1. THE CURE Bloodflowers
The trilogy that began with “Pornography” and “Disintegration” is finally complete.  Robert Smith and Co. have come up with yet another (albeit long awaited) album of darkly inspired brilliance.  This style is The Cure at its most powerful.  Let’s just hope that the breakup rumors are just that.

2. TARA MACLEAN Passenger
The sophomore release from this Canadian singer-songwriter is hardly what you would call a slump!  Not only does this release build strongly from her debut disc, “Silence,” it also opens some great new musical, cultural, and linguistic doors.  Guitarist/producer/ husband Bill Bell also provides an invaluable sonic landscape that only leaves one wanting more.  Let’s hear that album #3 already!

3. RADIOHEAD Kid A
Thom Yorke and band have made quite a masterpiece here.  From the
Aphex Twin-inspired ambiance on the title track to the hard-hitting soon-to-be dancefloor anthem “Idiotheque,” Radiohead have made an album that people will be talking about for years to come!

4. OUTKAST Stankonia
What Radiohead did for alt-rock this year, Outkast did for hip hop.
Atlanta-based Dre and Big Boi have created a sonic masterpiece not seen since the Bomb Squad’s heyday with Public Enemy.  An experience not to miss!

5. BLUR The Best of
It’s a shame, but I never put one of this band’s regular releases on any of my year-end lists.  When you give this disc a listen – from the baggy-inspired “There’s No Other Way” to the plaintive “Tender” – there is little doubt that this was one of the most influential pop bands of the 1990s.

6. U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind
The pride of Ireland gets back on track with this collection of well crafted songs.  From the stoic brilliance of “Grace” to great classic raveups such as “Walk On,” the boys from Dublin are truly back. A proper tour without all the gloss that came with Popmart is also well anticipated.

7. BJORK Selmasongs
Icelander Bjork’s voice is something that is truly hard to describe.  From her jazz outings on “Gling Glo” to her work with the Sugarcubes to her present solo material, Bjork continues to mystify.

8. RYAN ADAMS Heartbreaker
On his last release with the band Whiskeytown, Adams conjured the spiritual energy of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.  On this, his first solo release, he does Bob Dylan proud with a fine collectionof acoustic-based twang.  Even the opening monologue/argument over Morrissey’s debut solo single’s album availability is quite brilliant.

9. BT Movement in Still Life
Electronica gets no better than this, folks!  Brian Transeau has made some fine music in the past on releases such as “Ima” and “ESCM,” but this is certainly his widest-varying release.  It’s great to also see the return of M Doughty on “Never Gonna Come Back Down” after the disappointing breakup of his former outfit, Soul Coughing.  “Movement in Still Life” leaves you yearning for more!

10. GEDDY LEE My Favorite Headache
It’s hard to believe that it took thirty years for the lead singer of Rush to do a solo album, but its better late than never.  Great collaborations with session man Ben Mink and Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron lead to some thoroughly energetic tunes.

11. MATTHEW SWEET In Reverse
The long forgotten and often underrated tunesmith is back and rockin’ full force once again!  Let’s see a tour already, though!

12. PINK FLOYD Is There Anybody Out There: The Wall Live 1980-81
It’s quite a statement that the best live album of the year was one recorded some twenty years ago.  The question is: is this something to be proud of?  For those who yearn for the halcyon days of the Floyd, the answer is an emphatic “yes!”  Listening to this live presentation of their 1979 two-disc opus makes one want to forget that the original studio version ever existed!  The energy on this live version is quite refreshing, especially on the crowd-participatory version of “Run Like Hell.”

13. MOBY Play/The B-Sides
Okay, I have a confession to make.  I missed out on the complete brilliance of  “Play” until just a couple months ago.  Fortunately, I got the bonus version that came out this year, so this one makes my list via a technicality.  The blues samples captured by the famous vegan go astonishingly well with his synthetic melodies. Oh yeah, the bonus disc is some percolating stuff not to sneeze at, either.

14. NINA GORDON Tonight and the Rest of My Life
With the brilliantly bombastic work that she did with Veruca Salt, who would’ve quessed that Nina Gordon could become a singer-songwriting diva?  The incredible performances of the title track and “Fade to Black” only begin to hint at the great music we can expect from Ms. Gordon in the future.

15. VARIOUS NETTWERK ARTISTS Christmas Songs
Sure, it’s seasonal, but with a lineup boasting the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Dido, and Tara MacLean, how can you go wrong?  This one’s a Christmas keeper, that’s for sure!

16. SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS Liquored Up and Lacquered Down
The latest from one of the nicest bunch of people you will ever meet.  Their live shows are also nothing to miss.  ‘Tis a shame that Universal dropped this very talented and wacky outfit.  We can only hope, however, that TVT will give this band its due.  You never know – SCOTS could eventually surpass NIN’s “Pretty Hate Machine” as TVT’s cash cow.  Then again, maybe not…

17. DAR WILLIAMS The Green World
While not as immediately ear-catching as her previous “The End of the Summer,” “The Green World” proves that Dar is one of the great voices of modern folk out there.  Her involvement with the Cry Cry Cry project has only helped strengthen her songwriting sensibilities.

18. EMINEM The Marshall Mathers LP
The like-him-or-hate-him release of the year!  Mr. Mathers/Shady created quite a stir with his second collection of rap bravado, but at least he didn’t run from the flames, and for that, Eminem does deserve credit.  Oh yeah, Dido’s permissive contribution on “Stan” doesn’t hurt, either.

19. TYPE O NEGATIVE The Least Worst Of
These guys had to have been the class clowns in school!  Although they took themselves somewhat seriously on their early releases, they’ve come to wave the goth flag with a sense of humor – something you just don’t see too often these days.  This is a collection of some of their finest moments from their decade-plus existence.

20. WU TANG CLAN “The W”
Although still not quite as gripping as their collective debut or some of the better moments of their solo releases, this is still some Wu for you in the new millennium.  Now if only they can keep Ol’ Dirty Bastard on the straight and narrow.  Nah, it’ll never happen.

Stuff I discovered this year but was released last year:

1. TRAVIS The Man Who
Great stuff from Scotland that shows some of the best songwriting sensibility out there!  If you can catch them live, please do!  Their cover of The Band’s “The Weight” is pure brilliance.

2. BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS Burn to Shine
Like Lenny Kravitz, Harper is a man of varied musical styles and this CD is hardly boring!  A great musical trip just dying to be played in the car.

3.  OST Magnolia
Aimee Mann put together some great songs centered around a damn depressing film.  I couldn’t bring myself to stomach the whole movie, but its soundtrack is quite brilliant.