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Best of 2001

© Chad Bowar

As we come to the end of the year, it is time to look back at the best of 2001. Here at the Suite 101.com pop music site we listened to nearly 1000 new CDs this year. Out of those, approximately 130 were chosen as the best releases each month. So now we are faced with the difficult task of choosing the top 10 out of those 130 out of the original 1000! After much debate, argument, screaming, and crying, the list was chosen. Here are the best 10 CDs released in 2001, as chosen by the Suite 101.com Pop Music Site:

10. Dave Matthews Band - Everyday

This is DMB's finest CD, but one that may surprise and possibly disappoint hardcore fans. Gone are the 7 minute jam sessions and extended solos. In their place are tight, focused rock and roll songs. Everyday is much more electric than acoustic, although the trademark sax and violins are still there, just in smaller doses. One of the main reasons behind the new sound of the Dave Matthews Band is superproducer Glen Ballard, who polished and tightened up the band's sound. The lyrics on Everyday are better than any of the previous albums, too. The Dave Matthews Band has not "sold out". They've evolved, experimented with a new sound, and released one of the best CDs of the year.

Web Link: http://www.dmband.com

9. Kleenex/Liliput - Complete Recordings

There's no need to pay hundreds of dollars on Ebay for the complete works of Kleenex/Liliput. They've been re-released as a 2 CD collection. For those not familiar with the group, Kleenex is a Swiss post-punk band who were forced to change their name to Liliput because of copyright issues. They released 2 critically acclaimed albums and several singles in the late 70's and early 80's. They are considered one of the most important female bands of the era. The core of the band was always guitarist Marlene Marder and bassist Klaudia Schiff. The band had three different vocalists during their existence, each with a very distinctive sound and style. Complete Recordings is a seminal recording, and a must have for all fans of punk, post-punk and new wave music.

Web Link: http://www.killrockstars.com/bands/lilip...

8. Kirsty MacColl - Tropical Brainstorm

The music world lost one of its best singers and songwriters when Kirsty MacColl was killed last year. She never had huge hits on the charts, but wrote and sang with several well known artists like the Rolling Stones, Robert Plant and Talking Heads. Her final CD is a very interesting and well crafted collection of Latin music inspired by MacColl's travels through Cuba, Brazil and South America. Her songwriting skills are top-notch, and several different Latin styles are represented on Tropical Brainstorm. It's a fine legacy for one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of our time.

David Letterman

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