List - Albums - 2002 - 2002-01-10 4:13 p.m. Because it is already 10 days past the end of 2002, I will present "Fengh's list of best 5 albums 2002", before people start to forget that 2002 even existed... 5 - ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Source Tags and Codes They are not original, which makes this album even more compelling, because despite of the old cliches and obvious influences of Jawbox and Fugazi, they still sound different from other poseurs of heavy-rock wannabes. It's loud and angry. Distorted and grumpy. It's the same recycled angst ridden music all over again. But what makes AYWKUBTTOD different is they sound like they are really trying to hurt themselves by rocking too hard. And the weird thing is, that's what rock is all about... 4 - Beck, Sea Change If you are feeling lonely or sad. Or feeling like committing suicide, just put Beck's Sea Change CD in your player, and you'll be sadder and more lonely in no time. So, if you're contemplating suicide, stay away from this one. In Sea Change, Beck sounds tormented and honest. The songs are wonderfully and beautifully crafted. They are mellow, sad, rhetorical and quizzical. His 'bassy' voice looms wonderfully above the acoustic guitars and pianos, and sometimes a strings orchestra. No, this is obviously not Odelay. This is Beck Hanson at his most vulnerable. He just broke up with his long time girlfriend, and he wrote down these songs and lyrics. Nobody can get more honest and heartbroken than him. Even when he sings about hope or letting things go, you know he's still trying... 3 - Coldplay, Rush of Blood to the Head Let's not kid ourselves. These guys can never be as good as Radiohead. Nobody could ever be as good as Radiohead. But when these guys are being Coldplay, they don't have to be anybody else. It's a straightfroward album. WYSIWYG. Chris Martin's lyrics are not that deep compared to others, but I'll take it anytime over other generic rock bands. The album hooked me up like nothing ever did. The soft verse/loud chorus always works for me, but Coldplay took it to another level, making me anticipate every loud bangs and chorus that comes my way, and making me embrace the soft verses that is melodic and dreamy at the same time. 2 - Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots It takes somebody with a wonderful talent to create wonderful melody and hooks in a song. It takes a genius to turn everything upside-down, and still create great songs and album. Their great masterpiece is still The Soft Bulletin but Yoshimi is still one heck of a cool album. The songs are melodic, funky, pop, rock, orchestral and electronic. How did they do that? Well, personally I don't care, because they did it, and I am lucky to listen to them. Oh, and they are a big influence on my music, too... 1 - Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights The NY hype machine brought us The Strokes last year. The Strokes' music was a little above average, but the hype and controversy made it worse, when their music was actually below people's expectation. Interpol, on the other hand, came from obscurity, and are still under a non-major label company. Unfortunately for them, the hype machine has shifted their focus from last year's 'pedigreed-garage-darlings' Strokes to the smartly-dressed Interpol. But the difference is Interpol's music is imaginative and pissed. Haunting and angry. Recalling Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen, their songs and lyrics go together in a symphonic angry post-punk aggressive concerto. I was disturbed while listening to Bright Lights because of it's intensity, but unbelievably transfixed on my headphones, yearning for more disturbing thoughts to be stirred by Interpol. Other albums worth mentioning - Norah Jones - Come Away With Me, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Dove's The Last Broadcast and The Street's Original Pirate Material)