Music Year 2003

This is my year-end list file for records released in 2003. This version is frozen as of Jan. 16, 2004. The freeze date represents the completion of several year-end pieces: my Pazz & Jop Comments and two pieces for Static: Top Ten (Plus Plus), 2003: Wrap It Up and Bag It. A more current version of this list is here.

New Records

Buck 65: Talkin' Honky Blues (WEA Canada)
William Parker Violin Trio: Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear)
Kelis: Tasty (Star Trak/Arista)
Lyrics Born: Later That Day . . . (Quannum Projects)
Matthew Shipp: Equilibrium (Thirsty Ear)
Amy Rigby: Til the Wheels Fall Off (Signature Sounds)
Akrobatik: Balance (Coup D'Etat)
Paal Nilssen-Love/Ken Vandermark: Dual Pleasure (Smalltown Supersound)
Warren Zevon: The Wind (Artemis)
Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble: Exile (Enja/Justin Time)
The Bad Plus: These Are the Vistas (Columbia)
Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations (ECM)
Drive-By Truckers: Decoration Day (New West)
Al Green: I Can't Stop (Blue Note)
NOFX: War on Errorism (Fat Wreck)
Chris Knight: The Jealous Kind (Dualtone)
Roy Haynes: Love Letters (Eighty-Eights/Columbia)
Lifesavas: Spirit in Stone (Quannum Projects)
Abdoulaye N'Diaye: Taoué (Justin Time)
Bettye Lavette: A Woman Like Me (Blues Express)
Jean Grae: The Bootleg of the Bootleg EP (Babygrande)
DJ Wally: Nothing Stays the Same (Thirsty Ear)
Ludacris: Chicken-N-Beer (Def Jam South)
Electric Six: Fire (XL)
Kimya Dawson: My Cute Fiend Sweet Princess (Important)
Timbaland & Magoo: Under Construction Part II (Blackground/Universal)
Lucinda Williams: World Without Tears (Lost Highway)
James Blood Ulmer: No Escape From the Blues: The Electric Lady Sessions (Hyena)
Rancid: Indestructible (Hellcat)
June Carter Cash: Wildwood Flower (Dualtone)
Panjabi MC: Beware (Sequence)
Fannypack: So Stylistic (Tommy Boy)
McEnroe: Disenfranchised (Peanuts & Corn)
Yo La Tengo: Summer Sun (Matador)
Kid Koala: Some of My Best Friends Are DJ's (Ninja Tune)
Pink: Try This (La Face)
Dino Saluzzi: Responsorium (ECM)
David Murray Latin Big Band: Now Is Another Time (Justin Time)
Vandermark 5: Airports for Light (Atavistic)
Andrew Barker, Matthew Shipp, Charles Waters: Apostolic Polyphony (Drimala)
Missy Elliott: This Is Not a Test (Gold Mind/Elektra)
Johnny Cash: American IV: The Man Comes Around (American)
Brigitte DeMeyer: Nothing Comes Free (BDM)
Cooper-Moore, Tom Abbs, Chad Taylor: Triptych Myth (Hopscotch)
Murs: . . . The End of the Beginning (Definitive Jux)
The Klezmatics: Rise Up! Shteyt Oyf! (Rounder)
Clark Terry & Max Roach: Friendship (Eighty-Eights/Columbia)
Merle Haggard: Like Never Before (Hag)
Aceyalone: Love & Hate (Project Blowed)
Steinski's Burning Out of Control: The Sugarhill Mix (Antidote)
Dominic Duval, Mark Whitecage: Rules of Engagement, Vol. 1 (Drimala)
The Bottle Rockets: Blue Sky (Sanctuary)
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Pig Lib (Matador)
EG Kight: Southern Comfort (Blue South)
Fountains of Wayne: Welcome Interstate Managers (S-Curve/Virgin)
Daughter: Skin (Aum Fidelity)
FAB: Fonda-Altschul-Bang: Transforming the Space (CIMP)
Pet Shop Boys: Disco 3 (Sanctuary)

Pending:

Records in hand, but which haven't yet been graded.

Basement Jaxx: Kish Kash (Astralwerks)
Dave Budbill, William Parker, Hamid Drake: Songs for a Suffering World (Boxholder)
Roy Hargrove Presents the RH Factor: Hard Groove (Verve)
Gaby Kerpel: Carnabailito (Nonesuch)
Dianne Reeves: A Little Moonlight (Blue Note)
Todd Snider: Near Truths and Hotel Rooms (Oh Boy)
Tricky: Vulnerable (Sanctuary)
Was (Not Was): The Woodwork Squeaks (ZE)

Missed:

Records in hand, graded B+ or below, in roughly declining order:

Go-Betweens: Bright Yellow Bright Orange (Jetset)
DJ Spooky: Dubtometry (Thirsty Ear)
OutKast: Speakerboxx/The Love Below (Arista, 2CD)
The Blue Series Continuum: The Good and Evil Sessions (Thirsty Ear)
Bubba Sparxxx: Deliverance (Beatclub/Interscope)
Madonna: American Life (Maverick/Warner Bros.)
Horace X: Sackbutt (Omnium)
Cooper-Moore, Assif Tsahar: America (Hopscotch)
Neil Young: Greendale (Reprise)
Howard Tate: Rediscovered (Private Music)
Guy Davis: Chocolate to the Bone (Red House)
James Carter: Gardenias for Lady Day (Columbia)
Anti Pop Vs. Matthew Shipp (Thirsty Ear)
Nicholas Payton: Sonic Trance (Warner Bros.)
The Neptunes Present . . . Clones (Star Trak)
Jon Langford and the Sadies: Mayors of the Moon (Bloodshot)
The David S. Ware String Ensemble: Threads (Thirsty Ear)
Wayne Hancock: Swing Time (Bloodshot)
The Wrens: The Meadowlands (Absolutely Kosher)
Jesse Malin: The Fine Art of Self Destruction (Artemis)
VisionFest: VisionLive (Thirsty Ear)
Free Fall: Furnace (Wobbly Rail)
Paal Nilssen-Love/Håkon Kornstad: Schlinger (Smalltown Supersound)
Kali Z. Fasteau: Oneness (Flying Note)
The Strokes: Room on Fire (RCA)
Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez: The Trouble With Humans (Texas Music)
Assif Tsahar, Tatsuya Nakatani: Come Sunday (Hopscotch)
Loudon Wainwright III: So Damn Happy (Sanctuary)
Jason Moran: The Bandwagon (Blue Note)
Crooked Fingers: Red Devil Dawn (Merge)
Lee Konitz/Alan Broadbent: Live-Lee (Milestone)
The Lucky Tomblin Band (Texas Works)
Liz Phair (Capitol)
The Raveonettes: Chain Gang of Love (Columbia)
Ken Vandermark: Furniture Music (Okkadisk)
Lou Reed: The Raven (Sire/Reprise)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever to Tell (Interscope)
Tim Berne: The Sublime And (Thirsty Ear, 2CD)
Kaito U.K.: Band Red (SpinArt)
Earl Thomas: Soul'd (Memphis International)
The Blue Series Continuum: The Sorcerer Sessions (Thirsty Ear)
William Parker, Joe Morris, Hamid Drake: Eloping With the Sun (Riti)
Shout, Sister, Shout! A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe (MC)
White Stripes: Elephant (V2)
X-Ecutioners: Scratchology (Sequence)
Roswell Rudd/Toumani Diabate: Malicool (Sunnyside)
Daniel Carter + Reuben Radding: Luminescence (Aum Fidelity)
Ani DiFranco: Evolve (Righteous Babe)
Dave Douglas: Freak In (Bluebird)
Etta James: Let's Roll (Private Music)
Jack Johnson: On and On (Moonshine Conspiracy)
Ms Dynamite: A Little Deeper (Universal)
Sarah Pierce: Love's the Only Way (Little Bear)
Fiel Garvie: Leave Me Out of This (Words on Music)
Spring Heel Jack: Live (Thirsty Ear)
Susie Ibarra & Mark Dresser: Tone Time (Wobbly Rail)
John McLaughlin: Thieves and Poets (Verve)
The Libertines: Up the Bracket (Rough Trade)
50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Interscope)
Kim Wilson: Lookin' for Trouble (M.C.)
Kimya Dawson: Knock-Knock Who? (Important)
Yellowjackets: Time Squared (Heads Up)
Lily Haydn: Light Blue Sun (Private Music)
George Jones: The Gospel Collection (BNA)
The Red Stick Ramblers: Bring It On Down (Memphis International)
ScoLoHoFo: OH! (Blue Note)
Massive Attack: 100th Window (Virgin)
Asleep at the Wheel: Remembers the Alamo (Shout)
Robert Cray: Time Will Tell (Sanctuary)
Zwan: Mary Star of the Sea (Reprise)
Assif Tsahar, Mat Maneri, Jim Black: Jam (Hopscotch)
Regina Carter: Paganini: After a Dream (Verve)
The Mighty Echoes: Doo Wop Til You Drop (Brooklyn International)
The Crusaders: Rural Renewal (PRA/Verve)
Metallica: St. Anger (Elektra)

Hyped:

These are records that I have some reason to think might be worth hearing. Usually, other folks' recommendation. ***, **, * indicates some serious interest on my part; # indicates something that I have serious doubts about.

Ryan Adams: Rock N Roll (Lost Highway)
Aesop Rock: Bazooka Tooth (Definitive Jux)
A.F.I.: Sing the Sorrow (DreamWorks)
Rahim AlHaj: Iraqi Music in a Time of War (Voxlox)
Amy Allison: No Frills Friend (Diesel Only)
Art Ensemble of Chicago: Tribute to Lester (ECM)
Atmosphere: Seven's Travels (Rhymesayers/Epitaph)
Audio Bullys: Ego War (Astralwerks)
Erykah Badu: Worldwide Underground (Motown)
The Bangles: Doll Revolution (Koch)
David Banner: Mississippi: The Album (Universal)
Belle and Sebastian: Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Rough Trade)
Bettie Serveert: Log 22 (Palomine)
Beyoncé: Dangerously in Love (Columbia)
Mary J. Blige: Love & Life (Geffen)
Black Box Recorder: Passionoia (One Little Indian)
Carla Bley: Looking for America (ECM)
Blink-182 (Geffen)
Blur: Think Tank (Virgin)
Brand New: Deja Entendu (Razor & Tie)
Joe Budden (Def Jam)
Rosanne Cash: Rules of Travel (Capitol)
Cat Power: You Are Free (Matador)
Clem Snide: Soft Spot (SpinArt)
Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán: Mambo Sinuendo (Nonesuch)
Marshall Crenshaw: What's in the Bag? (Razor & Tie)
Rodney Crowell: Fate's Right Hand (DMX/Epic)
The Dandy Warhols: Welcome to the Monkey House (Capitol)
The Darkness: Permission to Land (Atlantic)
Dashboard Confessional: A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar (Vagrant/Interscope)
The Distillers: Coral Fang (Sire)
Dizzee Rascal: Boy in Da Corner (XL)
Kathleen Edwards: Failer (Zoë)
Joe Ely: Streets of Sin (Rounder)
Erase Errata: At Crystal Palace (Troubleman)
Everclear: Slow Motion Daydream (Capitol)
Ibrahim Ferrer: Buenos Hermanos (Nonesuch)
Festival in the Desert (World Village)
The Fever: Pink on Pink (Kemado)
Fog: Ether Teeth (Ninja Tune)
Aretha Franklin: So Damn Happy (Arista)
Nelly Furtado: Folklore (DreamWorks)
Gotan Project: La Revancha del Tango (XL/Beggars Banquet)
Grandaddy: Sumday (V2)
Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself (Epic)
Groove Armada: Lovebox (Zomba)
Slide Hampton: Spirit of the Horn (MCG Jazz)
Handsome Family: Singing Bones (Carrot Top)
Emmylou Harris: Stumble Into Grace (Nonesuch)
Stefon Harris: The Grand Unification Theory (Blue Note)
Fred Hersch: Live at the Village Vanguard (Palmetto)
Dave Holland Quintet: Live at Birdland (ECM, 2CD)
Abdullah Ibrahim: African Magic (Enja)
Vijay Iyer: Blood Sutra (Artists House)
Vijay Iyer & Mike Ladd: In What Language? (Pi)
D.D. Jackson: Suite for New York (Justin Time)
Keith Jarrett: Up for It: Live in Juan-Les-Pins (ECM)
The Jayhawks: Rainy Day Music (American/Lost Highway)
Jay-Z: The Black Album (Roc-A-Fella)
Wyclef Jean: The Preacher's Son (Clef/J)
Jedi Mind Tricks: Visions of Gandhi (Babygrande)
Sheila Jordan: Little Song (High Note)
Mamani Keita & Marc Minelli: Electro Bamako (Palm)
Kekele: Congo Life (Stern's Africa)
R. Kelly: Chocolate Factory (Jive)
Alicia Keys: Diary of Alicia Keys (J)
Kid Rock (Atlantic)
Kings of Leon: Youth and Young Manhood (RCA)
Ladytron: Softcore Jukebox (Emperor Norton)
Ted Leo/Pharmacists: Hearts of Oak (Lookout)
Lightning Bolt: Wonderful Rainbow (Load)
Linkin Park: Meteora (Warner Bros.)
Branford Marsalis: Romare Bearden Revealed (Marsalis Music)
The Mars Volta: De-Loused in the Comatorium (Gold Standard)
Christian McBride: Vertical Vision (Warner Bros.)
Van Morrison: What's Wrong With This Picture? (Blue Note)
The Naysayer: Pure Beauty (Carrot Top)
Meshell Ndegeocello: Comfort Woman (Maverick)
New Pornographers: Electric Version (Matador)
Willie Nelson & Ray Price: Run That By Me One More Time (Lost Highway)
Non-Prophets: Hope (Lex)
Erlend Oye: Unrest (Astralwerks)
Peaches: Fatherfucker (XL/Beggars)
The Postal Service: Give Up (Sub Pop)
Pretty Girls Make Graves: The New Romance (Matador)
Radiohead: Hail to the Thief (Capitol)
Robert Randolph & the Family Band: Unclassified (Warner Bros.)
The Rapture: Echoes (DFA/Strummer/Universal)
Damien Rice: O (Vector)
Richard X: Presents His X-Factor, Vol. 1 (Astralwerks)
Kurt Rosenwinkel: Heartcore (Verve)
RZA: Birth of a Prince (Sanctuary)
Shesus: Loves You . . . Loves You Not (Narnack)
The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop)
Wayne Shorter: Alegria (Verve)
Sidestepper: 3AM: In Beats We Trust (Palm)
The Sleepy Jackson: Lovers (Astralwerks)
Tammy Faye Starlite & the Angels of Mercy: Used Country Female (Diesel Only)
Steely Dan: Everything Must Go (Warner Bros.)
The Stills: Logic Will Break Your Heart (Atlantic)
Sun Kil Moon: Ghosts of the Great Highway (Jetset)
Thursday: War All the Time (Island)
Rufus Wainwright: Want One (DreamWorks)
Gillian Welch: Soul Journey (Acony)
Wide Right: Wide Right (Poptop)
Cassandra Wilson: Glamoured (Blue Note)
Wire: Send (Pink Flag)
Robert Wyatt: Cuckooland (Hannibal)
Yerba Buena: President Alien (Razor & Tie)

Compilations/Vault Music:

Cedric Im Brooks & the Light of Saba (1974-76, Honest Jons)
King Sunny Ade: The Best of the Classic Years (1967-74, Shanachie)
When the Sun Goes Down, Vol. 6: Poor Man's Heaven (1928-40, Bluebird)
Gene Ammons: Fine and Mellow (1972, Prestige)
The Guitar and Gun: Highlife Music From Ghana (1981-84, Stern's/Earthworks)
The Incomparable Mildred Bailey (1933-42, Columbia/Legacy)
Kings of Highlife: The Vibrant Music of West Africa (Wrasse)
Rhythm Love and Soul: The Sexiest Songs of R&B (1958-81, Shout!, 3CD)
Sam Cooke: Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 (Abkco)
The Essential Dave Brubeck (1949-2002, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Bill Monroe: Anthology (1950-81, MCA Nashville/Decca, 2CD)
Mildred Bailey: Mrs. Swing (1929-42, Proper, 4CD)
Johnny Hodges: The Jeep Is Jumpin' (1937-52, Proper, 4CD)
New Order: Retro (1981-2002, London, 4CD)
High Explosion: DJ Sounds From 1970 to 1976 (Sanctuary/Trojan, 2CD)
Count Basie: America's #1 Band: The Columbia Years (1936-50, Columbia/Legacy, 3CD)
The Essential Willie Nelson (1961-2003, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis Again (1957, Verve, 2CD)
Flowers in the Wildwood: Women in Early Country Music (1923-39, Trikont)
The Essential Sly & the Family Stone (Epic/Legacy)
Merle Travis: Hot Pickin' (1943-52, Proper, 2CD)
The Big Horn (1942-52, Proper, 4CD)
James Brown: Motherlode (1967-76, Polydor)
Miles Davis: The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (1970, Columbia/Legacy, 5CD)
Roger Miller: All Time Greatest Hits (1964-85, Mercury/Chronicles)
Anders Gahnold: Flowers for Johnny (1983-85, Ayler, 2CD)
Lou Reed: NYC Man: The Collection (1967-2002, RCA/BMG Heritage, 2CD)
Slim Gaillard: Laughing in Rhythm (1937-52, Proper, 4CD)
The Rough Guide to Highlife (World Music Network)
Arabesque Tlata 3 (React)
Globalista: Import-Export (Trikont '02)
Stan Getz: Bossas and Ballads: The Lost Sessions (1989, Verve)
Trojan Box Set: Nyahbinghi (1968-75, Sanctuary/Trojan, 3CD)
King Sunny Ade: Synchro Series (1982-83, IndigeDisc)
Russendisko: Hits (Trikont)
Soul Eyes: The Mal Waldron Memorial Album (1955-62, Prestige)
Humphrey Lyttelton: Snag It! (1948-52, ASV)
Junior Byles: Beat Down Babylon: The Upsetter Years (1971-74, Sanctuary/Trojan)
Dexter Gordon: Classic Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note, 2CD)
Bud Powell: Parisian Thoroughfares (1957-61, Pablo)
The Essential Byrds (1965-71, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Ultimate Reggae: 20 Classic Reggae Riddims! (UTV)
Black & Proud: The Soul of the Black Panther Era, Vol. 1 (Trikont)
Thelonious Monk: Monk in Paris: Live at the Olympia (1965, Hyena)
First Steps: First Recordings From the Creators of Modern Jazz (1944-53, Savoy Jazz)
The Incomparable Ethel Waters (1925-40, Columbia/Legacy)
Memphis Minnie: Me and My Chauffeur (1929-44, Proper, 2CD)
Flatt & Scruggs: The Complete Mercury Recordings (Mercury)
The Jaki Byard Quartet With Joe Farrell: The Last From Lennie's (1965, Prestige)
Mutant Disco: A Subtle Dislocation of the Norm (1978-82, ZE, 2CD)
Best of Koffi Olomide (Next Music, 2CD)
Ghana Soundz: Afro-Beat, Funk and Fusion in the 70's (1966-77, Soundway)
Flying Groove (1963-75, Bluebird)
Reverend Charlie Jackson: God's Got It: The Legendary Booker and Jackson Singles (1970-78, CaseQuarter)
Jimi Hendrix: Live at Berkeley (1970, Experience Hendrix)
Bill Evans: Getting Sentimental (1978, Milestone)
Dillinger: The Ultimate Collection (1974-80, Hip-O/Island)
Stuff Smith: Time and Again (1936-45, Proper, 2CD)
The Stanley Brothers: The Complete Mercury Recordings (1953-58, Mercury/Chronicles, 2CD)
Sam Cooke: Sam Cooke at the Copa (1964, Abkco)
Max Romeo: Ultimate Collection (1970-77, Hip-O/Island)
Willie Nelson: Broken Promises (1960-66, Proper, 2CD)
Andrew Hill: Passing Ships (1969, Blue Note)
Watch How the People Dancing: Unity Sounds From the London Dancehall, 1986-1989 (Honest Jons)
The Essential Thelonious Monk (1962-68, Columbia/Legacy)
The Essential Ricky Skaggs (1979-88, Epic/Legacy)
Mott the Hoople: Greatest Hits (1972-75, Columbia/Legacy)

Pending:

The Best Tango Album in the World (Capitol)
The Best There Ever Was: The Legendary Early Blues Performers (Yazoo)
The Blue Series Sampler: The Shape of Jazz to Come (2002-03, Thirsty Ear)
Blues Story (1920-84, Shout, 2CD)
Cabaret Voltaire: Conform to Deform '82 / '90. Archive; (1982-90, Virgin, 3CD)
The Essential Mary Chapin Carpenter (1989-2001, Columbia/Legacy)
Classic Old-Time Music: From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (1958-98, Smithsonian/Folkways)
The Very Best of Jessi Colter: An Outlaw . . . a Lady (Capitol)
Jim Croce: Home Recordings: Americana (Shout)
The Essential Bing Crosby: The Columbia Years (1931-34, Columbia/Legacy)
Dr. John: All By Hisself: Live at the Lonestar (1986, Hyena)
Fats Domino: Blues Kingpins (1949-55, Capitol/The Right Stuff)
The Essential Dan Fogelberg (1973-90, Epic/Legacy)
The Bud Freeman All-Star Swing Sessions (1935-62, Prestige)
John Lee Hooker: Blues Kingpins (1949-55, Virgin/The Right Stuff)
Lightnin' Hopkins: Blues Kingpins (1946-54, Virgin/The Right Stuff)
Elmore James: Blues Kingpins (1952-55, Virgin/The Right Stuff)
Tom Jones: Reloaded: Greatest Hits (1965-2003, Decca/UTV)
B.B. King: Blues Kingpins (1952-64, Virgin/The Right Stuff)
Cyndi Lauper: The Essential Cyndi Lauper (1983-96, Epic/Legacy)
Jimmy Lyons: The Box Set (1972-85, Ayler, 4CD)
The Miracles: Love Machine: The '70s Collection (1973-77, Motown/Chronicles)
The Essential Eddie Money (1977-91, Columbia/Legacy)
N.Y No Wave: The Ultimate East Village 80's Soundtrack (1978-80, ZE)
The Ultimate Dolly Parton (1970-88, RCA Nashville/BMG Heritage)
Teddy Pendergrass: Anthology (1977-82, Philadelphia International/The Right Stuff, 2CD)
Poison: Best of Ballads and Blues (Capitol)
Pop Will Eat Itself: Box Frenzy (1987, Sanctuary/Castle)
Elvis Presley: Close Up (1957-72, RCA/BMG Heritage, 4CD)
Elvis Presley: 2nd to None (RCA)
Pulp: Hits (Island/Chronicles)
Putumayo Presents American Blues (1972-2002, Putumayo World Music)
Putumayo Presents Brazilian Groove (Putumayo World Music)
Putumayo Presents Christmas Around the World (Putumayo World Music)
Putumayo Presents French Café (Putumayo World Music)
The Essential Redbone (1969-74, Epic/Legacy)
Rough Trade Shops: Post Punk Vol 01 (Mute, 2CD)
Savoy Brown: Hellbound Train: Live 1969-1972 (Sanctuary/Castle)
The Essential Simon & Garfunkel (1964-75, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Nina Simone: Anthology (1957-93, RCA/BMG Heritage, 2CD)
The Essential Frank Sinatra: The Columbia Years (1944-52, Columbia/Legacy)
Art Tatum: The Best of the Complete Pablo Solo Masterpieces (1953-55, Pablo)
Art Tatum: The Best of the Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces (1954-56, Pablo)
Ernest Tubb: The Texas Troubadour (1936-52, Proper, 4CD)
Ike Turner: Blues Kingpins (1952-61, Capitol/The Right Stuff)
Bobby Womack: Anthology (1967-76, Capitol/The Right Stuff, 2CD)

Missed:

Desmond Dekker: Rudy Got Soul: The Complete Early Beverly Sessions 1963-1968 (Sanctuary/Trojan, 2CD)
Willie Nelson: Crazy: The Demo Sessions (1960-66, Sugar Hill)
The Clean: Anthology (1981-96, Merge, 2CD)
The Essential Babyface (1989-97, Epic)
Black & Proud: The Soul of the Black Panther Era, Vol. 2 (Trikont)
William Parker: Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace (1974-79, Eremite)
The Rough Guide to the Music of Turkey (World Music Network)
David Murray Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard (1995, 411 Records)
Skip James: Rare and Unreleased Studio Sessions (1967, Vanguard)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Thyrty: The 30th Anniversary Collection (UTV, 2CD)
Haul and Pull Up Selecta: Heavy Weight Dancehall 1979-82 (Sanctuary/Trojan)
Leadbelly: When the Sun Goes Down, Vol. 5: Take This Hammer (1940, Bluebird)
The Rough Guide to Latin Jazz (World Music Network)
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: Sportin' Life Blues (1940-52, Proper, 2CD)
Platinum Glenn Miller (1939-42, Bluebird, 2CD)
Johnny Cash: Greatest! (1956-58, Varese Sarabande)
The Story of the Blues (1928-95, Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Jimmy Cliff: Anthology (1962-93, Hip-O/Island/A&M, 2CD)
Once Upon a Time: The Best of Delroy Wilson (1967-74, Sanctuary/Trojan)
Tarheel Swing (1946-53, Krazy Kat)
The Allman Brothers Band: Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival: July 3 & 5, 1970 (1970, Epic/Legacy, 2CD)
The Essential Peter Tosh: The Columbia Years (1976-77, Columbia/Legacy)
George Jones: Love Songs (1972-86, Epic/Legacy)
Bob Marley: Live at the Roxy (1976, Tuff Gong/Island/Chronicles)
Al Green: The Love Song Collection (Right Stuff/Hi)
The Best of Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs (The Millennium Collection) (1965-68, Mercury/Chronicles)
George Jones: Hank, Bob and Me: Songs of Hank Williams and Bob Wills (1962, Fuel 2000)
Everything I Own: The Best of Ken Boothe (Sanctuary/Trojan)
Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys (1962-88, Capitol)
Flying Funk (Bluebird)
CIMPosium: Volume 12 (2002-03, CIMP)
Luciano: Ultimate Collection (1993-2000, Hip-O/Island)
All That Jive: Jazz Classics With a Swinging Sense of Humor (1945-53, Savoy Jazz)
Hank Locklin: RCA Country Legends (1956-67, BMG Heritage)
The Essential Blue Oyster Cult (1971-83, Columbia/Legacy)
Caravan of Love: The Best of Isley Jasper Isley (1984-87, Epic/Legacy)
Liquidator: The Best of the Harry J All Stars (1969-72, Sanctuary/Trojan)
Russian Songwriter: A Collection From Boris Grebenshikov (Naxos World)
Trojan Box Set: Ganja Reggae (1970-85, Sanctuary/Trojan)
Swing Tanzen Verboten! (1933-44, Proper, 4CD)
Susan Cadogan: Hurt So Good (1975, Sanctuary/Trojan)
Vince Guaraldi: The Charlie Brown Suite and Other Favorites (1968, Bluebird)
6 Degrees of P-Funk: The Best of George Clinton and His Funk Family (1979-96, Epic/Legacy)
The Essential Charlie Daniels Band (1974-89, Epic/Legacy)
Daniel Johnston: The Early Recordings Volume 1 (1980-83, Dualtone)

Hyped:

Aphex Twin: 26 Mixes for Cash (Warp, 2CD)
Bad Brains: Banned in DC: Bad Brains' Greatest Riffs (Caroline)
Björk: Live Box (1993-2002, One Little Indian, 5CD)
Kurtis Blow: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Mercury)
Dennis Brown: The Promised Land (1977-79, Blood & Fire)
Johnny Cash: Unearthed (American/Lost Highway, 5CD)
James Chance: Irresistible Impulse (Tiger Style, 4CD)
The Chemical Brothers: Singles 93-03 (1993-2003, Astralwerks)
The Eagles: The Very Best Of (Warner Bros.)
Clancy Eccles: Fatty Fatty: 1967-1970 (Sanctuary/Trojan)
Everything Crash: The Best of the Ethiopians (Sanctuary/Trojan)
Bennie Green: Mosaic Select (Mosaic, 3CD)
The Best of Guided by Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates (Matador)
Definitive Hoosier Hotshots (Collectors' Choice, 2CD)
Wyclef Jean: Greatest Hits (Columbia)
The Essential Janis Joplin (Columbia/Legacy, 2CD)
Louis Jordan: Jumpin' and Jivin' at Jubilee (1943-44, Collectors' Choice)
Led Zeppelin: How the West Was Won (Atlantic, 3CD)
Mali Lolo: Stars of Mali (Smithsonian/Folkways)
Jackie Mittoo: Champion in the Arena (1976-77, Blood & Fire)
The Moles: On the Street (Wishing Tree)
No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion (Rhino, 4CD)
Lee Scratch Perry: Chapter 2 of "Words" (1972-73, Sanctuary/Trojan)
Ragga Ragga Ragga! 2003 (Greensleeves)
In Time: The Best of R.E.M. (1988-2003, Warner Bros.)
The Collected Works of the Roches (Rhino/Warner Bros.)
The Rough Guide to South African Gospel (World Music Network)
Raymond Scott: Kodachrome: Compositions for Orchestra (Basta)
Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime (Rhino, 3CD)
Television: Live at the Old Waldorf (Rhino Handmade)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Gospel of the Blues (1938-48, MCA/Decca)
Tulear Never Sleeps (Stern's Africa)
The Best of Caetano Veloso (Nonesuch)
Robert Wyatt: Solar Flares Burn for You (1972-2003, Cuneiform)
ZZ Top: Chrome, Smoke & BBQ (Warner Bros., 4CD)

Reissues

This year I'm separating out the reissues, both straight and slightly crooked reissues (hopped up with bonus cuts, sometimes a whole extra disc). The main reason is that these feel more like a random selection from the catalogue rather than progress.

James Brown: In the Jungle Groove (1969-72, Polydor)
Duke Ellington's Far East Suite (1966, Bluebird)
Al Green: I'm Still in Love With You (1972, Right Stuff/Hi)
Duke Ellington: Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band (1940-42, Bluebird, 3CD)
Al Green: Let's Stay Together (1972, Right Stuff/Hi)
Sam Rivers: Fuschia Swing Song (1964, Blue Note)
Bill Withers: Still Bill (1972, Columbia/Legacy)
Ben Webster: Soulville (1957, Verve)
Al Green: Gets Next to You (1970, Right Stuff/Hi)
Jimmy Cliff in The Harder They Come (Deluxe Edition) (1968-72, Hip-O/Island, 2CD)
Parliament: Mothership Connection (1976, Mercury/Chronicles)
Lee Konitz: Motion (1961, Verve)
Donna Summer: Bad Girls (Deluxe Edition) (1977-80, Mercury/Chronicles, 2CD)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Reactor (1981, Reprise)
Black Uhuru: Red (1981, Island/Chronicles)
Paul Desmond & Gerry Mulligan: Two of a Mind (1962, Bluebird)
Thelonious Monk: It's Monk's Time (1964, Columbia/Legacy)
Neil Young: On the Beach (1974, Reprise)
Burning Spear: Social Living (1978-80, Island)
Toots & the Maytals: Funky Kingston / In the Dark (Island)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Organisation (1980, Virgin)
Neil Young: Hawks and Doves (1980, Reprise)
Earl Hines: Once Upon a Time (1966, Impulse/Verve)
Gato Barbieri: Bolivia (1971-73, Bluebird)
Neil Young: American Stars and Bars (1977, Reprise)
The Amazing Bud Powell: The Scene Changes (1958, Blue Note)
The Isley Brothers: 3 + 3 (1973, Epic/Legacy)
Lefty Frizzell: Country Favorites / Saginaw Michigan (Collectables)
Thelonious Monk: Criss-Cross (1962-63, Columbia/Legacy)
Archie Shepp: Attica Blues (1972, Impulse)
Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges (1959, Verve)
Pee Wee Russell: Ask Me Now! (1965, Impulse)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1980, Virgin)
The Best of Donna Summer (20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection) (1975-83, Mercury)
Junior Murvin: Police and Thieves (Island)

Pending:

Albert Ayler: Music Is the Healing Force of the Unvierse (1969, Impulse)
The Beatles: Let It Be . . . Naked (1970, Apple/Capitol)
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise (1993, Virgin, 2CD)
Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Press Color (1979, ZE)
Lizzy Mercier Descloux: Mambo Nassau (1981, ZE)
Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964, Columbia)
Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming (1979, Columbia)
Bob Dylan: Oh Mercy (1989, Columbia)
Al Grey / Billy Mitchell: Snap Your Fingers (1962, Verve)
J.J. Johnson: J.J.'s Broadway (1963, Verve)
Hank Mobley: The Flip (1969, Blue Note)
Lee Morgan: Sonic Boom (1967-69, Blue Note)
Muslimgauze: Uzbekistani Bizzare and Souk (1995-96, Important)
Uncle Tupelo: Anodyne (1993, Rhino/Sire)
Was (Not Was): Out Comes the Freaks (1981-83, ZE)
Larry Young: Mother Ship (1969, Blue Note)

Missed:

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: Wake Up Everybody (1975, Epic/Legacy)
Parliament: Chocolate City (1975, Mercury/Chronicles)
Parliament: Up for the Down Stroke (1974, Mercury/Chronicles)
Hugh Masekela: Grrr (1966, Verve)
Holy Modal Rounders: Good Taste Is Timeless (1971, Sundazed)
Alexander Von Schlippenbach: Pakistani Pomade (Atavistic)
Burning Spear: Man in the Hills / Dry and Heavy (1976-77, Island/Chronicles)
Charlie Rouse: Bossa Nova Bacchanal (1962-65, Blue Note)
Sonic Youth: Dirty (Deluxe Edition) (1992, Geffen/Chronicles, 2 CD)
Black Uhuru: Sinsemilla (1980, Island/Chronicles)
Jack Teagarden: Mis'ry and the Blues (1961, Verve)
Al Green: Green Is Blues (1970, Right Stuff/Hi)
Thelonious Monk: Solo Monk (1964, Columbia/Legacy)
Uncle Tupelo: No Depression (1990, Columbia/Legacy)
David Bowie: Aladdin Sane: 30th Anniversary Edition (1973, Capitol, 2CD)
The Jimmy Giuffre 3: The Easy Way (1959, Verve)
Thelonious Monk: Underground (1967-68, Columbia/Legacy)
The Ebonys (1973, Epic/Legacy)
The O'Jays: Ship Ahoy (1973, Epic/Legacy)
Alan Price: Between Today and Yesterday (1974, Sanctuary/Castle)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Architecture and Morality (1981, Virgin)
Bill Withers: Menagerie (1977, Columbia/Legacy)
Jerry Portnoy: Home Run Hitter (1995, Sanctuary/Castle)
Black Uhuru: The Dub Factor (1983, Island/Chronicles)

Hyped:

Peter Brötzmann Group: More Nipples (Atavistic)
Jackie DeShannon: Jackie (1972, Rhino Handmade)
The Go-Betweens: Spring Hill Fair (1984, Beggars Banquet, 2CD)
Cecil Taylor: Student Studies (1966, Fuel 2000)
The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (Deluxe Edition) (MCA, 2CD)
Television: Marquee Moon (1977, Rhino/Elektra)
Television: Adventure (1978, Rhino/Elektra)