10 Best Albums of 2003

2003 has almost ended. Everyone is making up their list of "the best of 2003". Music magazines are making their list of the best albums of 2003. Since music is my vice, I though I should put out a list of the best albums of 2003. I bought around 100 CDs this year, so I'm sure I can pick out 10 best albums. The list is based on albums released in 2003 (looking at the production year). I know some albums produced and released in 2002 should actually be listed in 2003, but I'm too lazy to dig that deep.

So here goes, anakzaman's 10 best albums of 2003 in no particular order:

Vehicle and Animals - Athlete
It's simple music. They sound like a cuple of guys having fun at a camping, singing songs about happiness. But that makes it so good, as you can feel their happiness and emotion.

A Mark, A Mission, A Scar, A Brand - Dashboard Confessional
I love it basically for this line "My hopes are high your kiss might kill me, so why don't you kill me, so I die happy". But going further in the album, it's pure emo backed up by rock music. Without any Weezer albums this year, this will do.

Strays - Jane's Addiction
After a long vacation, tons of drugs, solo projects, Lollapaloozas, etc Jane's Addicition regrouped and made this album. Instead of being a charity project, it turns out to show that there was something missing in the world of music. Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro can still rock. Farrell is right announcing "Here we go!" at the beginning of this album.

Heavier Things - John Mayer
John Mayer is the quintessential pin-up boy for college music. Because he looks exactly like one of them. His music is like a life summed up during college. Just beautiful.

1972 - Josh Rouse
An album about 1972, the year Josh Rouse was born. It feels like 1972, the music just flowing along as life was something to be enjoyed. All relaxed, nothing too heavy, but still amazing nonetheless.

Us - Mull Historical Society
Colin McIntyre lives somewhere in remote Scotland. This album shows the remoteness but giving it a natural feel, with the music taking you away. Nice songs and it will grow upon you the more you listen to it.

Speakerboxx/The Love Below - OutKast
This is basically two solo albums packed as one double album (for the price of one album). Andre Benjamin has amazing music talent. The Love Below is his showcase of what he is capable of. Just like Prince at his height of his career, Andre goes away from the normal hiphop and ventures into other places. On the other side, Big Boi's Speakerboxx is no slouch either. Big beats and dance music mixes up with his hiphop and it becomes more of a progrock version of hiphop. Definitely one of the best albums of the year.

Hail To The Thief - Radiohead
After dabbling with electronic music in Kid A and Amnesiac, rumours has it that Radiohead is going back to their roots (guitar-driven rock music) for their next album. When it came out, only a few songs has the distinct sound of being driven by guitars, but it is still a few more than their last two albums. But even if the rumours weren't true, Radiohead still manages to amaze with this album. It just shows that you shouldn't go back, just go further, go all the way.

Stellastar* - Stellastar*
In 2003 the trend was bringing back 80s music. Stellastar* did an excellent job in that, bringing back new wave and punk straight from the 80s with a voice to back it up. Everything you hear on this, you've heard it before (most likely in the 80s) but it still is fun to hear it again, this good.

Room On Fire - The Strokes
The Strokes are back. With more or less the same formula. But better. Nobody could do what they did. That's what makes it so good. Someday the world will be tired of The Strokes. Not this year though.

I have to mention two albums though that were produced in 2002 but I only picked up in 2003.
Lapalco - Brendan Benson
Jack White's favourite boy, Brendan packs so much emotion in here. He plays the classical loser/slacker and it feels like any average Joe's life. Just like me.

American Recordings IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash's last album before he died. He made this all ill and with his wife dying. The first time I heard this album it almost made me cry. It's that deep. We miss you Johnny!

No Elephant on my list. I like it, but not as much as these ones.