2002-01-16 | 7:34 p.m.

corduroy licorice liked to make a long story short. that's why he would always interrupt his long-winded friends.

***

my friend c-girl sent me an e-card that started with this quote:

"art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life."

- pablo picasso

boy, was he a pompous ass or what?

no, i'm just kidding. i liked that quote a lot. i find my soul sanitized for my protection by art on a regular basis. especially by the art of music.

which is just the cleverest segue into my top 10 albums of 2001 list. now, i don't reckon that i'm any kind of music expert or nuthin'. i just like what i like is all. and here are the 10 albums that rocked, popped and rhythmed and blued my world last year. i'm too lazy to look up links for them all, but i think you'll find yourself pleased if you ever get a chance to expose yourself aurally to these fine pieces of art.

the actual tigers
gravelled and green

i FREAKIN' ASS LOVE the pure pop these fellas pump. i got to see them live twice last year and can hardly wait to make it a threepeat. their witty, warm, wavy tunes will have your feet tapping uncontrollably and your aortic valve smiling like a silly fool.

rufus wainwright
poses

this guy is so weekend morning mellow with his lovely melodies and gauze-filled mouth sound. anyone who can work bea arthur into his lyrics is golden in my book.

kings of convenience
quiet is the new loud

their album title says it all. it's as if dream academy went to grad school. float away softly on a lemonade kiss, why dontcha?

pete yorn
musicforthemorningafter

did i tell you that i got to meet pete yorn? did i? huh? well? so that happened. but even if i hadn't actually shaken his hand and spoken to him in his dressing room thank you very much, i still would've pimped his album to anyone who appreciates solid rock with a shot of pop. his melodies and lyrics are infectious, man. check it out.

macy gray
the id

macy kicked the sophmore curse's ass with this bold and beautiful album. i dug her first album to the max, but this one is just as great. her confident soulfulness shines through, as does her booty-shimmying funkiness. talk about girl power.

sparklehorse
it's a wonderful life

shimmering, beautiful and heart-wrenching. holy toledo. just amazing.

zero 7
simple things

i'm not that into what the kids are listening to when it comes to electronica-esque music. i get super bored with the repeated lyrics and hooks. *yawn* but this zero 7 now. this is more like it. i simply lurve the song "destiny" featuring the vocal stylings of the amazing sia furler. simply lurve. now i see what the kids are raving about.

india.arie
acoustic soul

the song "video" was such a refreshing "i am chick, hear me roar" song, and her whole album is heartfelt and bootylicious.

the strokes
is this it

fuzzy, retro and pure damn fun.

ghost world soundtrack

wacky, old school bluesy and fresh. mwah!

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