roxtexanet said on February 11, 2004 01:53:

Oh, what the hell... (-:

1. Per Gessle - “Mazarin” (hands down)
2. The Cardigans - “Long Gone Before Daylight” (brilliant)
3. Madonna - “American Life” (big grower for me, but I think it will be less-loved in the end than “Ray of Light” or “Music”)
4. Sarah McLachlan - “Afterglow” (not a huge fan, but this caught me off guard... great CD!)

That’s it... can’t even think of a fifth CD I bought last year! I disqualified “The Pop Hits” because it’s a compilation, and Texas’ “Careful What You Wish For” because it only came out in Canada in 2004, even though it was a 2003 release for the rest of the world. Other than these four, it was kind of a slow year for music, I think. But 2004 is shaping up to be a good one (-:

powerpoplarry said on February 11, 2004 06:42:

Er, 2003, a SLOW year for music???!!!??? I REALLLY don’t think so, it was one of the BEST years in music in years!! You just had to know where to look....for proof, here is my list of FIFTY best albums, 20 best reissues, 25 best singles, and 20 worst albums of 2003...enjoy and discuss...BTW, I am from New York...I am aware of everything that gets released...import/domestic/etc...

POWERPOPLARRY’s TOP 50 CDs OF 2003

50- FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE—“Welcome Interstate Managers” (S-Curve/Virgin/EMI)
49- BARENAKED LADIES—“Everything To Everyone” (Reprise/Warner Bros/WMG)
48- JOE STRUMMER + THE MESCALEROS—“Streetcore” (Hellcat/Epitaph)
47- CAT POWER- “You Are Free” (Matador)
46- (TIE)THE POLYPHONIC SPREE—“The Beginning Stages Of”(Good Rcrds-Hollywood/UMG)
GRANDADDY—“Sumday” (V2)
45- BERING STRAIT—“Bering Strait” (Universal South/UMG)
44- FEFE DOBSON—“Fefe Dobson” (Lefthook-Island/IDJMG/UMG)
43- (TIE) AL GREEN—“I Can’t Stop” (Blue Note/EMI)
JOSS STONE—“The Soul Sessions” (S-Curve/EMI)
42- IMA ROBOT—“Ima Robot” (Virgin/EMI)
41- (TIE) AMY RIGBY—“Til The Wheels Fall Off” (Signature Sounds)
GEORGE USHER GROUP—“Fire Garden” (Parasol)
40- ROSELYN SANCHEZ—“Borinquena” (Ariola/BMG Latin)
39- JANE—“Close-Up And Real” (Jane Music UK)
38- PLAY—“Replay” (Music World Music/Columbia/Sony)
37- SHERRIE AUSTIN—“Streets Of Heaven” (Broken Bow Entertainment (BBE)/ADA)
36- RUFUS WAINWRIGHT—“Want One” (Dreamworks/Interscope/UMG)
35- VARIOUS—“Eurovision Riga 2003” (CMC/EMI Europe)
34- (TIE) NELLY FURTADO—“Folklore” (Dreamworks/Interscope/UMG)
GLORIA ESTEFAN—“Unwrapped” (Epic/Sony)
33- ALICIA KEYS—“The Diary Of Alicia Keys” (J/BMG)
32- THE SHINS—“Chutes Too Narrow” (Sub Pop)
31- !!!—“Me And Giuliani Down By The Schoolyard” EP (Touch + Go)
30- PINK—“Try This” (Arista/BMG)
29- (TIE) IGGY POP—“Skull Ring” (Virgin/EMI)
BLONDIE—“The Curse Of Blondie” (Epic/Sony UK-Sanctuary/BMG US)
DAVID BOWIE—“Reality” (ISO/Columbia/Sony)
WARREN ZEVON—“The Wind” (Artemis)
EMMYLOU HARRIS—“Stumble Into Grace” (Nonesuch/WMG)
28- OVER THE RHINE—“Ohio” (Back Porch/Virgin/EMI)
27- THE THRILLS—“So Much For The City” (Virgin/EMI)
26- SIMPLY RED—“Home” (simplyred.com-Sony Red Ink)
25- DAMIEN RICE—“O” (Vector-Warner Bros/WMG)
24- THE WHITE STRIPES—“Elephant” (Third Man/V2)
23- CARLA WERNER—“Departure” (Columbia/Sony)
22- THE DANDY WARHOLS—“Welcome To The Monkey House” (Capitol/EMI)
21- HILARY DUFF—“Metamorphosis” (Buena Vista/Hollywood/UMG)
20- (TIE) KYLIE MINOGUE—“Body Language” (Capitol/EMI)
DANNII MINOGUE—“Neon Nights” (London/WMG UK-Ultra US)
19- (TIE) CHEAP TRICK—“Special One” (Cheap Trick Unlimited-Big 3/ADA)
ROONEY—“Rooney” (Geffen/Interscope/UMG)
THE THORNS—“The Thorns” (Aware/Columbia/Sony)
BUTTERFLY BOUCHER—“Flutterby” (A+M/Interscope/UMG)
GAVIN DEGRAW—“Chariot” (J/BMG)
18- PER GESSLE—“Mazarin” + ROXETTE—“Opportunity Nox” + “A Thing About You” singles, plus “Little Miss Sorrow” + “Breathe” tracks from “The Ballad + Pop Hits” (Capitol/EMI Sweden)
17- (TIE) LUCINDA WILLIAMS—“World Without Tears” (Lost Highway/IDJMG/UMG)
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS—“Decoration Day” (New West)
THE JAYHAWKS—“Rainy Day Music” (American/Lost Highway/IDJMG/UMG)
JOHN EDDIE—“Who The Hell Is John Eddie??” (Thrill Show-Lost Highway/IDJMG/UMG)
KINGS OF LEON—“Youth And Young Manhood” (RCA/BMG)
MY MORNING JACKET—“It Still Moves” (ATO/RCA/BMG)
SHELBY LYNNE—“Identity Crisis” (Capitol/EMI)
16- PUFFY AMIYUMI—“Nice” (Epic/Sony Japan-Bar None US)
15- PEACHES—“Fatherfucker” (Kitty-Yo-XL/Beggar’s Group)
14- THE TWILIGHT SINGERS—“Blackberry Belle” (Badman-One Little Indian/Navarre)
13- (TIE) APPLETON—“Everything’s Eventual” (Polydor/UMG UK)
BEYONCE– “Dangerously In Love” (Music World Music/Columbia/Sony)
12- NEW PORNOGRAPHERS—“Electric Version” (Matador)
11- RYAN ADAMS—“Rock N Roll” + “Love Is Hell (Pts 1+2)” (Lost Highway/IDJMG/UMG)
10- MANDY MOORE—“Coverage” (Epic/Sony)
9- (TIE) MICHELLE BRANCH—“Hotel Paper” (Maverick/Warner Bros/WMG)
LIZ PHAIR—“Liz Phair” (Capitol/EMI)
WILSHIRE—“New Universe” (Columbia/Sony)
8- (TIE)LENE—“Play With Me” (Polydor/UMG Denmark + Japan)
NU—“AlphaBravoShockpopDisco!” (Adventures In Music UK-Universal/UMG US)
7- (RNR TIE) THE STAR SPANGLES—“Bazooka!!!” (Capitol/EMI)
GINA GERSHON (+ OTHERS)—“Prey For Rock & Roll” soundtrack (Hybrid/RED)
THE DISTILLERS—“Coral Fang” (Hellcat-Sire/Warner Bros/WMG)
JET—“Get Born” (Elektra/WMG)
THE EVERYOTHERS—“The Everyothers” (Haut Lab/Sony Red Ink)
THE DARKNESS—“Permission To Land” (Atlantic/WMG)
THE STROKES—“Room On Fire” (RCA/BMG)
YEAH YEAH YEAH’S—“Fever To Tell” (Interscope/UMG)
6- THE RAVEONETTES—“Chain Gang Of Love” (Crunchy Frog-The Orchard-Columbia/Sony)
5- (TIE) JUNIOR SENIOR—“D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop The Beat” (Crunchy Frog-Atlantic/WMG)
ELECTRIC SIX—“Fire” (XL/Beggar’s Group)
4- (TIE) THE SOUNDS—“Living In America” (Telegram/WMG Sweden-Scratchie-New Line/ADA US)
THE CARDIGANS– “Long Gone Before Daylight” (Stockholm/Universal Sweden)
3- OUTKAST—“Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” (Arista/BMG)
2- (TIE) DIDO—”Life For Rent” (Cheeky/Arista/BMG)
ANNIE LENNOX—“Bare” (19/J/BMG)
ALEX PARKS—“Introduction” (Polydor/UMG UK)
#1- HOWIE DAY—“Stop All The World Now” (Epic/Sony)

BEST REISSUES OF 2003

20- EAGLES—“The Very Best Of” (Warner Special Marketing (WSM)/Rhino/WMG)
19- PETER GABRIEL—“Hit” (RealWorld-Geffen/Interscope/UMG)
18- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN—“The Essential” + Australian Remasters (Columbia/Sony)
17- RICK SPRINGFIELD—“Legendary” (RCA/BMG Australia)
16- SLAYER—“Soundtrack To The Apocalypse (Deluxe)” (American/IDJMG/UMG)
15- LED ZEPPELIN—“How The West Was Won” + “DVD” (Atlantic/WMG)
14- BOWIE, DAVID—“Sound + Vision” + “Black Tie, White Noise” (Deluxe) (Virgin/EMI)
13- (TIE) THE BEATLES—“Let It Be…Naked” (Apple/Capitol/EMI)
VARIOUS—“Concert For George” (WSM/Rhino/WMG)
RINGO STARR—“Ringo-Rama (Deluxe)” (KOCH)
12- CHICAGO—“The Box (aka Chicago 28)” + catalogue reissues (Rhino/WMG)
11- VARIOUS—“No Thanks!! The 70s Punk Rebellion” (Rhino/WMG)
10- AC/DC—Epic Reissue Program (Epic/Sony)
9- NO DOUBT—“Boom Box” (Interscope/UMG)
8- TALKING HEADS—“Once In A Lifetime” (Sire/Warner Bros/Rhino/WMG)
7- ROXETTE—“The Ballad Hits” + “The Pop Hits” (Limited Editions) (Capitol/EMI Sweden)
6- LISA STANSFIELD—“The Complete Collection”+“Biography: The Greatest Hits” (Arista/BMG)
5- DEAD OR ALIVE—“Evolution: The Hits (Limited Edition)” (Epic/Sony UK)
4- BIG STAR—“Big Star Story” (Rykodisc)
3- JOHNNY CASH—“Unearthed” (American/Lost Highway/IDJMG/UMG)
2- BOB DYLAN—“Remasters SACD Box Set” (Columbia/Sony)
#1- ZZ TOP—“Chrome, Smoke & BBQ: The ZZ Top Box (Shack)” (Warner Bros/Rhino/WMG)

WORST ALBUMS OF 2003

20- BOB GUINEY—“3 Sides” (Wind-Up/BMG)
19- BRITNEY SPEARS—“In The Zone” (Jive/BMG)
18- JOHN MAYER—“Heavier Things” (Aware/Columbia/Sony)
17- DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL—“A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar” (Vagrant/TVT) + ALL EMO in general, BLECH!!!
16- CHINGY—“Jackpot” (Capitol/EMI)
15- RASCAL FLATTS—“Melt” (Lyric Street/Hollywood/UMG)
14- NICKELBACK—“The Long Road” (Roadrunner/IDJMG/UMG)
13- LINKIN PARK—“Meteora” (Warner Bros/WMG)
12- MICHAEL JACKSON—“One More Chance” + “Number Ones” (Epic/Sony)
11- STAIND—“14 Shades Of Grey” (Flip-Elektra/WMG)
10- PUDDLE OF MUDD—“Life On Display” (Flip/Geffen/Interscope/UMG)
9- JUSTIN GUARINI—“Justin Guarini” (19/RCA/BMG)
8- RUBEN STUDDARD—“Soulful” (19/J/BMG)
7- CLAY AIKEN—“Measure Of A Man” (19/RCA/BMG)
6- CELINE DION—“One Heart” + “Une File, 4 Types” (Epic/Sony)
5- BARBRA STREISAND—“The Movie Album” (Columbia/Sony)
4- TRAPT—“Trapt” (Warner Bros/WMG)
3- METALLICA—“St Anger” (Elektra/WMG)
2- LIMP BIZKIT—“Results May Vary” (Flip/Interscope/UMG)
#1- ROD STEWART—“As Time Goes By…The Great American Songbook Vol. II” (J/BMG)

BEST 25 SONGS/SINGLES OF 2003

25- THE SOUNDS—“Like A Lady” (Telegram/Warner Sweden-Scratchie-New Line/ADA US)
24- ANNIE LENNOX—“Pavement Cracks” (19/J/BMG)
23- ELECTRIC SIX—“Danger! High Voltage” (XL/Beggar’s Group)
22- STACIE ORRICO—“Stuck” (Forefront/Virgin/EMI)
21- ROONEY—I’m Shakin’” (Geffen/Interscope/UMG)
20- BARENAKED LADIES—“Another Postcard (Chimps)” (Reprise/Warner Bros/WMG)
19- LIZ PHAIR—“Why Can’t I” (Capitol/EMI)
18- JASON MRAZ—“The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)” (Elektra/WMG)
17- HILARY DUFF—“So Yesterday” (Buena Vista/Hollywood/UMG)
16- MICHELLE BRANCH—”Are You Happy Now?” (Maverick/Warner Bros/WMG)
15- GAVIN DEGRAW—“Follow Through” (J/BMG)
14- NO DOUBT—“It’s My Life” (Interscope/UMG) (KILLER Talk Talk cover!!)
13- THE RAVEONETTES—“That Great Love Sound” (Crunchy Frog-The Orchard-Columbia/Sony)
12– LENE—“It’s Your Duty” (Polydor/UMG Denmark + Japan)
11- WILSHIRE—“Special” (Columbia/Sony)
10- GOOD CHARLOTTE—“Girls + Boys” (Daylight/Epic/Sony)
9– SKYE SWEETNAM—“Billy S.” (Capitol/EMI)
8—FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE—”Stacy’s Mom” (S-Curve/Virgin/EMI)
7– JUNIOR SENIOR—“Move Your Feet” (Crunchy Frog-Atlantic/WMG)
6—SIMPLY RED—“Sunrise” (simplyred.com-Sony Red Ink)
5—MICHELLE BRANCH—“Breathe” (Maverick/Warner Bros/WMG)
4—DIDO—“White Flag” (Cheeky/Arista/BMG)
3—OUTKAST—“Hey Ya!!” (Arista/BMG)
2—HOWIE DAY—“Perfect Time Of Day” (Epic/Sony)
#1- ROXETTE—“Opportunity Nox” (Capitol/EMI Sweden)

kachina008 said on February 11, 2004 09:57:

So powerpoplarry, tell me something ;)
how do you really decide what is #29 vs # 35, and which are tied where? and how much time do u spend on these lists? ;)

Roxlander said on February 12, 2004 17:03:

powerpoplarry, finally I met someone who does that kind of lists as me. In 1989 I decided to do my own charts, because I was sick of bad music in first places, and I wanted a sort of journal of what I like in certain time.

That year, and 1990, I made a final year hit parade of my hobbies, I mean music, movies and soccer. But in 1991 I started my own Week Hit Parade, so every week I make a ranking of fave songs (English and Spanish), with my own rules as you do. At the end of the year I make a final list for that year, and I include movies and soccer again :-)

Some people don’t understan why I do this, and why I spend time in something like that. But this is important for me, I enjoy it doing it, and after fifteen years it’s part of my life already, and I guess it will always be :-)

roxtexanet said on February 14, 2004 01:17:

@powerpoplarry: Nope, haven’t heard Mandy’s or Beyonce’s albums, just the singles. I’ve never liked one single thing I’ve heard from Mandy Moore, but I suppose she could surprise me yet (the Barenaked Ladies did when they released “Maroon!”). “Crazy in Love” was fun, but I haven’t liked anything I’ve heard since from Beyonce’s album. My girlfriend has FeFe’s album... just sounds like a not-very-good Avril Lavigne (who isn’t all that good, either, in my opinion!) to me. “Take Me Away” and “Bye Bye Boyfriend” were over-exposed up here (she’s Canadian, after all) so I’m probably harder on her than I should be, but I just don’t hear what all the fuss is about. I’m very glad to hear, though, that you’ve found so much music you can enjoy out there.

Have you had a chance to check out ANET? She’s a well-respected song-writer/musician from Vancouver and her latest album, “Talented Girl,” is available on Sextant/EMI in Canada and on TB Records/BMG in the UK. I think you will like her because she focusses above all else on strong melodies. Some of her music is a little on the heavier side and some of it is more organic... she’s kind of like Pink or Michelle Branch in that sense, I guess. She’s the songwriter behind Tom Cochrane’s “Sinking Like a Sunset” and he’s recorded several of her other songs. She’s amazing, let me know what you think! You can stream some of her tracks from this page:

http://www.artistlaunch.com/artist4.asp?artistid=4466

Too bad that mp3.com went down... she had about 10 songs uploaded there... )-: