Making and ordering a list makes things nice. This year being so great for music that a “best of 2002” list was so easy it actually became difficult. No single album by an artist knocked me out completely, but many artists made knockout singles. (see what i just did with language??? why hasn’t entertainment weekly scooped me up into its loving arms yet?) Here’s a list, of my favorite ones from last year, in order of my memory’s ability to recall them:
- “The Boy Looked at Johnny,” The Libertines
- “Stay Don’t Go,” Spoon
- “Ivanka,” Imperial Teen
- “Work It,” Missy Elliott
- “Dig a Hole,” The Rogers Sisters
- “Rock You,” The Roots
- “Roland,” Interpol (notable mention: “PDA”, “Obstacle 1”)
- “The Leanover,” Life Without Buildings
- “Lose Yourself,” Eminem
- “Oh Goddamnit,” Hot Hot Heat
- “Oh!,” Sleater-Kinney
- “Hate to Say I Told You,” The Hives
- “One Sailor Was Waving,” Ballboy
- “Hot in Herre,” Nelly (notable mention: “Air Force Ones”)
- “Die Another Day,” Madonna (shut up!)
- “One with the Freaks,” The Notwist
- “Lost Cause,” Beck
- “Huffer,” The Breeders
- “Promising Light,” Iron & Wine
- “Hey Ma,” Cam’ron
- “You Know You’re Right,” Nirvana (can’t help myself)
Phew! Now, after reading everyone else’s TOP 10 lists from the year, I wonder if I’m required to buy Solomon Burke’s comeback album. It’s a funny thing when an album becomes the aesthetic intersection between Mojo Magazine and the “Music We Love” rack at Starbucks Coffee.
