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For over thirty five years the album had been the dominant format for rock music.  Sure, you could purchase physical single tracks in stores up until the mid 1990’s, but ever since 1967 and “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”, the album reigned supreme. 2oo3 was a pivotal year in the pendulum shift back to single tracks, largely due to the opening of the iTunes store in April of ’03.  Though MP3’s had been legally and illegally available for several years, the iTunes store gave the music fan and easy and relatively inexpensive way to purchase music- to be able to cherry pick a great track off of a not so great album was decidedly a good thing!  Though there were plenty of great albums released in 2003, the year stands out more for its great and abundant singles including two of the most enduring hits of the decade- “Hey Ya!” by Outkast and “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, both playing constantly at a summer wedding near you.  Some other excellent singles (their corresponding albums certainly vary in quality) include “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior, “Toxic” by Britney Spears, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness, “It’s My Life” by No Doubt, “Milkshake” by Kelis, “Never Leave You- Uh Ooh, Uh-Ooh” by Lumidee and “Pump It Up” by rapper Joe Budden.  The music industry had not seen a more singles dominated year since arguably the early sixties, when full albums were almost always made up of filler surrounding a few hits.

2003 had more very good and even great albums than most years but it probably lacks the one of two definitive albums that can end up defining a year.  My favorite albums, the Shins “Chutes Too Narrow” and the Wrens “Meadowlands” are too understated (the former) or unknown (the latter).  The White Stripes “Elephant” is a great album and probably the group’s most popular, but it’s probably their 2nd or 3rd best.  The Strokes “Room On Fire”, also great, is too similar to their even better debut.  Outkast’s “Speakerboxx/The Love Below” is certainly epic in concept, but it’s too disjointed and far from the group’s best work.  “Hail to the Thief” is good enough for most band’s to be able to call it their best work, but it winds up somewhere in the middle for the mighty Radiohead.

Other great and or notable releases coming out of the indie rock sector include “Thickfreakness” by Akron’s the Black Keys, the group’s second album and the first to give them prominence, Canadian indie-rock supergroup the New Pornographer’s “Electric Version”- ditto, the debut from Portland punk revivalists the Exploding Hearts with “Guitar Romantic”, a dead ringer for the 1977 version of the Buzzcocks, and “Hearts of Oak”, indie guitar God Ted Leo & the Pharmacists second and best album.  Brooklyn buzz band the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s also released their much hyped debut “Fever to Tell”, which contains their signature song “Maps”, another stand-out song of the year for ’03.  Death Cab for Cutie released their last album on an indie label before heading to Atlantic records and “Transatlanticism” is still arguably their best.  Deathcab’s singer Ben Gibbard, combined with electronic musician Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel to form the Postal Service and their one off album “Give Up”, was an even bigger hit than “Transatlanticism:- it was certainly an important year for Gibbard.  “Give Up” has proven to be a one off recording with no follow up in site to this day.  Talented and eccentric Brooklyn band TV On the Radio and Arcade Fire both released their first EP’s.  Brooklyn singer song-writer released “Michigan: the Great Lakes State”, his first in a planned fifty albums for fifty states (still holding at two).  Portland’s the Decemberists released their 2nd album “Her Majesty the Decemberists”, which helped to raise the band’s profile- it was unthinkable at the time that a band this offbeat and literary would have a #1 album eight years later.  Beautiful and enigmatic singer Cat Power released “You Are Free”, perhaps her best full length as well.  ’03 was also a big year for indie dancing as the Rapture’s “Echoes” was released, containing their signature song from the previous year “House of Jealous Lovers”, though to be the key track in the short lived dance punk movement started in Brooklyn.  Hey, anything to get the hipsters to stop staring at their shoes while watching a live show!

’03 was also big on the rap front.  In addition to the aforementioned Outkast and Beyonce, Jay-Z released “The Black Album”, said to be his last album before his retirement (a lie!).  “The Black Album” was one of his very best albums and brought him more mainstream appeal than he had ever previously achieved.  50 Cent released his monster debut album “Get Rich Or Die Trying”, though overrated, it was a commercial juggernaut and contains his signature song “In Da Club”, another monster ’03 single.  Some other great rap tracks from the year were “Pass That Dutch” by Missy Elliott, “A.D.I.D.A.S.” by Atlanta’s Killer Mike, and “Rubberband Man” by fellow Atlantan T.I., his first big single paving the way for commercial domination later in the decade.  Yet another Atlantan “Ludacris” had the great “Stand Up” from his album “Chicken & Beer”.  A big year for the dirty south!  The most original rap release of the year was by teenage Londoner Dizzee Rascal.  His debut album “Boy In Da Corner” would bring notoriety to U.K. rap and Rascal would become the biggest face of the U.K. grime scene, which would remain a influential creative force in rap for the rest of the decade.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Fever to Tell

Buy Fever to Tell – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Buy Fever To Tell [Explicit]Amazon

Cat Power- You Are Free

Buy You Are Free – Cat Power

Buy You Are Free Amazon

Belle & Sebastian- Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Buy Dear Catastrophe Waitress – Belle and Sebastian

Buy Dear Catastrophe WaitressAmazon

The New Pornographers- Electric Version

Buy Electric Version – The New Pornographers

Buy Electric VersionAmazon

The Rapture- Echoes

Buy Echoes – The Rapture

Buy EchoesAmazon

The Strokes- Room On Fire

Buy Room On Fire – The Strokes

Buy Room On FireAmazon

Drive-By Truckers- Decoration Day

Buy Decoration Day – Drive-By Truckers

Buy Decoration DayAmazon

The Exploding Hearts- Guitar Romantic

Buy Guitar Romantic – The Exploding Hearts

Buy Guitar Romantic Amazon

Broadcast- HaHa Sound

Buy Haha Sound – Broadcast

Buy Haha SoundAmazon

The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow

Buy Chutes Too Narrow – The Shins

Buy Chutes Too Narrow Amazon

Death Cab for Cutie- Transatlanticism

Buy Transatlanticism – Death Cab for Cutie

Buy TransatlanticismAmazon

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- Hearts of Oak

Buy Hearts of Oak – Pharmacists & Ted Leo

Buy Hearts Of OakAmazon

Outkast- Speakerboxx/The Love Below

Buy Speakerboxxx / The Love Below – OutKast

Buy Speakerboxxx/The Love Below [Explicit]Amazon

The White Stripes- Elephant

Buy Elephant – The White Stripes

Buy ElephantAmazon

My Morning Jacket- It Still Moves

Buy It Still Moves – My Morning Jacket

Buy It Still MovesAmazon

The Wrens- The Meadowlands

Buy The Meadowlands – Wrens

Buy The Meadowlands Amazon

The Black Keys- Thickfreakness

Buy Thickfreakness – The Black Keys

Buy ThickfreaknessAmazon

Radiohead- Hail to the Thief

Buy Hail to the Thief (Deluxe Version) – Radiohead

Buy Hail To The Thief (Collector’s Edition) [+Digital Booklet] Amazon

The Postal Service- Give Up

Buy Give Up – The Postal Service

Buy Give UpAmazon

Jay-Z- The Black Album

Buy The Black Album – Jay-Z

Buy The Black Album [Explicit]Amazon

Best of 2003 Volume 1 (6/24/04)

1.  Outkast- Hey Ya!

Buy Hey Ya! (Radio Mix/Club Mix) – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Buy Hey Ya! (Radio Mix/Club Mix)Amazon

2.  Beyonce’ (Feat. Jay-Z)- Crazy in Love

Buy Crazy In Love – Dangerously In Love

Buy Crazy In Love Amazon

3.  Junior Senior- Move Your Feet

Buy Move Your Feet – D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat

Buy Move Your Feet (Album Version) [Explicit]Amazon

4.  Dizzee Rascal- Fix Up, Look Sharp

Buy Fix Up, Look Sharp – Boy In da Corner (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Fix Up, Look Sharp [Explicit] Amazon

5.  The Rapture- House of Jealous Lovers

Buy House of Jealous Lovers – Echoes

Buy House Of Jealous LoversAmazon

6.  Electric Six- Danger! High Voltage!

Buy Danger! High Voltage – Fire

Buy Danger! High Voltage Amazon

7.  The Shins- Kissing the Lipless

Buy Kissing the Lipless – Chutes Too Narrow

Buy Kissing The Lipless (Album)Amazon

8.  The Strokes- Reptilia

Buy Reptilia – Room On Fire

Buy ReptiliaAmazon

9.  The Raveonettes- That Great Love Sound

Buy That Great Love Sound – Chain Gang of Love

Buy That Great Love SoundAmazon

10.  The White Stripes- The Air Near My Fingers

Buy The Air Near My Fingers – Elephant

Buy The Air Near My Fingers Amazon

11.  Lucinda Williams- Sweet Side

Buy Sweet Side – World Without Tears

Buy Sweet Side Amazon

12.  Cat Power- Free

Buy Free – You Are Free

Buy FreeAmazon

13.  The Postal Service- The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Buy The District Sleeps Alone Tonight – The District Sleeps Alone Tonight – EP

Buy The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Album)Amazon

14.  Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- The Ballad of a Sin Eater

Buy The Ballad of the Sin Eater – Hearts of Oak

Buy The Ballad Of The Sin EaterAmazon

15.  The New Pornographers- The Laws Have Changed

Buy The Laws Have Changed – Electric Version

Buy The Laws Have Changed Amazon

16.  Radiohead- 2+2=5

Buy 2 + 2 = 5 – Hail to the Thief

Buy 2 + 2 = 5Amazon

17.  Jay-Z- 99 Problems

Buy 99 Problems – The Black Album

Buy 99 Problems [Explicit] Amazon

18.  The Wrens- Everyone Choose Sides

Buy Everyone Choose Sides – The Meadowlands

Buy Everyone Choose Sides Amazon

19.  The Exploding Hearts- Sleeping Aides and Razor Blades

Buy Sleeping Aides & Razorblades – Guitar Romantic

Buy Sleeping Aides and Razorblades Amazon

20.  Guided By Voices- The Best of Jill Hives

Buy The Best of Jill Hives – Earthquake Glue

Buy The Best Of Jill HivesAmazon

21.  The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Maps

Buy Maps – Fever to Tell

Buy MapsAmazon

Best of 2003 Volume 2 (7/1/04)

1.  Missy Elliott- Pass That Dutch

Buy Bomb Intro/Pass That Dutch – This Is Not a Test!

Buy Bomb Intro/Pass That Dutch (Explicit Album Version)Amazon

2.  Outkast- Ghetto Musick

Buy GhettoMusick (Radio Mix) – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Buy GhettoMusick (Club Mix) [Explicit]Amazon

3.  The Distillers- Drain the Blood

Buy Drain the Blood – Coral Fang

Buy Drain The Blood (Album Version) Amazon

4.  Les Savy Fav- Obsessed with the Excess

Buy Obsessed With the Excess – Inches

Buy Obsessed With the ExcessAmazon

5.  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- We’re All in Love

Buy We’re All In Love – Take Them On, On Your Own

Buy We’re All In Love [Explicit]Amazon

6.  Dizzee Rascal- I Luv You

Buy I Luv You – Boy In da Corner (Bonus Track Version)

Buy I Luv U [Explicit] Amazon

7.  The Darkness- I Believe in a Thing Called Love

Buy I Believe in a Thing Called Love – Permission to Land (Bonus Track)

Buy I Believe In A Thing Called LoveAmazon

8.  The Strokes- You Talk Way Too Much

Buy You Talk Way Too Much – Room On Fire

Buy You Talk Way Too MuchAmazon

9.  The Wrens- This Boy is Exhausted

Buy This Boy Is Exhausted – The Meadowlands

Buy This Boy is Exhausted Amazon

10.  Cat Power- I Don’t Blame You

Buy I Don’t Blame You – You Are Free

Buy I Don’t Blame YouAmazon

11.  The White Stripes- There’s No Home for You Here

Buy There’s No Home for You Here – Elephant

Buy There’s No Home For You Here Amazon

12.  The Drive-By Truckers- Hell No, I Ain’t Happy

Buy Hell No, I Ain’t Happy – Decoration Day

Buy Hell No, I Ain’t HappyAmazon

13.  No Doubt- It’s My Life

Buy It’s My Life – The Singles 1992-2003

Buy It’s My Life Amazon

14.  The Shins- So Says I

Buy So Says I – Chutes Too Narrow

Buy So Says IAmazon

15.  British Sea Power- Remember Me

Buy Remember Me – The Decline of British Sea Power

Buy Remember MeAmazon

16.  The Exploding Hearts- Modern Kicks

Buy Modern Kicks – Guitar Romantic

Buy Modern KicksAmazon

17.  Jay-Z- Dirt Off Your Shoulder

Buy Dirt Off Your Shoulder – The Black Album

Buy Dirt Off Your Shoulder [Explicit] Amazon

18.  Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- The High Party

Buy The High Party – Hearts of Oak

Buy The High PartyAmazon

19.  The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Y Control

Buy Y Control – Fever to Tell

Buy Y ControlAmazon

20.  Fountains of Wayne- Bright Future in Sales

Buy Bright Future In Sales – Welcome Interstate Managers

Buy Bright Future In Sales Amazon

21.  The Thrills- Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)

Buy Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far) – So Much for the City

Buy Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)Amazon

Best of 2003 Volume 3 (11/5/05)

1.  The Postal Service- Such Great Heights

Buy Such Great Heights – Give Up

Buy Such Great Heights (Album)Amazon

2.  Basement Jaxx (Feat. Dizzee Rascal)- Lucky Star

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Lucky Star (featuring Dizzee Rascal)Amazon

3.  Britney Spears- Toxic

Buy Toxic – In the Zone

Buy ToxicAmazon

4.  Outkast- Spread

Buy Spread – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Buy Spread [Explicit]Amazon

5.  Kelis- Milkshake

Buy Milkshake (Radio Mix) – Tasty

Buy MilkshakeAmazon

6.  Jay-Z- What More Can I Say

Buy What More Can I Say – The Black Album

Buy What More Can I Say [Explicit] Amazon

7.  The Rapture- Sister Savior

Buy Sister Savior – Echoes

Buy Sister Saviour Amazon

8.  The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Date with the Night

Buy Date with the Night – Fever to Tell

Buy Date With The NightAmazon

9.  The Strokes- 12:51

Buy 12:51 – Room On Fire

Buy 12:51 (Album) Amazon

10.  The Black Keys- Set You Free

Buy Set You Free – Thickfreakness

Buy Set You FreeAmazon

11.  The Drive-By Truckers- Do It Yourself

Buy Do It Yourself – Decoration Day

Buy Do It YourselfAmazon

12.  The White Stripes- I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself

Buy I Just Dont Know What to Do With Myself – Elephant

Buy I Just Don’t Know What To Do With MyselfAmazon

13.  The Wrens- Hopeless

Buy Hopeless – The Meadowlands

Buy HopelessAmazon

14.  Alicia Keys- If I Ain’t Got You

Buy If I Ain’t Got You – The Diary of Alicia Keys

Buy If I Ain’t Got YouAmazon

15.  The Decemberists- Los Angeles, I’m Yours

Buy Los Angeles, I’m Yours – Her Majesty The Decembrists

Buy Los Angeles, I’m YoursAmazon

16.  The Exploding Hearts- Boulevard Trash

Buy Boulevard Trash – Guitar Romantic

Buy Boulevard Trash Amazon

17.  The Shins- Turn a Square

Buy Turn a Square – Chutes Too Narrow

Buy Turn A square (Album)Amazon

18.  Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- Hearts of Oak

Buy Hearts of Oak – Hearts of Oak

Buy Hearts Of OakAmazon

19.  Radiohead- There, There

Buy There There – Hail to the Thief

Buy There, ThereAmazon

20.  My Morning Jacket- Golden

Buy Golden – It Still Moves

Buy GoldenAmazon

21.  Kings Of Leon- Molly’s Chambers

Buy Molly’s Chambers – Youth and Young Manhood

Buy Molly’s ChambersAmazon

Best of 2003 Volume 4 (11/6/05)

1.  The Constantines- Shine a Light

Buy Shine a Light – Shine a Light

Buy Shine A Light (Album) Amazon

2.  Arcade Fire- Headlights Shine Like Diamonds

Buy Headlights Look Like Diamonds – Arcade Fire EP

*Track not available via Amazon

3.  The Black Keys- Have Love Will Travel

Buy Have Love Will Travel – Thickfreakness

Buy Have Love Will Travel Amazon

4.  The New Pornographers- All for Swinging You Around

Buy All for Swinging You Around – Electric Version

Buy All For Swinging You Around Amazon

5.  Guster- Amsterdam

Buy Amsterdam – Keep It Together

Buy Amsterdam (Album Version) Amazon

6.  Kings Of Leon- California Waiting

Buy California Waiting – Youth and Young Manhood

Buy California WaitingAmazon

7.  My Morning Jacket- Mahgeetah

Buy Mehgeetah – It Still Moves

Buy MahgeetahAmazon

8.  Lucinda Williams- Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings

Buy Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings – World Without Tears

Buy Real Live Bleeding Fingers And Broken Guitar Strings Amazon

9.  Radiohead- A Punch Up at a Wedding

Buy A Punch Up At a Wedding – Hail to the Thief (Deluxe Version)

Buy A Punch Up At A WeddingAmazon

10. Outkast- War

Buy War – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Buy War Amazon

11.  Jay-Z- Encore

Buy Encore – The Black Album

Buy EncoreAmazon

12.  Dizzee Rascal- Jezebel

Buy Jezebel – Boy In da Corner (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Jezebel [Explicit]Amazon

13. Basement Jaxx (Feat. Siouxsie Sioux)- Cish Cash

*Track not available via iTunes

Buy Cish Cash Amazon

14.  TV On the Radio- Satellite

Buy Satellite – Young Liars – EP

Buy SatelliteAmazon

15.  Death Cab for Cutie- Tiny Vessels

Buy Tiny Vessels – Transatlanticism

Buy Tiny VesselsAmazon

16.  The White Stripes- I Want to be the Boy Who Warms Your Mother’s Heart

Buy I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother’s Heart – Elephant

Buy I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother’s Heart Amazon

17.  Blur- Out of Time

Buy Out of Time – Think Tank

Buy Out Of Time [Explicit]Amazon

18.  The Shins- Gone for Good

Buy Gone for Good – Chutes Too Narrow

Buy Gone For GoodAmazon

19.  The Wrens- She Sends Kisses

Buy She Send Kisses – The Meadowlands

Buy She Sends KissesAmazon

Best of 2003 Volume 5 (3/28/09)

1.  The Strokes- What Ever Happened?

Buy What Ever Happened? – Room On Fire

Buy What Ever Happened?Amazon

2.  The White Stripes- Seven Nation Army

Buy Seven Nation Army – Elephant

Buy Seven Nation ArmyAmazon

3.  The Wrens- Faster Gun

Buy Faster Gun – The Meadowlands

Buy Faster GunAmazon

4.  Cat Power- He War

Buy He War – You Are Free

Buy He War Amazon

5.  Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- Where Have All the Ride Boys Gone?

Buy Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? – Hearts of Oak

Buy Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone? Amazon

6.  The Unicorns- Tuff Ghost

Buy Tuff Ghost – Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?

Buy Tuff GhostAmazon

7.  Caribou [formerly Manitoba]- Hendrix with KO

Buy Hendrix With KO – Up In Flames (Bonus Version)

Buy Hendrix with KOAmazon

8.  The Rapture- I Need Your Love

Buy I Need Your Love – Echoes

Buy I Need Your Love Amazon

9.  Outkast- Happy Valentine’s Day

Buy Happy Valentine’s Day – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Buy Happy Valentine’s Day Amazon

10.  Killer Mike (Feat. Big Boi)- A.D.I.D.A.S.

Buy A.D.I.D.A.S. – A.D.I.D.A.S. – Single

Buy A.D.I.D.A.S. (Clean Album Version)Amazon

11.  Jay-Z- Public Service Announcement (Interlude)

Buy Public Service Announcement (Interlude) – The Black Album

Buy Public Service Announcement (Interlude)Amazon

12.  Joe Budden- Pump It Up

Buy Pump It Up – Joe Budden

Buy Pump It Up [Explicit]Amazon

13.  Goldfrapp- Strict Machine

Buy Strict Machine – Black Cherry

Buy Strict MachineAmazon

14.  Belle & Sebastian- Step Into My Office, Baby

Buy Step Into My Office, Baby – Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Buy Step Into My Office, BabyAmazon

15.  Death Cab for Cutie- Expo ’86

Buy Expo ’86 – Transatlanticism

Buy Expo ’86Amazon

16.  Sufjan Stevens- Say Yes! To Michigan!

Buy Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! – Greetings from Michigan – The Great Lake State (Deluxe Version)

Buy Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! Amazon

17.  Jens Lekman- Black Cab

Buy Black Cab – Maple Leaves – EP

Buy Black CabAmazon

18.  The Shins- Saint Simon

Buy Saint Simon – Chutes Too Narrow

Buy Saint Simon (Album)Amazon

19.  The New Pornographers- Miss Teen Worldpower

Buy Miss Teen Wordpower – Electric Version

Buy Miss Teen Wordpower Amazon

20.  Radiohead- A Wolf At the Door

Buy A Wolf At the Door – Hail to the Thief (Deluxe Version)

Buy A Wolf At The DoorAmazon

Best of 2003 Volume 6 (3/29/09)

1.  Death Cab for Cutie- The New Year

Buy The New Year – Transatlanticism

Buy The New Year Amazon

2.  The New Pornographers- Electric Version

Buy The Electric Version – Electric Version

Buy The Electric VersionAmazon

3.  The Exploding Hearts- Throwaway Style

Buy Throwaway Style – Guitar Romantic

Buy Throwaway StyleAmazon

4.  The Postal Service- Brand New Colony

Buy Brand New Colony – Give Up

Buy Brand New Colony (Album)Amazon

5.  M83- Run Into Flowers

Buy Run Into Flowers – Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts

Buy Run Into FlowersAmazon

6.  Super Furry Animals- Hello Sunshine

Buy Hello Sunshine – Phantom Power

Buy Hello Sunshine Amazon

7.  Missy Elliott- I’m Really Hot

Buy I’m Really Hot – This Is Not a Test!

Buy Ragtime Interlude/I’m Really Hot (Explicit Album Version) Amazon

8.  50 Cent- In Da Club

Buy In da Club – Get Rich or Die Tryin’

Buy In Da Club [Explicit] Amazon

9.  T.I.- Rubberband Man

Buy Rubber Band Man – Trap Muzik (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Rubber Band Man (Clean Edit)

10.  Lumidee- Never Leave You- Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh

Buy Never Leave You – Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh! – Almost Famous

Buy Never Leave You – Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh! (Main) Amazon

11.  Deerhoof- Dummy Discards a Heart

Buy Dummy Discards a Heart – Apple O’

Buy Dummy Discards A Heart Amazon

12.  The Wrens- Boys, You Won’t

Buy Boys You Won’t – The Meadowlands

Buy Boys, You Won’t Amazon

13.  Belle & Sebastian- If She Wants Me

Buy If She Wants Me – Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Buy If She Wants MeAmazon

14.  Jens Lekman- Maple Leaves (Ep Version)

Buy Maple Leaves – Maple Leaves – EP

Buy Maple Leaves Amazon

15.  The Shins- Fighting in a Sack

Buy Fighting in a Sack – Chutes Too Narrow

Buy Fighting In A Sack (Album) Amazon

16.  Camera Obscura- Suspended from Class

Buy Suspended from Class – Underachievers Please Try Harder

Buy Suspended From Class Amazon

17.  Saturday Looks Good to Me- Alcohol

Buy Alcohol – All Your Summer Songs

Buy Alcohol Amazon

18.  My Morning Jacket- One Big Holiday

Buy One Big Holiday – It Still Moves

Buy One Big HolidayAmazon

19.  The Drive-By Truckers- Outfit

Buy Outfit – Decoration Day

Buy OutfitAmazon

20.  The Decemberists- The Chimbley Sweep

Buy The Chimbley Sweep – Her Majesty The Decembrists

Buy The Chimbley Sweep Amazon

21.  The Strokes- The End Has No End

Buy The End Has No End – Room On Fire

Buy The End Has No EndAmazon

Best of 2003 Volume 7 (6/18/11)

1.  Panjabi MC (Feat. Jay-Z)- Mundian To Back Ke (Beware of the Boys) (Remix)

Buy Beware of the Boys (Mundian to Bach Ke) – Stick It (Original Soundtrack)

Buy Beware (Jay-Z Remix)Amazon

2.  David Banner- Cadillac on 22’s

Buy Cadillac On 22’s – Mississippi: The Album

Buy Cadillac On 22’s [Explicit]Amazon

3.  Jaylib- The Red

Buy The Red – Champion Sound – Complete Set

Buy The Red – Champion Sound – Complete SetAmazon

4.  Outkast (Feat. Sleepy Brown)- The Way You Move

Buy The Way You Move (Club Mix) – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Buy The Way You Move (Club Mix) [Explicit] Amazon

5.  R. Kelly- Ignition (Remix)

Buy Ignition (Remix) – Now That’s What I Call the 2000’s

Buy Ignition (Remix) Amazon

6.  Mu- Let’s Get Sick

Buy Let’s Get Sick – Afro Finger & Gel

Buy Let’s Get Sick [Explicit]Amazon

7.  Caribou [formerly known as Manitoba]- Bijoux

Buy Bijoux – Up In Flames (Bonus Version)

Buy BijouxAmazon

8.  Ellen Allien- Trashscapes

Buy Trash Scapes – Berlinette

Buy Trash Scapes Amazon

9.  Matthew Dear- Dog Days

Buy Dog Days – Leave Luck to Heaven

Buy Dog Days Amazon

10.  Belle & Sebastian- Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Buy Dear Catastrophe Waitress – Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Buy Dear Catastrophe Waitress Amazon

11.  Broadcast- Pendulum

Buy Pendulum – Haha Sound

Buy PendulumAmazon

12.  Radiohead- Myxomatasis

Buy Myxomatosis – Hail to the Thief (Deluxe Version)

Buy MyxomatosisAmazon

13.  The Unicorns- Jellybones

Buy Jellybones – Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?

Buy JellybonesAmazon

14.  Deerhoof- L’amour Stories

Buy L’Amour Stories – Apple O’

Buy L’Amour StoriesAmazon

15.  The Black Keys- Hard Row

Buy Hard Row – Thickfreakness

Buy Hard Row Amazon

16.  Les Savy Fav- Yawn, Yawn, Yawn

Buy Yawn, Yawn, Yawn – Inches

Buy Yawn, Yawn, YawnAmazon

17.  The Libertines- Don’t Look Back Into the Sun

Buy Don’t Look Back Into the Sun – Time for Heroes – The Best of The Libertines (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Don’t Look Back Into The SunAmazon

18.  The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Rich

Buy Rich – Fever to Tell

Buy Rich Amazon

19.  The White Stripes- Black Math

Buy Black Math – Elephant

Buy Black MathAmazon

20.  Sufjan Stevens- The Upper Peninsula

Buy The Upper Peninsula – Greetings from Michigan – The Great Lake State (Deluxe Version)

Buy The Upper Peninsula Amazon

Best of 2003 Volume 8 (6/19/11)

1.  Ludacris- Stand Up

Buy Stand Up – Chicken-N-Beer

Buy Stand Up [Explicit]Amazon

2.  Lil’ Kim- The Jump Off

Buy The Jump Off – The Jump Off – Single

Buy The Jump Off (Album Version) [Explicit] Amazon

3.  Freeway (Feat. Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z)- What We Do

Buy What We Do – Philadelphia Freeway

Buy What We Do [Explicit] Amazon

4.  Alicia Keys- Karma

Buy Karma – The Diary of Alicia Keys

Buy KarmaAmazon

5.  Four Tet- As Serious As Your Life

Buy As Serious As Your Life – Rounds

Buy As serious as your lifeAmazon

6.  M83- 0078h

Buy 0078H – Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts

Buy 0078hAmazon

7.  Mylo (Feat. Freeform Five)- Muscle Car

Buy Muscle Car – Destroy Rock & Roll

Buy Muscle Car (Radio Edit)Amazon

8.  The Black Keys- Thickfreakness

Buy Thickfreakness – Thickfreakness

Buy Thickfreakness Amazon

9.  The Fiery Furnaces- Two Fat Feet

Buy Two Fat Feet – Gallowsbird’s Bark

Buy Two Fat Feet Amazon

10.  Death Cab for Cutie- We Looked Like Giants

Buy We Looked Like Giants – Transatlanticism

Buy We Looked Like Giants Amazon

11.  Iron & Wine- Such Great Heights

Buy Such Great Heights – Such Great Heights – EP

Buy Such Great Heights – Such Great Heights – EPAmazon

12.  The Rapture- Heaven

Buy Heaven – Echoes

Buy Heaven Amazon

13.  Broadcast- Colour Me In

Buy Colour Me In – Haha Sound

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14.  Caribou [Formerly known as Manitoba]- Jacknuggeted

Buy Jacknuggeted – Up In Flames (Bonus Version)

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15.  Lightning Bolt- Dracula Mountain

Buy Dracula Mountain – Wonderful Rainbow

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16.  Ward 21- Petrol

Buy Petrol – Ragga Ragga Ragga 2003

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17.  Viktor Vaughn- Saliva

Buy Saliva – Vaudeville Villain

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18.  The Shins- Mine’s Not A High Horse

Buy Mine’s Not a High Horse – Chutes Too Narrow

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19.  Sun Kil Moon- Carry Me Ohio

Buy Carry Me Ohio – Ghosts of the Great Highway

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