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Top 10 of 2002

Adam's Picks (2002)
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Contributed by: Adam
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on December 31st 2002

2002 was a great year for me that concluded tragically with Joe Strummer's passing. There are far more eloquent writers than I to eulogize this revolutionary and visionary musician. Suffice to say, I'll be spinning my Clash and Mescaleros records long into the future. Strummer will be immortalized not only though his recorded works, but through the major influence he and the Clash have had over just about every band in punk music today (and beyond). Death Or Glory 1952 - 2002.

This has been a year of changes in my life. I'm moved away from my hometown Niagara Falls to settle more permanently in my university town of Guelph. There's a great scene there with a regular shows at the Trasheteria (thanks to J Cloth), a great community radio presence and numerous music festivals. Living on my own all summer long was fantastic, despite the math and long nights of programming. If anything got me through the times when the workload became overbearing, it was Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" and Bo Diddley's "His Best." Great records that I highly recommend to everyone. Sadly they don't qualify for this year's list. Speaking of which...

Who Rocked The Casbah in 2002
(the order of these 10 change with my mood from day to day, so don't hold me to it)

HONORABLE MENTIONS
This year saw strong efforts from the Fat camp with THE LAWRENCE ARMS' "Apathy and Exhaustion" and DILLINGER FOUR's "Situationist Comedy." THRICE continued to turn heads with their powerful "The Illusion Of Safety" on Hopeless and THE GADJITS took the road from Kingston to Nashville with the soulful "Today Is My Day" on Thick Records. SPARTA's "Wiretap Scars" helped the band step out of At The Drive-In's imposing shadow and my old friends the REEL BIG FISH finally returned with "Cheer Up!". The late PROMISE RING, whom I've never liked as an emo band, made me a fan with their layered indie guitar-pop on Anti Records' "Wood/Water." BYO also released a ton of great efforts, including MANIFESTO JUKEBOX's "Remedy" (full review) and SIXER's "Beautiful Trash" (full review). Why aren't any of these in my top 10? It mainly boiled down to how much I've spun their disks. While certainly deserving lots of praise, they just didn't demand as much of my stereo's time as the below list.

10. COMMON RIDER - This Is Unity Music (full review)
(September 3, 2002 on Hopeless Records)
This record just oozes with a positive, introspective, almost spiritual vibe. Jesse Michaels, two albums into his return to the scene he helped establish, matures the ska-punk sound and pulls it out of its stylistic rut. Another great example of how reaffirming your musical roots and progressing your sound are not necessarily different directions.

9. THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES - A Jackknife To A Swan (full review)
(July 9, 2002 on SideOneDummy Records)
I started my musical journey with ska years ago and I failed to get the memo that it was no longer cool. The Bosstones return to the indie world rejuvenated and deliver the strongest set of their signature sound in years. The instruments are firing on all cylinders and Dicky shows his hidden talent as one of the most bluesy, soulful vocalists in punk today.

8. JOEY RAMONE - Don't Worry About Me (full review)
(February 19, 2002 on Sanctuary Records)
Better than many of the latter day Ramones albums and bubbling with more REAL emotion than the sweater crowd would care to admit, Joey's last release is a poignant and fitting epitaph. Beneath all of Joey's light-hearted lyricism and vocals, there's the unease and fear of a man who knew his cancer would not leave him much time in this world. With the help of his friends, Joey's skill as a pop songwriter shines as bright as it ever has.

7. PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES - Good Health (full review)
(April 9, 2002 on Lookout! Records)
A lesson in intensity. A swirling wall-of-sound blast of post-punk noise coupled with Andrea Zollo’s cathartic vocals. If you don’t feel inspired by “Speakers Push The Air” there may not be any life left in you. The most exciting band Lookout! has introduced in years.

6. RED ANIMAL WAR - Black Phantom Crusades
(September 17, 2002 on Deep Elm Records)
Shit. It happened again. In my haste I failed to check up on a release that my peers have raved about, only to play catch up later and find one of the best releases of the year. Fresh, inspiring and surprisingly powerful indie rock. This band has an amazing career ahead of them.

5. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - Songs For The Deaf
(August 27, 2002 on Interscope Records)
Scott: Wow, how trendy and predictable. Why don’t you write for Spin?
Adam: Har Har, Mr. System-Of-A-Down-Top-Album-2001
Scott: Shit…
That’s a paraphrasing of one of the several attempts by my fellow editors to convince me that this record isn't as good as I think. I still don’t like the production but I can’t seem to stop spinning this album. If only all mainstream hard rock was this well written, addictive and fun.

4. AGAINST ME! - is Reinventing Axl Rose
(April 1, 2002 on No Idea Records)
Taking what is basically an intense hardcore band and giving them mostly acoustic instruments shouldn't work, but it does. Far from being gimmicky, Against Me! convey a sense of unpredictability and confrontation that’s been elusive since the early days of punk. A volatile mix of acoustic folk, anarchist politics and punk energy.

3. SOLOMON BURKE - Don't Give Up On Me
(July 23, 2002 on Fat Possum / Anti-Records)
I love soul and blues music and Solomon Burke's new record is nothing short of phenomenal. The very concept amazes me: Brett Guerwitz's label Anti- offers to release an album from the old master, only the songwriting is covered by the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Brian Wilson, Van Morission and other renouned songwriters. The whole album was recorded much like a punk record, with sparse production and with only four days in the studio. The results are simply stunning and you'd be a fool not to check this out.

TIE 2. HOT WATER MUSIC - Caution
(October 8, 2002 on Epitaph Records)
This band stopped being anything close to “emo” years ago. Shedding the weight of that categorization they've become one of the tightest punk rock bands in the world. With layered, intricate guitar work, a driving rhythm section and vocals that range from passionate to vicious to inspiring, Hot Water Music deserves every bit of success they get. Their most complete album since “Hate Game” and under the capable hands of Brian McTernan, their best sounding recording ever.

TIE 2. HOT HOT HEAT - Make Up The Breakdown
(October 8, 2002 on Sub Pop Records)
This Vancouver four piece is probably the catchiest band I've heard in years. I can't believe how fun the Hot Hot Heat's new-wave inspired rock is. Sure they owe much to the Cure, but they execute their sound so perfectly everything is forgiven. I've probably spun this more than anything else this year.

1.5. THE CONSTANTINES - The Modern Sinner Nervous Man EP (full review)
(April 16, 2002 on Suicide Squeeze Records)
The Constantines fascinate me to no end. They manage to play progressive, innovative post-punk in Fugazi’s vein and mix it with country, blues and roots rock. They amalgamate these influences so seamlessly and skillfully that it never looses its cohesion or believability. This is really all I could ask for in a band. Their upcoming full length will destroy worlds.
(Yeah, this is 1.5 because it's only a single/EP and I didn't feel like making a separate list for those)

1. BAD RELIGION - The Process Of Belief
(February 12, 2002 on Epitaph Records)
You don't get a lot of second chances in music. For whatever reason the planets aligned and not only was an amazing song writing team reunited, but they did so on the label they founded, all the while rediscovering the energy of their classic albums. The developments that lead to this album were my favorite stories to report in the past few years. As cliched as it sounds Bad Religion got me into punk music, making their rejuvenation all the more satisfying for me.

2002 Mix Tape

Side One
1. Blind Luck - The Constantines
2. Speakers Push The Air - Pretty Girls Make Graves
3. Alright For Now - Hot Water Music
4. Epiphany - Bad Religion
5. Perfecting Loneliness - Jets To Brazil
6. 45 - Elvis Costello
7. No Not Now - Hot Hot Heat
8. Everybody's Better - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
9. Optimism - The Gadjits
10. Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious - Against Me!
11. None Of Us Are Free - Solomon Burke

Side Two
1. Don't Worry About Me - Joey Ramone
2. Blackbirds Vs. Crows - Common Rider
3. Diamonds and Guns - The Transplants
4. Mye - Sparta
5. Betrayal Is A Symptom - Thrice
6. Your Gravest Words - The Lawrence Arms
7. Noble Stabbings!! - Dillinger Four
8. Friendly Fire - Jawbreaker
9. When Fat Pigs Fly - Red Animal War
10. God Is In The Radio - Queens Of The Stone Age

Disappointments

GOLDFINGER - Open Your Eyes
(May 7, 2002 on Mojo/Jive Records)
Can anyone pin-point the moment when Goldfinger stopped being a clever and catchy pop-ska band and became a preachy generic punk-pop band. Bid for credibility my ass...

H2O - All We Want EP
(October 29, 2002 on MCA Records)
Toby, you still put on a killer live show but somehow I doubt it was your intention to play pop-punk tours to 14 year old girls who just want you to get off stage so the heartthrob bands can start. Despite my bitterness about H2O's change in sound, MCA still fails to market them at all.

THE NERVE AGENTS - Breaking Up
(January 26, 2002)
No! I refuse to let this band die and will continue to drop their name to whoever will listen. This Nerve Agents, in a few short years, had developed one of the most unique and well rounded sounds in hardcore/punk today. I really hope we hear from Eric Ozenne again soon because this is truly a loss. "The Butterfly Collection" is a brilliant album.

DRIVE THRU RECORDS - Stealing Our Virginity
(for a few months in late April, 2002)
You all know what happened. Time may heal the grudges we hold but that was the moment when our little music website was pulled kicking and screaming into the reality that the music industry sucks.

Anticipated Albums of 2003

THE CONSTANTINES - TBA
(2003 on Three Gut Records)
See my above comments on their recent EP. Repeat with anticipation.

RANCID - TBA
(spring 2003 on Hellcat Records)
I loved their last record, which channeled Black Flag and Youth Brigade rather than The Clash and the Specials. I trust in Rancid's grasp of the core elements of the original punk bands and their ability to reinvent their sound with each record.

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - TBA
(2003 on Mint Records)
Their debut album is one of my favorite records of all time. Indie pop at its finest.

SOCIAL DISTORTION - TBA
(2003 on an unknown label)
Punk music needs Mike Ness to step in an give it a collective kick. Is there anyone who's not waiting for this record?

THE WEAKERTHANS - TBA
(2003? on G7 Welcoming Committee Records)
I'm assuming this band will release something in `03 but despite rumors, nothing's been formally announced.

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Anonymous (November 8, 2003)

if you want to get into psychobilly i can strongly recommend survival of the sickest from a band called mad sin

check out their website

you wont be dissapointed

Anonymous (May 8, 2003)

the dissapointments? shouldnt the band names and label already make it clear that they arent just dissapintments, but a fucking piss on my parade kind of thing? tsk tsk, you shouldve made a catagory of shitty shit of 2002 and put that shit in. shit!

Anonymous (February 16, 2003)

Huge ups for giving props to Solomon Burke, possibly the best album of the entire year. And to the guy who was giving major props to the Northwest music scene, a couple of the members of the Epoxies work with the father of one of my best friends, they're cool and the music is awesome.

Anonymous (January 11, 2003)

One release owns all. Bouncing Souls, DVD. TWO DISKS, one with 50 live songs, 6 shows, and a shitload more...

unconcerned (January 7, 2003)

oh dear god man.

i expected you to have some decent taste to save the rest of the staff's badness

the pain of defeat

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

Ten for the comment below.

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

I'm going home & writing the names of the guys from NFG on my hand, then I'm going to fist fuck myself over and over. That's how much I love NFG.

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

On the subject of pop-punk, what's up with everyone collectively kissing Lobster Records' ass? I mean, they have some ok bands (but quit sucking off Over It) and I'm sure the staff is great, but everyone (mostly fanzines-sites) act like that label is the end-all, be-all of pop-punk. Ass-kissing at its finest. Flattery is fine, but overdone it gets real lame real quick.

-sickboi

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

list:

10. Thrice - The Illusion Of Safety
09. Hopesfall - The Satellite Years
08. Snapcase - End Transmission
07. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health
06. Bad Religion - The Process Of Belief
05. Lacuna Coil - Comalies
04. Sparta - Wiretap Scars
03. Hot Water Music - Caution
02. Opeth - Deliverence
01. Killswitch Engage - Alive Or Just Breathing

Anonymous (January 7, 2003)

WussEmoRock is definitly someone we all love to hate. That list is quite hilarious, might as well listen to the backstreet boys and nickelback. No joke dude. Maybe you are 14 or so, but hopefully you will someday see the light, and listen to really good music.
I got an idea, throw away all those poppunk albums, and pick up every cd by the Descendents/ALL. The only real poppunk around eh.
-Tiff.

Anonymous (January 6, 2003)

Wow, after reading all the comments, that took about 30 minutes. I have come to the conclusion that The Lawrence Arms have released the best cd this year, and I was never alone for thinking that. I am so proud to wear a shirt to them, I am so proud to have seen them, Brennan Kelly is a genius.

shindo (January 6, 2003)

Sickboi: I just can't get into emo. Now... that isnt to say that I dont like bands that some emo kids claim as "emo," ie: Hot Water Music, Fugazi, Jets To Brazil. All of which I just think is punk or indie rock. BUT... the style of emo that's popular right now I just can't get into at all.

...and don't even get me started on "screamo." If find bands like Thursday instrumentally great, but as far as the vocals go... no one's convincing me that singing off-tune and sounding "vulnerable and cathartic" are the same things.

adam

Anonymous (January 6, 2003)

Adam I want in. This is absurd. He just doesn't realize the impact that band had.

P.S.- I think your top 10 was the only list not severely bitten by the emo bug.
Congrats.

-sickboi

SOYBOMB (January 6, 2003)

Adam,

Sounds like a plan to me.

In all seriousness though, What the hell is Eric doing nowadays anyway? Before there homepage went down, I remember seeing some of the band members post their plans on what they were gonna do after the breakup in terms of starting new bands/making new music but I haven't heard a word from any of the ex-band members other than Andy being in Distillers..

*sigh*,
-SOYBOMB-

MrVeryDrunk (January 6, 2003)

Pistol Grip is going to be the next big thing. They have so much potential. I expect to hear good things from them in the future.

WussEmoRock (January 6, 2003)

I was commenting about mest to the guy who talked about his sister. it was a joke. although, it probably was taken seriously because of me actually liking them haha.

*****Wuss-Emo-Rock*****

waste_elite (January 5, 2003)

and mest?

is posing for hot topic wrong enough for you?

waste_elite (January 5, 2003)

Simple Plan

"grow up"

'This is who i am
and this what i like
GC, Sum and Blink and Mxpx rocking my room'

shindo (January 5, 2003)

SOYBOMB: Here's the plan. We storm Tim Armstrong's compound and beat the location of Eric our of him, then we capture Eric. Next we've gotta steal Andy back from the Distillers and ger rid of whoever in Pitch Black wasn't from the Agents. Finally the others will turn themselves over quietly out of fear (or something)... then we've got the Nerge Agents back together... no problem at all...

WUSS: Everything is wrong with Mest.

adam

WussEmoRock (January 5, 2003)

Correction: My name is a joke, but my list of bands is sincere and from the heart. What is wrong with Mest?

*****Wuss-Emo-Rock*****

SOYBOMB (January 5, 2003)

Gahhh!! Must you reopen old wounds by mentioning the whole Nerve Agents breakup Adam? I still have a hard time getting over that. My Days Of The White Owl CD is practically burnt out from rotating in my CD player so much.

Peace,
-SOYBOMB-

Anonymous (January 5, 2003)

Am I the only one who thinks that wussemorock is a genius? Clearly he makes comment such as that last list just to piss people off, which is the same reason he chose that name.

P.S. If you are serious about that list you have issues. I mean.. Finch?! I think my totally poppunk'd ex g/f thought they were cool maybe.. but then again she likes Mest ;o!!

Anonymous (January 5, 2003)

Wuss - some of your choices (Thrice, Reel Big Fish, and guilty pleasures TBS and Allister) are actually listenable. Thrice is actually good enough to deserve to be on a top 10 list. That said, that list is still one of the worst I've seen overall. Try listening to a wider range of music, you probably missed most of the albums everyone else has mentioned.

fallingtopieces (January 4, 2003)

mine favoritos del ano 2002 son:
(no particular order)
the ghost - this is a hospital (this cd puts a firecracker in your butthole)
alkaline trio/ Hot Water Music split
Hot Water Music - CAUTION
Larry Arms - Apathy and exhaustion (everyones new favorite band apparently)
Dan Potthast - Meats and Sweets
Slow Reader - S/T
Andrew Wk
Against me! - reinventing the axl rose (everyone elses other new favorite band)

Honorable mentions:
Trail of Dead - source tags and bullshit
flogging molly - drunker than shit all the time (drunker lullibies)
slowride - surviving the suicide bomber
cadillac blindside - these liquid lungs
matt skiba solo (fuck that kevin seconds guys songs)
gunmoll split cd

Dissappointments and shit i Didnt understand:

New slow gherkin cd - i love these guys but the singer sounds like kermit the frog on this cd its annoying

new chinkees cd - these guys are getting really tiresome and boring now, everything sounds the same (sorry mike)

thursday - 5 stories falling (only one new song and 4 poo sounding live tracks!?!?!)

thanks for your time, if you would like to talk/discuss conmigo about my picks email me or im me at strigiformez@aol.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Anonymous (January 4, 2003)

ska? yikes. the reason it got "uncool" is because people finally realized it was extremely repetive, derivative and the opposite of progressive. i still like operation ivy tho. so common rider kinda interests me but i wish it wasnt just op iv the sequal. booooring

Anonymous (January 4, 2003)

I can't stop listening to "Apathy and Exhaustion", so the Larry Arms get my #1 of this year. Unfortunately, I didn't get several important records I know would be contenders this year(Common Rider, Sixer, Against Me!, Voodoo Glow Skulls, One Man Army), but my other favorites from the ones I did get include:

Hot Water Music - Caution
Thrice - The Illusion of Safety
Dillinger Four - Situationist Comedy
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Jackknife to a Swan
Bad Religion - The Process of Belief
Spitvalves - Movin On
Strung Out - An American Paradox
Reel Big Fish - Cheer Up!

biggest disappointment: Goldfinger (somebody get them a horn section so they can play ska full-time, it has to be better than this!)

Anticipated 2003: GOOD RIDDANCE, Pistol Grip, Alkaline Trio, Rancid, Mad Caddies, None More Black, AFI, Against All Authority

and hopefully: Link 80, Tiger Army, Suicide Machines

oh yeah, and best list o' the three. I want to see WussEmoRock's list posted just to read the comments.

Anonymous (January 4, 2003)

I lost faith, however, when "Reinventing Axl Rose" only made one out of three lists.

Seconded.

Anonymous (January 4, 2003)

How come no one has mentioned the Dropkick Murphy's - Live on St. Patrick's Day

because the DKM are annoying.

ThisMachineKF (January 4, 2003)

Nice picks Adam.
I lost faith, however, when "Reinventing Axl Rose" only made one out of three lists.
Honestly, what kind of crack are the other two guys smoking.

Anonymous (January 4, 2003)

How come no one has mentioned Roger Miret and the Disasters - S/T or the Dropkick Murphy's - Live on St. Patrick's Day

Anonymous (January 3, 2003)

everyone's got different tastes but i prefer the new bombshell rocks cd to street art gallery,more polished and a different sound maybe, but tracks like warpath are destined to be classics.

casualty (January 3, 2003)

kudos for mentioning the nerve agents breakup..good fucking crap those guys killed. why do good bands die young?

Anonymous (January 3, 2003)

my top ten of this great year:
10- Flogging Molly-drunken lullabys
9-Home Grown-Kings of Pop
8-7-Voodoo Glow Skulls-Steady as she goes
6-Mustard Plug-Yellow # 5
5-Mu 330-Ulra Panic
4-Spitvalves-Movin On
3-Reel Big Fish-Cheer Up!
2-Mighty Mighty Bosstones-JTAS
1-Big D and the Kids Table- the gipsy hill ep.

anticapated 2003: Nofx,Less Than Jake,Big D and the kids table,AFI,and Rancid.

SKA IS NOT DEAD!

MrVeryDrunk (January 2, 2003)

Fuck Drive Thru!!!! That's all I gotta say.

Melvyl (January 2, 2003)

My hopes are up for the double aquabats cd to be released next year, that double cd will fucking rock!

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

dredg - one of the best cds released in the last few years
bright eyes, desaparecidos, hopesfall, the mars volta - 3 songs that out-do anything on your lists

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

Oh yea, I forgot. Biggest Dissapointments...Good Charlotte, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age (I just dont understand some of the songs), MudvayneLooking forward to...Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Big D and the Kids Table.-BostonMusicGuy

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

Top Ten albums for me goes like this...10. Common Rider - This is unity music9. The Roots - Phrenology8. Dropkick Murphys - Live on St Patrick's Day (yea not much is new but the stuff that is new is great)7. River City Rebels - No Good No Time No Pride6. Kings Of Nuthin - Fight Songs... (it may not have come out in 2002 but i just got it a week ago for christmas so i am counting it as a 2002 release)5. Foo Fighters - One by One4. Jurassic 5 - Power By Numbers3. Drexel - Inevitable is Available2. Kicked in the Head - Salita1. Big D and the Kids Table - The Gypsy Hill EPI know I forgot something... oh well.-BostonMusicGuy

pwfanatic (January 2, 2003)

here comes my picks in no order what so ever.

1)Bad Religion - The Process of Belief

2)Strung Out - An American Paradox

3)Hope Conspiracy - Endnote

4)Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers

5)Poison the Well - Tear From the Red

6)Atreyu - Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses

7)Near Miss - The Gentle Art of Making Enemies

8)Danzig 7:77 I Lucerferi

9) Rancid/NOFX Split

and #10 which i have the feeling nobody agrees with me on this one - Audioslave - s/t

Disappointments: NUFAN - Hard Rock Bottom, 98 Mute - After the Fall, Guttermouth - Gusto

Most anticipated: Good Riddance, T(I)NC, Poison the Well, Rancid, Pennywise, and DKM

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

The bombshell rocks release unfortunately doesn't compare to their release 'Street Art Gallery' :(

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

MY TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YR:

1. BAD RELIGION "PROCESS OF BELIEF"
2. Nofx/Rancid BYO SPLIT
3. Thrice "Illusion of Safety"
4. Bad Astronaut "Houston We Have a Drinking Problem"
5. Strung Out "American Paradox"
6. No Use For A Name "Hard Rock Bottom"
7. Avail "Front Porch Stories"
8. Lawerence Arms "Apathy and Exhaustion"
9. Guttermouth "Gusto"
10. Snapcase "End Transmission"

YOU GUYS FORGOT ABOUT JOEY CAPE CHRIS FLIPPIN CHRIS REST JESSE BUGLIONE AND DAVE RUAN..I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEW LAG NEXT YR!!!

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

don't think it's out yet in the u.s. but one of my fave releases in 2002 (in england) was the new cd by bombshell rocks. also very good were 4ft fingers.

Anonymous (January 2, 2003)

I was just filled in about Against Me! a few days ago thanks to some goons on NMP3s but.. may i fucking say that 'Crime' has not left my cd player or the tape player in my car since i received it. FUCKING amazing, and reinventing axl rose has some great tracks too.

pope_schlomo (January 2, 2003)

Great Top 10 Letterman, I mean adam. Here's my Top 10(in no particular order):

1. Bad Religion - The Process Of Belief

2. Hot Water Music - Caution

3. Red Animal War - Black Phantom Crusades

4. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf

5. Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose

6. The Hope Conspiracy - Endnote

7. Jawbreaker - Etc.

8. Bad Astronaut - Houston, We Have A Drinking Problem

9. Common Rider - This Is Unity Music

10. Lawrence Arms - Apathy Exhaustion

Honorable mentions:
*Dillinger Four(they would be no. 11)
*Sixer
*Trapdoor Fucking Exit
*The Killing Tree, The Killing Tree, The Killing Tree
*The Anniversary
*The Get Up Kids
*Raised Fist
*Snapcase
*Over It(they would be no.12)
*Foo Fighters
*The Stereo
*Cadillac Blindside
*Big D and The Kids Table
*Drexel
*Pretty Girls Make Graves
*Eighteen Visions

Disappointments:
Simple Plan, NFG, Goldfinger, Audioslave, Good Charlotte Good Charlotte Good Charlotte, Guttermouth, Warped Tour, pants

Everyone have a good 2003!

< b>Ra o
(Aqua Teen Hunger Force owned 2002 bitches)

SoftcoreDan (January 1, 2003)

stemmlings = fans of the niagara falls rapcore band stemm...think of lots of stupid kids in limp bizkit shirts pledging allegiance to the worst band in the area...

shindo (January 1, 2003)

Don't get me wrong, I look forward to hearing both those albums and hope they live up to the high points the bands have set for themselves. It's just that (for whatever reason) I cant seem to get excited about either of them. The new Suicide Machines album is another matter... I'm VERY interested in what's going on there.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

Adam, great points but...less than jake and dissapoinments aren't in the same sentence.

They still make great music, and I still get the feeling that I did when I first put in Hello Rockview and Losing Streak.

and AFI? What ISN'T going for them? They've got plenty of time, two STELLAR producers (or maybe you haven't heard of Rancid and Nine Inch Nails?), lots of money from Dreamworks to relax and come up with the best ideas. The two songs I've heard sound killer. If the entire CD is like this, they'll go HUGE ALL OVER THE WORLD!

(And after years and years of supporting good punk music, its about time one or two bands break out and get the limelight they deserve)

Call me a poser. Whatever. I won't care. That's not the point. These two CD's haven't even been mentioned, and they should be. The bands have everything going for them. This will click.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

Here is my Top 10 list for 2002:

1. Sunday's Best
"The Californian"

2. Small Brown Bike/The Casket Lottery
"Riding With Death"

3. Short Round
"Language"

4. The Ghost
"This Is A Hospital"

5. Cro(w)s
"Durty Bunny"

6. Hopesfall
"The Satillite Years"

7. The Killing Tree
"The Romance Of Helen Trent"

8. Atmosphere
"God Loves Ugly"

9. Cadillic Blindside
"These Liquid Lungs"

10. The Casket Lottery
"Surival Is For Cowards"

Honorable Mention:

After The Fall
"Texas Roultte"

Motion City Soundtrack
"I Am The Movie"

Little Joe Gould
"Like The Exoricist, But More Breakdancing"

Hot Water Music
"Caution"

Wilco
"Yankee Foxtrot Hotel"

Piebald
"We Are The Only Friends We Have"

waste_elite (January 1, 2003)

Against Me! put out the best record of the year

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

The lists aren't bad, but I think there were too many albums missing or at least mentioned that could've been easily on here.

i.e. Finch, Strung Out, The Used,Glassjaw (not much on the lists) and for you non punk/emo/hardcore kids, The Apex Theory and Coldplay put out two AMAZING albums. J5 had a good album too.

But, that's just me. But, overall, good stuff.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

DREDG..how in the hell can you forget them?

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

dropkick murphy's live on St. Patricks day

Transplants ?

Flogging Molly- Drunken Lullabies

all amazing but none represented

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

Wyzo: I appreciate the compliment, you're one of our staunchest critics.

SoftcoreDan: I don't really know what a "stemmling" is, but from what I see... Niagara Falls went from having NO scene to having a scene of pretentious greasy screamo kids. woo.

adam

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

I'm probably the only one on this site who thought the Jets To Brazil and Bad Astronaut albums released this year were some of the best of 2002, if not the best. But I'm not very in with it.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

cawknockers top 10 for all who care.......
1.bad astronaut-houston we have a drinking problem.(how has no one mentioned this yet? amazing poetic and meaningful lyrics. so much going on in each song, its a masterpiece. acoustic, folk, punk, wack ass radiohead sounding stuff and back again.)

2.lawrence arms-apathy and exhaustion. (great lyrics, best 'pure' punk band out there right now.

3.dillenger4-situationist comedy (for the same reasons i love the lawrence arms.)

4.taking back sunday-tell all your friends. (i don't care that it sounds like std and thursday. they take the best elements of both those bands and create something poppy and emotional, but not to cheesy on either side)

5.finch-what it is to burn. (go ahead tell my i suck cuz its a drive thru band)

6.thrice-the illusion of safety

7.hot water music-caution (best release since forever and counting)

8.bad religion-process....(best release since generator or agaisnt the grain)

9.teh Bosstones-best release since....oh nevermind

10.hmmmmmm did brand new come out this year? i also liked on a wire.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

Amazing call with Common Rider...such a great band...can't speak highly enough of them...Bosstones too.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

bright eyes anyone?

SoftcoreDan (January 1, 2003)

hey you got out of niagara falls, good for you...all the kids i know from there are little stemmlings...

amherst ny in the hizouse.

FAKESMILE (January 1, 2003)

Gimme the new Social D.!

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

I bestow you the honor of being the least suckiest of all the top tens. Solomon Burke is choice.

bear hug.

I expected scott not to listen to so much wussy music. I'm going to go listen to ida. What, im a hypocrite, fuck you.

wyzo

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

That's cool that everyone is now into Staring Back. If you want to buy their old albums you can get them for 75 cents on half.com

burstandbloom (January 1, 2003)

1.5, huh? Cheater.

God bless The Weakerthans.

shindo (January 1, 2003)

Answering my loving fans...

"The Pacific Northwest owned 2002"

Dude, review some stuff from that scene or (better yet!) send me some of it :) I can only like what I've heard.

"WHY THE FUCK HASN'T ANYONE MADE ANY NOISE ABOUT THE NEW AFI AND LESS THAN JAKE cd's??"

I like both those bands but just can't get excited about new releases from them for some reason. Too many false starts/disappointments... There are far more interestion albums on the way.

"How about SUicide machines compilation cd... you all suck for not mentioning them"

we didn't because it was previously released material that was only collected to fill a contractual obligation. If I was to include every reissue of good songs my list would have a lot of Dylan and Costello in it but not be all that relavent.

adam

TheOneTrueBill (January 1, 2003)

"SOCIAL DISTORTION - TBA
(2003 on an unknown label)
Punk music needs Mike Ness to step in an give it a collective kick. Is there anyone who's not waiting for this record?"

no. not one person.

and the Utters. don't forget the Utters

punky (January 1, 2003)

Am I the only one that thinks that this year wasnt as good as the last year, as far as the records go...

evildeadalive (January 1, 2003)

Dude, other than me, you're the first person I've seen mention the Cripples on here. Fucking great band. I saw them a while ago. Fricken amazing. And by fricken, I mean fucken.

Anonymous (January 1, 2003)

Why the fuck hasn't anyone made any noise about the new afi and less than jake cd's??

Dubar (December 31, 2002)

I can see why someone would like snapcase, though in the world of hardcore they're little more than boring. I saw them with boy sets fire and left halfway through the set because... eh...

The point is, though snapcase has a few good tunes behind them, their new album was hardly worth top ten recognition.

recordings (December 31, 2002)

so me an Janelle are the only ones baffled by the absence of snapcase?? (see my whining in scotts favorites)

Dubar (December 31, 2002)

great list

I'm glad to see against me! on there... if you havent heard this band they are DEFINITELY worth checking out.

While I agree that it sucked more ass than any of us will ever know that the nerve agents broke up, I would hesitate to call them "original". What they are is what everyone wished AFI would become. They have the misfits influence without the Danzig idolatry, and if I didnt say it yet, they kicked fucking hard ass.

Anonymous (December 31, 2002)

Good read Adam, but damn...none of my choices were on there. keep the rock going on and on thruout this next year, this website rocks. although, BR should not be #1.

*****Wuss-Emo-Rock***** (in Utah)

bruceless (December 31, 2002)

I must say, the new Sum 41 album has been one of the most refreshing records I have heard all year. It wouldn't fit on a top ten list of mine, but it definately is very noteworthy, pushing aside the commercial punk-pop sound with a tighter, solid album of hooks and rock charms. Punkrocks.net and Pastepunk.com both rave this album as wonderful and I fullheartedly agree. A strong effort a lot of you may overlook.

Anonymous (December 31, 2002)

How about SUicide machines compilation cd...it haw their bestt songs of all four album...you all suck for not mentioning them

TheBouncingSoul (December 31, 2002)

good list, the bad religion album is still in my player constantly....kudos

Anonymous (December 31, 2002)

Nice job. I'm happy you put Joey Ramone's record on your list...and Bad Religion's as #1...very nice choice, indeed! Although, I can't believe that Snapcase didn't even get an "honorable mention" - (on any of these lists, as it were).
-Janelle

travis (December 31, 2002)

adam, from what I hear, a new weakerthans album will be out by august. From the live shows i have seen from them this tyear, they have well over 12 new songs. and the weakerthans web board says august. rock ass.

Anonymous (December 31, 2002)

Scott wanted system of the down for 2001.
I agree Adam.
That choice sucks