Best of 2004
1. Drive-By Truckers The Dirty South (New West) - Pure rock and roll love, The Truckers are exceptionally talented, real musicians who play from their heart and their homeland of the South. This album is at once beautiful and quiet, as well as hard rocking and unrelenting. The songs are lyrically brilliant and touching, reflecting a lifetime of stories, both sad and celebratory. There was really no question in my mind that this album would deserve the number one slot on this list. This album is so amazing, in fact, I actually cried when I first heard them live, because I was so overcome with emotion. They're that good.
2. Pinback Summer in Abbadon (Touch and Go) - Second on my list is Pinback's latest album, which I loved when I first heard it and it has grown on me more and more. It's melodic and lush; I didn't really notice the lyrics at first, but after becoming aware of the somewhat bleak meaning in a lot of the lyrics, I loved it even more. It's quiet in parts, atmospheric almost, and lush, and relatively rocking in others. In all, it's a wonderful and beautifully composed work.
3. The Secret Machines Now Here Is Nowhere (Sire/Reprise) - One of the many reasons the first two albums made it to those prestigious positions was their staying power; the most I listened to them, the more I love them, and the more I noticed different things. The Secret Machines are relative newcomers to my album shelf, but immediately I knew they'd be near the top of any list I made. The opening track hits full force, with tight rhythms, crisp lyrics, and crashing guitars, and the rest of the albums supports the force of the opener with beautifully crafted, catchy sonic walls. There's something familiar about this album, and I'm not sure if it's the influences they've drawn upon or just the execution of a near perfect rock album that makes me say this, but whatever it is, it's sure worth it.
4. Interpol Antics (Matador) - This album definitely isn't TOTBL 2, and that's a great thing in this case. One of the few albums that's actually worth all the hypes associated with it, Antics is dark and brooding indie rock that you can't help but tap your foot to. I think the tracks are crisper than their debut album, and you can definitely hear similarities to TOTBL, as well as their earlier influences, but this album is still its own fantastic work of art. It's part gloomy, part optimistic ("Love, can you love me?"), and an album where I think Interpol have really honed their talent.
5. Sufjan Stevens Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre) - Man, this album is so beautiful, it's the closest thing to a religious experience for me listenting to it. That may sound hokey, but Sufjan's quiet voice and delicate guitar pickings are so powerful and intimate, I just can't help succumbing to this album's brilliance. Sure, he also sings of his Christian upbringing, so maybe that's it, having had no religion or religious upbringing myself, which draws me in so hard. More about the album's composition though, it's very sparse in most places but that only makes the music more intimate and lovely. And when other instruments join it, it's all the more powerful.
6. Elbow Cast of Thousands (V2) - After Asleep At The Back I was really excited to hear this album, and it's definitely as solid as the former. There are catchy moments, experimental moments, even a few dull ones, but overall this is an album that doesn't disappoint. Elbow have a good thing going and they know how to use it.
7. TV on the Radio Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch and Go) - TV on the Radio are another new band for me, and I'm so happy to have been told about them. I love the way they incorporate different styles, like jazz and doo-woppy sounds into the more traditional indie rock sound. I think it was Pitchfork that described Tunde's voice as "like a superhero", and I have to say I agree. Still, they manage to incorporate all these different styles with huge vocals and not sound pretentious at all. You can really tell they love what they're doing, and that's one of the most important aspects of any group, at least that's what grabs me and makes me appreciate artists' work even more.
8. The Arcade Fire Funeral (Merge) - This is Pitchfork's #1 so you know it has to be good. Haha, seriously though, this is a great album. The album opens almost theatrically, and I've even seen reviewers call it "orchestral", which I tend to agree with. This album is beautiful; the arrangements are expertly crafted and reflect the emotions of the artists, while also totally rocking out and providing beautiful melodies. This album has been a big hit almost across the board, and I think it truly deserves the acclaim.
9. Ambulance Ltd LP (TVT) - This album isn't exactly ground breaking, but it is a solid and thoroughly enjoyable rock album, which is why it makes it onto this list. LP makes me really happy when I listen to it. It's a breezy, laid-back album, but the group's talent is very evident, as seen in their seemingly effortless ability to create a catchy pop-song. They draw heavily from past influences, even including a cover of Velvet Underground's Ocean, but the sound manages to be fresh and new.. I was hooked the first time I listened to this album, and months later, every subsequent listen puts a smile on my face.
10. Air Talkie Walkie (Astralwerks) - I love this album, which is obvious of course. I love the minimal lush electronic sounds and catchy pop riffs. I love the banjo on Biological. Air are one of my favorite groups of all time, and this latest release of theirs doesn't disappoint at all.
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order) – Didn’t make it to the Top Ten list, but great albums nonetheless:
1. Menomena I am the Fun Blame Monster (Film Guerrero)
2. Wilco A Ghost is Born (Nonesuch)
3. Iron and Wine Our Endless Numbered Days (Sub Pop)
4. Kings of Convenience Riot on an Empty Street (Astralwerks)
5. TV on the Radio Young Liars (EP) (Touch and Go)
6. Zero 7 When It Falls (ICE #204) (Quango/Palm Pictures)
7. M83 Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (Mute)
8. Múm Summer Make Good (Fatcat)
9. Orbital Blue Album (ATO)
10. Eliot Smith From a Basement on the Hill (Anti)
11. Modest Mouse Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
Worst of 2004 - Most overrated albums of 2004
1. The Fiery Furnaces Blueberry Boat (Sanctuary/Rough Trade) – I’m baffled by the almost overwhelming acclaim this album has gotten by critics far and wide. The only song on this album I can actually listen to is the title track, the rest of the album I find totally un-listenable and totally without any merit beyond some academic experimentation.
2. Animal Collective Sung Tongs (Fatcat) – Similar situation with this album. Most of it I just can’t sit through. I’d seen it listed on so many sites, I had to give it a listen. The first track I wasn’t impressed with, but it wasn’t bad, but as the album progressed I kept skipping through tracks, something I NEVER do. Anyway, needless to say, I’m not a fan.
3. The Killers Hot Fuss (SACD same day)(Island) – I don’t hate this album at all, in fact, I even kind of enjoy it. But, I just don’t think it deserves the amount of hype it’s gotten from critics. That’s all.
4. The Streets A Grand Don’t Come for Free (Atlantic) – Same deal with this album. I enjoyed listening to it a couple times, but it didn’t blow me away or anything of the like. I don’t think it deserves all the acclaim it’s gotten since its release.
