keith sawyer's Favorite Records Of 2002

1. Sahara Hotnights, Jennie Bomb (Jetset)
   Strong, uncomplicated 70's rock not unlike the Runaways with more oomph. The songs lyrically don't seem to be about much beyond a certain feeling of rebelliousness and lust, which in my mind is exactly the way it should be. It clocks in at just past 30 minutes. And I just can't stop playing it. I could try and explain why this is my favorite album of the year and the Donnas don't even make my radar, but you'd probably just call me a hypocrite.
2. Don Lennon, Downtown (Secretly Canadian)
   An album that contains two songs about Dave Matthews mixed in with tunes about Lenny Kravitz and gay nightlife doesn't necessarily sound like sure-fire winner to me either. But Don captures more humor and insight into humanity with a few quick lines than most songwriters muster up in their career. It's irony-free irony, both fun and thought-provoking. While not as good as his previous disc "Maniac" it's more than good enough.
3. Matt Pond PA, The Green Fury (Polyvinyl)
   For some reason Matt Pond discs take a few months to sink in. Perhaps that's why I'm tabbing this January release instead of his newest one. There's always one enchanting hit beckoning for those initial repeat listens, filled with warm cellos and yearning vocals. Then one by one the other tracks start to bubble through and from what was a song comes an album that works beautifully from beginning to end. I even love the crickets.
4. The Action, Rolled Gold (Reaction)
   Usually I save the re-issues for a special category near the end, but this one's too good to relegate to the end of this e-mail. Plus, this album was never officially released in the US until this year. At least that's my rationale. The Action were an EMI band back in the 60's which caught the fancy of the mods and nobody else (at least nobody who bought 45's). In a desperate attempt to stay on the label they recorded demos of this album, for which they received a pink slip. It vacillates between sharp pop, amusing prog and breathtaking psych with simplistic repetitive lyrics. But somehow it all holds together.
5. Josh Ritter, The Golden Age Of Radio (Signature Sounds)
   The majority of this album focuses on Josh ... his voice, his lyrics, his guitar. There's very little embellishment of these pretty country-folk tunes, just a simple yet beguiling delivery and a couple of instruments. The handful of full band tracks shine just as brightly, and in the end I'm left wondering if their presence on the whole record would be an improvement. But I'm not one to quibble when an album is as good as this one is.
6. Montgolfier Brothers, The World Is Flat (Poptones)
   Brilliant debut albums are always hard to follow up, especially when they're standard bearers of a certain style like the first Montgolfier Brothers record. Patient, repetitive, serene, crushing ... all adjectives that fit perfectly with their retro 60's orch-pop style. They never seem to expend much energy yet somehow generate a potent charge. On first listen this sophomore release isn't as captivating as their previous effort, but over time it settles into its own version of the formula and finds its own slightly different path.
7. The Anniversary, Your Majesty (Vagrant)
   Asserting that the latest Anniversary record is as good as ELO's New World Record might not find it many fans. But the elements are there, from the sharp bouncy numbers to the pristine backing vocals to the bombast. However, all of this is done with a more modern sensibility, trading obscured vocals for an off-key delivery and monstrous keyboards for striking guitars. Strange that one kid described it as 'emo' to me.
8. Rhett Miller, The Instigator (Elektra)
   There's still plenty of great power pop being produced out there, strange that my favorite album in the genre this year is by the lead singer of the Old 97's. Though when you seen Jon Brion's name next to the producer credit I suppose I should know what I'm in for ... after all that's why I purchased the record. And a fun romp it is, there are a couple of stunners, no real letdowns and plenty of tunes about girls and other things he can't keep away from.
9. Windsor For The Derby, The Emotional Rescue LP (Aesthetics)
   Considering their penchant for instrumentals on previous releases I was quite surprised to find an album full of ... well ... songs with lyrics. While still occupying the space between math and slow-core, WftD added vocals and found that they work better with instead of without. The music seems to carry more feeling (hence the title?), and one track in particular sounds like dead-on early New Order. I was surprised to find myself branching out from that familiar starting point, eventually drawing enjoyment from every track on the disc.
10. Brett Rosenberg Problem, Destroyer (Hi-Fi)
    If the late 70's sounds of Joe Jackson, Cheap Trick or Nick Lowe don't entrance you then you should probably let this one pass you by. But if you still reach out for that old copy of "I'm The Man" here's one of the best knock-offs of that sound. Filled with stinging guitar solos, howling choruses and a short running time, this effort never failed to satisfy when I had that rock-n-roll jones.
11. My Favorite, The Kids Are All Wrong (Double Agent)
    I really didn't think My Favorite could top their debut album Love At Absolute Zero, but if I combined their three follow-up ep's onto one disc it just might do it. New wave without being retro, My Favorite create gripping situations in suburban bedrooms and bored classrooms, with a side-trip to Hiroshima. While the Smiths made you wonder how the heck you could continue on, My Favorite plow through the mediocrity of life with their head down and still somehow survive. Joe Pernice once gave us the choice between graduate school and suicide, My Favorite picked the former but still remember why anyone would opt for the latter.
12. Anna Waronker, Anna (Five Foot Two)
    If only for "I Wish You Well," though there are plenty of other deserving tracks.
13. Brendan Benson, Lapalco (Star Time)
    It took him six years to put out another record, let's hope it's not another 6 until he follows up this gem.
14. Arlo, Stab The Unstoppable Hero (Sub Pop)
    Mid-70's power pop with a bite.
15. Beck, Sea Change (DGC)
    Really grown on me over the past few months.
16. Sunday's Best, The Californian (Polyvinyl)
    If only for "Don't Let It Fade."
17. Milky Wimpshake, Lovers Not Fighters (Troubleman)
    Reminds me of when punk could still be pop, humourous and political all at the same time.
18. Mikabomb, The Fake Fake Sound of Mikabomb (Damaged Goods)
    I think it might have come out last year, though "Contact Tokyo" was a single this year. Incomprehensible Japanese punk-pop.
19. Moistboyz, III (Ipecac)
    If only for "I'm Gonna Kick Your Ass." Though the whole thing smokes in a very similar way.
20. The Clientele, Haunted Melody 7" (Merge)