Jeff Breeze's Favorite Records Of 2002

1. Okkervil River, Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See (Jajaguwar)
   The greatest songwriting feat of the year... it doesn't hurt that the band is on their toes from start to finish
2. Blackalicious, Blazing Arrow (MCA)
   Hip hop is fun again. All that and this record hinges on a Nilsson sample.
3. Reigning Sound, Time Bomb High School (In the Red)
   A let down from last year's _Break Up, Break Down_ but when Greg cartwright is this far ahead of the pack it still registers as great
4. Rocket From the Tombs, The Day the Earth Met ... (Smog Veil)
   An amazing document of recordings that no one ever knew existed in this fine condition. Essential
5. The Mobius Band, Three (Prescription Rails)
   Western Mass rock trio with crazy electronic bent. Showing great sonic evolution, this is a mighty fine stride. www.themobiusband.com
6. Notwist, Neon Golden (Virgin)
   I don't even know if this ever came out in the US, but gone is the Grant Green-isms of Shrink and left is electro-pop from heaven
7. Missy Elliott, Under Construction (Elektra)
   I wish this were as fun as it wants to be. Gossip Folks has some serious (& unneccesary) coke bingeing, but this has the best single in eons on it
8. Arnold Dreyblatt and the Orchestra of Excited Strings, Adding Machine (Cantaloupe)
   Dreyblatt comes to MIT and makes a new set of people do his bidding in an effort to bring an odd melodicism to his minimalism
9. Mates of State, Our Constant Concern (Polyvinyl)
   Married duo makes emo-pop confections by pushing the limits of vocal counterpoint. Need to be seen live to accept 'em though
10. Consonant, Consonant (Fenway)
    Clint Conley emerges from nowhere to make a whole album of songs as visceral as his work in Burma. From the live shows I've seen, I think the new one will be even better
11. Helms, McCarthy (Kimchee)
    Boston trio gets maligned for Slintisms, but this is simultaneously gorgeous, sprawling, bilious, and intensely focused. Just call it grand
12. David Grubbs, Rickets and Scurvy (Drag City)
    Collaborations with Matmos weren't as publicized as theirs with Bjork, but the effect they have on Grubbs songs is stellar. _Act 5, Scene 1_ also released this year
13. Cyclub, Cyclub Cyclub (Prescription Rails)
    A Japanese girl and three guys who play their instruments all wrong might finally be W Mass' first real response to the Pixies www.presciptionrails.com
14. American Death Ray, Viva American Death Ray Music (Sympathy)
    Glam. Rock. Piano. Debauchery. Oh yeah, these guys are from Memphis (Nick Diablo is in 68 Comeback) and they have the swagger so you can tell
15. Torrez, The Evening Drag (Kimchee)
    Despondent, languid rock coated with desperate, reverbed-out female vocals, and from New Hampshire. www.torrezmusic.com
16. The Action, Rolled Gold (Reaction)
    George Martin recorded these sessions lost for decades. In truth, this belongs next to SF Sorrow on your shelf.
17. Spaceways, Inc, Version Soul (Atavistic)
    Ken Vandermark did a lot again this year, but beaking the Spaceways project away from the P-Funk/Sun Ra cover formula, makes for the best of the lot
18. The Boggs, The Boggs (Arena Rock)
    Shitty sounding recordings make these New Yorkers sound like they're from West Virgina 70 years ago. Or maybe it's just that they sound like that
19. Ill Lit, WAC Music (Badman)
    "This is country music" or so says the tray back. Clever use of big beats makes it something far more
20. Wolf Colonel/ Jason Anderson, Something/ Everything! (K)
    I don't know how many things Bob Pollard released this year, but this NH kid released the best pop rock album without any Ohio Influence