2003 has a been a great year for music. Here is a short list of my ten favorite albums.
10. The Thermals - More Parts Per Million
Catchy garage-rock trio featuring Kind Of Like Spitting's Ben Barnett.
7/10
Key Tracks: "Out Of The Old And Thin" and "Overgrown, Overblown!"
09. Black Eyes - Black Eyes
Incredible experimental/hardcore debut album from one of Dischord's most promising bands.
7.4/10
Key Tracks: "A Pack Of Wolves" and "Speaking In Tongues"
08. Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow
Two-peice noise/rock band from Rhode Island that is sure to keep you thinking.
7.5/10
Key Tracks: "Dracula Mountain" and "Longstockings"
07. The Rapture - Echoes
The long awaited third full-length from this dance/punk quarter that is sure to please all of its listeners.
7.5/10
Key Tracks: "House Of Jealous Lovers" and "Killing"
06. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People
A soothing and intricate post-rock album that has gained a lot of critical attention.
7.8/10
Key Tracks: "Shampoo Suicide" and "I'm Still Your Fag"
05. The Blood Brothers - Burn, Piano Island, Burn
The Blood Brothers latest musical assault has established them as one of hardcore's greatest acts.
8.0/10
Key Tracks: "Cecilia and The Silouette Saloon" and "USA Nails"
04. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
Fresh off his Postal Service debut, Ben Gibbard treats fans to a fresh and lyrically admirable, fourth full-length.
8.0/10
Key Tracks: "The New Year" and "A Lack Of Color"
03. Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner
Eighteen year old Dizzee Rascal is a promising UK underground MC whose debut full-length is argueably the best hip-hop album released this year.
8.5/10
Key Tracks: "I Luv You" and "Fix Up, Look Sharp"
02. Cursive - The Ugly Organ
Tim Kasher delightfully meets all post-Domestica expectations with this remorseful concept album and the year's second best release.
8.7/10
Key Tracks: "Art Is Hard" and "The Recluse"
01. Radiohead - Hail To The Thief
Hail To The Thief is a sixty minute journey through the introverted mind of frontman Thom Yorke that combines both the electronica of Kid A and the rock sensibility of Ok Computer.
9.2/10
Key Tracks: "2+2=5" and "We Suck Young Blood"