It's that time of year. Not a BEST OF list, but my personal faves from 2004. Dungen - Ta Det Lungt . One man Swedish band playing authentic sounding 60's Nuggets style psych-pop with a few noise collages thrown in for good measure. He sings in his native tongue, adding a little mystery to the record. Wild guitars, insanely catchy hooks, and it sounds like it was actually recorded in 68. Great, great record. The Observers - So What's Left Now? . Unfortunately this is a vinyl only release at this point in time, but will hopefully be released on cd so more people can check it out. Early 80's style punk/pop, with the emphasis on punk. The verses are typicall rough, early Euro sounding punk rock, then they kick when with awesome melodic choruses. I magine this record will tops of a lot of year end punk lists. Jens Lekman - When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog, plus the preceeding EP's . Another Swede. Indie pop that is equal parts Magnetic Fields and Beat Happening, with a dash of The Smiths for good measure. A few of the songs have a cabaret influence and kinf of suck, but the rest are great. Some of his best sings are b-sodes on the 3 CD EP's that were released as teasers for the LP. Arcade Fire - Funeral . This record got a lot of hype, and for good reason. Beautiful songs that sound like a mix of Bowie, The Pixies, and XTC. I'm sure this band will be getting a lot of run outside indie circles very soon. Papercuts - Mockingbird . First release from a producer turned songwriter. The guy produced the Cass McCombs LP, and you can really hear a lot of that record int he production of his solo LP. Really eteheral sounding psych-folk stuff with fey vocals, but not in an annoying Davenda Banhart way. You know this guy is a producer because the production is what stands out most on this record. Gorgeous headphones record. Interpol - Antics . I didn't like the first LP at all. It sounded like an uncohesive collection of unrealized songs, and that's excatly what it was. The new one is totally different, and at it's heart is a pop album. An outstanding pop album at that. You probaly know of them by now, but's it really dark 80' sounding pop in the vein of the Chameleons and Joy Division. Ulysses - 010 . Solo record from Apples in Stereo frontman Rob Schneider. While still a pop album, this is a eparture from the last few happy-go-lucky bubblegum pop of the last several Apples records. This album actually has an edge to it, and he even raises his voice to a shout on a couple of songs. This sounds kinda like a poppier Thermals, if you're into that band. "The Glacier" is my favorite pop song of the year. reissues: Brian Eno, Can, The Mice, Brian Wilson (not really a reissue, but not exactly a new release either)
I'm notmuch of a Libertines fan, btu I thought the last record was a lot better. I should add The Bees LP to my list.
These two: Quote http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2937748 : Kent's 27 home runs are a single-season franchise record by a second baseman, and he also set a franchise record with a career-high 25-game hitting streak.
"Antics" was about the only new album I bought this year other than the Cure's latest album (self-titled). "Antics" is very good but I don't like it as much as "Turn on the Bright Lights". The Cure's album is far from being one of their better ones, but it has enough interesting stuff on it to justify buying, IMO.
Quit reading whatever magazine it is that you read about those bands in. I've only heard of one of those bands.
I respectfully disagree. This is the best album of 2004. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...urceid=0100000012231186002498&dest=9999999997
I just got Arcade Fire's funeral last night. It is a really great album. I also liked Antics a lot. I think it is on par with their first album. Sometimes I don't like it as much, sometimes I like it more.
1. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Who Is This America? 2. Orso - My Dreams Are Back and They Are Better Than Ever 3. The Plastic Constellations - Mazatlan 4. Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands 5. Black Eyes - Cough 6. Juana Molina - Tres Cosas 7. The Arcade Fire - Funeral 8. Adem - Homesongs 9. The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place 10. Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine 11. Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld 12. The Castanets - Blue Cathedral 13. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender 14. Mirah - C'mon Miracle 15. Chris Thile - Deceiver 16. Isis - Panopticon 17. Black Ox Orkestar - Ver Tanzt? 18. Comets on Fire - Blue Cathedral 19. Espers - Espers 20. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
Sorry to say that I don't listen to much "new" music anymore... I do like the Gibby Hanes and His Problem record though.
Mind you, I haven't listened to every single album released this year that I eventually will buy, but I'd say at the present time my top ten is: 1. Franz Ferdinand 2. Loretta Lynn 3. Kanye West 4. Arcade Fire 5. Elliot Smith 6. Brian Wilson 7. Modest Mouse 8. Interpol 9. Walkmen 10. Drive-by Truckers
Ditto. I'm jaded as far as new music is concerned. I can't remember the last NEW album I've bought. Strictly retro for me lately.
