Matthew T. Kaplan's Favorite Records Of 2002

1. Sondre Lerche, Faces Down (Astralwerks Records)
   I did not hear this record until the end of the year and it just jumped to the top of the list, musically it is equal parts Robyn Hitchcock and Belle & Sebastian with a smidge of Al Stewart
2. One Ring Zero, Interludes And Out-Takes From The Pumpkin Show (Urban Geek Records)
   The best unknown band out of NYC! They match circus music with klezmer, some Morricone/Rota. They are part of the McSweeney's book publishing scene and play as the house band at many of their events
3. Snowglobe, Our Land Brains (Bardot Records)
4. Bright Eyes, Lifted Or the Story Is In The Soil (Saddle Creek Records)
5. Jets To Brazil, Perfecting Loneliness (Jade Tree Records)
   This should have been Jets’ career defining record if they had made it out of Brooklyn.
6. Cut Chemist & DJ Shadow, Product Placement (Sixty 7 Recordings)
7. John Coltrane, A Love Supreme-Deluxe Edition (Impulse Records)
   Perfection made one disc better.
8. Rocket From The Tombs, The Day The Earth Met The Rocket From The Tombs (Smog Veil Recordings)
   When they were young and punk
9. (The Real) Tuesday Weld, I, Lucifer (Dreamy Records)
   UK indie release so far unreleased in the US
10. Blank Spaces, My Days With The Astronauts (Open Season Records)
    UK indie release so far unreleased in the US
11. Bridget Storm, Here's What's Left (Analogue Catalogue)
    UK indie release so far unreleased in the US
12. Desaparacidos, Read Music Speak Spanish (Saddle Creek Records)
13. Mooney Suzuki, Electric Sweat (Gammon Records)
    Let's see what happens when this record gets rereleased by Columbia Records.
14. DJ Spooky-That Subliminal Kid, Optometry (Thirsty Ear Records)
    Thirsty Ear should be getting more respect as an edge label.
15. Waxwings, Shadows Of The Waxwings (Bobsled Records)
16. Spring Heel Jack, Amassed (Thirsty Ear Records)
    Thirsty Ear should be getting more respect as an edge label.
17. The General Store, Local Honey (Not Lame Recordings)
18. Various Artists, Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock'n'Roll-The Birth Of Rock & Roll Volume One (Past Perfect Records )
    Each box set is 15 compact discs with 300 songs in each box. Rare and obscure r&b, blues and soul singles, sound is great and the only thing missing was the discography info but they are priced to sell
19. Various Artists, Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock’n’Roll-The Birth Of Rock & Roll Volume Two (Past Perfect Records )
    Each box set is 15 compact discs with 300 songs in each box. Rare and obscure r&b, blues and soul singles, sound is great and the only thing missing was the discography info but they are priced to sell
20. John Coltrane, Ballads-Deluxe Edition (Impulse Records)
21. One Line Drawing, Visitor (Jade Tree Records)