Best Albums of 2002

« View best albums of 2001View best albums of 2003 »

Explore the best albums of 2002, based on over 2 million album rankings across 60,000 charts.
Last updated: 3 hours ago.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

2002 year summaryThe best artists of 2002 were Wilco, Interpol, Coldplay, The Flaming Lips, Queens Of The Stone Age, Broken Social Scene, Beck, Sigur Rós, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Boards Of Canada.

View chart at point in time

Share this chart

Collector's summary (top 1,000) Log in or create an account to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

Sort by

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco

"If I had musical talent this is the album I would make." Reply

jhuik | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +18 votes (19 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,702 charts

Rank Score:

16,291

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

85 (1,976 votes)

Comments:

174

Turn On The Bright Lights

Interpol

"In the earliest days of the 21st century, New York City was not only a dominant fulcrum for the arts, it also stood as a mecca for some of the best up-and-coming indie rock artists of the era. Bands such as The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If these wonderful acts were assembl...""In the earliest days of the 21st century, New York City was not only a dominant fulcrum for the arts, it also stood as a mecca for some of the best up-and-coming indie rock artists of the era. Bands such as The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If these wonderful acts were assembled at a legendary NYC party, deep in the corner, pensively camouflaging would be Interpol. Always tastefully suited and donning black, Interpol were surely the most brooding and moody of these groups and their music brilliantly reflected the sentiment of a city that they loved but was holding them prisoner. Their crowning achievement was 2002's Turn on the Bright Lights, an introspective compendium of social alienation and the poetic juxtaposition of perception and reality in the city they called home. Lead singer Paul Banks pulls no punches on third track NYC, claiming, "The subway is a porno, The pavements they are a mess, I know you've supported me for a long time, Somehow I'm not impressed". Lead guitarist Daniel Kessler vigorously drives fifth track Say Hello to the Angels. The breakneck pace is notably apt when uncovering the song's inspiration, unfailing sexual yearning during a rocky relationship. Fan favorite Obstacle 1 is often noted as an anthem for the turn-of-the-century indie revival. It was seemingly influenced by the death of a model that willingly pierced her own throat. The relevance to the narrator is still up for interpretation but lines such as, "But it's different now that I'm poor and aging, I'll never see this face again, And you go stabbing yourself in the neck," imply a distant, one-sided affinity. The darkness only purveys further from there. Playfully titled track Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down describes another flesh-centric liaison gone awry due to the title bearer's personal instability. Sam Fogarino's burst-guided drumming creates the sensation that the song itself is slowly descending deeper and deeper into the Hudson. Banks croons, "Bottom of the ocean she dwells, bottom of the ocean she dwells", as he too drifts into the abyss. The lion's share of the band's attention appeared to revolve around their status as dead ringers for legendary post-punk foursome Joy Division. Interpol, while respecting Joy Division's legacy, dismissed the strategic intention of such comparisons, not content to live in another's shadow or (Shadowplay). While The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem concocted hits that were not out of place at Columbia University parties and the sprawling New York City club scene, Turn on the Bright Lights' target was an entirely different audience. A sector of listeners that felt petrified at the notion of being present at a social soiree or those who desired whole-hearted love in favor of booze-soaked escapades. It's a shame that these days that Interpol are perceived to have lost their labels as critical darlings, lost to a new generation sporting deaf ears on which the band's music falls on. Shamefully, they often get lost in the shuffle when commenting about the impact of early 2000's indie rock, swiftly swept to the side by more thematically positive acts that potentially have less provocative things to say. How appropriate of the band to be caught up in such a woebegone story. Hindsight suggests that Interpol just may have been the finest act to grace that era. They certainly released its most polished, brilliantly arranged artifact. You can find it gracing the shelves of a Greenwich Village antique shop. "I had seven faces Thought I knew which one to wear But I'm sick of spending these lonely nights Training myself not to care" -NYC Standout Tracks: 1. Obstacle 1 2. Leif Erikson 3. Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down 97.8" [+] Reply

DriftingOrpheus | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,310 charts

Rank Score:

12,842

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

84 (1,649 votes)

Comments:

128

A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Coldplay

"I've been meaning to write about this album for a very long time because, for the longest time Coldplay were probably everything that I needed in music during my time back in 2011 and 2012. This album - at the aforementioned times - was probably the best thing I had ever listened to and nobody co...""I've been meaning to write about this album for a very long time because, for the longest time Coldplay were probably everything that I needed in music during my time back in 2011 and 2012. This album - at the aforementioned times - was probably the best thing I had ever listened to and nobody could've change my mind about it. I'll admit I couldn't really get into the themes of some of the songs - the ones dealing with somber love and all that stuff - but, I learned to appreciate them for their simplicity. Yes, they are probably explicitly about breakups but it can reach the people that were effected by their troubles and set them at ease with themselves. They can reminisce, laugh and cry while they are listening/reading to the lyrics. While I haven't experienced a breakup for myself, I would imagine after it I would go listen to this album and proceed with the aforementioned steps. I loved the melodies of the songs. They are just so pleasant, nicely arranged and were just absolutely beautiful. They are so varied in comparison to "Parachutes", including a lot more elements of piano in which it's arpeggios are staggeringly memorable. The guitarist is severely under-rated as he contribute to the songs in a big way. Chris Martin has one of the most earnest vocals I have ever heard and with his range ascending and descending was - and still is - inspiring. Also, the double-track vocals on "Daylight" - also one of my favourite songs on the album - is very subtle that you won't notice it a first time, but you will if you wear headphones or a second listen. I also mentioned how varied it was compared to their debut. This album shows a darker side to Coldplay to balance out their optimistic sounding side. Granted, compared to other albums it's not entirely gloomy, but if you're a Coldplay fan you would notice it. Their later efforts have tried to give some of their songs a more darker feel, but never reached the heights of this. I really haven't heard such a diversely changing tone on a commercially successful release since The Flaming Lip's "The Soft Bulletin", if I can even go that far. Overall, I think people should give this album a chance as you wouldn't be hearing music this complex on the radio anytime soon, unless you were to look really really hard. Although, this album is a blessing and a curse. Fans and critics praise this album for the reasons I gave out, but it gives some immature people - not all the haters - the right to classify those people who praise this album or Coldplay in general as people with 'no sense of music'. Are you fucking serious? If it wasn't for Coldplay, I would've never taken the option to take music up for my course in secondary school or never had the chance to explore my tastes that have been subsequently changing ever since I joined BEA. This album has a special place in my heart and while it may be declining through our top 100, I'm just glad it's in the top 100. " [+] Reply

HazeyTwilight | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +7 votes (7 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,369 charts

Rank Score:

11,659

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

105

Average Rating:

79 (2,226 votes)

Comments:

188

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

The Flaming Lips

"Yoshimi is a young Japanese artist facing the battle of her life: the battle for her life. Adrift from her family and lover, Yoshimi journeys alone into a fantastical robot-world where she wages a war with fate. Will her will to survive be powerful enough to master the evil forces that threaten t..." [+] Reply

- zonrod | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,331 charts

Rank Score:

10,680

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

Queens Of The Stone Age

"I agree with those below.. No One Knows, Mosquito Song and Go with the Flow are great songs" Reply

- 19loveless91 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

1,173 charts

Rank Score:

10,101

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

129

Average Rating:

83 (1,537 votes)

Comments:

You Forgot It In People

Broken Social Scene

"Fantastic album, really hits off once you get to Looks Just Like The Sun. From there BSS gives you a wonderful instrumental piece (Pacific Theme) and then onto the two highlights: the beautiful Anthem For A Seventeen Year Old Girl and the excellent Cause=Time. While nothing else on the album hits..." [+] Reply

- VanillaBean | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

650 charts

Rank Score:

5,300

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

312

Average Rating:

82 (720 votes)

Comments:

Sea Change

Beck

"Other artists could learn from Beck. He lays himself out for this album. Bares all. This is so very sad, and not in the cliched ways attempted by other artists. You feel and understand his pain without taking ownership of it - it's his. Beck is remarkable." Reply

junodog4 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

753 charts

Rank Score:

4,956

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

"The content in this album is breathtakingly expansive, emotional and eclectic - but the concept behind it falls short sometimes. The moment the second 'half' kicks in which is 13 minutes longer than the first it's like saying "Okay, now that happy shit is over, lets got on with the REAL music". M..." [+] Reply

- | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

687 charts

Rank Score:

4,417

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

Red Hot Chili Peppers

"One of their strongest records. After the artistic and commercial success of, californication, the Chilli's are obviously brimming with confidence. By the way, is an excellent record with, universally speaking, dosed, the zephyr song, tear, and the title track the standouts. The only problem with..." [+] Reply

- garycottier | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2002

Appears in:

620 charts

Rank Score:

4,033

Rank in 2002:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

406

Average Rating:

76 (1,096 votes)

Comments:

10.

Geogaddi

Boards Of Canada

"Scariest listen of my life. Ending with Magic Window was the most nerve-racking couple minutes ever, even after multiple listens. This album is the epitome of an underrated masterpiece" Reply