LOCAL MUSIC
By LOU KING
Special to The Journal

About the only New Year's resolution I kept from the beginning of the year was to write only about local artists in 2001. While I was pretty sure there'd be enough talent and material to keep me busy, I never figured on the bounty I've been confronted with all year. This year's top 10 releases are limited to those artists I've written about this year. In no way is this meant to be a definitive list of the area's best music, but it would have been impossible for one guy to listen to everything that came out this year. Nonetheless, I had access to more local music this year than ever before, and it's safe to say that 2001 was a bumper crop:

1. Yuma House, "Future Perfect." This band of local power-poppers may still be a little scruffy, but they've got their hearts in the right place. "Future Perfect" is full of earnest lyrics and instantly infectious hooks, and singer Don Brasek isn't scared of wearing his emotions on his sleeve. "Future Perfect" also features my song of the year, the brilliant "The Band With the Most Smiles Wins."

2. Little Pink, "Cul-de-sac Cowgirl." Mary Battiatta's tender, world-weary voice may belie her suburban roots, but it's got soul that's as old as the hills. On Little Pink's debut, her songs are in expert hands as local roots rocker band The Graverobbers provide tasteful and nuanced support.

3. Dead Meadow, "Howls From the Hills." This young band eschews hard-and-fast rules and instead proves that slow and deliberate can still pack a punch. The band's second release on Joe Lally's Tolotta label is heavy in a good way, and not to be rushed through.

4. Mike Shupp, "The Key." Savvy pop from a guy with great songwriting and singing chops. To record the guitar-heavy "The Key," Shupp made a pilgrimage to Zion, Ill., to record with Jeff Murphy, a member of the legendary Shoes. Something good must have rubbed off.

5. Fugazi, "The Argument." Fugazi can put out just about anything these days and it'll be worth listening to, but "The Argument" is sure to be viewed as a watermark. Ian MacKaye and his bandmates are getting more and more comfortable in their own skins while continuing to experiment and take chances. They still pack a punch, but they're also full of surprises. It's safe to say this band will be keeping the rest of us honest for years to come.

6. Eddie From Ohio, "Quick." Always a crowd-pleaser, Eddie From Ohio proves it can write great songs and conjure up interesting harmonies at the drop of a hat. It's also great to see a band in which Julie Murphy Wells' seriously beautiful voice and Mike Clem's always-sardonic songs can coexist peacefully.

7. Smartbomb, "Yeah. Well, Anyway." These locals in Smartbomb have been slogging away at it for a while now, and it's great to see them hit one out of the park. The band got itself signed to a semi-major label (Razor and Tie) and served up a platter of hard-charging, very radio-friendly tunes on "Yeah. Well, Anyway." They'll be everywhere soon.

8. Mark Helm, "Everything's OK." Former radioblue frontman Mark Helm got lost in Europe for a few years, but never strayed too far from his trusty four-track. Good thing for all of us, as "Everything's OK" shows he's got a lot in his head. With songs that run the gamut from straight-ahead rockers to sometimes-weird but satisfying sound collages, "Everything's OK" just may be the first of many offerings from an obviously fertile mind.

9. Debi Smith, "Red Bird Red." Local siren Debi Smith could sing just about any song and make your jaw drop. On "Red Bird Red," Smith showcases her own promising tunes and gets lots of help from a stable of savvy Nashville session cats, proving she's certainly got the goods to shake off the bonds of her "folkie" label.

10. Cry Baby Cry, "Jesus Loves Stacey." Punk used to mean anything goes, but that message has been largely forgotten. Washington-based Cry Baby Cry is up for the challenge, and garage rock, quasi-baroque noodlings and just plain out-there sounds and lyrics all have their place on "Jesus Loves Stacey." Oh yeah, the musicians are obviously having fun, too. Remember fun?