Okay, so here’s MY list… #20: PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES – “The New Romance” (Matador) PGMG were a band that had a big underground buzz coming into 2003, and when they released their Matador debut, they did not disappoint. Even MTV2 took notice showing them on a recent airing of Advance Warning. “This is Our Emergency” is a great track with an addictive beat…very good for high speed driving! #19: OUTKAST – “Speakerboxx/The Love Below” (Arista) “I don’t care what the other candidates say, I don’t think OUTKAST is really breaking up…Andre 3000 and Big Boi just cut solo records, that’s all” – Gen. Wesley Clark. When Presidential candidates are even talking about you, it’s fairly certain that you have a hit record(s) on your hands. While Andre’s “Hey Ya” is without a doubt one of the biggest songs of 2003, check out “Speakerboxx”…it’s definitely the better of the 2. #18: AFI – “Sing the Sorrow” (Dreamworks) The more feminine Davey gets, the more albums AFI sells. Safe money says he will be an all-out transvestite the next time they release an album. In all seriousness though, AFI’s army of fans came out in force this year, told everyone they know to buy the album, and everyone who saw their videos must have bought it too, because sales were incredible for them. There’s tons of mosh and singalongs on this album too. #17: CAVE IN – “Antenna” (RCA) So Kevin Wade finally got his way and I listened to these guys, and he was right…they are great. “Antenna” was a pleasant surprise for me, and I can see what all the talk was about. RCA certainly could do more to push these guys. #16: THE SOUNDS – “Living In America” (Warner Music Sweden) Oh man, party it up! THE SOUNDS are bringing it back…way back to the old school. “Seven Days a Week” is such a great 80′s throwback. Here’s an album that I can just throw on and listen to straight through without an urge to change the track. #15: THE BRONX – “White Drugs” (Ferret) THE BRONX had quite a few fans here at Pastepunk this year, one of whom was this Boogy Down Bronx-born staffer. “White Drugs” is what AC/DC would have sounded like if they had been a post hardcore band. As one of the bigger surprises from a smaller label in 2003, THE BRONX are sure to keep on killing. #14: MONEEN – “Are We Really Happy With Who We Are” (Vagrant) Here’s a band that was recommended to me by a friend, and I was extremely pleased after my first listen of “The Passing of America,” which would appear on our soundtrack for “Beer: The Movie.” MONEEN plays indie rock in the style of THE GET UP KIDS circa-2000. “Are We Really Happy With Who We Are” is a fine musical work, and was a fixture in my 2003 playlist. #13: PAINT IT BLACK – “CVA” (Jade Tree) Dr. Dan Destroys Denver! Well, if he did destroy the fine city of Denver, and he probably could, this album would be fitting as a soundtrack for the carnage. PAINT IT BLACK goes the hardcore route in the aftermath of KID DYNAMITE, and damn me if they didn’t do it well. If you didn’t hear this album this year, I don’t even want to talk to you. #12: PARK – “It Won’t Snow Where You’re Going” (Lobster) PARK and Lobster have a real winner here…I just hope a lot of people take notice. “Day One and Counting” is an incredible song, and I really see good things ahead for these guys. Buy this album folks! #11: THE NEW AMSTERDAMS – “Worse For the Wear” (Vagrant) Light-years ahead of their debut release, “Worse For the Wear” is a great piece of music. I probably wore this cd out over a monthlong NEW AMSTERDAM binge. “Spoils of the Spoiled,” “All Our Vice,” and “Poison in the Ink” are three of the better songs of this fine year in music, so if you don’t have it, you should check it out. This is the best stuff any of THE GET UP KIDS side projects has ever put out. It’s probably even better than THE GET UP KIDS, post-”Four Minute Mile.” #10: ATMOSPHERE – “Seven’s Travels” (Epitaph) Yes, Yes, Yes…Hip Hop lives! ATMOSPHERE, who is also featured on the “Beer: The Movie” soundtrack, put out the best rap album of 2003 here. The beats on here are fantastic and the lyrics are true, and that’s the most important thing in music to me, be it either punk, hardcore, or hip hop. Don’t tell me about how big your rims are, tell me something real for once…thank you Slug and thank you ATMOSPHERE. #9: ORANGE ISLAND – “S/T” (Triple Crown) Could Triple Crown do any wrong in 2003? As if they didn’t have enough gold teeth on their roster, ORANGE ISLAND blew me away with an awesome self-titled LP. This is a true progression in sound and it’s a statement for what other bands should aspire to be. This album doesn’t sound like the rest of the pack, and because of that, it doesn’t go stale after multiple listens. Damn…I’m trying to think of the soundtrack they were on this year, umm…oh yeah, “Beer: The Movie!” #8: GUSTER – “Keep It Together” (Reprise) There is no better opening song in 2003 than “Diane.” I absolutely adore this album, and I think you should buy it when you finish reading this list, because if you leave now, that’s just plain rude man. “Amsterdam” is definitely on the list of best songs of the year. #7: NONE MORE BLACK – “File Under Black” (Fat) Get the toilet paper because I think I just crapped myself. This is the ultimate driving album…no doubt about it! While PAINT IT BLACK went the hardcore road, NONE MORE BLACK went down the melodic hardcore/punk road in the wake of KID DYNAMITE. This album is next level awesome. #6: THE POSTAL SERVICE – “Give Up” (Sub Pop) And now for something completely different…This album gently squeezes into the #6 spot in between 2 fast and loud kickass albums. THE POSTAL SERVICE has one of the brightest futures on this list I think because of the people behind it. THE POSTAL SERVICE brought something so melodic to the table this year, I think I got addicted. #5: SCRAPS AND HEART ATTACKS – “Still Sick” (Triple Crown) Here’s the home of the hands down song of the year, “Don’t F With S.” I knew these guys had great potential, but I had no idea their debut would be this damn good. People who don’t even listen to hardcore told me they loved this album. This is just another notch in Long Island’s championship belt. The good part is, these guys are still in their infancy, and one can only hope for more. #4: THE DARKNESS – “Permission To Land” (Must Destroy Music/Atlantic Records) I’m going to say this in as simple terms as possible…when you have more than one album with creatures humping your mothership, guitars falling from the ceiling or rising from lakes during solos, and smoking guitars with lightning shooting from them during the most excellent riffs, you are sure to be awesome. What helps this band is how awesome their music is. “Growing On Me” and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” do not get old…I think they’ve been on repeat on my playlist for 2 months now. This is our modern day QUEEN, so you’d better enjoy it! #3: THE MOVIELIFE – “Forty Hour Train Back to Penn” (Drive-Thru) First the bad news, this is the last full length from THE MOVIELIFE. Now the good news, it was amazing. THE MOVIELIFE leaves us with a legacy of great music, and while their obituary as a band has been read, we are sure to hear more from the ex-members. “Forty Hour Train Back to Penn” was long overdue when it was released this past February, and it was everything I thought it would be. I could make this a MOVIELIFE praise paragraph, but I’ll let this album do it’s own talking. The last two tracks, “Keep Never Changing” and “Ship to Shore,” are my favorites…how appropriate from this band to leave on such a great note. #2: THRICE – “The Artist in the Ambulance” (Island/Def Jam) There isn’t a person on Earth I know of that didn’t love this album. “The Artist in the Ambulance” is the greatest work so far we’ve heard from THRICE, and I can only hope they can progress on their next album the way they did leading up to this one. “All That’s Left” and “Stare at the Sun” were two great choices for singles on this album. This is one powerful work of art, and I’m probably preaching to the choir when I say that, because you probably all feel the same way. #1: BRAND NEW – “Deja Entendu” (Triple Crown/Razor and Tie) There was no doubt in my mind when I first heard this album, that BRAND NEW was on a rocket ship bound for some world other than the one I know of. It’s hard to pick a favorite song off this album, I’m not sure if I can. I can’t say that this album contained the best song, because I don’t feel it did. Why is it the album of the year then? Because it’s an album, a full work, in it’s entirety. It isn’t perfect, but it’s not supposed to be. This is a moving album…when you finish listening to it, you don’t feel the same as you did when you started listening to it, no matter what your mood is. If you are happy, it might make you sad…if you are sad, it might make you happy. Kudos to BRAND NEW for this album. I knew not to expect another “Your Favorite Weapon,” which was upsetting and exciting. A lot of people were turned off by all the hype around this band and this album, which is pretty sad. Nobody else’s opinions, not even mine, matter here, so close your door, ignore all distractions, and devote your time to listening to this album straight through…then you’ll understand why I can’t put this album into words. Other Categories… Song of the Year: #3: GUSTER – “Diane” #2: THE MOVIELIFE – “Keep Never Changing” #1: SCRAPS AND HEART ATTACKS – “Don’t F With S” Comp of the Year: #3: V/A – Atticus: Dragging the Lake II #2: KID DYNAMITE – Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems #1: V/A – “Beer: The Movie” – Official Soundtrack Most Anticipated Release of 2004: PETER TOH – “Cleopatra” THE SUPERFRIENDS – TBA Best Website of 2003: homestarrunner.com (So I needed to give it an award, so what?) Until next year, God bless the music!