2001: The Year in Music
Wayne Lewis' Annotated Mix
Wayne's tracks:
1. "Steadier Footing" | Death Cab for Cutie
2. "1983" | The Incredible Moses Leroy
3. "Anything You Want" | Spoon
4. "7:30" | The Pernice Brothers
5. "Desperate for Someone" | Minus 5
6. "Let Me Live My Own Life" | Chamber Strings
7. "Lure & Cast" | Rebecca Gates
8. "Ashes of American Flags" | Wilco
9. "Full Disclosure" | Fugazi
10. "Demons Sing Love Songs" | Unwound
11. "Whatever Happened To My Rock 'n' Roll
(Punk Song)" | BRMC
12. "Song for Nico" | The Warlocks
13. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" | Rufus Wainwright
14. "Jenny & The Ess-Dog" | Stephen Malkmus
15. "Andrea Doria" | Chick Graning
16. "Gold Day" | Sparklehorse
17. "In Metal" | Low
18. "Difference" | Varnaline
19. "Mornings After Me" | Sentridoh
20. "Not Half Right" | Mary Lou Lord
1. "Steadier Footing" | Death Cab for Cutie
The Photo Album | (Barsuk) | 1:47
"Nostalgia" is not a dirty word in Ben Gibbard's vocabulary. This miniature is the soft song that opens my sentimental favorite record of 2001.
2. "1983" | The Incredible Moses Leroy
Electric Pocket Radio | (Ultimatum/Artemis) | 3:56
Ron Fountenberry comes on like Beck with a sweet tooth. This is a choice piece of bubblegum from a record that veers too heavily toward tweeness in places.
3. "Anything You Want" | Spoon
Girls Can Tell | (Merge) | 2:16
Simply put, everything is working here. See the main list.
4. "7:30" | The Pernice Brothers
The World Won't End | (Ashmont) | 3:03
This year Joe Pernice masterminded another wonderful disc of classic style pop with downer lyrical sentiment. If the Zombies-esque harmony break in this song can't bring a smile to your face, check your pulse.
5. "Desperate for Someone" | Minus 5
Let the War Against Music Begin
(Mammoth) | 4:38
More classic style pop from a supergroup of sorts including members of R.E.M., the Posies and Young Fresh Fellows. "Desperate For Someone" is one of many highlights from an overlooked record that was packaged with the Fresh Fellow's jokey Because We Hate You.
6. "Let Me Live My Own Life" | Chamber Strings
Month of Sundays | (Bobsled) | 4:14
One of the hookier, more energetic songs by these ex-punkers who cook up a pleasant if sometimes lightweight rainy-day soul-pop confection.
7. "Lure & Cast" | Rebecca Gates
Ruby SeriesEP | (Badman) | 4:34
This ex-Spinane knows how to bring the lover's rock. See the main list.
8. "Ashes of American Flags" | Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot | (Self-released via www.wilcoworld.net) | 4:42
A spooky mini-epic off Wilco's forthcoming album on Nonesuch, which was released for free in mp3 format via the band's site for a limited time during 2001. See the main list.
9. "Full Disclosure" | Fugazi
The Argument | (Dischord) | 3:53
The sky's blue, water's wet and Fugazi released another strong record. The backing vocals on this song are one of the coolest sounds put on wax this year.
10. "Demons Sing Love Songs" | Unwound
Leaves Turn Inside You | (Kill Rock Stars) | 4:03
Just when Unwound seemed to be stuck in a rut, the group takes some time off to self-produce a finely-textured double album unlike anything they've done. "Demons" is the melody likely to stick in your head after listening to their great, somewhat hard-to-digest set.
11. "Whatever Happened To My Rock 'n' Roll
(Punk Song)" | BRMC
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club | (Virgin) | 4:38
On record, these guys probably won't ever do anything the Jesus and Mary Chain hasn't already done better, but they rock live and this is a really fun song.
12. "Song for Nico" | The Warlocks
Rise and Fall | (Bomp!) | 6:15
See last entry, more or less.
13. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"
Rufus Wainwright
Poses | (Dreamworks) | 4:44
Appropriately addictive piano pop about sweet compulsions, off another 2001 favorite. See the main list.
14. "Jenny & The Ess-Dog" | Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Malkmus | (Matador) | 2:45
Indie rock's king of ironic distance shows some heart on a great song from a not-so-great disc. See the main list.
15. "Andrea Doria" | Chick Graning
MT | (Self-release) | 4:32
One example of the energetic, T. Rex-influenced rock on an off-the-radar release by the former frontman of underrated alt-rockers Scarce.
16. "Gold Day" | Sparklehorse
It's A Wonderful Life | (Capitol) | 4:14
Mark Linkous makes strangely skewed but engulfing pop music. "Gold Day" is among the catchier songs from a subdued and cinematic record. See the main list
17. "In Metal" | Low
Things We Lost in the Fire | (Kranky) | 4:19
The slowest band alive picks up the pace (but just a little) to make a warm and beautiful album, and in this case a sweet, creepy tribute to a baby daughter.
18. "Difference" | Varnaline
Songs in a Northern Key | (E2/Artemis) | 4:12
As a follow-up to the masterful Sweet Life, this year's Varnaline release was somewhat of a disappointment, but its centerpiece is still a moving downbeat-folk ballad.
19. "Mornings After Me" | Sentridoh
Colonel Jeffrey Pumpernickel (compilation)
(Off) | 4:03
Sampler compilation as rock opera, the sprawling Pumpernickel project was wildly inconsistent but often great. The Minus 5, Quasi, Guided by Voices, the Black Heart Procession and Lou Barlow (as Sentridoh) all made worthy contributions.
20. "Not Half Right" | Mary Lou Lord
Live City Sounds | (Self-release) | 2:30
The über-busker with the girlish voice self-released a charming set of live cover songs including this gentle song about the needle and the damage done from Heatmiser's last album. Lord's album will be licensed to Rubric for wider release early this year.
You can e-mail Wayne Lewis at capsighs@pacbell.net.
