The 2003 chart has finally arrived! How many of these are in your collection?
Looking for last year's list? Check out 2002.
- 4 Way Street ~ Pretzel Park
- Bob Walkenhorst ~ The Beginner
- The Damnwells ~ Bastards of the Beat
- Loveless ~ Gift to the World
- Matthew Sweet ~ Kimi Ga Suki
- Will Hoge ~ Blackbird on a Lonely Wire
- Drive-By Truckers ~ Decoration Day
- Grand Champeen ~ The One That Brought You
- Jesse Malin ~ The Fine Art of Self-Destruction
- The Jayhawks ~ Rainy Day Music
- John Eddie ~ Who the Hell is John Eddie
- Steve Earle ~ Just an American Boy
- Steve Poltz ~ Chinese Vacation
- Fountains of Wayne ~ Attention Interstate Managers
- Matthew Ryan ~ Across the Wires
- Supagroup ~ Supagroup
- Ryan Adams ~ Rock N Roll/Love Is Hell
Click for the 2003 Single Sweepstakes
4 Way Street is the convergence of four songwriters from Philadelphia, each with their own style. Jim Boggia is the spiritual heir of Harry Nilsson, Scott Bricklin and Ben Arnold are students of Philly soul, while Joseph Parsons stands in the shadows of Bob Dylan. Together they weave incredible pop harmonies with solid musicianship and exceptional song-writing.
The irony of the title will be lost on most as Bob Walkenhorst is anything but a beginner. Having spent the mid-80’s doing the major-label dance with the Rainmakers, Walkenhorst finally returns with this self-produced gem. The stripped down production lets the sophistication and intellect of his songwriting shine. Having found the true essence of creating music, Walkenhorst is now holding down a weekly gig in Kansas City. If only Kansas City weren’t so far away…
The Damnwells are ones to watch in 2004. Bastards of the Beat is filled with ballads and full-on rockers, mostly about the challenges of romantic relationships. Singer-songwriter Alex Dezen lets each verse build in intensity before exploding into catchy choruses. He has a knack for catchy hooks and the overall effect is reminiscent of early 1990’s Paul Westerberg.
If you were to apply a thin layer of polish to the Smashing Pumpkins, you’d probably end up with Loveless. This album is 1980’s-era alternative guitar rock at its finest. Dave Wanamaker’s songs pack a punch, but the secret weapon is Jen Trynin’s guitar and backing vocals. If you miss the Catherine Wheel, this is the album for you.
Sweet recorded this album in about a week as a thank you gift for his Japanese fans. And quite a gift it is! Sweet re-captures the creative peak of 1991’s Girlfriend with a new batch of power pop songs packaged in crunchy guitars. Featuring the Girlfriend-era band, the album will satisfy any power pop craving.
Nashville puts its best foot forward with Will Hoge. His songwriting and live performances are in the Bruce Springsteen tradition, while his voice is reminiscent of Elvis Costello. Not a bad mix. Blackbird on a Lonely Wire is full of brawny rockers with a few acoustic-based ballads thrown into the mix.
Mike Cooley sums it up best in “Marry Me”, “Just cause I don’t run my mouth don’t mean I got nothing to say…” In true Trucker’s tradition, it’s the guitars doing most of the talking. Behind the guitar blasts are songs of pain and loss, covering the gamut from failed relationships to dealing with suicide.
While the Damnwells channel Paul Westerberg’s solo career, Grand Champeen are clearly the heirs of the Replacements throne. With a storied reputation for gritty, guitar-powered live performances, the Champeen are finally hitting stride with their albums. The songs, mostly 2-3 minute power bursts, are full of sloppy guitars and explosive solos.
Call him the Bard of the Underground. The album was recorded in just a week, giving the album a raw sound that matches the ragged nature of Malin’s songs. His songwriting digs below the surface to get at the character’s vulnerabilities and emotions.
The Jayhawks just get better with age. From 1992’s “Waiting on the Sun” (from Hollywood Town Hall) to 2000’s “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (from Smile ), the Jayhawks consistently write some of the best roots songs around. This year’s Rainy Day Music is no different, filled with acoustic-based songs that are heavy on vocal harmonies and heavenly melodies. “Save It for a Rainy Day” is among the top singles of the year.
Imagine Melissa Etheridge with a roundhouse sense of humor. Eddie got some airplay with the Chris Isaak knock-off “Let Me Down Hard”, but if you dig a bit deeper on the album you find the true gems. Check out the opening lines to “Family Tree” – “Daddy hit the bottle, Momma hit the roof. They must’ve hit it off, I’m the living proof.”
Just an American Boy is a great portrait of Earle as a songwriter and an activist. The songs on this double disc span the gamut of Earle’s incredible recording output – acoustic folk songs, bluegrass, and angry rockers. It also showcases Earle’s strident activism on democracy, unions and the death penalty.
A long over-due solo release from Poltz, the consummate entertainer. The album centers on Poltz’s acoustic guitar and sense of humor. From live favorite cover of TLC’s “Waterfalls” (a live favorite) to his own “Stax” (“You can keep most of the records, Leave me the Motown and the Stax”), he instill’s each song with energy, spirit, vitality, life.
By now, everyone has heard “Stacy’s Mom”, a once infectious but now ubiquitous radio hit. Yet “Stacy’s Mom” is only the tip of the iceberg for a band long known for catchy songs and smart lyrics. Case in point: the lead-off track Mexican Wine paints an entertaining picture with the line “he was killed in a cellular phone explosion”. No less than Elton John is one of their biggest fans.
Long a sentimental favorite, Ryan finally delivers the rock album that I’ve been craving. The guitars, however, are just the packaging for Ryan’s exceptional lyricism. His songs, mostly about the intricacies of relationships, take an Earnest Hemingway approach to lyrics – minimalist but full of meaning.
Call this a guilty pleasure. Staking out their place somewhere between early Van Halen and AC/DC, these four gents from New Orleans know how to rock. The guitar blasts behind songs like “Rock and Roll Tried to Ruin My Life” and “What’s Your Problem” pack a punch, but the melodies are mighty fine.
Rock and Roll is the sound of Ryan Adams giving his record label the finger. The story goes that Ryan gave his record label the songs that became Love Is Hell, intending it to be the follow-up to 2001’s Gold. The label balked and insisted that he go back to the studio.
The result? Adams’ fans get two solid albums. Rock and Roll fits the title with songs that capture the spirit of 1980’s (“So Alive”) and 1970’s (“Shallow”) rock. Love is Hell parts 1 & 2 are filled mostly with ballads, including a mournful cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall”. If Adams had culled the best tracks from all three albums into a single release, he would have had the album of the year.
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“Marry Me” – Drive-By Truckers – this song would top the list if only for one lyric that always makes me smile: “Just because I don’t run my mouth, don’t mean I got nothing to say.” Couple it with a triple guitar wail and more sharp lyrics and you’ve got a contemporary classic. |
| “Save It for a Rainy Day” – Jayhawks |
| “Just Leaving” – Bob Walkenhorst |
| “Several Thousand” – 4 Way Street |
| “Ocean In-Between” – Matthew Sweet |
| “Secondhand Heart” – Will Hoge |
Date Last Updated: 02/17/2004 (Back to Top)