When I find myself wondering whether some new buzz-drenched band is worth checking out, my first stop is usually Pitchfork Media, which has posted its list of the best 50 albums of 2003. There are some unaccountable omissions—the new Death Cab album Transatlanticism, which takes a few listens to grow on you but is quite strong, gets dissed, as does The Libertines‘ Up the Bracket, Grandaddy‘s Sumday, and, probably most egregiously, The New Pornographers‘ Electric Version (my vote for the top slot, I think). The new Shins album is damn good, but I’m befuddled that they thought it merited the number seven slot, ahead of Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It in People, and I would’ve put the sophomore Strokes effort considerably lower as well. Finally… yeah, The Rapture are great, but best album of 2003? It’s not a totally insane choice, but it did surprise me. Quibbles aside, though, I’m looking forward to combing through the list for gems I missed during the last year.