Just like the title says. What are your favorite albums of 2004? For me, in no particular order and no doubt with some missing:
Incubus - A Crow Left Of The Murder Keane - Hopes & Fears Skinny Puppy - The Greater Wrong of the Right Matthew Good - WLR&RR Interpol - Antics The Libertines - Libertines Auf Der Maur - s/t The Zutons - Who Killed The Zutons? PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News Porcupine Tree - In Absentia (DVD/Audio release)
Roper - Prepare for the Mediocre U2 - How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb Five Iron Frenzy - The End Is Here Caedmon's Call - The Road Home (2k3, I think, but I just got it a few months ago)
I got that for my stepdad for Xmas, but haven't listened to it yet myself. It's odd, because I hear a lot of people saying great things about it, and then equal amounts of people slating it.
I'm a new listener, so I can't really compare it to older albums. It's got a decent enough blend of peppy and relaxed songs, though it's a bit relaxed for my tastes. Does well enough for something in the background while working, though.
I think that's what people have beef with. The arguement seems to be this: U2 used to make music that you had to sit up and take notice of, and it seems like now they're settling for just making the occasional bit of chart fodder, like that damnably catchy Vertigo :)
Okay, it took me a minute to figure out what CDs I bought this year were from 2004. And which were good.
Interpol - Antics Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News Matt Good - White Light Rock and Roll Review Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days Morrissey - You Are the Qua -- Hahaha, no, just kidding. Sigur Ros - Von (Technically, this CD came out like seven years ago, but it just got shipped this side of the Atlantic.) Radiohead - Com Lag EP (Did this come out this year? Either way I wasn't going to pay 50 bucks for the Japanese import...)
I admit, I'm not a hardcore U2 fan who has all of their previous albums... but this one delivered a hell of a lot more than I ever expected from any band. Great mix of songs, I don't think there's a single one I didn't like. But definately my favoutite album of the year.
2) Matthew Good -- White Light Rock & Roll Review
Again, an album that certainly did deliver. Wildly different from Avalanche, but an awesome album in its own right. Great writing, great sound, and (of course) Canadian!
3) The Killers -- Hot Fuss
The Killers are something refreshing, and for that alone I give them credit. And while Somebody Told Me is a catchy radio song, some of their other pieces have a depth that easily beats the majority of music being put out these days.
4) Nirvana -- With the Lights Out (Boxed Set)
Not an album per say, but enough unreleased and rare material to warrant a mention... awesome compilation of one of the most influencial bands in rock's history, finally pryed out of the grasp of Courtney Love. Seeing and hearing Nirvana's first performances is an amazing thing, and With the Lights Out is a must-have for any Nirvana fan! 5) Green Day -- American Idiot
Probably one of the most anticipated albums of the year, and a decent one. Some great songs on this one (and some rather poor ones, I admit). All in all, a good CD.
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Those are the only ones I can say I own, but I've heard great things about the following, and they're definately on my list. If anyone else has heard them, please comment!
Modest Mouse -- Good News for People Who Love Bad News Franz Ferdinand -- Franz Ferdinand Metric -- Old World Underground, Where Are You Know? The Stills -- Logic Will Break Your Heart
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And these go without saying as great albums!
The Clash -- London Calling 25th Anniversery Rerelease Weezer -- The Blue Album Rerelease
Yeah, actually, I did buy the Stills album, and I think it probably deserves a spot on my list. It starts out strong, the first three songs are stellar. From there it's a mix of not bad and okay. A couple interesting experiments midway through.
Modest Mouse is obviously my standby. Isaac Brock's an incredibly gifted guy, but I'd recommend not buying the new CD, if you're only going to get one. Go for The Moon & Antarctica.
Honestly though, I really feel this needs to be said, on the Green Day thing. I come from a generation where anyone who liked Green Day was an idiot. Nothing has changed. They're pop punk for rich kids, a bunch of middle class white brats who got famous writing dumb songs. I've listened to the new CD and it is nothing special at all. It's not politically revelant, and it sure as hell is not a concept album. It's barely decent songwriting.
It's just awful to see a dead-in-the-water mall punk band jump starting their careers by conning people into thinking they're something they're not. How could this be one of the most anticipated albums of the year? IT'S GREEN DAY MAN! The band so synonymous with crap that Radiohead used to joke that the people who stole their guitars were Green Day fans! They're taking the money of a whole new generation of kids with dime store political commentary and music just as vapid as it's always been, except with pretention. Come on guys, really, wisen up and see when you're being taken.
I don't get it. Green Day was always crap and they still are. And it doesn't seem like it was that long ago when that was common knowledge. I mean it's not like I'm reaching into the musical archives here. Has it really gotten to the point where people aren't calling bands who have nothing to say on their shit anymore?
I wouldn't call myself a Green Day fan... some of their old stuff I absolutely hate. They're hardly a "great" band, by any stretch of the imagination. That being said, I do enjoy some of the stuff on American Idiot. You're right that it's not a concept album - no matter who says it's supposed to be enjoyed in one listening, it really doesn't make a difference how you play the songs.
One of the downfalls of CDs and digital audio, but that's a whole other discussion.
Green Day might not be a great band. But they're far from the worst band people could be listening to.
