December 31, 2003
Best Albums Of 2003
Posted by Larry Karnowski at December 31, 2003 9:55 AMBEST OF THE BEST OF THE BEST, SIR:
1. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
2. Bill Monroe - Anthology
3. Lyle Lovett - My Baby Don't Tolerate
4. White Stripes - Elephant
5. Be Good Tanyas - Chinatown
6. Jack Johnson - On and On
7. Gillian Welch - Soul Journey
8. Chatham County Line - Chatham County Line
9. Ricky Skaggs & KY Thunder - Live at the Charleston Music Hall
10. Robinella & The CCString Band - Robinella & The CCString Band
11. The Three Pickers - The Three Pickers (Earl, Doc, and Ricky)
12. Scott Miller - Upside Downside
13. Thad Cockrell - Warmth and Beauty
14. Emmylou Harris - Stumble Into Grace
15. Ryan Adams - Rock N Roll
WORST DISAPPOINTMENT:
Lyle Lovett - Smile (What was he thinking? This had better have been him just getting out of a contractual obligation so he could go to Lost Highway Records. I believe deep down in my heart that it's true.)
Refresh my memory about smile, so I don't have to break your knees for insulting Lyle.
Posted by: Ben at January 2, 2004 12:56 PMSmile was his "music from the movies" CD. After years of no Lyle CD, suddenly there was this one early in the year. But after years of no Lyle CD, this was a SERIOUS disappointment. What I was waiting for, and what I think everyone was waiting for, was My Baby Don't Tolerate. Which, of course, kicks ass.
Posted by: larry at January 2, 2004 7:21 PMOK man, I have to take issue with your Smile disappointment. True that it prolonged our suffering as we waited for new material, but at least it was something, and good stuff, too. It's definitely more of a jazzy vibe than his original stuff (most of it, anyway), but I thought it showed he's a good interpreter (for once! Thank God! Someone realizes that Mack the Knife isn't a happy little ditty!). I think it makes for some good listening, even if it's not his best ever stuff or even his at all. It didn't sate our need for new, original Lyle, but it soothed our pain somewhat, says me.
Ben, womp him one for me. :)
Posted by: Stacy at January 3, 2004 12:42 PMOh, but good best-of list! I meant to say that, too ...
Posted by: Stacy at January 3, 2004 12:42 PMOkay, I stand by my original assessment - Smile is a terrible album, even if it's by the Man Himself. There's a couple of good songs -- he really did handle "Mack the Knife" right, it's a very bloody, very scary song. I also like "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord", but the rest... well, not so much. Bad Lyle album, only made tolerable by the fact that he released Tolerate in the same year! :-P
Posted by: larry at January 3, 2004 3:32 PMAnd for the record, maybe this will help explain my feelings on Smile, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band is my least favorite of his stuff. I like the blues and jazz-tinged stuff, but I listen to Lyle for his country stuff. The blues and jazz and gospel stuff is necessary, and really good, but it's when he uses that inflection in his country stuff that I really dig.
Posted by: larry at January 3, 2004 3:35 PMA VERY SERIOUS WHOMPING IS COMING YOUR WAY!
Posted by: Ben at January 5, 2004 12:04 PMYeah, get him, Ben!
Posted by: Stacy at January 5, 2004 12:11 PMHeh, bring it you sissy! :-P
Posted by: larry at January 5, 2004 1:06 PM
