Best Music 2004 - the web

What the critics say:

http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2004.shtml
http://pitchforkmedia.com/top/2004/lists.shtml
http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles142.html

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/17/123610.php
http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/041206-best2004lundy.shtml
http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4049
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2004/MERC-Dec-16-Thu-2004/25446804.html
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1174082,00110005.htm
http://www.junkmedia.org/2004/albums.htm
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6768041?rnd=1105139780703&has-pl
ayer=true&version=6.0.12.857
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/3172289350/show/431510
http://www.billboard.com/bb/yearend/2004/top10.jsp
http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/

Best Music 2004 - Dimitri Mendoza (1 y/o)

marlo thomas "free to be you and me" album bjork "debut"
glenn gould, "goldberg variations" (first recording
1960s?)
danny thomas, hans christian anderson favorites

Best Music 2004 - Vickie Mendoza

stereolab, the album before the old lead singer passed away
nina simone, greatest hits
the story, first album

Best Music 2004 - Eric Stracener

I'm digging:

Tom Waits- Real Gone

Dolorean-Violence in a Snowy Field

Bonnie Prince Billy -- Master and Everything

Mississippi John Hurt- The Best Of (not exactly new)

Bunch of old stuff too-- but that Bonnie Prince Billy is the one that freaks me out. It's GREAT.

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

Best Music 2004 - Michael Schwartz

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
Fiery Furnaces - Gallowsbird's Bark
Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
Delgados - Hate Delgados - Great Eastern
Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Social Distortion - Sex, Love, and Rock 'n' Roll
U2 - How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse

Best Music 2004 - Tara McPherson

not all 2004 but almost all on the ipod:

loretta lynn, /van lear rose
the real tuesday weld, /i, lucifer
old 97s, /drag it up
outkast, /speakerboxxx/ the love below
hayseed dixie, /a hillbilly tribute to ac/dc + kiss my grass
girlyman, /remember who i am
bonnie prince billy, /ease down the road
dangermouse – /the gray album
pj harvey – /uh huh her
wilco - /a ghost is born
steve earle – /the revolution starts now
eric stracener, /sockeye (acoustic guitar from a college pal)
sonic youth – /sonic nurse
tv on the radio/, desperate youth, blood thirsty babes
ray charles, /genius loves company
the hives, tyrannosaurus hives
the drive-by truckers, /the dirty south

Best Music 2004 - Brian Weir

My top 5 picks:

Scissor Sisters

KD Lang - Hymns of the 49th parallel (got to love those Canadian song
writers)

Garden State soundtrack

Jerry Springer: The Opera

Avenue Q (titles include Everyone's a Litte Bit Racist, It Sucks to be Me, and The Internet is for Porn)

I forgot Keane - Hopes and Fears . . . brilliant!

Best Music 2004 - Tiffany Hope

I'm not good at following directions so I've added a few categories of my own.

BEST CDs
Loretta Lynn - "Van Lear Rose". Stunning, Stunning, Stunning! PJ Harvey "uh huh her" Sorry, I'm obsessed with her.

WORST CD
The Mars Volta - "Deloused in the Comatorium". What a miserable piece of crap. I shoulda known from the stack of used copies at Amoeba -- always a bad sign.

BEST SINGLE
Louis Xiv "Finding Out true Love is Blind" This is the best tune I've heard in like, 4 years. Think The Fall times The Jazz Butcher minus The Buzzcocks. I wanted to jump up and down and scream it out loud! I don't know where to get it yet but when I find out, it's mine!

FINALLY REPLACED WORN VINYL COPY
Husker Du - Zen Arcade. Just as good as it was back in the day! Only now, without scratches!

Cant wait for everyone else's recommendations!

Best Music 2004 - Govind Seshadri

In no particular order (they are all good!):

Mylene ~ Mylene Pires
Egypt ~ Youssou N'Dour
O ~ Damien Rice
Dellali ~ Cheb Mami
Tourist ~ St. Germain
Miss Perfumado ~ Cesaria Evora
Hot Pants ~ James Brown
Arabic Groove ~ Various Artists (Putumayo) Si Soy Llanero: Joropo Music From Orinoco Pirates Choice ~ Orchestra Baobab

Best Music 2004 - Irene Turner

The Roots // Albums: Phrenology, The Tipping Point The
Singles: Sacrifice, The Seed - LOVE THEM LIVE

Tiziano Ferro // Album: Ciento Once The Singles: No me lo puede explicar, Temple bar, Mia Nonna (aka Mi Abuela) - best artist to hold a torch with Bacilos // Album: Sinverguenza Single: Porque Brillamos -- emotion without sap
Cafe Quijano // Album: Que Grande es este de amor Singles: La taberna
del Buda, Nada de Na, Desde Brasil, Tequila – pulp fiction meets squirrel nut zippers in spain Nelly Furtado // Album: Folklore single: explode, try Bob Dylan // singles: Things have changed, Just Like a woman, Subterranean homesick blues, Gotta serve somebody Ely Guerra // album: Sweet & Sour, Hot y Spicy singles: quiereme mucho -- chick rock en español Compilation Album: Nuevo Latino // single: Por que te vas Jazz/Reggae to write by:
Bill Evans // Peace Piece, A House is not a home Bob Marley // Dreams of Freedom: Ambient translations of Bob Marley in Dub Miles Davis // Concierto de Aranjuez Vangelis // Le Singe Bleu

Uptempo Workout Mix: Against Politics as Usual (Reagan Era) X // Los Angeles, This must be the new world, I must not think bad thoughts Oingo Boingo // Nothing Bad Ever Happens, Grey Matter, Who do you want to be Dead Kennedys // Holiday in Cambodia The Clash // Know your rights Public Enemy // Fight the Power Violent Femmes // Old Mother Reagan Talking Heads // Life during wartime Girl Power- Inspiration Mix:
Ani Difranco // Not a Pretty Girl
Pink // Respect
No Doubt // Hey Baby
X // Breathless
Elton John // The Bitch is back
Destiny's Child // Survivor
RIP: Cousinlovers

Best Music 2004 - Mark Morris

Best of 2004

Joanna Newsom - The Milk Eyes Mender - sounds like she an 8 year old Bjork playing a Harp.

The Rapture - Echoes - bring on that Proto Punk Funk

Liars - They were Wrong so we Drowned - If Edgar Allen Poe were a hipster from Brooklyn he might have sounded like these dudes.

Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days - best sounding folk album I never bothered to buy

Eliot Smith - From a basement on the Hill - Sad Sad Album

Modest Mouse - Good News for Bad People who love Bad News - If Nic Harcourt says this is a top album of 2004 then he must be right...

The Shin - Chutes too Narrow - It came out in 2003 but I didn't buy it until 2004 so I'm including it, suck it.

The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart - Has the best intro song for a TV show ever (Rescue Me)

Yves Montand - D'or - makes me want to wear a Beret.

Blonde RedHead - Misery is a Butterfly - just because, suck it.

The Catheters - Iggy lives!!! Wait he never died.

Mclusky - Hard to go wrong with a Steve Albini produced band... or actually it might be pretty easy to go wrong.

Best Music 2004 - Brian Anderson

Jem - Finally Woken
Medeski, Martin & Wood - End of the World Party
White Stripes - Elephant
Calexico - Feast of Wire
Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs
Die Fantastischen Vier - Troy
Wir Sind Helden - Die Reklamation
Herbie Hancock - Headhunters

Best Music 2004 - Pete Limbrick

Here's my 2004 top 10.3 acquired this year, in more or less no order, except the Bonnie Prince Billy probably is my hands down favorite from the year...

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy--Master and Everyone Blond Redhead--Misery is a Butterfly Magnetic Fields - i Future Bible Heroes - Eternal Youth David Bowie - Low Mekons - Punk Rock Mekons--Me The Clean--Anthology The Go-Betweens--Bright Yellow Bright Orange Yeah Yeah Yeahs--Fever to Tell

and just sneaking in over the holidays...
The Hotel Alexis--The Shining Example is Lying on the Floor The Coctails--Popcorn Woven Hand--Woven Hand

Best Music 2004 - Elena Crane

I have a very short list:

2 new releases this year:
Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose
Bonnie Prince Billy Sings Greatest Palace Music

And 3 old ones I bought this year:
Dolly Parton, Just Because I'm a Woman
Nick Cave, The Boatman's Call
Pater Gabriel, So (I had a very old tape of this and finally got the CD, so it's not "new" to me, but oh so wonderful)

Best Music 2004 - Jeremy Zitter

So, here goes:
My list (in no particular order, actually):

1. Iron and Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days: A typical pick for me, of course, but, god, these are some gorgeous, heartbreaking songs.
(Didn't I say the exact same thing last year?) Best tracks (sorry
Bryan): "Naked as We Came" and then "Sodom, South Georgia" and THEN "Love and Some Verses." Actually....(and excuse me for being a vulgarian, China): fuck it: they're all good.

2. Joanna Newsom: The Milk-Eyed Mender. Perhaps my most-listened-to song of 2004 is the impossibly addictive "Sadie," and I'm still not even close to being done with it. The highlight was when my mp3 player fell into the tub (at Rebecca's mom's house in D.C.), as I was bathing while simultaneously trying to hit the replay button to hear the song, yet again. Thanks, Bryan, for imploring me to give this album another try. Initially unsettling (it might take a few listens, as I've found), Newsom's voice grows and grows and grows on you. (And the mp3 player is back up and running).

3. The Walkmen: Bows and Arrows: I know, I know. They were on an episode of the O.C., music's new-millennium version of now-defunct Sassy magazine's "cute band alert," but, oh well. Languid and almost sensual at times, howling/screaming/growling at others.

4. Mirah: C'mon Miracle: I saw her play in a tiny club in Long Beach last year, and she was as sweet and engaging and accessible as each of the songs on this lovely album. She actually had everyone lie on the floor for one song, which wasn't nearly as annoying as it sounds.

5. Electrelane: The Power Out: Just listen to it. I can't believe I missed them play in L.A. twice and even once in Long Beach. For shame!
The first time I heard this album, it reminded me of why I first fell in love with Stereolab back in, like, 1991, before they decided to innovate.

6. The One A.M. Radio: A Name Writ on Water: Another typical pick for me, this album is quiet, quiet, quiet. Shhhh! Any band with a guy named Hrishikesh Hirway calling the shots gets an a-OK on my list.

7. Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans: I have Bryan to thank (again!) for foisting this annoyingly good (sigh) Christian music on me (sorry for being reductive, but it's true!). Alas, I'm hooked. If an album can overcome the dreadful repetition of the title-track chorus, "and He is the lllllooorrrrrdddd!" it has to be considered, really and truly, a work of implausible genius. P.S.: I agree that Greetings from Michigan is a better album, and if it hadn't been released the year prior, that would be listed here as well.

8. The Fiery Furnaces: Blueberry Boat: One of the more challenging and often frustrating albums for me this year, but one that keeps giving.
Having said that, the guilty-pleasure, "Chris Michaels," will always remind me of my trip to visit Farrell, Rebecca, and Bryan this summer (more specific memories: devouring Philly Vietnamese (followed by gelato), debating the supposed earnestness or irony of the Polyphonic Spree, watching Bryan channel Bill Clinton, strolling through the Hirshorn with Farrell, and marveling at Rebecca carrying the yet-to-be born Baby Max). Music should always come attached to such splendid memories. P.S.: However, Gallowsbird's Bark is still the better album.

9. Rogue Wave: Out of the Shadow: Just typically fun, hook-laden, guilty-pleasure, retro-indie rock.

10(a). The Magnetic Fields: I: I was skeptical at first, since I've always been attracted to Merritt's lo-fi, low-budget charm, and the reviews lamented his abandonment of these very roots, but the album still has the cynicism and humor (the real draw), as well as the requisite hooks.

10(b). Cat Power: Willie Deadwilder: This is not an album; in fact, really, it's just one 18-minute song with Chan singing and M. Ward accompanying on guitar. And it's just this wonderfully rambling song.
Try downloading it, though. Don't buy that horrible DVD that comes packaged with it. Unless you want to see Chan doing her usual incompetent-shy-girl thing in one looooong, 2-hour shot.


'04 honorable mentions AND albums not released in '04 (but still new to me this year):

--Hawksley Workman: For Him and the Girls (thanks, Tim) (2001)

--Blonde Redhead: Misery is a Butterfly (2004)

--(the aforementioned) Sufjan Stevens: Greetings from Michigan (2003)

--The Cardigans: Long Gone Before Daylight (2004)

--Lali Puna: Faking the Books (2004)

--Kings of Convenience: Riot on a Quiet Street (2004)

--Adem: Homesongs (thanks, Farrell) (2004)

--The Innnocence Mission: Befriended (2003)

--The Album Leaf: In a Safe Place (2004)

--Broken Social Scene: You Forgot it in People (2002)


I'm pretty sure I'm missing something....

Best Music 2004 - Chris Jess

so, here goes nothing... I tried to put it in an order of me liking it, but it always depends on my mood I guess.

1. The Killers - Hot Fuss
2. Snow Patrol - Final Straw
3. Keane - Hopes And Fears
4. Incubus - A Crow Left To A Murder
5. Jem - Finally Woken
6. Tantric - After We Go
7. Morrissey - You Are The Quarry
8. Velvet Revolver - Contraband

Honorable Mentions:
Probot - Probot
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (ok, it's from 2003, but I got it in 2004...)

Best Music 2004 - Dexter Knaack (2.75 y/o)

top albums in 2004
- Gwendolyne and the Good Time Gang - Rockin' Christmas
- Best of Disney CD 1 (Mickey Mouse March, It's A Small World, Following the Leader,...)
- Montossouri Nutcracker Concert Songs
- [SONG] - B-I-N-G-O
- [SONG] - Old MacDonald Had A Farm
- [SONG] - Hokey Pokey
- [SONG] - Happy Birthday
- [SONG] - Tigger Song
- [SONG] - Itsy Bitsy Spider
- [SONG] - Do Your Ears Hang Low

Best Music 2004 - Robert Knaack

An interesting year. A lot more good stuff than I realized.

top 10 albums in 2004
01 - Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
02 - Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow
03 - Black Keys - Rubber Factory
04 - Old 97s - Drag It Up
05 - Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
06 - Magnetic Fields - i
07 - Elliot Smith - From A Basement On The Hill
08 - Minus 5 - In Rock
09 - Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
10 - Arcade Fire - Funeral

top next 10 albums
11 - Nick Cave - Abattoir Blues / Lyre of Orpheus
12 - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
13 - Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum
14 - Southern Culture on the Skids - Mojo Box
15 - Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
16 - the Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
17 - Modest Mouse - Good News...
18 - Futureheads - Futureheads
19 - The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free 20 - Drive-By Truckers - Dirty South

honorable mentions
Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts...Now
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Killers - Hot Fuss

Best Music 2004 - Doug McLaughlin

the order that they currently reside on my cd.
1. The Dears - No Cities Left : I personally think this album by the mutually montreal band is much more catchy and moving then the Arcade Fire album. Yeah, so sometimes he sounds way too much like morrisey....at least he admits it.
2. Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague : a pretty solid compilation of covers for what could have seemed like too much of a novelty album.
3. The Beta Band - Heros to Zero's : Every album by these guys has been enjoyable. some of the songs took a while to grow on me.
4. Phoenix - Alphabetical : My choice for the most enjoyable pop album of the summer. the songs are just so damn pleasant.
5. Blonde Redhead - Misery is a butterfly : Good songs and great production (by Guy from fugazi no less). I tested my new speakers out with this album.
6. Electralane - The Power Out: Equal parts Stereolab and the Pretenders.
This album just kept giving, except for that weird choral song....i could do without that.
7. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse : Man these guys keep making great albums.
8. The Icarus Line - Penance Soiree : I don't know how to describe this album. this album is insane in a great way.
9. Liars - They were wrong so we drowned : Another insane album that will either draw you in or totally offend you.
10. Chk Chik Chick - Louden Up Now : These guys are so damn obnoxious that i really wish i didn't like this album so much. Same goes for their live show (tied with P.J. Harvey for the best show of the year).
11. Bumblebeez 81 - the Printz : I put this in the list because i didn't here it get much airplay, but its really got some great moments. in a year when every indie band is referencing some 80's band, these guys and girl are pretty refreshing.
12. Nas - Streets Disciple : Very few hip-hop albums keep my attention all the way through....and this is no acception but there is some amazing stuff on this album.
13. Beans - Now Soon Someday : Know what i said about hiphop albums. i think i like every track on this....good idea to keep it short.
14. Kelis - Tasty : So, i didn't download the whole album.....but there are about 4 or 5 tracks on this album that are so fucking catchy. yeah, i even get a kick out of the Milkshake song (you know you love it).

discoveries of 2004
Genesis - The Lamb Lies down on Broadway : man give them a chance, they were fronted by Peter Gabriel and no matter what you think of Phil he could actually play the drums.

Cymande - Renegades of Funk : I might be a little late in discovering these guys (as well as Rufus and chaka kahn) but this a great 70's funk band that totally slipped by.

I've discovered so much good reggae and soul music this year its nuts(ask me for a cd)....oh yeah and some stuff off of the first few ZZtop albums that are great.

honorable mentions: Autolux, Bjork, UNKLE, PJ Harvey, Iron and Wine(deserves to be on the list, but hey its on everyones), Modest Mouse(again, deserves to be on the list....but the earlier albums are even better)

rebuttle: Oh man, tiff i can't believe you like that Luis XIV song. that shit annoys the hell out of me, and i have no idea how you compare them to the Fall (one of my favorite bands of all time)