top 5 albums of 2002
In no particular order, here are the top 5 albums that I got that were published in 2002.
- the Reputation, The Reputation [Initial]
This album stayed in steady rotation in my cd player for about two months, and honestly helped me get through some rough times in my personal life. Catchy pop hooks with true indie rock (minus the not knowing how to play their instruments part), the Reputation also features the sweet vocals and biting lyrics of law student Elizabeth Elmore, who used to be the in the Chambana indie rock band Sarge.
- J-Live, All of the Above [7Heads Ent./Coup d'Etat]
One of the best MCs around today. Nice jazzy hip-hop beats with great lyrics. Not just battle rhymes, but stories about life. Glad to see someone is doing something good in hip-hop...
- Jazzanova, In Between [Compost]
I can't really explain it. Modern dancefloor jazz, I suppose. This collective from Germany never fails me. It spends a lot of time on my turntables...
- Rjd2, Deadringer [Definitive Jux]
The new DJ Shadow, if you will. But better. Mostly instrumentals, with a little background soul singing, he imposes some structure onto a lot of the tunes, as opposed to the standard 32-bar loop...
- the Whitefield Brothers, "In the Raw" [Soul Fire]
Who said funk and soul was dead? A great instrumental group putting out some of the funkiest tracks the 60's and 70's never heard...