Top 20 Albums
of 2002
# 11 to 15, plus top 5 compilation albums
11. Minnie
Ripperton - Les Fleurs, an Anthology (Stateside)
A fantastic retrospective of the soul legend with an amazing voice who
died from breast cancer aged just 31. With standout tracks including the
famous Les Fleurs, Lovin You and Inside My Love as well
as less well known songs and intelligent, interesting sleeve-notes, this
was a fitting collection of her work.
12. DJ Shadow - The Private Press (Mo Wax / Island)
To call The Private Press a more mature work made little sense
since Endtroducing was hardly what you'd call juvenile. Josh Davis
has always been a pretty serious guy. This record was a definite progression
though - his use of female vocalists was a departure, and a very effective
one. More soulful, less recognisably hip-hop, still unmistakably DJ Shadow.
13. Liars - They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top
(Gern Blandsten Records) While tunes were not top of the Liars list of
priorities, bluster and political posturing combined with a penchant for
idiosyncratic song titles and making an edgy din made this a compelling
debut.
14. Fly - Put the Needle Down and Fly (Elefant Records)
An album composed entirely of krautrock-lite instrumentals that all sounded
faintly similar was never going to top any end of year polls but Fly's
optimistic album, with tracks called Liberation and Flightpath,
was strangely good.
15. Crossover - Fantasmo
(International DeeJay Gigolo)
This record, although lazily labelled either electroclash or electropop,
had a sound all its own and a uniquely creepy atmosphere. Dabbling in
deep house on Kobé and going for the pop jugular on Extensive
Care, Verona and Desmond gave little away, their spoken word vocals
unnervingly weird, particularly on closer Phantom Hero.
Compilations:
1. In The Beginning There Was Rhythm (SoulJazz)
SoulJazz Records pretty much set the musical agenda in 2002 with this
brilliant compilation album released early in the year. It reminded everyone
about the punk-funk sound of the late 70s and early 80s; by the end of
the year every other new band were claiming Gang of Four as an influence
and The Slits were being played down at Trash.
2. Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
If it was the White Stripes who put Motor City back on the map for a new
generation, it was Sympathy for the Record Industry who helped get them
there. This great record from a seriously good label showcased some of
the best new (and not so new) bands from Detroit and beyond, including
The Von Bondies, The Detroit Cobras and The Dirtbombs.
3. Sonic Mook Experiment 2: Future Rock & Roll (Blast First
/ Mute)
While there were an awful lot of American bands trying to sell us their
version of rock'n'roll, Sonic Mook mainman Sean McLusky was championing
the more diverse, arty angle. His second Sonic Mook compilation featured
killer tracks from, amongst others, The Buff Medways, Liars, Mu Chan Clan,
Clinic and Electrelane. A genuinely great snapshot of the 'new rock &
roll' and beyond in 2002.
4. Disco Not Disco 2 (Strut)
Another influential compilation album from Strut Records, this time showcasing
the sound of early to mid 1980s New York underground disco. When you consider
the crap that was filling the charts at the time, it seems pretty amazing
that such great music was being made at all, let alone being played in
the clubs. Highlights included Laid Back's White Horse (played
out by every DJ in the East End this year), Connie Case's awesome
Get Down and The Clash's This Is Radio Clash.
5. Back to Mine: New Order (DMC)
The Back to Mine series continued to impress, with a genuinely
eclectic selection from Orbital also, but New Order's seminal selections,
including tracks by Primal Scream, The Velvet Underground, Roxy Music,
Donna Summer and Joey Beltram made this album feel like the great compilation
tape your mate never got round to making for you.
Reissue of the year:
James Carr: You Got My Mind Messed Up (Goldmine Soul Supply / Ace)
Truly one of the great lost soul classics, and featuring one of the best
songs ever written - Dark End of the Street - this album was reissued
on CD this year, so if you haven't already got it, what are you waiting
for? You will not be disappointed.
Record Shop of the year:
Rough Trade, Talbot Rd, W11
While it wasn't always the cheapest, Rough Trade wiped the floor with
the competition this year. If they didn't have it they'd get it, they
stocked all the rare and unusual records you could ever wish for, the
email list of new releases was indispensable (even if the descriptions
were a little exaggerated at times), hell, they even updated the website
once or twice during the year. Knowledgeable and mostly friendly staff
too (although not many/any girls - wonder why this is?)
Radio Show of the year:
Xposure, Xfm
Playing all the best new music across the board, organising some great
gigs (Goldchains, Polyphonic Spree, James Yorkston, The Rapture), playing
host to loads of live guests, and organising shedloads of competitions
- John Kennedy's Xposure show certainly had a busy year, and went from
good to great. If you haven't already, listen to the show Mon-Thu 11pm-1am,
and on Sunday afternoons 4-6pm (or thereabouts).
A word also for Mary Ann Hobbs' Breezeblock show on Radio 1 every
Monday (12-2am), which remained the best thing on the station, playing
out all manner of electro, techno, soul, drum & bass, and (somewhat
perplexingly) lots of Doves.
