Best Music 2004 - Bryan Waterman

I threw this together kind of fast. I'm sure I left something out. Of Montreal should have been in the top 10 somewhere, for instance. But as you'll see below, I started one of these last year and never sent it out, so I wanted to make sure I got it out this year, since the critics'lists are kind of annoying. happy new year. bw

Bryan's Top 10 of 2004

10. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

He also played a nice set in DC over Thanksgiving weekend. Nice little guy from Michigan. Lots of Christian lyrics-so many that it can be annoying, but it can also catch you off guard, especially if you have a lot of Christian text backed up on your own harddrive. This isn't as good as his Michigan album, but it's a tender little number.

9. A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder

The guy from New Pornographers. McCartneyesque structures, mean-ass hooks. Music for interstate driving in the summer.

8. Erlend Oye - DJ Kicks

The guy from the Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience. My favorite voice of the year. Here he plays the role of "The Singing DJ," laying his vocals over other people's tracks on half the songs. Highlights include a cover of The Smith's "There Is a Light": Morrissey never made the opening request sound so plaintive. Another highlight is a cover of the first track off KoC's Quiet Is the New Loud. I think it's track 16 here.

7. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike

The Avalanches meet TV music of the early 80s, mixed with a little Grandmaster Flash. One of the most fun things I've listened to this year.

6. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days

Back to softsville. I liked this better than the debut because of the additional instrumentation. Best track: "Love and Some Verses." You have to love philosophy professors from Florida who make this kind of a career change.

5. Bjork - Medulla

I think it's her best album. It's of a piece with the folk freak scene, though people haven't generally made that observation. It's the best vocal album of the year, for sure-the best use of human voices.

4. various artists - The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered, Covered

Treasure chest of the year. There's so much here-a disc of fantastic songs by the man himself, and another disc full of covers by fantastic bands and singers from Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips and Beck to Vic Chesnutt, Tom Waits, and M Ward. On my iPod, when I play songs in alphabetical order, I get the original followed by the cover or vice versa, which is also a great way to listen to these two amazing sets.

3. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs

They spawned the freak folk movement, together with Devendra and Joanna. Pure pleasure to listen to-primal yet happy, fully modern yet old as hills and musical instruments and campfires. Made me wistful for Navajo singing, so I bought an old CD of recordings from the 50s called Natay, Navajo Singer. The most original rock album of my year.
Plus they played a fantastic live set.

2. Electrelane - The Power Out

Sounds a little like a lot of different things-Stereolab, early post-punk bands (esp in the drums), but also has great choral tracks and rough-edged female vocals in at least three languages. Infectious, driving, sexy as hell.

1. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender

The girl who made the harp an indie rock instrument. I can listen to this one hours on end, her whiny, sing-song voice working its way deep into my subconscious. It wins my top slot by sheer virtue of its staying power: while others above have come and gone, this one is still in my CD player more often than not. A little Appalachian, a little Bjork, a little Cat Power imitating Devendra, a little Elizabeth Smart, a little e.e. cummings, a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. Well, not so much of the latter, but we'll keep her around for good company.


Top 20 of 2003

20. dm and jemini -- ghetto pop life
19. !!! -- me and giuliani down by the schoolyard (a true story) EP
18. my morning jacket -- it still moves
17. manitoba -- up in flames=20
16. lost in translation
15. death cab for cutie -- transatlanticism / the postal service -- give up
14. radiohead -- hail to the thief
13. lyrics born -- later that day
12. grandaddy - sumday
11. (smog) -- supper=20
10. cat power -- you are free
9. outkast -- speakerboxxx/the love below
8. m ward -- the transfiguration of Vincent
7. bonnie "prince" billy -- master and everyone
6. belle and sebastian -- dear catastrophe waitress
5. fruit bats -- mouthfuls
4. the decemberists -- her majesty
3. the shins -- chutes too narrow
2. broken social scene -- you forgot it in people
1. magnolia electric co. + bonus disc