NOSTALGIA RULES THE POP-MUSIC ROOST.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

Popular music in 2002 was about paying homage to the past.

From tributes to the victims of Sept. 11 to revivals of old genres, the sounds that resounded from pop's elder statesmen and Johnny-come-latelies struck a familiar chord, taking few new risks. But it was to be expected in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

Singer-songwriters were just starting to unveil their artistic impressions. For David Bowie, whose album was titled ``Heathen,'' Sept. 11 led him to contemplate life in an increasingly bleak future.

Bruce Springsteen, meanwhile, dealt with the tragedies more directly with ``The Rising.'' And there were others, too, including country superstar Toby Keith's sucker-punch ``Unleashed'' and roots rocker Steve Earle's hopeless ``Jerusalem.''

While Earle's controversial American Taliban-inspired ``John Walker's Blues'' sparked debate, youth culture became increasingly drawn to revivalist movements such as Missy Elliott's longing for hip-hop's early days of two turntables and a microphone.

Elliott's ``Under Construction'' wasn't the only album that waxed nostalgic for the early days of rap dominated by the rock-loving Run DMC, funky De La Soul and jazzy Digable Planets. Also ushering in this throwback to the golden age of rap were Blackalicious with ``Blazing Arrow,'' Jurassic 5's ``Power in Numbers'' and the Roots' latest, ``Phrenology.''

Meanwhile, a rebirth of '60s garage rock and '70s punk had taken hold of the modern rock radio waves, triggered by the prior year's arrival of New York-based quintet the Strokes.

The band had received rave reviews from critics for 2001's Stooges-inspired release ``Is This It?'' During that same year, the Detroit duo the White Stripes put out ``White Blood Cells.''

By 2002, everybody was singing these bands' praises - not to mention the onslaught of wildly raucous followers such as Australia's the Hives. And there's more to come as similar vintage throwbacks continue to surface into 2003 despite a present lull in interest.

Some movements take time. Others never go away, like the strong 2001 release ``Rock Steady'' from the pop-reggae sensation No Doubt.

The revival of '80s synth-dominated new wave continued to be embraced even as music fans withdrew from the prefabrication of late-'90s commercial pop.

To stay relevant, moonlighting 'N Sync member Justin Timberlake returned to his '80s funk roots a la Michael Jackson for ``Justified,'' his solo debut. But few people have bought into this moonwalk down memory lane. In fact, despite the familiar sounds, record sales were low last year.

The top-selling album of 2002? Rapper Eminem's homage to himself.

10 not to miss

1. The Flaming Lips: ``Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots'' (Warner Bros.) Oklahoma's answer to Radiohead fires up the imagination with this melody-driven voyage of sound - jangly guitar, lush strings, squelchy analog synths and curvy bass lines - that only gets better after each consecutive spin.

2. Eels: ``Souljacker'' (DreamWorks) Another superb batch of Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Mark ``E'' Everett's twisted - albeit compelling - tales about those left-behind and not-so-beautiful freaks.

3. Sam Moore: ``Plenty Good Lovin': The Lost Solo Album'' (2-K Sounds) This hurricane of a blast vocalist's long-lost solo departure from the legendary '60s r&b duo Sam & Dave leaves neo-soul revivalists in its dust.

4. Salif Keita ``Moffou'': (Universal) Most striking about this gorgeous homage to old-school African village music is the honeyed, high-pitched vocals of its great Mali-born artist.

5. The Sights: ``Got What We Want'' (Fall of Rome Records) This Detroit threesome understands what made sleazy rock 'n' roll and early-'70s power pop so memorable in the first place.

6. Missy Elliott: ``Under Construction'' (Elektra) Virginia's rap renaissance queen pushes the envelope in this throwback to hip-hop's gentler time.

7. Jurassic 5: ``Power in Numbers'' (Interscope) This lyrically dexterous collective from Los Angeles steers clear of combativeness and instead embraces hip-hop for the pure pleasure of it.

8. Alanis Morissette: ``Under Rug Swept'' (Maverick) The Canadian singer-songwriter revisits her ``You Oughta Know'' heart-breaker in this wordy confessional, except without the rage.

9. Norah Jones: ``Come Away With Me'' (Blue Note) Confidence runs through the 23-year-old lounge sensation's sultry timbre.

10. Julia Fordham: ``Concrete Love'' (Vanguard) This British singer-songwriter conjures up the drama of romantic entanglements four octaves deep and backdropped by soulful, jazz-influenced grooves.

-S.B.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1) BOWIE

(2) SPRINGSTEEN

(3) KEITH

Box:

10 not to miss (see text)