Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 30
  1. #1
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    181

    Personal Top Ten Lists for 2004

    For me:

    Albums (apologies in advance for my lack of out-of-left-field choices):

    1. Kanye West -- College Dropout. The producer who brought the warmth and soul back into hip hop in the 00's has turned out to be one of the most charismatic pop leading men we've seen in years. West is a rapper of surprising warmth, humor and vulernability, and his songs have a richness and joyfulness to them that is remiscent of early 70s Al Green and Stevie Wonder. Literally every song on this album (other than the silly skits) could be a big hit. In fact, several of them were. But more personally, no album this year produced more units of pleasure for me than this one.

    2. Brian Wilson -- Smile: I don't know quite where to put this gorgeous revelation from one of my all-time favorite artists, as it's a bit out of time, but I swore not to give it the number one spot.

    3. Franz Ferdinand (s/t): The decadent, hedonistic, completely lacking in family values, pop soundtrack of the post-November 2 period for me. "Michael" is my favorite song, with "Dark of the Matinee" a close second.

    4. Green Day -- American Idiot. Amazingly strong power pop album, with melodies that just won't quit. Even the cheesy ballads are great. I expected to enjoy this album when I bought it, but not this much. These guys may not be Husker Du in my book but I think they're passing Cheap Trick.

    5. Morrissey -- You Are the Quarry. Moz is in very strong voice on this album, and he has his best package of songs in a long time. "First of the Gang to Die" acheives an ecstasy of pop perfection, and the over-the-top ballads like "I Have Forgiven Jesus" and "This World is Full of Crashing Bores" are as stirring as they're intended to be. Calmer numbers like "I'm Not Sorry" and "All the Lazy Dykes" continue to satisfy when the smoke clears.

    6. Interpol -- Antics. Antics shows that Interpol doesn't sound like anyone else. They are one of the most singular and distinctive bands around right now, with a really really good debut album to their credit and a follow-up that's significantly better.

    7. The Libertines (s/t) -- The Libertines' rock-n-roll heart is so in the right place. This album achieves a sloppy shambolic gorgeousness that so few bands have been able to pull off since Exile.

    8. Sonic Youth -- Sonic Nurse. A first rate offering from one of my favorite artists. The weird thing is I like this band over the past couple years about as much as I ever have. Their current mature incarnation, with Jim O'Rourke helping out at the boards, is immensely satisfying to me.

    9. Air -- Talkie Walkie. This album was my companion during mostly sleepless nights during an illness earlier this year. I found it warm and mezmerizing.

    10. Modest Mouse -- Good News for People Who Love Bad News. I thought this band really made it into the big leagues with this one. I liked Modest Mouse as an indie-rock band, but on this album they acheived a richness and diversity and musical openness that is beyond what I heard in their earlier work. The songwriting maybe didn't have as much focused intensity as on Moon and Antarctica, but the range and the great melodies made up for it. And Isaac Brock has become a true master of his quirky vocal instrument.

    5 Honorable Mentions:

    Secret Machines -- Now Here is Nowhere
    Loretta Lynn -- Van Lear Rose
    Fabolous -- Real Talk
    U2 -- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
    Wilco -- A Ghost is Born

    (I hope to follow up with a top singles list.)

  2. #2
    very clever with maracas Davey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    on some faraway beach...
    Posts
    2,916
    Nice job! I've only heard three of your top ten but it's always fun to read your comments.

  3. #3
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    A sometimes wet and damp York, England
    Posts
    528

    Nice list

    Having 7 out of your top 10 that have been in constant rotation in my player how could I not like like that list. The 3 standouts from your list for me are The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand and Air.

    The Libertines, "sloppy shambolic gorgeousness" great description just about sums the album up for me, I quite liked the first album but this one has been a revelation for me. I saw Pete Doherty in an interview the other night on TV and he seemed so fragile and remorseful he then did a solo acoustic version of When The Lights Go Out, which was outstanding.

    Franz Ferdinand, I've spent just about all year trying my level best to dislike FF and I did a pretty good job until I saw them live at a festival in late August and since then I've slowly been coming round. So what do you know now I like it, I wouldn't put them as high as you do but they would certainly make my top 10.

    Air, I instantly liked it the first time I heard it and just haven't changed my mind all year.

    Finally Kanye West, I don't want to sound dismissive but rap is not my thing but your reference to Stevie Wonder/Al Green have got me interested so maybe I should check him out.

    Cheers
    Mike

  4. #4
    Sean
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Rumson, NJ
    Posts
    12
    I'm going to check out Air. I previewed the album on iTunes and I think I'll like it.

  5. #5
    Indifferentist Slosh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Posts
    2,221
    albums that sneak into my top ten depending on mood:
    12. Giant Sand - Is All Over The Map
    11. Clinic - Winchester Cathedral
    __________________________________________________ ________________
    10. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
    9. McLusky - The Difference Between Me And You Is That I'm Not On Fire
    8. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
    7. Ted Leo And The Pharmacists - Shake The Sheets
    6. Mastodon - Leviathan
    5. Old Canes - Early Morning Hymns
    4. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
    3. Arcade Fire - Funeral
    2. Earlimart - Treble And Tremble
    1. Pinback - Summer In Abaddon
    __________________________________________________ _________________
    albums that were re-released or have songs that were previously released:
    Rogue Wave - Out Of The Shadow
    Les Savy Fav - Inches
    Originally Posted by Troy: She has that same kind of cleft-pallet, slightly retarded way of singing that so many other people find endearing.


  6. #6
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Posts
    122
    I have 7 of the 10 also, not having K. West, Modest and Sonic.

    To your list I would add,

    Keane...........Hopes and fears, I really like this.
    Razorlight...Up all Night...... Possible my #1
    Killers........Hot Fuss
    Prince.........Musicology...........A great return to form.
    Streets ........A grand don't ......Classic.

    It's noticable that most everyone picked the same top albums in some order or another. I think that is very rare when NME, Q, Mojo, Spin Uncut etc get it right, Shows that the top rated albums were, perhaps the best albums.

    I think this was a great year music wise.

    Top reissues.

    Clash .....London Calling
    Wailers....Burnin
    ABC.......Lexicon of Love
    Clapton....461 Ocean
    Candi Staton
    There's more ,but I'm drawing a blank right now.

    Tony

  7. #7
    very clever with maracas Davey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    on some faraway beach...
    Posts
    2,916
    I'll post mine this morning real quick without any comments since I've probably posted a lot about all of them before (and besides, I'm already late for work ). Most of the second 10 could easily be in the first 10, but it has been a tough year for me to decide what I like best because it changes all the time and they all have a lot of [mostly indie] charm.

    The First 10:
    Mark Lanegan Band - Bubblegum
    The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
    Honeydogs - 10,000 Years
    Augie March - Strange Bird
    Arcade Fire - Funeral
    Pinback - Summer in Abaddon
    David Kilgour - Frozen Orange
    Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard
    The Futureheads - The Futureheads
    Carina Round - The Disconnection

    The Second 10:
    Old Canes - Early Morning Hymns
    Autolux - Future Perfect
    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
    Electrelane - The Power Out
    Blonde Redhead - Misery Is A Butterfly
    Modest Mouse - Good News
    Willard Grant Conspiracy - Regard the End
    Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands
    Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
    Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

    Favorite EP: The National - Cherry Tree

    Favorite Reissue: The United States of America

  8. #8
    Forum Regular nobody's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    1,964
    OK...here's off the top of my head...I'm going for a baker's dozen in no order...

    Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
    Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
    Cee Lo Green is the Soul Machine
    Air Talkie Walkie
    Green Day - American Idiot
    Kanye West - College Dropout
    Two Lone Swordsmen - From the Double Gone Chapel
    The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
    Social Distortion: Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll
    Iron & Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
    The Libertines
    ISAN - Meet Next Life
    Daedelus - Of Snowdonia

    I'm still leaving out a lot of stuff I liked a bunch. Darius, I like everything on your list pretty much, although Modest Mouse never really does much for me, and I'm just not really interested in the whole Smile thing.

    Also, I personally think Interpol's first one was better. The second may be more cohesive, but it's missing big songs like NYC and PDA to get me really excited the way the first one did.

  9. #9
    Crackhead Extraordinaire Dusty Chalk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    below the noise floor
    Posts
    3,636
    Right now, I'm thinking 13, because I can't delete any of these:

    Auf der Maur
    Björk, Medùlla
    Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
    Dresden Dolls
    Dykehouse, Midrange
    Einstürzende Neubauten, Perpetuum Mobile
    Flesh Field, Strain
    Franz Ferdinand
    Ghost, Hypnotic Underworld
    Miss Kittin, I com
    Múm, Summer Make Good
    Neurosis, Eye of Every Storm
    Pan Sonic, Quiet City

    The hardest part is ranking them, so I didn't. I mean, how can you compare Cave with, for example, Neuosis? Or Franz Ferdinand with Ghost or Pan Sonic? They satisfy different moods, that's all, it's not that either one is better.

    And I still haven't heard: Shape of Despair, Elend, Therion, and a few others that could rank right up there with these.

    You know, I nearly picked up that Daedelus. Can you tell me more about it? I know it's under the wide 'electronica' banner, but other than that, know nothing about it.
    Eschew fascism.
    Truth Will Out.
    Quote Originally Posted by stevef22
    you guys are crackheads.
    I remain,
    Peter aka Dusty Chalk

  10. #10
    all around good guy Jim Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    In a dead sea of fluid mercury
    Posts
    1,901
    The Legends - Up Against The Legends
    Arcade Fire - Funeral
    Snow Patrol - Final Straw
    Interpol - Antics
    Lali Puna - Faking The Books
    Stan Ridgway - Snakebit: Blacktop Ballads and Fugitive Songs
    De/Vision - Six Feet Underground
    American Music Club - Love Songs For Patriots
    Miss Kittin - I.Com
    The Walkmen - Bows And Arrows

    Second Ten:
    Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard
    Razorlight - Up All Night
    Libertines - S/T
    The Killers - Hot Fuss
    Green Day - American Idiot
    Pinback - Summer In Abaddon
    Radio 4 - The Stealing Of A Nation
    Clinic - Winchester Cathedral
    Air - Talkie Walkie
    Old Canes - Early Morning Hymns

    Best album not to make the list-Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose. I'm not a fan of country music. I'm not a fan of Loretta Lynn. I'm not a fan of The White Stripes. I'm certainly not a fan of Jack White. Still, I can't deny that good is good. Sometimes you don't have to personally love an album to be able to listen to it and appreciate it's greatness. I don't love it but simply can't deny that it's a great piece of work. Running not too far behind is the Fran Ferdinand album. Maybe on another day it cracks it at the expense of Air or perhaps Green Day. Of course today is today.

    Best EP: Gotta go with Davey's nod to The National's Cherry Tree. Better much than pretty much any album I have listed in the top ten or next to top ten.

    Biggest disappointment: Le Tigre - This Island. I cut this a lot of slack to start out with but when listening to it last week mining for tunes for my year end comp I couldn't escape the final conclusion that this is just a silly mess.

    Showing the most promise: I'd go with The Dears - No Cities Left . The few songs where they cut loose and rock out just a wee bit gives a brief glimpse into what this band could be. Overall too Americana folkie for me but I got a feeling that it could change by the time the next album comes out.

    Most overlooked possibly because it's the most blatant rip off- Kasabian's self titled debut. I got this very late, hence the ommision from the top 20 but with some time it might pan out. Very trip hoppy, very exciting, very very much like Primal Scream. I hear very little originality or attempts to disguise or update the sound but I still liked it quite a bit. Heard virtually nothing about this album and the ommision from any "best of" lists isn't likely to change that.

    Best album of 2004 that was really released in 2003 belongs to M83. I really liked this album but the late US release causes it to be cast out of the running. This band could really make some serious inroads in 2005.

    That's enough for now.

    jc
    Last edited by Jim Clark; 01-08-2005 at 07:12 AM.
    "Ahh, cartoons! America's only native art form. I don't count jazz 'cuz it sucks"- Bartholomew J. Simpson

  11. #11
    Forum Regular audiobill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Solsbury Hill
    Posts
    715

    Cool 2 x 10 = 18

    Hey, Darius.

    Thanks for getting the ball rolling with the "best of" RR list.
    2004, for me, was one of the best years in music. In fact, I spent more on music this year, than in years past. That says a lot, since DVDs seem to have ruled in our house throughout this year.

    1. White, Jim - Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See
    2. Snow Patrol - Final Straw
    3. Arcade Fire, The - Funeral
    4. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
    5. Killers, The - Hot Fuss
    6. Fiery Furnaces, The - Blueberry Boat
    7. Mastodon - Leviathan
    8. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
    9. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
    10. Walkmen, The - Bows + Arrows
    11. Dears, The - No Cities Left
    12. The Legend -- Up Against the Legends
    13. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
    14. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
    15. Q And Not U - Power
    16. Shadows Fall -- The War Within
    17. Smith, Elliott - From A Basement On The Hill
    18. Razorlight - Up All Night

    Why Eighteen?? "'cause I'm eighteen and I like it!!" -- Alice Cooper (I wish I were 18)

    The Jim White album clinched the top spot, simply for its "grow-on-me" factor. In fact, this album would have probably been off the list, when I first received a "tester" from an RR friend. Weeks later, I bought my own copy and now.... it sees air time, both, in the cars and at the house.
    Who knows?? Perhaps one of the others on my list will bear more satisfaction as the next weeks, months, and years unfold.

    Cheers,
    audiobill
    Last edited by audiobill; 01-07-2005 at 03:29 PM. Reason: typos

  12. #12
    all around good guy Jim Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    In a dead sea of fluid mercury
    Posts
    1,901
    Quote Originally Posted by audiobill
    Hey, Darius.

    Thanks for getting the ball rolling with the "best of" RR list.
    2004, for me, was one of the best years in music. In fact, I spent more on music this year, than in years past. That says a lot, since DVDs seem to have ruled in our house throughout this year.

    1. White, Jim - Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See
    2. Snow Patrol - Final Straw
    3. Arcade Fire, The - Funeral
    4. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
    5. Killers, The - Hot Fuss
    6. Fiery Furnaces, The - Blueberry Boat
    7. Mastodon - Leviathan
    8. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
    9. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
    10. Walkmen, The - Bows + Arrows
    11. Dears, The - No Cities Left
    12. The Legend -- Up Against the Legends
    13. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
    14. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
    15. Q And Not U - Power
    16. Shadows Fall -- The War Within
    17. Smith, Elliott - From A Basement On The Hill
    18. Razorlight - Up All Night

    Why Eighteen?? "'cause I'm eighteen and I like it!!" -- Alice Cooper (I wish I were 18)

    The Jim White album clinched the top spot, simply for its "grow-on-me" factor. In fact, this album would have probably been off the list, when I first received a "tester" from an RR friend. Weeks later, I bought my own copy and now.... it sees air time, both, in the cars and at the house.
    Who knows?? Perhaps one of the others on my list will bear more satisfaction as the next weeks, months, and years unfold.

    Cheers,
    audiobill

    Bill, I could add another category to my list: Album I most wish I'd have picked up, Stars - Set Yourself On Fire. I think at some point I'd posted about this band, commenting about the lack of mentions especially from the Canadian front. "course, like I said, I didn't grab the new one and regret it. Never really did see it anywhere save for a few online sources but I think I'm going to have to order it up seeing how much I enjoyed the previous one. Thanks for the nudge.

    jc

    PS real nice list there and it was a bonus to see the Legends disc show up. So far I only remember seeing it in yours, mine, and one published list in the Kansas City newspaper.

    jc
    "Ahh, cartoons! America's only native art form. I don't count jazz 'cuz it sucks"- Bartholomew J. Simpson

  13. #13
    Close 'n Play® user Troy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Highway 6, between Tonopah and Ely
    Posts
    2,318
    Sure a lot of overlap in you guys's lists . . .


    Air- Talkie Walkie
    Mike Keneally- The Universe Will Provide
    Helmet of Gnats
    Happy the Man- the Muse Awakens
    Land of Chocolate- Regaining the Feel
    Daniel Luppi- An Italian Story
    IQ- Dark Matter
    Laika and the Cosmonauts- Local Warming
    The Futureheads
    Secret Machines Now Here is Nowhere

  14. #14
    In perfect harmony DarrenH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Wolverine Country
    Posts
    552
    I didn't buy very many 2004 releases this year. My list, fwiw.

    Riverside - Out Of Myself
    Blackfield - Blackfield
    Tr3nity - Precious Seconds
    Happy The Man - The Muse Awakens
    The Killers - Hot Fuss
    The Mooney Suzuki - Alive and Amplified
    Dead Soul Tribe - The January Tree
    Ozric Tentacles - Spirals In Hyperspace
    Chain - .exe
    Los Lobos - The Ride
    Let the midnight special shine a light on me.

  15. #15
    very clever with maracas Davey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    on some faraway beach...
    Posts
    2,916
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Clark
    PS real nice list there and it was a bonus to see the Legends disc show up. So far I only remember seeing it in yours, mine, and one published list in the Kansas City newspaper.
    Yeh, that is a nice disc. It grew on me quite a bit but then I kind of forgot about it. Did a mini-review over at the obner, but my reviews never go over very well. Guess it's good I don't have to rely on that for a living

    Probably would've put it on my list if I'd have bought a copy, but I didn't. Que sera. Quite a few that I like a lot that didn't make the list. That Lali Puna was pretty tough to leave off too, but I got a little bored with it after the initial love affair died down. Very good album, though. Just wish it had a little more of that folky charm that was Neon Golden.

  16. #16
    all around good guy Jim Clark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    In a dead sea of fluid mercury
    Posts
    1,901
    Quote Originally Posted by Davey
    Yeh, that is a nice disc. It grew on me quite a bit but then I kind of forgot about it. Did a mini-review over at the obner, but my reviews never go over very well. Guess it's good I don't have to rely on that for a living

    Probably would've put it on my list if I'd have bought a copy, but I didn't. Que sera. Quite a few that I like a lot that didn't make the list. That Lali Puna was pretty tough to leave off too, but I got a little bored with it after the initial love affair died down. Very good album, though. Just wish it had a little more of that folky charm that was Neon Golden.
    Mainly since our reviews tend to pale in comparison, we probably shy away from responses to your reviews. If I were to respond it would come out something like, "hell yeah!".

    jc
    "Ahh, cartoons! America's only native art form. I don't count jazz 'cuz it sucks"- Bartholomew J. Simpson

  17. #17
    Toon Robber tentoze's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    North Florida Piney Woods
    Posts
    975
    I'll post mine from elsewhere, with a few cut-and-paste rearrangements of order.

    10) Lambchop, Aw C’mon- A sneaky entry- it just seems to wind up being played a lot.
    9) Devendra Banhart, Rejoicing In The Hands- Just a whole ton of talent bursting out here.
    8) Jim White, Drill A Hole In The Substrate….-Continuing to blend the borders of genres, this one’s got the shnizz….
    7) Mark Lanegan Band, Bubblegum- the best voice in modern music right now.
    6) Ray Lamontagne, Trouble- this would probably go higher two months from now.
    5) Twilight Singers, She Loves You- A cd full of covers in the top 5? Damn right. Essential music for any age.
    4) Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Sings Greatest Palace Music- another disk of reruns? I guess, but I never heard the originals. This disk gets played so much that it had to go high.
    3) Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Oh, My Girl- I hope no one I touted this one to was disappointed in it- it’s a disk of very remarkable music. And Jesse’s a babe.
    2) Joseph Arthur, Our Shadows Will Remain- more play time than any cd in the last 2 months. Scary, scary good.
    1) Willard Grant Conspiracy, Regard The End- If you have not heard this record at elevated volume on a good system, I encourage you to do so. Without peer. And, yeah it was released in England in 2003. I don't give a ****.

    The next 15:

    25) Espers, S/T- that lost medieval sound with waves of ambient noise just does it for me.
    24) Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose- Yes, it is good.
    23) Old Canes, Early Morning Hymns
    22) Mountain Goats, We Shall All Be Healed- not as good as Tallahassee, but Darnielle is still better than most on any given day.
    21 Subdudes, Miracle Mule- like an old friend knocking on the door.
    20) John Vanderslice, Cellar Door- as good as quirky pop tunes get.
    19) American Music Club, Love Songs For Patriots- damned good tunes.
    18) Iron & Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days- if someone would teach Sam how to breathe while singing, his records would go way higher with me. Beautiful music.
    17) Robyn Hitchcock, Spooked- love it.
    16) Giant Sand, Is All Over The Map- Howe Gelb is a national treasure.
    15) Norman & Nancy Blake, The Morning Glory Ramblers- a nod to just about as traditional as you can get.
    14) Jolie Holland, Escondida- I’m in love.
    13) Stan Ridgway, Snakebite
    12) Sufjan Stevens, Seven Swans
    11) Ghost, Hypnotic Underworld- yep, 70’s prog played by a new millenium Japanese experimental band on my list- it’s THAT good
    ----Never Off Topic, Never Rude-----

  18. #18
    Crackhead Extraordinaire Dusty Chalk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    below the noise floor
    Posts
    3,636
    You know, I kept likening the new M&uaccute;m album to that, saying it was "...this year's Neon Golden...". But after having heard the new Telefon Tel Aviv, I realize now how wrong I was. Now, don't get me wrong, Map Of What Is Effortless is no Neon Golden, but it's the closest thing that came out this year, methinks. Have you heard it yet?

    It's, at the same time, both more and less. More experimental, more all-over-the-place, and therefore, more my cup of tea. But overall, I don't think it's near as good an album. It just doesn't have that same songwritten power that that album has. I just do not think it is going to be in my best albums of the half-decade list that I'm doing on another board, and Neon Golden is. Definitely. I just keep playing that album, over and over again. I was just listening to it today.

    I'm seriously considering it (Map Of What Is Effortless) for inclusion in my year-end list.

    Plus, I've only heard it twice so far, so it's way too early to say.
    Eschew fascism.
    Truth Will Out.
    Quote Originally Posted by stevef22
    you guys are crackheads.
    I remain,
    Peter aka Dusty Chalk

  19. #19
    Forum Regular MindGoneHaywire's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Manhattan
    Posts
    1,125
    In some kind of order, which is pointless, but it made some kind of sense to me:

    Green Day—American Idiot
    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds—Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
    Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE!
    The Libertines
    Nick Curran & The Nitelifes—Player!
    The Streets—A Grand Don’t Come For Free
    Little Killers—The Little Killers
    Asylum Street Spankers—Mercurial
    Luka Bloom—Before Sleep Comes
    Mooney Suzuki—Alive & Amplified

    And 5 more that deserve honorable mention:

    Eminem—Encore
    Sonic Youth—Nurse
    Jazz Jamaica All Stars—Massive
    Daniele Luppi—The Italian Story
    And the Cactus 2-CD reissue!

    Haven't listened to the Eminem enough to decide if it belongs higher, but so what. There was other good & deserving stuff this year also--Bebel Gilberto, Tom Waits, Eleni Mandell, the Ditty Bops, Jill Sobule...you probably saw my post about what I thought was a great year for music, the best in over a decade. I have a few here that I see listed above that I haven't even gotten to listen to yet--the Robyn Hitchcock, the Ray LaMontagne, one or two others...and then there's the Franz Ferdinands, the Killers, Snow Patrol, et al, all of which are good but don't do it for me enough to rank them that high. And the stuff that I don't have & haven't heard--Loretta Lynn, Fiery Furnaces, a couple more...which I'll get eventually. I can't see how any rock/pop music fan who's not a crusty classic rock or jam band fogie could've thought this a bad year for music.

    I don't like others.

  20. #20
    Forum Regular BarryL's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Posts
    1,085

    It Appears That I Missed 2004

    Yikes. Was I out of it. Here's all I can think of that I own that was released in 2004 (in no particular order):

    Frameshift - Frameshift
    Flower Kings - Adam & Eve
    IQ - Dark Matter
    Ayreon - Human Equation
    Tangent - 2nd release
    Hem - Eveningsong
    Brian Wilson - Smile
    Karmakanic - 2nd release
    Mark Knopfler
    Nektar - Evolution
    David Mead - 3rd release
    Tom Russell

    I suppose there were a few others. The only thing I regret having bought is Smile, which I disliked immensly after listening to it at least ten times. I suppose my favorite CD of 2004 goes to Frameshift. It was unexpected and masterful. It's modern prog rock head-banging music at its best. Sure to be a classic, and easily La Brie's best vocal work of his career.

  21. #21
    Stone Stone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    1,587
    I'm having a hell of a time after I get my first 5 or 6, but here's what I have at this moment:

    1. Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
    2. A. C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
    3. Adem - Homesongs
    4. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
    5. Ted Leo + Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
    6. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
    7. Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill
    8. The Futureheads - s/t
    9. Destroyer - Your Blues
    10. John Vanderslice - Cellar Door
    11. Mclusky - The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not On Fire
    12. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
    13. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
    14. Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South
    15. The Gris Gris - s/t
    16. Sluts of Trust - We Are All Sluts of Trust
    17. Morrissey - You Are the Quarry
    18. Deerhoof - Milk Man
    19. Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles
    20. Saturday Looks Good To Me - Every Night
    And the world will turn to flowing pink vapor stew.

  22. #22
    very clever with maracas Davey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    on some faraway beach...
    Posts
    2,916
    Quote Originally Posted by Stone
    I'm having a hell of a time after I get my first 5 or 6, but here's what I have at this moment:

    1. The College Dropout by Kanye West
    2. Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
    3. Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn
    4. Confessions by Usher
    5. More Adventurous by Rilo Kiley
    6. You Are The Quarry by Morrissey
    7. The Diary Of Alicia Keys by Alicia Keys
    8. A Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets
    9. Get Away From Me by Nellie McKay
    10. A Ghost Is Born by Wilco

    ....yada yada yada
    Hey nice list! Looks a lot like the one from Blender. Snicker sniker snicker. Do I sound kind of like the goof in the picture under your name?

    Hey, I can't respect any top 10 unless I see a mention of Mark Lanegan. Back to class you indie hipster snob! And don't think you get to collect any bonus points for the Futureheads either! That's just chalked up to good taste in the modern tunes

  23. #23
    Stone Stone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    1,587
    Quote Originally Posted by Muttley
    Hey, I can't respect any top 10 unless I see a mention of Mark Lanegan.
    Hmmm, maybe that's one I should have listened to in 2004, along with Jim White, Pinback (I finally picked this one up, but have only listened once), Interpol, Air, Old Canes, Nick Cave, Snow Patrol, The Earlies, Annie, Dungen, and Willard Grant Conspiracy. Ugh.
    And the world will turn to flowing pink vapor stew.

  24. #24
    Forum Regular tugmcmartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Posts
    137
    Quote Originally Posted by tentoze
    I'll post mine from elsewhere, with a few cut-and-paste rearrangements of order.

    10) Lambchop, Aw C’mon- A sneaky entry- it just seems to wind up being played a lot.
    9) Devendra Banhart, Rejoicing In The Hands- Just a whole ton of talent bursting out here.
    8) Jim White, Drill A Hole In The Substrate….-Continuing to blend the borders of genres, this one’s got the shnizz….
    7) Mark Lanegan Band, Bubblegum- the best voice in modern music right now.
    6) Ray Lamontagne, Trouble- this would probably go higher two months from now.
    5) Twilight Singers, She Loves You- A cd full of covers in the top 5? Damn right. Essential music for any age.
    4) Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Sings Greatest Palace Music- another disk of reruns? I guess, but I never heard the originals. This disk gets played so much that it had to go high.
    3) Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Oh, My Girl- I hope no one I touted this one to was disappointed in it- it’s a disk of very remarkable music. And Jesse’s a babe.
    2) Joseph Arthur, Our Shadows Will Remain- more play time than any cd in the last 2 months. Scary, scary good.
    1) Willard Grant Conspiracy, Regard The End- If you have not heard this record at elevated volume on a good system, I encourage you to do so. Without peer. And, yeah it was released in England in 2003. I don't give a ****.

    The next 15:

    25) Espers, S/T- that lost medieval sound with waves of ambient noise just does it for me.
    24) Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose- Yes, it is good.
    23) Old Canes, Early Morning Hymns
    22) Mountain Goats, We Shall All Be Healed- not as good as Tallahassee, but Darnielle is still better than most on any given day.
    21 Subdudes, Miracle Mule- like an old friend knocking on the door.
    20) John Vanderslice, Cellar Door- as good as quirky pop tunes get.
    19) American Music Club, Love Songs For Patriots- damned good tunes.
    18) Iron & Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days- if someone would teach Sam how to breathe while singing, his records would go way higher with me. Beautiful music.
    17) Robyn Hitchcock, Spooked- love it.
    16) Giant Sand, Is All Over The Map- Howe Gelb is a national treasure.
    15) Norman & Nancy Blake, The Morning Glory Ramblers- a nod to just about as traditional as you can get.
    14) Jolie Holland, Escondida- I’m in love.
    13) Stan Ridgway, Snakebite
    12) Sufjan Stevens, Seven Swans
    11) Ghost, Hypnotic Underworld- yep, 70’s prog played by a new millenium Japanese experimental band on my list- it’s THAT good
    nice picks with Ray Lamontagne and the Blakes.

  25. #25
    BooBs are elitist jerks shokhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Cal
    Posts
    1,994
    Any Beatle cd with John Lennon as lead vocal,just listen to him.
    Steely Dan,so much going on in the music.
    Grand Funk Railroad -Grand Funk Mark Farner,way underated at vocals and guitar.
    Donald ***en-Kamakiriad,its like listening to a book.
    Kansas-Song for America Christen music without even knowing it.
    Gary Moore-Blues for Greeny He was Thin Lizzy.
    Who-Quad
    Fabulos Thunderbirds-Live
    Eric Clapton -The Blues from PBS WOW!
    Police-Classics
    Look & Listen

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. MP3 player and personal organizer
    By hmmmm in forum General Audio
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-20-2004, 07:28 AM
  2. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-14-2004, 08:15 AM
  3. Replies: 11
    Last Post: 12-12-2003, 09:14 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •