Regarding the discussions over the parameters of the top 20 qualifications
Craig wrote:
>this is all in the spirit of fun...and well this
>sure doesn't look like fun.

I disagree - it's still totally fun, and it actually means a little more if
everyone's playing with the same deck of cards. If Mike puts down a full
house and Stewart has an Old Maid we might have had fun talking while
playing cards, but it really wasn't a card game.

I think a lot of us follow the traditional critical approach of best-of
lists on this one by having a criteria geared towards the album concept,
while others want it to be a list of "Really Good Things From This Year"
which would include albums, EPs, reissues, comps, etc. To me that kind of
list would mean a little less in terms of a final Top 20. Every year there a
few of those things I want to mention but they don't fit the criteria.
That's why I love when people follow their lists with sub categories or
honorable mentions.

I for one look forward to the voting, looking at the lists as they pour in
while trying to guess who's taking the lead, and seeing that final list. And
the best part of any best of list is agreeing with some of them and having
others that make you go "How could THAT possibly be so high!?!".

Sleep Cheap
Dale

np my own year end mix disc from 2002