|
Why
you needed to hear it: The cat (Adem Ilhan) recorded this spectacular
album in his house (living room for the most part - a flat in Stoke
Newington to be exact), and let everything around him add to the
wonder. White
noise, clocks chiming, kittens purring.. . you are all invited. |
Adem|
Why you needed to hear it: Tracks one through sixteen. We call that an "album".
|
Devendra
Banhart|
Why you needed to hear it: Really depends on how your sex life versus your sex drive has been (or, want vs. demand). This album will cause a minor fit in your libido. "you've got yr legs spread, your crotch is laid open like a coin purse waiting for the money shot". See what we mean?  |
Beep
Beep |
Why you needed to hear it: Another year, another BMSR album. Nothing else you have ever heard is like it. Fec in 2008! Smile Heavy.
|
Black
Moth Super Rainbow|
Why
you needed to hear it: I said it before and I'll say it again
(in hi-fi BOLD): Undoubtedly
one of the Top Five albums of the Year - and it's not number 4 or 5.
|
Boy
Omega|
Why you needed to hear it & see it: If you were withing fifty miles of someone who did own Blue Cathedral, you heard it.
|
Comets
on Fire|
Why you needed to hear it & see it: It took me until the end of November (2004) to discover Conductor and I'm still attempting to calculate all the time I missed and could have been into this album.
|
Comas|
Why
you needed to hear it: are we really having this conversation?
TOP 5 FOR THE YEAR.
|
Chin
Up Chin Up|
Why you needed to hear it: because "you got me all wrong". There are rarely albums that need no introduction, no representation and no warning - and dios is just that chillbumped freakish occasion. All this album requires is your mind, your headphones and 49 minutes plus 49 seconds - for months at a time. TOP 5 FOR 2004.
|
dios|
Why
Bush Jr. Should've heard it: All the violence was out in the
fields, as all the beauty was captured on the album. One to cherish
for ages. |
Dolorean|
Why
you needed to hear it: " this is the stuff that grabs
your attention quick and says "you have to hear me". "
|
dreamend|
Why
you needed to hear it: Title
track 'Let it all fall down' brings the pace to just above a crawl,
with Dave Woody's part helium, entirely loveable vocals on full
display as a steady drumbeat follows him to the end. The results bring
to mind a Fiver best that could lovingly be placed alongside
the likes of Air, circa-Premiers Symptomes. Stunning. |
Fiver|
Why you needed to hear it: see: 'This is a Hospital' (Some Records, 2002). "Not just a magnificent album ('This Pen is a Weapon') by an amazing band - but the guide for any group seeking the right formula."
|
the
Ghost |
Why you needed to hear it: You would think Tim Kasher buys spots on my yearly lists, but in actuality, I give them to him for free. And Jiha Lee on "Inmates" - oh my!!
|
the
Good Life|
Why
you needed to hear it: It was a 3-year gap between Lungs
for the Race and
Elettricita
-
but if I can hear albums as near-perfect as a Havergal record
in this amount of time, I can (and promise to) be patient. |
havergal|
Why
you needed to hear it: Another disc'o'gold I somehow forgot
to take time to review in the regular section, Hayden
Desser has a heart only a Canadian can call his own. Track of
choice: Don't Get Down. The artwork alone deserves it's own round
of choice cider. |
Hayden|
Why
you needed to hear it: because you likely haven't - and that's
a real fucking shame. 'The Shining Example is Lying On The Floor'
is like magic, only this album is real. |
the
Hotel Alexis|
Why
you needed to hear it: A fella (Darren
Jessee) departs from beloved band adored by millions (Ben Folds
Five), regroups, makes one of the most mesmerizing albums of the year
(pictured here). 1 of 5 favorite albums of
2004. |
Hotel
Lights |
Why
you needed to hear it: There are thirteen tracks on this album,
and you wish there were 13,000. Emil Amos likely has that many
to offer - watch. |
Holy
Sons |
Why
you needed to hear it: One the routine scale of 1 - 10 (10
normally representing the perfect album), Our Endless Numbered
Days was around an 88. "All
dead white boys say God is good" Peek
at an interview we had with Sam here. |
Iron
& Wine|
Why
you need to see it: This was the year of Jandek show-stoppers.
First this DVD, that just awed me for weeks. Then the hermits first
(and likely) only live show at Instal 2004 (Glasgow). Required
viewing. |
Jandek
on Corwood|
Why you needed to hear it: It's obvious this "God" creature has most of you all wholed up in your evangelical lives with empty promises, so bless the Kinsella family for creating the busiest batch of boys to keep us all waking and motivating. What?
|
Joan
of Arc|
Why you needed to hear it: ".. a cross between Damon & Naomi and the most delicate Danny Elfman compostion."
|
Jukeboxer|
Why you needed to hear it: I would tell you, my love, but then I would have to electrocute you with a miltary-style walkie talkie attached to poison darts - and we don't want than now... . do we?
|
Kilowatthours
& the Rum Diary|
Why you needed to hear it: You haven't yet? They just won like seven million dollars on MTV2. Now you know! "... it's better than ALL that shit you've been plagued with on the airwaves". Go download Save Your Stares for Strays now.
|
the
Kite-Eating Tree|
Why you needed to hear it: Without a word limit on my own website (but the damn clock won't slow down for shit) - I could and should still be writing the review about how phenomenal Lauren is, and how much I enjoy this album.
|
LKN
|
Why you needed to hear it: Bobby Burg hangs with the right kids, and his own chunk of originallity rocked me in a weird, hard way I had never felt. Give me a hi-five for RELEASE!
|
Love
of Everything|
Why you needed to hear it: Oh you are funny aren't you! "Stephin Merritt is holding the torch for wit & cleverness, and by the sounds contained in this release - they have no intention of fading anytime soon."
|
the
Magnetic Fields|
Why you needed to hear it: 2 words: badass flip book. wait, that's three words. FLIP BOOK!
|
MENOMENA
|
Why you needed to hear it: The fuse that sent the Modest rocket far, far away from Issaquah - bonused and tweaked for headphones. The original (2000) was my MM introduction back then, and it holds a very firm notch in my Top 5 of all-time. I know how Built to Spill fans felt now I suppose. (sigh).
|
Modest
Mouse |
Why you needed to hear it: "To call it post-rock serves as a contestable injustice. This is the sound of all things said to be dull, beginning to re-sharpen themselves for the wake of dead-rock."
|
mono|
Why
you needed to hear it: Lead-off single
"Theif's Theme" was floating around for what felt like a year
- then Street's Disciple hits (as a DOUBLE Album!
25 tracks) and he doesn't even list the amazing single as a regular
album track.. . cocky? Not Nasir - no sir. |
NaS|
Why you needed to hear it: White vinyl 10"!
|
Neva
Dinova | Bright Eyes|
Why you needed to hear it: "I don't know about God, but I'm sure there's a Devil." The End IS Near - and the New Year (or Bedhead to us first generation listeners) soundtracked the last few glorious days. THIS ALBUM IS INCREDIBLE.
|
The
New Year|
Why
you needed to hear it: because you didn't. "a brilliant
blend of intelligent rock in the similar frame of 'To Bury Within The
Sound'-era Engine Down, Cursive and your choice of the
early 90's Dischord roster." |
The
New Transit Direction|
Why you needed to fuck to it: A grizzly bear will eat your heart out if you don't listen by Dec. 31, 2004. BOO!
|
Old
Man Gloom|
Why you needed to hear it: you know.
|
of
Montreal |
Why you needed to hear it: The goddamn Glee club has been pumping out spastic jams since the mid-nineties and I still talk 'em up to kids that say "panopa-what?". My friends rode the short bus.
|
the
Panoply Academy|
Why you needed to hear her: If you hung around me for the last quarter of this year, you (had to have) heard me praising Angela Penhaligon, on record as Piney Gir (yes, Gir - no 'L'). As if a young lady with at least 6 personalities, ranging from Miss Electronica (on "Girl" or "Ruth is Coming to America") to Little Sweet'n'Innocent (on a track like "K-I-S-S-I-N-G") - Peakahokahoo was the most amazingly & wondefully diverse collection of tunes I heard all year. It dawned on me as I wrote this short description that I NEVER REVIEWED Peakahokahoo, so consider this your invitation to track down Piney Gir. She is likely the only connection you could make between Kansas (the state) and London in years (if not forever). Like Death by Chocolate (the band) infused with a mothership of synths and 808's. Biggest crush of the year? You betcha'! Yes that "My Generation" is that "My Generation".. . Who? |
Piney
Gir |
Why you needed to hear her: A] it came out in 2003 - so that's a good start. B] It's fucking fantastic. C] See A & B.
|
Pseudosix|
Why you needed to hear it: well, besides a great fucking band name and a great damn album title - this album reminded me of early GBV cross-polinated with my dad's Toto collection. GREAT!
|
Richard
Bitch |
Why you needed to hear it: Sonya Wescott! And the songs of course, like "Be Kind + Remind" - instant classic. "For hearts that don't make sense..."
|
Rogue
Wave |
Why you needed to hear it: the circle c says 2003 - but it just got to the east coast this year. Quite possibly the MOST IMPORTANT CD I discovered all year. A formal introduction to: Kickball, Chevron, Testface, dragging an ox through water, Chin Up Chin Up, The Love of Everything and so on! 20 freakin' tracks of woven joy locked into a budget priced sampler from one of the coolest indie labels I have had the pleasure of meeting ever! |
Schapendoes
Records Comp.|
Why you needed to hear it: hearing my one-year old daughter ask me if I could "hear those drums". She gets it, why didn't you? Amazing.
|
Secret
Machines |
Why you needed to hear it: please.
|
Elliott
Smith |
Why you needed to hear it: "Jesus and Hitler". The hand-stitched book that nurtures the 2-disc set is another choice feature. The Robot Ate Me is like that re-occuring dream you have where you find a jug of gold at the end of the rainbow while fields of beautiful, topless ladies ride unicorns and congratulate you.. . I need a break from this.
|
The
Robot Ate Me|
Why you needed to hear it: If you haven't heard I Will Return yet, I'd say next year you will be trying to tell me about Josh Tillman. Biggest surprise of 2004.
|
J.
Tillman |
Why
you needed to hear it: There are shelves of books out there
that deserve a GREAT soundtrack - Blankets got hers. |
Tracker|
Why you needed to hear it: You made it this far on sctas.com and just now saw something about Unbunny? ( sigh ). Searching for a band's amazing and way out-of-print material has never been so rewarding! My fave for 2004!
|
Unbunny|
Cellar Door | MGM Endings ( Barsuk ) ( tour cd ) Why you needed to hear it: "they won't let me run"! If you have yet to hear either of these records ------------> [go!] |
|
Why
you needed to hear it: Bush won. Goddamned George W. Bush
won!?? Again. Me & Davey Wrathgabar
are starting a lynch mob, only he doesn't know about it yet.
"Davey, call me baby!". |
The
Visitations|
Why you needed to hear it: That rock you live under is cruel and deserves time in prison! Let's see - "The Rat". Oh, and I heard you the first time!
|
the
Walkmen |
Why
you needed to hear it: Tommy
Harrington is a one-man machine, able to turn what many define "studio
noise" into precious gems called "songs". |
the
Wanteds