Waxy.org is the sandbox of When compiling a top 10 list, there's a big difference between "Best" and "Favorite." Usually, "Best" implies some sort of objectivity. If I was compiling a Best Albums list, I'd probably include some influential and innovative albums that I never listen to anymore, like the new Wilco or the White Stripes. Instead, 10 albums I genuinely enjoy that have rarely left my MP3 playlist:
Favorite 10 Albums of 2002
Ben Kweller, Sha Sha
Bill Frisell, The Willies
Destroyer, This Night
Dixie Chicks, Home (*)
Mates of State, Our Constant Concern
Mirah, Advisory Committee
Norah Jones, Come Away with Me
Songs: Ohia, Didn't It Rain
Spoon, Kill The Moonlight
Tori Amos, Scarlet's Walk
Other Top Album lists for 2002
KALX DJs, CMJ writers and community, Aquarius Records, Spin, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The Onion AV Club, KCRW, TinyMixTapes, Amazon, Rolling Stone, and Uncut.
If you know of any more, please add them below.
A Footnote
And before anyone starts making fun of me, the Dixie Chicks album is sincerely good. More bluegrass than country, it's a guilty pleasure for anyone who enjoyed the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. Stephen Thomas Erlewine likes it, PopMatters likes it, and so do I. So there.
8:32 AM
The Norah Jones album is fantastic. More best-of's: PlayLouder, themilkfactory, Xfm.
11:22 AM
Yet another set of critics' best-of lists. Feedback more than welcome at gazoo@choler.com. :-)
11:27 AM
Sorry, the link didn't show where I thought it was gonna show. Let's try it again:
Choler.com's Best of 2002 Lists
12:45 PM
One of the best albums I've heard from last year: De-Phazz's Daily Lama