Best albums of 2004?

[Kid_A]

It's that time of year again. Soon we won't be able to open a newspaper or read a website without being ambushed by critics' pretentious "best of" lists, so why don't we get the jump on them? Post your own pretentious "My musical tastes are better than yours" lists!

Here's mine:

1. R.E.M., "Around The Sun" - Chances are that whenever R.E.M. makes a new record that it'll be my favorite album of the year, but sometimes I have to convince myself. This time "Around The Sun" really was the best album I heard all year. It's bleak without being depressing, it's uplifting without being cheesy, and it's quiet without being sleep-inducing. It's also good for those "We're Fucked" blues...

2. Beastie Boys, "To The 5 Boroughs" - This is hip-hop at it's very best. It's also the Beasties' best album since "License To Ill". It's political without being preachy, it's..., aw fuck it. This album rules.

3. Now It's Overhead, "Fall Back Open" - If bands could have children with other bands, and if R.E.M. ever had sex with Radiohead, their baby would be Now It's Overhead. Their sort of an ambient-folk-rock band that deserves to be really famous and sell millions of records, but probably won't.

4. U2, "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" - Hey, it's on every other list this year, so what the hell. It's actually pretty good, too. And the song "Vertigo" is still awesome even after hearing it 9 million times on commercials, on "CSI", and on the radio. It's the rare ubiquitous album-selling single that's actually an honest example of the whole album.

5. Steve Earle, "The Revolution Starts... Now" - If you're on this site, then you know why an album with that title kicks ass. Steve Earle very, very, VERY pissed off and he's not gonna take it anymore.

[WindRavenX]

1. Disagree on a point you made on HtDaAB

I really don't think "Vertigo" is very representative of the entire album; in fact, it's a song that feels very out of place. It's an awesome single, and the entire album fucking rocks my socks, but "Vertigo" is so...loud and chatoic compared to the other songs on the album.

[kariatari]

40. I completely agree.

[underpants]

2. Uh you forgot "ReJoyce The Christmas Album"

http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=10871

[212demop]

3. British Sea Power, Stellastarr, the Shins, The Libertines, Modest Mouse

The Wrens, The Stills, Franz Ferdinand, Postal Service, New Pornographers....

[northzax]

6. a couple of problems with your list...

Decline of BSP came out in 2003
Postal Service (District, right?) also came out in 2003

and you forgot the Scissor Sisters.

[212demop]

10. whoops- what year are we in now?

just kidding. I'm not good with dates. Or time. I'm still in my PJ's so you can imagine.

[demon67]

4. Three more for consideration

1. Nellie McKay, "Get Away From Me."
2. The Polyphonic Spree, "Together We're Heavy"
3. Marah, "20,000 Streets Under the Sky"

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. cool another nellie mention

good to know i'm not alone

[mark414]

5. best Beasties album since License To Ill?

i mean...to each his own and all, but...are you serious?

haven't you heard check your head? paul's boutique? ill communication? hello nasty? anything besides license to ill?

i'll settle down now, and realize that that's your opinion...but man...

[Kid_A]

8. Oops, I meant "Ill Communication"...

Honest mistake, right?

[mark414]

9. ha it's all good

coincidentally i'm listening to 'check your head' right now

[J-Lo Biafra]

7. "Franz Ferdinand"

I love that one.

[leftist_rebel1569]

11. The Arcade Fire - Funeral

1. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
2. The Tea Party - Seven Circles
3. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
4. Death From Above 1979 - I'm A Man, You're A Machine
5. Madvillain - Madvillainy
6. MF Doom - MM...Food
7. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
8. The Good Life - Album Of The Year
9. Eagles Of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
10. Meshuggah - I

Those are the first 10 good albums that came to my head. The only ones that probably are in order are the first three.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

14. shit i forgot all about sonic nurse

it feels like that came out last year---2004 was a long excruciating ride

[mark414]

20. a huge second for the arcade fire

best album of the year hands down, IMHO

[warrens]

22. Arcade Fire for sure

Secret Machines too. I haven't heard The Tea Party, but it's now on the to-do list.

My other two favorites for the year are Por Vida, the tribute to Alejandro Escovedo, and The Real New Fall LP by, of course, The Fall. And 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong, if it came out in 2004.

[leftist_rebel1569]

24. Oh, snap...completely forgot Secret Machines

That, and The Real New Fall would make my extended list of best albums as well.

The Tea Party is simply amazing. I'd suggest picking up The Edges of Twilight or Transmission if you want to get into them. That, and I'd suggest buying (assuming you're not downloading first :P) off their site because Amazon and whatnot only has imports for like, twice the normal cost of the album. Other than that, enjoy! :)

[warrens]

27. Thanks for the advice

Going to their site now!

[warrens]

29. Oh, and just saw Secret Machines open for Modest Mouse Saturday

They were even better than the first time I saw them.

Arcade Fire is the best live band I've seen in years. Sheer heaven. They should put out a live album.

[leftist_rebel1569]

35. I'm jealous

I couldn't see either The Secret Machines (when they opened for Interpol) or The Arcade Fire because they both played 21+ shows and well...I've got a few years to go. Hell, The Arcade Fire were originally slated to play one all ages show and one 21+ at another club, but it shut down and they moved it to a bar at the last minute. x(

However, I mananged to find the live MP3s of that particular show online, so it's not so bad :)

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. my list

we have similar taste

5. REM - Around the Sun - I hated this at first, but then it grew on me big time, its intricacies catching on

4. Robyn Hitchcock - spooked - gillian welch and david rawlings helped hitch make his best cd in a long time

3. Wilco - a ghost is born - the latest from what is quickly becoming the best american band of this decade

2. U2 - HTDAAB - I love U2. They're my all-time favorite band. i think they've transplanted the stones as the 2nd greatest group in rock (behind only the beatles) no other band has retained both critical and commercial acclaim at his point in their career. the new album is hardly an obligatory nod to a past great, but an amzing record that lives up to the hype and is only surpassed by...

1. Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me - it's just so rare that i hear a debut this strong. great songwritin in a number of different styles, innovative and clever lyrics, she's got a great voice-i fuckin love this cd
and she's kind of become a friend of mine over the last year


honorable mentions : the cure (self-titled), le tigre - this island, steve earle, interpol, and the above mentioned beastie boys

[demon67]

19. You became friends with Nellie McKay?

That is amazing. I think she is a unique and wonderful talent. And you know her? That is just great and, yes, I am more than a little envious.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

30. well, we're not super-close or anything

but we keep in touch. she's a really sweet person and deserving of her success

[RevolutionaryActs]

15. Lazyboy 'Lazyboy TV'

Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand', Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 & 2, 12 Girls Band 'Freedom', Bonnie Mckee 'Trouble', Keane 'Hopes and Fears', The Killers 'Hot Fuse', Modest Mouse 'Good News for People Who Like Bad News.'

Do soundtracks count? :shrug: LOL

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

16. kick

i like to keep these types of discussions going

[donheld]

17. Ok this is just my opinion but

i think this has been the worst year for new music in a very long time.

[Forkboy]

18. Neurosis-The Eye of Every Storm

Isis - Panopticon
Cult of Luna - Salvation
Jello Biafra and the Melvins - Never Breathe What You Can't See
Ministry - Houses of the Mole

[chenGOD]

21. Wow, I'm interested to hear the Jello/Melvins collab...

I don't check the AT website as often as I should I guess!!!

[leftist_rebel1569]

26. It's very good

I'd suggest picking it up, especially if you're more of a Melvins fan

[PittPoliSci]

42. damn it!

I forgot to add Jello and the Melvins to my list. Good choice!

[chenGOD]

23. I'll spout off for the electronica side of things...

1. Squarepusher - Ultravisitor

2. o9 - Church of the Ghetto PC

3. Datach'i - Mmale and Ffemale

4. dDamage - Radio Ape

5. Wagon Christ - Sorry I make You Lush


I could go on and on

[motely36]

25. Green Day - American Idiot

[Jessica]

28. Medeski, Martin & Wood - End Of The World Party

(just in case): Awesome. It features producer John King of the Dust Brothers, who also produced the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique and Beck's Odelay. Again ... Awesome.

[Gir Draxon]

31. My choice

I nominate A Perfect Circle's eMOTIVe

[tigerbeat]

32. can't remember if it's 2004 or not...

but Franz Ferdinand is rocking my world.

other contenders:
Brian Wilson "Smile"
Ted Leo + Pharmacists "Shake the Sheets"
Elliot Smith "From a Basement on the Hill"
Chris Stamey "Travels in the South"
Tahiti 80 "A Piece of Sunshine"
The New Pornographers "Electric Version"
Stereolab "Margarine Eclipse"
Interpol "Antics"
The Hives "Tyrannasaurus Hives"

i'm also hearing that Fiery Furnaces' new album is right up my alley.

[no name no slogan]

33. No "Smile" by Brian Wilson?

C'mon, it was the most anticipated album of the year! Brian finally completed it, 37 years after he started it. It also got five-star reviews from several critics. The tour supporting the CD has been getting kudos from everywhere.

"Smile" is on par with other classic albums of the rock era, including "Pet Sounds", "Sgt. Pepper", "Dark Side of the Moon", and "Joshua Tree". Ignoring "Smile" is a travesty!

[tigerbeat]

34. check my list right above....

Smile is probably my #2 this year.

[ZoCrowes]

36. Tough one

I can only think of a few this year that really and truly impressed me. U2's album is their best in a while and Kanye West's album rocks my socks even if most of the singles get played so much that they annoy the hell out of me.

No particular order

Roots- Tipping Point
Kanye West- College Dropout
Brian Wilson- Smile
U2-How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Prince-Musicology

That's about it for me I spent most of the year buying late 50s early 60s R&B

[ProudToBeLiberal]

37. I'd say breakaway by kelly clarkson should be up there.

nt

[Tight_rope]

38. Daddy Lumba

[flvegan]

39. Beasties. Best since "Paul's Boutique" which is legendary.

[PittPoliSci]

41. UNEARTH - The Great Dividers.

runners up:

Dillinger Escape Plan - "Miss Machine"

Mastodon - "Leviathan"

GWAR - "War Party"

Killswitch Engage - "The End of Heartache"