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| From | Randall J Paske <rpaske@kc.rr.com> |
| Subject | Yet another top 20 |
| Date | Fri, 16 Jan 2004 17:41:16 -0600 |
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Most years I hold actual playoffs to help me figure out where to put
things. This year's list is more intuitive, as I just haven't had the time
to go back and review everything. It's still a pretty thoroughly
considered list, though.
Overall, I'd say I didn't hear as many fantastic albums in 2003 as in prior
years. In 2002, for example, it was plainly obvious that Idlewild's THE
REMOTE PART would be my #1 pick. This year, I hadn't a clue what would be
#1 until I started making lists of contenders. As well, my #2 and #3 picks
from 2002 (Cinerama and Neko Case, respectively) would easily overrule
anything on my 2003 list. But that's not to say there weren't a lot of
really good records.
So this is my list:
2003 TOP 20:
1 BUZZCOCKS. Those who know me know that this is my all-time favorite
band and might assume that this is either an obvious choice or a
sentimental pick. But that's not true. Because the individual songs on
this record are not as sharp as on their classic albums, this album took me
a little while to get into. I think even latter-day albums like TRADE TEST
TRANSMISSION and the unduly ignored MODERN have some greater, more
immediate songs. But when this sank in, it refused to let go for a good
long time. And I always admired its velocity and ferocity--it's the most
biting Buzzcocks album there is.
2 THE PERNICE BROTHERS - Yours, Mine and Ours. Joe Pernice never ceases
to amaze me as a songwriter. "The Weakest Shade of Blue" is my song of the
year.
3 THE HANG UPS - The Hang Ups. I can only assume this wasn't on many
(any?) lists I've seen because of its late release date. I was tempted to
leave it off my list so I can vote for it in 2004. I ordered it from
www.hangupsmusic.com and got it in December. The Hang Ups are one of my
favorite bands, and this is one of those records that you're not quite sure
you like so much at first (I missed the more overt Kinks-isms of their last
album), but before you know it you don't want to play anything else.
4 THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Electric Version. Unlike many, I'm not such a
fan of Dan Bejar's songs (actually, the songs aren't bad--it's his voice
that turns me off, for some reason). But it's still a pretty fabulous
record. And if I was initially dismayed because there wasn't enough Neko,
I came to realize that her voice was used perfectly on all the songs we
got. Maybe we just need a few others for her to sing lead on.
4.5 ULTIMATE FAKEBOOK - Before We Spark. As an EP, it's ineligible for
the Audities poll, but I love it a lot. "Rotting on the Vine" is another
fine addition to the "bitching about record labels" genre. I wish this
weren't their swan song.
5 NADA SURF - Let Go. This really took me by surprise, but Nada Surf has
grown with every record they've made. (And I never really expected
anything after their old MTV novelty hit.) "Inside of Love" falls
somewhere between Coldplay (but better) and Big Star. "Blizzard of '77" is
just beautiful. There are a couple I don't like (that French thing), but
otherwise this is impressively strong.
6 THE BELLES - Omerta. A superb record with local origins. It wouldn't
sound out of place between Aimee Mann and Elliott Smith. They'll be
touring the UK with the Pernice Brothers this spring. See www.thebelles.com.
7 GUIDED BY VOICES - Earthquake Glue. Another year, another fine Guided
By Voices record. It's not the knockout punch of an ISOLATION DRILLS or
BEE THOUSAND, but it's no embarrassment. I think if you stuck the first
half of this album onto the second half of last year's UNIVERSAL TRUTHS AND
CYCLES, you'd have something that would rank a lot higher for me. But I
ain't disappointed.
8 CARLA BOZULICH - Red Headed Stranger. A terrific remake of the Willie
Nelson album. It's really good to hear her voice again.
9 CROOKED FINGERS - Red Devil Dawn. This one snuck up on me, but it sure
sank in. I don't know what else to say.
10 YO LA TENGO - Summer Sun. A bit too long and hard to get a handle on,
but with Yo La Tengo, it's always worthwhile to keep listening.
11 CINERAMA - Live in Belfast. I can include a live album, can't I? This
one has great songs, including a few Wedding Present chestnuts, plus
hilarious banter. And it's well-recorded. And I heart Cinerama.
11.5 JOHN WESLEY HARDING - Garden of Eden EP. Ineligible, but this is
where it belongs. The alternate versions of songs from WHY WE FIGHT are
very good (and that's my favorite Wes record).
12 THE BANGLES - Doll Revolution. I wish it rocked a little more--it's
rather adult-contemporary after the first few songs--but considering
everything, this is still the second-best Bangles album. First, of course,
is the amazing ALL OVER THE PLACE.
13 OUTKAST - The Love Below/Speakerboxx. THE LOVE BELOW is the best Prince
album since Beck's MIDNITE VULTURES. It was particularly so after I burned
myself a copy minus the skits and the tedious version of "My Favorite
Things." Big Boi's half is OK but doesn't do much for me. The whole thing
gets docked for overload, but boosted for ambition.
14 THE JAYHAWKS - Rainy Day Music. The first half is great, but it peters
out a bit. And I thought I might like a stripped-down Jayhawks record even
*more* than this. It's a whole lot better than the last one, but am I the
only person who thinks SOUND OF LIES is tragically underrated? I'd even
call it their best!
15 LUCERO - That Much Further West. A strong alt-country entry by a band
on the rise. I like some of the alternate versions on the bonus disc even
better than the "real" versions, though.
16 AL GREEN - I Can't Stop. Al Green, working again with Willie
Mitchell? On secular tunes? I'm so there. Things flag a bit after the
strong first half (it's truly a modern phenomenon), but it's hard to touch
some of this stuff.
17 RADIOHEAD - Hail to the Thief. They brought back some of the
tunefulness, but I still need to be in the right mood. When I am, it's great.
18 JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS - Streetcore. Because it wasn't quite
finished when Strummer died, some of this comes across as a bit too
loose. But in the wake of his death, songs like "Long Shadow," "Redemption
Song," and "Silver and Gold" take on an emotional weight that cannot be denied.
19 MATTHEW SWEET - Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu. Freewheeling and fun, and it's
good to have the old lineup back.
20 EVAN DANDO - Baby I'm Bored. Initially it seems lethargic, but after I
while I came to think of this as his most consistent record in over a decade.
*****
HONORABLE MENTION: Fountains of Wayne, Paul Westerberg, the Exploding
Hearts, Walter Clevenger and the Dairy Kings, the Persian Rugs, the Pills,
the Cardigans, Ilya, Yo La Tengo (EP), the Groovie Ghoulies, the
Go-Betweens, King Radio (EP), the Minus 5, the Autumn Defense, Longwave.
*****
FAVORITE 8 SONGS OF 2003:
1 The Pernice Brothers - "The Weakest Shade of Blue"
2 Nada Surf - "Inside of Love"
3 Guided By Voices - "The Best of Jill Hives"
4 Yo La Tengo - "Season of the Shark"
5 OutKast - "Hey Ya"
6 The Exploding Hearts - "Modern Kicks"
7 Cinerama - "Don't Touch That Dial"
8 Robert Pollard - "Harrison Adams"
after that, it gets too complicated to rank them
*****
MOST DISAPPOINTING ALBUM BY A FAVORITE BAND:
CHEAP TRICK - Special One.
*****
BOUGHT AND SOLD (i.e. "Sorry, I don't get it"):
Damone
The Like Young
Rooney
The Sounds
*****
FAVORITE MOVIES:
1 Spellbound (technically a 2002 release)
2 American Splendor
3 Rabbit-Proof Fence (technically a 2002 release)
4 Lost in Translation
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