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Top 15 Albums of 2003
by Fake Train
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1. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium (Gold Standard Laboratories / Universal)
"Inspired by the life and times of Julio Venegas," De-Loused in the Comatorium is hands down one of the best albums of 2003. Omar and Cedric of At the Drive-In fame (which was one of the best bands I have ever seen live) deliver an adventurous release that's just positively fun and addictive to listen to.
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2. Darkest Hour - Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (Victory)
Darkest Hour is simply one of the most electrifying bands to see live (along with the always frenetic crowd involvement). Even though Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation isn't a great deal of a departure from So Sedated, So Secure, it uses the same formula of old, but wraps those Swedish metal influences tightly with growth and a love for the dark side of music. The almost thirteen minute instrumental "Veritas, Aequitas" is worth the price alone.
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3. The Forms - Icarus (Threespheres)
Recorded by Steve Albino, The Forms' grating strums of a crystalline guitar, detached drum beats, and punch-drunk bass rhythms intertwine, and build up raw-boned, brittle-sounding song structures. Icarus' eighteen minutes of frail, angular, indie-rock will provide solace for the downhearted.
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4. Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea (Warner Brothers)
Perhaps my favorite Billy Corgan project to date (well, maybe tied with Siamese Dream). Zwan's rich, layered melodies woven by three guitars are simply lovely—the more guitars the better. It's a crying shame the short-lived outfit is no more, Mary Star of the Sea was a wonderful debut that showcased a promising future for Zwan. What a tease.
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5. Hopesfall - The Satellite Years (Trustkill)
The Satellite Years is as hard-hitting as their No Wings to Speak Of EP, but reveals a more full-fledged, methodical Hopesfall at their finest. Produced by Matt Talbott (singer/guitarist for the breathtakingly Hum), The Satellite Years' end result is superb and seamless. "Escape Pod For Intangibles" is even a Hum inspired track that utilizes the reflections of Hum's massive, spacey guitars, Matt Talbott's rousing vocals (yes, you read right, Matt exclusively sings on this track), and lyrics that you can just picture roll off Talbott's lips, "I left the horizon / curled up and frozen still / the tilting of the hourglass / with all this time to kill." The rest of The Satellite Years discloses Hopesfall's admiration for Hum, injecting their charm into an out-and-out forceful and hard lined sound. The vocals soar and inspire, but plummet at the blink of an eye to equally stirring, gut-wrenching emotive wails.
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6. Cave In - Antenna (RCA)
It's really amazing how Cave In has progressed since their inception. Antenna's huge barrier of guitars and Stephen Brodsky's soaring vocals help create one of the best rock soundtracks to those late night drives under clear, starry nights.
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7. The Postal Service - Give Up (Sub Pop)
The Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel) collabo is a sweet, keyboard driven release that helped me overcome my dislike for electro-pop rock. The guest vocals from Jen Wood on "Nothing Better" is just icing on the cake. Note: "Clark Gable" is a fuckin' great track.
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8. Mae - Destination: Beautiful (Tooth & Nail)
Mae rocks like a slower, more elegant Jimmy Eat World. Lush and dazzling, Destination: Beautiful's aim is simply just that, beautiful melodic rock.
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9. Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (Equal Vision)
I am completely envious of Claudio Sanchez's King Buzzo influenced hair—what a mop! Anyway, besides my hair envy, Coheed and Cambria's second album is an amazing progressive follow-up to The Second Stage Turbine Blade. Claudio's high-pitched vocals rock. The guitar arrangements rock. Live Coheed and Cambria rocks. And did I say Claudio has amazing hair? Rock!
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10. A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step (Virgin)
I love this album so much more than Mer de Noms (though I enjoyed the debut immensely). Sure Mer de Noms contained more aggression and drive, but the haunting, willowy tracks on Thirteenth Step are splendid. It's evolution baby. Unlike the track, "Weak and Powerless," this album is anything but.
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11. Tabula Rasa - The Role of Smith (A-F)
One of Pittsburgh's finest rockers, Tabula Rasa's J. Robbins' produced The Role of Smith is one of the strongest albums to come out of the Steel City since Io's The Willow Snag and Teddy Duchamp's Army's self-titled release. The Role of Smith's tight, dynamic indie-rock includes "The Eating Contest," an amazing instrumental track that brings to mind the sweetness of Ethel Meserve.
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12. Melt-Banana - Cell-Scape (A-Zap)
Punk-rock's most exciting band delivers with their most all-inclusive, unique release that captures well the charm and power of their live performance. Cell-Scape's intoxicating synergy of fast, radical punk and piercing guitar noises clearly separates it from all others.
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13. The Blood Brothers - Burn Piano Island, Burn (Artist Direct)
The Blood Brothers bring spasms of creativity, outbursts of emotional excitement, and probing influxes of guitar frenzied wailing and grating, incited by fucking filthy emotion. Live, The Blood Brothers can't be touched. Yeah, their live show is as red hot as an Atomic Fireball that exorcises the crowd into gyrating, flailing about, and forming cheerleader pyramids (well, maybe just in Pittsburgh).
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14. The Haunted - One Kill Wonder (Earache)
One Kill Wonder is superior in its ability to hammer out fast ruptures of aggression and impeccable tightness among some great mid-tempo grooves that show The Haunted at the zenith of their gift—their ability to create superior, technically proficient, flawless, high-speed metal. By far One Kill Wonder is one of my favorite metal albums of the year.
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15. Elliott - Song in the Air (Revelation)
Sure it's moodier, softer, and more laid-back than their previous releases, but on Song in the Air Elliott shines with Chris Higdon's gorgeous and ethereal voice. Along with cello, violin, viola, and keyboards, Elliott's down tempo, tranquil approach on Song in the Air might make it one of the most stirring albums of the year along with the infectious track, "Away We Drift," that was probably hit with more repeats than any other track this past year. Ah, rock me to sleep Elliott.
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Other releases of 2003 to check out:
Mastodon - Remission (Relapse)
Yeah, Remission was originally released in 2002, but this release for '03 contains one extra track, plus an entire show on a bonus DVD. If the Mines of Moria had a house band, Mastodon would have definitely been the perfect choice.
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Ted Leo - Hearts of Oak (Lookout!)
Ted Leo got soul.
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Pearl Jam - Lost Dogs (Epic)
Contains all your favorite tracks like "Bee Girl," "Hard To Imagine," "Footsteps," "Yellow Ledbetter," "Alone," plus many more. I only wish "Brother" was the original track that contained the vocals rather than the instrumental version found here. Still, Lost Dogs is a must for all PJ fans.
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Spitalfield - Remember Right Now (Victory)
Yeah, they got that Jimmy Eat World vibe going on, but they are far from imitators. Remember Right Now is jam-packed with interesting driving rock that won't disappoint.
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Billy Talent - Self-titled (Atlantic)
You gotta love Benjamin's knife-like vocals that cuts right through your ears' auditory nerves. Billy Talents' Atlantic debut is great angst-filled aggressive punk rock that swells with energy.
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