The Year In Music: 2003
Yes, I realize I didn't start posting reviews of music until late in 2003. However, the discs I reviewed came from all over the year. And what a year it was. Lots of new acts, oodles of returning artists, and more greatest hits packages than you can imagine. But it was a year that heralded very few surprises. And quite a few stinkers came around this year as well. Let's start there, shall we?
In the wake of the Idol mania that swept the last couple of years, we have now seen the fruits of that over-done kareokee contest. While I enjoyed Kelly Clarkson's single releases this year, and Canada's own Ryan Malcolm, the products of American Idol 2 were awful. The winner, a gigantic Ruben Studdard, and the runner-up, the overly annoying Clay Aiken, make me want to vomit. They are so awful. Talentless to the extreme. Of all the awful acts this year, these two take the cake. And we're gearing up for another round of Idol on both sides of the border. Big whoop.
Other incredibly bad acts this year were far too many to mention. Most of them had to do with over-produced pop, and Avril Lavigne wannabes. There was also some awful reggae in Sean Paul, R&B in Beyonce, and rap in 50 Cent. All these made me shudder everytime I heard them.
A slough of artists made a return this year in blindingly wonderful fashion. Sarah McLachlan, Dido, The Offspring, Vertical Horizon, Default, Melanie Doane, Barenaked Ladies, Eve 6, Finger 11 and Nickelback all made extremely strong efforts this year. Their albums were, for me, among the best of the year. They built upon what they have produced and came up with some stunningly original stuff.
New artists that were actually good include Evanescence, and....and... I actually can't think of any other new acts that moved me like Evanescence. The White Stripes did some good stuff, and Audioslave was okay, but I didn't hear a lot of mind-blowing new stuff this year. It was, to me, anyway, the year of the returning artist.
The other phenomenon I noticed was the unusually large amount of greatest hits packages released this year. Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, Bif Naked, REM, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rob Zombie, The Eagles, No Doubt, STP, Big Sugar, and I'm sure there were others. I was glad to see some, like Zombie, Cochrane and Red Rider, and indifferent about others. Big Sugar's package was the end of their existance as a band, and STP's marks the same thing.
Now, down to the nitty-gritty. The list. Top ten albums of the year. Well, in my opinion anyway.
#1. Evanescence's Fallen
#2. Nickelback's The Long Road
#3. Finger Eleven's self-titled album
#4. Rob Zombie's Greatest Hits
#5. Michelle Branch's Hotel Paper
#6. Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow
#7. The Daredevil Soundtrack
#8. The Barenaked Ladies' Everything for Everyone
#9. Live's Birds of Prey
#10. Tom Cochrane & Red Rider's Trapeze
So, tell me what you think. That's my opinions right there. Like it or leave it.
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