As a new Blogcritic I have not yet had a chance to post my top cds from 2002. So, albiet a month and a half late, here are my picks... and there are so many because I bought too much stuff last year which needs inclution on this list.

The Apex Theory- Topsy Turvy... A fairly mainstream rap-rock cd that I would throw out, except they add international flair to the disc, ala System of a Down or POD. They choruses are catchy. A solid release which would have gotten a lot of attention a few years ago.

Jay Bennett and Edward Burch- The Palace at 4am... This release got no attention due to Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. But this cd, from former Wilco member Jay Bennett, is the alt.country release YHF wasn't.

Blackalicious- Blazing Arrow... Who would have ever thought rap could be this good? This is about my top pick for the year of any genre. Smart and infectious, this cd makes you forget you're listening to rap. The fact that the Blackalicious boys keep this cd clean is a bonus. No uses of the F bomb and only a few shits and asses scattered throughout the songs.

The Blamed- Give Us Barabbas... While not as good as thier previous full lengh, Isolated Incident, these hardcore/punk songs are sloppy and heartfelt and uncaring. These guys should rise from thier underground status and whip some sence into the whole "pop punk" scene.

Boas- Mansion... A quirky rock group straight from the bar scene. Wilco brought them along on some of thier tour dates. There is some alt.country tones to the music.

Niko Case- Blacklisted... A sweet alt.country record with the greatest female voice in the business, Niko Case. A classy performance.

The Chieftains- Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions... The Cheiftains are known for thier infectious Irish-sounding tunes. On this cd they marry that sound with the rootsy Americana sound, featuring many great Americana/country artists, like, Bela Fleck, Buddy & Julie Miller, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, and so forth.

Demon Hunter- Demon Hunter... Nu-metal is such a tired genre. Demon Hunter gives it a fresh look with infectious songs that roar.

Jets to Brazil- Perfecting Lonliness... Lamented by fans as thier worst cd, I on the other hand, found it to be a breath of fresh air. Despite it's "emo" tag, they still craft some fine songs.