Top 5 - Jason Cahill
1) Bran Van 3000, Glee (Capitol). In a year devoid of anything that smacked of originality and innovation, Bran Van 3000 came out of nowhere and produced what was easily the best, most eclectic and diverse album of the year. Glee manages to adeptly blend together hip-hop, bubble-gum pop, techno and disco, not to mention the occasional bit of country western thrown in for good measure. "Couch Surfer" and "Drinking In L.A." are eerily reminiscent of Beck, with their slacker vocals and heavy production. "Forest" and "Afrodiziak" are true to form hip-hop songs with savvy lyrics and a refreshing lack of stale samples. "Old School" is a fun homage to The Sugar Hill Gang and "Exactly Like Me" is a perfectly crafted pop song. The album even includes an all-girl cover of "Cum On Feel The Noize". Nuff said.
2) Beastie Boys, Hello Nasty (Grand Royal / Capitol). With the release of Hello Nasty, the Beastie Boys have come full circle, reverting back to the old school New York sound which got things started for them back in the mid-eighties. But while the multi-platinum Licensed To Ill is a hip-hop classic despite its occasional bursts of immaturity, Hello Nasty is an instant classic because of its maturity of sound, production and lyrical flavor.
3) Garbage, Version 2.0 (Almo Sounds). With most bands, more of the same isn't necessarily a good thing. Garbage, however, are not most bands. While Version 2.0 is little more than a continuation of their self-titled debut album, it still remains a finely crafted, smartly produced effort and one of the year's best.
4) Pushmonkey, Pushmonkey (Arista). Pushmonkey is the band Matchbox 20 wishes they could be. Edgy, inventive, distinctive and anything but repetitive. This self-titled debut from Austin's Pushmonkey is everything a debut should be, complete with varying styles and intricate song structures, with not a throwaway in the bunch. This surprisingly mature effort is filled with everything from hard-edged rockers ("Lefty", "Ashtray Red"), which take their cues from bands like Rage Against The Machine, to dark, brooding songs with finely crafted melodies ("Cut The Cord", "Handslide"). The lyrics are just a bit confusing and nonsensical, but you can't have everything.
5) Afghan Whigs, 1965 (Columbia). 1965 has the band's trademark sound with an additional New Orleans flavor. At times moody and brooding, at others blistering and raw. Not quite as memorable as Gentleman, but sharp and smartly produced just the same. A good sign that after thirteen years together, Afghan Whigs are still in top form.
