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My Favorite Music Of 2003

Liz Phair - Extraordinary
Why Can't I
Liz Phair: Liz Phair
One of my favorite albums of 2003. Phair is still filthy at times (track 11, for example) but I love her voice and her "take no prisoners" attitude, and the songs are all catchy but not too catchy. (Other albums this year that fall in this category are Fountain of Wayne's "Welcome Interstate Managers", Michelle Branch's "Hotel Paper", Nelly Furtado's "Folklore", Blink-182's "Blink-182", Jewel's "0304", and White Stripes' "Elephant".) (*****)
Fefe Dobson - Bye Bye Boyfriend
Bye Bye Boyfriend
Fefe Dobson: Fefe Dobson
If this song were released in the 1970s it would be a staple of classic rock stations. As it is, we'll have to be content in the knowledge that this teen can write and sing far more compelling rock tunes than her peers like Avril. The album has its share of ballads and power chords -- reminds me of what I used to listen to when I was a teenager... (*****)
Kelis - Milkshake
Milkshake
Kelis: Tasty
This song by Nas's girlfriend has one of those hip hop backbeats I just can't get out of my head! On the whole album Kelis has mastered the *single* entendre -- the benefit of having a one track mind. "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard", indeed. (*****)
REM - Bad Day
Bad Day
REM: In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (Special Edition)
"It's been a bad day, please don't take a picture." A great song to listen to whenever I'm in a bad mood; though I like most every REM album, this best-of really is worth the dough. (*****)
Tomoyasu Hotei - Battle Without Honor Or Humanity
Battle Without Honor Or Humanity
Tomoyasu Hotei: Kill Bill: Volume 1
It's featured in the Kill Bill commercial and has a killer backbeat and a great horns section. It reminds me of Uma surrounded by the Crazy 88 thugs brandishing swords -- a scene that, now that I think about it, is quite reminiscent of Keanu surrounded by many replicating Agent Smiths in Matrix: Reloaded. Except, of course, that Uma kills and/or wounds them all. (*****)
Clay Aiken - Invisible
Invisible
Clay Aiken: Measure Of A Man
He should have won American Idol 2 -- his voice is so smooth and accessible, this is the kind of pop music that (gasp) actually has wide appeal. Plus I love his hair. :) (*****)
Beyonce - Baby Boy
Baby Boy
Beyonce: Dangerously In Love
This whole album is super, thanks for asking, but this track featuring Sean Paul and a menacing baseline is my favorite. Apparently a favorite of the U.S. too: it's was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks. (*****)
Outkast - Hey Ya!
Hey Ya!
Outkast: Speakerboxxx
One of the best rap albums of all time. It stretches the genre in all the right ways. These guys have an amazing range of creative talent. Seriously. (*****)

December 31, 2003 at 04:21 PM in Music |

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