(no subject)
Out of sheer boredom, I've decided to hop on the bandwagon and quickly review the top 20 albums of 2004. I'm only doing this because 2004 was an incredible year for music, and there are artists out there I wish for some of you to discover - and I'm bored. Anyway. Let's begin.
20. Interpol - Antics
Not nearly as groundbreakingly amazing as Turn On The Bright Lights , but is definitely a highlight of 2004.
19. Pinback - Summer in Abbaddon
A vast improvement over Blue Screen Life. The songs are much more cohesive, and above all, more emotional. Not to mention the production, seeing that it was 100% independent and done in the band's house, is nearly perfect.
18. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
I'm a much bigger fan of Sufjan's older work, but this album is still fantastic. His voice mesmorizes, and the subtle use of the banjo is perfect.
17. Low Skies - The Bed
Lo-fi indie meets The Doors. That's the only way to describe it. And it works well.
16. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
The album has recieved a lot of hype, and for the most part, it's valid. True indie-rock. Definitely their best work since Murray Street .
15. Mum - Summer Make Good
Truly haunting and sometimes scary electronic-post-rock in the vein of The Books. Some of the best songs I've ever heard lie on this album.
14. The Pale - Gravity Gets Things Done
Imagine a Death Cab For Cutie for adults, not 14 year old girls. Great band and will probably blow up just like the earlier mentioned band. Don't let the fact that they are on tour with Maroon 5 turn you away.
13. Styrofoam - Nothing Lost
A collaboration album featuring members of The Postal Service, Lali Puna, The Notwist & American Analog Set. Imagine what all 4 of those bands combined would sound like. Yes, it's that good.
12. Lali Puna - Faking The Books
Downtempo the way it's meant to be done. I'm not a huge fan of most female fronted bands, but this is one exception. The hushed vocals match the precise drumming perfectly.
11. Telfon Tel Aviv - Map of What Is Effortless
Quite simply, some of the most beautiful electronic-indie music you will ever hear. The production is brilliant.
10. The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place
Jimmy Lavalle recorded this album in Iceland with the help of Sigur Ros members. The Sigur Ros inspiration is definitely there and definitely welcome. The addition of vocals on a few tracks has pushed The Album Leaf into even more genre-crossing lands. Amazing stuff.
9. On!Air!Library! - On!Air!Library!
It's electronic-indie-arena rock. And it's nearly perfect. Again, one of the few female/male fronted bands that I actually enjoy.
8. Namelessnumberheadman - Your Voice Repeating
Words can't describe this band. Words can't even describe this bands name. The best I can offer is that it's a sometimes tragic, sometimes dark mix of electronic and acoustic indie. And it's good.
7. A Day In Black And White - My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys
Mogwai meets Fugazi. In theory, that may not work. In practice, it does. It's some of the most haunting and emotional music I've heard not only this year, but ever. Level Plane is one of the greatest record labels ever created, and this band only proves that.
8. The One AM Radio - A Name Writ In Water
German singer-songwriter. His older work had little to none electronic influences, but his newest effort does. He implements the use of drum machines and the such to perfectly match his sometimes acoustic/sometimes electric guitar and super soothing voice. It's excellent.
6. I Am Robot and Proud - Grace Days
This album was released in late 2003 in Europe, but didn't hit America until early 2004. IARAP is one guy, Shaw Liem, who creates dreamy electropop from old keyboards and a laptop. It's suprsingly soothing and very, very addicting music.
5. M83 - Dead Seas, Red Cities & Lost Ghosts
Again, another case of an album being released before 2004 in Europe. Coincidently, it's of the same genre as well. M83 is a duo the creates the most atmospheric and surreal electronic music I've ever heard. Amazing stuff.
4. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
Iron and Wine's second full length is the first recording they've ever done in a "real" studio - all of their previous work has been recorded independently, and the lo-fi quality sound has almost become a trademark to their music. Luckily, they generally keep that same sound on this album. Sam Beam's voice is like nothing I've ever heard. It's truly poetic. The whole album, from start to finish, is almost an hour of pure, beautiful indie-folk like no other band has ever done.
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
The hype around this band is valid. 100%. And on top of that, they're one of the most amazing bands you will ever see live. This is the album Interpol wanted to do, and that hundreds of indie bands aspire to create. It's indie-rock perfected, and will take at least 3 listens to actually "get." Imagine Interpol meets The Pixies meets The Weakerthans. Canadian bands never disappoint.
2. Owen - I Do Percieve
Forget Cap'n Jazz. Forget American Football. Forget Owls. Owen is the only off-shoot band that matters. I can't begin to explain how beautiful Mike Kinsella's voice is or how completely tragic his lyrics are. This album was meant to give you goosebumps, and it suceeds.
1. Max Richter - Blue Notebooks
I really don't know where to begin. Max Richter has figured out how to connect bridges between classical, electronic, experimental and post-rock. This album is probably the single greatest musical achievement I've heard during my 14 years of passionately loving music. This is music personified. Every note has a purpose, and not one is out of place. It's brooding, it haunting, it beautiful and is the definition of emotional. Seek out this album and experience it.
20. Interpol - Antics
Not nearly as groundbreakingly amazing as Turn On The Bright Lights , but is definitely a highlight of 2004.
19. Pinback - Summer in Abbaddon
A vast improvement over Blue Screen Life. The songs are much more cohesive, and above all, more emotional. Not to mention the production, seeing that it was 100% independent and done in the band's house, is nearly perfect.
18. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
I'm a much bigger fan of Sufjan's older work, but this album is still fantastic. His voice mesmorizes, and the subtle use of the banjo is perfect.
17. Low Skies - The Bed
Lo-fi indie meets The Doors. That's the only way to describe it. And it works well.
16. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
The album has recieved a lot of hype, and for the most part, it's valid. True indie-rock. Definitely their best work since Murray Street .
15. Mum - Summer Make Good
Truly haunting and sometimes scary electronic-post-rock in the vein of The Books. Some of the best songs I've ever heard lie on this album.
14. The Pale - Gravity Gets Things Done
Imagine a Death Cab For Cutie for adults, not 14 year old girls. Great band and will probably blow up just like the earlier mentioned band. Don't let the fact that they are on tour with Maroon 5 turn you away.
13. Styrofoam - Nothing Lost
A collaboration album featuring members of The Postal Service, Lali Puna, The Notwist & American Analog Set. Imagine what all 4 of those bands combined would sound like. Yes, it's that good.
12. Lali Puna - Faking The Books
Downtempo the way it's meant to be done. I'm not a huge fan of most female fronted bands, but this is one exception. The hushed vocals match the precise drumming perfectly.
11. Telfon Tel Aviv - Map of What Is Effortless
Quite simply, some of the most beautiful electronic-indie music you will ever hear. The production is brilliant.
10. The Album Leaf - In A Safe Place
Jimmy Lavalle recorded this album in Iceland with the help of Sigur Ros members. The Sigur Ros inspiration is definitely there and definitely welcome. The addition of vocals on a few tracks has pushed The Album Leaf into even more genre-crossing lands. Amazing stuff.
9. On!Air!Library! - On!Air!Library!
It's electronic-indie-arena rock. And it's nearly perfect. Again, one of the few female/male fronted bands that I actually enjoy.
8. Namelessnumberheadman - Your Voice Repeating
Words can't describe this band. Words can't even describe this bands name. The best I can offer is that it's a sometimes tragic, sometimes dark mix of electronic and acoustic indie. And it's good.
7. A Day In Black And White - My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys
Mogwai meets Fugazi. In theory, that may not work. In practice, it does. It's some of the most haunting and emotional music I've heard not only this year, but ever. Level Plane is one of the greatest record labels ever created, and this band only proves that.
8. The One AM Radio - A Name Writ In Water
German singer-songwriter. His older work had little to none electronic influences, but his newest effort does. He implements the use of drum machines and the such to perfectly match his sometimes acoustic/sometimes electric guitar and super soothing voice. It's excellent.
6. I Am Robot and Proud - Grace Days
This album was released in late 2003 in Europe, but didn't hit America until early 2004. IARAP is one guy, Shaw Liem, who creates dreamy electropop from old keyboards and a laptop. It's suprsingly soothing and very, very addicting music.
5. M83 - Dead Seas, Red Cities & Lost Ghosts
Again, another case of an album being released before 2004 in Europe. Coincidently, it's of the same genre as well. M83 is a duo the creates the most atmospheric and surreal electronic music I've ever heard. Amazing stuff.
4. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
Iron and Wine's second full length is the first recording they've ever done in a "real" studio - all of their previous work has been recorded independently, and the lo-fi quality sound has almost become a trademark to their music. Luckily, they generally keep that same sound on this album. Sam Beam's voice is like nothing I've ever heard. It's truly poetic. The whole album, from start to finish, is almost an hour of pure, beautiful indie-folk like no other band has ever done.
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
The hype around this band is valid. 100%. And on top of that, they're one of the most amazing bands you will ever see live. This is the album Interpol wanted to do, and that hundreds of indie bands aspire to create. It's indie-rock perfected, and will take at least 3 listens to actually "get." Imagine Interpol meets The Pixies meets The Weakerthans. Canadian bands never disappoint.
2. Owen - I Do Percieve
Forget Cap'n Jazz. Forget American Football. Forget Owls. Owen is the only off-shoot band that matters. I can't begin to explain how beautiful Mike Kinsella's voice is or how completely tragic his lyrics are. This album was meant to give you goosebumps, and it suceeds.
1. Max Richter - Blue Notebooks
I really don't know where to begin. Max Richter has figured out how to connect bridges between classical, electronic, experimental and post-rock. This album is probably the single greatest musical achievement I've heard during my 14 years of passionately loving music. This is music personified. Every note has a purpose, and not one is out of place. It's brooding, it haunting, it beautiful and is the definition of emotional. Seek out this album and experience it.