Making and ordering a list makes things nice. This year being so great for music that a "best of 2002" list was so easy it actually became difficult. No single album by an artist knocked me out completely, but many artists made knockout singles. (see what i just did with language??? why hasn't entertainment weekly scooped me up into its loving arms yet?) Here's a list, of my favorite ones from last year, in order of my memory's ability to recall them:

1. "The Boy Looked at Johnny," The Libertines
   
2. "Stay Don't Go," Spoon
   
3. "Ivanka," Imperial Teen
   
4. "Work It," Missy Elliott
   
5. "Dig a Hole," The Rogers Sisters
   
6. "Rock You," The Roots
   
7. "Roland," Interpol (notable mention: "PDA", "Obstacle 1")
   
8. "The Leanover," Life Without Buildings
   
9. "Lose Yourself," Eminem
   
10. "Oh Goddamnit," Hot Hot Heat
    
11. "Oh!," Sleater-Kinney
    
12. "Hate to Say I Told You," The Hives
    
13. "One Sailor Was Waving," Ballboy
    
14. "Hot in Herre," Nelly (notable mention: "Air Force Ones")
    
15. "Die Another Day," Madonna (shut up!)
    
16. "One with the Freaks," The Notwist
    
17. "Lost Cause," Beck
    
18. "Huffer," The Breeders
    
19. "Promising Light," Iron & Wine
    
20. "Hey Ma," Cam'ron
    
21. "You Know You're Right," Nirvana (can't help myself)
    

Phew! Now, after reading everyone else's TOP 10 lists from the year, I wonder if I'm required to buy Solomon Burke's comeback album. It's a funny thing when an album becomes the aesthetic intersection between Mojo Magazine and the "Music We Love" rack at Starbucks Coffee.