Tag: Gram Parsons

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Best of 2003

This was the first year that I started tracking my favorites for the year.

    Top 7 albums of 2003   

  1. The Private Press by DJ Shadow
  2. Greendale by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  3. The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash
  4. Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons
  5. Across The Borderline by Willie Nelson
  6. Mindy’s Strange Yet Intriguing Mix
  7. He’s Drunk/Plus, Also, Too by Scrawl
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Best of 2004

Last year I had intended to write about my favorite albums of the year but never got around to. As a preview to my upcoming “Best of 2005”, here is last year’s list!

    Top 10 Albums of 2004   

  1. American Idiot by Green Day
  2. The Wind by Warren Zevon
  3. Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn
  4. Cocky by Kid Rock
  5. Aorta (eponymous)
  6. Sha Sha by Ben Kweller
  7. Call And Response (eponymous)
  8. The Moldy Peaches (eponymous)
  9. Highlights (compiled by Kent) by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  10. G.P./Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons

These ten CDs took up more than 75% of my listening time during the year, a clear sign of appreciation. Although I have ranked them, distinguishing between any two is very difficult indeed. When I obtained each it probably remained in heavy rotation at home, on my iPod and at work for several weeks, often receiving two or three plays per day. This is the quality level required to make the Top 10.

    Honorable Mention   

  • Abraxas by Santana
  • Sean–Nós Nua by Sinéad O’Connor
  • Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon
  • In Holland by the Beach Boys

Note that criteria for inclusion into the list did not include a 2004 (or even recent) release. To be eligible, an album only had to be added to my CD collection in 2004. Some long-time favorites with which I had familiarity but had not previously owned on CD were only eligible for “Honorable Mention.”