If Chesnutt had left off Sultan, So Mighty, which is 8+ minutes of torture for me, this might be my favorite of his.

"Girls say "why do you want to do that?"
And boys say, "well i gotta leave".
And girls say "watch out for your head"
And boys say, "why you wanna be a bitch?"



If it contained no other song but A Love You Can't Survive, this would be worth buying. Jesus, as good a song as he ever wrote, and his vocal performance is stunning. His best album in about the past 20 years.

His overly serious demeanor and " while I'm playing on stage dont talk to me or look at me" is seriously starting to ruin his back catalogue. Geesh
Must say, twood be tough to wreck this one though.




I can't stand the Judy Garland schtick, but this is one fine collection of songs.


+1

Tribalistas - great record and one I still play

Jay Farrar / Terroir Blues - I know some like it this way, but I wish he would've scaled down all the space junk & alternate versions and released it as one cohesive piece. My version, or at least the one I play is just that. It's Jay's finest after Trace/Straightaways.

M Ward - excellent songwriter/guitarist and my introduction to his music.

Calexico / MMJ / Ted Leo / DBT / Jayhawks / Derailers / Frank Black / Lucero

Magnolia Elec Co - When Jason began to channel his inner Crazy Horse

The Thrills - guilty pleasure this one

The Shins - I like'em an all, but can't take this one. At all.

Belle & Sebastian - Good record, but not quite up to If You're Feeling Sinister or Tigermilk

Gingersol - good call Rad-man. Nothing Stops Moving is equally as good.

Great year. Love a ton of the "Top 20" level records here but here are a couple randoms that are as of yet unmentioned:



Vic Chesnutt - Silver Lake- Didn't get this the year it came out but a couple years after. If you've ever been a fan of his and haven't heard it, then yes, you should definitely hear this. Some vintage Vic on here with some all-star guests (Emmylou Harris, Brian Eno, Jon Brion, Daniel Lanois).




The Minus 5 - Down With Wilco- For me, this was their best album (although others aren't bad at all) and the one where Wilco "collaborated" with them rather than "guested" on the album. It finds Tweedy and Co. (I think) still without a label and touring on YHF and doing projects like this. It feels loose and the songs are some of the best stuff either band did. Great 60's AM gold vibe throughout.




Robert Randolph & The Family Band- Unclassified- This will likely only appeal to those who still need their Jam Band fix every now and then or those who find Jazzfest appealing but this is just a feel good record with maybe one of the best pedal steel players in the business. Mish mash of blues, jazz, funk, zydeco, etc played with boundless enthusiasm. If you ever catch 'em live you won't regret it.





Jeff Buckley - Live at Sine - Clearly not recorded this year but it came out this year posthumously. Recorded before he broke with "Grace" it's just him at this small venue with just his guitar and his voice. Lots of banter with the audience, random covers, and some beautiful playing. When he breaks into the songs that would be on Grace you are quickly reminded of what a terrible loss he was.

Forgot about this one. Good call. Loose RnR at its finest.

Also, a couple of board faves that must be mentioned:

Sun Kil Moon - mcap beat me to it but for me, this is his best record, closely beating out "April". Just timeless.




M83- Dead Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts- I guess technically it's an electronic release but it doesn't feel like that. Feels almost shoe-gazey with layer upon layer of sounds. Keyboards, guitars, strings. I feel like most know about this one, but if not, you should hear it.





Must be mentioned. There are days when this is in my Top 10 rock records of the decade. So much to chew on and Lanegan never sounded better. It's Songs for the Deaf..............YOU CAN'T EVEN HEAR IT!!

color me intrigued

Erykah Badu: Worldwide Underground
I find this to be an underrated gem in her catalog. It's not so serious, more laid back and breezy. It was called an EP on release, but its longer than many a full length. Just light soul with an occasional electronic flutter or flourish. and one of her records I listen to the most.


The Books: The Lemon of Pink
Love the first two Books albums. I remember first hearing these and thining they were really working with interesting sounds but could use just a touch mroe structure. Then, subsequent albums they did just that and I realized how wrong I was. Something about the ramshakle charm was lost for me, but these first couple are winners. Great to listen to on a lazy day with teh windows open so sounds of the street can blend into the mix.


Los Straitjackets: Supersonic Guitars in 3D
I consider this one of this groups stronger releases, although I've seen opinions go either way with this one. I think they are at the peak of their game on this one. Just well-crafted, well-played instrumental rock with a retro flair.

i don't suppose anyone has access to the '03 shmoople + individual lists?

i think that was my first year there and first year making a list. of those not already mentioned i think these were also in my top 20:

also, i'd probably put this up for best EP of the decade:

AKA "More albums GAR came back from NH with when you were too drunk to think"?

No, it does not rank up there with the classic trilogy that they released to open their career, but then not much does by any artist. Still, this album has a lot going for it and is surprisingly ferocious for a bunch of 50-something art punk guys. A really, really good Wire album, if not a great one, and certainly worth hearing.

Oooh, and then there's this one:

Some of you Boston folks know these guys, and I had the pleasure of sharing a bill with them a few years ago. Outstanding musicianship and stellar pop hooks. Imagine if Queen were a part of the Elephant 6 and that's the sound that you're looking at. Love these guys!

Someone might. Here's the top 25. Not posting everyone's individual list.

1. SHINS - CHUTES TOO NARROW (166)
2. WRENS - MEADOWLANDS (162)
3. RADIOHEAD - HAIL TO THE THIEF (147)
4. BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE - YOU FORGOT IT IN PEOPLE (113)
5. GRANDADDY - SUMDAY (103)
6. BEULAH - YOKO (95)
7. POSTAL SERVICE - GIVE UP (89)
8. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - ELECTRIC VERSION (84)
9. MY MORNING JACKET - IT STILL MOVES (83)
10. CAT POWER - YOU ARE FREE (75)
11. OUTKAST - SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW (66)
12. TV ON THE RADIO - YOUNG LIARS EP (66)
13. FOUR TET - ROUNDS (64)
14. WHITE STRIPES - ELEPHANT (63)
15. YEAH YEAH YEAHS - FEVER TO TELL (60)
16. STROKES - ROOM ON FIRE (55)
17. CONSTANTINES - SHINE A LIGHT (54)
18. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - TRANSATLANTICISM (54)
19. TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS - HEARTS OF OAK (52)
20. WEAKERTHANS - RECONSTRUCTION SITE (52)
21. BELLE AND SEBASTIAN - DEAR CATASTROPHE WAITRESS (51)
22. EXPLODING HEARTS - GUITAR ROMANTIC (49)
23. LIGHTNING BOLT - WONDERFUL RAINBOW (49)
24. CALEXICO - FEAST OF WIRE (48)
25. PERNICE BROTHERS - YOURS, MINE AND OURS (44)

I think most of these, if not all, have already been mentioned - nevertheless, here's my list: Bolded items to indicate ones that I don't think have been mentioned yet.

Beulah - Yoko
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them On, On Your Own
Crooked Fingers - Red Devil Dawn
Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
The Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic
Jay-Z - The Black Album
Killing Joke - Killing Joke (w/ Dave Grohl helping out)
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak
My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
Pernice Brothers - Yours, Mine & Ours
Rancid - Indestructible
Damien Rice - O
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Stars - Heart
The Strokes - Room on Fire
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Streetcore - My pick for #1 on the year-end list, I believe!!!
Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway
Matthew Sweet - Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu
The White Stripes - Elephant
The Wrens - Meadowlands

And, of course, Paper Airplane Pilots - The History of Flying came out this year too. But, I think that pretty much all of us have heard that one.

Yes. I'd also completely forgotten about the Danger Mouse & Jemini album, and I probably haven't listened to it all since 2003. Now I'm curious.

A pretty big one, more in retrospect than it was at the time:

This is either his best or second-best, depending on how I'm feeling about Seven Swans.

I don't have access to my original 2003 list (I was 17 at the time) but I made a top 10 last year, though I disagree with it already.

1. The Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic
2. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Master And Everyone
3. Eluvium - Lambent Material
4. Four Tet - Rounds
5. Jaylib - Champion Sound
6. Jay-Z - The Black Album
7. The Black Keys - thickfreakness
8. Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
9. M83 - Dead Cities, Read Seas & Lost Ghosts
10. Ellen Allien - Berlinette

terrible

Oh shit I forgot about Jaylib, too. I liked that album.

Absolutely!

Califone-Quicksand/Cradlesnakes

I have only really started listening to these guys in the past few months, but really like this record. Crazy sound these guys have.

Terrible? Yet it has 2 of your potential "best of the decade", your favorite B&S album, and possibly a consensus best rap album of that year.

Sincerely,

Confused

Another winner from Wiily Vlautin and Co. I also recommend any his three 'Carver-esque' novels.



Damien continues the singer/songwriter trend here with another good record



Nick Drake meets Joao Gilberto funneled through an indie haze. Good, but I prefer later material.



60's girl garage/soul rock



Please Mr Henry, please.

yeah, this woulda easily made my top 10 had i been listening back then.

Too lazy to take the time to post covers for these, but a few more favorites that I don't think have been posted here;

William Basinski-Disintegration Loops II-IV: Some really beautiful moments here, though it doesn't get more basic really--loops, tape hiss, death. Loved the first one, love all three of these also.

The Books-The Lemon of Pink: This was my introduction to The Books and I am still just as fascinated today by their process as I was then. Some of this is just outright skeletal/paper thin--but for something that is made with so little it still seems fully realized. Great band, great album.

Vibracathedral Orchestra-The Queen of Guess: I don't think they have aver put out a record that matches their live sets, but this is probably the closest in my opinion. Sounds effortless in it's droning, but the layered dischord and tonal mismatches make for some very cool wake up moments.

Ryuichi Sakamoto-Derrida/Philip Glass-The Fog of War: A couple of really good soundtracks/scores by a couple of my all time favorite composers. Don't get me wrong, neither of these are among either's best in my opinion, but still great records.

Set Fire to Flames-Telegraphs in Negative/Mouths Trapped in Static: Largely white noise experiments from GYBE members. I am about 70-30 on this record. I think some of it could be condensed/discarded, but there are still some really pretty moments here.

NP:

every thing she touches is gold imo. i need to spend more time with her albums.