np: "old red eyes is back" - the beautiful south
still working on a rather large end-of-year 2004 recap, but just wanted to pop in and throw a couple thoughts at the proverbial wall here. it was a huge music-related Christmas for me, with the iPod finally making its way into my life. the verdict after having it for a week? fantastic. i've found myself creating excuses just to listen to it... for example - i would usually crank up the old stereo system with the big Pioneers for cleaning around the apartment, but last night i was bopping around to Basement Jaxx pumping through the earphones. yeah yeah, i know - but its the best i can do until i go out and pick up some of the accessories i need. since i'm about 2 years too late for jumping on the iPod revolution, i'll save you all more pointless gushing about its magnificence. in addition, the greatest mom in the world hooked me up with the Nirvana box set. after working my way through it for the first time, here's a couple comments:
- it's much better than i expected it to be, especially after hearing most of the Outcesticide series back in college. it's wonderful to have this stuff all in one easy place (and what a package - props to the designers) and the sound quality is much improved on much of the stuff.
- the DVD is little more than a curio, i would have liked to see some more live footage or even some of the band's videos. hopefully a DVD release of Live! Tonight! Sold Out! will happen soon.
- the Leadbelly sessions are fucking phenomenal.
- kinda disappointed that the final studio versions of compilation songs like "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" or "Sappy" weren't included. i was hoping this box set might eliminate the need to track down worthless shit like the Beavis and Butthead disc.
- i think it's criminal that the studio version of "You Know You're Right" wasn't included on here. which means i'll still have to shell out for the Greatest Hits disc from two years ago. damn.
other music related gifts included the Jay-Z/Linkin Park mash-up disc from the little bro (verdict: meh, but it is Jigga...) and the 3 Imaginary Boys reissue (v: fantabulous, i can't wait for the rest of the reissues) from the girlfriend.
Dec 30, 2004
Dec 22, 2004
np: "heartbeats" - the knife
ok, so keen observers might notice that my Top 50 Singles list from last night changed slightly. this was because somehow i unintentionally misplaced two of the singles that were destined for the list from the start. so, just to keep things honest, "17 Years" by Ratata and "Mary" by the Scissor Sisters were bumped off the list and "Lean Back" and "I Miss You" were added higher up. i apologize for the error, but at least i caught it before too much time had passed.
and the part i'm sure you have all be waiting for with baited breath... (or at least since you've exhausted P-Fork's list)... here's my favorite albums of the year
Top 50 Albums of 2004
50. !!! - Louden Up Now
49. Comets on Fire - Blue Cathedral
48. Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld
47. Liars - They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
46. The Datsuns - Outta Sight/Outta Mind
45. Jason Molina - Pyramid Electric Co.
44. Morrissey - You Are the Quarry
43. The Cure - S/T
42. The Reputation - To Force A Fate
41. Mission of Burma - ONoffON
40. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
39. Guided by Voices - Half Smiles of the Decomposed
38. Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles
37. Ambulance LTD - S/T
36. Seachange - Lay of the Land
35. A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
34. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
33. Elliott Smith - From A Basement On A Hill
32. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
31. Mastodon - Leviathan
30. Wilco - A Ghost is Born
29. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
28. The Killers - Hot Fuss
27. Scissor Sisters - S/T
26. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts
25. The Hiss - Panic Movement
24. The Libertines - S/T
23. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
22. Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere
21. The Icarus Line - Penance Soiree
20. Green Day - American Idiot
19. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
18. Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands/Nino Rojo
17. The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows
16. The Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South
15. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
14. Iron & Wine - Our Endless, Numbered Days
13. Snow Patrol - Final Straw
12. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
11. Dizzee Rascal - Showtime
10. Interpol - Antics
9. Madvillain - Madvillainy
8. The Ponys - Laced With Romance
7. The Futureheads - S/T
6. Brian Wilson - Smile
5. Junior Boys - Last Exit
4. Kanye West - The College Dropout
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
2. Franz Ferdinand - S/T
1. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
ok, so keen observers might notice that my Top 50 Singles list from last night changed slightly. this was because somehow i unintentionally misplaced two of the singles that were destined for the list from the start. so, just to keep things honest, "17 Years" by Ratata and "Mary" by the Scissor Sisters were bumped off the list and "Lean Back" and "I Miss You" were added higher up. i apologize for the error, but at least i caught it before too much time had passed.
and the part i'm sure you have all be waiting for with baited breath... (or at least since you've exhausted P-Fork's list)... here's my favorite albums of the year
Top 50 Albums of 2004
50. !!! - Louden Up Now
49. Comets on Fire - Blue Cathedral
48. Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld
47. Liars - They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
46. The Datsuns - Outta Sight/Outta Mind
45. Jason Molina - Pyramid Electric Co.
44. Morrissey - You Are the Quarry
43. The Cure - S/T
42. The Reputation - To Force A Fate
41. Mission of Burma - ONoffON
40. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
39. Guided by Voices - Half Smiles of the Decomposed
38. Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles
37. Ambulance LTD - S/T
36. Seachange - Lay of the Land
35. A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
34. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
33. Elliott Smith - From A Basement On A Hill
32. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
31. Mastodon - Leviathan
30. Wilco - A Ghost is Born
29. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
28. The Killers - Hot Fuss
27. Scissor Sisters - S/T
26. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas, & Lost Ghosts
25. The Hiss - Panic Movement
24. The Libertines - S/T
23. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
22. Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere
21. The Icarus Line - Penance Soiree
20. Green Day - American Idiot
19. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
18. Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands/Nino Rojo
17. The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows
16. The Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South
15. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
14. Iron & Wine - Our Endless, Numbered Days
13. Snow Patrol - Final Straw
12. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
11. Dizzee Rascal - Showtime
10. Interpol - Antics
9. Madvillain - Madvillainy
8. The Ponys - Laced With Romance
7. The Futureheads - S/T
6. Brian Wilson - Smile
5. Junior Boys - Last Exit
4. Kanye West - The College Dropout
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
2. Franz Ferdinand - S/T
1. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
np: "this boy is exhausted" - wrens
pretty accurate song title for how i'm feeling tonight, although completely unintentional. so i'm sure anyone who had ever read this blog with any regularity had begun to wonder what happened to it. well, the answer isn't very simple... in fact, a combination of factors led to the lack of any updates at all for over four months. the main one being a massive computer problem that resulted in the loss of my internet connection at home for over a month and a half. needless to say, that month and a half broke me of the desire to update this site on a regular basis so i didn't exactly dive right back in. throw in an overload at work and a lot going on in my personal life, and this blog just got delegated to last on my list of things to do. but have no fear loyal readers, i'm back and ready to tackle this thing again with gusto. and what better time to jump back in then right at year-end list time? yep, its that time of year and like any other semi-serious music geek i've compiled my own lists of what i thought was worthy of hearing in the year 2004. tonight i'll start with my list of Top 50 singles, to be followed tomorrow by my list of Top 50 albums and sometime before the new year and narrative wrap-up of the year that was 2004.
and so, without further ado....
Top 50 Singles of 2004
(please note that i use the term "single" a little loosely here, as not all of these may have been officially released as singles but i feel that they made a significant enough impact on 2004 to be included in my list)
50. "Bridging the Gap" - Nas f. Olu Dara
49. "I Luv the Valley OH" - Xiu Xiu
48. "Game Over (Flip)" - Lil Flip
47. "Over and Over" - Nelly f. Tim McGraw
46. "Goodies" - Ciara f. Petey Pablo
45. "Chewing Gum" - Annie
44. "Mosh" - Eminem
43. "Tipsy" - J-Kwon
42. "Michael" - Franz Ferdinand
41. "Yeah" - Usher f. Lil Jon & Ludacris
40. "1980" - Estelle
39. "High Come Down" - Junior Boys
38. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
37. "Stand Up Tall" - Dizzee Rascal
36. "Lean Back" - Fat Joe & Terror Squad
35. "Portland, Oregon" - Loretta Lynn & Jack White
34. "Irish Blood, English Heart" - Morrissey
33. "Lose My Breath" - Destiny's Child
32. "Take Your Mama Out" - Scissor Sisters
31. "Yeah (Pretentious Mix)" - LCD Soundsystem
30. "I Believe in You" - Kylie Minogue
29. "Can't Stand Me Now" - The Libertines
28. "American Idiot" - Green Day
27. "Galang" - M.I.A./Diplo
26. "Slow Hands" - Interpol
25. "Run" - Ghostface f. Jadakiss
24. "I Miss You" - Blink 182
23. "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" - The Arcade Fire
22. "Lua" - Bright Eyes
21. "I'm A Cuckoo" - Belle & Sebastian
20. "Matinee" - Franz Ferdinand
19. "Drop It Like It's Hot" - Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams
18. "The Rat" - The Walkmen
17. "iGeneration" - MC Lars
16. "This Love" - Maroon 5
15. "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
14. "Breathe" - Fabolous
13. "Heartbeat" - Annie
12. "99 Problems" - Jay-Z
11. "Move Ya Body" - Nina Sky f. Jabba
10. "Burn" - Usher
9. "Crown of Love" - The Arcade Fire
8. "Me & Mia" - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
7. "Jesus Walks" - Kanye West
6. "Dry Your Eyes" - The Streets
5. "Somebody Told Me" - The Killers
4. "Float On" - Modest Mouse
3. "Toxic" - Britney Spears
2. "The Show" - Girls Aloud
1. "Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
pretty accurate song title for how i'm feeling tonight, although completely unintentional. so i'm sure anyone who had ever read this blog with any regularity had begun to wonder what happened to it. well, the answer isn't very simple... in fact, a combination of factors led to the lack of any updates at all for over four months. the main one being a massive computer problem that resulted in the loss of my internet connection at home for over a month and a half. needless to say, that month and a half broke me of the desire to update this site on a regular basis so i didn't exactly dive right back in. throw in an overload at work and a lot going on in my personal life, and this blog just got delegated to last on my list of things to do. but have no fear loyal readers, i'm back and ready to tackle this thing again with gusto. and what better time to jump back in then right at year-end list time? yep, its that time of year and like any other semi-serious music geek i've compiled my own lists of what i thought was worthy of hearing in the year 2004. tonight i'll start with my list of Top 50 singles, to be followed tomorrow by my list of Top 50 albums and sometime before the new year and narrative wrap-up of the year that was 2004.
and so, without further ado....
Top 50 Singles of 2004
(please note that i use the term "single" a little loosely here, as not all of these may have been officially released as singles but i feel that they made a significant enough impact on 2004 to be included in my list)
50. "Bridging the Gap" - Nas f. Olu Dara
49. "I Luv the Valley OH" - Xiu Xiu
48. "Game Over (Flip)" - Lil Flip
47. "Over and Over" - Nelly f. Tim McGraw
46. "Goodies" - Ciara f. Petey Pablo
45. "Chewing Gum" - Annie
44. "Mosh" - Eminem
43. "Tipsy" - J-Kwon
42. "Michael" - Franz Ferdinand
41. "Yeah" - Usher f. Lil Jon & Ludacris
40. "1980" - Estelle
39. "High Come Down" - Junior Boys
38. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
37. "Stand Up Tall" - Dizzee Rascal
36. "Lean Back" - Fat Joe & Terror Squad
35. "Portland, Oregon" - Loretta Lynn & Jack White
34. "Irish Blood, English Heart" - Morrissey
33. "Lose My Breath" - Destiny's Child
32. "Take Your Mama Out" - Scissor Sisters
31. "Yeah (Pretentious Mix)" - LCD Soundsystem
30. "I Believe in You" - Kylie Minogue
29. "Can't Stand Me Now" - The Libertines
28. "American Idiot" - Green Day
27. "Galang" - M.I.A./Diplo
26. "Slow Hands" - Interpol
25. "Run" - Ghostface f. Jadakiss
24. "I Miss You" - Blink 182
23. "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" - The Arcade Fire
22. "Lua" - Bright Eyes
21. "I'm A Cuckoo" - Belle & Sebastian
20. "Matinee" - Franz Ferdinand
19. "Drop It Like It's Hot" - Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams
18. "The Rat" - The Walkmen
17. "iGeneration" - MC Lars
16. "This Love" - Maroon 5
15. "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
14. "Breathe" - Fabolous
13. "Heartbeat" - Annie
12. "99 Problems" - Jay-Z
11. "Move Ya Body" - Nina Sky f. Jabba
10. "Burn" - Usher
9. "Crown of Love" - The Arcade Fire
8. "Me & Mia" - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
7. "Jesus Walks" - Kanye West
6. "Dry Your Eyes" - The Streets
5. "Somebody Told Me" - The Killers
4. "Float On" - Modest Mouse
3. "Toxic" - Britney Spears
2. "The Show" - Girls Aloud
1. "Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
