2003 in British Music

The Story of 2003

The Libertines released 'Up the Bracket', the defining album of the new British rock wave. Produced by Mick Jones, it was ragged, romantic and urgent – 'Time for Heroes' and 'What a Waster' capturing the chaos of the band's early years. The music press went wild. The Darkness released 'Permission to Land', a completely unexpected retro-rock triumph – 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' with Justin Hawkins' falsetto and spandex became the year's most joyful single. Radiohead's 'Hail to the Thief' was their last album on EMI, a return to guitar rock after the electronic experiments. Dizzee Rascal released 'Boy in da Corner', the album that made grime a national conversation – 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' and 'I Luv U' were raw, brilliant and distinctly London. Grime was born from the ashes of UK garage, harder and darker. The Streets' 'Original Pirate Material' had been released in 2002 but 'Fit But You Know It' and 'Weak Become Heroes' defined 2003 – Mike Skinner's observational garage-rap was utterly British. The year was a fascinating moment: rock, indie, grime and retro-rock all flourishing simultaneously.