What is everyone's selection for albums of the year so far this year......

Mine are:

4. "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by the Flaming Lips
3. "We Love Life" by Pulp (I know that this has been out for a year in Europe but it finally got distribution in America this year)
2. "Sea Change" by Beck
1. "Turn on the Bright Lights" by Interpol

Wilco-YHF, Division of Laura Lee-Blackcity, Flaming Sideburns-Save Rock n Roll, Pulp-We Love Life, Sleater Kinney-One Beat, etc.

I'm drawing a blank as to what albums I've bought this year that have come out this year, so I'll just say "Heathen Chemistry" and move on....

Sadly, Ray, my lack of finances have prevented me from buying very many new albums this year, so I don't feel very qualified to speak on the matter. Of what I've heard, I've really liked:

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Pulp - We Love Life
Coldplay - Rush of Blood to the Head

I'm sure that I will love the Beck and Flaming Lips albums whenever I finally get around to buying them.

I'll add the GetUpKids album On a Wire to the list. Yeah, I know it's no longer cool to listen to them, but I think there's some really great stuff on this album. I'm sure the new foo fighters and pearl jam albums will also make my year-end list.

I just have to point out that, if I recall correctly, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came out at the end of 2001 because I remember all the critics calling it some eerie post-9/11 album...but I do have to say that Coldplay is on my list. I totally forgot about that album...I really really love it and Maladroit (despite what other people think )

Actually, YHF came out in the late spring of this year. I specifically remember buying it towards finals week.

You are correct, Ray. It was "available" for a long time before it was actually released. For that reason, it will be thelawnwrangler's album of the year for 2001 and 2002.

You stated my exact sentiments.

my favorites in no order

wilco - yhf
sonic youth - murry street
spoon - kill the moonlight
tom waits - alice & blood money
beck - Sea Change

(Edited by teddyfred at 12:22 am on Oct. 7, 2002)

yoshimi battles the pink robots - flaming lips
murray street - sonic youth

I must qualify this by saying that I know that I have missed out on some great albums this year due to lack of finances and lameness but my picks are:

Elvis Costello-When I Was Cruel
Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Interpol-Turn on the Bright Lights
Bobby Bare Jr.- Young Criminals Starvation League

That all I can think of that I was obsessed over at the time...

I applaud the new avatar, Ms. Costello!

i'm also looking forward to the new foo-fighters, the new pearl jam, and the new Donnas.......

I too am excited about the new Foos album. The single (All My Life) is a very very different sound than Learn To Fly...maybe this means Grohl & Co are going back to some harder sounds? I really did enjoy There Is Nothing Left To Lose so whichever way they go will please me, I'm sure.

Yeah, I thought Dave said in an interview that they looked at TCATS and thought they sounded like a wussy band trying to be hard and TINLTL was more of the kinda music they were good at. Not only do I disagree (although I love both albums), but this no longer seems to be the case, based on the new single and newer "b-sides" (The One and Make a Bet (Win or Lose)-- which happens to be one of my favorite rockin' Foo songs). I would love to see a return to the pure energy of TCATS.

From what I've heard of the new Pearl Jam, I'm not sure what to say. Sounds pretty minimal and lo-fi, but maybe not in such a good way. We'll see...

The new Mike Watt album was promised for this year, but I have heard nothing about it. I also am sensing that it'll be into next year before I get my hands on some new Fl Oz and Features.

my only pick would be the walkmen's "everyone who pretended to like me is gone".

i love you elt, and your silly obscure tastes.