Listomania! - 2002

Well, the old computer finally bit the dust. It was a faithful and loyal companion since early 2004, so I have no complaints. I have spent the last month recovering bookmarks, re-setting passwords and generally fine tuning this new beast. Those who know me understand that I have had a life-long love affair with the Detroit Red Wings. I haven't blogged that much about them, but this being the list for 2002, I decided this would be a good year for a little Wings talk. Why 2002 you ask? Well, I could have written about them as a preamble to the 1997 list, since that was their first Stanley Cup in my lifetime, ending 36 years of personal frustration. But, I have chosen to wait until now because it is my opinion that that edition of the club is among the top 5 NHL teams of all-time. Led by the greatest captain ever, Steve Yzerman, who was virtually playing on 1 leg, this collection of future Hall of Famers dominated the league from start to finish. Some of the superstars they added before the season were goaltender Dominik Hasek and forwards Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, all certain Hall of Fame players. Already on the team were Yzerman, Chris Chelios, Segei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Nick Lidstrom and Brendan Shanahan, along with some rookie named Pavel Datsyuk. I would argue that this was the greatest collection of talent ever on 1 team anywhere at any time. They finished first in the league in the regular season with 116 points and then marched through the playoffs defeating Vancouver in 6 games ( losing the first 2 and causing me severe anxiety), then St. Louis in 5 relatively painless games. Then came their arch rivals, Colorado, who took a 3 games to 2 lead by winning game 5 in |Detroit. It looked bad for my heroes, but they won in 7 games with back to back shutouts by Hasek, including a 7-0 waxing in game 7. The finals were an almost anti-climax, as they easily dispatched Carolina in 5 games. It would be the last game for the legendary coach, Scotty Bowman, who donned skates and paraded the Cup around for the last time. 2002 was actually the best sports year of my life, as my baseball team, the Anaheim Angels, won the World Series and my football team, the Oakland Raiders went to the Super Bowl, even though they lost to Tampa Bay in embarassing fashion. Amidst all the cheering, here's the music that I was digging:

Top 10 Of 2002

10. No One Knows - Queens Of The Stone Age

This is dirty-ass rock 'n' roll. From their 3rd album, Songs For The Deaf, this is a herky-jerky, grungy riff-fest. The drumming is provided by the Foo Fighters' frontman and former Nirvana stick-wielder Dave Grohl and he makes the most of it, banging out a machine gun-like array of rolls and beats. Singer/guitarist Josh Homme exudes his usual laid-back cool with his vocals. This album has a bit of a muted sound to it, which I can find annoying at times, but it works on this song, giving it an almost claustrophobic feel. "We get some rules to follow, that and this, these and those, no one knows." I think these lyrics were written by Martina's mom.....

9. Leafy Mysteries - Paul Weller

This album, Illumination, was my re-introduction to Weller. I had lost touch with him for a few years and had not liked much of his output since 1997's Heavy Soul. This song sees him coming out all hopeful, as if he were having a new awakening as well. The melody is gorgeous, his vocals have just the right amount of righteousness, and the guitars are chiming and melodic. He is still mining the Traffic back catalogue, but has added his own touch through his unmistakeable voice. Steve White lays down a fierce set of drum chops to add some flavour to the tune and all is well in the world again. "To a place I can lose myself, no time just somewhere else, with a face I can recognize. I forget sometimes, that’s always been here." Stop and smell the poses....

8. Stars Are Photomagnets - Hopeful Monster

It's 1979 again! This song is fantastic, all shimmering strings and awash in glorious synths. You can tap your foot, shake your hips, sing along - do your thing! In the breaks, there is even some lovely acoustic guitar, for those who long for that sound. So what am I saying? Yes, that's right! There is something for everyone, so dive in and revel in the wonders that this tune delivers! From Hopeful Monster's self-titled debut record, Jason Ball and friends have crafted an almost perfect Pop confection. Rarely have a singer's voice and the music paired together so seamlessly. Being lucky enough to know Jason, I have had the pleasure of sitting around a campfire and listening to his musical genius in the most intimate of settings, so I am biased. But you really owe it to yourself to give this guy a listen, so check it out. "Everything that's scattered will come home brand new and unused." Take me to your leader.....

7. Pounding - Doves

It is rare in music today that a band crafts a 2nd album that measures up to a much lauded debut, but Doves pull off that feat with The Last Broadcast. This song takes its title from the pounding backbeat that permeates the tune, a clever touch indeed. Vocalist Jimi Goodwin has such a feeling in his voice that is perfectly suited for putting across sadness and resignation, whilst ultimately finding the bright speck of hope within. These guys can write a beautiful melody such as this and layer it in waves of instruments to create such poignant sounds that never fail to move me. "I can't stand by and see you destroyed. I can't be here and watch you burn up." There's no need to fear, Jimi from Doves is here.........

6. Obstacle 1 - Interpol

OK, let's play spot the influences! Well, being that they are from NYC, I hear Lou Reed in the deadpan vocals. U.K. band Wire can be heard in the kinetic paranoia of the guitars. The drums bring to mind the bang and crash of Mel Gaynor of latter-day Simple Minds and the bass undulates up and down the scale like the best of Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song is from their brilliant debut Turn On The Bright Lights, which may be the best album of 2002. This is a big favourite song on our deck in the summertime. "Her stories are boring and stuff.
She's always calling my bluff. She puts the weights into my little heart and she gets in my room and she takes it apart." Ahh, love....

5. I've Changed My Number - Plush

This band is the brainchild of one Liam Hayes. He sings, writes, produces and plays most of the instruments on this album, their 4th titled Fed. This is a cornucopia of styles, with a huge Chicago-style horn section, wah-wah guitar licks and weird tempo changes. The production is big and bold and Hayes' voice is mixed to be heard above all the din. I really like this song for the interweaving of genres though and it is a great sunny day tune. "How can you spend so much time being depressing? I just won't carry on my whole life guessing." Is it bigger than a bread basket?

4. Nuclear - Ryan Adams

From his 3rd album, Demolition, this song has twangy guitar leads running over a muscular bassline, with Adams' now familiar voice with its gravelly rasp warbling about going "nuclear." I adore his songwriting, that feel he has that always draws me in, and this song has that effect on me too. You can sing along, or play air guitar or drums because one cannot evade its charms. while I consider Demolition to be his weakest album, I really love this song. "When I saw her, the Yankees lost to the Braves. Sentimental geek, shut up and go to sleep." Well Ryan, you must have only seen her once then.....

3. The Way We Get By - Spoon

This song is from their 4th album Kill The Moonlight. It was to bring this Austin, TX band a larger audience, which was much deserved. This song is so smart and edgy, with a piano reminiscent of Madness and a true singalong chorus. One can imagine people in pubs the world over crooning along with singer Britt Daniels to this insanely catchy tune. The instrumentation is sparse and different in the way it is employed. One keeps waiting for them to bust loose, but the band keeps it close to the vest. "We go out in stormy weather, we rarely practice discern. We make love to some weird sin, we seek out the taciturn." Brilliant.

2. It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken - The Tragically Hip

This is the Hip's best song. Maybe not for you, dear reader. But, it is for me. It is exquisite in its beauty, all quiet, circular guitars and Gord Downie putting across another killer lyric as only he can. I mean who uses lines like "full of countervailing woes" in a song? He does. And he wants you to know that he is clever and that is perfectly OK with me too. I am touched by the spirit and general mood of this song every time I hear it. This is the sound of a band who, while they may well be past their best before date, hit the damn ball right out of the park this time. "Let's swear that we will get with the times, in a current heath to stay. Let's get friendship right, get life day-to-day." Amen brother Gord.....

1. Ashes Of American Flags - Wilco

Taken from their controversial and much ballyhooed 4th album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, this amazing song has it all. It has a Woody Guthrie aura to it, like it was written on a boxcar to nowhere. There is fantastic slide guitar and haunting acoustic guitar, which provide the perfect setting for Jeff Tweedy's plaintive vocal about being a paranoid, but beautiful, loser. The best song on a great album and one that I could play over and over again and not lose its magic. If you get a chance, watch the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart which chronicles the band's trials and tribulations during the making of this record. "I'm down on my hands and knees
every time a doorbell rings. I shake like a toothache when I hear myself sing. All my lies are only wishes, I know I would die if I could come back new." Wow......