Best of 2004
Yeah it’s so High Fidelity, but I can’t narrow down my music lists to just 5 songs or albums. First up, here are my favorite 10 albums of 2004, in no particular order:

Travis – 12 Memories
By far their best album yet, solid from top to bottom. How is this band not huge in America, but Franz Fucking Ferdinand is? Damn corporate labels.
Ghostface – The Pretty Toney Album
Something about Kanye West’s College Dropout just seemed forced, repetitive, and gimmicky, whereas Ghostface makes that old school feel seem right. In his demented way.
Muse - Absolution
My favorite Radiohead album unequivocally is The Bends, and Muse carries on that aesthetic. A solid rocker of a CD.
Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
It took me awhile to get around to listen to this album, but I’m damn glad I did.
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
So it’s not up to the ridiculously high standards set by Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but it’s still a great album, an interesting listen with some gorgeous sounds.
Garden State Soundtrack
Do soundtracks count? Maybe a little too heavy on The Shins, but it evokes the film perfectly like any great soundtrack should do.
Zero 7 - When It Falls
Ethereal, and just too damn gorgeous. I didn’t think they could top Simple Things - holy crap was I wrong.
John Legend - Get Lifted
Smooth, smooth, old school soul. With a cameo from Snoop Dogg thrown in for good measure.
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home
I had thought maybe she was a little bit overrated after the success of her first album. Nope.
Snow Patrol - Final Straw
Continuing the banner year for Brit rock. I’ve always enjoyed a bit of warm melancholy in my arena rock.

As for my favorite songs of 2004, again in no particular order:

Elliott Smith – "Coast To Coast"
Goddam I miss him.
Air - "Mike Mills"
All electronic to all orchestral in four and a half glorious minutes.
The Mooney Suzuki - "Alive & Amplified"
Incredibly great song, incredibly terrible album. Motherfuck The Matrix – maybe the worst production choice ever.
Magnet and Gemma Hayes - "Lay Lady Lay"
Best Bob Dylan cover ever. Yes, I know what that statement entails.
Minnie Driver - "Ruby Adeline"
Yes, that Minnie Driver. Gorgeous lullaby to close out her lovely album, which was surprisingly good (very Beth Orton-ish), and nearly made my year’s best list.
The Roots - "Star"
I can hear the vinyl crackle now.
Brian Wilson - "Good Vibrations"
How great was it to finally hear Smile? I like this version better than the 37 year-old one.
Young Heart Attack - "Starlite"
As I’ve said before, the coed Texas equivalent of The Darkness, a 70’s throwback guilty pleasure. I thought for sure this one would have been put on a teen soap soundtrack or an SUV commercial by now.
Nas - "Coon Picnic (These Are Our Heroes)"
Scathing, vicious, and right on the money.
Keane - "Somewhere Only We Know"
It still sounds really good when played with guitars, by the way.
Wilco - "Company In My Back"
I attack with love. The mandolin riff may be the prettiest thing they’ve ever recorded.
The Streets - "Blinded By The Lights"
Watch the incredible video and the track makes sense.
The Bees - "Horsemen"
Who-ish arena rock with Beach Boys melodies. Near-perfect.
Kings Of Leon - "The Bucket"
Finally, a Kings Of Leon song that doesn’t sound exactly like every other one.
Fatboy Slim and Damon Albarn - "Put It Back Together"
Is Damon stupendously baked, or intentionally lazy with the vocals? Fuck it, it’s fun.
Rachael Yamagata - "1963"
Goddam what a gorgeous piano riff. And that husky voice. I’m here if you ever need me, Rachael.
Zero 7 - "In Time"
Hell, pretty much pick any track off of When It Falls. This one just happens to be my favorite.
Snow Patrol - "Chocolate"
Most confounding song title of the year. Exceptionally great track, though.
Ryan Adams - "English Girls Approximately"
Just for the final haunting distorted guitar riff. "Love Is Hell" is great too.
Muse - "Apocalypse Please"
I dig the impending doom piano riff. Of all the great tracks on this CD, this one makes me want to break stuff the most ("Hysteria" runs a close second).
Rufus Wainwright - "Little Sister"
Orchestral and gorgeous. The final flourish gives me goose bumps every time.
Norah Jones - "Those Sweet Words"
An embarrassment of riches for me this year, and by riches I mean half-Asian, half-Caucasian, smoky-voiced sirens with jazz-blues-country influences.
Travis - "Somewhere Else/Love Will Come Through"
I can’t split them up, maybe my favorite consecutive tracks since "Monday/Outtasite (Outta Mind)" on Wilco’s Being There. Why was "Love Will Come Through" left off the Garden State Soundtrack? For more Shins? Fucking hell.

On to movies, which I can narrow down to 5, because I have no life and didn’t see that many flicks this year:

Shaun of the Dead
Here’s hoping they don’t try to make an American version.
Ocean’s 12
So exactly what I was looking for.
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Maybe a little overly drawn out, but still quality.
Big Fish
The sea of daffodils, so damn good. The ultimate Southern Gothic film.
Garden State
Everyone’s already gone on and on about it, all I’ll add is Largeman’s reaction to Sam’s dogs always cracks me up.

As for TV, Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me were quality, but it really all comes down to Keen Eddie. That the DVD has almost none of the original soundtrack is a pop cultural crime against humanity – fuck Paramount up their stupid asses. Mmmmmm, Sienna Miller. That’s a good mental image to end the year on, I must say.
- posted by Liebs @ 10:54 PM