The SDMB Music Awards: 2002 Edition.

Yes, that’s right, It’s the 2002 SDMB Music Awards, with performances by: [fill in brief clips of current too-hot acts like The Hives, Avril Lavigne and Justin Timberlake. Plus, to take advantage of the message board medium, where death has no meaning, we’ll also throw in the Ramones, completely reformed. Ok, and the Who, too].

And presenting awards tonite are [fill in brief clips of previously too-hot acts like Fred Durst, Alanis Morrisette and one of the Backstreet Boys. And also, any new celebs the industry wants to promote… hmmm… The Olsen Twins! Plus, to take advantage of the message board medium, where death has no meaning, we’ll also throw in Elvis! And George Washington!]

Now, please welcome your host… Annoying Sitcom Star! (ASS)

The evening is kicked off with a few lame jokes from ASS and shots of various musicians looking most uncomfortable in suit and tie, and Pink, who’s drunk already.

This is where you come in. That’s right, my unnecessarily long intro was simply to ask you:

What were the best albums released this year?

I’m saying “released for the first time in your country this year,” but that’s only so I can slip in Death Cab For Cutie’s “The Photo Album” into my list.

What were the best songs/singles released this year?
And, y’know, any other categories you may wish to add - sexiest, annoyingest, most overtly 15 minutes of fame-est…

I’m going to suggest rereleases and best ofs don’t count, but feel free to add whatever, since I ain’t gonna call you on it?
And my list… I’ve worked out eight of my top ten… I think I’ll cheat and get ideas from other people first.

Scarlet’s walk
by Tori Amos

Alice
by Tom Waits

A Rush of Blood to the Head
by Coldplay

Daybreaker
by Beth Orton

Up
by Peter Gabriel

I didn’t buy that many albums, but the one that got the most play, by far, was ‘Sea Change’ by Beck.

I also really liked ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ by Wilco.

New to me, but not the rest of the world, were two CDs by The Minders: ‘Cul-De-Sacs and Backstreets’ and ‘Hooray For Tuesday’.

Scarlet’s Walk by Tori Amos is great. Kind of a return to some of her earlier work.

But I loooooooove Johnny Cash’s When A Man Comes Around. Go get it now!

Albums of the Year nominees
“The Last Broadcast” DOVES (winner)
“Sea Change” BECK
“The Eminem Show” EMINEM
“Power in Numbers” JURASSIC 5
“By the Way” RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

Single of the Year nominees
“Without Me” EMINEM (winner)
“By the Way” RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
“In My Place” COLDPLAY
“Girl All the Bad Guys Want” BOWLING FOR SOUP
“Hate to Say I Told You So” THE HIVES