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What’s the Greatest Rock Album from 2003?

As we continue our ongoing celebration of 2023’s big album anniversaries, we ask: what’s the greatest rock album from 2003? I started this whole rigamarole earlier this year when I…

What's the Greatest Rock Album from 2003?

As we continue our ongoing celebration of 2023's big album anniversaries, we ask: what's the greatest rock album from 2003?

I started this whole rigamarole earlier this year when I erected (heh) a Poll asking you to pick your favorite album from 1993. That was a rich class of rock records. They all turn 30 this year, and they're all memorable. From there, we jumped back a decade and played favorites from 1983. I was surprised at how strong the rock crop is with regards to albums that turn 40 this year. Recently, we looked at the 25th anniversary releases of 1998. In all three cases, the Polls remain open, so toss a vote at each one if you haven't yet.

I almost skipped the 20th anniversary releases of 2003, believe it or not. I have a lot of personal favorite albums from that year, but I thought there weren't many of note with regards to what we play on ROCK 92.9. Turns out I was wrong. A tip of the hat to my colleagues Ariana and Tim, who helped me brainstorm a pretty solid list of rock and rock-adjacent releases from 2003. Some of the songs on the albums we still play on ROCK 92.9. Some of them we might, depending on how you vote in this week's Poll.

What's the Greatest Rock Album from 2003?

We ended up with a list of 12 albums, which was totally coincidental and not my forcing a 12 into something because that's totally my thing. After the fact, I added a lucky 13th album that I thought belonged as well. Per usual, I welcome you to yell at me if I didn't include a favorite of yours that turns 20 this year. The ROCK 92.9 Facebook or Twitter are both good avenues for yelling. Otherwise, keep scrolling to reacquaint yourself with the Class of '03 and vote for your favorite releases.

The Ataris 'So Long, Astoria'

The Black Keys ‘Thickfreakness’

Released on April 8, 2003

Released on November 18, 2003

The Darkness ‘Permission To Land’

Released on July 7, 2003

Deftones ‘Deftones’

Released on May 30, 2003

Dropkick Murphys ‘Blackout’

Released on June 10, 2003

Evanescence ‘Fallen’

Released on March 4, 2003

Kings Of Leon ‘Youth & Young Manhood’

Released on July 7, 2003

Linkin Park ‘Meteora’

Released on March 25, 2003

Muse ‘Absolution’

Released on September 15, 2003

Radiohead ‘Hail To The Thief’

Released on June 9, 2003

The Strokes ‘Room On Fire’

Released on October 28, 2003

The White Stripes ‘Elephant’

Released on April 1, 2003

adam12Writer
Adam 12 is the Program Director of Boston's ROCK 92.9, heard weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. He's been flexing his encyclopedic rock knowledge in New England for over 2 decades, both on-air and online, at WBCN, WFNX, Boston.com, and indie617. At ROCK 92.9, he keeps you in the know on the big stories from the Boston music scene and writes about great places to eat, drink (beer), and to spend time outdoors in and around Boston.