.

[vesper]

Originally posted by Funk
The Liars album mentioned in the lead-off thread originally came out in 2001, so tinobeat didn't spoil the thread.

For the sake of not re-thinking my top 3, I'm going by the Blast First/Mute date - 2002.

Secondly, the thread never specified 2002; that's just how I decided to use it. No one spoiled the thread.