The Year in Music

Stacy Osbaum Goes to 11: Aaron Carter, Oh Aaron (Jive), do our nation’s children really need to be hearing this? The Strokes, Is This It(RCA). So rock was dead, and then the Strokes came along to make us remember why we used to listen to the Velvet Underground, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The White Stripes, etc. Entirely derivative but catchy nonetheless. The Avalanches, Since I Left You (Modular). The year’s best electronic pastiche album, and it came from Australia? Samples never sounded better. Bent, Programmed To Love (Ministry of Sound). Ditto above, but it came from England. Radiohead, Amnesiac (Capitol/EMI). Overrated. How do they get away with this? Felix Da Housecat, Kittenz and Thee Glitz (Emperor Norton). The top of the ’80s revival heap that swept dance music this year, even though Daft Punk made the Gap. Spiritualized, Let It Come Down (Arista). Soaring, gospel-induced psychedelia. One of the year’s few worthwhile rock releases. Squarepusher, Go Plastic (Warp). Some of the freakiest electronic sounds made all year (and still listenable), but then Aphex Twin turned us on to Drukqs (London/Sire) and dissolved any brain cells we had remaining. Creed, Weathered (Wind-Up). Why, why, why? Is this what qualifies as grunge 10 years later? Enya, A Day Without Rain (Warner Bros.). Her boost in popularity post–September 11 is a tragedy in itself. Björk, Vespertine (Elektra). Forever following her own path, making it up as she goes along, Björk remains one of the most original artists in music today.

Jay Babcock: 10 Musical Pieces

12. Guilty Pleasures: Braindonor, Love Peace & Fuck(Impresario) (Stooges, Ash Ra Tempel, Groundhogs, Kiss); Spirit Caravan, Elusive Truth(Tolotta) (Sabbath, Blue Cheer); Actual Tigers, Gravelled & Green (Nettwerk America) (Paul Simon); The Strokes, Is This It?(RCA) (Wire, Velvets); BRMC, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Virgin) (The Jesus and Mary Chain, glam); Charlatans UK, Wonderland (MCA) (Curtis Mayfield, Stones circa ’78); New Order, Get Ready(Reprise) (New Order); the Watt-Perkins-di Stefano Stooges cover band Hellride; Acid Mothers Temple (Grateful Dead, Hawkwind).

11. Gospel Brunch: Shellac serving Krispy Kreme donuts to the audience prior to its Sunday, January 28, 11 a.m. show at the Knitting Factory.

10. Songwriting of the First Order: Rufus Wainwright, Poses(DreamWorks); Eleni Mandell, Thrill(Space Baby); Pulp, We Love Life (Island) (note: produced by Scott Walker!); Black Box Recorder, The Facts of Life(Jet Set); Momus, Folktronic (Le Grand Magistery).

9. What the ?!?: The Centimeters, Lifetime Achievement Awards(Space Baby); Neil Hagerty, Neil Michael Hagerty(Drag City); The All-New Adventures of Rock ’N’ Roll’s Royal Trux comic book; Aphex Twin, Drukqs(London/Sire); Sparklehorse and Tom Waits’ "Dog Door" (Capitol/EMI); Björk, "Pagan Poetry" video; Thighpaulsandra, I, Thighpaulsandra(Eskaton UK); The Residents’ greatest-bizarrities revue at UCLA Royce Hall, May 25.

8. Jewish-Related Stuff: Random_Inc., Jerusalem(Ritornell); Mogwai, "My Father My King" (Matador); Perry Farrell, Song Yet To Be Sung aa(Virgin); Masada, Live at Tonic 2001 (Tzadik).

7. Beauty: Beachwood Sparks, Once We Were Trees(Sub Pop); Mercury Rev, All Is Dream(V2); Acetone, York Blvd.(Vapor); M. Gira/D. Matz, What We Did (Young God); John Zorn, In the Mirror of Maya Deren(Tzadik); Frank Bretschneider, Curve(Mille Plateaux); alva.noto, Transform(EFA); Richard Ashcroft live, alone, at the Knitting Factory, February 4.

6. Older People: Prince at the Palladium, May 4; John Paul Jones at the Universal Amphitheater, November 15, reclaiming Led Zeppelin songs ("When the Levee Breaks," "Black Dog") with some biting slide-guitar work; J Mascis & the Fog covering Stooges tunes with guitarist Ron Ashetonat the Troubadour, April 26; Adrian Sherwood’s dub party at Spaceland, August 29; King Crimson laying waste to Tool at the Wiltern, August 14; Paul McCartney, Driving Rain— sweet, melodic comfort food for the ears.

5. Younger People: Starsailor (fey Tim Buckley folk-rock sung by a baby-faced 21-year-old with ridiculous pipes); bawdy rocker Peaches wowing the pansexual crowds at Spaceland (May 11) and at the Knitting Factory (August 11); Sigur Ros’ audacious U.S. live debut, midday next to the Rave Tent at Coachella, April 28; Mos Def’s Black Jack Jackson project (featuring Dr. Know and Bernie Worrell) live at Coachella; The Fire Show’s Above the Volcano of Flowers(Perishable); AWOL One and Daddy Kev, Souldoubt(Meanstreet).

4. Swedish people: The Hives, Veni Vedi Vicious (Burning Heart); The Soundtrack of Our Lives’ entire catalog (Hidden Agenda).

3. People We’ll Miss: Richie Lee, Pops Staples, Joey Ramone, Michael Karoli, George Harrison.

2. Albums That Should Survive the Test of Time: The White Stripes, White Blood Cells (Sympathy for the Record Industry); Boredoms, Vision Creation Newsun(WEA Japan); Dungeon Family, Even in Darkness(Arista).

1. Spiritualizedat the Wiltern, November 13: an absolutely staggering two-and-a-half-hour set performed by the 13-piece band plus a six-person local gospel choir. Opened with a gigantic 20-minute version of "Cop Shoot Cop." Everything arranged to post-Spector bombasm. Tasteful lights, expertly mixed sound and fantastic ensemble and individual playing; Doggen’s harmonica (gorgeous) and guitar work (subtle, ripping, arching) especially stood out. Covers of Spacemen 3 classics "Take Me to the Other Side" and "Walking With Jesus." Etc. The most amazing, purely rapturous show I’ve ever been lucky enough to witness — any performer, anywhere, anytime.

John Payne’s 20 Superior Discs Aphex Twin, Drukqs (London-Sire) Björk, Vespertine (Elektra) Brujeria, Mextremist Hits (Kool Arrow) Holger Czukay, Linear City (www.dignose.com) Dungeon Family, Even in Darkness (Arista) Electric Company, Greatest Hits (Tigerbeat6) M. Gira/D. Matz, What We Did (Young God) Neil Hagerty, Neil Michael Hagerty (Drag City) Khan, No Comprendo (Matador) Doctor L., Tony Allen et al., Psyco on da Bus (Comet/Platform) Ingram Marshall, Kingdom Come (Nonesuch) Mouse on Mars, Idiology (Thrill Jockey) Bill Neely, Texas Law & Justice (Arhoolie) Phthalocyanine, Zacks (Phthalo) Plaid, Double Figure (Warp) Iggy Pop, Beat Em Up (Virgin) Azalia Snail, Brazen Arrows (Dark Beloved Cloud) Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Arkestra, It Is Forbidden (Total Energy) June Tabor, Rosa Mundi (Green Linnett) Toby Dammit, Top Dollar (Omplatten)