Brett
- Radiohead- Hail to the Thief (capitol)
- Shins- Chutes too Narrow (subpop)
- Mojave 3- Spoon & Rafter (beggars)
- Fruit Bats- Mouthfuls (subpop)
- Lullatone- Computer Recital (audio dregs)
- Baxter Dury- Len Parrot?s Memorial Lift (roughtrade)
- Cat Power- You are Free (matador)
- Clientele- The Violet Hour (merge)
- King Geedorah- Take me to your leader (big dada)
- Papa M- One, Two, Three, Four eps (dragcity)
- Cass Mccombs- A/ Not the Way (monitor)
- Zephyrs- Year to a day (setanta)
- Supersilent- 6 (rune grammofon)
- New Pornographers- Electric Version (matador)
- Party of Helicopters- Please Believe it (velocette)
- Dipsomaniacs- Life you?re faking (face down)
- Belle & Sebastian- Dear Catastrophe Waitress (roughtrade)
- Bonnie Prince Billy- Master & Everyone (drag city)
- Eluvium- Lambent Material (temporary residence)
- Sleepy Jackson- Lovers (astralwerks)
- Four-tet- Rounds (domino)
- Schneider TM- 6 Peace E.P.(mute)
- Sloan- Action Pact (bmg)
- Carla Werner- Departure (warner)
- Ulrich Schnauss- Strangley Isolated Place (towerblock)
- Parsley Sound- Parasley Sounds (mowax)
- The 88- Kind of Light (mootron)
- Sufjan Stevens- Greetings from Michigan The Great Lakes State (sounds familyre)
- M83- Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (gooom)
- Tyde- Twice (rough trade)
- Toshack Highway- Magnetic Morning (Sonic Unyon)
- Paula Frazer- Place where I know (Birdman)
- Lucksmiths- Midweek Midmorning/ Little Distraction (matinee)
- Various Artists- Acuarela Songs v.2 (acuarela)
- Timbaland & Magoo- Under Construction Part II (Universal)
- Jorma Whittaker- Jorma Whittaker (Secretly Canadian)
- Felt Reissues on CD and DVD (cherry red)
- David Shire- Conversation Soundtrack (intrada)
- Winged Migration DVD (columbia)
- The Muppet Show reissues on DVD (columbia)
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast on DVD (warner)
Kip
Neil Young- On the Beach (reissue)
Tv on the Radio- Young Liars ep
Prefuse 73- One Word Extinguisher
Books- Lemon of Pink
Johnny Cash- Unearthed Boxset
Radiohead- Hail to the Thief
Led Zeppelin- How the West was won
Speaking Canaries- Get out Alive- the Last type story
Dirty Three- She has no Strings attached
Outkast- Speakerboxxx
Mark L.
Andrew Hill Passing Ships
Angels of Light Everything Is Good Here Please Come Home
Cass Mccombs A
Comets on Fire S/T
Dirty Three She Has No Strings Attached
Double Leopards Halve Maen
Jade Fly on Strangewings
Led Zeppelin How the West was won
Linda Perhacs Parrallelograms
Loudon Wainwright So damn Happy
Michael Yonkers Microminature Love
Modey Lemon Thunder & Lightning
Outkast SpeakerBoxx
Pentagram First Daze Here
Plastic CrimeWave Sound Flashing Open
Postal Service
Shins Chutes Too Narrow
Sleep Dopesmoker
Stark Reality
Gwen
SMOG – SUPPER
LOOSE FUR – S/T
STROKES – ROOM ON FIRE
GOLDFRAPP – BLACK CHERRY
TV ON THE RADIO – YOUNG LIARS
CASS MCCOMBS – A
MISSY ELLIOTT – THIS IS NOT A TEST
POSTAL SERVICE – GIVE UP
CAT POWER – YOU ARE FREE
LED ZEPPELIN – HOW THE WEST WAS WON
OUTKAST – SPEAKERBOXXX
GRAND ULENA – GATEWAY TO DIGNITY
RADIOHEAD – HAIL TO THE THIEF
BETH GIBBONS – OUT OF SEASON
Matt
in alphabetical order
nick cave “nocturama”
dirty three “she has no strings apollo”
missy elliott “pass the dutch”
jonny greenwood “bodysong”
karl hendricks trio “the jerks win again”
king geedorah “take me to your leader”
led zeppelin “how the west was won” cd & DVD
lungfish “love is love”
madvillain “money folder” 12″
mastodon “remission”
m83 “red seas & lost ghosts”
90 day men “too late or too dead”
outkast “speakerboxxx/love below”
party of helicopters “please believe it”
pentagram “vintage daze” reissuecanaries
radiohead “hail to the thief”
shins “chutes too narrow”
sleep “dopesmoker”
speaking canaries “get out alive: the last type story”
television “live at the old waldorf”
paul westerberg “come feel me tremble”
yeah yeah yeah’s “maps” 7″
michael yonkers band “microminiature love” reissue
various artists “miami soul”
Ryan
the Best of 2003 in Music
- Songs: Ohia – Magnolia Electric Co.
- Cass McCombs – A
- Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Master and Everyone
- Cat Power – You Are Free
- the Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
- OutKast – Speakerboxx / the Love Below
- Fruit Bats – Mouthfuls
- GOODBYE, BABYLON (six disc boxset of early gospel music)
- M. Ward – the Transfiguration of Vincent
- Damien Jurado – Where Shall You Take Me?
- Johnny Cash – Unearthed (boxset of american recordings)
- Sun Kil Moon – Ghosts of the Great Highway
- Gillian Welch – Soul Journey
- Iron & Wine – the Sea and the Rhythm e.p.
- Smog ? Supper
Taylor
TOP TEN LP’S:
- Cass McCombs “A”
- Party of Helicopters “Please Believe It”
- Outkast “Speakerboxx/ The Love Below”
- Brian Jonestown Massacre “And This Is Our Music”
- Telescopes “As Approved By the Committee”
- Lungfish “Love Is Love”
- Pleasure Forever “Alter”
- Plastic Crimewave “Flashing Open”
- M83 “Red Seas & Lost Ghosts”
- Bruce Springsteen “Essential Bruce Springsteen”
TOP SEVEN EP’S/7″S/Singles: - These Arms Are Snakes “This Is Meant to Hurt You” EP
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps” 7″
- Electrelane “On Parade” EP
- Ponys “S/T” 7″
- !!! “Me & Giuliani Down By the School Yard”
- Rapture “House of Jealous Lovers” single
- Souls She Said “Rub the Sleep Out” EP
Tina
Tops for 2003 (in random order):
- Dead Meadow — Shivering King & Others
- TV On the Radio — Young Liars
- Comets on Fire — S/T
- Devendra Banhart — Oh Me Oh My
- Broadcast — Pendulum
- Tyrades — S/T
- Pelican — Australasia
- Lungfish — Love is Love
- Missy Elliott — This is not a test
- Entrance — Kingdom of Heaven must be taken by storm
- Angels of Light & Devendra Banhart @ Schuba’s
- Civilized Age & Plastic Crimewave @ the Hideout
Brian
TOP 10 (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
TV ON THE RADIO – YOUNG LIARS
CAT POWER – YOU ARE FREE
OUTKAST – SPEAKERBOX/LOVE BELOW
RADIOHEAD – HAIL THE THIEF
FIERY FURNACES – GALLOWSBIRDS BARK
PANTHERS – LET’S GET SERIOUS
YOUNG PEOPLE – WAR PRAYERS
PINEBENDER- THE HIGH PRICE OF LIVING A SINGLE DREAM TOO LONG
JONATHAN COLECLOUGH – CASINO
PREFUSE 73 – ONE WORD EXTINGUISHER
James
2003’S MENTIONABLES (in random order)
The Shins “Chutes Too Narrow”
The Constantines “Shine a Light”
American Analog Set “Promise of Love”
Cass McCombs “A”
Cat Power “You Are Free”
Califone “Quicksand/Cradlesnakes”
M. Ward “Transfiguration of Vincent”
Lucksmiths “Naturaliste”
Camera Obscura “Underachievers Please Try Hard”
Eliott Smith “Pretty (Ugly Before)”
Iron & Wine “The Sea & the Rhythm”
Broken Social Scene “You Forgot It In People”
Postal Service “Give Up”
Bonnie Prince Billy “Master & Everyone”
Clientele “Violet Hour”
Charlene “S/T”
Mojave 3 “Spoon & Rafter”
The Wrens “Meadowlands”
The Strokes “Room On Fire”
Aislers Set “How I Learned to Write Backwards”
Mark Y.
- the Shins – Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop)
overzealous praise: maybe not since the beatles has a group woven such interesting harmonies and melodies into the pop idiom. - T.V. and the Radio – Young Liars (Touch & Go)
i think i have listened to this 50,000 times. - Arab Strap – Mondays at the Hug and Pint (Matador)
critically underrated!@$!# - Juana Molina – Segundo (Domino)
- Outkast – Speakerboxxx/the Love Below (LaFace)
- Diverse – 1 a.m. (Chocolate Industries)
- Four Tet – Rounds (Domino)
- Books – The Lemon of Pink (Tomlab)
i only discovered the even better “thought for food” this year as well. - Fruit Bats – Mouthfuls (SubPop)
- Yo La Tengo – Summer Sun (Matador)
- Postal Service – Give Up (Sub Pop)
- The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir – I Bet You Say That To All the Boys (Fashion Brigade)
- Branches – (self titled demo)
i can’t wait until this album comes out so we can see jeremy lemos’ handiwork on some of the finest “indie rock” i’ve heard in years. - Head of Femur – Ringodon or Proctor (Greyday)
- King Geedorah – Take Me To Your Leader (Big Daddy/Ninja Tune)
- Sufjan Stevens – Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State (Asthmatic Kitty)
- The Firey Furnaces – Gallowsbird’s Bark (Sanctuary)
Both sufjan and fiery furnaces are late additions but so rarely do i find myself NEEDING to own an album after the first time i hear it. - DJ Andy Smith – The Document II (Classic/Illicit)
- Radiohead – Hail to the Thief (Capitol) .
- Prefuse 73 – One Word Extinguisher (Warp)
best single – tie Andre 3000 – “Hey Ya” / Kelis – “Milkshake”
best b-side – Elliott Smith – “A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity To Be Free”
best s/t – ?Lost in Translation?
Sarah
albums:
comets on fire s/t
japanther ‘leatherwings’
m83 ”dead cities, red seas, & lost ghosts’
gossip ‘movement’
michael yonkers band ‘microminIature love’ -reissue
brant bjork ‘jalamanta’ reissue
pelican ‘australasia’
witches ‘on parade’
iron & wine ‘sea & the rhythm’
country teasers ‘secret weapon revealed at last’
the fall ?country on the click?
7’s:
ponys ‘i wanna fuck you +2’
electrelane ‘on parade’
plastic crimewave sound ‘great ceased’
functional blackouts ‘1900 get inside’
ponys ‘wicked city’
Chris R.
?Top Ten? of 2003 (in no particular order):
Eddie Gale (reissue): Black Rhythm Happening, Eddie Gale’s Ghetto Music
Sightings: Absolutes
Young People: War Prayers
Spires That in the Sunset Rise: s/t
Kevin Drumm: Land of Lurches
Deerhoof: Apple o?
The Ex: improv show @ the empty bottle
Sleep: Dopesmoker
Essential Logic/Laura Logic (reissue): Fanfare in the Garden
Animal Collective: Here Comes the Indian
Daniel L.B.
Postal Service / Give Up
Beulah / Yoko
Mono / One Step More and You Die
Brother Ali / Shadows on the Sun
The Jealous Sound / Kill Them With Kindness
Pernice Bros. / Yours, Mine & Ours
Cursive / The Ugly Organ
Non-Prophets / Hope
Four Tet / Rounds
M. Ward / Transfiguration of Vincent
TV on the Radio / Young Liars Ep
Hey Mercedes / Loses Control
American Analog Set / Promise of Love (first three songs only)
Explosions in the Sky / The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
Beyonce f. Jay-Z / “Crazy in Love”
Drew
- COUNTRY TEASERS: secret weapon revealed at last
- CHARIZMA & PEANUT BUTTER WOLF: big shots
- KING GEEDORAH (MF DOOM): take me to your leader
- BLACKBIRDS: blackbirds
- THE FALL: this is the new fall album
- LUNGFISH: love is love
- SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE: s/t
- BARDO POND: on the ellipse
- MOGWAI: happy songs (big surprise)
- WHITEHOUSE: bird seed
- JOAN OF ARC: in rape fantasy and terror sex we trust
Courtland
Top 15, no order
- Daily Planet – Team Daily
- Mad Villian – Money Folder 12″
- Stark Reality – Now
- Express Rising
- JFA – We Know You Suck
- Family Tree – Tree House Rock
- King Geedorah _Take Me To Your Leader
- Smog – Supper
- Monsta Island Czars – Escape From Monsta Island
- MIdwest Funk – Various
- Mickey & The Soul Generation – Iron Leg
- Town & Country – 5
- Trad Gras Och Stenar – Mors Mors
- Style Wars – DVD
- Ethiopiques Vol. 13 : Ethiopian Grooves
STEVE’S TOP 20
BARDO POND-on the ellipse
CHRISTIAN BRANDT & THE 100%-7″
MICHAEL YONKERS BAND-microminiture love
STARK REALITY-1969′
TRAD GRAS OCH STENAR-mors mors
MODEY LEMON-thunder & lightning
BRAIN DONOR-s/t
VIBRACATHEDRAL ORCHESTRA-queen of guess
ED ASKEW-2nd unreleased LP
RABBIT RABBIT-split 7″
ESPERS-s/t
BRETT SMILEY-breathlessly brett
HEATHER LEIGH MURRAY-cautrot vocal recordings
MIMINOKOTO-2
V/A-velvet tinmine
COMETS ON FIRE-live on WFMU
V/A-Cherrystone’s rocks
6 ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE-compathia
TESTORS-complete 1976-79
METAL URBAIN-anarchy in Paris
Stephen
Top 20:
- The Whip–Freelance Liason 7″
- MF DOOM–Everything (King Gedorah, Viktor Vaughn, Madvilian 12″,Yee Haw 12″)
- Growing–Skys Run Into the Sea
- Express Rising–S/T LP
- TV On The Radio–S/T EP
- Devandra Banhart–Oh Me Oh MY…
- Beans–Tomorrow Right Now
- Cass McCombs–A
- Carla Bozulich–Red Headed Stranger
- Cat Power–You Are Free
- Ted Leo & The Pharmacists–Hearts Of Oak
- Loose Fur–S/T
- Tim Hecker–Radio Amor
- 90 Day Men–Too Late or Too Dead EP
- Watchers–To The Rooftops
- Black Eyes–S/T
- Matmos–The West
- Azita–Enantiodromia
- Sunn O)))–White 1
- Matthew Herbert Big Band–Goodbye Swingtime
Bonus 10 Shows - SUNN O)))–Empty Bottle
- Mastodon–Fireside Bowl
- Black Eyes/Scalpels–Swayze Compound
- Shellac–De Kalb, IL.
- Summer On Southport–Walkmen, 90 Day Men, Watchers, Boas, etc.
- Oxes/Cass McCombs–Empty Bottle
- Taking Pictures–Various Shows
- Carla Bozulich/Nels Cline–Schubas
- Outhud/Beans–Empty Bottle
- The Fall/Tv On The Radio–Empty Bottle.
3 Re-Issues
1.Pentagram–First Daze Here - Parliament–Osmium
- Sleep?Dopesmoker
Gar
1.BOOKS “LEMON OF PINK”
- WEAKERTHANS “RECONSTRUCTION SITE
3.BUZZCOCKS S/T
4.SLAYER WAAR AT THE WARFIELD DVSD - SUPERGRASS “LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS”
6.SOUL POSITION “8 MILLION STORTIES” - LUNGFISH “LOVE IS LOVE”
- STRIKE ANYWHERE “EXIT ENGLISH”
- GILLIAN WELCH “SOUL JOURNEY”
- THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF FLAMING LIPS “TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE SATELLITE HEART”
Dave
top 20 of 2003. no order.
-pelican: australasia
-he who corrupts: ten steps to success
-vital remains: dechristainize
-motion city soundtrack: i am the movie
-defleshed: royal straight flesh
-non prophets: hope
-misery index: retaliate
-elvis costello: trust (re-issue)
-every time i die: hot damn!
-the killer: where all my nightmares came true
-viktor vaughn (mf doom): vaudeville villain
-the lawrence arms: the greatest story ever told
-curl up and die: we may be through with the past…
-madvillain: money folder 12″
-neil young: on the beach (cd issue)
-kungfu rick: coming to an end
-sole: selling live water
-nedelle: republic of two
-sleep: dopesmoker
-the dream is dead: taking friendly fire