Matt Ralph's Best of 2003
editor-in-chief
Top 9:
Say What?
Blasts from the Past:
The Moles- On The Street reissue [Wishing Tree]
Disappointments:
Spiritualized- Amazing Grace [Sanctuary]
The Clientele- The Violet Hour [Merge]
Ester Drang- Infinite Keys [Jade Tree]
Travis- 12 Memories [Epic]
Album from 2002 that was released too late to be considered for lists
from last year:
Best use of a song in a movie:
Best use of a song in a commercial:
Song that actually made me pay for downloading on iTunes:
Songs that actually made me want to use my iTunes program:
Anticipated greatness in 2004:
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1. Sufjan Stevens- Michigan {Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty]
Great records like this are difficult to review. I sat down at least a
dozen times this year with the idea I was going to bang out a review of
this, but failed in every try. Seeing his name on so many lists now, it
leaves me even more humbled and speechless as to what makes this record
what it is. So many others have said such elegant things about it, you
can take their word for it, not mine.
2. Delgados- Hate [Mantra]
This is another one of those records that I failed at reviewing this
year. With 12 months to try, you'd think I would have been able to find
the words to say but even with a subscription to dictionary.com's word
of the day I can't help but feel incompetant. Like Soft Bulletin
before it, this is heady music orchestrated to nectary sweet pop
perfection.
3. Crooked Fingers- Red Devil Dawn [Merge]
I didn't fully appreciate this record until I saw Eric Bachmann live
(my first time seeing him fronting a band live since his Archers of
Loaf days) a couple months ago. It was 2 a.m. by the time Azure Ray was
finished wooing the crowd to sleep and joined Eric on stage. I was
still pissed about the 45 minutes of my life the first band wasted, but
I was reminded why Bachmann is still my hero and why nearly everything
(White Trash Heroes excluded) he's ever released still finds its way
into my CD player. Like Damien Jurado and Robert Deeble's records, I
feel this one is too short, but his voice is so commanding and the
addition of horns all over the record too great a spectacle to not be
brought immediately back to my school boy obsession over him.
4. Portastatic- The Summer of the Shark [Merge]
I liked Superchunk until I first heard Portastatic and realized how
limited their sound really is. With room to breath and a smaller legion
of fans not expecting the same power chord anthems over and over, Mac
has always excelled and this record is no different. Even if it was the
first song "Oh Come Down" 13 times over this would rise above the
mountains of crap released in 2003.
5. Damien Jurado- Where Shall You Take Me? [Secretly Canadian]
I completely missed I Break Chairs, perhaps because the title alone
reminded me too much of my childhood watching my brother freak out
about his favorite sports team losing, but from what little I've heard
and read, I'm glad Jurado returned to form with this rich and genuine
collection of songs. He's one of the best songwriters around and always
delivers live in ways you don't always expect. If songs like "Window"
and "Omaha" don't leave you with tears or considering that maybe there
really is a Bigfoot, shame on you.
6. Robert Deeble- 13 Stories [Pete Records/Miles of Music]
This one came out late in the year and has barely been out long enough
for even reviewers with quick turn around time to crank out praise, but
as on Deeble's two previous efforts he manages to excel in simplicity
and put to shame all of the hopeless male heart-on-sleeve sissys World
Cafe loves to worship. He's off the radar again with this long-awaited
release, but couldn't be more on the mark with songs like "Joe and the
Space Program," "Secret Life of Emily Dickinson" and a ethereal
retooling of Velvet Underground's "I'll Be Your Mirror."
7. Mojave 3- Spoon and Rafter [4AD]
What's there to say about a band that leaves you speechless like Neil
Halstead and co. have for so many years. It's best not to talk when the
laser scans this one, because you'll miss it's brilliance. Patience is
required, especially listening to the album's brittle opener, the
three-part epic "Bluebird of Happiness."
8. Asahi- Head Above Water [West of January]
This totally came out of nowhere and totally renewed my faith in
undiscovered music in the Internet age that is far superior to all the
crap I'm told by people way hipper than me that I should love. Quiet
and contemplative, it's best to play this record on repeat and be
thankful for the positive influence and lasting impression underrated
bands like Ida and Seam still have. "I'm barely floating, head above
water as it is." Asahi was a flotation device for me through much of
2003. Shame on you for scratching your brow.
9. Seekonk- For Barbara Lee [Kimchee]
This upcoming Mass. record label has put out some fine releases this
year from Suntan and Torrez, but this beauty from Seekonk rises to the
top. A record as calm and intimate as the band's seashore-inspired name
would suggest. Brings to mind Low and Mazzy Star, but doesn't fall flat
like a lot of other "slowcore" acts these days.
Liz Phair- s/t [Capitol]
Hands down this was the one record I can honestly say I thoroughly
enjoyed reviewing this year. Dismissing it early on as complete trash,
I was awakened to a whole new level of hatred and disgust for indie-sex
queen turned mother that likes to sing about sexual conquests when I
listened to the infinite badness of songs like "Underwear" and "H.W.C."
with a carfull of friends outside a smoky bar in West Chester, Pa.
Everywhere I went for about a month, I had to play this record for
people and even now as it cracks radio play I make sure I have the CD
handy to show folks how dirty she really is.
The Clean- Anthology [Merge]
Forget all the modern purveyors of indie-pop grabbing attention and
getting play on MTV2. The Clean kicked out the jams before many of
today's pop flashback poster boys were walking and thanks to Merge
Records, the best record label in the free world, you can hear two
discs worth of pop greatness from down under. A vintage sound that is
actually vintage and not hopelessly redundant.
Richard Davies' pre-Cardinal, pre-solo career art-rock spectacle from
down under. What's the new mary jane? Well, this isn't new but it's
definitely still the jawn. Artsy experimentation clashes with pop
sensibilities on this collection of classic songs that features two
versions of "Bury Me Happy" as well as some other unreleased material
that proves a true testimony to the band's ageless quality and
off-the-wall charm.
Broken Social Scene- You Forgot It In People [Arts and Crafts]
I'm supposed to like this, but try as I have I just can see what is
that has people so giddy and preachy about the album's merits. In a
year where everywhere I turn it seems like someone is singing about
bodily fluids, I've had enough of hearing about "lover's spit" and
drinking piss, thank you very much.
The amount of new "the" bands that hit the scene wearing out-of-date
clothes
opening bands playing too long and keeping me up way past my bedtime.
About a dozen people told me I absoltuely had to buy this record and
considering all of the orders I make off the Merge website it was
awfully convenient to click on the add to cart list for this band. A
solid release, but the only record I bought this year that I've played
less is probably Elvis Costello's snoozer North.
A decent record for a Jade Tree debut,
but a bit of a sophomore slump in comparison with their brilliant debut
Goldenwest.
Travis sank almost as much as Coldplay rose this year.
Joseph Arthur- Redemption's Son [Universal]
Sparklehorse's "Sea of Teeth" in the David Gordon Greene film All The Real Girls
The Cure "Pictures of You" from Disintegration
Outkast's "Hey Ya" because I'm trendy like that.
David Dondero "Pre-Invasion Jitters"
Asahi "Head Above Water"
Mates of State "Whiner's Bio"
Sufjan Stevens "Vito's Ordination Song"
Grandfabric "Better Anywhere"
+Wilco- W*lco Happens
+Bro. Danielson- Brother is to Son [Secretly Canadian]
+Sufjan Stevens- Seven Swans [Sounds Familyre]
+Wes Anderson's new film The Life Aquatic
+Steve Bartman's redemption
+A Simple Plan devising a strategy completely disappear from the face of the earth
2002 White Elephant
Productions