Well, for me it's ALMOST a tie, but I have to admit that although I loved CLINIC's "Internal Wrangler" (released last year in the U.S.), KaitO 's "You've Seen Us...You Must Have Seen Us" is SERIOUSLY the best album I've heard in a REALLY long time!!!! There seems to be a LOT of great bands coming out of the UK again the past few years and I'm all for for it. They will be back in L.A. (as will CLINIC) in October. We actually had KaitO come in and do a live set on No-Fi "Radio" a few months ago and we consider them to be one of our "flagship" bands on the site so if you haven't heard them check out our site (honestly this isn't as much a plug for the site as it is for KaitO...you must go out and find their album right away!) ~ Chris Beyond, editor, no-fi "magazine", http://www.nofimagaine.com/ [nofimagazine.com]

1. Heathen Chemistry - Oasis 2. Storytelling - Belle & Sebastian 3. About A Boy - Badly Drawn Boy 4. The Eminem Show - Eminem 5. 18 - Moby

These are simply the ones Ive bought recently, they are not particularly impressive though (especially 4 and 5)

The Pet Shop Boys - Release
    -a different sound for them, more guitars (Johnny Marr plays on some tracks) I really enjoy this album..

Bjork, Vespertine.

1. Luna - Romantica
2. Tom Waits - Blood Money
3. Belle & Sebastian - Storytelling
4. DJ Shadow - The Private Press
5. Gomez - In Our Gun

My Top Ten - in no particular order ...
- Pulp - We Love Life
- Boards of Canada - Geogaddi
- Bjork - Vespertine
- Me'shell Ndegeocello - Cookie - The Anthropological Mixtape
- New Order - Get Ready
- Doves - The Last Broadcast
- Cathal Coughlan - The Sky's Awful Blue
- Prince - The Rainbow Children
- Royksopp - Melody AM
- Maxwell - Now
-

Converge "Jane Doe"
Garbage "Beautiful Garbage"
Tom Waits "Alice"
Fugazi "The Argument"
The Microphones "Song Islands"

Eminem is the only artist to have anything relevant, thought-provoking, or interesting to say since the Maladjusted b-sides. Like him or not, it's pop music delivered to the masses with a wit and style that only Morrissey used to be able to deliver.

Life is very long when you're lonely - Morrissey 1986

But guess what, you're getting older now and it's cold when you're lonely - Eminem 2002

Because I feel that I write with humour, and I almost never get any recognition for this. So when people say 'Morrissey's so miserable,' it's just lazy journalism - Morrissey 1985

My songs can make you cry, take you by surprise
And at the same time, make you dry your eyes with the same rhyme
So what you're seeing is a genius at work
Which to me isn't work, so it's easy to misinterpret it at first,
Cuz when i speak, it's tongue in cheek - Eminem 2002

1. WILCO - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2. OASIS - Heathen Chemistry
3. JAMES - Getting Away with It Live
4. THE STROKES - Is this It?
5. SOUNDTRACK - I am sam

Probably. It doesn't make my list, tho.

Not sure when some of these 2001 albums were released, but here's mine from most played to least played (but hey, I just got the last 2 last week)

Craig David Born to Do it
Gorillaz
Madonna GHV2
New Order Get Ready
The Strokes Is this it?
No Doubt Rock Steady
White Stripes White Blood Cells
RHCP By the Way
The Corrs Live in Dublin (uh, strictly for the Bono songs)

David Bowie - Heathen
Doves - Last Broadcast
Strokes - Is this It?
Bjork - Vespertine

(that I can think of while at work)

Trail of Dead - Source, Tags, and Codes
Sneaker Pimps - Bloodsport
The Faint- Danse Macabre
David Bowie- Heathen
Pulp- We love Life

Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"
Doves "Last Broadcast"

I can't believe no one has mentioned Cinerama, have you all been hanging about HMV's 'lets sell to the stupid masses' stand again? Be intelligent, be sexy, buy Cinerama.
  Torino must be the dirtiest, most imaginative thing to come out for ages. You've got to love an album that makes you blush and giggle, anything less would be a bore wouldn't it?

MUM - Finally We Are No One
PONY CLUB - Home Truths
THE CZARS - Ugly People Vs. The Beautiful People

....Cousteau's self-titled for last summer, Cousteau's latest release "Sirena" for this one. Beautiful, sexy, gorgeous pop music. Unbeatable! Liam McKahey's voice can give me the goose bumps anytime....

My faves are as follows...Fire Music-Gallon Drunk ,The Miles Hunt Club-Miles Hunt,BRMC-Black Rebel Motorcycle Club,About A Boy-Badly Drawn Boy ,We Love Life-Pulp,Disco Valante and Torino-Cinerama,Love n Theft-Bob Dylan

Everyone's a winner especially Miles Hunt who seems to have been forgotten especially over here in Merrie Olde England.

Lucksmiths : Where Were We?
Breeders : Title Tk
Trembling Blue Stars : Alive To Every Smile Looper : Snare
Stephin Merritt : Eban & Charley

The Strokes: Is this It?
The Royal Tenenbaums Soudtrack
Belle and Sebastian: Storytelling
Pulp: We Love Life
The Clinic's New albumn
David Bowie's New albumn
Midnight Oil's New albumn
OURS
Bad Religion's New albumn-its very "old" BR
KMFDM's new bit too
But other than that all I purchased this year was older albumns like some Clash and Buzzcocks cd's....

I'd have to vote for the Doves' "The Last Broadcast". Its a beautifully produced album. Words and music combined are second to none!

In no particular order:

Pulp - We Love Life
The Doves - The Last Broadcast
Pet Shop Boys - Release
New Order - Get Ready
Oasis - Heathen Chemistry

Elbow - Asleep in the Back
Gene - Libertine
New Order - Get Ready
Ours - Ours
White Stripes - White Blood Cells
Pet Shop Boys - Release

No Doubt's--Rock Steady is by far their best album of all time.
I think that's been my only real favorite this year.

In no order........

1)Weezer - "Maladroit"
2)Promise Ring - "Wood/Water"
3)Sense Field - "Tonight & Forever"
4)Saves The Day - "Stay What You Are"
5)New Amsterdams - "Para Todo Vida"

Ours- Distorted Lullabies
The Strokes-Is This it?
Bob Dylan-Love and Theft
Badly Drawn Boy- About A Boy

and, just making it from around one year from now,
jeff buckley- live at olympia (just because)

Not a vintage year for LPs but beneath the masses of tat, there have been one or two beacons shining brightly. Here's my beacons:

Von Bondies - Lack of Communication
Hawksley Workman - (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves
The Strokes - Is This It
Idlewild - The Remote Part
Charlatans - Wonderland
Doves - Last Broadcast
Spiritualized - Let It Come Down

One or two others ive probaably missed, but i'd say thier my main ones..Night Night

#1 Morrissey box set CD singles 2 (of coarse)
#2 Greatest Hits 2 -Madonna
#3 The Best of Morrissey - Morrissey
#4 Lennon Legend -John Lennon
#5 Happy2bHardcore - Moonshine Records
#6 Under Rug Swept - Alanis Morissette
#7 Rufus Wainright - Rufus Wainright
#8 The Millenium Collection - Tom Jones
#9 Moulin Rouge Soundtrack
#10 Living Proof -Cher

1. Elastica--The Radio One Sessions
2. Pony Club--Home Truths
3. Sneaker Pimps--Bloodsport
4. Rialto--Night On Earth
5. Louis Eliot--Everybody Loves you when
          You're Dead
6. Pulp--We Love Life
7. Vive La Fete--Republique Populaire
8. A-ha--Lifelines
9. Gallon Drunk--Fire Music
10. Oasis--Heathen Chemistry

if ever proof were needed that Moz fans have no taste in music, you bastards have just given it.

Here we go:

Le Tigre - Feminist Sweepstakes
Tindersticks - Can Our Love
Belle & Sebastian - Storytelling
Weeping Willows - Into the Light

1) Tom Waits - Alice
2) Mercury Rev - All Is Dream
3) Lambchop - Is A Woman
4) ...Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes
5) Pulp - We Love Life

I'm new to this site so my list goes back slightly mor than a year. Here goes...

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
                No More Shall We Part
          -Unparalleled lyricism and passion.
2. Guided by Voices...Suitcase
          -to few Moz fans appreciate the prolific
            genius of GbV's earlier, lo-fi stuff.
3. Cousteau...self titled debut
          -amazing voice, songs and productions.
4. Strokes...Is This It?
          -anyone has they don't like it hasn't
            really listened to it.
5. Tindersticks...can our love...
          -not as strong as earlier albums but still
            delightful
6. Bowie... Heathen

When did "Heliocentric" by Paul Weller come out? I think it's close. "Is this It?" from the strokes was really good. I found an unopened copy of "Virgins and Philistines" by the Colorfield, does that count?

I'm pretty sure that some of these came out a little over a year ago, but whatever. Since 2001.....

1. "Amnesiac"-Radiohead
2. "Lateralus"-Tool
3. "Murray Street"-Sonic Youth
4. "Last Broadcast"-Doves
5. "About A Boy"-Badly Drawn Boy
6. "Sources Tags And Codes"-And You Will KNow Us By The Trail Of The Dead
7. "Title TK"-Breeders

Here's a few I've liked:

Pet Shop Boys - Release
Billy Bragg - England, Half English
The Lilac Time - Lilac 6
Natalie Merchant - Motherland

Here's hoping there's a Morrissey one on the list this time next year!

1. Torino - Cinerama
2. Modern Museums - Sportique
3. Ballboy - Club Anthems 2001

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's album is fantastic! They're opening up for Oasis in the UK, and Spiritualized in the U.S. If you haven't heard the album, pick it up (Album title is B.R.M.C.)

1) Neil Finn- One All
2) John Lennon - Lennon Legend
3) Paul McCartney- Wingspan
5) Julian Lennon- VH1 Behind The Music Greatest Hits
4) Cinematics- Stations

Everything else I got was free new promo singles from the clubs by New Order, The Vines, The Strokes, etc. that I never really listened to... or old stuff that needed to be replaced on CD cuz the tapes finally wore out after 1.7 trillion listenings...

In no order:
Muse - Hullabaloo: From Cd1, Shrinking Universe is really good! From Cd2, the live version of Muscle Museum is great!

Bunbury - Flamingo's: "Saqueme de aqui, no me dejes solo, todo el mundo esta loco y dios es sordo"

Ours - Distorted Lullubies: Good band with good melodies. Boz plays on one song.

White Stripes - White Blood Cells: Love their bluesy stuff

Mercury Rev - All is Dream: This is probably their best cd,...well, its really good.

Rialto - Night on Earth: More poppish then their first, but contain good songs. "Someone that she used to know" in particular, alongside with "Catherine's Wheel".

Well, I think that'll do it...even though I know there are more.
PS: Any fans of Los Piratas? Im getting into then but I can't find alot of their music.

Overall, working in radio, this has been a somewhat exciting year. Some very good stuff has come out, and I've had the distinct pleasure to be able to play some of this stuff over the air. That being said, here's my list;

Pulp- We Love Life
Tom Waits- Alice
Tom Waits- Dime Store Novels, vol. 1 (limited)
The Aeffect- A Short Dream (EP)
David Bowie- Heathen
Shane Macgowan- Across the Broad Atlantic: Live
Peter Murphy- Dust
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- S/T
New Order- Get Ready
New Order- 20 Years of New Order
The Cure- Greatest Hits Special Edition
Grant Lee Philips- Mobilize
Love Apple- Winnie Cooper (EP)
Cinerama- Health and Efficiency (EP)
Velvet Underground- Bootlegs Series; Quine Tapes, vol. 1

Pet Shop Boys - Release
Leonard Cohen - Ten New Songs
They Might Be Giants - Mink Car
David Byrne - Look Into the Eyeball
Duvall - Standing at the Door
Reverend Horton Heat - Lucky 7
Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs
Gene - Libertine
Stephin Merritt - Eban and Charley

Pet Shop Boys: Release
A-ha: Lifelines
Daft Punk: Discovery
Mercury Rev: All is Dream

I should probably buy more new albums if I'm to talk with any authority on this subject. But here's - literally - a couple that I liked, and want to plug because I love the artists.

Neworder - Get Ready - Their fifth best studio album...ever! (Not including Joy Division stuff, of course, or else it's their seventh best ever.) The first side's really good, second half not so much so.

Bryan Ferry - Frantic - Nobody's mentioned this yet, so it's my duty. Half new songs, half covers, (nearly) all very enjoyable.

Here's my faves...
- Daz Dillinger "This Is The Life I Lead"
    Daz Dillinger is tha blacc Moz. True azz
    independent gangsta shit!
- Nate Dogg "Music and Me"
    Y'all need to copp this one...seriously makes
    tha ladiez drip. U can smoke a beady ta dis
    one.
- musiqsoulchild "juslisten"
    Marvin Gaye's bastard son...pure genius.
- Cradle of Filth "Lovecraft and Witch Hearts"
    Y'all gothic bastards need ta copp this one.
    Fuh rizzle. This is the best of Cradle of
    Filth, the greatest blacc metal outfit of all
    time.
These were probably the best albums of the year. I wasn't really feeling any rocc albums, except Doves and Korn. Oh yeah...anyone who put that bitch azz Eminem is a damn fool. Y'all r just dicc ryding like Elton John. The Great White Hype, and nothing more. The Eminem Show was hella wacc. Dr. Dre's production was shit as well. I got no love for this fake azz white boy. And a big fucc u to that punk azz who tried to compare Moz to Eminem.

Backstreet Boys Hits Chapter 1
N'Sync Celebrity
I love Howie!!

my vitriol, finelines

bjork, vespertine

jimmy eat world, bleed american

Amungst the majority of crap, there actually have been a few good releases over the past year. My favorites go a little something like this:

1. Bjork - Verspertine
2. New Order - Get Ready
3. No Doubt - Rock Steady
4. Looper - The Snare
5. Lisa Loeb - Cake & Pie
6. The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
7. Badly Drawn Boy soundtrack

And the most disappointing...

1. Doves - Last Broadcast (the 4 track bonus cd has a couple goods tracks, but that's it)
3. Strokes - Is This It
4. Pulp - We Love Life
5. Trembling Blue Stars - Alive To Every Smile
6. Turin Brakes - The Optimist

the white stripes - white blood cells
elbow - asleep in the back
the strokes - is this it
starsailor - love is here
electric soft parade - holes in the wall
i think theres a couple here that no one else mentioned which is astonishing seeing as how they are class albums!anyone else agree?
i could mention more(eg-muse) but il keep it to a top five.

Star Stailor - Love Is Here
Pete Yorn - Musicforthemorningafter
Strokes - Is This It
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed America
Weezer - Maladroit
David Mead - Mine and Yours
System of a Down - Toxicity