By Carleton Atwater
2004 has proven to be a major year for music. In the last 12 months we have seen releases from what seems like countless important artists: Beastie Boys, Elliott Smith, P.J. Harvey, Pinback, Interpol, Modest Mouse, Tom Waits, Sonic Youth, Blonde Redhead, Tortoise, Air, Wilco, !!!, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. There have also been many disappointments this year; The phrase “sophomore slump” has appeared in many a review. Here’s a look at some of the best 2004 had to offer.
10. Sonic Youth- Sonic Nurse After the disappointing NYC Ghost and Flowers and (the less disappointing) Murray Street I had all but given up hope on this band. Once again Sonic Youth have proved why they are masters of the music genre they helped create. Little new ground is covered here, but for a band like Sonic Youth that is almost refreshing.
9. The Fiery Furnaces- Blueberry Boat It will be be a few more albums before The Fiery Furnaces hit their stride. Blueberry Boat has many flaws, but the sheer number of new ideas presented here make it worth a listen.
8. The Streets- A Grand Don’t Come for Free The rhyming is clever and present detailed narratives that are as interesting as they are catchy. It is a window into a part of the London social life that few outsiders have seen. Along with Dizzee Rascal, The Streets are proving to the world that hip-hop is not a solely American phenomenon.
7. Mission of Burma- ONoffON Somehow MoB has done the unthinkable and released a reunion album that actually stands besides their previous work. ONoffON shows the band has indeed aged, but not much. If anything, it is only further testament to the bands enduring (underappreciated) legacy.
6. Wilco- A Ghost Is Born Listen to songs on this album like “Theologians” or “I’m a Wheel” and try not to smile or nod. Jeff Tweedy and Co. do not break the kind of new ground they have on previous releases but they seem to be far from out of ideas and A Ghost Is Born reflects this.
5. The Arcade Fire- Funeral Funeral is an album that lives up to its (belated) hype. The songs range from quiet lamentations to all out dance tracks. Everything on here retains an original and distinctive sound that proves this Canadian group is going to be around for awhile.
4. M83- Dead Cities, Red Seas ‘ Lost Ghosts Using various antique sequencers and keyboards M83 have manage to create a form of electro-shoegaze that is both immediately gripping and long-lasting. There is melancholy in every single second of this record, but M83 do its so well you’ll think about giving a second shot to those poems you wrote back in high school.
3. TV on the Radio- Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes David Andrew Sitek’s production and instrumentation is good enough to stand by itself, but coupled with the stunning vocals and lyrics performed by his band mates the result is simply beautiful.
2. Animal Collective- Sung Tongs Sung Tongs is easily one of the most unique and original albums in years. Many people have called listening to this album like experiencing a campfire sing-a-long on acid. This is true, but it really is so much more than that. There is a sense of wonder and enthusiasm that immediately recalls childhood. At first it can be hard to hear past the unconventional methods employed but once things start to click they stay with you and refuse to leave.
1. Brian Wilson- SMiLE It is the fulfillment of one of rock-and-roll’s great promises and legends, a reminder of all that was great with music of the 1960s. In addition to all of that though it is a really great album. For people who arew not very familiar with the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson it serves as the perfect introduction to a type of pop music sadly missing from the airwaves today.
