Once again, I’m going with Sleater-Kinney for this one, though there was competition from Wilco, The Flaming Lips, The Roots and Elvis Costello (with his last great album, IMO).
The only albums from 2002 that I recall buying are “Hard Candy” by Counting Crows and “Blue Country Heart” by Jorma Kaukonen.
And since neither of them are on this list, I respectfully abstain.
While this is past the point where I’m familiar with albums (with occasional exceptions), I love the song “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” so I’m voting for the album just because.
Cold Play!
Agreed - it’s a really strong throwback to his early work.
This is a pretty tough year for me, I’m going to have cogitate some more. Probably either Costello, Wilco or Sleater-Kinney. On the other hand I tried to get into Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but for some reason I never quite could.
Voted for Turn On The Bright Lights - it’s not the best Joy Division album, but even though it was so long since their last effort, it was worth it 
Original Pirate Material is going to stand up as one of the greatest albums of all time.
There are some real gems here, but I still love love love YHF. Had to go with Wilco.
Other near-winners:
- The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
- Sleater-Kinney: One Beat
- Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf
- Spoon: Kill the Moonlight
So many great, enjoyable albums here. I went with Wilco–that’s one of the defining albums of the 2000s for me. But, damn, is that a competitive field. I don’t even mind the Coldplay album.
Heh. I was listening to this album just yesterday with my 8-month old daughter after not hearing it for about three or four years and, damn, do I enjoy that album.