Johnny's Top CDs for 2003


2003 was overall a fairly decent year, if you ignore all the J'Lo, JT, Justin & Kelly crap out there. Forget American Idol, since there is actual good stuff out there if you look hard enough. Save for one mess, which will lead you to complete and total disappointment.



#1

Death Cab For Cutie
Transatlanticism

Recommended Tracks: Expo '86; Title And Registration; Transatlanticism

The Postal Service
Give Up

Recommended Tracks: The District Sleeps Alone Tonight; Such Great Heights; Nothing Better

#2

Placebo
Sleeping With Ghosts

Recommended Tracks: Plasticine; This Picture; Special Needs; English Summer Rain

#3

The Weakerthans
Reconstruction Site

Recommended Tracks: Plea From A Cat Named Virtute; One Great City!; (Manifest)/(Hospital Vespers)/(Past-Due); Reconstruction Site

#4

Martyn Bennett
Grit

Recommended Tracks: Nae Regrets; Move; Ale House; Chanter

#5

Fischerspooner
#1

Recommended Tracks: The 15th; Emerge

#6

The Raveonettes
Chain Gang of Love

Recommended Tracks: That Great Love Sound; Let's Rave On; Heartbreak Stroll

#7

David Bowie
Reality

Recommended Tracks: Never Get Old

#8

The Constantines
Shine A Light

Recommended Tracks: Sub-Domestic; On To You; Young Lions

#9

Yo La Tengo
Summer Sun

Recommended Tracks: Georgia vs. Yo La Tengo; Moonrock Mambo; Don't Have To Be So Sad

#10

Eels
Shootenanny!

Recommended Tracks: Lone Wolf; Fashion Awards

 

Of note:

Liz Phair
Liz Phair

Liz Phair was one of my favourite artists of all time. Her first three albums were creative, blunt, interesting, shocking, hummable, stood out among the mundane crap out there. After a long hiatus, she released this pile of steaming offal. She tries to cash in on the teeny-bopper 'shock effect' which Britney and Christina has so mastered. What she fails to realize is that B & C were imitating her, so she had no need to imitate them! By producing this CD, she completely alienates her loyal fanbase by selling out and just sounding like the rest of the muck. Does the sell out work for non-LP fans? God no.

This is probably the biggest train wreck I've heard in years. At least when you listen to William Shatner trying to sing, there's a sense of irony there. You can laugh at it in a cheezy sort of way. This CD offers nothing.

Recommended Tracks: none. This album is pure crap! It's evil, I say! Evil!



Return to top CDs of the year


Return to Maison du Squid