Originally written by Sean Adams · 9 December 2003
2003, what a year...
It's nearly over, but not 'til every publication has put together a chart. And why should we be any different? Here's our staff voted summary of the records which meant something and everything in 2003.
Drowned In Sound: Critics Poll 2003
• Radiohead Hail to the Thief
• The Darkness Permission to Land
• Cat Power You Are Free
• Blood Brothers Burn Piano Island, Burn
• Muse Absolution
• Fountains Of Wayne Welcome Interstate Managers
• Funeral For A Friend Casually Dressed and in Deep Conversation
• Zwan Mary Star of the Sea
• Hell Is For Heroes The Neon Handshake
• Elbow Cast of Thousands
• Mogwai Happy Songs for Happy People
• Outkast Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
• Mars Volta De-loused in the Comatorium
• Hot Hot Heat Make up the Breakdown
• White Stripes Elephant
• Dizzee Rascal Boy in Da Corner
• Jane’s Addiction Strays
• Deftones Deftones
• Mew Frengers
• Evan Dando Baby I’m Bored
• Strokes Room on Fire
• The Distillers Coral Fang
• Goldfrapp Black Cherry
• Rilo Kiley The Execution of All Things
• Silver Mt Zion This is our punk rock: thee rusted satellites gather + sing
• Twilight Singers Blackberry Belle
• Broken Family Band Cold Water Songs
• Biffy Clyro The Vertigo of Bliss
• Oceansize Effloresce
• British Sea Power The Decline Of..
• Stellastarr Stellastarr
• Pretty Girls Make Graves The New Romance
• Dandy Warhols Welcome to the Monkey House
• Alkaline Trio Good Mourning
• Marilyn Manson The Golden Age of Grotesque
• UNKLE Never Never Land
• Snow Patrol The Final Straw
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever to Tell
• Broken Social Scene You Forgot it in People
• A Perfect Circle Thirteenth Step
• My Morning Jacket It Stll Moves
• King Geedorah Take Me to Your Leader
• Blur Think Tank
• Postal Service Give Up
• Girls Aloud Sound of the Underground
• Rapture Echoes
• Metallica St. Anger
• Cooper Temple Clause Kick Up The Fire and Let The Flames Break Loose
• Aereogramme Sleep and Release
• Brand New Deja Entendu
• Rufus Wainwright Want One
• The Shins Chutes Too Narrow On Import. UK Release March 2004
• Distophia Soda Lake
• Hidden Cameras The Smell of Our Own
• Azure Ray Hold on Love
• Four Tet Rounds
• Belle And Sebastian Dear Catastrophe Waitress
• M83 Dead Cities Red Seas and Lost Ghosts
• Billy Talent Billy Talent
• B Movie Heroes Anthems for the Underdog
• Ani DiFranco Evolve
• Magnet On Your Side
• Warlocks Phoenix
• Desert Sessions Volumes 9 & 10
• Clearlake Cedars
• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Take them on, on Your Own
• Sole Selling live Water
• Meanwhile, Back In Communist Russia My Elixir: My Poison
• Jetplane Landing Once like a Spark
• Super Furry Animals Phantom Power
• Adam Green Friends of Mine
• Thursday War all the Time
• Peaches Fatherfucker
• The Kills Keep on your Mean Side
• Adult Anxiety Always
The Science Bit...
This chart was compiled from the votes of our staff, who chose their top 20 albums of the year, with number 1 scoring 20 points and number 20 scoring 1 point. There was a two vote minimum to get into the chart. Radiohead scored nearly 200 points.
Some of these records are missing reviews. Reviews will appear on the site in the coming weeks.
DiScuss: What were your albums of the year? Who was robbed? Anything here surprise you? Do you think this chart represents what DiS is all about and what has gone on in 2003?