Three Imaginary Girls

Seattle's Indie-Pop Press – Music Reviews, Film Reviews, and Big Fun

You Are Here

Imaginary Scoop

Best of 2003: All Imaginary Top 10 Lists of the Voters

no Comments

If you took the time and effort to send us your list of 10 {or so} favorite albums of the year, we figured the least we could do is post it. So… here they are, in alphabetical order by voter… your favorite albums of 2003!

{Forget amazon.com personalization — use this list to find some favorite new music… or friends/loved ones. Just call us imaginary match-makers, musical or otherwise…}

Adam McDaid, Director of Photography for Unsung

  • Grandaddy, “Sumday”
  • Los Halos, “Leaving Va.”
  • Manitoba, “Up in Flames”
  • Mogwai, “Happy Songs for Happy People”
  • The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  • The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  • The Thermals, “More Parts Per Million”
  • The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”

Andy Bartlett, Doctor of Music Stuff

  1. The Delgados, “Hate”
  2. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  3. The Decemberists, “Castaways and Cutouts”
  4. Okkervil River, “Down the River of Golden Dreams”
  5. Super Furry Animals, “Phantom Power”
  6. Sleepy Jackson, “Lovers”
  7. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  8. Go Betweens, “Bright Yellow Bright Orange”
  9. The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  10. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”

Andy Smull, Karaoke Superstar

  1. Mogwai, “Happy Songs for Happy People”
  2. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, “Hearts of Oak”
  3. The Bronx, “The Bronx”
  4. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  5. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  6. The Darkness, “Permission to Land”
  7. Pretty Girls Make Graves, “New Romance”
  8. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  9. Pinback, “Offcell”
  10. Tommy Guerrero, “Soul Food”

April West, TIG Fanclub Member

  1. Idlewild, “The Remote Part”
  2. Kings of Leon, “Youth &
    Young Manhood”
  3. Jayhawks, “Rainy Day Music”
  4. Jet, “Get Born”
  5. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  6. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  7. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  8. Exploding Hearts, “Guitar Romantic”
  9. Beth Orton, “Other Side of Daybreak”
  10. The Pale, “Gravity Gets Things Done” {my copy of the the Pale has a copyright 2003 stamp on it, swear to God}

Asy and Chloe, Smoosh

  • Billy Moon, “Turn”
  • Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  • Dismemberment Plan, “Change”
  • Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  • Nirvana, “Nirvana”
  • Poncho Sanchez,”Conga Caliente”
  • The Glasses, “Sunbreaks”
  • The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  • Tori Amos, “Tales of a Librarian: A Tori Amos Collection”
  • Various Artists, “Moulin Rouge” Soundtrack

Barbara Mitchell, Deluxxe Media & Management ~ Roslyn Recordings

  • Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  • Downpilot, “Leaving Not Arriving”
  • Ed Harcourt, “From Every Sphere”
  • Marc Olsen
  • Mojave 3, “Spoon & Rafter”
  • Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  • Shawn Smith
  • Steve Turner
  • The Capillaries, “Overnight Lows and Daylight Savings”
  • The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight”

Ben Heege, Blue Disguise Records

  1. Visqueen, “King Me”
  2. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  3. Jayhawks, “Rainy Day Music”
  4. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  5. Fountains Of Wayne, “Welcome Interstate Managers”
  6. Downpilot, “Leaving Not Arriving”
  7. The Minus 5, “Down With Wilco”
  8. Kings of Leon, “Youth & Young Manhood”
  9. Clem Snide, “Soft Spot”
  10. SloMo Rabbit Kick, “Bass Monster Lives in the Bass Forest”

Calvin Johnson, K Records ~ Beat Happening

  • A Frames, “2”
  • Black Eyes, “Black Eyes”
  • Chromatics, “Chrome Rats vs Basement Rutz”
  • Glass Candy, “Love Love Love”
  • Holly Golightly, “Truly She Is None Other”
  • Pastels, “The last Great Wilderness”
  • Quintron, “Are you Ready for an Organ Solo?”
  • Scene Creamers, “Suck on that Emotion”
  • Scout Niblett, “I Am”
  • Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, “Hearts of Oak”
  • The Aislers Set, “How I Learned to Write Backwards”
  • Various Artists, Now This 15 Dancehall Instrumentals comp.

Carl Newman, The New Pornographers

  • Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
  • Broken Social Scene, “You Forgot It In People”
  • Destroyer, “Your Blues’ (He just finished it a couple of weeks ago. It’s technically an album from 2003.)
  • Frog Eyes, “The Golden River”
  • Guided By Voices, “Earthquake Glue”
  • My Morning Jacket, “It Still Moves”
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • Outrageous Cherry,”Supernatural Equinox”
  • That Black Eyed Peas song “Where Is The Love?”
  • The Hidden Cameras,”The Smell Of Their Own”
  • The Libertines, “Up the Bracket”
  • The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”

Char, Imaginary Girl

  • All Girl Summer Fun Band, “2”
  • Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  • Massive Attack, “100th Window”
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  • The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  • The Fitness,”Call Me for Together”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • Various Artists, “Lost in Translation” Soundtrack
  • Visqueen, “King Me”
  • Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”

Cheryl Waters, KEXP-90.3 FM {KEXP.org}

  • Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Take Them On, On Your Own”
  • Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  • Los Halos, “Leaving Va.”
  • Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  • The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  • The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  • The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  • The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  • The Stills, “Logic Will Break Your Heart”
  • The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  • The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”
  • Turin Brakes, “Ether Song”

Chilly C, Imaginary Boy

  1. The Primate Five, “1234567APE”
  2. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  3. The Earaches, “Fist Fights, Hot Love”
  4. Blur, “Think Tank”
  5. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight”
  6. Cat Power, “You Are Free
  7. Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
  8. !!!, “Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard: True Story” (EP)
  9. Sushirobo, “The Light Fingered Feeling of Sushirobo”
  10. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”

Chris Lorraine, The Malinks

  1. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  2. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, “Hearts of Oak”
  3. Fanny Pack,”So Stylistic”
  4. DFA Compilation #1
  5. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  6. Evanescence, “Fallen”
  7. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  8. Clearlake, “Cedars”
  9. Eisley, “Laughing City” ep
  10. The Blow – The Concussive Caress

Christian-Philippe Quilici, A Dowager in the USA

  1. The Dears, “No Cities Left”
  2. The Cardigans, “Long Gone Before Daylight” &
    The Crash, “Melodrama (As Performed by The Crash)”
  3. Television, “Marquee Moon” (Reissue)
  4. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  5. The Knife, “Deep Cuts”
  6. Mando Diao, “Bring ‘Em In”
  7. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight”
  8. Muse, “Absolution”
  9. British Sea Power, “Decline of British Sea Power”
  10. Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress” &
    Goldfrapp, “Black Cherry” &
    Tahiti 80, “Wallpaper for the Soul”
  11. Caesars, “39 Minutes of Bliss (In an Otherwise Meaningless World)”
  12. The Sounds, “Living in America”
  13. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, “Sleep: Holiday”
  14. !!!, “Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard: True Story” (EP) &
    TV on the Radio, “Young Liars” (EP)
  15. The Libertines, “Up the Bracket”

Colin Meloy, The Decemberists

  1. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  2. The Rapture, “Echoes”
  3. Deerhoof, “Apple ‘O”
  4. The Aislers Set, “How I Learned to Write Backwards”
  5. The Clean, “Anthology”
  6. Cat Power, “You Are Free
  7. Young People, “War Prayers”
  8. Camper Van Beethoven, “Cigarettes and Carrot Juice” (reissue, I know)
  9. Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
  10. The Lucksmiths, “Naturaliste”

Dan Halligan, Tablet Music Editor & Ass Manager

  • The Triggers, “Shoot Your Mouth Off”
  • The Minds, “Plastic Girls”
  • Turbonegro, “Scandinavian Leather”
  • Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  • Exploding Hearts, “Guitar Romantic”
  • The FM Knives, “Useless and Modern”
  • The Hives, “Veni Vidi Vicious”
  • The Briefs, “Off The Charts”

Dana, Imaginary Girl

  1. Nada Surf , “Let Go” &
    The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  2. The Thermals, “More Parts Per Million”
  3. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall” &
    Visqueen, “King Me”
  4. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  5. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight” &
    The Lights, “Beautiful Bird”
  6. Idlewild, “The Remote Part”
  7. Mogwai, “Happy Songs for Happy People”
  8. Dear John Letters, “Stories of our Lives”
  9. Heather Duby, “Come Across the River”
  10. The Malinks, “Can’t Shake Last Night” &
    Downpilot, “Leaving Not Arriving”

Dave Alder, The Stoats

  1. Led Zeppelin, DVD {Okay, I cheated but no album release came close to the monumental Zeppelin DVD package}
  2. The Darkness, “Permission to Land”
  3. Jayhawks, “Rainy Day Music”
  4. Elbow, “Cast of Thousands”
  5. Jet, “Get Born”
  6. Ryan Adams, “Love is Hell, Parts 1 & 2”
  7. Stereophonics, “You Gotta Go There to Come Back”
  8. Fountains Of Wayne, “Welcome Interstate Managers”
  9. Kathleen Edwards, “Failer”
  10. Josh Rouse, “1972”

Dave Dayton, Kuma

  1. The Rapture, “Echoes”
  2. Interpol, “Turn on the Bright Lights”
  3. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  4. Massive Attack, “100th Window”
  5. The Dead Science, “Submariner”
  6. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  8. The Sounds, “Living in America”
  9. Elton John, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road-30 years On”
  10. Dahlia, “Vase(s)”

David Bos, Friend to all those Imaginary ~ Hotshot Guitarist

  • Blur, “Think Tank”
  • Heather Duby, “Come Across the River”
  • Idlewild, “The Remote Part”
  • Johnny Cash, “Unearthed”
  • Johnny Marr & The Healers, “Boomslang”
  • Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  • Various Artists, “Lost in Translation” Soundtrack
  • Various Artists, “Treat | Barsuk Records Compilation”

Brent, Dorkweed

  1. The Flaming Lips, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”
  2. Queens of the Stone Age, “Songs for the Deaf”
  3. Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  4. Ms. Led, “Afternoon in Central Park”
  5. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  6. Yo La Tengo, “Summer Sun”
  7. Iron and Wine, “The Sea and the Rythm”
  8. The Pernice Brothers, “Yours Mine & Ours”
  9. Cursive, “The Ugly Organ”
  10. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”

embracey, Imaginary Boy Film~Theatre Critic

  1. Broadcast “Haha Sound”
  2. Various Artists, “Lost in Translation” Soundtrack
  3. Various Artists, “Morvern Callar” Soundtrack
  4. Beth Gibbons & Rustin’ Man “Out of Season”
  5. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  6. The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  7. Gillian Welch, “Soul Journey”
  8. Tipper, “Surrounded”
  9. Cat Power, “You Are Free
  10. Lucinda Williams, “World Without Tears”

Eric Richards, Loveless Records

  1. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  2. The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”
  3. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  4. Los Halos, “Leaving Va.”
  5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  6. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  7. My Morning Jacket, “It Still Moves”
  8. Low Flying Owls, “Elixir Vitae”
  9. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  10. The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”

Eric Levin, Criminal Records

  1. Sleepy Jackson, “Lovers”
  2. Johnny Cash, “Unearthed”
  3. The Darkness, “Permission to Land”
  4. June Carter Cash, “Wildwood Flower”
  5. Waterboys, “Universal Hall”
  6. The Thrills, “So Much for the City”
  7. IMA Robot, “IMA Robot”
  8. British Sea Power, “Decline of British Sea Power”
  9. Warren Zevon, “The Wind”
  10. Swimming Pool Q’s, “Royal Academy of Reality”

Erik Blood, The Turn-Ons

  1. British Sea Power, “Decline of British Sea Power”
  2. Various Artists, “Lost in Translation” Soundtrack
  3. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  4. The Lights, “Beautiful Bird”
  5. Manitoba, “Up in Flames”
  6. The Gossip,”Movement”
  7. Swirlies, “Cats of the Wild, Volume Two”
  8. Freescha, “What’s Come Inside of You”
  9. King Geedorah, “Take Me To Your Leader”
  10. The Libertines, “Up the Bracket”

Frank Nieto, Chop Suey

  1. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  2. The Delgados, “Hate”
  3. The Aislers Set, “How I Learned to Write Backwards”
  4. Basement Jaxx, “Kish Kash” &
    The Paybacks, “Knock Loud”
  5. Anna Oxygen, “All Your Faded Things”
  6. The Gossip,”Movement”
  7. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  8. Broadcast “Haha Sound”
  9. Cobra High, “sunset in the eye of the hurricane” &
    Erase Errata, “Crystal Palace”
  10. beans, “tomorrow right now”

Heather J. Burnett, The Riffbrokers

  1. The Drive-By Truckers, “Decoration Day”
  2. Gillian Welch, “Soul Journey”
  3. The Paybacks, “Knock Loud”
  4. I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in The House, “Put Here to Bleed”
  5. Fist City, “Self titled” EP
  6. The Small Change, “Even The Villain is the Hero of His Own Story”
  7. Vegas In Flames, “Despite The World”
  8. My Morning Jacket, “It Still Moves”
  9. The Radio Nationals, “Place You Call Home”
  10. Slobberbone, “Slippage”

Imaginary Chapman Boy

  1. The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  3. The Libertines, “Up the Bracket”
  4. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  5. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  6. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  7. The Rapture, “Echoes”
  8. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  9. The Raveonettes, “Chain Gang of Love”
  10. Broken Social Scene, “You Forgot It In People”

Imaginary Lorenzo

  • Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  • Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  • Menomena, “I Am the Fun Blame Monster!”
  • Rufus Wainwright, “Want One”
  • The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • united state of electronica, “demos”
  • Various Artists, “Wig In a Box” Compilation
  • Visqueen, “King Me”

Jake Barnes, Imaginary Boy and Fictional Lost Generation Character

  1. Kaito, “Band-Red”
  2. American Analog Set, “Promise of Love”
  3. Rachel’s, “Systems/Layers”
  4. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  5. Cat Power, “You Are Free
  6. British Sea Power, “Decline of British Sea Power”
  7. Cinerama, “Cinerama Holiday”
  8. Beth Gibbons & Rustin’ Man “Out of Season”
  9. Longwave, “The Strangest Things”
  10. Innocence Mission, “Befriended”

Jay Chilcote, SloMo Rabbit Kick

  1. Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
  2. Stars, “Heart”
  3. Grandaddy, “Sumday”
  4. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  5. Enon, “Hocus Pocus”
  6. Jorma Whittaker, “Jorma Whittaker”
  7. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  8. Kaito, “Band-Red”
  9. Earlimart, “Everyone Down Here”
  10. Saturday Looks Good to Me, “All Your Summer Songs”

Jenny Jimenez, The Catch ~ photojj.com

  1. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  2. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  4. The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  5. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight”
  6. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  7. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  8. Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  9. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  10. Yo La Tengo, “Today is the Day” EP

Jesse Mullene, BritPop DJ Extraordinaire

  1. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  2. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  3. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  4. Ed Harcourt, “From Every Sphere”
  5. The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”
  6. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  7. The Hidden Cameras,”The Smell Of Their Own”
  8. Clearlake, “Cedars”
  9. Ballboy, “The Sash My Father Wore And Other Stories”
  10. Her Space Holiday, “The Young Machines”

Joan Hiller, Music Journalist ~ Crocodile Café

  1. Wonderful, “God Bless Our Pad”
  2. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  3. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  4. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  5. Gillian Welch, “Soul Journey”
  6. Sun Kil Moon, “Ghosts of the Great Highway”
  7. United State of Electronica, “Demos”
  8. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  9. Gold Chains, “Young Miss America”
  10. John Mayer, “Heavier Things”

John Richards, KEXP-90.3 FM {KEXP.org} ~ Loveless Records

  1. The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”
  2. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  4. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  5. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  6. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  7. My Morning Jacket, “It Still Moves”
  8. The Notwist, “Neon Golden”
  9. The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  10. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”

Josh Rosenfeld, Barsuk Records

  1. The Decemberists, “Castaways and Cutouts”
  2. The Vells, “Vells” E.P.
  3. Sondre Lerche, “faces down”
  4. The Minus 5, “Down With Wilco”
  5. Beulah, “yoko”
  6. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  7. The Fruit Bats, “mouthfuls”
  8. Clem Snide, “Soft Spot”
  9. rjd2, “deadringer”
  10. Tracker, “polk”

Julian Watts, All Things British Music

  1. Martina Topley-Bird, Quixotic”
  2. Junkie XL, “Radio JXL: A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin”
  3. Psychid, “Psychid”
  4. British Sea Power, “Decline of British Sea Power”
  5. Black Box Recorder, “Passionoia”
  6. Goldfrapp, “Black Cherry”
  7. Freeland, “Now and Them”
  8. The Thrills, “So Much for the City”
  9. Clearlake, “Cedars”
  10. The Darkness, “Permission to Land”

Justin Renney, photojj.com

  1. The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  2. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  3. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  4. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  5. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight”
  6. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  7. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  8. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Take Them On, On Your Own”
  9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  10. The Stills, “Logic Will Break Your Heart”

Justin, Biography of Ferns

  • Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
  • Joe Strummer, “StreetCore”
  • My Morning Jacket, “It Still Moves”
  • Sun Kil Moon, “Ghosts of the Great Highway”
  • The Familiars…
  • The Lights, “Beautiful Bird”
  • The Rapture, “Echoes”
  • The White Stripes, “Elephant”

Kevin Cole, KEXP- 90.3 FM {KEXP.org}

  1. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  2. The Thrills, “So Much for the City”
  3. The Delgados, “Hate”
  4. Krishna Das, “Door of Faith”
  5. Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Live at the Roxy, Hollywood, California, May 26, 1976 – The Complete Concert”
  6. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  7. Visqueen, “King Me”
  8. Michael Franti & Spearhead, “Everyone Deserves Music”
  9. Joe Strummer, “StreetCore”
  10. The Minus 5, “Down With Wilco”

Larry Rose, KEXP-90.3 FM {KEXP.org}

  1. Holopaw, “Holopaw”
  2. Calexico, “Feast of Wire”
  3. The Hidden Cameras,”The Smell Of Their Own”
  4. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  5. Nina Nastasia, “Run To Ruin”
  6. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  7. Bonnie Prince Billy, “Master and Everyone”
  8. Blue Series Continuum, “GoodandEvilSessions”
  9. The Sea and Cake, “One Bedroom”
  10. Willie Nelson, “Crazy: The Demo Sessions”

lee. acupuncturist/karaoke regular

  1. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  3. The Lights, “Beautiful Bird”
  4. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  5. Los Halos, “Leaving Va.”
  6. Missy ‘misdemeanor’ elliot, “under construction”
  7. Clearlake, “Cedars”
  8. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, “Pig Lib”
  9. Jayhawks, “Rainy Day Music”
  10. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”

Lesli Wood, Ms. Led ~ Roxy & Clark ~ Saeta

  1. The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  2. Azure Ray, “Hold On Love”
  3. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  4. The Kills, “Keep On Your Mean Side”
  5. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  7. Cat Power, “You Are Free
  8. Trespassers William, “Different Stars”
  9. The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  10. The Raveonettes, “Chain Gang of Love”

Liz, Imaginary Girl

  1. The Thermals, “More Parts Per Million”
  2. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight” &
    Ballboy, “Guide for the Daylight Hours”
  3. Visqueen, “King Me” &
    The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall” &
    Idlewild, “The Remote Part”
  4. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  5. Clearlake, “Cedars” &
    Okkervil River, “Down the River of Golden Dreams”
  6. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  7. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  8. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  9. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  10. Caesars, “39 Minutes of Bliss (In an Otherwise Meaningless World)”

m, zephyrflyer studios

  1. Audioslave, “Audioslave”
  2. Aphex Twin, “26 mixes for cash”
  3. Blondie, “The Curse of Blondie
  4. Fischerspooner, “#1”
  5. Karsh Kale, “Liberation”
  6. Maktub, “khronos”
  7. All Girl Summer Fun Band, “2”
  8. Smoosh, “Jewelbox”
  9. Michael Franti & Spearhead, “Everyone Deserves Music”
  10. kronos quartet & tiger lillies, “the gorey end”

Marcel Feldmar, Black Nite Crash

  1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Nocturama”
  2. Longwave, “The Strangest Things”
  3. Twilight Singers, “Blackberry Belle”
  4. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Take Them On, On Your Own”
  5. The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  6. The Stills, “Logic Will Break Your Heart”
  7. New Wet Kojak, “This Is The Glamorous”
  8. Swell, “Whenever You’re Ready”
  9. Low Flying Owls, “Elixir Vitae”
  10. Pleasure Club, “Here Comes The Trick/Live Out Of The Pulpit”

Marty Donald, The Lucksmiths

  1. Smog, “Supper”
  2. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  3. The Ladybug Transistor, “(self-titled)”
  4. The Radio Department, “Lesser Matters”
  5. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  6. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  7. Sodastream, “A Minor Revival”
  8. The Aislers Set, “How I Learned to Write Backwards”
  9. Yo La Tengo, “Summer Sun”
  10. Architecture in Helsinki, “Fingers Crossed”

Matt Carthum, Person of Interest

  1. Coil, “The Key to Joy is Disobedience (limited box set)”
  2. Matmos, “The Civil War”
  3. B. Fleischmann, “Welcome Tourist”
  4. Adrian Sherwood, “Never Trust a Hippy”
  5. The Soft Pink Truth, “Do you Party?”
  6. Rhythm and Sound, “w/The Artists”
  7. The Orb, “Bicycles and Tricycles”
  8. Out Hud, “S.T.R.E.E.T. Dad”
  9. The Dresden Dolls, “The Dresden Dolls”
  10. mono, “One Step More and You Die”

Matt Nichols, KEXP-90.3 FM {KEXP.org}

  1. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  2. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  3. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  4. Menomena, “I Am the Fun Blame Monster!”
  5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  6. Grandaddy, “Sumday”
  7. The Ruby Doe, “Dream Engine Blue”
  8. Broadcast Oblivion, “Transmita Olvida”
  9. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  10. Halo Perfecto, “Hospitals in Other Countries”

Megan Seling, The Stranger

  • Black Eyes, “Black Eyes”
  • Blue Sky Mile, “Blue Sky Mile” EP
  • Bobby Birdman, “Born Free Forever”
  • Brand New Deja Entendu (Razor and Tie)
  • Kane Hodder, “A Frank Exploration of Voyeurism and Violence” EP
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • Pretty Girls Make Graves, “New Romance”
  • Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  • Schoolyard Heroes, “The Funeral Sciences”
  • The Jealous Sound, “Kill Them With Kindness”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”

Michael Alan Goldberg, Music Critic

  1. Four Tet, “Rounds”
  2. Damien Jurado, “Where Shall You Take Me?”
  3. Adult., “Anxiety Always”
  4. Lyrics Born, “Later That Day …”
  5. Various Artists, Desert Sessions Volume 9 & 10
  6. Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham, “L’Avventura”
  7. DJ Krush, “The Message at the Depth”
  8. Manitoba, “Up in Flames”
  9. Essential Logic, “Fanfare in the Garden”
  10. The Delgados, “Hate”

Michael X, Imaginary Boy

  1. Dead Meadow, “Shivering King and Others”
  2. Kinski, “Airs Above Your Station”
  3. A Perfect Circle, “Thirteenth Step”
  4. Massive Attack, “100th Window”
  5. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  6. Mogwai, “Happy Songs for Happy People”
  7. American Analog Set, “Promise of Love”
  8. mono, “One Step More and You Die”
  9. The Ruby Doe, “Dream Engine Blue”
  10. Los Halos, “Leaving Va.”

Michaelangelo Matos, Seattle Weekly Music Editor

  1. Triple R, “Friends”
  2. Basement Jaxx, “Kish Kash”
  3. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  4. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  5. Luomo, “The Present Lover” (Forcetracks)
  6. Electric Six, “Fire”
  7. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  8. Justin Timberlake, “Justified”
  9. The Drive-By Truckers, “Decoration Day”
  10. Atmosphere, “Seven’s Travels”

Mike Treff, Tiger Style Records

  1. Twilight Singers, “Blackberry Belle”
  2. The Mars Volta, “De-Loused in the Comatorium”
  3. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  4. Lucero, “That Much Further West”
  5. The Constantines,”Shine a Light”
  6. Calla,”Televise”
  7. American Analog Set, “Promise of Love”
  8. Arab Strap, “Monday at the Hug and Pint”
  9. Drive Like Jehu, “Yank Crime re-issue”
  10. Year Future, 12″

Mike Cloward, DIW Magazine

  • Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”
  • Cat Power, “You Are Free
  • Cursive, “The Ugly Organ”
  • Dizzee Rascal, “Boy In Da Corner”
  • Sun Kil Moon, “Ghosts of the Great Highway”
  • The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • The Rapture, “Echoes”
  • The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  • Zwan, “Mary Star Of The Sea”

Nabil Ayers, Sonic Boom Records ~ The Control Group ~ Alien Crime Syndicate

  1. The Mars Volta, “De-Loused in the Comatorium”
  2. Cursive, “The Ugly Organ”
  3. Damone, “From The Attic”
  4. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  5. The Darkness, “Permission to Land”
  6. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  7. Gold Chains, “Young Miss America”
  8. Kaito, “Band-Red”
  9. Metric, “Old World Underground Where Are You”
  10. Broadcast “Haha Sound”

Nate Query, The Decemberists

  1. The Bad Plus “These are the Vistas”
  2. Plastilina Mosh, “Hola Chicuelas”
  3. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  4. Kinky, “Atlas”
  5. Calexico, “Feast of Wire”
  6. J.B. Lenoir, “Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: J.B. Lenoir”
  7. storm and the balls, “hangin’ with the balls”
  8. Sex Mob, “Dime Grind Palace”
  9. Cafe Tacuba, “Cuatro Caminos”
  10. Howard Tate, “Rediscovered”

Paul Turpin – Recording Engineer, Bayside Recording, Bellingham

  1. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  2. Massive Attack, “100th Window”
  3. The Orb, “Bicycles and Tricycles”
  4. The White Stripes, “Elephant”
  5. LFO, “Sheath”
  6. The Bug – Pressure
  7. Static, “Flavour Has No Name”
  8. Ms. John Soda, “While Talking”
  9. Four Tet, “Rounds”
  10. mono, “One Step More and You Die”

Renata Sadunas, Glamorous Trendsetter

  1. The Divorce, “There Will Be Blood Tonight”
  2. Rufus Wainwright, “Want One”
  3. The Dandy Warhols, “Welcome To The Monkey House”
  4. Juana Molina, “Segundo”
  5. Kinky, “Atlas”
  6. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  7. Damien Rice, “O”
  8. The Fire Theft, “The Fire Theft”
  9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Fever To Tell”
  10. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Take Them On, On Your Own”

Roddy Chops and Blatz Driver, Snitches Get Stitches

  • 400 Blows, “Black Rainbow”
  • Black lips, “Black lips!”
  • Country Teasers, “Secret Weapon Revealed at Last/Full Moon Empty Sportsbag”
  • Deerhoof, “Apple ‘O”
  • Dirtbombs, “Dangerous Magical Noise”
  • Discordance Axis, “Original Sound Version”
  • Exploding Hearts, “Guitar Romantic”
  • Khanate, “Things Viral”
  • Lightning Bolt, “Wonderful Rainbow”
  • The Lights, “Beautiful Bird”
  • Tractor Sex Fatality, “EP”[honorable mention since not officially ‘released’]

Ryan Schierling, Photographer

  1. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  2. Idlewild, “The Remote Part”
  3. The Weakerthans, “Reconstruction Site”
  4. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  5. Visqueen, “King Me”
  6. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  7. Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  8. The Thermals, “More Parts Per Million”
  9. Dischord (compilation), “20 Years Of Dischord”
  10. An American Starlet, “3 Song EP”

Sara Green, Tractor Tavern Representative

  1. Mojave 3, “Spoon & Rafter”
  2. Jay Farrar and Various Artists, “The Slaughter Rule” soundtrack
  3. Andrew Bird, “Weather Systems”
  4. Lillium (Jean-Yves Tola & Pascal Humbert from 16 Horsepower), “Short Stories”
  5. Steve Wynn, “Static Transmission”
  6. The Dirty Three, “She Has No Strings Apollo”
  7. Pleasure Club, “Here Comes The Trick/Live Out Of The Pulpit”
  8. The Tindersticks, “Waiting For The Moon”
  9. Firewater, “The Man On The Burning Tightrope”
  10. Bobby Bare Jr, “Okay I’m Sorry”

Sarah Enni, All Ages Music Enthusiast

  1. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  2. The Mars Volta, “De-Loused in the Comatorium”
  3. The Blood Brothers – Burn, Piano Island, Burn
  4. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  5. Maida, “Remove the Funeral Attire”
  6. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  7. Interpol, “Turn on the Bright Lights”
  8. The Sea and Cake, “One Bedroom”
  9. The Long Winters, “When I Pretend To Fall”
  10. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”

Sean Nelson, American

  • Anna Oxygen, “All Your Faded Things”
  • Cass McCombs, “A”
  • Centro-Matic, “Love You Just the Same”
  • Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”
  • Nada Surf , “Let Go”
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • SloMo Rabbit Kick, “Bass Monster Lives in the Bass Forest”
  • South San Gabriel, “Welcome, Convalescence”
  • Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, “Pig Lib”
  • The Capillaries, “Overnight Lows and Daylight Savings”
  • The Thermals, “More Parts Per Million”

sero(tone)in, Imaginary Boy Events Expert

  1. Crooked Fingers, “Red Devil Dawn”
  2. Idlewild, “The Remote Part”
  3. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  4. Broken Social Scene, “You Forgot It In People”
  5. The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”
  6. The Pernice Brothers, “Yours Mine & Ours”
  7. Kaito, “Band-Red”
  8. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, “Hearts of Oak”
  9. Aereogramme, “sleep and release”
  10. Songs: ohia, “magnolia electric co.”

Shane Tutmarc, Dolour

  1. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  2. Cody Chestnutt, “The Headphone Masterpiece”
  3. Wonderful, “God Bless Our Pad”
  4. Johnny Cash, “The Man Comes Around”
  5. The Strokes, “Room On Fire”
  6. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  7. The Thrills, “So Much for the City”
  8. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  9. Randy Newman, “Bad Love”
  10. Various Artists, “Lost in Translation” Soundtrack

Shannon Brockway, Imaginary Girl Stylist

  1. The Malinks, “Can’t Shake Last Night”
  2. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  3. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, “Hearts of Oak”
  4. Junior Senior, “D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat”
  5. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  6. Fanny Pack,”So Stylistic”
  7. The Postal Service, “Such Great Heights”
  8. Evan Dando,”Baby I’m Bored”
  9. Beatles, “Let It Be…Naked”
  10. Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”

Sharlese, KGRG – 89.9 FM {KGRG.com}

  1. wonderful, “god bless our pad”
  2. Blood Brothers, Burn Piano Island Burn
  3. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  4. Dolour, Surburbiac
  5. The Joggers, “Solid Guild”
  6. The Fitness,”Call Me for Together”
  7. Reggie Watts, “Simplified”
  8. Argo, “The Fall” EP
  9. Blue Sky Mile, “Blue Sky Mile” EP
  10. Death Cab for Cutie, “Transatlanticism”

Stacy Touchdown, Touchdown Eagle

  1. Cat Power, “You Are Free
  2. Carissa’s Weird, “Scrapbook”
  3. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  4. Erase Errata, “Crystal Palace”
  5. Aisjump, “self-titled”
  6. Crooked Fingers, “Red Devil Dawn”
  7. Ten Grand, “This is the Way to Rule”
  8. Quasi, “Hot Shit”
  9. Iron and Wine, “The Sea and the Rythm”
  10. Belle & Sebastian, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress”

Steven Severin, Chop Suey

  • Atmosphere, “Seven’s Travels”
  • Basement Jaxx, “Kish Kash”
  • Boozoo Bajou, “Satta”
  • Erykah Badu, “Underground Worldwide” EP
  • Fila Brazillia, “Live DJ set Club Mix”
  • Hollertronix, “Never Scared”
  • Lifesavas, “Spirit in Stone”
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • Polyphonic Spree – The Beginning Stages of…
  • Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • Thursday

Scott Sutherland, Guitarist from Model Rockets

  1. Sloan, “Action Pact”
  2. Arthur Lee and Love, “The Forever Changes Concert”
  3. The High Dials, “A New Devotion”
  4. The Jeevas, “Cowboys and Indians”
  5. Myracle Brah, “Treblemaker”
  6. Telepathic Butterflies, “Introducing the Telepathic Butterflies”
  7. The Shazam, “Tomorrow, the World”
  8. Television, “Marquee Moon” (Reissue)
  9. Nebula, “Atomic Ritual”
  10. Led Zeppelin, “How the West Was Won”

Tomo Nakayama, Asahi

  1. Eddie Izzard, “Circle (live)”
  2. Amy Blaschke, “Self-Titled”
  3. Damien Jurado, “Where Shall You Take Me?”
  4. Radiohead, “Hail To The Thief”
  5. Andrew Bird, “Weather Systems”
  6. The Notwist, “Neon Golden”
  7. Jeff Buckley, “Live At Sin-e: Legacy Edition”
  8. Todd Barry, “Medium Energy”
  9. Rachel’s, “Systems/Layers”
  10. Cat Power, “You Are Free

Trix, Imaginary Correspondent

  1. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, “Hearts of Oak”
  2. The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”
  3. The Thermals, “More Parts Per Million”
  4. The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  5. The Wrens, “The Meadowlands”
  6. The Notwist, “Neon Golden”
  7. The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  8. The Decemberists, “Her Majesty, the Decemberists”
  9. Stellastarr*, “Stellastarr*”
  10. Dirtbike Annie, “Show Us Your Demons”

Visqueen

  • Broadcast Oblivion, “Transmita Olvida”
  • Fountains Of Wayne, “Welcome Interstate Managers”
  • Guided By Voices, “Earthquake Glue”
  • Outkast, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”
  • Pretty Girls Make Graves, “New Romance”
  • The Darkness, “Permission to Land”
  • The Kills, “Keep On Your Mean Side”
  • The New Pornographers, “Electric Version”
  • The Postal Service, “Give Up”
  • The Shins, “Chutes Too Narrow”

return to the full 2003 recap