So it’s that time again, when lists are compiled of what was best this year. I’d love to hear what Dopers thought was the best album of 2003.
My nomination is The Love Below, by Andre 3000 from Outkast. Yeah, it was only one disk of a double album, and I liked Speakerboxxx a lot, but it wasn’t nearly as addictive as The Love Below. Andre outPrinces Prince in this album-long paean to the trials and tribulations of love.
Personal highlights: “Happy Valentine’s Day”-- I love the idea of Cupid Valentino shooting people with his pistol when his arrows don’t penetrate, and who can resist that beat? “Hey Ya”–this song sounds all bouncy, but it’s really about the angst and suffering that occurs when you love someone but things aren’t going well; you don’t want to lose them but you know you’re in denial. “Good Day Sir”–just silly, and it cracks me up. “Dracula’s Wedding”–Oh, how true it is! The toughest mofo in the world is terrified of the girl he loves. “A Life in the Day of Benjamin Andre”–catchy and autobiographical.
This album is funky as hell, and all of the songs capture a true-life feeling, especially the ambivalent roller coaster ride of love. She may live in his lap, but this CD lives in my CD player.
Please, please won’t someone else on the planet buy this album, and let me know if this band is really the most amazing band ever, or if I’m just hallucinating the whole thing?
Her Majesty, The Decemberists (The Decemberists) is awesome. So is The Love Below (Andre of Outkast). So is Hail To The Thief (Radiohead). So is The Lemon Of Pink (The Books). So is The Civil War (Mathmos).
But topping my list so far is definately Up In Flames by Manitoba. Euphoric, gigantic, melodic, powerful, graceful, light as a feather. Wow.
Yours, Mine and Ours by the Pernice Brothers. A close second was Welcome Interstate Managers by Fountains of Wayne, which I am sure someone will come along to nominate any minute now.
It’s not just because I’m Canadian, but I do think we can lay claim to three of the best albums of this year: Electric Version by The New Pornographers, Reconstruction Site by The Weakerthans, and the most mind-blowing, eclectic, wistful, and heartbreaking album of the past year, You Forgot It In People from the Broken Social Scene.
And on the other side of the border, I’ll also mention Death Cab for Cutie’s epic Transatlanticism and the charming Rainy Day Music from The Jayhawks.
Yea, the Weakerthans and The New Pornographers albums were great. But the best so far is a late comer - the absolutely stunning UNEARTHED box set from Johnny Cash. 4 CD’s of all new material (although a few songs are new versions of older classics, but the majority are never before heard), along with a 5th CD of highlights from his years at American Records.
Some of the songs are just about the best things he’s EVER done, with a few good appearances from the likes of Perkins, Nick Cave, and Fiona Apple. There’s also his cover of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”, a duet with none other than JOE fuckin STRUMMER (another tragic loss).
As for the Outkast double CD - I tried, really tried, to understand what all the fuss was about. Everyone and their grandma was cheering for this as the second coming of Jesus or something, but aside from 3 or 4 songs, didn’t do much for me.
