Top albums of 2004...what were the highlights?

[Floodedstatue]

It's that time of year again when we get to look back at the high (or low) points of the year musically, and look forward in hope to 2005, where we will see albums from the likes of Doves, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta....and more.....

But as for 2004, here goes with my 'TOP 5' in ranking order (best first):

1. Pineapple Thief - 12 Stories Down
2. Blackfield - Blackfield (International Edition)
3. Green Day - American Idiot
4. Amplifier - Amplifier
5. Nick Drake - Made To Love Magic

BTW....if no-one has heard of Pineapple Thief before (not many have), I urge you to check them out. I had people ambushing my CD collection asking who this band were because they were so impressed with what they had heard! Check out their 2003 album 'Variations On A Dream', and the soon-to-be-released '12 Stories Down'. A trailer for the new album can be downloaded on their site http://www.pineapplethief.com/listen.htm

Rock on

....pineapple thief sound cool.. a bit like a more mellow version of mansun...

anyway I feel the best album of 2004 has got to be 'Hopes and Fears' by KEANE this album has only been out of my denon in the house to be put in the car! brilliant

Cant wait for the new doves album the new single was played on radio1 monday night and sounds brilliant!

[Oasis-GasPanic]

My Top five of the year are.......

1. Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak / The Zutons - Who Killed The Zutons?
2. Eagles Of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
3. Desert Sessions Volume 9 & 10
4. Razorlight - Up All Night

I think next year will all be about Oasis & QOTSA

[Kenny Glasgow]

1/. Tom Waits - Real Gone
2/. Steven Lindsay - Exit Music
3/. Todd Rundgren - Liars
4/. The Shins - Shutes Too Narrow
5/. The Bees - Free The Bees

[karkus30]

1. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
2. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
3. Mission of Burma - On-Off-On
4. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First
5. Green Day - American Idiot

Im going to add a sixth. Mastodon-Leviathon after hating its sound at first its grown on me and is probably the only direction left for the pure metal fan.

Oh and Chutes too Narrow was 2003 by the way, but a good album none the less. No votes for Franz Ferdinand , The streets, The Killers , Interpol oh dear

still, Its a bit of fun

[Kenny Glasgow]

Karkus

Got the Streets but it really didn't do it for me at all

FF was overkill, esp here in Scotland, heard it too often, it is good though!

I only bought the Shins in April, does that count

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by Kenny Glasgow

Karkus

Got the Streets but it really didn't do it for me at all

FF was overkill, esp here in Scotland, heard it too often, it is good though!

I only bought the Shins in April, does that count

Think I recommended "Chutes too narrow" about a year ago, on this very forum, I bought it directly from the United States of Armageddon.

I really didnt rate FF and definitely not The Killers. Cant make my mind about The Streets, well I suppose I never bought any Streets albums so infact I voted with my Wallet.

You should buy The Arcade Fire though, its a stunning debut. Strangely I played Pet Sounds tonight and I couldnt help draw comparisons. Great use of bittersweet melodic hooks, clever orchestration and a real emotional ride. Of course it also bears comparison with Talking Heads, The Pixies and early Roxy Music, although thats just from an influence standpoint, as they really just sound like The Arcade Fire. Its not an easy first listen, but after the third time it begins to get its claws in and your singing along by the fourth.

[Henry]

Keane - "Hopes and Fears" for me. Haven't really listened to anything else since I bought it. Saw them play live at Leeds Uni as well. Fantastic!

[JohnG]

1. Green Day - American Idiot

That's the only new one I've bought this year, all the rest have been old stuff that I've never had on CD. There's not been much else that's inspired me to buy it to be honest.

[the_pauley]

My top 5 of 2004 (in no particular order):

Brian Wilson - Smile
Tony Bennett - The Art of Romance
Todd Rundgren - Liars
Diana Krall - The Girl In the Other Room
Boz Scaggs - But Beautiful

Reissue of the year:

Jeff Buckley - Grace (Legacy Edition)

[captaindobie]

1. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (25 years, and they still give a *uck)

2. Morrissey - You Are The Quarry (A Very Welcome Return)

3. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose (With A Helping Hand From Jack White. Excellent)

[Ian182]

My top 5........ (after much consideration)

1 - Kasabian - Kasabian
2 - Ian Brown - Solarized
3 - The Killers - Hot Fuss
4 - Ash - Meltdown
5 - Keane - Hopes and Fears

Honourable mentions also go to Delays, Ordinary Boys, Wonderstuff, Razorlight, The Music and Green Day.

Yep, I'm still an indie kid at heart

Ian.

[JUS]

I spent most of the year buying and listening to old stuff so I can't make up a top 5!

I like your first two Ian. Kasabian & Ian Brown did it for me I'll have to give The killers and Kean a go..

[dts_boy]

my top 3 would probably be (in no order):

Rhian Benson - God Coast

Kanye West - The College Dropout

Jay Z - The Black Album

Having named those, i have also enjoyed The Streets, Keane. I spend most of my time listeniing to older music, i'm a bit sad like that

[CJROSS]

My 2004 top 10.

Amy Winehouse : Frank
Everlast : White Trash Beautiful
Sasha : Involver *
U2 : How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Peter Cincotti : On the Moon
The Black Keys : Rubber Factory
Keane : Hopes & Fears
Kraftwerk : Tour De France Remixes *
Barb Jungr : Waterloo Sunset
Trojan Records : Roots 3CD Box set *

* All discovered in 2004 not sure if all were released in 2004 though.