2003 was the year I launched this blog. My original Best of 2003 was the first best-of list I posted here. As I have discussed, I published best-of lists prior to that one, but not in this manner. So this is my first re-write of a best-of blog post, as that original one was only a text list. (Currently the 2004 and 2005 lists are the only ones without detail; which will change soon.) (Also, most of the blog in the first year was about all aspects of my life, not just music; don't explore it unless you want to be bored.)
I am happy to say my opinions of the albums that were released in 2003 have changed little in the 12 years since. The order is a bit different, and only one of my original top 12 will not been seen in my top 30 (!) below. (That one is The Jealous Sound. While I still like Kill Us With Kindness, my appreciation of that band plummeted when I saw them perform a poor live show in 2009. They opened for Sunny Day Real Estate--which is very unfair to compare any band to--but the Jealous Sound was just bad, bad, bad. So sorry Jealous Sound, hopefully your live shows were better in 2003.)
Thirty albums is a bit extreme, and the longest list I have ever put together. Rather than write a lot, I decided to focus on finding live video performances for each album. YouTube continues to become a better and better resource for watching live concert videos from all eras. More live videos from 2015 shows makes sense, but what is also happening constantly is people finding and uploading videos from the past that had been VHS or other formats. This is where the real gems are.
While researching this post, I made some great finds. The best of the best I have embedded so you can watch them on my blog, but the rest I just provided as links. And then I went ahead and made a YouTube playlist of all 30.
Top 30 Albums of 2003:
1. Fountains of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Valley Winter Song" live on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, October 6, 2011(below)
Before I had a blog the only avenue I had for posting public lists was on music message boards, which were incredibly popular at the time (late 90's through 2002 or so). I have a funny memory about how someone on a message board (who apparently respected my tastes and lists) was SO upset that I ranked this album number one. Considering I had ranked the Gloria Record #1 in 2002, it was inexplicable to him that I could rank Fountains of Wayne #1 in 2003, especially since the song "Stacy's Mom" had it "goin' on" about that time. Of course, he had not heard the rest of this spectacular album.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Passenger Seat" live on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, April 7, 2015
Last year I published my top 20 Death Cab songs (prior to Kintsugi's release, so it needs updating), and I wrote that my top three Death Cab songs are three straight tracks on Transatlanticism: "Tiny Vessels", "Transatlanticism", and "Passenger Seat". Those three songs provide the meat of this, the band's best album. In that post I embedded a spectacular video of the first two of those songs, and now here is the third.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Inside of Love" live at Rockwood Music Hall, January 25, 2012
As I mentioned in my 2002 best-of list a couple months ago, it is a coin-flip on whether this is a 2002 or 2003 release, depending on what part of the world you lived in. I got it in 2003, and pre-ordered it for its US release. (I may have even ordered it and Transatlanticism together, as they are both on Barsuk Records.) These were the first Nada Surf songs I had ever heard (other than that irritating radio hit they had in the 90's) and I was blown away.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Paper Tigers" and "Stare at the Sun" live in Pomona, May 13, 2015
This was the album in which Thrice morphed from "the band that had a pretty good second album" to the band with their third album became one of the best rock bands on the planet. As I selected a video here I picked one that had two songs from a back-to-back performance this year, on Thrice's "welcome back" tour. (I could have selected my video from Hevy Fest last month which has better sound quality, but you can find it a couple posts back). Interestingly, Thrice has been playing more songs from this album than any of their others in 2015.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Fight Song" live in Moscow, November 3, 2013 (below)
This album was a radical departure from their double album post-rock masterpiece "Low Level Owl" as it is full of short, catchy indie rock songs. This video features the best of those songs, and it is a spectacular performance. The Appleseed Cast went to Moscow in 2013 for their only show ever there. "Fight Song" wasn't in the set, but Chris came back on stage and played it solo as the encore.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Away We Drift" from 2004's Last Realize DVD
Elliott was one of the most amazing bands to see live. Thankfully they released two DVDs after they broke up so there is no reason you can't see and hear them perform. Although these DVD to YouTube rips are not ideal. Have written tons about Elliott on this blog over the years, and sadly this was the band's final studio release.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Lyric" live in 2003? Details unavailable.
Zwan is one of my favorite Billy Corgan eras. I find it silly and weird that he didn't just call it Smashing Pumpkins, and long-term it is also sad because it means he doesn't perform these songs live (along with the Pumpkins songs from the last 25 years). I love the melodies on this album, and it's overall "happy" and upbeat vibe. Paz's female vocal harmonies here are just awesome.
First heard: I think I bought this in 2005, which was actually very early in my vinyl-collecting. Although in MP3 form I think someone shared it with me in 2003.
Video: "Driftwood: A Fairy Tale" live at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis, MN in 2003 (below)
In 2001 or 2002 Cursive added a cellist as a member of their band, and that ended up resulting in a radical change in sound, and resulted in an incredible group of songs. This video is incredible because it is around the time the album was released, and the cello and piano are so heavy in the mix.
First heard: Bought in Flevo Festival, Netherlands, August 2003
Video: "Up the Barricades" Live at Flevo Fest in the Netherlands, August 2004
Strangely, I discovered this album at Flevo Festival 2003, but This Beautiful Mess didn't play the fest that year (they did the year after, as you see above). When I was at Flevo Fest I spend a ton of time in the merch tent. Not that I bought that much, but they had couches, and it was a good place to meet people and listen to music. They played this album over and over that week, as it was just released. It didn't take me long to buy it, and as I did so I was told I was the first non-Dutch person to own it!
First heard: Bought in Flevo Festival, Netherlands, August 2003
Video: "She Writes Her Name" live in 2009. Details unavailable.
Of my top 30 albums of 2003, I could not find videos for songs two of them, as they are both incredibly obscure. I could have easily linked to streaming audio from this album, but this live performance from Brown Feather Sparrow's third album Brave is so good. Brown Feather Sparrow was active from 2003-2008 and released three albums in that span. I saw them perform at Flevo Festival in 2003 and absolutely loved them. Wide Awakens Everything is more raw and experimental (which I prefer) than the two albums that followed, highlighted by the "explosion" in last two minutes of the song "A Box of Spring" (I'll make you do some work; look it up!). If you are unfamiliar with these two Dutch bands that sit at #9 and #10, they actually share a lot of members. This Beautiful Mess' lead singer/songwriter Arjen van Wijk performs with Brown Feather Sparrow, as does Brown Feather Sparrow's lead/singer songwriter Lydia van Maurik-Wever with This Beautiful Mess. The also both are are part of the band People Get Ready and both write and perform with the How To Throw a Christmas Party group.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Ohio" from Musica in Akron, Ohio on Friday, April 16, 2010.
This album has unfortunately dropped in the rankings over time, but not because it's own merit. Over the Rhine's releases after Drunkard's Prayer have been largely disappointing to me, but the stretch from Good Dog Bad Dog to Ohio was phenomenal. The double vinyl for this release is at the top of my vinyl wishlist.
First heard: Shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Heaven" live TV performance on Fox Rox #97, March 18, 2004 (below)
Pretty cool video here, as I am surprised The Fire Theft ever played on TV. I have mixed feelings about this album. Obviously it was really great, but it could have been spectacular. Sunny Day Real Estate, welcoming bass player Nate Mendel back into the band, then broke up AGAIN because guitar player Dan Hoerner left the band to play with Dashboard Confessional. I mean, it would have been one thing if he had left the band to join U2 or something, but Dashboard Confessional!? ARGH!!! Anyway, the remaining three members of SDRE wrote this album, which, once again while good, was such a huge let down from The Rising Tide. "Heaven" is my favorite Fire Theft song, and I wrote a detailed post about it a few years ago.
13. Explosions in the Sky- The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
First heard: Saw the film Friday Night Lights in early 2004 and soon after ordered this album on vinyl.
Video: "Your Hand In Mine" live at Metro Theatre in Sydney on December 11, 2011
The is my favorite Explosions in the Sky song, and was the first post-rock song that emotionally grabbed me. At the time I never knew songs without lyrics or vocals could have such an impact on me, but this song blew me away when I first heard it and even more so today. Now, bands like Mogwai and Hammock are able to do the same thing and I love how much they are able to convey and communicate in the same way as classical music.
14. The Postal Service- Give Up
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Nothing Better" live at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA, captured over two nights (July 26th & 27th, 2013)
Still crazy to me that Ben Gibbard helped compose this great album and Transatlanticism during the same time period.
First heard: The Greatest was my first Cat Power purchase, when it was released in 2006. Probably wasn't until 2008 or 2009 that I finally got this.
Video: "He War" official music video that someone recorded of MTV2
Had no idea this video existed until I began writing this post. The quality is not good, but still worth watching. Had no idea Cat Power was being shown on MT2 when this album was released.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "2+2=5" live at Glastonbury 2003
This was the first Radiohead album I pre-ordered. I love the artwork and I found this opening track stunning and perfect.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Currents" live at the Union, October 6th, 2006
Once upon a time, Sleeping at Last was a rock band. I saw them at Cornerstone in 2001 and I would give anything to have video of that show. This is the oldest video I could find of the band, and of a song from Sleeping at Last's best rock album. Sleeping at Last is now a cinematic, orchestrated solo project from Ryan O'Neil, and his work is prolific and spectacular. He releases at least one song per month and has for years.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Ha Ha" from the band's Just the Two of Us DVD
I saw Mates of State in Paris in August of 2003, and that experience along with this album pushed them into the upper levels of my favorite bands. They have been their ever since, and my 7-year-old son is obsessed with their latest EP You're Going to Make It.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Failure on My Lips" from the Kiss It Goodbye: The Final Show DVD (available as a DVD on Netflix)
This NC hardcore band only released one album unfortunately. Thankfully I saw their impressive live show at Cornerstone in 2002.
First heard: This album was on an mp3 CD my brother sent me while in Zambia. Didn't get the actual CD until much later. And then a couple years ago my brother actually started playing in this band!
Video: "Instruments of Action" live (Embedded below. Details unknown, but probably around the time this album was released. It is an obscure Nashville venue that I forget the name of, but I saw Brandtson play there in 2002).
This is definitely one of the more obscure albums on this list, but so, so good. It on Bandcamp and I recommend you buy it immediately.
First heard: This band was definitely an eMusic find, back when eMusic was the cheapest and best way to get mp3s from indie bands. I think 2005's Twin Cinema was my first New Pornographers album, and then not long after that I downloaded this and Mass Romantic.
Video: "From Blown Speakers" live at the Music Box Hollywood, Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, on September 20, 2007
The New Pornographers are always great, but are at their best when Neko Case is singing of course!
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Imaginary" live at Rock am Ring 2003, Germany
Unlike 99.9% of the Evanescence fans in the world, I had been a fan for years before this album was released. This is actually their second album, and I bought their debut Origin back in 2000. I still remember watching eBay prices climb into the hundreds of dollars for that CD while my copy sat in storage across the Atlantic. Origin is better than this album, but this is still excellent. All the band's music after this greatly declined in quality, as co-founder and co-songwriter Ben Moody left the band. When I toured Europe in August 2003 Evanescence was everywhere! I specifically remember a music store in Madrid that had a huge window display for this release.
First heard: I started buying albums primarily on vinyl in 2005 (the first vinyl album I bought was in 1995, but I rarely purchased that format for a decade) and this was one of the first LPs I got.
Video: "For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti" live on a farm in Texas, 2004 (below)
Really cool video with almost 2 million views on YouTube; just too bad the quality is so low:
24. Rosie Thomas- Only With Laughter Can You Win
First heard: After seeing Rosie Thomas in 2007 at Cornerstone I really fell in love with her, and I probably got this on eMusic soon after.
Video: "All My Life" live in a fan's living room, Washington, DC, Sep 21, 2010
This Rosie Thomas album is probably the one I listen to the least; not because it isn't good, just because I forget about it.
25. Starflyer 59- Old
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "Underneath" live at Cornerstone Festival, Bushnell, IL, July 2003
So honestly Starflyer live post-2003 is pretty terrible. Jason Martin stopped using a band, and usually it was just him, a drummer, and a recorded track for the bass, keys, etc. This Cornerstone performance is probably one of the last times he used an actual bass player (Jeff Cloud). Now, with this album on the other hand, he had a ridiculous studio band including Richard Swift and Frank Lenz (seen on drums and with some great/hilarious backing vocals in the video).
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: Lee Bozeman playing Luxury's "To You Who Gave Me Hope And Were My Light" live at the Cactus Cafe in Austin, TX on September 28. 2012
All Things Bright and Beautiful was the first of many solo projects from Luxury frontman Lee Bozeman. Most of the stuff Lee put out under this moniker was lo-fi and recorded at his house. This album is the exception, as it was produced and recorded by Andy Prickett for Northern Records. I could not find a live video performance of any song on this album, so I decided to just use what could be the most recent live performance Lee has done period. I would guess that this is the most obscure, "rare" album on this list.
First heard: shipped to me in Zambia in 2003
Video: "California" live at the Hawthorne Theater, Portland, OR on March 23, 2010.
This was my introduction to Copeland, and I really enjoyed it. But then from 2005 to 2014 I pretty much forgot about the band altogether. In early 2015 I got Ixora, which is spectacular, and I now like Copeland more than ever.
28. Tegan and Sara- If It Was You
First heard: Saw Tegan and Sara at a free show on the Nashville waterfront in 2005 as they were touring in support of So Jealous. My wife and I walked away from that show as HUGE Tegan and Sara fans, and got this and So Jealous immediately.
Video: "Living Room" live at the Austin City Limits Festival 2012
Tegan and Sara's only song featuring banjo?
29. Further Seems Forever- How to Start a Fire
First heard: I remember listening to this online upon release, but being mostly uninterested. Didn't get and appreciate album until a couple years later.
Video: "The Sound" live at Furnace Fest, Sloss Furnace, Birmingham, AL in 2003
I had forgotten about Furnace Fest until I found this video, but it was a great, small festival that went on for a few years in Alabama. I went a couple times, but I was in Zambia when this performance took place.
First heard: Probably 2007 or 2008, once again in the "heart" of my eMusic days.
Video: Elevator Love Letter live at York University Sept. 17, 2008 (below)
It wasn't until years later that I became a huge Stars fan, but this is a great song from this album.
Top 5 EPs of 2003:
First heard: Via iTunes in 2003! These were Eisley's first releases without the "Moss" prefix, and as the band didn't put out an LP until 2005, they released tons of EPs.
2. Jeremy Enigk- United States of Leland Soundtrack
First heard: By bootleg downloading in 2003, as the soundtrack has never officially been released. This is only 5 tracks, but three are some of the best songs Enigk has ever written.
3. Pinback- Offcell EP
First heard: Not until at least 5 years later. Potentially my favorite Pinback release despite the fact that it is only 5 songs. If you have never heard Pinback before this is actually where I would recommend someone starts.
4. Ashen- Pull and Repel EP
First heard: Mailed to me in Zambia in 2003. The second and final release from this obscure Atlanta band.
5. Brandtson- Death and Taxes EP
First heard: Mailed to me in Zambia in 2003. Brandtson's final release on Deep Elm.