Critics' Choice 2003

1. The White Streets Elephant [XL]
Recorded for a meagre couple of grand and destined to reach No1 in the UK and No 6 on the Billboard chart, Elephant easily capitalised on the breakthrough of White Blood Cells. Announced by the one-two punch of the single ‘Seven Nations Army’, built around a simple but effective centrifugal riff, and the Delta thrash of ‘Black Math’, the record was a celebration of classic dirt blues and downhome country balladry.
2. Radiohead – Hail To The Thief [Parlophone]
3. David Kitt – Square 1 [Warner Brothers]
4. Kings Of Leon – Youth And Young Manhood [BMG]
5. Damien Dempsey – Seize The Day [Clear Records]