It has been a while everyone--sorry! Hopefully in 2004 I will be able to become more active in the blogcritics community. Finals are over at school, the new year is upon us and that means it is top 10 list time. Here is mine:

10. Smoking Popes-The Party's Over- This, the final release from the brothers Pope, is a wonderful installment in the already classic repertoire of phenomenal instant classics. From the Pope's material to the covers that are done so wonderfully, this disc is definitely their best, and one of the top picks of 2003.

9.Thursday- War All the Time- Screamo--ugh, I hate that term--this is not a screamo album, or an emo album--this is rock and roll at its finest. The entire effort is flawless and, as hard as it is to believe, a step up from their previous efforts.

8. Story of the Year- Page Avenue- San Diego raises some great talent. The boys from Story of the Year hit the mainstream scene with a vengeance in 2003. Rock anthems mixed with screams and catchy beats. A great release!

7. Brandtson- Death and Taxes- Great tunes from a great band. Way too short, but with the barrage of tunes these emo-rockers have been cranking out, this disc was just enough to wet my whistle.

6. Shai-Hulud- That Within Blood Ill-Tempered- The album that SHOULD have been on my top albums of 2002. This disc is completely flawless. Geert delivers with a host of incredible tunes, lyrics and riffs that make this disc so bittersweet-the break-up of these icons was not only untimely, but unbelievable sad.

5. The Faint- Dance Macabre- I am not a techno fan. I repeat--I AM NOT A TECHNO FAN!!!- However, fresh on the heels of The Flaming Lips techno influenced Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, this disc by the Faint was a refreshing change of pace from the rock rut most of the world fell into in 2003. Saddle Creek Records continues to release some of the best music in the scene.

4. Thrice- Artist in the Ambulance- Warped tour was good to the boys from Thrice--their previous releases, Illusion of Safety and Identity Crisis, were just tastes of what these guys had up their sleeves. Hopefully, while the taste of their talent is still fresh in fans mouths they will release a major label follow up in 2004.