Top 5 - Al Muzer
1) The Hutchinsons, Plastic Fruit & Popcorn (RTG). A loud, abrasive, melodic, hook-filled amalgamation of Ramones 'n' Raspberries garage-buzz power-pop packed with more crunch than Westerberg ever managed and boasting bigger cajones than the Romantics in their prime.
2) Birdbrain, Let's Be Nice (TVT). A rich, diverse, sweeping effort that defied radio and commercial pigeonholing, Birdbrain's second full-length disc was an edgy blend of pop, grunge, angst, anger, despair and suicidal darkness that also featured the semi-hit, "Youth Of America."
3) World Party, Egyptology (Enclave). Karl Wallinger artfully pillages and plunders the best of the mid-'60s British Invasion for divine inspiration on World Party's fourth release.
4) Dots Will Echo, Get Your Hands Off My Modem, You Weasel (DWE). While the record is a dazzling pop masterpiece in its conception, scope, execution and overall feel, track No. 99 -- a dark, solemn, thoughtful, torchy, piano and tears version of The Flintstones theme -- was what guaranteed this group a spot on my Top 10 list a mere three weeks into the new year.
5. Sloan, One Chord To Another (Enclave). The four very distinct singer/songwriter/anglophiles that make Sloan one of the few working democracies in existence continue to carve out a distinct pop niche for themselves with this brilliant release.
