It’s that time of year again, a time to look back at the best of the year. 2002 was not one of the best years for music. However there were a few notable releases this year and that’s what we are covering here today. 

We are doing things a little different this year. For the previous four year in review’s we had our writers submit their picks for various categories and then drew the winner out of a hat. This year we are going to simply post our writers picks for each category. Some writers skips categories. 

Click on the CD title if you want to read our coverage of the CD/Artist, listen to samples, purchase the CD and also write your own review.  - Keavin
 
 

• Brand New Sin – antiGUY
• Audioslave  - Dr Fever, Scott Slapp
• The Distillers (not new I know, but they do have a newfound, more mainstream status) – Greenmuse 
• Andrew W.K – Dan 
• The Vines – Keavin
• Atticus Fault – Tom Spanks

Best Alternative Album 

• The Reunion Show  “Kill Your Television” - antiGUY
• Nirvana “Nirvana” (greatest hits) – Dr Fever
• Queens of the Stone Age “Songs for the Deaf”  - Dan 
• Local H "Here Comes The Zoo" - Keavin
• Sparta “Wiretap Scars” – Scott Stapp
• Weezer  “Maladroit” – Tom Spanks

• Flaming Lips  “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” – antiGUY, Dan 
• Ryan Adams 'Demolition' – Dr Fever 
• Alex Lloyd "Watching Angels Mend" – Keavin 
• Dredg  “el cielo” – Scott Slapp
• Eminem “Eminem Show” – Tom Spanks (you don’t have a rap category) 

• Nashville Pussy “Say Something Nasty” –antiGUY
• Queens Of The Stone Age “Songs For The Deaf”– Dr Fever, Keavin
• Andrew W.K. “I Get Wet” - Dan
• Loudermilk - Scott Slapp

• Hope Conspiracy “End Note” – Dr Fever
• Snapcase "End Transmission" – Keavin 

• Bloodjinn 'Leave This World Breathing' – Dr Fever
• Dead To Fall  “everything I touch falls to pieces” – Scott Slapp

Best Metal Album 

• Disarray “In The Face of The Enemy” – antiGUY
• Darkness Remains “To Touch The Depths Of Sorrow”– Dr Fever
• System of a Down “Steal This Album” - Dan
• Down “Down II” – Keavin 
• Dragpipe "Music for the Last Day of Your Life" – Scott Slapp 
• Superjoint Ritual “Use Once and Destroy” – Tom Spanks 

• Iron Maiden “Rock in Rio” – antiGUY, Dr Fever 
• Dio “Killing The Dragon” -  Keavin 
• HammerFall – “Crimson Thunder” – Scott Slapp

Best Nu-Metal Album 

• Chevelle – “Wonder What’s Next” – antiGUY 
• System of a Down – “Steal This Album” – Greenmuse 
• Nonpoint  “Development” – Keavin 
• Disturbed "Believe" – Scott Slapp 

• Maroon5 "Songs About Jane"– antiGUY  (more of a funk n roll CD but it fits here too) 
• Dave Matthews Band “Busted Stuff” – Dr Fever
• Coldplay “A Rush of Blood to the Head” - Dan
• David Gray - A New Day At Midnight – Keavin 
• Red Hot Chili Peppers “By The Way” – Tom Spanks 

• Beck "Sea Change" - antiGUY
• Queens Of The Stone Age “Songs For The Deaf” – Dr Fever
• Foo Fighters “One by One” – Dan
• Coldplay – “A Rush Of Blood To The Head” – Scott Slapp
• Mad At Gravity “Resonance” – Keavin

Best Power Pop Album 

• Jughead "Jughead" – antiGUY 
• Weezer “Maladroit” - Dan, Keavin

• Original Sinners “Original Sinners” – antiGUY  (Exene just keeps getting better with the years) 
• Various Artists “Rise Above: 24 Black Flag songs to benefit the West Memphis Three” – Dr Fever
• The Distillers – “Sing Sing Death House” – Greenmuse
• The Skulls "Therapy For The Shy"- Keavin
• Avril Laveign – Scott Slapp  (ha ha ha got YA!!!) 

Best Punk Hybrid Album 
(punk-pop, punk-a-billy etc)

• Sparta - Wiretap Scars – antiGUY  (I couldn’t think of another place it would fit) 
• Hot Water Music “Caution” – Dr Fever
• common rider- "this is unity music" – Greenmuse 
• Riddlin' Kids "Hurry Up and Wait" – Keavin 

• Soundtrack Of Our Lives “Behind The Music” – antiGUY 
• Queens Of The Stone Age “Songs For The Deaf” – Dr Fever
• The Hives “Veni Vidi Vicious” - Dan
• Ours “Precious “ – Keavin 
• The Vines “Highly Evolved” – Scott Slapp 
• Tom Petty “The Last DJ” – Tom Spanks

Best Concert

• antiFEST '02 - Nov 29, 30 - Dec 1 - Los Angeles, Ca - Low-five, Bird, Johnny Jones, WAXAPPLES, Motorsoule, Twelvehourmary, Devil's Junction, Solarcade, Fain and more - antiGUY 
• Krazyfest 2002(Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, Most Precious Blood, and many more)- June 2002 - Louisville KY – Dr Fever 
• N.E.R.D. w/ Spymob - Dan 
• Long Beach Invades LA - Bird, Chris Paul Overall, Low-five, Johnny Jones, Twelvehourmary - Oct 13, 2002 @ The Cat Club in Hollywood- Keavin
• Dio, Kings X and Hammerfall - Anaheim House of Blues Nov 2002 - Scott Slapp

• Low-five - Keavin

Album of the Year 

• Queens Of The Stone Age “Songs For The Deaf”- antiGUY
• Bloodjinn “Leave This World Breathing” – Dr Fever
• Common Rider- This is Unity Music. – Greenmuse
• Andrew W.K. “I Get Wet” - Dan
• The Vines “Highly Evolved” – Keavin
• Dredg  “el cielo” –Scott Slapp
• Tom Petty “The Last DJ” – Tom Spanks

• Now that you have seen our picks for the best of 2002, click over and post your own!