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.