The past year in music has been fantastic. Too many excellent releases went unnoticed. Here is a list of the sountracks to my life in 2003...they moved my mind, body and booty...
I. The Hidden Cameras"The Smell of our Own" - Just as graphic as anything you'd here on Top 40 radio, with a *twist*. This collection of swelling orchestrations is really a testament to the genius of Joel Gibb and his sidekicks. While the rest of the nation was all up on gay marriage...the 'Cameras were singing "Ban Marriage".
The Rest in No Particular Order:
- Nelly Furtado "Folklore" - Rumour had it that Nelly was working with Missy, Timbaland, The Neptunes...but she got back to her senses and went back with Tdot's Track and Field and made a solid album. Where this lacks in the energy and freshness of Whoa Nelly!, it makes up for it with polished songwriting.
- Do Make Say Think "Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn" - A more focussed approach to songs makes this their best album to date.
- The Deadly Snakes "Ode To Joy" - With their modern take on gospel tunes, they had me with the first song off this album.
- Soviet "We are Eyes, We are Buildings" - Ok, so they really sound like the 80's...but man, they're not ashamed of it!
- Super Furry Animals "Phantom Power" -So they ripped off The Tragically Hip with the title...they made 100 times the record. Not as brilliant as Rings Around the World, but the same kinda thing.
- The New Pornographers "Electric Version"- Not to be confused with the Unplugged Version (which sucked!)this album was full of sweet hooks, and nonsensical lyrics that stayed in my head all year long. The bells really ring Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes....
- The Constantines "Shine A Light" - With a mangled Toronto skyline as their album cover, it takes about 2 tracks for them to get going...but once you're there, it gets better and better.
- Joss Stone "The Soul Sessions" - I really wanted this album to suck. However, with a voice that sounds weathered in heartbreak, smokes and bourbon this kid seems like the real deal. She worked some really credible people on this disc, and it shows. The best debut album in years.
- Outkast "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" - Hands down, Hey Ya! was the best song/video of the year... and this album has won everything but the Nobel and Pulitzer (which are forthcoming). The problem is that the more I listen to it, the more I realize just how much better 1998's Aquemini is to this album.
- Sam Roberts Band "We Were Born in a Flame/The Inhuman Condition" - This shaggy looking dude could be the saviour of radio.
- Anagram S/T - They are your new favourite band.
- Stars "Heart" - These folks really made an album that sounds like love.
- Explosions in the Sky "The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place" -Still haunting melodies that will chill and uplift you. Great guys to boot.
- Manitoba "Up in Flames" - Apparently duder is doing his PhD in math at Imperial College. Let's not hold that against him. I wasn't too big on his first album "Start Breaking my Heart"...but this album acts like sunshine.
- Lhasa "The Living Road" - So after her awesome 1997 La Llorona album she apparently joined her sisters in a circus. Took her 6 years to come back, but this is worth it.
- Radiohead "Hail to the Thief" - With a very questionable title, they made the album they should have made after OK COMPUTER. The track Punch up at a Wedding is perhaps their finest moment since Let Down.
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- The Strokes "Room on Fire"- I don't think anyone expected this to be as good as it is. Turned the haters (Craig and Paul) into believers.
- Mogwai "Happy Songs For Happy People " - Ah yes, good ole Mogwai.
The Worst Album of the year....
- The Rapture "Echoes" - Granted 'The House of Jealous Lovers' is a great song, this album just sucks. I just don't get it.
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