the top ten musical long-playing recordings of 2004
2004 was definitely a year of quantity over quality in the sense that so many good albums came out but nothing exemplary stood out from the rest. however; yes, the number of great albums released gave me a tough time choosing my ten favorite. i was actually going to make this a top 15 list for that reason but my obssessive-compulsive ritualistic nature when it comes to music (i have to type in all the information about every song in my i-pod except the writer, changing all the genre names; my cd collection is alphabetized but also separated into the rock, jazz, compilation and OPM sections; when i get any artist's new album i have to listen to all of their previous albums that are on hand, much to lia's dismay especially when it's sonic youth) demands that i give simply the ten without any ties.
the selection process, therefore (and we must make this clear because we are protesting the MMFF):
- come October i come up with 15 of the best albums i've heard so far
- these 15 are ranked. those that i'm not sure of go head to head (listened to sequentially) and a victor is chosen
- the 5 that don't make the cut are discarded
- the 10 remaining are then challenged for the next two months by newer releases
- by December's end, everything goes head to head against each other once again, just to make sure this time
- each of the albums must also be listened to at least 4 times, just to make sure there's no onetimegoodtime or automatic respect involved
my final 10 actually surprised me. artists who usually end up in the top 3, like the Beastie Boys, PJ Harvey, Bjork, Hole's Courtney Love (whose album may actually be the worst of the year)and even th JULIANA HATFIELD were nowhere to be found, and some artists i thought had nothing more to offer came out with gems. also, i noticed that my top 3 can be heard on the radio and purchased from Tower/Music One. could this mean that good music is finally coming back and that we've seen the end of Kupaw and 'Acoustic' (a lovely, lovely term mind you)? rejoice with vitamin B+!
anyway.
10.
Elliot Smith - from a Basement on the hill
Smith was my favorite folk singer,and although this is one of his weakest albums, from a basement on the hill is still heartbreaking, poignant and meaningful. A bit of a sympathy vote here, to be sure, but come on! i don't think we'll ever see Elliot Smith on this list again.
recommended downloads: a fond farewell, twilight
9.
Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street
yes, Olivan, you may be right in saying this album is Gay but when you have a nice and quiet pop album with two men singing at the same time how can it not be? the perfect album for driving on a Sunday, Riot on an Empty Street is even better than Kings of Convenience's first album Quiet Is The New Loud. and as if things weren't great enough, they put in some vocal tracks from Broken Social Scene's Feist for extra measure. fantastic record, and I'd Rather Dance With You is the best single of this year (with the most adorable music video as well).
recommended downloads: Misread, I'd Rather Dance With You, Know-How
8.
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
what a beautiful fucking album. Sonic Youth's best since 1998's A Thousand Leaves, Sonic Nurse sounds like an album that's utilized everything the band has learned through all that experimenting and jamming. urban desolation at its best, much like a Daniel Clowes comic or a Lynne Ramsay film. it's a great feeling, recognizing what you saw in an old fave and falling in love with the band all over again.
recommended downloads: Dripping Dream, Peace Attack, Dude Ranch Nurse
7.
Interpol - Antics
the musical equivalent to 2046; this lp was so hyped-up that once it was released there was no way in hell that it could live up to people's expectations. upon second listen, though, one must acknowledge that it's still a damn good record. they sound a lot happier here than in their 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights but that' s to be expected since they probably have a lot of groupies these days.
recommended downloads: Evil, Slow Hands, Narc
6.
Moving Units - Dangerous Dreams
oh God this album is so good you will want to lick it up and down when you first hear it. a brilliant debut infusing disco grooves and postpunk goodness. it's like Gang Of Four, but better. i'm not kidding.
recommended downloads: Scars, Between Us & Them, Anyone
5.
Phoenix - Alphabetical
I first fell in love with Phoenix after hearing their song 'Too Young' in Lost In Translation. Then this year Alphabetical came out and I couldn't stop listening to Everything Is Everything. Phoenix is everything that is wonderful about pop music: hooky riffs, catchy choruses, bouncy rhythms and a lot of synths. they're the best '80s rock band who came two decades late.
recommended downloads: Everything Is Everything, Run Run Run, Victim Of The Crime,
4.
Le Tigre - This Island
Bjork has now been replaced as 'the girl i would want to be if i were a girl' by the beautiful and lovely Kathleen Hanna, the unassuming leader of Le Tigre.
what a darling. i love. and i hear she's with my favorite beastie boy ad rock. anyway, This Island, despite having been produced by the person Mikey and I call THE HAND OF DEATH Ric Ocasek, brings Le Tigre to a totally new direction. this is a return to form for the band and a grade A dance album, even if it's miles away from their lo-fi self-titled debut. oh, and JD Samson has got to be the hottest butch dyke in the whole wide world.
recommended downloads: TKO, Nanny Nanny Boo Boo, Don't Drink Poison
3.
Air - Talkie Walkie
after two disappointing albums, AIR returns with their best work yet. and, strangely enough, despite Talkie Walkie being an electronic album, it feels very personal. this time they did all the singing themselves, and you can hear a lot of heart through the vocoding and voice boxes. tracks without vocals like Mike Mills (dedicated to the director/designer or REM's bassist?) and Alone In Kyoto from Lost In Translation are equally good, if not better. one of the best albums one can read to.
recommended downloads: Cherry Blossom Girl, Alone In Kyoto, Run
2.
Snow Patrol - Final Straw
i must be getting soft in my old age, because I really Really REALLY love this album AND Gary Lightbody's voice, which sounds like a more emotional Lou Barlow. Snow Patrol has been likened to Coldplay a lot, and even though I'm a Coldplay fan it's an unfair comparison. there's a lot of 90's alternative here, along with shoegaze and, umm, indie rock. at times solemn, at times nice and fast, Final Straw is one of those CDs you leave in your changer for months.
recommended downloads: Wow, Spitting Games, Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking
tada.
1.
Killers - Hot Fuss
i just noticed now that the Killers don't actually have a 'The' before 'Killers'. strange, hehe. Hot Fuss, i believe, is the first debut to make it to number one on the list since Possum Dixon's self-titled debut 10 years ago. this is one of those albums that are not only great, but anthemic. when you hear Jenny Was A Friend of Mine you start miming bass moves. when you hear Mr Brightside you want to raise your fist in the air and scream along. when you hear On Top you want to shimmy and shake your head violently left and right. bringing a distinctly Vegas dimension to rock n' roll, the Killers are like Duran Duran fronted by Ian Curtis. and the synths! oh my frickin God such beautiful use of synthesizers! crazy.
recommended downloads: Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, Mr Brightside, On Top, Smile Like You Mean It
HONORABLE MENTION like i said earlier, there are a few albums that can be easily interchanged with the ones here except they didn't make the cut as of the moment. the following were at one point part of the ten,are all brilliant, and worth trying out: Volcano - Volcano,I'm Still Excited!,Citizens Here and Abroad - Ghosts of Tables and Chairs, Tahiti 80 - A Piece of Sunshine and especiallyBjork's Medulla, a work of genius which should be in the list were it not for the sympathy vote. Also, the only local album that was originally there was Cambio's Derby Light, an album whose sum is equal to the talent of its parts. be a good Noypi (by Bamboo) and get the album. the first six tracks are solid.
speaking of local music, this got me into a lot of trouble. it's mine and diego's review of the year in OPM which appeared on MTV Ink (it was spliced with an interview with Mabaya,Sarah and KC to make it look like one interview). actually it just got us into a lot of trouble with Lizza Nakpil, hehehe. our apologies, rico, but as you can see we're not that bad if you take out the VJs.
other things...
best EP: Bloc Party
other favorite singles: Danger! High Voltage by Electric Six, Reptilia by The Strokes, Hermaphrodite by Shat and, well, This Love by Maroon Five
best videos: Michel Gondry's Mad World, Spike Jonze's Y Control, All The Kuntz and Maguire vids
EDIT: oh yeah, i forgot, just in case you're curious...the top ten albums of 2003
my top 10 movies list will come out when i think i've seen all the movies i need to see from 2004. but that's my music list. feel free to give me your own recommendations or favorite albums. i now leave you with one of my greatest regrets from the last year:
while lining up for water at Coachella
hickypox: who's playing now?
me: the killers
hickypox: aren't they supposed to be good?
me: that's what i hear. i was able to download two songs and they're really good.
hickypox: you wanna go watch them?
me (looks at the line for water and how far we've come): nah.
the selection process, therefore (and we must make this clear because we are protesting the MMFF):
- come October i come up with 15 of the best albums i've heard so far
- these 15 are ranked. those that i'm not sure of go head to head (listened to sequentially) and a victor is chosen
- the 5 that don't make the cut are discarded
- the 10 remaining are then challenged for the next two months by newer releases
- by December's end, everything goes head to head against each other once again, just to make sure this time
- each of the albums must also be listened to at least 4 times, just to make sure there's no onetimegoodtime or automatic respect involved
my final 10 actually surprised me. artists who usually end up in the top 3, like the Beastie Boys, PJ Harvey, Bjork, Hole's Courtney Love (whose album may actually be the worst of the year)and even th JULIANA HATFIELD were nowhere to be found, and some artists i thought had nothing more to offer came out with gems. also, i noticed that my top 3 can be heard on the radio and purchased from Tower/Music One. could this mean that good music is finally coming back and that we've seen the end of Kupaw and 'Acoustic' (a lovely, lovely term mind you)? rejoice with vitamin B+!
anyway.
10.
Elliot Smith - from a Basement on the hill
Smith was my favorite folk singer,and although this is one of his weakest albums, from a basement on the hill is still heartbreaking, poignant and meaningful. A bit of a sympathy vote here, to be sure, but come on! i don't think we'll ever see Elliot Smith on this list again.
recommended downloads: a fond farewell, twilight
9.
Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street
yes, Olivan, you may be right in saying this album is Gay but when you have a nice and quiet pop album with two men singing at the same time how can it not be? the perfect album for driving on a Sunday, Riot on an Empty Street is even better than Kings of Convenience's first album Quiet Is The New Loud. and as if things weren't great enough, they put in some vocal tracks from Broken Social Scene's Feist for extra measure. fantastic record, and I'd Rather Dance With You is the best single of this year (with the most adorable music video as well).
recommended downloads: Misread, I'd Rather Dance With You, Know-How
8.
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
what a beautiful fucking album. Sonic Youth's best since 1998's A Thousand Leaves, Sonic Nurse sounds like an album that's utilized everything the band has learned through all that experimenting and jamming. urban desolation at its best, much like a Daniel Clowes comic or a Lynne Ramsay film. it's a great feeling, recognizing what you saw in an old fave and falling in love with the band all over again.
recommended downloads: Dripping Dream, Peace Attack, Dude Ranch Nurse
7.
Interpol - Antics
the musical equivalent to 2046; this lp was so hyped-up that once it was released there was no way in hell that it could live up to people's expectations. upon second listen, though, one must acknowledge that it's still a damn good record. they sound a lot happier here than in their 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights but that' s to be expected since they probably have a lot of groupies these days.
recommended downloads: Evil, Slow Hands, Narc
6.
Moving Units - Dangerous Dreams
oh God this album is so good you will want to lick it up and down when you first hear it. a brilliant debut infusing disco grooves and postpunk goodness. it's like Gang Of Four, but better. i'm not kidding.
recommended downloads: Scars, Between Us & Them, Anyone
5.
Phoenix - Alphabetical
I first fell in love with Phoenix after hearing their song 'Too Young' in Lost In Translation. Then this year Alphabetical came out and I couldn't stop listening to Everything Is Everything. Phoenix is everything that is wonderful about pop music: hooky riffs, catchy choruses, bouncy rhythms and a lot of synths. they're the best '80s rock band who came two decades late.
recommended downloads: Everything Is Everything, Run Run Run, Victim Of The Crime,
4.
Le Tigre - This Island
Bjork has now been replaced as 'the girl i would want to be if i were a girl' by the beautiful and lovely Kathleen Hanna, the unassuming leader of Le Tigre.
what a darling. i love. and i hear she's with my favorite beastie boy ad rock. anyway, This Island, despite having been produced by the person Mikey and I call THE HAND OF DEATH Ric Ocasek, brings Le Tigre to a totally new direction. this is a return to form for the band and a grade A dance album, even if it's miles away from their lo-fi self-titled debut. oh, and JD Samson has got to be the hottest butch dyke in the whole wide world.
recommended downloads: TKO, Nanny Nanny Boo Boo, Don't Drink Poison
3.
Air - Talkie Walkie
after two disappointing albums, AIR returns with their best work yet. and, strangely enough, despite Talkie Walkie being an electronic album, it feels very personal. this time they did all the singing themselves, and you can hear a lot of heart through the vocoding and voice boxes. tracks without vocals like Mike Mills (dedicated to the director/designer or REM's bassist?) and Alone In Kyoto from Lost In Translation are equally good, if not better. one of the best albums one can read to.
recommended downloads: Cherry Blossom Girl, Alone In Kyoto, Run
2.
Snow Patrol - Final Straw
i must be getting soft in my old age, because I really Really REALLY love this album AND Gary Lightbody's voice, which sounds like a more emotional Lou Barlow. Snow Patrol has been likened to Coldplay a lot, and even though I'm a Coldplay fan it's an unfair comparison. there's a lot of 90's alternative here, along with shoegaze and, umm, indie rock. at times solemn, at times nice and fast, Final Straw is one of those CDs you leave in your changer for months.
recommended downloads: Wow, Spitting Games, Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking
tada.
1.
Killers - Hot Fuss
i just noticed now that the Killers don't actually have a 'The' before 'Killers'. strange, hehe. Hot Fuss, i believe, is the first debut to make it to number one on the list since Possum Dixon's self-titled debut 10 years ago. this is one of those albums that are not only great, but anthemic. when you hear Jenny Was A Friend of Mine you start miming bass moves. when you hear Mr Brightside you want to raise your fist in the air and scream along. when you hear On Top you want to shimmy and shake your head violently left and right. bringing a distinctly Vegas dimension to rock n' roll, the Killers are like Duran Duran fronted by Ian Curtis. and the synths! oh my frickin God such beautiful use of synthesizers! crazy.
recommended downloads: Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, Mr Brightside, On Top, Smile Like You Mean It
HONORABLE MENTION like i said earlier, there are a few albums that can be easily interchanged with the ones here except they didn't make the cut as of the moment. the following were at one point part of the ten,are all brilliant, and worth trying out: Volcano - Volcano,I'm Still Excited!,Citizens Here and Abroad - Ghosts of Tables and Chairs, Tahiti 80 - A Piece of Sunshine and especiallyBjork's Medulla, a work of genius which should be in the list were it not for the sympathy vote. Also, the only local album that was originally there was Cambio's Derby Light, an album whose sum is equal to the talent of its parts. be a good Noypi (by Bamboo) and get the album. the first six tracks are solid.
speaking of local music, this got me into a lot of trouble. it's mine and diego's review of the year in OPM which appeared on MTV Ink (it was spliced with an interview with Mabaya,Sarah and KC to make it look like one interview). actually it just got us into a lot of trouble with Lizza Nakpil, hehehe. our apologies, rico, but as you can see we're not that bad if you take out the VJs.
other things...
best EP: Bloc Party
other favorite singles: Danger! High Voltage by Electric Six, Reptilia by The Strokes, Hermaphrodite by Shat and, well, This Love by Maroon Five
best videos: Michel Gondry's Mad World, Spike Jonze's Y Control, All The Kuntz and Maguire vids
EDIT: oh yeah, i forgot, just in case you're curious...the top ten albums of 2003
my top 10 movies list will come out when i think i've seen all the movies i need to see from 2004. but that's my music list. feel free to give me your own recommendations or favorite albums. i now leave you with one of my greatest regrets from the last year:
while lining up for water at Coachella
hickypox: who's playing now?
me: the killers
hickypox: aren't they supposed to be good?
me: that's what i hear. i was able to download two songs and they're really good.
hickypox: you wanna go watch them?
me (looks at the line for water and how far we've come): nah.