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2. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Almost You: The Songs Of Elvis Costello
3. THE BANGLES – Doll Revolution
4. YOUNGBLOOD BRASS BAND – Center: Level: Roar
5. THE JAYHAWKS – Rainy Day Music
6. RUFUS WAINRIGHT – Want One
7. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Every Word: A Tribute To Let’s Active
8. SINEAD O’CONNOR – She Who Dwells. . .
9. RICHARD THOMPSON – 1000 Years Of Popular Music
10. RANCID – Indestructible
11. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Livin’, Lovin’ Losin’: Songs Of The Louvin Brothers
12. JIM LAUDERDALE WITH DONNA THE BUFFALO – Wait ‘Til Spring 13. VARIOUS ARTISTS – The Executioner’s Last Songs, Volumes 2 & 3 14. LOVE – The Forever Changes Concert
15. CALEXICO – Feast Of Wire
16. PINK – Try This
17. VARIOUS ARTISTS – He Was Fab: A Loving Tribute To George Harrison
18. BIG SANDY & HIS FLY-RITE BOYS – It’s Time
19. PAUL WESTERBERG – Come Feel Me Tremble
20. MARSHALL CRENSHAW – What’s In The Bag?
SEMI-HONORABLE MENTION
OLDER STUFF
SPECIAL AWARDS
MUSICAL BOOK OF NOTE
1. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – Electric Version
47 minutes of lyrical and, yes, musical non sequiturs on a CD that could easily have been called If It Ain’t Broke. . . Neko makes a Case for being a great background singer too.
In this collection, each artist’s aim is true to the songs themselves, and without Elvis’s
snarl the lyrics become the real star of each track. And not a clinker among ‘em.
Pure, unadulterated, guitar-pop, sugar-coated, fluffy ricecakes.
A crisp and tightly (w)rapped gumbo of New Orleans-style brass band and hip-hop. Unlikely bedfellows, to be sure.
I suppose this could be accused of being a bit on the bland side but a closer listen reveals
a collection of catchy, musically-perfect Midwest jangle that may yet spawn a whole new
genre: Genericana.
The ambitious and occasionally grandiose arrangements occasionally threaten to overwhelm the songs but that soaring voice manages to penetrate it all. Inspirational line of the year: “My phone’s on vibrate for you.”
Today’s power pop artists take it easter and pay their respects to the multi-layered shimmer of the 80’s Southern pop icons.
They say it’s best to retire at the top of your game. Sinead does so gracefully leaving with
one of her best albums. Until the next one, anyway.
On this website-only release RT captures a millennium in under 80 minutes, from medieval dirges to “Oops, I Did It Again”. Engaging and clever.
Guitars still matter. Always will. Themes From a Strummer Place.
Neither as high nor as lonesome as the originals, but good songs in the hands of good singers (all duets) is a formula that shouldn’t miss.
A cool country renegade teams up with an American jam band and falls through all the musical cracks.
While not as strong as last year’s first volume of Dead Man S(w)inging, this continues the motif that no noose is good noose.
Ironical-Lee, Forever Changes changes very little, except that it becomes even grander on the concert stage.
Music that could come from another planet. Like Arizona. More like music from a linguini western.
My guilty pleasure for the year. The Tim Armstrong connection doesn’t hurt (see #10).
Modern bands and their guitars gently weep a tuneful homage to my favorite Beatle. This is not to be confused with a major label piece of crapola that came out this year. Honorable Mention: Various Artists’ Concert For George.
He never fails my list because of crack musicianship, clever songwriting and the smooth vocal stylings of the big guy.
Paul gets in touch with his inner Keith and rocks harder than he has in a long time.
His latest tree to fall in the forest that no one hears. Always the great songsmith.
21. EMMYLOU HARRIS – Stumble Into Grace
22. LUCINDA WILLIAMS – World Without Tears
23. MATTHEW SWEET – the Japanese album
24. RICHARD THOMPSON – The Old Kit Bag
25. GILLIAN WELCH – Soul Journey
ELVIS COSTELLO – Get Happy gets 30 songs happier.
ROLLING STONES – Sympathy For The Devil Remixes – Sympathy For The Dance Floor
BOB DYLAN – the new Blonde On Blonde makes the old one sound like blande on blande.
ELASTICA – The Radio One Sessions
TELEVISION – Marquee Moon, Adventure and Live At The Old Waldorf – Friction, indeed.
Great sound. Beautiful packaging. Nice extras. A class act.
The Longest Suicide Note Ever Award: Elliott Smith’s career
You Really Shot Me: special award for Ray Davies
Songbook by Nick Hornby – He writes with style and humor as a musical Everyfan.
The Full PoOP 2003
Our Fearless Leader's Annual Analysis 2003
THE CONTRIBUTORS
Richard Allen
´01 ´02 ´03
Ken Beck
´01 ´02 ´03
Kent Benziger
´01 ´02 ´03
Paul Cangelosi
´01 ´02 ´03
Brennan Cavanaugh
´02 ´03
Duncan Clark
´01 ´02 ´03
Damian Cleary*
´01 ´02 ´03
Johnny D
´03
Kevin Ferris
´01 ´02 ´03
Jim Finnigan
´01 ´02 ´03
Eric Fine
´01 ´02 ´03
Bob Fino
´01
RoseAnn Fino
´01
Michael Fix
´01
John Greak
´01 ´02 ´03
J.T. Habersaat
´01
Bruce Handschuh
´01
Kathena M. Hasbrouck
´01
Kevin Hodgkiss
´01* ´02  ´03
Michael Hodgkiss
´02 ´03
Andy Jacknick
´02 ´03
Mike Jurkovic
´03
Rick Lange*
´01 ´02 ´03
John Lefsky
´01 ´02 ´03
Susan Lyne
´02 ´03
Andrew Martin
´01 ´01
Rich McBride
´01
Jim Meyers
´01
Mike Miller
´01 ´02 ´03
Matt Nerney
´01 ´02 ´03
Irv Rosen
´01 ´02 ´03
Kerri Rosen
´02
Mark Rosen
´01 ´02 ´03
Raissa St. Pierre
´01 ´02 ´03
Jeff Schwartz
´01 ´02 ´03
Praveen Sharma
´01 ´03
Dave Squillante
´01
John Stewart
´01 ´02 ´03
Bill Still*
´01
Dan Wilmer
´02 ´03
Mark Zip
´01 ´02 ´03
* = pictures (larger files)
Parnassus Records
(our hosts)
Rhino
(for no real reason)
Zip's Ziggurat
Shameless link to a messy site - which will change, soon