Best of 2003

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• fan
• addictive
• kind of
• low-key

• standout
• smash
• head and shoulders above the rest
• innovative

• message
• pop
• roller coaster
• biggest

• crazy
• crazy
• manic energy
• rock

• narrow it down

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

2003 was kind of a low-key year for music. While there were lots of great albums, there wasn’t a standout smash hit album that was head and shoulders above the rest.
Read on to find which albums are on my top ten list for the year!

Dialog

1. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Reason

My Top Ten Albums of 2003:
1. O*
~ Damien Rice

Reason:   I’m not sure that O is the best album of the year – but it was definitely the best album for me. For some reason, it was the album I listened to the most. I just couldn’t get myself to take it out of my CD player. Some days I listened to it over 10 times. It’s just beautiful music. I don’t know what else to say.

2. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
~ OutKast

Reason:   Because it’s relatively new, I haven’t had enough time to fully understand this album. However, I know it’s one of the most creative, innovative and interesting collections of music I’ve ever heard.

3. Hail to the Thief
~ Radiohead

Reason:  Radiohead continues to make some of the most important music in the world. The message and the music is addictive.

4. Justified
~ Justin Timberlake

Reason:   It’s the best pop album in a long time. It’s so much fun to listen (and dance) to that anyone who likes to have party has to love it.

5. Elephant
~ White Stripes

Reason:   The White Stripes make music that sounds simple, but is filled with love, power, joy, confusion and pain. Listening to it is like being on a roller coaster.

6. Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
~ 50 Cent

Reason:   “In Da Club” is one of the best party songs ever recorded. 50’s first album sold more copies than any other album this year.

7. Dangerously In Love
~ Beyonce Knowles

Reason:   Beyonce is one of the biggest stars in the world because she’s beautiful, she’s fun and she can sing. Her first solo album featured some of the best pop songs of the year.

8. Fever To Tell
~ Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Reason:   If you’re feeling crazy and out of control and want some music to listen to, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are for you. Their powerful noise and manic energy were an exciting addition to the world of music.

9. You Are Free
~ Cat Power

Reason:   Nobody is in more pain than Chan Marshall, the singer/songwriter for Cat Power, and nobody makes better songs that express that pain.

10. Mary Star of the Sea
~ Zwan

Reason:   This album wasn’t a major hit, but it contains some of the best rock & roll songs Billy Corgan has ever made. That’s saying a lot, because Billy made some of the best rock albums in history with his former band, Smashing Pumpkins*.

 

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3