mike hibarger's Favorite Records Of 2002

1. Johnny Cash, American IV: The Man Comes Around (Universal)
   The first song makes this thing worth it, but the rest is good too...especially Johnny's turn at Sting's "Hung My Head".
2. Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador)
   A new twist on the Smiths and other classic sounds...if only Johnny Marr could do as well (avoid his Healers project at all cost).
3. Mr Airplane Man, Moanin' (Sympathy)
   Girl group meets Fat Possum (if Fat Possum had any chicks on their roster that is)
4. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch)
   Probably on everybody's list, but great nonetheless.
5. Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man, Out of Season (Universal International)
   Sorta like Sandy Denny crossed with Portishead...dark, folky and fascinating.
6. Reigning Sound, Time Bomb High (In the Red)
   ex-Oblivian Greg makes a roots rock record that would do Springsteen proud.
7. Oxbow, Evil Heat (Neurot)
   Beneath all the obvious trapppings of noise and insecurity there is great beauty.
8. Mudhoney, Since We've Become Transparent (Sub Pop)
   Slaying neo-Stooges/MC-5 revivalists everywhere.
9. Steve Earle, Jerusalem (Artemis)
   I could do without John Walker's Blues, but everything else is great here.
10. Tom Waits, Alice (Epitaph)
    Tom Waits is king of the late night...
11. Black Keys, The Big Come Up (Alive)
    These guys tear it up good, makes me long for the days when the Blues Explosion were explosive...
12. Bob Dylan, Live 1975: The Bootleg Series Vol 5. (Sony)
    Essential reissue of a Rolling Thunder Revue concert featuring T-Bone Burnett, Mick Ronson, Roger McGuinn, how can this not be great.
13. Soundtrack of Our Lives , Behind the Music (Universal)
    In the distant wake of ABBA, SoOL prove once again that to make it in rock n' roll, ya gotta sing in English.
14. Bobbie Gentry, American Quilt 1967-1974 (Raven)
    This Australian reissue is a great introduction to a great artist...forget the one hit "Ode to Billy Joe" which you probably have heard a million times...there are some great nuggets in here like "Okolona River Bottom Band" and "Apartment 21".
15. Neko Case, Blacklisted (Bloodshot)
    This noir alt-country release caught me by surprise, it starts out unassuming but its reverb drenchedness slowly seeps into your subconscious causing you to crave it more and more. (but still, i could've used a little less 'verb)