2004 - A Year In Music
I sat down, to write what I thought would be a simple "Top Ten" list for 2004 and realized that this year was a somewhat disappointing year in music for me. My continued interest in our current "indie rock movement" peaked with my attendance at Coachella—BEFORE the mainstream swallowed up Franz Ferdinand and The Killers—and it was grand; but, it quickly dwindled from there. The remainder of the year was left with less than exciting albums from the most-talked-about of Indie Rockers: Libertines, Interpol, Keane, The Zutons, etc.
So I was left with no choice but to limit it to the albums I personally feel worth noting. Those that didn't necessarily fall into the lists of Rollingstone, Spin, or NME—but instead created a sound that isn't being replicated fifty billion times over in the ever-growing pool of overnight-indie-rock-stardom.
Additionally I've listed the let-downs, the don't-believe-the-hype's, and the best under-the-radar's. Here goes nothing...
My Top Albums of the Year:
1. The Arcade Fire / Funeral - Truly brilliant. A powerful & emotional release; created with a sound all their own. Once this album sunk in, I had a real hard time letting go.
2. Lali Puna / Faking The Books - Lali Puna's third full-length album confirms they're here to stay. They continue to wow their fans with one solid release after another. As if I didn't have enough proof of their brilliance; October's 2004 live show at Mercury Lounge in NYC was literally out of this world.
3. Stars / Set Yourself On Fire - Star's third full-length release was a definite step up from their second album Heart. Leaving the (sorely missed) powerful use of synthesizers of their first album Nightsongs, for a more guitar driven pop, this proved—nonetheless—an artistic evolution worth embracing.
4. Feist / Let It Die - Not pop and definitely not rock, this release was the most sophisticated of albums I added to my musical collection all year. A decadent & soulful kaleidoscope of songs (half of them covers) by the singer Leslie Feist left me completely breathless and ready to invest in a smoking jacket.
5. The Concretes / Concretes - The Concretes managed to breakthrough the hubub of Indie Rock to allow a glimpse of Indie Pop that the mainstream remains ignorant to. Although lesser-known bands (like The Aislers Set for example) have been making this kind of music for a long time, it was refreshing to finally see it become a more prominent player in the landscape of alternative music.
Honorable Mention:
Blonde Redhead / Misery Is A Butterfly - I admit to only having gotten this album a few days ago. But it goes without saying that this was one of the most beautifully orchestrated releases of the year.
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Most Over Rated Albums of the Year:
1. Wilco / A Ghost Is Born : What can I say, it is possible that I just don't get it.
2. Keane / Hopes & Fears : Although this album has its moments, did we really need another Coldplay wannabe band? Not really.
3. Interpol / Antics : A luke warm follow-up release to Turn On The Bright Lights. "Okay" at best.
4. Morrissey / You are the Quarry : A good attempt at recapturing the momentum of the early 90's; but all the concerts in the world couldn't convince me that this was his "big comeback".
Dis-Honorable Mention:
Lansing-Dreiden / The Incomplete Triangle - Multimedia art project Lansing-Dreiden's 2004 full-length release proves that ego is more important than talent in getting a record released. And this—my friends—is not a good thing.
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Most Disappointing Releases of the Year:
1. Le Tigre / This Island : Although there was some good material here, Le Tigre managed to release a less than inspiring 3rd album.
2. Memphis / I Dreamed We Fell Apart : Beating the brilliance of A Good Day Sailing would surely be hard to do and with their first full-length album I Dreamed We Fell Apart—it shows.
3. Morrissey / You are the Quarry : { See Most Over Rated }
4. The Faint / Wet From Birth: I really wanted to like this release. But in my opinion, only Desperate Guys delivers the entire album from being a complete waste of cash
Dis-Honorable Mention:
REVL9N (aka Revlon 9) - Walking Machine / United
With their Singles Walking Machine & United Following the Cult Hit Someone Like You ... it was over before it even began.
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Most Impressive "Under the Radar" Releases:
1. The Radio Dept. / Pulling Our Weight [EP] - Simply put: this release would make a shoegazer fan out of anyone.
2. Tribeca / Dragon Down - A successful follow-up releases to Kate-97. A must have amongst both lovers of Indie Rock & Synth Pop.
3. Pas/Cal / Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous - With the 2004 release of Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous, Pas/Cal display their rapid progression towards infiltrating the pop gentry. Belle & Sebastian fans look out!
4. The Organ / Grab That Gun - The powerful Debbie Harry'esque vocals of the lead vocalist for Canada's Organ, grabbed me by the gut and didn't let go. This 80's influenced quintet shows the kind of character & emotion more "above the radar" bands should aspire to.
Honorable Mention:
Tiger Baby / Lost In You - The truth is, it was a tough call between my recently discovered Organ album and Denmark sweethearts Tiger Baby. But don't let that confuse you, Tiger Baby's delicately crafted debut album was a welcomed relief from the barage of repetitive indie rock releases 2004 had to offer.
over and out...
[mm]
np. The Radio Dept., Pullling Our Weight
