Top Ten Albums of 2003

Hey, whaddaya know, a top ten albums of the year list! Surely no one’s ever thought to do something as unique as this before. Despite the abundance of said lists, it just wouldn’t be a year-end wrap-up issue without my $.02.

One album that I had assumed would make this list before it was even released was Fountains of Wayne’s Welcome Interstate Managers. Fountains are a terrific and incredibly talented band, and after 1999’s wonderful Utopia Parkway, I was sure we were in for another masterpiece. Despite overwhelming critical praise, I think Welcome Interstate Managers is the disappointment of the year. It’s not that it’s a bad album; Fountains are incapable of such a transgression. It’s just that after the first three tracks, especially the awesome “Stacy’s Mom,” the rest of the album is, well, kinda boring. Nothing else even reaches the energy level of “Stacy’s Mom.” Obviously this is meant to be a more “mature” album, and the concept idea about working stiffs is clever, but the songs don’t carry as much weight for me as they did on their previous albums.

This list is obviously going to be somewhat one-sided, but until record labels start sending us free copies I’m only going to be able to review albums that I’ve purchased. Now that I’ve bored you enough that you’d actually rather be doing work than procrastinating at this site, here are the top albums of the year:

10) Brand New: Deja Entendu – This one took a couple of spins to really get into, but I’ve come to love it. One of the most intelligent, pompous and scathingly funny pop-punk albums ever written, Brand New have taken the oft-limited genre to another level. By playing with tempos and traditional song arrangements, they’re reinvigorated the genre and raised the bar for future bands. Highlights include “Okay I believe you, but my Tommy gun don’t,” and “The quiet things that no one ever knows.” This is what blink-182’s latest record should’ve sounded like.

9) AM Radio: Radioactive – Fronted by Rivers Cuomo’s good friend Kevin Ridel, this band wears its Weezer influence proudly. The songs rock a bit harder, and Ridel’s voice is the band’s secret weapon. He shows some serious range, and the band’s knack for a great hook is never more evident than on the wondrously spacey “Media Life."

8) The New Pornographers: Electric Version – One of the most bizarre yet unique bands out there. The New Pornos are usually classified as a power pop act, and with at least five hooks per song, it’s a fairly appropriate label, although the energy, court jester-like vocals and chord changes that abound in each song almost bring their music to another level. Not only are the New Pornos a great band unto themselves, but they also occasionally employ country chanteuse Neko Case’s astounding vocal chords, adding to an already dynamic sound.

7) Pete Yorn: Day I Forgot – After an astounding debut album, almost anything Yorn released for his sophomore record was going to be viewed as something of a disappointment. After the first few listens it seemed as if Yorn had lost some of the magic, but it subsequently became apparent that he was still on top of his game, if a bit subdued. This is a remarkable record, full of the wonderful songwriting we’ve come to know and love from Yorn, and solidifies his status as one of the preeminent singer-songwriters of our generation. It’s clear that Yorn anticipates having a long and fruitful career; even the artwork on the compact disc itself is exactly the same as "Musicforthemorningafter," with that classic, old-school 60s feel. If this is a “weaker” release from Yorn, we’re in for a treat when he actually busts out the A material.

6) MxPx: Before Everything and After – Veterans of the pop-punk scene, they’ve been putting out insanely catchy records for over 10 years. While the lyrics often read as if ripped from a high schooler’s diary, the music is MxPx’s bread and butter. Even the most hackneyed “she broke my heart” song sounds ass-kickingly good when given the MxPx treatment. This is their most versatile record yet, as they’ve broken somewhat from the standard formula by adding strings to a few tracks and employing friends from Good Charlotte, the Ataris and New Found Glory for backing vocal duty. If you love melodic pop-punk, you won’t be disappointed.

5) The Ataris: So long, Astoria – Just an all-around classic pop-punk album. Singer Kris Roe & Co. aren’t exactly re-inventing the wheel, but with songwriting chops like they have, there’s no need to. Hooks abound, and the lyrics are more mature than a lot of the cookie-cutter pop-punk kids are being weaned on these days. There’s not a track to be skipped here, and “Unopened Letter to the World” and “Looking Back on Today” are two of the best songs of the year.

4) NOFX: The War on Errorism – The most respected punk band of this generation, they’re still putting out records that are 99% better than everyone else’s. Who else writes a concept album about the Bush administration sucking? Lead singer Fat Mike has never been one to shy away from voicing his political views, and this record will make you laugh, think, and acquire dirty looks from people as you subconsciously sing these ridiculously catchy songs out loud.

3) White Light Motorcade: Thank You, Goodnight – Despite whatever gullible rock critics are saying about the Strokes, this is the best rock and roll album of the year. White Light also hails from Manhattan, except they actually know how to write songs and kick ass. Kicking off with the incredible “Open Your Eyes,” this album is electric from beginning to end, and the vocals and musicianship are superb. Carrying on in the vein of the legendary but relatively unknown Marvelous 3, with any luck White Light will become hugely popular in a few years.

2) Rooney – This eponymous record from the California quintet is the debut of the year. Every song on this album is perfect, and their brand of soaring power-pop is unrivaled. When each individual track can elicit a distinct vibe, whether its channeling the melodies and harmonies of the 60s (“Blue Side,” “If It Were Up to Me”), pop culture commentary (“Popstars”) or the feeling of a hot summer day as you drive around with the top down (“Stay Away”), you know you’ve got a terrific record. Singer Robert Carmine’s vocals are incredible, and the band’s hooks are dynamic and insanely catchy. With a debut this strong, I can’t even fathom how amazing their future releases will be. Rooney may turn out be the Beatles of our generation.

1) Pernice Brothers: Yours, Mine and Ours – Does anyone in the world have a more gorgeous voice than Joe Pernice? Blessed with heavenly pipes, Pernice could sing the TiVo instruction booklet and I’d be enraptured. Not only can the man sing, but he can write. Pernice Brothers’ music is true ear candy: catchy, beautiful, hook-filled pop. If you consider yourself a human being, you should purchase this record as soon as possible. The opportunity to hear Pernice harmonize with himself is reason enough to buy "Yours, Mine and Ours." The record never lets you down, and after a while you start to wonder if he has an endless supply of amazing songs. We can only hope.