I have finally pinned down my list of best albums of the year — a little late given the journalistic trend of posting them first thing in December. Believe me, I started this epic last year.... Enjoy!

The knock against ranking albums for a year is that, in addition to being an "exercise in cool" (I just like the ring of that...), it is also an exercise in arbitrariness — how does one writer say what the 11th best album of the year is? Plus, readers can never estimate how many albums a critic has reviewed in arriving at his or her list. There are a truckload of 2003 releases that go unheard by even the most ardent audiophiles, me included.

As Coolfer insightfully points out, I cannot say absolutely that these are the best albums released in 2003. What I can say is that each of these eleven albums rocked me in its own particular way and deserves my recognition for being one of the best releases that crossed my path this year. Without further ado, my top 11 albums of 2003 — a great year for music, indeed.

11. Natural History — Beat Beat Heartbeat (StarTime International). Brooklyn-based Natural History fashion some quirky new wave sans keyboard in the vein of Elvis Costello. Together with fellow Brooklyn/NYC sccenesters The Walkmen and The French Kicks (and Portland-based labelmates, The Joggers), The Natural History constitute the second wave of NYC bands' collective claim on what is "in" in independent rock. The band's success centers around Max Tepper's vocals, which recall Britt Daniels (from Spoon) and a more polished Bob Nanna (from Braid, Hey Mercedes). Stream the video for Costello-esque "Watch this House", one of the best indie rock songs that I have heard all year. The band's website also provides for the downloading MP3s for "Run de Run" and the captivating "Do What You Should".

10. Beulah — Yoko (Velocette Records). Over the course of the last five years, Beulah has been one of the most consistently creative bands on the indie circuit, thanks in part to lead singer Miles Kurosky's well-documented great attention to detail. And this album is no different than its predecessors in that respect — Yoko's production approaches perfection and in itself is worth any audiophile's dollars ("My Side of the City" and "Hovering" are two examples of Kurosky's mastery). Kurosky's melancholy lyrics are cleverly embedded in shifting and diverse pop music that is given depth by the addition of trumpets. Highlights on this album include the bouncing "Landslide Baby", the western-feeling "Me and Jesus Don't Talk Anymore," and "Your Mother Loves You Son." You can download three Yoko tracks, including the aforementioned "Your Mother Loves You Son," at the label's website. Beulah also puts on one helluva live show. Catch them before they deliver on their promise to break up...