It's that time again. Time for the writers of Cosmik Debris, full time and contributors, to let you know what they think the best music of 2002 was. So ready or not, here it comes!

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DJ JOHNSON
As usual, picking a top five was a ritual of agony, though the number one spot was a lock. That, too, seems to be the case with me year after year. This time around, I felt the honorable mentions were almost as important as the top picks, as each of them were on and off that list several times before it was finalized. So here we go.

5) WESTSIDE DAREDEVILS: All Things Small Produce A Spark (Lynn Point)

Knoxville, Tennessee's Westside Daredevils' debut CD was a knockout. A powerpop album with all the right stuff: ringing chords in clever progressions, perfect harmonies and well-conceived production that doesn't feel like product. Above all, very good songs. It's on an indie label, so it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it, but if you're a fan of good pop music and bands that do just about everything right, you owe it to yourself to give this band a spin.