My top 10 of 2003

[Stone]

20-11:

20.Apollo Sunshine - Katonah
19.Decemberists – Her Majesty
18.June Carter Cash – Wildwood Flower
17.Postal Service – Give Up
16.Saturday Looks Good To Me – All Your Summer Songs
15.Blood Brothers – Burn, Piano Island, Burn
14.British Sea Power – The Decline of . . .
13.Constantines – Shine a Light
12.Frog Eyes – The Golden River
11.Shins – Chutes Too Narrow

As I mentioned before, I didn't include albums that were released in 2002 (regardless of where they were released and the distribution). Otherwise Broken Social Scene and Delgados would have both been in my top ten.

The EP of the year for me was (easily) TV on the Radio - Young Liars.

[Stone]

It was quite a year, and deciding on the top 10 was very difficult and it was really hard for me not to include the Shins in the top ten. For better or worse, here it is:

10.
The Hidden Cameras – The Smell of Our Own
This is probably best described as chamber pop, but it has more pop and less chamber than someone like Polyphonic Spree. The songs on this album are full of hooks and suck you right in. Having said that, the lyrical theme of most of the songs tires on me, but the in-your-face approach lyrically is refreshing.

9.
Thee Michelle Gun Elephant – Sabrina Heaven
This album alone made my trip to Japan fruitful. It rocks. It's full of multi-guitar fury, and even though there are a couple songs that are clunkers, the rest of the songs rock enough to pull this one into the top ten for me. If you're not into heavy post-hardcore with strong bass lines and screamed vocals, this isn't for you.

8.
Four Tet – Rounds
I'm not much into instrumental music. I do like the occasional surf rock song or something like that, but other than that I can take it or leave it. So for me to include a (mostly) instrumental album in my top ten for the year is a big deal. How Hebden pulled off such a great instrumental record is beyond me (although I think it has a lot to do with melody), but I know this: it keeps me coming back. Very well done.

7.
Black Eyes – Black Eyes
Combining the funkiness of Gang of Four and the Dischord sound works well for these guys. Definitely one of the most unique and interesting records of the year for me, I'm really looking forward to the sophomore release.

6.
Killing Joke – Killing Joke
After all these years, these guys still have it. Their second self-titled album rocks with a serious industrial attitude and never lets up. Dave Grohl's drumming gives these songs some serious power.

5.
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros – Streetcore
This is not London Calling II. However, it is a damn good album. From straight ahead rock like "Coma Girl" to the straight up cover of "Redemption Song" to the Big Audio-ish "All In a Day," this album is packed with quality tunes, and is by far the best thing I've heard out of Strummer since Sandanista!. Quite a way to go out.

4.
Clearlake – Cedars
The 80s are back in a big way. The music on this album is heavily influenced by early 80s rock/pop and Clearlake wears the influence on their sleeve (although not quite as much as someone like Interpol). This is full of guitar-based pop goodness, and is not a mopy album but instead most of the tunes are beautiful, which really sets it apart from most other recent 80s-heavy albums.

3.
The Broken Family Band – Cold Water Songs
This may just be the best sing-along album since Violent Femmes. This is one fun album, which is quite surprising considering the band is British, and plays country music. They hit the mark though with some seriously melodic tunes and by not taking themselves too seriously.

2.
Sufjan Stevens – Greetings From Michigan the Great Lake State
Not only is this album about the state in which I live, and the first in the series for all of the states, but the songwriting is outstanding. In the same vein as Iron & Wine, but not as lo-fi, Sufjan Stevens reels you into his tunes about his home state.

1.
The Wrens – The Meadowlands
At the end of the day, I probably enjoy well-crafted pop music more than any other genre/subgenre. This album is so well-done and suits my tastes so well that I spun this album probably five times as much as any other 2003 album. From the opening cricket chirping until the drunken closer, this album is a non-stop ride through the lives of the band members, and the intelligent guitar-based layered pop tunes are all memorable.

[Slosh]

...so how 'bout a comp when you get a chance so I can fill in the blanks (of the stuff I missed)?

The Wrens came this >< close to making my top ten list. "Hopeless" may be my favorite song of '03. Had I come across that album before I did my year-end comp that song definitely would have bumped something off of it (probably Cat Power )

[Davey.]

It was quite a year, and deciding on the top 10 was very difficult and it was really hard for me not to include the Shins in the top ten.

Hey, nice job on the list and presentation there Stoney! You're just way too indie for me, though. I only have one CD from your top ten (two if I count my demo copy of Four Tet that I agree is pretty fine). Of course that one is the Wrens and it didn't quite make my top ten. I agree that it is very well done, but just doesn't have the high listenability for me that it does seem to for you (and many others).

My list has varied a lot over the last month or so, but last time I looked it was something like ....

1. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
2. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
3. Songs: Ohia - Electric Magnolia Co
4. Califone - Quicksand/Cradlesnakes
5. Damien Jurado - Where shall you take me?
6. Manitoba - Up In Flames
7. Cat Power - You Are Free
8. Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
9. British Sea Power - The Decline of British Sea Power
10. Head of Femur - Ringodom or Proctor

....but I like yours better

[Dusty Chalk]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I've heard of maybe two of those...nice list, though. Makes me want to hear them.

PS Why didn't you just make it 11? I'm having trouble keeping mine under 20.

[tentoze]

It was quite a year, and deciding on the top 10 was very difficult and it was really hard for me not to include the Shins in the top ten. For better or worse, here it is:
.

Stone wins the prize for "Most Bands On His Top 10 List That I've Never Heard, Or Heard Of, Even." Other than The Wrens and Strummer, I'm like

Thanks Stone, I see some things there to put on the pick-up list..............

[Jim Clark]

Well done. I'm doing a little bit better than Tentoze but of your top 10 there are five titles I've never heard anything from or anything about. If there is some compage in your future I would enjoy being on the guest list.

Just getting into that Wrens disc this last week and agree that it's a good one.

jc

[Swish]

even more cds. There are quite a few in your top 10 that I've never heard of, although I do have The Wrens. I've heard of Four Tet and, of course, Joe Strummer, but the others are a mystery.

[Dusty Chalk]

That time bug is really annoying. Now your #11-20 are before your #1-10. Maybe you should go back and edit them so that they're counting down, like 20-11, and 10, 9, ... 1.

[Stone]

...so how 'bout a comp

I'll try to find time to do one. I have a huge trial coming up in a few weeks, which is taking up most of my time, and spending time with my son and gf take up most of the rest. If I get one done soon, you and JC and the cast of regulars will get one.

1. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
2. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
3. Songs: Ohia - Electric Magnolia Co
4. Califone - Quicksand/Cradlesnakes
5. Damien Jurado - Where shall you take me?
6. Manitoba - Up In Flames
7. Cat Power - You Are Free
8. Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
9. British Sea Power - The Decline of British Sea Power
10. Head of Femur - Ringodom or Proctor

Well, I still haven't heard that Songs: Ohia, Damien Jurardo, Manitoba, Okkervil River, or Head of Femur. When people say there weren't many great records released in 2003, I'd like to ask them if they listened to any of them (or maybe there were a lot of very good albums, but very few great ones?).

That time bug is really annoying. Now your #11-20 are before your #1-10. Maybe you should go back and edit them so that they're counting down, like 20-11, and 10, 9, ... 1.

Will do. What a PITA. It looked okay yesterday, but now it's screwed up.

Stone

[Ex Lion Tamer]

I've been waiting for your list with bated (sp?) breath. Now my life has direction and meaning again.

Thanks again......