Yes, we know that this year in review is rather late, but we have not had an issue in awhile, so better late than never. 2004 was a marked improvement from 2003. There were many excellent releases from both old and new acts. Narrowing the list down to five was a bit too difficult to be done, so, without further ado, my top six albums of 2004.
1. Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic
A quirky work of impeccable psyche-pop, the former members of the Elephant Six collective have crafted an almost flawless record. Lacking in any low points, Satanic Panic In the Attic is a perfect summer album, being both fun and unique. Of Montreal employs their quirky trademark style with songs about everything from trips to England to kissing corpses in public. After last year’s lackluster Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Of Montreal has returned with their strongest album to date, filled with bright poppy melodies sure to bring a smile to your face.
2. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Eleven years into their career, indie rock standbys Modest Mouse finally hit the mainstream. While lacking the melodic variety of the previous releases, Good News For People Who Love Bad News is still strong in its own right. The band itself has been able to keep their identity and musical integrity despite the press attention.
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
This is the most-talked-about album of the year, and rightfully so. The previously unheard-of Montreal group came out with an amazing and lush work crafted in the midst of personal tragedy, which added to some of the public attention. Hype aside, this album is nothing short of incredible. Orchestral rock that is both dark and incredibly optimistic with songs ranging from the intimate to the epic. The Arcade Fire has released an amazing debut and one of the strongest this year.
4. The Hidden Cameras - Mississauga Goddamn
2004 was a good year for indulging my love of Canadian bands with orchestral overtones. Following up a strong debut, The Hidden Cameras returned with an even stronger album of ethereal orchestral pop. Quite frankly, this album features the best song about getting/wanting an enema I have ever heard. I haven’t really researched the genre, but being as this is the only enema-centric song I know of, it was an easy choice.
5. AC Newman - The Slow Wonder
I apologize for the apparent bias toward Canadian artists on this list, but it seems to be where the year’s strongest albums came from. New Pornographers’ front man Carl Newman’s solo debut is one of the most solid releases this year. A consistent and heavily enjoyable 30 minutes of old-fashioned power pop, Newman stripped down what worked on both New Pornographers records into something simple and irresistibly catchy. While not the most innovative record of the year, and certainly not the most bombastic, The Slow Wonder is simply an enjoyable album.
6. Interpol - Antics
Interpol follows up their stunning debut, Turn on the Bright Lights, with a solid release. Streamlining their sound, Interpol has started to solidify their presence as a top tier act. “Slow Hands” was one of the year’s best singles and received well-deserved heavy rotation on rock radio. While little else on the album was radio friendly, the album shines and never becomes boring. Bank’s vocals show much more range and it is nice to see him move away from his Ian Curtis-haunted baritone into something more his own. Antics shows a band in transit and even a transitional album for Interpol is still one of the year’s best.
Honorable Mentions:
The Beastie Boys –To the Five Burroughs: The Beastie Boys so-called return to their roots was a fun album, although not as strong as the last few records they released. A tribute to their native New York City, Five Burroughs is one of 2004’s best, and is great to blast on your car stereo. Tom Waits – Real Gone: Waits just keeps getting continuously nuttier, and it’s for the best. We are always in need of gravelly singers who pound out danceable beats on tin pans and trash cans while instructing us how to do “The Metropolitan Glide.” Wilco – A Ghost is Born: Jeff Tweedy knows exactly how to craft songs that are not only luminous and haunting while being extremely catchy, but fiercely original and poignant. A Ghost is Born was a wonderful follow-up to 2002’s masterpiece Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Badly Drawn Boy – One Plus One is One: Thank god that Badly Drawn Boy can still make good albums. After the About a Boy soundtrack and Have You Fed the Fish? I was worried. But One Plus One is One returns him to the arena that he conquered with Hour of Bewilderbeast, and it is a triumphant return indeed.
Most Overrated Album: The Fiery Furnaces Blueberry Boat: The Fiery Furnaces followed up a strong folk pop debut with an overblown failed epic. Blueberry Boat received a good deal of praise from the press but fails to offer anything exciting. Boring and way too long, this is nothing more than a work of overt self indulgence from the brother/sister duo. Even with the great deal of filler cut out, this album remains mediocre at best, and is an easy choice for the year’s most overrated CD.
