James
Baumann:
February,
2004

Due to illness, holiday madness, general procrastination, and the nagging feeling that there were still a few discs out there that I needed to hear to make my research complete, I hereby apologize for the lateness of this list and gratefully submit the (most likely) last "Best of 2003" list you're gonna see.

This year there was no clear-cut "number one" as there has been in the past. At the same time, it was difficult to pare my selections down to just ten. And, as usual, my list has a definite tilt toward the pop side of things leading me to once again wonder why radio continues to be resistant to music loaded with hooks and melodies (once the very definition of "radio friendly").

Grand Champeen, The One That Brought You (Glurp)

Remember when you could say a band played "rock and roll" and you didn't have to qualify it with some modifier like alt, emo, math, post, etc.? These lads from Austin certainly do and they gleefully churn it out with heart, hooks, and a delightful rough-around-the-edges charm. Standout Tracks: "The Good Slot," "Bottle Glass," "The Rest of the Night," "Matilda's Lament," "Memory Loss / Throwing Rice"

Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros Streetcore (Hellcat)

It isn't nostalgia or sentiment that motivates me to include this disc. It's the solid selection of songs that simply proved what everyone feared: that there was still a lot of great music to come from Joe Strummer. From the rave-up of "Coma Girl," to the country ode to Mr. Cash "Long Shadow," to the bluesy reggae of "Get Down Moses," the disc covers a lot of ground. No matter the genre, though, the passion and strength behind their delivery is pure Strummer and that makes it special. Standout Tracks: "Coma Girl," "Silver and Gold," "Long Shadow," "Burnin' Streets," "Arms Aloft"

The New Pornographers, Electric Version (Matador)

The most vibrant and buoyant disc of the year, this one delivers the goods with a distinct sound. There are times where the keyboards and guitars might be a bit shrill, but those are few and far between. More so, this is a disc that dares you to be in a bad mood as it spins. It's a splendid brand of pop and when Neko Case's soaring voice joins in, everything moves up a notch. Standout Tracks: "The Laws Have Changed," "From Blown Speakers," "Miss Teen Wordpower," "All For Swinging You Around"

Johnny Society, Life Behind the 21st Century Wall (Messenger)

Johnny Society is surprising with a unique sound that is comprised of bits and pieces that sound sort of familiar, but never in this combination. Are they soulful? Are they jazzy? Are they country? Are they pop? Trying to describe them to friends all year long would literally reduce me to stammering and stuttering until I finally would blurt out, "You just need to hear them." And I can't believe my wife got to open for them while I ended up at home with babysitting duty that night. Fortunately, reports say they are nice people who sound as good live as they do on record. Standout Tracks: "Trust," "Get Off My Farm," "Mommy In the Flowers," "Popular Man"

Paul Westerberg, Come Feel Me Tremble (Vagrant)

I'm not going to work too hard to defend Grandpaboy's blues outing from this year, but I will go to the mat to declare *Come Feel Me Tremble* as a return to form for Mr. Westerberg. Yeah, it would probably be a good idea for him to find someone a bit more adept behind the drum kit in the future. But his writing is loose and his phrases are turning cartwheels. Replacements fans can again buy without fear. Standout Tracks: "Hillbilly Junk," "Meet Me Down the Alley," "Crackle & Drag," "Making Me Go"

The Twilight Singers, Play Blackberry Belle (Birdman)

On his first foray away from the Afghan Whigs, Greg Dulli mixed a little too much world music influence into the songs for my taste. On this sophomore disc, though, he's gone back to being the bad boy who lurks in the shadows, never making it too clear if he's a seducer or a stalker. He still works the quiet/loud dynamic as well as anyone, usually anchored by relatively-simple mood-setting piano fills and sustained guitar notes. Add in some strong guest appearances by people like Petra Haden and Mark Lanegan (who makes Dulli sound downright cheery) and you've got a winning disc. Standout Tracks: "Teenage Wristband," "Follow Your Down," "Papillon," "Decatur St."

The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop)

The indie-rock question of the year was "How will the Shins follow up their debut smash?" As far as I'm concerned they outdid it by maintaining their unique sound and sensibilities while actually crafting more "songs" and fewer atmospheric pieces. No two songs really sound alike, yet the album remains unified. An added plus: the riff in "Turn A Square" confirmed the Kinks' influence on the band which was much more subliminal before. Standout Tracks: "Turn A Square," "Mine's Not A High Horse," "Gone For Good," "Fighting In A Sack"

The Thrills, So Much For the City (Virgin)

This is one of those discs that I needed to hear to make this list complete and justify the missed deadline. By now most are familiar with the band's story: A group of Irishmen pack up and head to California, birthplace of the sunny pop that they love, looking for inspiration (and a tan, I assume). They come back with a collection of tunes that is so West Coast you can almost feel the sand between your toes. Layers of instrumentation - usually sneaking some mandolin, banjo, or other appropriately stringed instrument to give it a slight Parsons-esque country-rock vibe - build the songs up and support the smooth vocals. It doesn't knock you over the head, but pulls you into its arms. Standout Tracks: "Say It Ain't So," "Big Sur," "Your Love Is Like Las Vegas"

The Tyde, Twice (Rough Trade)

I certainly hope The Tyde and The Thrills had a chance to go surfing together or something because both bands certainly share a musical kinship. But while The Thrills had to cross the ocean to find their muse, The Tyde's has always been right in front of them: a bit of the Beach Boys, a dose of the Dead, a gram of Gram. This record just breezes by all too quickly. Standout Tracks: "Henry VII," "Blood Brothers," "A Loner," "Go Ask Your Dad"

Bettie Serveert, Log 22 (Palomine / Hidden Agenda)

This one came out early in the year, but I never forgot about it. The Velvet Underground vibe is still here along with Carol Van Dyk's distinctive voice. Backed with an exceptional rhythm section and guitar parts that are alternately buzzing and chiming, they are more than able to deliver a variety of styles: pop, torch ballads, dance floor beats, and marathon rave-ups. Standout Tracks: "White Dogs," "Wide Eyed Fools," "Log 22," "Not Coming Down," "The Ocean, My Floor"

RIGHT ON THE CUSP

84 Nash, A Secret Reward (Insect Siren)

They used to be called the baby Guided By Voices. Well, this disc is better than the last three GBV releases (and don't get me started on Pollard's solo stuff).

Cobra Verde, Easy Listening (ScamCity / Muscle Tone)

If I made my list over tomorrow, this disc would probably jump into the top 10. The song "Riot Industry" might have been my favorite of the year - certainly none was played any louder on my stereo - as J. Mascis delivers an incredible guitar solo. And "Whores" would probably make my top 20 fave songs. And there's plenty of other good ones as well. These lists aren't carved in stone, are they?

The Minders The Future's Always Perfect (Future Farmer)

The sound is a bit more raw than some of their other recent albums, but it's still great pop. Only eight songs? Don't hold out on us.

Starlight Mints, Built On Squares (Pias)

Another hard-to-describe outfit, but I know I keep liking what they offer up. Delightfully off-kilter.

Mendoza Line, If They Knew This Was the End (Bar/None)

Could very well deserve a place in the Top 10 as well, but it was a reissue and we don't want to start messing with those rules now, do we? Next thing you know, Fountains of Wayne is a "best new artist" in 2004.

Pernice Brothers, Yours, Mine & Ours (Ashmont)

Did not hold me as tight all the way through as previous offerings have, but still included a couple tracks - "The Weakest Shade of Blue" and "One Foot In the Grave" for example - that owned me.

______________________________________________________

To reach any other page contained in this month's update on Fufkin.com, read the home page for the appropriate link and click on it. You can also search the site from any page using the search box located at the top of each page. Merely type in the word, phrase, name of the band, recording, name of the Fufkin writer that you are looking for or Whatever in the search box, and then click on "Search". If you would like to e-mail us, go to the About Us page for a list of e-mail addresses.

Go back to the home page by clicking here

______________________________________________________