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From Ace Contributor, Meg Gerrity:
It’s My New Favorite Band
The music industry may be drowning in lawsuits and lost sales, but I feel like the luckiest girl to own a Discman when I look at all the good stuff that came out in 2003. The albums below may not have been the best to come out, but they were the ones I most enjoyed and the ones still spinning in that Discman, months later.
#1- The White Stripes – Elephant
This is how good Elephant is. Every time a track from the album comes on—at a party, on the radio, in a store, on MTV—I stop. Even if it’s a single I’ve heard a thousand times before (hello, “7 Nation Army”) or a less played track (the anthemic intro to “There’s No Room For You Here”, the simple sound of Meg’s voice in “In the Cold, Cold Night”), I unconsciously stop whatever I’m doing. The music subsumes everything and it’s impossible not to listen. And when I’m listening it’s as though I’m hearing the album for the first time, not knowing where the music is going to go or what the next turn of phrase will be. Elephant is a contradiction—familiar and unknown, comforting and alienating, simple and complex—and that’s why it’s my #1 album of the year.
#2 -The Thermals – More Parts Per Million
The White Stripes are my pick of the year, but I’m in love with the Thermals. Every song on this album hurtles ahead at 100 mph in perfect punk-influenced, raw emotion, lo-fi, indie rock style. And the lyrics are even better. These guys (and girl) should be huge. Go buy their album right now. Let’s make it happen.
#3- The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
I didn’t love it as much as Oh, Inverted World, but it was still great. While the music is as sunny as ever, a touch of bitterness seems to have infiltrated the Shins’ obtuse lyrics, and the added world-weariness works for the band. The more I hear it, the more I like it.
#4 -Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever to Tell
I hate the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I saw them play in 2001 and between the screeching and prancing and bad homemade 80's fashion they were a parody of a “hip” Brooklyn band. Two years later, my friend forced me to listen to the album and I heard “Maps” and I realized that no one can ever write a song about a broken heart that’s better than that. Then I realized that the rest of the album is filled with tracks that are nearly as good. Then I spent the next six months eating my words.
#5- Metric – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?
I could listen to the song “Combat Baby” every single day for the rest of my life and still not get tired of it. Luckily, the rest of the album is pretty fantastic too.
#6 -The Fever – Pink on Pink
Definitely “of the moment” (electroclash80sraveuprevivalgo!), but still, definitely good.
#7 -Stellastarr* - Stellastarr*
Yeah, what Stacey said.
#8 -Irving – Hope You’re Feeling Better Now
I always forget how much I like this band until I hear one of their songs, on a mix or on the radio, and I get really excited and run to the playlist to find out who the song’s by. “Oh, Irving, of course. That’s why I like it.” Sunny, warm, and fun.
And though no one asked, my top five favorite singles of the year:
#1 – Jet “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”
There’s a reason it’s in all those ads and MTV promos. And a reason I’m still not sick of it.
#2 – Electric Six “Danger, High Voltage!”
Jack White or no Jack White, it’s everything a single should be: danceable, singable, immediately recognizable, and a little weird.
#3 – Outkast “Hey Ya”
A given. Plus the video rocked.
#4 – Beyonce “Crazy in Love”
Maybe it’s the rising beat in the chorus that never hits a crescendo. Maybe it’s how ubiquitous the song was, creeping into my head without me initially realizing what it was. Maybe it’s that she’s singing about Jay-Z, for god’s sake. Whatever it is, there you go.
#5 – The Distillers “Drain the Blood”
Who knows if this will hold up six months from now, but as of today, I can’t get enough of this song, despite the fact that I’ve definitely gotten enough of Brody Armstrong.
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