I've been pondering my "best of '01" list for a few weeks now and when I looked back at what I'd purchased this year, it almost seemed pointless because I
hadn't bought that much stuff, new or otherwise. So this list is just an excuse to plug the albums from my little batch that I think everyone should make some
time for. If you want to send me your list, I'll happily collect them here.
Other lists: Cos's list
- Glenn McDonald
Elton John - "Songs From The West Coast"
I should be astonished that this album is anywhere near a list such as this.
Who'd have thought it? Elton John releases an album which can be described as
'great'? I've been saying for a few years that Elton is a talented but
misguided musician who could make great music again if he was forced to go back to basics and really work at it. To make my point, I used to play the first
extraordinary track of 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' to friends to remind them
that Elton had produced some fascinating work in the past. Maybe this album
doesn't quite demonstrate the almost ridiculous ambitions of his past classics but there was a focus and intensity to his vocal performances that drove these melodies under my skin. This was his best album in 20 odd years and you really can't ask for any more than that.
John Hiatt - "The Tiki Bar Is Open"
After the acoustic detour of 2000's "Crossing Muddy Waters", Mr Hiatt returned to rock with a vengeance. Re-uniting with The Goners (his band from 1988's
"Slow Turning" album) meant that these songs were brought to life with energy
and passion. 'All The Lilacs in Ohio' kicked along exactly as the title
didn't suggest, 'My Old Friend' was one of the most instantly appealing songs
of the year and 'Something Broken In My Heart' was one of those classic ballads that will probably have everyone lining up to record cover versions. For me,
his last few albums haven't quite felt right for some reason but this remains
a joy to listen to. I'd nominate it as his best since 'Slow Turning'.
Garbage - "beautifulgarbage"
By now, everyone recognises the crunchy guitars and staccato mixes that mark
pop music a la Garbage so the upbeat stuff here was occasionally unsurprising
(eg. 'Androgyny'). However, I loved the rest to bits. Whether it was Garbage
emulating Spector ('I Just Don't Care Anymore') or delicious food for
hookaholics ('Cherry Lips') it was irresistible. Even the big blobs of schmaltz like 'Cup Of Coffee' and 'Drive You Home' sucked me in completely. Shirley
Manson's vocal versatility continues to surprise and she neatly balanced
aggression and fragility here. The more I listen to it, the more sense the
title makes to me.
Shelby Lynne - "Love, Shelby"
For the follow-up to her Grammy award-winning "I Am Shelby Lynne", Ms Lynne did little right. The album title was dumb and the album artwork worse. Her choice of Glen Ballard as producer/co-writer upset many and seemed to be the key
reason why many dismissed the album. I don't know, maybe this album doesn't
deserve to be on my list but every time I listen to it to make sure, I get
seduced by her voice all over again. She dominated everything here as only a
great singer can. Some critics particularly loathed 'Jesus On A Greyhound' but I can't reconcile their petty criticisms with the thunderous voice that sweeps through it. Stand back folks, let the lady sing.
Bruce Springsteen - "Live In New York City" (CD, DVD)
Early in the year we got the CD and then in the final few weeks, we got the
accompanying DVD that marked the live reunion of the legendary E Street Band.
While the band remains formidable, the packaging of both of these releases was seriously flawed. The double CD was sequenced to mirror the HBO television
presentation and made little sense on CD and was further ruined by the clumsy
last-minute addition of 'Born To Run'. Powerful music sloppily packaged. Then
came the DVD, exploiting few of the advanced features of the format (eg. multi camera angles) and marred by sound problems on one disc of the original US
release (contrast the seemingly effortless quality achieved by the U2 live
DVD). For someone who supposedly takes great care in choosing what he
releases, both the CD and DVD left fans scratching their heads. But then again, Blind Freddy could tell you that it would be hard to screw up an E Street Band release so thoroughly that it wasn't worthwhile. Hearing lost classics like
'Lost In The Flood' brought back to life made the CD worthwhile; seeing Bruce
seated at the piano playing a solo version of 'The Promise' made the DVD
worthwhile. What lifted both releases beyond merely worthwhile was the
inclusion of 'American Skin', a haunting but powerful song which may be one of the most affecting and intelligent songs he has ever written. With all of the
hysterical controversy the song generated when it was first performed, we
needed this release to assess it properly in the light of day. While I may
quibble about the heavy-handed placement of the song at the end of the setlist, the song reminded us that while hearing all of the old classics again was a
blast, their best work may be yet to come.
Stephen Cummings - "Skeleton Key"
I can't even pretend to offer an objective perspective here: I run Stephen's
website, I took photos at some of the recording sessions and co-created the
CDROM component of the album. As such, disregard my thoughts at your leisure.
This time Stephen kept it short (10 songs) but as Cos has noted, it's still
very difficult to choose just one or two favourites. In some respects it felt
like a "best of" album, one classic song after another, jumping from style to
style. If I were to offer criticism, I'd probably ponder whether his lyrics
have become more conventional than his past work or I might complain that
the sound of 'New Cosmic Blues' is distractingly unconvincing. But then I just listen to the title track or 'You Put A Pain On My Heart' or 'The Truth About
Love' or any of the others and I'm forced to admit that yes, trying to
criticise an album as good as this is something only a nutty fan would
contemplate doing.
Discovery of the year: Magnetic Fields - "69 Love Songs"
As concept albums go, this one was particularly preposterous. Originally
released in the US in 1999, it features 69 songs spread across 3 discs,
totalling over 3 hours of music. I borrowed it off Cos in 2000, and then saw
them live at the Conti May '01 and was still scratching my head about why
everyone was so excited about the album. And then a couple of months
later I gave each disc one last try and was utterly besotted. Great song after great song after great song. If I had to select just the deadset, undeniable
classics from it, I would try to force myself to stop at 30 songs. A dumb,
stupid and truly great album.
David Gilliver
Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2002 21:02:52 +1100
From: Ross Robinson
Subject: Albums Of The Year
Here are my picks from the stuff I got to hear last year (in no particular
order):
1. You Am I - Dress Me Slowly
2. Travis - The Invisible Band
3. Ed Harcourt - Here Be Monsters
4. Matthew Jay - Draw
5. Remy Zero - The Golden Hum
6. Pernice Brothers - The World Won't End
7. Mercury Rev - All Is Dream
8. Turin Brakes - The Optimist LP
There were also three artists I always buy who released albums:
1. Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
2. Stephen Cummings - Skeleton Key (natch)
3. Paul McCartney - Driving Rain
And I think the most 'interesting' album of the year that I heard (which I'm
still not sure if I like) was:
Tori Amos - Strange Little Girls
Finally, two albums I've heard a couple of tracks from and wish I'd heard
more:
1. Starsailor - Love Is Here
2. Elbow - Asleep In The Back
I think it's also worth mentioning the horrors in last year's music scene
which for me were (again in no particular order):
1. Geri Halliwell's 'new' body - what is she thinking?
2. Michael Jackson's 'Invincible' - where are the melodies?
3. Nikki Webster - 'nuff said really.
4. The inevitable fawning over yet another Radiohead album by the music
press
5. Most of what went up the charts (yet again)
6. The well-intentioned, but ultimately painful concert/TV special by
American artists after the attack on the World Trade Centre.
