The latest NY Rock banter: Today's News: • Music • Movies • Entertainment NY Rock Confidential: • Cyndi Lauper,   Joan Jett, Paybacks,   Dollyrots, • Patti Smith,   Johnette Napolitano   (Concrete Blonde),   Joey Ramone   Birthday Bash   with NY Dolls, etc. • Henry Rollins,   Janeane Garofalo,   Marc Maron, Gojira,   Machine Head,   Debbie Harry,   Miss Guy, Pretty   Boys, Theo and   the Skyscrapers,   Glass Hand Didi's Back: • Miss Lez 2007 • Zombies Attack Dear Dr. Dot: • Sex advice Jeanne's & Otto's (Incredibly Awesome) Blog Soft Porn Central TRUE! Cartoons     Best of 'Street Beat' 2002 by Bill Ribas Far from a Top 10, it's more of a Top 32. I've recently been combing the past year's lists, and one thing I can tell you is the state of music is just fine. Though the hardcore rage seems to be subsiding, the alternative side of music remains strong. There seems to be an effort by bands to get back to melodic music, and that's a good thing. It's also one reason that it was hard to nail down just 10 bands. And so we have a Top 32. It could have easily been 50 (there were a lot of submissions this year, and a lot of quality stuff), but listed below is a crop of bands that did better than average, wrote killer melodies and hooks, or simply popped out of the speakers. Also of note, on the non-indie side, is a mention of Joey Ramone's disc, Don't Worry About Me, which after a year, still manages to get airplay just about every day here. In the current culture where pop slickness is the norm, Joey showed once again that a stripped-down sound, hooks, and three chords go a long way. Here are the top Street Beat picks of 2002.... Francine, Forty on a Fall Day The Hi-Risers, In the Spotlight Grant Langston, Chinese Fire Drill The Maggots, This Condition Is Incurable The Burnouts, Close to Break Evil Luna, Romantica The Maroons, You're Gonna Ruin Everything AntiProduct, This Is How We Buy the Van E.P. The Dragons, Rock 'n' Roll Kamikaze Pure 13, Numb Martha Redbone, Home of the Brave Famous, Famous Sexfresh, The Fainting Room Imaginary Bill, Imaginary Bill Harpoontang, I Gotta Bang Her The B-Sides, Yes, Indeed, the B-Sides, Quite Eileen Rose, Long Shot Novena Cherry Blossom Clinic, The Great Poptastic Splendor Bomb Brand New Sin, Brand New Sin Jucifer, I Name You Destroyer Nancy Magarill, Dancin' with the Ghosts Sinnerstar, Craving Aches and Bitter Lemon Hearts David Jacobs-Strain, Stuck on the Way Back Jack Ingram, Electric Sixer, Beautiful Trash Murderdolls, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls Flipp, Volume The All-American Rejects, The All-American Rejects The Superbees, High Volume Neurotic Swingers, What's Your Definition of Underground? Mambo Sons, Play Some Rock & Roll Stuck, We're Stuck More Street Beat Join Our Mailing List • Send This Page to a Friend • Current Stories Gig Listings • Musicians Classifieds • Music News • Street Beat Back Issues

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