Buzzgrinder has been around almost a year and a half and we've done a good job (I think) of bringing together music news and useless opinion. With that we present the ultimate in elitest rock journalism - our favorite picks of 2002.
Seth Werkheiser, Editor of Buzzgrinder.com
1. Norma Jean - Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child This album punches me in the face everytime I hear it. The raw production of mostly live recorded metalcore band is my new standard by which all metalcore bands will be judged. Released August 13, 2002
2. Twothirtyeight - You Should Be Living A rock album that you can sing along with even without a sheet of lyrics. Strong hooks, memorable melodies and slick production make this one of my faves of the year. Released October 8, 2002.
3. Anah Aevia - Realize You're Dead I believe it was the hot summer night that I went and saw these guys that clinched this one for me. Processed vocals? No, Daniel sings like that live. If you're a fan of Zao/ Converge and shows about killer sharks you'll enjoy this CD as much as I do. Released 2002.
4. My Spacecoaster - EP2 Only five songs but it makes for wide eyed drives home and helpful spurts of energy while sitting at my computer. I've always like this Texas based band and the rock power of John LaMonica leading the assault.
5. Noise Ratchet - Till We Have Faces I think it's nice that I don't know much about bands and when I get a CD I can listen to it with a clean slate. No matter what anyone might say about these guys I truley believe this to be one great rock album of 2002. Their brand of rock may not be dangerous but the effort and the artwork are top notch in my books. Released April 2, 2002.
Zach Bard, News editor from HXC.com
I'd like to preface this by saying I did not by any means hear most of what are being called the best releases of this year. I'm a college kid, I am poor, and this dorm room connection doesn't allow Kazaa so don't try and attack me that way. I loved what I heard of Botch, Blood Brothers, Sigur Ros, Isis, Cave-In, Coldplay, etc. From the few full albums I did hear, these are what I really enjoyed.
1. Pedro the Lion - Control
This was my first exposure to Pedro the Lion and I first saw him play tracks from it over the summer (at Furnace Fest no less). I was totally blown away by Control. The storyline, the honesty, the one-liners that you sing for days no matter how taboo ("This is how we multiply, pity that she's not my wife") and the voice and music all blend together so fittingly that I immediately couldn't see any other release topping this for the year. Also the artwork is top-notch (no stock photos from Asterik here). Released April 16, 2002.
Article comments
1 - Marko
What about Sigur Ros?? Can I hear it for Sigur Ros? Anyone?
2 - markbrandt
So for Christmas people gave me CD's and 2 of these have the chance of making my top 5 if I would have had them before I wrote the top 5.
Anthallo - Sparrows: This is good. It makes all other emo look silly and unimportant
Hopesfall - The Satellite Years: melodic hardcore but better then the other melodic hardcore bands. It's beauty mixed with brutality
so consider these honorable mentions
3 - mike larkin
Matt DeBenedictis writes:
Cornell is conservative? I didn't know that; I guess I just assumed that because he hangs out with the Vedder crowd, he's a leftie. Are you sure?; if true, it's too bad, although it doesn't effect my admiration for his talents.
4 - Matt Debenedictis
yes Cornell is know to be conservative. in what end I'm not sure as he is not very public about his political convictions. That was the first thing he made clear when Audioslave started no politics...human rights..yes. Politics no.
"I have allways respected Chris for never backing down on his convictions." Eddie Vedder speaking on Chris cornell.
If you remember chris did some rock the vote PSA's back in the day on MTV. Which he soon spoke out against because rock the vote was using it's platform to get kids to vote democratic straight ticket style. Which even though I'm far from a conservative Chris was right to speak out like he did. Rock the vote was shifty and not honest.
5 - mike larkin
Thanks! I have a friend who's a big Soundgarden fan, and he said the same thing. He's a conservative himself, so i guess i should have figured.
I take solace in the thought that Cornell can't be all THAT conservative if he hangs out with ex-Ragers and with Vedder.
And you're right about Rock the Vote; that was a fraud, little more than a Clinton front group, really.
6 - markbrandt
Rock the Vote was lame. Instead of having kids get informed they just brainwashed them..lame...I don't really like Audioslave, but that's not the point.
7 - Menddave
YOU ALL FORGOT STAVESACRE. SHAME ON YOU.
8 - Solamente Frost
no, actually none of us forgot stavesacre.
9 - jess
ouch.
10 - jess
ouch.
11 - Matt DeBenedictis
I didn't forget the Stavesacre record. I think it's an a mazing record. their best to date. I just felt the other records i mentioned had a bigger effect than that record did.