A good portion of my excitement before a road trip last month was to be able to listen to this album while driving through the band's own transfixing and diverse Southwestern geography, which the album is right steeped in, gloriously. -Kiersten Lawson
The Decemberists
Her Majesty The Decemberists
On first listen we thought it couldn't compare with Castaways and Cutouts; by listen two, the debate was on, as the impeccable lyrics and music rolled out a beautiful new collection of unforgettable, heart-rending and raucous stories. -Kiersten Lawson
Grandaddy
SumDay
Jason Lytle and his post-apocalyptic crew from Modesto touch down on the wasteland of the West with a passel of some of the saddest stories of decay, apathy, loss and desolation that ever made us grin from ear to ear in bliss. -Kiersten Lawson
The Shins
Chutes Too Narrow
Rabid Oh, Inverted World purists may have initially been put off by the polished pop of of The Shins' second release...but, if they didn't come around, they weren't opening up to it enough. While Oh, Inverted World was a breath of fresh air into an indie rock world that had become morose and terse, Chutes... is a reminder of how good pop music can be when crafted with talent and, as it sounds, love. -Eric Morris
Radiohead
Hail to the Thief
Okay, so is there any question that this is one of the finest bands in rock 'n' roll history? Five albums, four gems. While not completely ditching the layered, abstractness of Kid A and Amnesiac, Radiohead does bring back the drums and guitars (for real this time!) for a foray into The Bends and OK Computer territory again. While Hail to the Thief may still not be OK Computer, how many other bands could follow their career's pinnacle with three awesome records? -Eric Morris
Menomena
I Am the Fun Blame Monster
Using software designed by themselves, Menomena layered everything but the kitchen sink into a mind-blowing 40-minute record. The Late Great Libido is in the running for my Song of the Year, as it sends out all of its musical minions to capture you and drag you willingly into its world. It's the highlight, but not all that there is to enjoy with the Fun Blame Monster, a playful beast that will send you through the ringer and back again. -Eric Morris
Blur
Think Tank
Blur tooled off to Morocco with producer Fat Boy Slim (and without guitarist Graham Coxon) to what could've been a disaster. David Albarn, fresh off the huge success of super-side-project Gorillaz, had opportunities galore to blow this. Luckily, Blur didn't blink in the face of possible failure, and released one of their finest records to date. -Eric Morris
Broken Social Scene
You Forgot it in People
Another thing to tout Toronto for, beyond its excellent subway, Portland-like neighborhoods and SCTV, is this gaggle of musicians blending pop, jazz and classical sounds into an album that somehow makes me want to be covered in lover's spit, lying on the floor, dreaming about ... Canada. -Kiersten Lawson
The Wrens
The Meadowlands
A mere six years after Secaucus, The Wrens are back and showing that it was well worth the wait. The Meadowlands was the only album that could've given Broken Social Scene a run for their money, and it did even better than that...it surpassed 'em. No album was as top-to-bottom impressive as The Wrens' effort this year...which might make the next six years nearly impossible to wait through. -Eric Morris
Dizzee Rascal's debut is one of the most biting albums to come out of 2003. It's sneer and spit attitude accompanied with every computer blip imaginable makes for an incredible, hypnotic ride. For people on this side of the pond who still wonder what all the hype is
about with this UK garage-rap stuff, the answer is a contemptuous, 18-year-old artist named Dizzee Rascal. Boy in da Corner is an essential purchase for the year. -Scott Morris
HONORABLE MENTION:
The following albums would've, most likely, made a top 10 list of any other year. But 2003 came out and kicked our asses with some great music. Consequently, these fine albums just couldn't squeak into our top 10...even though we love 'em:
Single Frame, Wetheads Come Running
