LakinLand.com- Best of the Year 2003

Mike Collins

WSBT news anchorman Mike Collins has been reporting the news in Michiana for over 30 years, but heís been collecting music since the day he got out of short pants. (He had to sell them to buy his first 45.) He started with vinyl, moved on to compact discs and now enjoys the superior sound of DVD audio and SACD. In his spare time Mike is CEO of Springsteen Tours, International....a world wide rock and roll road trip experience. Mikeís ultimate dream is to enjoy world peace, see the Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl again and stick around long enough to re-buy "Born To Run" another five or six times on different formats.

Well here it is. After saving all of this year's CD's and screwing up my filing, I think it was worth it. Except for my top selection, they are in no particular order.

1. Ian McCulloch....Slideling. Former Echo and the Bunnymen lead singer with a terrific CD.

Johnny Cash.....Unearthed Disc #2 alone would make my top ten list. Better than I could have ever wished for.

Over the Rhine....Ohio....Cowboy Junkies from the States.

John Hiatt.......Beneath the Gruff Exterior.....his best work in years....great band.

John Mellencamp.....Trouble No More.....Don't you wish you could sing and play and your record label said just record whatever you want!

Grandpa Boy.... Dead Man Shake.....he records whatever he wants and this time he nails it.

Black Keys......Thickfreakness......young dudes who sound just like Westerberg.

The Thrills.....So Much for the City.....Nice lads from Dublin who sound just like the USA.

Lucinda Williams....World without Tears.....the more you listen to it, the better it sounds,

Gemma Hayes.....Night on My Side.....up and comer from Ireland....good stuff for late at night.

DVD's of the year
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band....Live in Barcelona.....as close as we will ever get to having Bruce in the band come to our house.

The Howlin' Wolf Story.....you have to get this one. History unfolds. Extras are good too including one on the "feud" between Howlin and Muddy Waters.