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1 CHAMBER STRINGS A MONTH OF SUNDAYS (Bobsled) Troubled by the tragic
death of Epic Soundtracks, Chicago used-record-store staffer Kevin Junior
channels his sorrow into a soulful masterwork.
2 DAVID AXELROD (Mo’wax) Visionary producer and hiphop sample source
David Axelrod recycles the unused rhythm tracks from an ancient acetate into
the comeback album of the year.
3 O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (Universal) And to think people laughed
derisively when I said hillbilly music would be all the rage in 2001.
4 ZEKE DEATH ALLEY (Epitaph) Hard, loud and fast. Punk rock never
sounded better.
5 THE WORD (Ropeadope) The North Mississippi All Stars and John
Medeski go to church with 24-year-old sacred steel hotshot Robert Randolph and
create a glorious gospel record that even heathens can love.
6 GINNY HAWKER LETTERS FROM FATHER (Rounder) Ignoring the boundaries
of country, bluegrass and blues, Hawker finally makes the record of heart songs
she’s long promised. Simply beautiful.
7 THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS KEB DARGE PRESENTS THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS (BBE)
Who says no one makes records like the Meters any more?
8 MARTHA WAINWRIGHT FACTORY (Querbes Service) An enchanting four-song
sketch of New York life from the other talented young Wainwright.
9 DE LA SOUL AOI: BIONIX (Def Jam) Proof that adults can make funky,
innovative hiphop for other adults.
10 THE DEARS POP NOIR ORCHESTRAL ROMANTIQUE (Shipbuilding) Deep, dark
and deliciously doomed.