Favourite Albums of 2003

[Rhettmatic]

Here it is, my 2nd annual favourite albums thread! Big thanks to Marq, Soggy, and anyone else who saved their picks for this thread... you guys are the wind beneath my wings.

My brief summary... I thought 2003 was a slower year than 2002, but not without its share of great records. The biggest story for me, when looking back at some of the most exciting releases of the last 12 months, is the abundance of great Can-rock. The New Pornographers, The Unicorns, The Constantines, Stars, Tangiers, and I guess, Broken Social Scene (although that record technically came out in 2002), had indie heads nodding and indie hearts breaking all over North America (and maybe abroad!).

ROCK:
The New Pornographers - "Electric Version"
- I don't care if it wasn't original, daring, or inventive - no band released a collection of rock songs in 2003 better than this one.

The Shins - "Chutes Too Narrow"
- A better record than 2001's, "Oh, Inverted World", and that's saying a lot.

The Unicorns - "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone"
- A fresh and incredibly engaging debut from a Montreal duo that apparently missed its recent Toronto date because the group members trashed a strip club.

The Natural History - "Beat Beat Heartbeat"
- Another winner from Star-Time, The Natural History is catchy, tight garage rock. The real thing.

British Sea Power - "The Decline Of..."
- A record of snarling, depressed post-punk anthems delivered with passion and technical skill to spare.

Superchunk - "Cup Of Sand"
- Superchunk's latest (a 2-disc singles collection), is the best batch of tunes they've released since 1995's singles collection, "Incidental Music".

Menomena - "I Am The Fun Blame Monster"

TV On The Radio - "Young Liars EP"
- Can't wait for the full-length.

Super Furry Animals - "Phantom Power"
- My least favourite album by these Welsh nutjobs is still head-and-shoulders above most of the rock I heard in 2003.

Sufjan Stevens - "Greetings From Michigan"

Tangiers - "Hot New Spirits
- Sounds like the Buzzcocks if Richard Hell sang. And they're distributed by the label I worked for in high school. Nice.

Ted Leo/Pharmacists - "Hearts of Oak"

The Wrens - "Meadowlands"

HIP HOP:
Dizzee Rascal - "Boy In Da Corner"

Louis Logic - "Sin-A-Matic"
- A great, if straightforward, hip hop record for any heads looking for a fun, smooth album to put on. Some of the lyrics are stupid, but I can't remember hearing a hip-hop album that appealed to my senses as much as this one. The beats and Logic's flow are so well-delivered, it wasn't hard to forgive a few cringe-inducing rhymes.

Non-Prophets - "Hope"
- Sage Francis delivers big-time with this record, mostly free of the pretension I've come to expect from emcees associated with Anticon.

Atmosphere - "Seven's Travels"
- I prefer "God Loves Ugly" (an album I totally adored), but this is still a great CD, particularly for people looking for a little bit of lyrical depth in their hip hop.

[Enzian]

Heh. I've been labeling albums with the "Best Of XXXX" for a long time. I haven't done it in a while, as my CD buying has dwindled to a trickle.

I think I'd have to award it to Frank Black's "Devil's Workshop", this year. Awesome album.

[orf]

Top 10 albums of 2003:

10. Puffy - Nice

Comment: The most fun album of the year, and it actually works on a musicially serious level! Full of blissful innocence.

9. Rachel's - Systems/Layers

Comment: A perfect mix of patented Rachel's chamber music and minimal ambience. Much quieter than other Rachel's albums.

8. Tsurubami - Gekkyukekkaichi

Comment: Near perfection in guitar drone. I could fall asleep to it.

7. The Rapture - Echoes

Comment: Makes me want to dance and air guitar! Woohoo!

6. Aereogramme - Sleep & Release

Comment: An example of when mixing tons of genres together actually works.


5. Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Mind

Comment: An example of when mixing chamber music and metal without all the Scandinavian metal bullshit actually works. Fuck Opeth, this is real orchestral metal perfection. 90% quiet instrumental, 10% metal. It's a good ratio. Thank god for John Zorn's label for releasing this.


4. The Microphones - Mount Eerie

Comment: It's no 'Glow Pt. 2', but it's really fucking close.


3. Prefuse 73 - One Word Extinguisher

Comment: Scott Herren can cram more action into a one minute song than other electronic artists can in eight minutes. The song 'The End of Biters-International' is a perfect example.

2. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas, and Lost Ghosts

Comment: ELECTRONIC PERFECTION. Diana dubs it 'raver shit', but I call it genius. They try to be MBV too hard though, but I won't take away points for trying.

1. Shiina Ringo - Karuki Zamen Kuri No Hana

Comment: This album makes you wonder if 'Muzai Moratorium' and 'Shouso Strip' (and 'Utaite Myouri') were only created to fund this masterpiece. The best J-pop album I've heard, bar none. Shiina takes pop experimentalism to a new level by staying somewhat avant-garde with pop but also being extremely listenable (and holding her massive amounts of pop sensibility while she's at it).



Best EP of 2003:
TV on the Radio - Young Liars

Best single of 2003:


Best pop song of 2003: "Hey Ya" by Outkast

Best novelty album of 2003: FannyPack - "So Stylistic"

Best "so bad it's good" Japanese album: Morning Musume - No. 5

Best non-Shiina Japanese single of 2003: 'Go Girl ~Koi No Victory' by Morning Musume

Best humorous single of 2003: TIE! 'P.I.M.P' and 'In Da Club' by 50 Cent

"nigga of tha year" award: 50 Cent

Biggest surprise in American pop: 'Coverage' by Mandy Moore


Songs that defined dance for me in 2003:
Morning Musume - "Renai Revolution 21"
Boredoms - "Sun Gun Run"

[Donkey]

Finally, I've been waiting for this thread for the past couple days! Here is my list of the My Top 10 Favorite Alubms of 2003! I think this was a pretty soild year, most of the ablums on my list would be the #1 or #2 in any other year. So let's see what made it to my final list. Here we go...

Honerable Mentions From 2003:50 Cent Get Rich Or Die Tryin'; Musiq Soulstar; Marlyin Manson The Golden Age Of Grotesic

10)
Dave Matthews Band The Central Park Concert
Another live album from one of my favorite bands! And this one is just as good as the rest of them. They jam for almost 19-minutes on my favorite song Two Step. I can't wait to actually experince this band live, I'm sure it's as great as all of there live CDs! This was defintly hours well spent!

9)
Obie Trice Cheers
50 Cent might have been the Shady Records rapping getting all the hype in 2003 but Obie put out the better album. His albums ranges from songs from life on the streets to groupies to songs to his mother. This album has beats from the likes of Eminem, Dr.Dre and Timerbland, and while Dre and Timberland are defintly two of the best in the game, Eminem provides his best beats to date on Cheers. Eminem also featured on four of the albums 18 songs. Some of my perosonal favorites are Shit Hits The Fan, Cheers and Average Man. Defintly one of the better hip-hop albums of '03

8)
KoRn Take A Look In The Mirror
After years of not putting out any work, KoRn puts out 2 CDs in a year and half. And man, they both rocked! I didn't think Take A Look In The Mirror would be better than Untochables. But, I was defintly wrong. This CD rocks from start to end! I've not heard Jonthan Davis scream like that in a while. He has alot of anger and let's it all out on this CD. The only problem I really had with this CD was it got slowed down by the song with Nas but the rest of the songs were so hard, tight and kick ass that you can forget about how lame that song is. Some of my favorite songs are Did My Time, Y'All Want A Single and One (Live). The Limited Edition with the bouns DVD was even better. The cover art was withoutadobut the coolest of the year and the DVD was also pretty cool.

7)
Dashboard Confessional A Mark A Mission A Brand A Scar
On there first major label record DBC experments with some new things. On the first two songs on the album they drop the acoustic and pick it up on electiral, while it's not as fitting for them as there acoustic the songs were still really good. They went back there roots on the rest of the record and deliverd another great CD. This CD was not as good as there last effort, The Places That You Have Come To Fear The Most but was better than Swiss Army Romance. Alot has changed on this album, and sometimes change can be good! Like, the electrial stuff and Chris isn't as sad on this CD as there earlier work. But, it's still very good. The bouns DVD was good, I liked his solo-concert footage and seeing them In-Studio! Dashboard is defintly the best band EMO band on the planet!

6)
OutKast Spearkerboxxx/The Love Below
This is were the list get's really complicated, because on any giving year number six through number one, could all be number one on my list. But, they were all out the same year, so I have to try to do this the best I can. Coming in at number six is Spearkerboxxx/The Love Below by OutKast. This double-CD was defintly one of the best hip-hop CD in years! I enjoyed The Love Below disc by Andre 3000 better because off how diffrent it was, I don't really recall ever nearing anything like this disc, Where Are My Panties, She Lives In My Lap and Dracula's Wedding were the stand out tracks on disc two. Spearkerboxxx is your more conevtional hip-hop record. But, that is not a bad thing because Big Boi defintly is a step ahead of many of the people in the game. Ghetto Musick, Bow Tie and Flip Flop Rocks (which my second favorite rapper Jay-Z makes a guest apperance!) were my favorite tracks on disc one. This CD was just great from first song to last song. I can't wait for the next OutKast "group" album!

5)
Joe Budden Joe Budden
The number five best album of 2003 is Joe Budden's self-titled debut. This CD was defintly one of the most unde underrated hip-hop albums of the past couple years. Joe Budden delivers the best debut since 1999 when Eminem busted out with The Slim Shady LP. Joe has a diffrent style than alot other rappers. He talks about more than guns, blunts, bitches. While, he does talk about those things he also talks about other stuff. Even the albums three filler tracks are good stuff. My favorite songs are U Ain't Gotta Go Home, Walk With Me, Calm Down and 10 Mins. It's just to sad that Joey didn't get better sales or more hype than he do. Oh, well like he said "By the time I've on my fifth album/You should understand the first one."

4)
Coldplay Live 2003
Number four is Coldplay Live 2003. In a year were I listend to quite a few live albums none was better than Coldplays. Chris Martin and the rest of the band sound dead on all 12 of the tracks. They give us two new tracks that are defintly worthy to the other 10 pervisouly released tracks. A Rush Of Blood To The Head, Politik and One I Love are my favorite tracks on the ablum. The DVD portion of this is also really good. The concert is shot really good and the doucmentray "diary" is really good. This set takes advantage of all formats (CD, CD-ROM, DVD, DVD-Rom) and it's all really good. This may be the best live CD I've ever heard!

3)
Dave Matthews Some Devil
Well, coming in at number three is Dave Matthews solo effort, Some Devil. I didn't know what to expect for this album when I first heard it because I said to myself "Well, Dave Matthews pretty much is Dave Matthews Band." But, boy - was I wrong. This CD is so much diffrent than anything he has perviosly done with Dave Matthews Band! The CD is so much diffrent and darker than his other stuff. Gravedigger is one of the best and most haunting songs of the year, not to mention a pretty sweet video, the album closes with an Acoustic version of Gravedigger and that is just as good as the other version. Some of my other favorite songs on this CD are:So Damn Lucky, Save Me and An' Another Thing. I own the Limited Edition two disc version that contained the Dave Matthes & Tim Reynolds Live At... five-track live CD, and man that CD is really good also! The versions of Grey Street and When The World Ends are defintly the best ones I've ever heard! The paper and stuff that the book and cover are printed on his really neat also. This is defintly a great CD that everyone should check out.

So here we are, there are two spots left on my list for this year. I'm having trouble naming the number one because to be honest, both albums desiver to be number one and I just can't name one over the other. So, there is not any number two, but two number ones. So here we go...

1)
A Perfect Circle Thriteenth Step
And there were two...Lastly I'm going to talk about A Perfect Circle's Thriteenth Step. This is defintly the best rock ablum of 2003! When I first heard The Package my jaw just hit the ground and stayed there. Defintly, the song of the year. Weak And Powerless is one of the 10 best singles of the year, I'm not going to even list my other favorite songs because I love all 12 of the songs. All of the songs are flawless. I had not ever heard anything by APC (well, I had heard Judith on the radio before and I loved it but I didn't know it was them untill I picked up the first album!) The album has some of the best gutair work and vocals I've ever heard on a CD, the lyrics are all top-notch and I know almost all of the words to all of the songs. I have the up-most respect for the bands leader, Maynard James Keenan and have to hear everything he is involed with. APC has become one of my favorite bands.

1)
Jay-Z The Black Album
First of the number ones, I'm going to talk about my second favorite rapper, Jay-Z's swan song - The Black Album. This is said to be Jiggas last album and if it is - he goes out with a bang. There are some of the years best beats on the CD from the likes of:Eminem, The Neptunes, Kayne West and Dr.Dre! J-Hova delivers his second best album of his carrer. My favorite song is Moment of Clarity. As Hova says on his last song, My 1st Song "I treat my first like my last/And my last like my first" and he does do that, he delivers nothing but fire for 13 tracks. It's to sad that next year when I make a list I won't have a Jay-Z to consider for the top ten, like we have for the past eight years. It's to sad that he might not make any more albums, and if he dosen't - he went out on top! Thank you Jay, thank you for giving us hot ablum after hot album.


Other Awards:
Best Single:Seven Nation Army, The White Stripes
Best Video:No One Knows, Queens Of The Stone Age
Best Music DVD:Coldplay Live 2003
Best Soundtrack:Underworld Music From The Motion Picture
Best Mix Tape::Jay-Z The S.Carter Collection Mix Tape
Best Live Peformance:The Roots, October 11th, Spritie Liquid Mix Tour

The Worst Of 2003:
Worst Album:DareDevil The Album
Worst Song (Tie):Perfect & Addicted, Simple Plan
Worst Video:Cant Stop, Wont Stop, Young Gunz
Worst Live Performance:Cradle Of Flith, July 22, Ozzfest 2003


Well, that's it for this year. Untill next year....

[Notoriousaurus]

[Rhettmatic]

Originally Posted by orf

Best pop song of 2003: "Hey Ya" by Outkast

I agree with you here... when I'm out at bars with my friends (unless I get to choose where we go), that song is always the best thing I can possibly hope to hear. Although they all play 50 Cent ad nauseum, so you'd be happy as a clam either way.

[Marq]

I've been looking forward to posting this! Thanks for the thread Rhettmatic.
I'll edit this post later with some comments and any new additions that may come up.

For my tastes 2003 was a great year in music. It offered a lot more than 2002 (or I was a bit more adventurous to seek stuff out this year perhaps). Hip-hop, rock and pop are all represented below it what was a year that really stood out to me.

19 Great Albums from 2003


01. Outkast - "Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below"
- just like last year's "Phrenology" by The Roots, my most anticipated album of the year ended up being what I felt was the best. I really enjoyed the seperate discs and thought they both worked perfectly under their own terms - Big Boi's as a beat-junkie, fun-flowing hip-hop album as great as any solo album; Andre's as a soulful, groovy, sarcastic, lovefest that on its own the best album of the year. Furthermore, Oukast continues to choose singles that never grow tired to a listener no matter how often they get played.
2 Stand-Out Songs: Big Boi's Speakerboxxx - "Ghettomusick"; "Knowing"
Andre 3000's The Love Below - "She Lives in My Lap"; "Hey Ya!"


02. The Shins - "Chutes Too Narrow"
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Kissing the Lipless"; "Saint Simon"


03. The Rapture - "Echoes"
2 Stand-Out Songs: "House of Jealous Lovers"; "Killing"


04. Radiohead - "Hail to the Thief"
2 Stand-Out Songs: "2 + 2 = 5"; "Myxomatisis"


05. The Unicorns - "Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?"
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Jellybones"; "Child Star"


06. TV on the Radio - "Young Liars" (EP)
- what a tease. Similar to The Rapture, and I too am dying for a full-length.
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Staring at the Sun"; "Young Liars"


07. Broken Social Scene - “You Forgot It In People”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "kc accidental"; "stars and sons"


08. Dizzee Rascal - “Boy in Da Corner”
- I can't make out half of what he says, but what I do understand is very powerful, well told, and hard-hitting. Not for the faint of heart or the beat-phobic. A powerful new hip-hop voice.
2 Stand-Out Songs: "I Luv U"; "Fix Up, Look Sharp"


09. Jay-Z - “The Black Album”
While we all know this won't actually be his last album, it was quite a feat. For the first time since his debut album "Reasonable Doubt" (and his Unplugged album perhaps), Jay-Z has put together a complete and great LP. Tight lyrics and nice beats combine for an ideal bookend to his otherwise mediocre career.
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Encore"; "99 Problems"


10. The Strokes - “Room on Fire”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Reptilia"; "Automatic Stop"


11. Little Brother - “The Listening”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Speed"; "Nobody But You"


12. The Stills - “Logic Will Break Your Heart”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Love and Death"; "Animals and Insects"


13. Basement Jaxx - “Kish Kash”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Right Here's the Spot"; "Cish Cash"


14. King Geedorah - “Take Me to Your Leader”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Krazy World"; "Next Levels"


15. Belle & Sebastian - “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Piazza, New York Catcher"; "Asleep on a Sunbeam"


16. Grandaddy - “Sumday”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "I'm On Standby"; "The Final Push to the Sum"


17. The White Stripes - “Elephant”
2 Stand-Out Songs: "The Hardest Button to Button"; "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine"


18. Missy Elliott - "This is Not a Test!"
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Let it Bump"; "Let Me Fix My Weave"


19. The Thrills - “So Much for the City”
- the first half of this album is as fun a group of songs as I've heard all year. Completely breezy California surf pop-rock that I love. But the lack of originality burdens the the second half and keeps the album from greatness. Hopefully they'll mature more and come with another fun album from start to end.
2 Stand-Out Songs: "Big Sur"; "Don't Steal Our Sun"

Three Runners-Up:
20. Gang Starr - “The Ownerz”

21. The Music - “The Music”

22. Rooney - “Rooney”

Best Bootleg of 2003:

9th Wonder/ Nas - "God's Stepson"

Best Soundtrack of 2003:
Lost in Translation - “Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Biggest Dissappointment of 2003:
The Neptunes - “The Neptunes Present... Clones”

Two Best Cover Albums:
01. Christopher O’Riley - “True Love Waits: Christopher O’Riley Plays Radiohead”

02. Mandy Moore - "Coverage"
From what I've sampled, here's a crazy-cute girl with a nice voice and unpredictable song choices. I like.

Best Cover Song:
No Doubt - "It's My Life"

Best Song on the Radio in 2003:
Outkast - "Hey Ya!"

Worst Song of 2003:
Black Eyed Peas - "Where Is the Love?"
A coincidence that it was also the #1 song of the year on the radio? Probably not. A sickening song with its pandering verses and dopey sound. Doubly bad since it's made by the once interesting group Black Eyed Peas, who have now instantly made my hit-list after two previously very listenable albums.

[Notoriousaurus]

Originally Posted by Marq

Worst Song of 2003:
Black Eyed Peas - "Where Is the Love?"
A coincidence that it was also the #1 song of the year on the radio? Probably not. A sickening song with its pandering verses and dopey sound. Doubly bad since it's made by the once interesting group Black Eyed Peas, who have now instantly made my hit-list after two previously very listenable albums.

So an entire band is instantly discredited because of one single that gains popularity that you don't like?

I agree that is isn't the best song. But is sure was better then alot of the shit on the air. The album Elefunk is hit and miss but it did have some stand out singles, besides "Where Is the Love?"

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

I don't really make it a point to listen to a lot of new music, but this year, I think I actually listened to 12 or so albums that were released during the year - it must be a new record for me! Here are some albums I feel like mentioning. I may or may not add comments later.

1. "Karuki Zamen Kuri No Hana" by Shiina Ringo

2. "Dead Cities, Red Seas, and Lost Ghosts" by M83

3. "Echoes" by The Rapture

4. "Do You Party?" by The Soft Pink Truth

5. "Anxiety Always" by Adult.

6. "Body Language" by Kylie Minogue... honestly

7. "Fever to Tell" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I don't much care if the publicity surrounding this band is annoying as all hell, "Fever to Tell" happens to be an incredibly fun dance album :p

8. "Danse Macabre Remixes" by The Faint
"Danse Macabre" is still a wonderful dance album, and I believe this collection of remixes does it justice, especially since the mixes of "Posed to Death" and "Ballad of a Paralyzed Citizen" are actually superior to the album versions.

9. "D-D-Don't Stop The Beat" by Junior Senior

10. "National P" by Polysics

11. "Kish Kash" by Basement Jaxx


Notable compilations of previously released material:
"26 Mixes For Cash" by Aphex Twin and "Live Box" by Björk


Best single of the year:
"Glue Your Eyelids Together" by Adult.


...of course, if I actually listen to any more notable albums, I'll update this list... maybe.

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

Originally Posted by Marq

Worst Song of 2003:
Black Eyed Peas - "Where Is the Love?"
A coincidence that it was also the #1 song of the year on the radio? Probably not. A sickening song with its pandering verses and dopey sound. Doubly bad since it's made by the once interesting group Black Eyed Peas, who have now instantly made my hit-list after two previously very listenable albums.

See, this just shows how out-of-touch I am with modern music. I don't even remember this group doing ANYTHING since about 1998 with the song "Joints & Jams", and they now have the #1 song on the radio? Surreal.

[asphodel5]

I still need to catch up with a few albums + I've never been very good at discussing why I like bands/songs/albums, but here are some of my favorites of the year. Keep in mind that this is in no real order. Also, I'm not even postive that they are all 2003 releases.


Beth Gibbons/Rustin Man
Goldfrapp: Black Cherry
Rufus Wainwright- Want One
Basement Jaxx- Kish Kash
The Decemberists- Castaways and Cutouts (I liked it better than their 2nd album of the year: Her Majesty the Decemberists).
Metric- Old World Underground, Where are you Now?
Marilyn Manson- Golden Age of Grotesque
Damian Rice- O
Avenged Sevenfold- Waking the Fallen
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Fever to Tell
Chimaira- Impossibility of Reason
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- Hearts of Oak
The Shins
White Stripes- Elephant
Radiohead- Hail the the Thief
The Darkness- I don't remember the title
The Distillers- Coral Fang
Air- Talkie Walkie
The Strokes- Room on Fire
New Pornographers- Electric Version
The Stills- Logic Will Break Your Heart

2 fun pop songs: Hey Ya and Move Your Feet

[darthbenbo]

All year long I kept saying what a terrible year it was for music. Looking back now, there really were some truly great albums released in 2003. Putting these albums in order is pretty much meaningless, but I attempted to do so none-the-less. I may add a few more in the coming days.

1. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
2. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
3. The Appleseed Cast - Two Conversations
4. The Rapture - Echoes
5. Radiohead - Hail To the Thief
6. Grandaddy - Sumday
7. Eisley - Marvelous Things
8. Thrice - The Artist in the Ambulance
9. Adams, Ryan - Love is Hell pt. 1
10.Nada Surf - Let Go

Extremely Honorable Mention
The White Stripes - Elephant
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Stellastarr - S/T
Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway
Timberlake, Justin - Justified (I know, I know - but it just kicks ass)

Most Disappointing Album of 2003
Travis - 12 Memories (Absolute shite)

[BigFatPartyAnim]

The CDs I found myself listening to the most this year (other than soundtracks) are:
Hotel Paper from Michelle Branch and
Everything to Everyone from Barenaked Ladies.
Yes, I have the soul of a 12 year old.

[Marq]

Originally Posted by Notoriousaurus

So an entire band is instantly discredited because of one single that gains popularity that you don't like?

I agree that is isn't the best song. But is sure was better then alot of the shit on the air.

I wouldn't discredit the whole band, but I was just severely diasappointed that a decent band that I kinda dug in the past would come with such a plain, horrid song with horrid lyrics and a horrid melody. That it mysteriously became the most popular song of the year obviously made it even more annoying, as I still haven't stopped hearing it on the radio over the last 6 or 7 months it seems (and I know I can just turn the dial, but even that can't keep me from being in the clear it seems).

There's was plenty of stuff I hated this year (Evanescence, Chingy, Simple Plan, Shawn Desmond [what's up with this dude, fellow Canadians?], Limp Bizcuit, etc etc etc), but this particular song just had that certain something that really made me hate it. Not only because it was popular and not only because it's from a typically nice band, but it's just completely lousy and mediocre (to me), and combining those other elements only strengthens my distain for the song I guess.

Hell, I've tapped my toe a bit to the new single "Shut Up", but "Where is the Love?" just happens to cause a very special hate not felt since Spin Doctors' "Two Princes" and the complete works of Celine Dion.

[Diana]

Nick, my pal, how are you?

I enjoyed:

Junior Senior - D-D-Don't Stop the Beat
Cat Power - You Are Free
The Postal Service - Give Up
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
The Wrens - The Meadowlands
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
The Rapture - Echoes
The Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love
David Bowie - Reality
The New Pornographers - Electric Version
Sufjan Stevens - Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People
The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
Jay-Z - The Black Album
Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner
Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by BigFatPartyAnim

Hotel Paper from Michelle Branch
Yes, I have the soul of a 12 year old.

Another fellow 12 year old soul agrees with that album. I was pleasantly surprised by this record, basically because I had her written off as a teeny-bopper. I was even somewhat unimpressed when I saw her as the opening act for Sheryl Crow.

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

Originally Posted by larphillips

I was even somewhat unimpressed when I saw her as the opening act for Sheryl Crow.

Yes, with a statement like that, you're officially in your 30's in both body and mind :p

[Eric]

Eight Best Albums of 2003: Why eight? Because I said so.

Belle & Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Nice record. It seems to continue their trajectory toward sounding like a '70's pop band, but in their case that works.

The Black Keys, Thickfreakness
The two-member band and the blues influence automatically demands a White Stripes comparison, but the main difference is that these guys are as good as their press. Don't get me wrong, I support the White Stripes, but basically just because they're from Detroit (this phenomenon even extends to Eminem and Kid Rock, two other people you're unlikely to see on my end-of-year-best list).

Sloan, Action Pact
Not their best album, but a nice recovery from their last album (Pretty Together). Sounding like a '70's adult contemporary band does NOT work for Sloan.

Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Hearts of Oak
This is the album that I wish Elvis Costello had made in 2003. Instead I got North. It's nice and all, but still...

Stereolab, ABC Music
2 discs of BBC sessions. It's always interesting to hear a different version of stuff I've already got. And of course, it's Stereolab.

Arab Strap, Monday at the Hug & Pint
Kind of depressing, but the cleavage on the cover helps to take the edge off.

Spiritualized, Amazing Grace
Just because it's got a song on it called "Rated X."

The Postal Service, Give Up
I bought this because of the hype, and immediately decided that it didn't live up to all the praise it received. But then I kept listening to it, despite the fact that every time I put it on, my girlfriend had to tell me that it sounded just like Alphaville. After a while, I decided that it did in fact live up to all the praise it had received.


Most Unnecessary Bullshit McCartney Release of 2003:
The Beatles, Let It Be...Naked
I'm as big a Beatles fan as anybody, but will someone please explain to me why this was necessary? It's a bunch of stuff that wouldn't interest casual fans, and that serious fans already have on bootleg. Maybe they just thought that the cover was too beautiful not to release it. Thankfully, I believe no songs are credited to "McCartney-Lennon."


Best Albums That I Bought In 2003 That Weren't Released In 2003:

New Pornographers, Mass Romantic
I kept hearing how Electric Version was almost as good as the debut, so I figured "why should I bother with the new one?" Incidentally, I did the same thing with the Microphones and the Shins, but I liked this one the best.

Iggy Pop, Lust for Life
Why didn't I have this before? I'm sure I can come up with some excuse.


2003 Re-release for Which I Am Most Glad, If Only Because It'll Stop All The Teenagers From Thinking The Strokes Have An Original Sound:

Television, Marquee Moon
Don't get me wrong, I like the Strokes. But Tom Verlaine should get half their royalties.

[Rhettmatic]

Originally Posted by Diana

Nick, my pal, how are you?

Good. E-mail me.

For the record, I agree with Marq regarding that Black Eyed Peas song... It just seems like such an empty song. If I believed there was a heartfelt word anywhere in the lyrics, I wouldn't hate it as much as I do, but sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case...

[kimfair]

Once again, my top ten for 2003 CD list doesn't look much like anyone else's. Oh well! Here it is, in no particular order:

1. The Wind - Warren Zevon Rarely does a fairwell album work, but this one is one of Warren's better records, and I'll never listen to anyone else sing Knockin' on Heaven's Door again.

2. Streetcore - Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Another sort of fairwell CD, Joe was still working on this, his best post-Clash record at the time of his death.

3. Near Truths and Hotel Rooms (Live) - Todd Snider Snider weaves his folky tales with often hilarious banter. One of America's best singer-songwriters.

4. Volume Four - Joe Jackson Band The best thing Joe has done since he was with this original band line up in the early 80's. After years of shedding fans with his increasingly self indulgent jazz/pop, Joe goes back to his original band, and roots, and releases an album that doesn't seem out of step with the first 3 he recorded.

5. Old Kit Bag - Richard Thompson Another solid effort from Thompson, and one of the best live shows I saw last year.

6. Blue Sky - The Bottle Rockets More earnest American roots rock from the boys from Festus Missouri.

7. Beneath This Gruff Exterior - John Hiatt and the Goners America's finest singer-songwriter continues to write excellent music in absolute obscurity. A pity.

8. So Damn Happy (Live) - Loudon Wainwright III Another live album from a clever lyricist singer songwriter type, my favorite!

9. Just An American Boy (Live) - Steve Earle Country music's outlaw strikes again in this 2 disc live accompaniment to the same titled documentary film.

10. The Man on the Burning Tightrope - Firewater After a dissapointing last CD (Psycopharmacology), Firewater comes back with one of their strongest efforts to date. A mix of Klezmer, Tom Waits-inspired stories, and sideshow tunes, make this one a keeper.

Honorable Mentions

1. Songbook Volume 1- Randy Newman Newly recorded classics from another of America's fine singer-songwriters.

2. Illumination- Paul Weller Came out in 2002 in the UK, but 2003 here in the states. Excellent CD, another of the best live shows I saw in 2003.

Biggest Disapointment of the year:

North- Elvis Costello Jesus Elvis, just 'cause you marry a jazz singer doesn't make you one. Pretentious AND boring - a tough combination, and I'm a big fan, who owns it all. Worst record of his career.

[asphodel5]

Originally Posted by Eric

The Black Keys, Thickfreakness
The two-member band and the blues influence automatically demands a White Stripes comparison, but the main difference is that these guys are as good as their press. Don't get me wrong, I support the White Stripes, but basically just because they're from Detroit (this phenomenon even extends to Eminem and Kid Rock, two other people you're unlikely to see on my end-of-year-best list).

Nice call! This album spent a lot of time in my cd player during the Summer and Fall. Not to mention that I need to support my "current home town" bands.

[SilentBob]

I haven't bought a lot of CD's in 2003. So i shall list the ones i liked and have/plan on getting because i liked what i heard elsewhere.




Matchbox 20 - More Then You Think You Are I fell in love with the band after i got their last Mad Season. I wasa bit disappointed at first with the album at first. But i started to fall in love with it too after i got my license. Some great driving tunes for coming home late at nite. BUT i still consider the last album their best



Evanescence - Fallen I love her voice. I'm not a big fan of the harder rock sound but i still liked this album a lot. I just wish she had more acoustic sounding songs like My Immortal (minus the big rock chorus like seen on tv) Awesome set of pipes



Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Soundtrack Anothe rgreat outing for Howard Shore. Great score and very moving. But sadly i don't think this will win Best Score this year as i have another i love and have to get . . .



The Last Samurai Soundtrack Ah the great Hans Zimmer does it again. I loved the sound of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and loved Pearl Harbor soundtrack. This just seems to blend and sound almost like those soundtracks spliced together. Great music for another great movie.



Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow I don't miond her stuff but some reason i really am digging her lates album. Just love Fallen and love blasting it when its in my car.

John Mayer - Heavier Things I didn't mind his last albums stuff but i kind of got tired of it. But i like his new album and haven't gotten tired of it. Go Figure

MIGHT NOT BE A 2003 RELEASE BUT THAT'S WHEN I GOT IT DAMNIT!!!



Donnie Darko Soundtrack Got it for XMas as my mom had to order it form the states as its no longer being made. Love the score as it has such a Danny Elfman feel too it. Plus the great cover of MAD WORLD by Gary Jules is just awesome and can heard over and over again.


STILL INTEND TO GET



Dave Matthews - Some Devil I love his stuff and would love to give this some time for a hearing. But personally i think he sounds and performs better when live. That's is why Live at Folsom Field - Boulder, Colorado would of been my album of the year last year.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by asphodel5

Nice call! This album spent a lot of time in my cd player during the Summer and Fall. Not to mention that I need to support my "current home town" bands.

I like the Black Keys. A record shop near my house was playing them while I was browsing, and I asked the guy at the register what it was, then bought it. Good stuff.

Where are they from, exactly? And how exactly have you got a copy of Talkie Walkie when it's not supposed to come out until the end of this month? And how is it?

[SharpShooter5]

My Top 3 albums of the year were:

The Beatles Let It Be Naked


There is no doubt that this is a much tighter and better sounding version of the beatles Let it be album. The striped or naked versions of the songs sound more natural and at last we are free of the forced sound effects and add ons, that plagued the album into the beatles worst outing

Evanescence - Fallen


This is one great album, i wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of this type of music, but after seeing DareDevil, i had to know who did the songs "bring me to life" and the haunting "my immortal". So i picked up fallen and was surprised that i liked every song on the CD, from "going under" right to "whisper" this is one of the best albums of the last 5 years

Howard Shore - The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King soundrack


If you love musical scores then this one is for you, every track is just great, i heared this before i saw the film, so some tracks were lost on me at first, but after seeing the film several times, i understand the soundtrack alot better

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by Soggy Bagel's Revenge!

Yes, with a statement like that, you're officially in your 30's in both body and mind :p

[Keith]

My favorite 2003 releases:

1. Johnny Marr and the Healers- Boomslang I'm surprised my CD laser hasn't burned through this disc considering how many times I've played it.
2. Blur- Think Tank Much different than their previous stuff, but still interesting.
3. The Dandy Warhols- Welcome To The Monkey House They continue to deliver hooks over interesting songwriting. Love the 80's "new wave" feel of this album.
4. Radiohead- Hail To The Thief I'm glad to be back on board after being hopelessly let down by Kid A and, to a lesser extent, Amnesiac. Saw them live for the 1st time on this tour and they were incredible.
5. The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow Picked up this about a month ago and am crazy about it. Catchy sound spread over a very unique point of view. I hope they don't smother under the "the next big thing" label.
6. The Strokes- Room On Fire Almost didn't pick this up because I got so tired of the Strokes hype a couple of yrs. ago, but I'm glad I did. This is a better album than their 1st, IMO.
7. Fountains Of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers Heard "Stacy's Mom", found it catchy..bought the album..found about 8 other catchy tunes.
8. Jet- Get Born Finally gave in and bought this recently. Nothing groundbreaking but a good, straight forward rock album.
9. Paul Westerberg- Come Feel Me Tremble Always comes from his own place and always sounds good.
10. Pearl Jam- Lost Dogs B-Sides/Rarities collection has a ton of gems.

Favorite non 2003 releases I bought this yr:

Interpol- Turn On The Bright Lights and Spoon- Kill The Moonlight

Favorite single of 2003:

The White Stripes- Seven Nation Army

Most disappointing 2003 release:

Jane's Addiction- Strays I'm a Jane's fan from way back, but I never could get into this album

Most Highly Anticipated 2004 release:

The Glands next album..I hope everything is still on track.

Originally posted by kimfair
4. Volume Four - Joe Jackson Band The best thing Joe has done since he was with this original band line up in the early 80's. After years of shedding fans with his increasingly self indulgent jazz/pop, Joe goes back to his original band, and roots, and releases an album that doesn't seem out of step with the first 3 he recorded

A friend told me virtually the same thing about this album. I think I need to pick this up. I really like Jackson's early stuff.

[cradleburns]

This year was kind of a slow year for me. Most of the stuff I picked up were reissues. Of the new releases I did pick up this year, Pig Lib by Stephen Malkimus and the Jicks is my favorite. I thought it was a great improvement over the first album, and it is one of those records that stays in your head long after listening to it.

I also liked
Two Foot Yard-Carla Kihlstedt
Hail To The Thief-Radiohead
Get Yer Body Next To Mine-The Coachwhips
Today Is The Day EP-Yo La Tengo
Lead Us Not Into Temptation-David Byrne
Television Live At The Old Waldorf San Francisco 6/28/78-Television

[riboflavine]

Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow
This just totally rocks. Made me want to buy all their previous albums also

Manitoba - Up In Flames
The kind of album you can just listen to at any time. Just truly beautiful.

New Pornographers - The Electric Version
The best songs aren't as good as the best songs on their first album, but somehow seems to work better as an album (I always used to skip some tracks on the first, but always listen to this one from beginning to end)

Prefuse 73 - One Word Extinguisher
One of those albums which is hard to describe. I just really like it a lot.

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
Album that somehow comes out of nowhere that for a while was almost the only thing I was listening to.

Autechre - Draft 7.30
While most people stopped listening to autechre after ep 5, I very much liked Confield (from 2001) and now I think I even like this one more. May possibly be Autechre's best album, although if you don't know them, this is definitaly not the album to start with.

Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Contains some of Radiohead's best songs to date (There There, 2+2=5, Sit Down Stand Up, Myxamatosis), unfortunately also has more filler than any of their albums since Pablo Honey


Stuff I like, but still need to listen to some more : M83, Soft Pink Truth, Adult., Unicorns, Wrens, OutKast

stuff I still need to check out:
Basement Jaxx (didn't think that much of their previous stuff, but have heard good things about this album from usually reliable people)
Shins (never heard anything by them)

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

Originally Posted by riboflavine

Basement Jaxx (didn't think that much of their previous stuff, but have heard good things about this album from usually reliable people)

To be honest, their new album is really nowhere near as good as the previous two. "Rooty" is probably my favorite - each song on there seems to have its own unique personality, and there's really no filler at all (save those very short interludes). "Where's Your Head At?" takes a sample from a Gary Numan song, and manages to make something completely different out of it, "Romeo" is just shamelessly poppy and fun, and "Do Your Thing" is a delightfully happy song to go skipping along the street to. There's really nothing in "Kish-Kash" that quite reaches the level of enjoyment those three songs (as well as "Jus 1 Kiss" and "Get Me Off") were able to provide. The album feels noisier and spazzier than their previous work, and while it's somewhat fun to hear at first, it can get awfully grating. Because of that, I often times enjoy listening to only a few tracks from the album at one time - I think I've only listened to "Kish Kash" from start to finish once. Certainly "Kish Kash" has a few very fun songs, such as "Plug It In", "Good Luck", and "Cish Cash", but also a couple that feel downright boring when compared to the Jaxx's other work ("If I Ever Recover", "Lucky Star"). I'd still say it's a good album, just nowhere near as great as their previous record.

[PunkMunkey]

A little late to the party...but here are some of my favorites for 2003:

Brand New - Deja Entendu (Leaps and bounds better than their debut)

The White Stripes - Elephant

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Streetcore (Perhaps his finest solo work and sadly his last... )

Ted Led & the Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak and Tell Balgeary Balgury is dead EP

The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site

Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning (not their best but still worthy of mention)

OutKast - Spearkerboxxx/The Love Below (The absolute best hip-hop, if you can call it strictly hip-hop, release in 2003)

Rooney - Rooney

The Strokes - Room on Fire

Paul Westerberg - Come Feel Me Tremble

The Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever Told (Good "Pop-Punk" is possible)

The Network - Money Money 2020 (Neo New Wave + Pop Punk = Goodness)

[edit]Forgot to mention Rancid - Indestructible (Not as good as Out come the Wolves, but I like it nonetheless)

[JFelix]

Originally Posted by cradleburns

I also liked
Two Foot Yard-Carla Kihlstedt

One of my top picks, love her in Charming Hostess, love her in Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, a great solo album.



Don't take it as some jap-worship-circle-jerk deal, one of the most versitile, experimental pop albums.



What, I can't enjoy a bit o' the hip and the hop?



A year can't pass without some kind of Mike Patton release. Or two. Or three. Or four. IN FACT:



Thank God for album leaks, otherwise we would have had to wait months and months for the new Fantomas album, a stunning 74 minute ambient track that sounds like the soundtrack to a Dario Argento movie.



The Residents - 12 Days of Brumalia

Hooray, for Christmas The Residents released a full album. Released over the internet in MP3 form with poems and pictures, The Residents threw out 14 Christmas-themed songs, one track a day for 13 days, ranging from a cover of 'The 12 Days of Christmas' which breaks out into 'I think I Love You' by the Partrige Family, to bizarre remixings and coverings of their own previous songs.

[MJZ]

The albums I listened to most and were released in 2003 (in the UK) are, in no order:

Jagged Edge - Hard

Dwele - Subject

Musiq - Soulstar

Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Missy Elliot - This Is Not A Test

Timbaland & Magoo - Under Construction Part II

Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner

The Darkness - Permission To Land

R. Kelly - Chocolate Factory with bonus Loveland CD

Beyoncé - Dangerously In Love

Terri Walker - Untitled

Ginuwine - The Senior

The White Stripes - Elephant

Fabolous - Street Dreams

Joe Budden


Disappointing albums of 2003, in no order:

Ashanti - Chapter II - Beyoncé's killed it.

112 - Hot & Wet - There are some nice slow songs on it, but it doesn't live up to their first, then again as much as I like their previous albums do any of them live up to their first? Such a timeless album.


Artists who need to release new albums, in no order:

Maxwell

D'Angelo

Usher

Jaheim

Tweet

Bilal

Carl Thomas

Mos Def

Pharoahe Monch

[tazer floyd]

Originally Posted by riboflavine

Autechre - Draft 7.30

May possibly be Autechre's best album, although if you don't know them, this is definitaly not the album to start with.

This is actually the first album I got by them, and I love it.

Anyway, here's my list, in no real order (except for the top three being my favorite albums of the year)...

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
The Delgados - Hate
The New Pornographers - Electric Version
Venetian Snares - Find Candace & The Chocolate Wheelchair Album
LFO - Stealth
The Appleseed Cast - Two Conversations
Chris Clark - Ceramics Is The Bomb (EP) & Empty The Bones Of You (LP)
Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
Mogwai - Happy Songs For Happy People
The Postal Service - Give Up
The Darkness - Permission To Land
Plaid - Spokes
Autechre - Draft 7.30
Guided By Voices - Hardcore UFOs & Earthquake Glue
Pretty Girls Make Graves - The New Romance
Do Make Say Think - Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn
Silver Mt. Zion - "This Is Our Punk-Rock," Thee Rusted Satellites Gather +Sing

[riboflavine]

Originally Posted by tazer floyd

Plaid - Spokes

How good is this? I used to be a pretty big Plaid fan, but the fact that there was really no musical progression in the last 3 albums hasn't really given me the urge to check this one out since I figured it would just be more of the same.

[riboflavine]

Oh, and if you like autechre, you should really check out their self titled ep 5 and tri repetae++. After that you should listen to confield.

Also, it's fun that I can actually talk to someone who has heard of and actually likes autechre (especially their recent stuff)

[silentmatt]

Best rock albums of the year:


1. Cave In - Antenna(also claims no. 1 overall)
the best band in rock music makes their major label debut a home run

2. The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium
A rare accomplishment: Truly original music

3. Nada Surf - Let Go
The most underrated band there is puts out another stellar record.

4. The Dears - No Cities Left
5. The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
6. The Long Winters - When I Pretend To Fall
7. The New Pornographers - Electric Version
8. Elliott - Song In The Air
9. Kid Kilowatt - Guitar Method
10. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism



Best heavy albums of the year:


1. Every Time I Die - Hot Damn!
It doesn't get any better than this, so run like hell.

2. Between The Buried And Me - The Silent Circus
Fuses death, grind, jazz, acoustic rock and more into one of the most innovative heavy albums in years

3. Shai Hulud - That Within Blodd Ill Tempered
The last album before their unfortunate break up. Good thing it's awesome.

4. Darkest Hour - Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation
5. The Blood Brothers - Burn, Piano Island, Burn
6. Burst - Prey On Life
7. Poison The Well - You Come Before You
8. Burnt By The Sun - The Perfect Is The Enemy Of The Good
9. Daughters - Canada Songs
10. Tomahawk - Mit Gas

[tazer floyd]

Originally Posted by riboflavine

How good is this? I used to be a pretty big Plaid fan, but the fact that there was really no musical progression in the last 3 albums hasn't really given me the urge to check this one out since I figured it would just be more of the same.

Well, I'm sort of a late-comer to electronic music, so I've only heard Double Figure before this one. I loved that album.

This is new one is good, but since I don't have their earlier albums, I've got nothing to compare it to. There's some really great songs on it though, and it's probably one of my favorite 'play really loudly in the car' type of CDs.

Oh, and I listened to ae's Confield a while back, and I did like it, but I liked the Gantz Graf EP a bit better (or whatever it was called).

[orf]

'Confield', I hink, it Autechre's best. Tri Repetae++ and LP5 were both good, but 'Confield' was so much better. 'Draft 7.30' was on my list... until I heard Kayo Dot and kicked it off the list (it was at #10).

[darthbenbo]

Originally Posted by tazer floyd

The Appleseed Cast - Two Conversations

rock n' roll. I can't decide if I like this albums better than Low Level Owl Vol. 1 - it's a toss up. Excellent choice!

[orf]

Originally Posted by darthbenbo

rock n' roll. I can't decide if I like this albums better than Low Level Owl Vol. 1 - it's a toss up. Excellent choice!

I thought it was rather dissapointing, especially after both Low Level Owl volumes. I don't think Appleseed Cast can top the Low Level Owl double album. But, it was definitely better than Mare Vitalis and the blah End of the Ring Wars.