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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | ArthurBang2@aol.com |
| Subject | My top 10 |
| Date | Fri, 16 Jan 2004 01:20:01 EST |
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Okay, leave it to me to get this in at the last minute, but at least I'm
sending it .. I'm picky when it comes to making these type of lists
so I was only able to pick 10 even though I bought at least twice that
many this year.
Here are my top 10 cd's of 2003, with a few comments here and there:
1. KIM FOX -- RETURN TO PLANET EARTH ... I was surprised to NOT
see this on more of the lists. I figure that either people haven't heard it,
or didn't like it as much as I did. I know for a fact from talking to others
about the CD that Kim seems to have one of those love it or hate it
voices. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground. But this disc
was definitely my favorite of the year. Great songs, and contributions
from people like Linus Of Hollywood, Probyn Gregory, Ben Eshbach
and Stew.. just to name a few. Favorite Track: Something Just As Good
2. THE THORNS -- S/T ... I got the XM satellite radio this year and
discovered a lot of new music that way. The first time I ever heard
anything by The Thorns was on their adult alternative station. I've
never been into what I'd call "country rock" but I love the harmonies on
this disc. I know we had a christian rock discussion here recently, so
I just have to add that a lot of this CD reminds me of Daniel Amos
for some reason or another (if anyone out there knows who they are).
I got to see them in concert this summer and the harmonies were
perfect. Favorite Track: No Blue Sky
3. STEW -- SOMETHING DEEPER THAN THESE CHANGES .. Wow,
what a mellow CD this was. Probably the first Stew-related CD I've ever
bought that really had to grow on me. Stew calls this a 3 a.m. record.
The type of CD you could put on at 3 in the morning while someone is
trying to sleep in the next room. Definitely a solo CD, most of the songs
feature basic guitar, not even that many drums, and while the last Negro
Problem disc featured a huge band, this one just features Stew, Heidi
and Probyn. Favorite Tracks: The Sun I Always Wanted / L.A. Arteest
Cafe
4. SUBURBAN LEGENDS -- RUMP SHAKER .. Okay, so no one's
probably heard of this band. They are an Anaheim based ska band,
made up of 8 guys. I saw them live more than any other band this year
(as they played live at Disneyland and the surrounding area 5 days a
week during both summer and christmas) and while I hardly listened to
the CD at first, the last couple of months I've been listening practically
every couple of days http://www.suburbanlegends.com/ .. Favorite
Track: Bright Spring Morning
5. GRANDADDY -- SUMDAY Favorite Track: I'm On Standby
6. BARENAKED LADIES -- EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE .. I've been
a BNL fan ever since Gordon came out. Even though they weren't big
in the U.S. at the time, I had come across "Be My Yoko Ono" on the
radio and immediately went out and bought the disc. While my favorite
CD of theirs is still their second, Maybe You Should Drive, this one
comes pretty close. Outside of "the monkey song" (as someone else
called it) this is a fairly serious disc. Favorite Tracks : The War On
Drugs / Take It Outside
7. OWSLEY -- THE HARD WAY .. not much to say about this one..
I dont quite like it as much as his first but there are still some great
songs. Favorite Track: Matriarch
8. MELLO CADS - GENTLE EXPLOSION .. This has only come out
in Japan so far, on Philter Records but should be released sometime
stateside next year on Franklin Castle Recordings. As with Owsley,
I don't quite like this as well as their debut record (I notice the lack of
Linus and Kim Fox who both appeared on that one). Less bombastic
than the first CD, and still featuring some Burt Bacharach-esque love
songs. Once again, Probyn appears on this one. I'm sensing a
pattern here. Plus, I'm a sucker for horns .. Favorite Track: Isobel
9. ROONEY - S/T Favorite Track : Sorry, Sorry
10. LIMBECK - HI, EVERYTHING'S GREAT Favorite Track: Julia
Favorite EP Of The Year:
MARIZANE - STAGE ONE
Favorite Greatest Hits CD:
EINSTEIN'S SISTER - MADE EASY FOR EVERYONE
CD's I'm looking forward to in 2004:
THE ROSENBERGS
THE SUGARPLASTIC
LITTLEST MAN BAND (best band I've seen in a long time..
http://www.thelittlestmanband.com)
SPARKLEJETS U.K.
ROBBIE RIST (solo)
EUGENE EDWARDS
.. And that's about it.. I was going to post my favorite songs, but I
recently made three 80 minute CD's full of those, so there's too many to
list. Look for a new radio show featuring the best of 2003 next weekend.
Arthur Bang
http://www.thepickle.net/
"thanks for your time"
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