In no particular order cause that is too damn difficult.
Artist (Album)
* The Bees (Free The Bees): Great, rockin' 60's retro feel. Fun, great licks, woven melodies makes this a enjoyable listen all the way through. Metacritic Review. Favorite Song: I Love You.
* The Arcade Fire (Funeral): I read somewhere that these guys were the Broken Social Scene of 2004, and I think thats pretty damn true. Definitely got lots of attention from the indie crowd, but for damn good reason. Metacritic Review. Favorite Song: Rebellion (Lies).
* The Good Life (Album of the Year): Cursive's Tim Kasher's sideproject tells a love story from start to end. The album consists of 12 tracks, named after each month, and is fantastic. Metacritic Review. Favorite Song: April (Album of the Year).
* The Stars (Set Yourself On Fire): The third great album (and best IMO) to come from this group of lovers and friends even has a few cross over members from Broken Social Scene. Even has some Bush bashing songs for you left wing hippy canadians. Website. Favorite Song: Your Ex-Lover is Dead.
* The Streets (A Grand Don't Come For Free): If all hip-hop was this good, you'd see me bustin open way more bottles of bub. Great cross-genre lyrical collection, makes me smile about the little things in life. Metacritic Review. Favorite Song: Could Well Be In.
* Smoosh (She Likes Electric): Okay I think I like this album way more than most people, but COME ON. It is a 9 and 11 year old sister team (on the drums and keyboard, respectively) and it just impresses the hell out of me. Favorite Song: It's Cold.
* The Six Parts Seven (Everywhere and Right Here): Besides digging the hell out of their poster artwork, this was probably my favorite instrumental album of 2004. Very chill, unelectronic, I could (and do) listen to this album every night as I fall asleep. Great in concert as well. Website. Favorite Song: What (We Can Just Make Out).
* DJ Danger Mouse (The Grey Album): Was all over the news, caused a heapful of legal mumbo jumbo, and began a huge wave of mashups. This mashup of Jay Z's Black Album and The Beatles' White Album rocks (though my friends discredit me for not being true thug, I like it all the same). Website. Favorite Song: What More Can I Say.
* The Go Team (Thunder Lightning Strike): With all those horns how can I say no? Fun, mostly instrumental, very enjoyable music good for waking up, getting energized, or dancing naked (yes that *is* an invitation) gets my thumbs up. Metacritic Review. Favorite Song: Junior Kickstart
* Modest Mouse (Baron Von Bullshit Rides Again): I dont care that most people put "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" on their list, or even that this is just a live album of older songs so maybe it technicalyl doesnt even get to be on this list but its my website so I'm putting it on anyway. I'm not a big fan of live mp3s, but this album is so damn good, and listenable alllll the way through. Review. Favorite Song: I Came As A Rat.
And thats it. What a fucking good year for music. I fly to Chicago tomorrow, I hope everyone is having as great of a time as me on their Christmas break :D
ps. I'd like to thank Brett and Al for turning me on to most of my 2004 music. Thank you, and don't forget to tip your waitress.
02:23 AM on 12.21.04
Personally, I'm on Mr. Pink's side (if you've seen Reservoir Dogs).
And speaking of Reservoir Dogs, have you seen this guy's suggestions for making the movie better?? :-O
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105236/board/nest/13973295