End of the Year Lists

[Arnold_Philips]

It's that time of year again, music geeks! Make some lists, because I know you can't resist!


Top 10 Albums of the Year
1. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
A crazy lady with a harp. She howls and yelps, and her voice is a huge deterrent for some, but to me it's pure magic. Saw her live with Devendra Banhart and the whole feeling was like a gypsy caravan rolled into town and sank laughing into the night.

2. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
A guy with a banjo and an oboe and a tiny choir makes spiritually themed Nick Drake songs. This is not one of the albums he is making for each of the 50 states. He is also hot.

3. Phoenix - Alphabetical
Cute French boy music. Synths and meaningless lyrics, because really, we could use some music devoid of pretension right about now.

4. Jolie Holland - Escondida
Same hoarse jazz voice of Norah Jones and CHan Marshall (Cat Power), and plays country and jazz type music. Highly recommended by Tom Waits.

5. The Castanets - Cathedral
Dirty, guilty swamp music. Dirges from a coffin. The bog shifts to reveal a slowly gyrating music box.

6. Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street
Same old Kings of Convenience.

7. Architecture in Helsinki
Like The Books, but with words. Very playful short songs that all run into one another for a cohesive record.

8. United States of Electronica - USE
With a name like United States of Electronica, I knew these guys were either trying to be really funny or were completely serious about what they're doing. Turns our they are completely serious. Song titles like "It! Is! On!" (yes, three !'s) and "La Discoteca" practically force me to pump my fist in the air and shake what God gave me.

9. Chops - Virtuosity
Junky hip-hop producer. Watch it, gonna be hot soon.

10. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
Same old Sam Beam, but with better equipment and a girl harmonizing instead of harmonizing with himself.


Disappointments of the Year
1. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
2. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
4. The Mountain Goats - We Shall All Be Healed
5. A. C. Newman - Slow Wonder
6. Tortoise - It's All Around You
7. Telefon Tel Aviv - Map of What is Effortless

Discoveries of the Year (old music that I just got around to liking)
1. Blanket Music
2. The High Llamas
3. Al Green
4. Clem Snide
5. MF Doom

Best New Artist
Wolf Parade

 

[Roo6339]

Top 10 Albums of the Year
1. Green Day - American Idiot
Although i believe this album is a little overrated, it's still a great one. Some awesome drumming especially.

2. Blindside - About A Burning Fire
They've done it again! What else is there to say? Amazing vocal work on this album.

3. Project 86 - Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
These guys have incredible song writing ability, and it shows on this album. Grinding vocals with heavy guitars you'd think would make a load of noise... but not so. Strangley calming yet aggressive music...

4. Finntroll - Nattfodd
What can I say? Not for the light hearted, aggressive vocals growling over loud guitars while there's a polka beat going... great stuff.

5. John Butler Trio - Sunrise Over Sea
John Butler is simply one of the most underrated guitarists of this age. He's truly amazing and wrote some beautiful songs on this album.

6. Incubus - A Crow Left Of The Murder
These guys refuse to sound the same on two albums and it's amazing they can keep comming up with stuff that's good. This album is truly artistic.

7. Guns N' Roses - Greatest Hits
Technicaly not a new release... but who cares? Still an awesome album.

8. In Flames - Soundtrack To Your Escape
Many people complain about In Flames selling out, but I don't care. This album is still awesome.

9. The Living End - From Here On In (The Singles)
Again, not really a new release (thought it has 2 new songs) but it's still a good album. I recommend it for anyone starting to get into TLE... awesome band, great place to start.

10. Demon Hunter - Summer Of Darkness
Good album... that's all...


Disappointments of the Year
I didn't have any major disappointments

Discoveries of the Year (old music that I just got around to liking)
1. Children Of Bodom
2. In Flames
3. Finntroll
4. Project 86
5. Muse
heaps of metal and that...

 

[blackwasp]

Out of curiosity, why did you list Good News for People Who Love Bad News as a disappointment? I view it as more mainstream than their previous efforts, and I think that they have grown leaps lyrically and melodically. I'd list that album as my #1 album of the year.

 

[Western Deity]

Why not top 10 tracks?

 

[Roo6339]

Why not top 10 tracks?

so go for it...

 

[ps139]

man i cannot even name 3 new albums, let alone 10!

 

[Arnold_Philips]

Out of curiosity, why did you list Good News for People Who Love Bad News as a disappointment? I view it as more mainstream than their previous efforts, and I think that they have grown leaps lyrically and melodically. I'd list that album as my #1 album of the year.

The departure of drummer Jeremiah Green made a noticable difference. He drummed really loosely, which I thought was integral to their sound. This is all coming from somone who fell in love with Lonesome Crowded West-era Modest Mouse. Plus, there's the whole distasteful indie-bias against bands that sell out. The production was too shiny for my tastes, as well. I had too many expectations of the album, I guess.

Same thing with the Fiery Furnaces. I can't go from a two minute Gallowsbird Barker to an eight minute Blueberry Boater.

 

[blackwasp]

The departure of drummer Jeremiah Green made a noticable difference. He drummed really loosely, which I thought was integral to their sound. This is all coming from somone who fell in love with Lonesome Crowded West-era Modest Mouse. Plus, there's the whole distasteful indie-bias against bands that sell out. The production was too shiny for my tastes, as well. I had too many expectations of the album, I guess.

Same thing with the Fiery Furnaces. I can't go from a two minute Gallowsbird Barker to an eight minute Blueberry Boater.

Ahh...I understand. The first two times I listened to the album I didn't think it was great, but have really fallen for it. "Black Cadillacs" and "Bury Me With It" have a special place in my heart. Do you know the reason for Jeremiah's departure from the band?

 

[Arnold_Philips]

I'm pretty sure they're all alcoholics.

 

[blackwasp]

I'm pretty sure they're all alcoholics.

Hahaha, yeah, this is true. I read an article about how they would all get drunk and drugged up and play "Dance Hall" all day. Good stuff.

 

[TheDandyMan]

Kraftwerk's aerodynamik single and joy electric's hello, mannequin are the only two releases in 2004 that come to mind. Cripes.

 

[KristianJ]

I'll give a shot at some of the best single releases of the year - dunno if I'll get to 10, but let's see. And in no particular order either:

- Vertigo (U2) - 3 minutes and 14 seconds of fabulous rock music, and a killer video clip
- Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand) - one of the more unorthodox sounding songs of the year, but unbelievably catchy
- Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day) - IMO the highlight of a fantastic album - lyrically and musically a very strong piece
- Roses (Outkast) - the only non rock song I really took a liking to from the only non rock album I really took a liking to. Fun song and a very funny chorus!
- Save Me (Los Lonely Boys) - Excellent Latin rock song with some nice guitar work
- She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5) - delightfully groovy pop rock headed by the melodic vocal abilities of Adam Levine

I'l think of some others later...

 

[Roo6339]

- Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day) - IMO the highlight of a fantastic album - lyrically and musically a very strong piece

very well put

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

1. u2 - how to dismantle an atomic bomb
2. Dallas Crane - Dallas Crane
3. Grinspoon - Kills, Thrills and Sunday Pills
4. Green Day - american idiot
5. The Killers - hot fuss
6. jet- get born
7. fintroll - natfod
8. RHCP - Live in hyde park
9. Nightwish - Once
10. Guns n roses - greatest hits

no disapointments

Discoveries:

Running Wild
Accept
Slade
Fintroll
Yes
WASP
Dream Theater
Quiet Riot

 

[Roo6339]

1. u2 - how to dismantle an atomic bomb
2. Dallas Crane - Dallas Crane
3. Grinspoon - Kills, Thrills and Sunday Pills
4. Green Day - american idiot
5. The Killers - hot fuss
6. jet- get born
7. fintroll - natfod
8. RHCP - Live in hyde park
9. Nightwish - Once
10. Guns n roses - greatest hits

no disapointments

Discoveries:

Running Wild
Accept
Slade
Fintroll
Yes
WASP
Dream Theater
Quiet Riot

sorry dude... gotta correct this... it's spelt finntroll and nattfodd... and jet's album was last year. other then that... great taste in music! great stuff