Metacritic: Best Albums of 2002

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75 Alberta Cross
70 The Album Leaf
69 Alkaline Trio
66 Animal Collective
84 Animal Collective
50 Athlete
82 Beach House
81 The Besnard Lakes
65 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
64 Dan Black
75 Mary J. Blige
75 Blockhead
79 Blood Red Shoes
70 David Bowie
64 The Brian Jonestown Massacre
72 Broken Bells
65 V.V. Brown
72 The Brunettes
71 Basia Bulat
78 Carolina Chocolate Drops
79 Johnny Cash
79 Chew Lips
82 Chicago Underground Duo
79 The Chieftains Featuring Ry Cooder
76 Citay
66 Clem Snide
77 Clipd Beaks
78 Clogs
66 Cold War Kids
75 Easton Corbin
80 Crazy Heart
70 Jamie Cullum
66 Fyfe Dangerfield
72 Delphic
64 Dinowalrus
78 Drive-By Truckers
59 Editors
71 Eels
70 Efterklang
81 Eluvium
82 Erland And The Carnival
57 Everybody Was In The French Resistance...Now
63 Excepter
78 Field Music
76 First Aid Kit
68 Josephine Foster
82 Four Tet
71 Nils Frahm
74 Freeway & Jake One
75 Frightened Rabbit
82 Fucked Up
64 Peter Gabriel
79 Charlotte Gainsbourg
80 Galactic
67 The Gilded Palace Of Sin
73 Ernest Gonzales
59 Good Shoes
79 Gorillaz
70 Adam Green
79 Patty Griffin
76 Groove Armada
67 H.I.M.
43 Hadouken!
73 Harvey Milk
68 Juliana Hatfield
66 Jimi Hendrix
88 High On Fire
80 Hot Chip
66 The Hot Rats
88 Ray Wylie Hubbard
54 Hurricane Chris
76 Jaga Jazzist
76 Jaheim
70 jj
79 Freedy Johnston
54 Nick Jonas And The Administration
57 Ke$ha
66 Alicia Keys
74 The Knife In Collaboration With Mt. Sims And Planningtorock
63 Lady Antebellum
65 Dawn Landes
82 Lawrence Arabia
74 Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
82 Liars
72 Lightspeed Champion
37 Lil Wayne
82 Lindstrom & Christabelle
68 Little Boots
75 Local Natives
75 Los Campesinos!
67 Lostprophets
65 Ludacris
73 Magnetic Fields
74 Massive Attack
58 Katherine McPhee
66 Daniel Merriweather
76 Pat Metheny
72 Midlake
64 Holly Miranda
79 Allison Moorer
83 Motion City Soundtrack
53 Mudvayne
65 Mumford & Sons
55 Never Shout Never
85 Joanna Newsom
81 Scout Niblett
74 Nneka
75 Oh No Ono
70 OK Go
71 Omarion
77 Owen Pallett
84 Pantha du Prince
77 Past Lives
84 Pavement
78 Phantogram
65 Pit Er Pat
86 Polar Bear
64 Priestess
67 Quasi
77 Corinne Bailey Rae
71 The Red Krayola With Art & Language
81 Fionn Regan
77 Retribution Gospel Choir
57 Martin Rev
64 Rjd2
65 Rogue Wave
82 Jack Rose
76 The Ruby Suns
78 Sade
77 Gil Scott-Heron
77 Shearwater
69 Blake Shelton
84 Shining
68 Shout Out Louds
80 Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band
73 The Soft Pack
80 Spoon
63 Ringo Starr
68 Story Of The Year
71 The Strange Boys
77 Strong Arm Steady
79 Surfer Blood
60 Tape Deck Mountain
82 These New Puritans
71 Robin Thicke
76 Tindersticks
81 Titus Andronicus
72 Toro Y Moi
63 Josh Turner
81 Vampire Weekend
79 Laura Veirs
79 Butch Walker And The Black Widows
63 The Watson Twins
69 We Are Wolves
66 Kanye West
64 Wetdog
51 The Whigs
67 White Hills
79 The White Stripes
72 The Whitefield Brothers
68 Wu-Tang Clan
75 Xiu Xiu
78 Yeasayer
73 You Say Party! We Say Die!
63 Young Money
61 Rob Zombie

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

The following table displays the highest-scoring albums for the year in Metacritic's database with a minimum of 7 reviews. Also listed at the bottom of the page are year-end top ten lists provided by various critics and publications.

You may also view an index of all albums in our database alphabetically by artist.
In addition, you may view the top-rated albums by year: All | 2008 | '07 | '06 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00

The 30 Best-Reviewed Albums of the Year
1	Original Pirate Material by The Streets	2002	90
2	Alice by Tom Waits	2002	90
3	Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stone Age	2002	89
4	Kill The Moonlight by Spoon	2002	88
5	Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco	2002	87
6	Phrenology by The Roots	2002	87
7	The Creek Drank The Cradle by Iron & Wine	2002	87
8	Rings Around The World by Super Furry Animals	2002	86
9	OST by 24 Hour Party People	2002	86
10	Didn't It Rain by Songs: Ohia	2002	85
11	Don't Give Up On Me by Solomon Burke	2002	85
12	Source Tags & Codes by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead	2002	85
13	One Beat by Sleater-Kinney	2002	85
14	The Last Broadcast by Doves	2002	85
15	Geogaddi by Boards Of Canada	2002	84
16	No! by They Might Be Giants	2002	84
17	S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D. by Out Hud	2002	84
18	Veni Vidi Vicious by The Hives	2002	84
19	Blood Money by Tom Waits	2002	84
20	Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips	2002	84
21	The Beginning Stages Of... by The Polyphonic Spree	2002	84
22	We Love Life by Pulp	2002	84
23	Cobblestone Runway by Ron Sexsmith	2002	84
24	In Search Of... [Second Version] by N.E.R.D. [The Neptunes]	2002	83
25	God's Son by Nas	2002	83
26	Skyscraper National Park by Hayden	2002	83
27	() by Sigur Rós	2002	82
28	Blacklisted by Neko Case	2002	82
29	Cookie: The Anthropological Mix Tape by Me'Shell NdegéOcello	2002	82
30	Come Away With Me by Norah Jones	2002	82

Music Critics' Year-End Top Ten Lists

Village Voice 2002 Pazz & Jop Poll (a survey of 695 critics) Read The Full Results
1	Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2	Beck: Sea Change
3	The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
4	The Streets: Original Pirate Material
5	Sleater-Kinney: One Beat
6	Bruce Springsteen: The Rising
7	The Roots: Phrenology
8	Eminem: The Eminem Show
9	Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head
10	Missy Elliott: Under Construction

Blender

1. Eminem: The Eminem Show

2. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

3. Pink: M!ssundaztood

4. VA: The Best Bootlegs In The World Ever

5. Beck: Sea Change

6. Dixie Chicks: Home

7. The Roots: Phrenology

8. Missy Elliott: Under Construction

9. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

10. Tori Amos: Scarlet's Walk

Urb
(Note: Ranking of albums was not specified; listed in alphabetical order)

Atmosphere: God Loves Ugly

EL-P: Fantastic Damage

Felix Da Housecat: Kittenz And Thee Glitz

High Contrast: True Colors

J-Live: All Of The Above

Timo Maas: Loud

N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

Recloose: Cardiology

DJ Shadow: The Private Press

Underworld: A Hundred Days Off

The Onion A.V. Club
(Andy Battaglia)

1. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

2. Recloose: Cardiology

3. Kylie Minogue: Fever

4. Michael Mayer: Immer

5. 2 Many DJ's: As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2

6. Metro Area: Metro Area

7. Fennesz, O'Rourke, Rehberg: The Return Of Fenn O'Berg

8. MRI: All That Glitters

9. Clipse: Lord Willin'

10. Spoon: Kill The Moonlight

The Onion A.V. Club
(Josh Modell)

1. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2. Low: Trust

3. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

4. The Promise Ring: Wood/Water

5. Ugly Casanova: Sharpen Your Teeth

6. Beck: Sea Change

7. McLusky: McLusky Do Dallas

8. Pedro The Lion: Control

9. Radar Brothers: ...And The Surrounding Mountains

10. Hot Hot Heat: Make Up The Breakdown

The Onion A.V. Club
(Noel Murray)

1. Spoon: Kill The Moonlight

2. Josh Rouse: Under Cold Blue Stars

3. Life Without Buildings: Any Other City

4. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

5. The Reigning Sound: Time Bomb High School

6. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

7. Rhett Miller: The Instigator

8. Lambchop: Is A Woman

9. Hot Hot Heat: Make Up The Breakdown

10. Cornelius: Point

The Onion A.V. Club
(Keith Phipps)

1. Beck: Sea Change

2. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

3. Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow

4. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

5. Josh Rouse: Under Cold Blue Stars

6. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

7. Tom Waits: Alice

8. The Roots: Phrenology

9. Solomon Burke: Don't Give Up On Me

10. Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

The Onion A.V. Club
(Nathan Rabin)

1. Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow

2. Count Bass D: Dwight Spitz

3. The Roots: Phrenology

4. People Under The Stairs: O.S.T.

5. J-Live: All Of The Above

6. N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

7. Common: Electric Circus

8. Cody Chesnutt: The Headphone Masterpiece

9. Devin The Dude: Just Tryin' Ta Live

10. Talib Kweli: Quality

The Onion A.V. Club
(Stephen Thompson)

1. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

2. Me'Shell NdegéOcello: Cookie: The Anthropological Mix Tape

3. Josh Rouse: Under Cold Blue Stars

4. Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet

5. Rhett Miller: The Instigator

6. Iron & Wine: The Creek Drank The Cradle

7. Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow

8. Sigur Rós:( )

9. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

10. Ron Sexsmith: Cobblestone Runway

Playlouder

1. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

2. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster: Horse Of The Dog

3. Doves: The Last Broadcast

4. Queens Of The Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf

5. Sonic Youth: Murray Street

6. Eminem: The Eminem Show

7. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

8. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

9. McLusky: McLusky Do Dallas

10. Idlewild: The Remote Part

Stylus

1. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

3. N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

4. 2 Many DJs: As Heard on Radio Soulwax Part II

5. Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights

6. City of Caterpillar: City of Caterpillar

7. Xinlisupreme: Tomorrow Never Comes

8. Various Artists: Improvised Music From Japan Box Set

9. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

10. Super Furry Animals: Rings Around the World

Pop Matters
(Sarah Zupko, PopMatters Editor & Publisher)

1. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

2. Steve Earle: Jerusalem

3. The Libertines: Up The Bracket

4. The Coral: The Coral

5. Ms. Dynamite: A Little Deeper

6. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

7. Doves: The Last Broadcast

8. Common: Electric Circus

9. The Vines: Highly Evolved

10. Idlewild: The Remote Part

Mixer

1. Timo Maas: Loud

2. Underworld: A Hundred Days Off

3. High Contrast: True Colors

4. Royksopp: Melody A.M.

5. Miss Kittin & The Hacker: The First Album

6. Jurassic 5: Power In Numbers

7. Metro Area: Metro Area

8. DJ Shadow: The Private Press

9. Felix da Housecat: Kittenz and Thee Glitz

10. ILS: Soul Trader

E! Online

1. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

2. Norah Jones: Come Away with Me

3. Beck: Sea Change

4. Missy Elliott: Under Construction

5. Solomon Burke: Don't Give Up on Me

6. Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel

7. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

8. David Gray: A New Day At Midnight

9. Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

10. Beth Orton: Daybreaker

E! Online
(David Adelson)

1. Eminem: The Eminem Show

2. Ralph Stanley: Ralph Stanley

3. Norah Jones: Come Away with Me

4. Audioslave: Audioslave

5. Solomon Burke: Don't Give Up on Me

6. Jurassic 5: Power In Numbers

7. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

8. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

9. Foo Fighters: One by One

10. Nirvana: Nirvana

The Wire

1. Sonic Youth: Murray Street

2. Derek Bailey: Ballads

3. Boards of Canada: Geogaddi

4. Asa-Chang & Junray: Jun Ray Song Chang

5. Various Artists: Improvised Music From Japan

6. Jim O'Rourke: Insignificance

7. Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Yanqui UXO

8. Cecil Taylor Feel Trio: 2 Ts For A Lovely T

9. DJ/Rupture: Minesweeper Suite

10. Philip Jeck: Stoke

Uncut

1. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

2. Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

3. EL-P: Fantastic Damage

4. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

5. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

6. Lambchop: Is A Woman

7. My Computer: Vulnerabilia

8. Beck: Sea Change

9. Suicide: American Supreme

10. David Bowie: Heathen

Entertainment Weekly
(David Browne)

1. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

2. Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel

3. Starsailor: Love Is Here

4. N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

5. Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

6. Audioslave: Audioslave

7. Sonic Youth: Murray Street

8. Moby: 18

9. Clipse: Lord Willin'

10. Norah Jones: Come Away With Me

Entertainment Weekly
(Tom Sinclair)

1. Stew: the Naked Dutch Painter... And Other Songs

2. The Soundtrack of Our Lives: Behind The Music

3. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

4. The Mooney Suzuki: Electric Sweat

5. N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

6. Solomon Burke: Don't Give Up on Me

7. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

8. Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

9. The Greenhornes: Dual Mono

10. Robert Randolph and the Family Band: Live at the Wetlands

Spin

1. The White Stripes: White Blood Cells

2. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

3. Beck: Sea Change

4. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

5. Eminem: The Eminem Show

6. Weezer: Maladroit

7. Missy Elliott: Under Construction

8. Queens Of The Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf

9. N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

10. The Hives: Veni Vidi Vicious

Mojo

1. Solomon Burke: Don't Give Up on Me

2. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

3. Queens Of The Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf

4. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

5. Beth Gibbons and Rustin' Man: Out of Season

6. Supergrass: Life On Other Planets

7. Beck: Sea Change

8. Brendan Benson: Lapalco

9. N.E.R.D.: In Searh Of

10. The Coral: The Coral

Inkblot

1. Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow

2. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

3. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

4. Gomez: In Our Gun

5. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

6. Common: Electric Circus

7. Paul Westerberg: Stereo/Mono

8. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: Source Tags And Codes

9. FC/Kahuna: Machine Says Yes

10. Extra Glenns: Martial Arts Weekend

Metacritic.com | Music Editor

1. Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights

2. Spoon: Kill The Moonlight

3. The Delgados: Hate

4. Cornelius: Point

5. Sonic Youth: Murray Street

6. Wire: Read & Burn 01 / Read & Burn 02

7. Ladytron: Light & Magic

8. Out Hud: S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D.

9. Sing-Sing: The Joy of Sing-Sing

10. Clinic: Walking With Thee

CultureDose.com

1. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2. Beck: Sea Change

3. The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

4. Elvis Costello: When I Was Cruel

5. The Roots: Phrenology

6. Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow

7. Frank Black & The Catholics - Black Letter Days

8. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: Source Tags And Codes

9. Coldplay: A Rush Of Blood To The Head

10. Iron & Wine: The Creek Drank The Cradle

New York Magazine

1. Raphael Saadiq: Instant Vintage

2. DJ Shadow: The Private Press

3. Jason Moran: Modernistic

4. Queens Of The Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf

5. The Streets: Original Pirate Material

6. Bright Eyes: Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

7. Akufen: My Way

8(tie). Various:2 Many DJ’s, As Heard on Radio Soulwax series; Various Artists: Disco Nouveau; Ellen Allien: Weiss Mix

9. The Parallax Corporation: Cocodisco

10. Nas: God's Son

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Music

The 30 Best-Reviewed Albums of the Year

Music Critics' Year-End Top Ten Lists