I wrote in last year's preamble that 2003 had been "an odd year for me
musically," house construction, separated from my CDs, yadda yadda.

I had no freakin' idea.

Timothy Jack was born on April 26 (to the strains of Orchestra Baobab --
take that, you insanely great poppers!), and life immediately became neatly
cleaved into Before Parenthood and After. The soundtrack in the car went
from the latest raved-about CDs to my silent mantra of "Please fall
asleep... please fall asleep..." Time spent sampling music at the record
store, online, or at the radio station became time spent making funny faces
and noises, walking the beach with a tiny boy snuggled next to me, and
generally giving thanks every waking moment (of which there were --
admittedly --  many, many more) for such a treasure. 

So yeah, the music backlog is a little bigger. But I'm not complaining.

And let me reiterate that this is my favorite time of the year for music,
because I get my shopping lists all in order. I could make a Top Ten list
simply of all the great 2003 music I bought from "Best Of 2003" lists (like
British Sea Power, Long Winters, Ballboy, Postal Service, Rooney), and this
year is no different. I adore the spectrum of musical tastes here, and
almost everything that gets more than one first place vote I wind up loving.
(Except Shalini. I mean, I love Mitch, but that album does NOTHING for me.
NOTHING. And I really tried. Jury's still out on Nellie McKay.)

I love it here, and if I don't post as much as I wished I did, it just means
I'm keeping all my love for _Armchair Theatre_ to myself again, and not that
I'm bored or disinterested.

Okay, enough. Thanks for all the great music. I promise to buy more indie
this year.

/01\ Interpol - Antics
      Maybe not consistent all the way though -- maybe not even as good as
the debut -- but my God, I listened to the first five songs all fall long,
and "Evil" over and over and over again.
/02\ Leo, Ted & the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
      Why wasn't I paying attention to these guys before this album? Sorry.
Perfect, pert, lots of power, and pretty poppy as well. 
/03\ Keane - Hopes & Fears
      This is mostly based on where I think it'll wind up. I took the plunge
after seeing them on so many lists, and it really is wonderful. "Sounds just
like Coldplay" is a negative to me like "hits just like Manny Ramirez" is a
negative.
/04\ Futureheads - The Futureheads
      Gotta second Randall with the _Black Sea_-era-XTC feeling. Ties are
stupid, but I have to give a co-award for my favorite cover of the year,
with "Hounds of Love" getting a share. 
/05\ Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself
      Just got this too, and although it's not quite as brilliant as it
seems on the first four listens, it's still very, very good.
/06\ Old 97's - Drag It Up
      I kept putting this lower on the list, and it kept rising up. Not
their best album, but lots of keepers.
/07\ Mosquitos - Sunshine Barato
      When you have a four month old, and he has days where he'll only stop
crying for one piece of music, it becomes a favorite. He coulda done worse,
too.
/08\ Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
      They really do remind me of the Dickies.
/09\ 78 Saab - Crossed Lines
      A little bland in spots, but "Come On" is a great single.
/10\ Stamey, Chris - Travels in the South
      Although I still like the Alaska version of "14 Shades of Green"
better.
/11\ Blue Nile - High
      Bonus points for including the ultra-rare "I Love This Life" on the
first CD single.
/12\ Divine Comedy - Absent Friends
      "The Happy Goth" just cracks me up.
/13\ Pernice Brothers - Nobody's Listening (live)
      Is this a 2005 release? Joyce, how could you do this to me? I mean,
I'll forget it next January, especially if Joe gets over the whole
procrastination thing. Also, major kudos for the singles "Moonshot Manny"
and (to a lesser, more understated extent) "The Flu".
/14\ U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
/15\ Stamey, Chris & Yo La Tengo - V.O.T.E.
      "Venus" shares the nod for my favorite cover of the year.
/16\ Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
/17\ Stereolab - Margerine Eclipse
/18\ Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
/19\ Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt
      And climbing.
/20\ Rew, Kimberley - Essex Hideaway

didn't listen to enough:
Ambel, Eric | Bigger Lovers | Gingersol | Hoover/Lloyd | Johnston, Freedy |
Polyphonic Spree | Velvet Crush | Walkmen | White, Jim (loved "Static on the
Radio", though) | Yamagata, Rachel

underwhelmed:
Get Up Kids | Jimmy Eat World | NRBQ (although Brian Keane's praise will
prompt a relisten) | R.E.M. | Shalini | Thrills

to get: 
Eugene Edwards | Arcade Fire | Fiery Furnaces | Snow Patrol | Swan Dive

songs of note not otherwise included herein:
"Bam Thwok" - Pixies | "The Goofy Goober Song" - Spongebob soundtrack (oddly
enough, NOT a child-inspired purchase) | "I Predict a Riot" - Kaiser Chiefs
| 

And the Sox won the World Series. I still shake my head at 2004. :-)

-s