it’s about damn time.

okay, so it’s overdue by about a month — painfully, embarrassingly overdue, it’s true. i’ve been lazy, i’ve been distracted, i’ve been flaky, i’ve been preoccupied, but mostly i’ve been ashamed. however, the last thing i have been is forgetful, because it has weighed down on me that i haven’t spent the twenty minutes it would take to think out and write down what i’ve been meaning to since, oh, early december. well, now is the time. i’ve thought and i’ve jotted and now you may if you wish be privy to what collapsing’s editor in chief has decided to be his favorite 10 albums released in the year 2002.

two notes beforehand though. 1) — this is not a critical piece. i am not a critic. i am not objective. i am not well-informed. there are probably albums better than this that i haven’t heard, there are probably albums that i bought and listened to that are quote-unquote “better” than the ones on this list (go ahead and email me about not including wilco — bitch all you want, but i don’t like listening to that cd as much as i do the ones below; so sue me). these are the ones i like listening to out of what i bought this year. you might like them too. 2) — reiteration of part of note #1. i bet there was some great stuff i missed. i am not perfect despite what you think. please DO email me if there’s something amazing i might have missed completely, because i might like them too.

so here we go.

# 10 — tom waits – alice

yes, there was some pretty weird stuff on this cd, but there’s some pretty fantastic stuff too, which more than compensates. the title track alone made it worth buying; gravelly and mournful but totally beautiful.

# 9 — badly drawn boy – about a boy soundtrack

listening to this cd just makes me happy, even if the songs weren’t very happy for the most part. nevermind the movie (which these tunes nicely supported), this was just a great pop cd.

# 8 — spoon – kill the moonlight

when i got this, i listened to it every day for weeks. simple and catchy, great use of piano, excellent rhythm…great stuff.

# 7 — ben kweller – sha sha

alternately rocking and mellow, all around solid, and a lot of fun to listen to. and i think this guy is younger than i am. no fair.

# 6 — hey mercedes – the weekend e.p.

if this were a full cd it would probably be higher on the list, but i loved all four of the songs on here i didn’t already have on disc. i’m pretty sure bob nanna is my favorite current songwriter too, so i was happy to get even this in 2002.

# 5 — …and you will know us by the trail of dead – source tags and codes

every time i listen to this, even still, i pick up on more of the outstanding playing that went into this record. the drums are especially good and it just flat our rocks all the way through.

# 4 — slow reader – (self-titled)

you can call it post-impossibles-fan bias, but i love this disc. it may be wussy, it may be sad, but either way i’ll maintain the songs are written well and the tunes get me swaying along with them every time.

# 3 — minus the bear – highly refined pirates

if this were a list of the coolest cds, this might be the number one, and not just because of the album and song titles (e.g. “absinthe party at the fly honey warehouse”). really original use of guitar and synth in a rocking combo to produce a fresh and exciting sound, i’m more or less in love with this band right now.

# 2 — mountain goats – tallahasse

i had never heard the mountain goats before i downloaded “no children” a couple months ago, but after that i was hooked. not just that song, but the entire album is bitter and ironic and beautiful, and even though i usually don’t go in for primarily acoustic stuff, i am still in love with this cd and recommend it to anyone i can.

# 1 — piebald – we are the only friends we have

i won’t pretend its groundbreaking, but i can’t deny i listened to this more than anything this year. i’ve always been a sucker for really rocking, fun power-pop type bands, and they were my new discovery for the year when this cd came out in the spring. i’ve since seen them play live at least five or six times, and they’ve become one of my favorite current bands, mostly thanks to this cd of wonderful rock songs that you simply have to sing along to (air guitar optional but encouraged). it may be simple but it’s so damn fun — and everyone knows, fun rules.

so finally i can call it a year.

and another quick music note if you’re not tired yet. i happened to see a piebald/minus the bear two different nights this weekend, and i have to reiterate: you should be listening to minus the bear. really different and very interesting to listen to, a blast to see live, and really technically cool either way you hear them. so i’m finally refreshing the song of the week with their track monkey!!! knife!!! fight!!!, in addition to pointing out that you can download another of their songs (“hey, wanna throw up? get me naked”…my favorite) from them. and for a limited time i imagine, another one here if you scroll down a bit. now go! enjoy!

[now hearing this: # 1 album of the year.]