Jesse Walker is continuing his end-of-year tradition of offering top-10 lists of the best films of years in previous decades, rather than of the preceding year. A great idea stemming from the fact that he claims not to have seen enough of the previous year’s films to create a credible list.
Since in recent years I’ve generally seen a couple of hundred newly-released films per year — in theaters, no less (see, for example, my 2002 list) — I at least have the breadth of experience to create a credible list, if not the critical acuity. So, such a list will be forthcoming. I still have a few 2003 films I want to see first (Big Fish, House of Sand and Fog, Monster, Girl With a Pearl Earring, Bubba Ho-tep, Japanese Story, to name a few), but the bulk of the list is is mostly in place right now
In the meantime, members of the pho list are posting their top CDs of 2003. I can’t claim to have heard anywhere near as many new CDs this past year as the number of new movies I’ve seen, which automatically omits from my list many of the critical favorites of others. (Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief? Haven’t heard it. Elephant by The White Stripes? Same. Death Cab for Cutie? I’ve never heard anything by them, as far as I know.)
But despite my more limited breadth of experience in new music, I really do hear a lot of new stuff anyway — much of which most other critics have likely not heard. I posted a list for 2002, and so I’m posting one for 2003 as well. Here goes:
- King Crimson, The Power to Believe
- John Zorn, Masada Guitars
- The Beatles, Let it Be… Naked
- Living Daylights, Night of the Living Daylights
- Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Unclassified
- Bill Frisell, The Intercontinentals
- Anton Fier, Dreamspeed/Blindlight 1992-1994
- Marc Ribot, Scelsi Morning
- Julius Hemphill, One Atmosphere
- King Crimson, Live in Guildford 1972
- John Zorn, Masada Anniversary Edition Vol. 3 – The Unknown Masada
- Curlew, Mercury
- The Tiptons, Short Cuts
- Buckethead, Bucketheadland 2
- The Decemberists, Her Majesty the Decemberists
- Roswell Rudd & Toumani Diabate, Malicool
- David Sylvian, Blemish
- Warren Zevon, The Wind
- Amy Denio, Nocturnis
- Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Greendale
- Dave Douglas, Freak In
- The John Scofield Band, Up All Night
- Dr. Lonnie Smith w/ David Fathead Newman, Boogaloo to Beck: A Tribute
- Al Green, I Can’t Stop
- Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Little Worlds
