Introduction

I guess we can knock the "(So Far)" off the title: As of mid-January 2002 the list has grown to 35 new records, and I've at least smelled most of the reputed competitors. I expect the list to grow to 50+ as I pick up some hard-to-find titles and get wind of the more leftfield contenders. Not much jazz below -- seems to be another piano year, which is always tougher to suss out than a big sax year like 2000. Got some Notes too -- almost tempted to call 'em reviews.

Figure this list to evolve throughout 2002.

New Records:

1. The Coup: Party Music (75 Ark).
2. Manu Chao: Proxima Estacion: Esperanza (Virgin).
3. Lucinda Williams: Essence (Lost Highway).
4. David Murray: Like a Kiss That Never Ends (Justin Time).
5. Maria Muldaur: Richland Woman Blues (Stony Plain).
6. Tricky: Blowback (Hollywood).
7. Bob Dylan: Love and Theft (Columbia).
8. Buck 65: Man Overboard (Metaforensics).
9. The Highlife Allstars: Sankofa (Network).
10. Orlando Cachaito Lopez: Cachaito (World Circuit/Nonesuch).
11. Shakira: Laundry Service (Epic).
12. The Moldy Peaches: The Moldy Peaches (Rough Trade).
13. Nils Petter Molvaer: Solid Ether (ECM).
14. New Order: Get Ready (Reprise).
15. Wadada Leo Smith/Thomas Mapfumo: Dreams and Secrets (Anonymous Web '00).
16. The Strokes: Is This It (RCA).
17. Atmosphere: Lucy Ford (Rhymesayers Entertainment).
18. Drive-By Truckers: Southern Rock Opera (SDR).
19. Gillian Welch: Time (The Revelator) (Acony).
20. Select Cuts from Blood & Fire Chapter 2 (Select Cuts).
21. Pink: Missundaztood (Arista).
22. Archie Shepp and Roswell Rudd: Live in New York (Verve).
23. De La Soul: AOI: Bionix (Tommy Boy).
24. Tea in Marrakech (Earthworks).
25. Ludacris: Word of Mouf (Def Jam).
26. Le Tigre: Feminist Sweepstakes (Mr. Lady).
27. Leonard Cohen: Ten New Songs (Columbia).
28. Ghostface Killah: Bulletproof Wallets (Epic).
29. Black Box Recorder: The Facts of Life (Jetset).
30. Aceyalone: Accepted Eclectic (Ground Control).
31. Nortec Collective: The Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 (Palm).
32. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells (Sympathy for the Record Industry).
33. Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe: Sound Time (IndigeDisc).
34. St. Lunatics: Free City (Uptown/Universal).
35. Samba Mapangala: Ujumbe (Earthworks).
36. Chris Knight: A Pretty Good Guy (Dualtone).
37. Old 97's: Satellite Rides (Elektra).
38. Bullfrog: Bullfrog (Ropeadope).
39. Missy Elliott: Miss E . . . So Addictive (Gold Mind/Elektra).
40. Rodney Crowell: The Houston Kid (Sugar Hill).
41. Mush Filmstrip (Frame 1) (Shadow).
42. Aceyalone, et al.: Haiku D'Etat (Meanstreet).
43. Alicia Keys: Songs in A Minor (J-Records).
44. Jason Moran: Black Stars (Blue Note).
45. Baaba Maal: Missing You (Mi Yeewnii) (Palm Pictures).
46. Vandermark 5: Acoustic Machine (Atavistic).
47. Fred Eaglesmith: Ralph's Last Show (Signature).
48. Bluiett/Jackson/El'Zabar: The Calling (Justin Time).
49. Basement Jaxx: Rooty (Astralwerks).
50. Burnt Sugar: The Arkestra Chamber: Blood on the Leaf, Opus No. 1 (Trugoid).
51. Aesop Rock: Labor Days (Def Jux).
52. Timeless: Hank Williams (Lost Highway).
53. Stephen Malkmus: Stephen Malkmus (Matador).

Pending:

Currently unrated, as well as a few things I've rated B+ or below (maybe they'll grow on me):

• Ryan Adams: Gold (Lost Highway). B
• Amy Allison: Sad Girl (Diesel Only).
• The Avalanches: Since I Left You (Sire/Modular). B+
• Babyface: Face 2 Face (Arista). B+
• Bang on a Can: Renegade Heaven (Cantaloupe). B
• Kenny Barron & Regina Carter: Freefall (Verve). B
• Bob Belden: Black Dahlia (Blue Note). B
• Björk: Vespertine (Elektra). D+
• Blink 182: Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (MCA). B+
• A Break from the Norm (Restless). B
• Cannibal Ox: The Cold Vein (Def Jux). B+
• City High (Interscope). B
• Olu Dara: Neighborhoods (Atlantic). B+
• Dungeon Family: Even in Darkness (Arista). B+
• Kahil El'Zabar: Spirits Entering (Delmark).
• Von Freeman: Live at the Dakota (Premonition).
• Buddy Guy: Sweet Tea (Silvertone). B+
• Hakim: The Lion Roars: Live in America (Mondo Melodia). B+
• Handsome Family: Twilight (Carrot Top). B+
• Michael Jackson: Invincible (Epic). B+
• Janet Jackson: All for You (Virgin). B-
• Jay-Z: The Blueprint (Def Jam/Roc-a-Fella). B+
• Jay-Z: Unplugged (Def Jam). B+
• Kékélé: Rumba Congo (Stern's Africa). B+
• Kid Creole and the Coconuts: Too Cool to Conga (Orpheus). B+
• KMD: Bl_ck B_st_rds (Sub Verse). B+
• Lightning Bolt: Ride the Skies (Loud).
• Joe Lovano: Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination, Vol. 2 (Blue Note). B
• Patty Loveless: Mountain Soul (Epic). B+
• Kirsty MacColl: Tropical Brainstorm (V2). B+
• Brad Mehldau: Progression: The Art of the Trio, Vol. 5 (Warner Bros.)
• MF Doom: Operation: Doomsday (Sub Verse).
• Buddy and Julie Miller (Hightone). B+
• George Mraz: Morava (Milestone).
• Willie Nelson: Rainbow Connection (Island). B+
• Leon Parker: The Simple Life (Label M). B+
• Joshua Redman: Passage of Time (Warner Brothers). B+
• David Sanchez: Travesía (Columbia). B+
• Shaver: The Earth Rolls On (New West). B+
• Matthew Shipp: Expansion Power Release (Hatology).
• Taraf de Haďdouks: Band of Gypsies (Nonesuch). B+
• Tidiane et Les Dieuf Dieul: Salimita (Justin Time).
• Train Don't Leave Me: Recorded Live at the 1st Annual Sacred Steel Convention (Arhoolie).
• Steve Turre: TNT: Trombone-N-Tenor (Telarc). B+
• James Blood Ulmer: Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions (Label M). B+
• Rhonda Vincent: The Storm Still Rages (Rounder). B
• Christine Wodrascka/Ramon Lopez: Aux Portes du Matin: Live at Instants Chavires (Leo).

Hyped:

Stuff that has shown up on year-end lists and/or received good reviews. ***, **, * indicates some serious interest on my part; # indicates that I've heard at least a taste and am not likely to pursue further.

• Aaliyah: Aaliyah (Blackground). *
• Tori Amos: Strange Little Girls (Atlantic). #
• Fred Anderson: On the Run (Delmark).
• Laurie Anderson: Life on a String (Nonesuch). *
• Arab Strap: The Red Thread (Matador).
• Ass Ponys: Lohio (Checkered Past).
• Aterciopelados: Gozo Poderoso (BMG Latino).
• Ballin' the Jack: The Big Head (Knitting Factory).
• Bang on a Can: Terry Riley: In C (Cantaloupe).
• Roni Ben-Hur: Anna's Dance (Reservoir).
• Bilal: 1st Born Second (Interscope). *
• Mary J. Blige: No More Drama (MCA). *
• Blind Boys of Alabama: Spirit of the Century (Real World). **
• Michael Brecker: Nearness of You: The Ballad Book (Verve).
• Jon Brion: Meaningless (www.jonbrion.com).
• R.L. Burnside: Mississippi Hill Country Blues (Fat Possum).
• R.L. Burnside: Burnside on Burnside (Fat Possum/Epitaph).
• Blu Cantrell: So Blu (Arista). #
• Cappadonna: The Yin and the Yang (Epic/Razor Sharp).
• Eliza Carthy: Angels and Cigarettes (Warner Brothers). #
• Chocolate Genius: Godmusic (V2).
• Clem Snide: The Ghost of Fashion (SpinArt). **
• Nikka Costa: Everybody Got Their Something (Virgin). #
• Daft Punk: Discovery (Virgin). #
• Craig David: Born to Do It (Atlantic). *
• Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms (Ark 21).
• Destiny's Child: Survivor (Columbia). #
• The Dismemberment Plan: Change (DeSoto).
• DJ/Rupture: Gold Teeth Thief (Soot). **
• Du-Tells: No Knowledge of Music Required (Shimmy Disc). *
• Kahil El'Zabar/David Murray: One World Family (CIMP '00). ***
• Eve: Scorpion (Ruff Ryders/Interscope).
• Ben Folds: Rockin' the Suburbs (Epic).
• Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards (Epitaph). **
• Robbie Fulks: Couples in Trouble (Bloodshot).
• Robbie Fulks: 13 Hillbilly Giants (Bloodshot).
• Garbage: Beautiful Garbage (Interscope). *
• David Garza: Overdub (Atlantic). *
• Benny Golson: One Day, Forever (Concord).
• Gorillaz (Virgin). **
• Macy Gray: The Id (Epic). *
• Charlie Haden: Nocturne (Verve).
• Merle Haggard: Roots, Vol. 1 (Epitaph). *
• Michael Hashim: Green Up Time (Hep). ***
• Richie Hawtin: DE9: Closer to the Edit (Nova Mute).
• Joe Henry: Scar (Mammoth).
• John Hollenbeck: No Images (Blueshift).
• Vijay Iyer: Panoptic Modes (Red Giant).
• Mick Jagger: Goddess in the Doorway (Virgin). #
• Ahmad Jamal: Olympia 2000 (Dreyfus).
• Etta James: Blue Gardenia (Private Music). ***
• Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American (Grand Royal).
• Elton John: Songs from the West Coast (Rocket/Universal).
• George Jones: The Rock. *
• Lee Konitz: Parallels (Chesky). **
• The Langley Schools Music Project: Innocence and Despair (Bar/None).
• John Lewis: Evolution II (Atlantic). **
• Shelby Lynne: Love, Shelby (Island). *
• Yo-Yo Ma: Classic Yo-Yo (Sony).
• Manic Street Preachers: Know Your Enemies (Virgin).
• Maxwell: Now (Columbia).
• Paul McCartney: Driving Rain (Capitol).
• Mercury Rev: All Is Dream (V2).
• Mondo Soukous (Mondo Melodia).
• Mystikal: Tarantula (Jive). *
• Ted Nash: Sidewalk Meeting (Arabesque). *
• 'N Sync: Celebrity (Jive). #
• K.T. Oslin: Live Close By, Visit Often (BNA). *
• The Pernice Brothers: The World Won't End (Ashmont).
• Prince: The Rainbow Children (NPG).
• Radiohead: Amnesiac (Capitol). *
• Radio Tarifa: Cruzando el Rio (World Circuit).
• Redman: Malpractice (Def Jam).
• Ike Reilly: Salesmen and Racists (Universal).
• Louis Sclavis: L'Affrontement des Pretendants (ECM).
• John Scofield: Works for Me (Verve).
• Luciana Souza: Brazilian Duos (Sunnyside).
• Sparklehorse: It's A Wonderful Life (Capitol).
• Bubba Sparxxx: Dark Days, Bright Nights (Interscope).
• Britney Spears: Britney (BMG).
• Spiritualized: Let It Come Down (Arista).
• Spoon: Girls Can Tell (Merge).
• Bruce Springsteen: Live in New York City (Columbia). #
• Staind: Break the Cycle (Flip/Elektra).
• Angie Stone: Mahogany Soul (J).
• System of a Down: Toxicity (American). *
• Rachid Taha: Made in Medina (Ark 21). ***
• Otis Taylor: White African (Northern Blues).
• Tenacious D: Tenacious D (Epic).
• Henry Threadgill: Everybody's Mouth's a Book (Pi).
• Henry Threadgill: Up Popped the Two Lips (Pi).
• Le Tigre: From the Desk of Mr. Lady (Mr. Lady).
• Tool: Lateralus (Tool/Volcano). *
• Trio 3: Encounter (Passin' Thru).
• Loudon Wainwright III: Last Man on Earth (Red House). *
• Rufus Wainwright: Poses (DreamWorks).
• David S. Ware: Corridors and Parallels (Aum Fidelity). ***
• Weezer: Weezer (Geffen). *
• Don White: Little Niche (Lumperboy). *
• Chris Whitley: Rocket House (Ato).
• Wu-Tang Clan: Iron Flag (Sony). *