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| From | "Steve Clay" <sbc@pobox.com> |
| Subject | Like I Never Left: My Top 20 Of 2003 |
| Date | Wed, 14 Jan 2004 20:49:33 -0500 |
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[I'm sorry, Audities. I just went to the store for milk in mid- 2002, and
never came back. It was easier that way. You understand. But now that I
think I can handle 60-odd messages a day again, I'm back. Hopefully, you'll
still have me. -s]
An odd year for me musically. We did major house construction over the last
half of the year, and I was even -- gasp! -- separated from my CD collection
during some of that time. You often hear talk about "the CDs that stayed in
the changer the most" as being a prime criterion for 'best-of-year' status
-- well, I went long stretches without swapping any out. Adult life finally
intruding? Or just lucky enough to have a bunch of good CDs in there? I
dunno.
1 Pernice Brothers Yours, Mine And Ours Ashmont
Finally for Joe et. al., the perfect combination of songs,
musicianship and immaculate production. This record was my summer.
2 Death Cab For Cutie Transatlanticism Barsuk
Whenever I hear cries of 'sellout' towards an indie fave, I know
they've become just accessible enough for me to get into. Worked again.
3 The Jayhawks Rainy Day Music American
Would have been higher if it didn't start taking on water halfway
through; the first six songs are easily my favorite stretch of any album
this year.
4 Fountains Of Wayne Welcome Interstate Managers Virgin
Adam, Chris: I'm sorry. I'm judging you unfairly -- if this had been
somebody's debut, it could have easily been
#1. "Hackensack", "Valley Winter Song", and "Hey Julie" are all brilliant. I
just wish the uptempo stuff had the joyous sugar rush that I got from "Leave
The Biker", "Red Dragon Tattoo" or even "I Want An alien For Christmas". But
it didn't. And I still hope you win the Grammy.
5 Guster Keep It Together Warner
In which my fellow Jumbos put it all together.
6 Decembrists Her Majesty Kill Rock Stars
This was one of the aforementioned 'changer' CDs, and so it grew on
me, even though I don't like it quite as much _Castaways..._, and even if I
still try and figure out what the hell Colin Meloy is talking about half the
time.
7 Ballboy A Guide For The Waking Hours Manifesto
THIS is what I hoped Belle & Sebastian would eventually turn into.
Brilliant, bombastic, insidious Scottish pop with superb titles like "You
Can't Spend Your Whole Life Hanging Around With Arseholes". And the cellos
kick in, indeed.
8 The Thrills So Much For The City Virgin
And this is what I hoped the Thorns album would be. Thankfully, I
stumbled upon this instead. Sweet, lightweight
harmonies with catchy tunes that didn't put me to sleep after 10 minutes.
9 Joe Jackson Band Volume 4 Rykodisc
Okay, so it's not fricken _I'm The Man_. It's just a bunch of damn
good songs played with energy and joy by a bunch of talented musicians.
10 The Strokes Room On Fire RCA
Too much distortion on the vocals for me, and I like it a little
better as background music, but damn, some of those songs are catchy.
11 Fleetwood Mac Say You Will Warner
Assuming, of course, that it's MY version -- you know, the one with
almost all of Stevie's songs left out. (I don't think I'm the only one on
this list that was happy to hear about a new Mac album, but saddened when to
realize it meant no Lindsey solo album.)
12 The Long Winters When I Pretend To Fall Barsuk
This is a late entry, but climbing fast. Another week, and it's
probably in the top ten for the year. A little inconsistent in the middle,
but "Shapes", "Cinnamon", "Stupid" and "New Girl" are all fantastic.
13 The Shins Chutes Too Narrow Sub Pop
Always a sleeper album for me -- I rarely think to put it on, but
when I do, I'm always pleasantly surprised.
14 Kathleen Edwards Failer Socan / Factor
I miss Americana already.
15 The Postal Service Give Up Sub Pop
Emo-y (sorry) vocals with electronica music? Why does this work so
well?
16 Bangles Doll Revolution Koch
Welcome back, ladies.
17 Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros Streetcore Hellcat
And farewell, Joe. Thanks for "Coma Girl", one of favorites tunes of
the year.
18 Caitlin Cary I'm Staying Out Yep Roc
Strangely enough, I don't see any Ryan Adams albums on this list. So
who's having the last laugh now? A beautiful, delicate album. "Sleeping In
On Sunday" was one of my midtempo faves this year.
19 The New Pornographers Electric Version Mint / Matador
I didn't spend enough time with this -- not enough for it to stop
confusing me -- but there's definitely some fun in there. I still think
having Neko Case as your backup singer is like asking Neal Peart to play
triangle, but...
20 Warren Zevon The Wind Artemis
There were a bunch of 50-ish white guys that could have gone here
(Cockburn, Crenshaw, RT, Hiatt), but my sentimentality gets the better of me
again.
Wish I had a spot for: Grand Drive, Mull Historical Society ("Live Like The
Automatics" another of my faves of the year), Blue Man Group, The Bad Plus
(my jazz album of the year), Gemma Hayes, the Let's Active tribute,
All-American Rejects, Ed Harcourt, Clem Snide, Lilys, Eaves.
Didn't listen to enough: Broken Social Scene, Grandaddy, Guided By Voices,
Radiohead, Super Furry Animals.
Dropped like a hot potato in shock over Trevor Horn's production, and
haven't the time nor the inclination to pick back up again: Belle &
Sebastian.
No need to listen to much more: Kings Of Leon (file with Damien Rice under
'Don't Get'), Liz Phair, Josh Rouse (when I was five, I was forced to listen
to Seals & Crofts. I don't intend to willingly suffer the same fate again),
Thorns (really wanted to like this, but it's just so bland after the first
few songs), Pete Yorn.
That's it. Glad to be back.
-s
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