Maturity and authenticity, two dangerous concepts in music, especially if they go together. Everyone expects from a young rock musician to be wild and rebellious but if this attitude comes from an aged musician it could be easily perceived as fake or even pathetic. Especially if the musician is coming in terms with his age, like Josele Santiago told in an interview to Rockdelux: "When you're young it's you against the world but when you're getting old you realize that it's wiser to be on the world's side". Josele gave us a master class on reconciling the wisdom of adulthood and the wildness of youth on his first solo album "Las golondrinas etcétera" ("The Swallows Etcetera", 2004), a move quite similar (but with different musical approaches) to Daniel Darc's for his "Crèvecœur" or Tom Waits for his "Real Gone", both also from 2004.
Josele Santiago was the leader of Los Enemigos, an acclaimed rock band from Madrid that released from 1985 to 2002 eight studio albums (plus two soundtracks and two live albums), with "La vida mata" ("Life Kills", 1990) as his best album. Josele's harsh voice, rascal lyrics and wild songs marked the repertoire of the band. For his first solo effort he hit the nail on the head with his collaborators, especially with the unexpected choice of Nacho Mastretta as a producer, previously mainly known by his works on lounge music, and the mastery on guitar of Pablo Novoa, former member of Golpes Bajos. The predominantly acoustic sound and relaxed feel was compensated by the raw and even disturbing lyrics about war ("Soldado limpiando un fusil", "Soldier Wiping a Rifle"), poverty ("Serrín", "Sawdust") or drug addiction ("Mi prima y sus pinceles", "My Cousin and Her Paintbrushes", with its memorable chorus "Escucha / Los muertos dicen que no / La calle grita que sí", "Listen / The dead say no / The street shout yes").
From an album with such a remarkable song-writing I've selected paradoxically the only song not written by Josele Santiago, "Con las manos vacías" ("With the Empty Hands"), an obscure song written by Mexican composer Víctor Cordero in a ranchera style that Josele discovered (on a cassette that he bought in a gas station) on the amazing version by the legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas (listen here). The desolation of the original is amplified on Josele Santiago's version by an inventive orchestration, with a somber clarinet intro by Mastretta, a subdued but precise ryhthm section, a wonderful lounge organ part by Luca Frasca and a torn guitar solo by Pablo Novoa (reminiscent of Marc Ribot's works for Tom Waits). This guitar solo and the ragged vocal performance of Josele Santiago ("And shout out loud / That love is a lie") prompted a question from my son one day while I was listening to this song. "Daddy, why they're playing and singing so badly?" "Well, my son, in fact they've been playing for so many years, they've learned so much music that they ended playing like that. Believe me, it's a lot more difficult that it seems to play so badly".

PS: Dan M, it was for me a very pleasant surprise to find such an obscure song (widely unknown in Spain at least) in your list. I hope that other AMers could enjoy the song too.



CON LAS MANOS VACÍAS
Composer: Víctor Cordero
Performer: JOSELE SANTIAGO
First release: 2004 ("Las golondrinas, etcétera" album)
Length: 3’50”

Qué triste despertar
en las mañanas frías
sin poder hallar
tus manos en las mías,
contemplar mi balcón
sin sol
y sentirme morir
de amor.

Con tristeza y ausencia
en mis noches sombrías,
implorando clemencia
con las manos vacías.

Qué triste despertar
y verse siempre solo,
con esta soledad
donde se acaba todo.

Y ponerme a gritar
que el amor es mentira
y nos deja al final
con las manos vacías.

Y ponerme a gritar
que el amor es mentira
y nos deja al final
con las manos vacías.

Qué triste despertar ...


WITH EMPTY HANDS

It's so sad to awake
in the cold mornings
without finding
your hands in mine,
to look at my balcony
without sunlight
and to feel like dying
because of love.

With sadness and absence
in my gloomy nights,
begging for mercy
with empty hands.

It's so sad to awake
always alone,
with this loneliness
where everything comes to an end.

And to shout out loud
that love is a lie
that leaves you at the end
with empty hands.

And to shout out loud
that love is a lie
that leaves you at the end
with empty hands.

It's so sad to awake...


Sorry for the bad sound quality



The rest of the Spanish Top 5 of 2004:
2. ELS PETS "Agost": August comes / heavy and lazy / remembering us / the beauty of the time that passes slowly.
3. CHUCHO "La mente del monstruo": How Leon Tolstoi dared? / I’ve been told that his diaries call me thief.
4. LA COSTA BRAVA "Adoro a las pijas de mi ciudad": I love the posh girls of my town / their scent is so special / that one tries to do his best / to know the secret of their kisses.
5. ANTÓNIA FONT "Robot": Efficient robot / much smarter than people / your computer will add up in a second / all the stars in this world.

1. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
2. Arcade Fire - Funeral
3. Tom Waits - Real Gone
4. Joanna Newsom - The Milk Eyed Mender
5. Nick Cave - Abbatoir Blues/Lyre Of Orpheus
6. TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
7. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
8. Feist - Let It Die
9. Annie - Anniemal
10. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
11. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
12. Dungen - Ta Det Lungt
13. Kanye West - The College Dropout
14. The Drive By Truckers - The Dirty South
15. The Libertines - Up The Bracket
16. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
17. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
18. Morrisey - You Are The Quarry
19. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
20. Madvillain - Madvillainy

I finally listened to College Dropout. It's got the same positives and negatives as his other albums, but the best few songs are the best few of his I've heard. It's got the same gratingly reductionist politics, the same above average rapping over perfectionist sampling and mixing. It's got less ego-posturing than his later albums, and it all tends to flow more naturally.

It definitely helps me see what other people see in Kanye.

01. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Abattoir Blues/ The Lyre of Orpheus
02. Arcade Fire- Funeral
03. Kanye West- The College Dropout
04. Wilco- A Ghost is Born
05. Madvillain- Madvillainy
06. Brian Wilson- SMiLE
07. Loretta Lynn- Van Lear Rose
08. Franz Ferdinand- Franz Ferdinand
09. Animal Collective- Sung Tongs
10. Joanna Newsom- The Milk Eyed Mender


I know this is kind of dirty pool, but I gave Nick Cave the top spot just because I know Funeral is going to win anyway.


Songs:

01. Arcade Fire- "Wake Up"
02. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- "There She Goes My Beautiful World"
03. Arcade Fire- "Rebellion (Lies)"
04. Kanye West- "We Don't Care"
05. Brian Wilson- "Good Vibrations (2004)"
06. Wilco- "Spiders (Kidsmoke)"
07. Arcade Fire- "Neighborhood #1"
08. Franz Ferdinand- "Take Me Out"
09. M.I.A.- "Galang"
10. Wilco- "Wishful Thinking"

Songs

1 Franz Ferdinand Take Me Out
2 Five for Fighting 100 Years
3 Todd Rundgren Wondering
4 Kelly Clarkson Because of You
5 Green Day Boulevard of Broken Dreams
6 Todd Rundgren Truth
8 Todd Rundgren Sweet
7 Graham Coxon Freakin' Out
9 Usher feat. Ludacris Yeah!
10 Kelly Clarkson Breakaway
11 Killers Somebody Told Me
12 Todd Rundgren Stood Up
13 Morrissey Irish Blood English Heart
14 U2 Vertigo
15 Green Day American Idiot
16 Kelly Clarkson Since U Been Gone
17 Morrissey First of the Gang to Die
18 Libertines Can't Stand Me Now
19 Modest Mouse Float On
20 Arcade Fire Rebellion (Lies)
21 Wolfman feat. Pete Doherty For Lovers
22 Killers Mr. Brightside
23 Scissor Sisters Take Your Mama
24 Bloc Party Banquet
25 Loretta Lynn feat. Jack White Portland, Oregon
26 Todd Rundgren Future
27 Citizen Cope Son's Gonna Rise
28 My Chemical Romance Helena
29 Todd Rundgren Flaw
30 Kanye West Jesus Walks
10 Todd Rundgren God Said
11 Kaiser Chiefs I Predict a Riot
12 Scissor Sisters Laura
13 Iron and Wine Each Coming Night
14 3 Doors Down Let Me Go
15 Brian Wilson Surfs Up
16 U2 All Because of You
17 Keane Your Eyes Open
18 Sufjan Stevens The Dress Looks Nice On You
19 Tears for Fears Secret World
20 Morrissey I Have Forgiven Jesus
21 PJ Harvey Shame
22 Green Day Wake Me Up When September Ends
23 Green Day Holiday
24 Kelly Clarkson Behind These Hazel Eyes
25 Belle and Sebastian Your Cover's Blown
26 Walkmen The Rat
27 Von Bondies C'mon C'mon
28 N.E.R.D. She Wants to Move
29 Interpol Slow Hands
30 Keane Somewhere Only We Know
31 Interpol Evil
32 Futureheads Hounds of Love
33 Franz Ferdinand Matinee
34 Gwen Stefani What You Waiting For?
35 Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell Drop It Like It's Hot
36 Gwen Stefani Hollaback Girl
37 Girls Aloud The Show
38 Snoop Dogg Signs
39 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds There She Goes, My Beautiful World
40 Phoenix Everything is Evertything
41 John Legend Used to Love U
42 Kanye West Family Business
43 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Nature Boy
44 Natasha Bendingfield Unwritten
45 Kanye West All Falls Down
46 Green Day Jesus Of Suburbia
47 U2 Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
48 Ryan Adams This House is Not for Sale
49 Blue Nile Stay Close
50 Junior Boys Under the Sun
51 R.E.M. Leaving New York
52 Rufus Wainwright Memphis Skyline
53 Rufus Wainwright Gay Messiah
54 Usher Confessions II
55 U2 Original of the Species
56 Vienna Teng Green Island Serenade
57 Cure Before Three
58 Sonic Youth Stones
59 Elliott Smith Twilight
60 Modest Mouse The World at Large
61 Killers All These Things That I've Done
62 Head Automatica Solid Gold Telephone
63 Guided By Voices Window of My World
64 From First to Last Minuet
65 Citizen Cope Bullet and a Target
66 Elvis Costello Needle Time
67 Fiery Furnaces Chris Michaels
68 Air Surfing on a Rocket
69 Alter Ego Rocker
70 Jimmy Eat World The World You Love
71 Franz Ferdinand Michael
72 LCD Soundsystem Yeah
73 Annie Heartbeat
74 Hives Walk Idiot Walk
75 Mylo Drop the Pressure
76 Interpol Narc
77 Elvis Costello Monkey to Man
78 M.I.A. Galang
79 Streets Dry Your Eyes
80 TV on the Radio Staring at the Sun
81 Arcade Fire Neighbourhood #2
82 Annie Chewing Gum
83 Rufus Wainwright The One You Love
84 Regina Spektor Us
85 Squarepushers Tetra-Synch

Albums

1 Arcade Fire Funeral
2 Green Day American Idiot
3 Todd Rundgren Liars
4 Morrissey You Are the Quarry
5 Killers Hot Fuss
6 Kelly Clarkson Breakaway
8 Kanye West The College Dropout
7 Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand
9 Interpol Antics
10 Rufus Wainwright Want Two

ALBUMS
1. Arcade Fire - Funeral
2. Kanye West - The College Dropout
3. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
4. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
5. Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill
6. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
7. Brian Wilson - SMiLE
8. Green Day - American Idiot
9. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
10. Danger Mouse - The Grey Album

SONGS
1. Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
2. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
3. Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
4. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
5. Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia
6. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
7. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Get Ready for Love
8. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
9. Modest Mouse - Bury Me With It
10. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

Songs

1. Modest Mouse - Float On
2. Loretta Lynn feat. Jack White - Portland Oregon
3. Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes
4. Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
5. Kanye West - All Falls Down
6. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
7. Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot
8. U2 - Vertigo
9. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood No. 1 (Tunnels)
10. Roots - Don't Say Nuthin'
11. Black Keys - Girl Is on My Mind
12. M.I.A. - Galang
13. Interpol - Slow Hands
14. Prince - Cinnamon Girl
15. Loretta Lynn - Miss Being Mrs.
16. Bjork - Who Is It?
17. Air - Alpha Beta Gaga
18. Killers - Mr. Brightside
19. Nellie McKay - Clonie
20. Hives - Walk Idiot Walk

Albums:

1. Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill
2. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
3. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
4. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
5. Interpol - Antics
6. CocoRosie - La maison de mon rêve
7. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
8. The Beta Band - Heroes to Zeros
9. Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow
10. Miossec - 1964
11. Piers Faccini - Leave No Trace
12. Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague
13. Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
14. Arcade Fire - Funeral
15. Deportivo - Parmi eux
16. Death in Vegas - Satan's Circus


Songs;

1. Elliott Smith - Twillight
2. Bloc Party - Banquet
3. Elliott Smith - Fond Farewell
4. Sufjan Stevens - A Good Man is Hard To Find
5. Interpol - Evil
6. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - O Children
7. Sufjan Stevens - The Dress Looks Nice on You
8. CocoRosie - Terrible Angels
9. Piers Faccini - Where Angels Fly
10. Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama
10. The Go! Team - Ladyflash
12. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Nature Boy
13. Art Brut - Formed a Band
14. The Beta Band - Assessment
15. Deportivo - Parmi eux
16. U2 - Vertigo
17. Interpol - Slow Hands
18. Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb
19. The Go! Team - Panther Dash
20. Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You

1 - Arcade Fire - Funeral
2 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
3 - Kanye West - The College Dropout
4 - Brian Wilson - SMiLE
5 - Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
6 - Tom Waits - Real Gone
7 - Antònia Font - Taxi
8 - Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
9 - Josele Santiago - Las golondrinas, etc.
10 - Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand


1 - Antònia Font - Vitamina sol
2 - Bloc Party - Banquet
3 - Kanye West - Jesus Walks
4 - The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
5 - Modest Mouse - Float On



Antònia Font:

Top heavy year.

Albums

1. Kanye West - The College Dropout
2. Arcade Fire - Funeral
3. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
4. Madvillain - Madvillainy
5. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
6. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
7. Elliott Smith - From a Basement on a Hill
8. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
9. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
10. The Killers - Hot Fuss

Songs

1. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
2. Elliott Smith - King's Crossing
3. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
4. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
5. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
6. The Walkmen - The Rat
7. Modest Mouse - The World At Large
8. Wilco - Spiders (Kidsmoke)
9. Madvillain - Accordion
10. Kanye West - Spaceship
11. Animal Collective - Winter's Love
12. Interpol - Evil
13. The Killers - Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
14. Wilco - At Least That's What You Said
15. Bloc Party - Banquet
16. Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
17. The Go! Team - Ladyflash
18. Animal Collective - Leaf House
19. Kanye West - Family Business
20. Modest Mouse - Float On

SONGS
1. Stars- Ageless Beauty
2. Ed Harcourt- Born in the 70s
3. The Delays- Wanderlust
4. Magnetic Fields- I Don't Really Love You Anymore
5. Scissor Sisters- Music is The Victim
6. Gomez- Catch Me Up
7. the Go! Team- Hold Yr Terror Close
8. Interpol- Evil
9. Divine Comedy- Absent Friends
10.Of Montreal- Disconnect the Dots
11.Electrelane- On Parade
12.Trashcan Sinatras- All the Dark Horses
13.Elf Power- Walking with The Beggar Boys
14.Modest Mouse- Satin in a Coffin
15.AIR-Floating on a Rocker
16.Annie- Me Plus You
17.The Libertines- Don't Look Back
18.Embrace- Ashes
19.Razorlight- Rip it Up
20.Dresdon Dolls- Coin Operated Boy
21.Franz Ferdinand- Michael
22.PJ Harvey- Pocket Knife
23.the Hives- Walk Idiot Walk
24.Patti Smith- Stride of the Mind
25.Keane- This is The Last Time

Big crush on the Black Keys

... and the Go! Team songs sound overhyped and artificial to my ears. original, yes, but that's not enough.

The Black Keys, unlike many so-called "blues rock" bands, know exactly how to play the blues without aping it and can recapture the real Delta idiom. It's not just finding the right guitar sound and the right recording process. The fact that they are indie rockers gave them the kind of critical exposure that could have helped a modern-day Delta bluesmen like Junior Kimbrough, who was their main influence, or RL Burnside.





About The Go! Team I've been a little too harsh and fast judging but they are the exact opposite of THe BK, piling so many different styles, sound textures, references and musical eras. The energy is undeniable, that's right, but it's too... crowded for me. just like The Avalanches or The nited States of America in another decade.

ALBUMS

1.Arcade Fire - Funeral
2.MIA & Diplo - Piracy Funds Terrorism
3.Max Richter - The Blue Notebooks
4.Tomasz Stanko - Suspended Night
5.Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt
6.Wilco - A Ghost is born
7.Devandra Banheart - Rejoice in the Hands
8.Gonzales - Solo piano
9.Annie- Anniemal
10.Franz Ferdinand

SONGS
1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
2. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1(Tunnels)
3. M.I.A. - Galang
4. Kelly Clarckson - SUBG
5. Futureheads - Hounds of Love
6. Interpol - Evil
7. Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
8. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
9. LCD Soundsystem - Movement
10. Bloc Party - Banquet

11.Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
12.Annie - My Heartbeat
13.Annie - Chewing Gum
14.Franz Ferdinand - Matinée
15.LCD Soundsystem - Yeah
16.Interpol - Slow Hands
17.Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
18.Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
19.There She Goes - Nick Cave
20.Loretta Lynn - Portland Oregon

ALBUMS

1) Pleasureman - Gunther
2) Rubber Factory - The Black Keys
3) A Grand Don't Come for Free - The Streets
4) Bubblegum - Mark Lanegan
5) Audit In Process - Hot Snakes
6) Has Been - William Shatner
7) Sonic Nurse - Sonic Youth
8) The Libertines
9) The Pretty Toney Album - Ghostface Killah
10) Piracy Funds Terrorism - MIA & Diplo

Oh my gosh... NO EXCUSES letting these Sonic Youth songs slip. They are in my top 100 of all time!

1. DEERHOOF - MILK MAN
2. THE GO! TEAM - BOTTLE ROCKET
3. ARCADE FIRE - WAKE UP
4. SONIC YOUTH - UNMADE BED*
5. ARCADE FIRE - NEIGHBORHOOD 1: TUNNELS
6. FIERY FURNACES - HERE COMES THE SUMMER
7. FIERY FURNACES - BLUEBERRY BOAT
8. FIERY FURNACES - CHIEF INSPECTOR BLANCHEFLOWER
9. SONIC YOUTH - NEW HAMPSHIRE
10. FIERY FURNACES - CHRIS MICHAELS
11. FRANZ FERDINAND - TAKE ME OUT
12. FIERY FURNACES - SINGLE AGAIN
13. MAGNETIC FIELDS - I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY BOYFRIEND
14. ARCADE FIRE - REBELLION (LIES)
15. THE GO! TEAM - FRIENDSHIP UPDATE
16. SCISSOR SISTERS - LAURA
17. INTERPOL - EVIL
18. SCISSOR SISTERS - TAKE YOUR MAMA
19. DEERHOOF - SONG OF SORN
20. DEERHOOF - RAINBOW SILHOUETTE OF THE MILKY RAIN

A lot of good songs are missing the cut, unfortunately... 2004 was a very good year indeed.

Thanks so much for revising my list. I'll try not to screw up next month.

Lesser AM-alignment than usual this year.

Albums
1. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
2. Junior Boys - Last Exit
3. Gonzales - Solo Piano
4. Max Richter - The Blue Notebooks
5. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
6. Kings of Convenience - Riot on An Empty Street
7. Arcade Fire - Funeral
8. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
9. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
10. Pan-American - Quiet City
11. Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright - Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright
12. Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands
13. Stina Nordenstam - The World Is Saved
14. Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
15. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
16. DeVotchKa - How It Ends
17. Madvillain - Madvillainy
18. Kanye West - The College Dropout
19. Brian Wilson - Smile
20. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days

Songs
1. Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-On
2. Junior Boys - Teach Me How to Fight
3. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
4. Sufjan Stevens - The Dress Looks Nice on You
5. Bloc Party - Banquet
6. Gonzales - Gogol
7. Junior Boys - Under the Sun
8. Max Richter - Shadow Journal
9. Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For?
10. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
11. Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance with You
12. Kings of Convenience - Misread
13. Joanna Newsom - Bridges and Balloons
14. Joanna Newsom - Sprout and the Bean
15. Modest Mouse - Float On
16. Modest Mouse - Bukowski
17. Sia - Breathe Me
18. Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright - No Mercy for She
19. Stina Nordenstam - Get On with Your Life
20. Pan-American - Skylight

Then I must listen to Gonzalez (I'm a Satie lover), and Pepe is a man of good advice.

And I agree with you Henrik on 2004. Only one album in my top 200 (The Streets). Lots of good albums though but few great records.

Albums

1) Arcade Fire - Funeral
2) Kanye West - The College Dropout
3) The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
4) Elliott Smith - From a basement on a hill
5) Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
6) Electrelane - The Power Out
7) TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
8) N*E*R*D* - Fly or Die
9) Lostprophets - Start Something
10) Didier Super - Vaut mieux en rire que s'en foutre

I like this top 10 as much as those of the 3 previous years, but I could not manage to find other albums I really like.

Glad to see 3 other people have voted for Spaceship, I guess that won't be enough but it's cool so see this overlooked gem get some praise, usually limited to some Kanye songs I really love (Jesus Walks, Slow Jamz, Runaway) and other I find much less interesting, though still enjoyable (Through the Wire, Touch the Sky...)

Obviously a women's year - the albums:

1. CocoRosie - La Maison De Mon Reve
2. The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike
3. Feist - Let It Die
4. Josephine Foster & The Supposed - All the Leaves Are Gone
5. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
6. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
7. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
8. Meï Teï Shô - Lô Bâ
9. Laura Veirs - Carbon Glacier
10. Deerhoof - Milk Man

Albums
1)Arcade Fire - Funeral
2)Brian Wilson - SMiLE
3)Morrissey - You Are The Quarry
4)The Killers - Hot Fuss
5)The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
6)Kanye West - The College Dropout
7)Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
8)Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
9)Interpol - Antics
10)Prince - Musicology

Songs
1)Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #1(Tunnels)
2)The Killers - Mr Brightside
3)Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die
4)Los Lonely Boys - Heaven
5)Annie - Heartbeat
6)The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
7)Kanye West - Jesus Walks
8)Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
9)Wilco - The Late Greats
10)Embrace - Ashes

Albums

1. Brian Wilson: SMiLE
2. The Organ: Grab That Gun
3. The Arcade Fire: Funeral
4. Tachenko: Nieves y rescates
5. Josele Santiago: Las golondrinas, etcétera.
6. Brian Wilson: Getting in over My Head
7. Nancy Sinatra: Nancy Sinatra
8. Dayna Kurtz: Beautiful Yesterdays
9. Miguel Ángel Villanueva: Ningún cielo
10. Lambchop: Aw C'mon, No You C'mon
11. La Granja: Tobogán
12. Fangoria: Arquitectura efímera
13. Scissor Sisters: Scissor Sisters
14. Paolo Conte: Elegia
15. The Hidden Cameras: Mississauga Goddamn
16. Norah Jones: Feels Like Home
17. Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans
18. Malcolm Scarpa: Las cosas cambian
19. Tom Waits: Real Gone
20. L-Kan: Discazo

21. La Costa Brava: Llamadas perdidas
22. Cooper: Retrovisor
23. K. D. Lang: Hymns from the 49th Parallel
24. Antònia Font: Taxi
25. Los Planetas: Contra la ley de la gravedad
26. Keren Ann: Nolita
27. M. Ward: Duet for Guitars
28. Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter: Oh, My Girl
29. Benjamin Biolay: Clara et Moi
30. Kings of Convenience: Riot on an Empty Street
31. R.E.M.: Around the Sun
32. Iron and Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
33. The Magnetic Fields: I
34. Feist: Let It Die
35. Devendra Banhart: Niño Rojo
36. Wilco: A Ghost is Born
37. Marlango: Marlango
38. Apenino: Bumerán, Bumerán
39. Vetiver: Vetiver
40. Mark Lanneghan: Bubblegum

Songs

1. The Organ: Memorize the City
2. The Arcade Fire: Neighborhood # 2 (Laïka)
3. Brian Wilson: Roll Playmouth Rock
4. La Granja: Eto’o (su jugador favorito)
5. Tachenko: Amable
6. Brian Wilson: Barnyard
7. Norah Jones: Creepin’ In
8. Tom Waits: Hoist That Rag
9. Tachenko: Afganistán
10. Josele Santiago: Olé, papa
11. The Organ: Brother
12. The Arcade Fire: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
13. Scissor Sisters: Take Your Mama Out
14. The Organ: Steven Smith
15. Brian Wilson: Child is the Father of the Man
16. Brian Wilson: Song for Children
17. Tachenko: El coche real
18. Brian Wilson: In Blue Hawai
19. Dayna Kurtz: Those Were the Days
20. The Arcade Fire: Neighborhood # 1 (Tunnels)

21. Josele Santiago: Mi prima y sus pinceles
22. The Organ: Basament Bad Song
23. Malcolm Scarpa: El estanco de Paula
24. The Organ: A Sudden Death
25. Tachenko: Nuestro ganador
26. Nancy Sinatra: Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
27. Fangoria: Miro la vida pasar
28. Norah Jones: Be Here to Love Me
29. k.d. lang: Afther the Goldrush
30. Paolo Conte: Sandwich Man
31. Brian Wilson (with Carl Wilson): Soul Searchin’
32. R.E.M.: Leaving New York
33. Fangoria: Retorciendo palabras
34. Kings of Convenience: Misread
35. Norah Jones: Sunrise
36. Scissor Sisters: Confortably Numb
37. Miguel Ángel Villanueva: El 27 de nunca
38. Brian Wilson: Gettin' in Over My Head
39. Scissor Sisters: Tits on the Radio
40. Marlango: It’s All Right

41. The Arcade Fire: Une année sans lumiére
42. Nancy Sinatra: Don't Mean Nothing
43. The Arcade Fire: Crown of Love
44. Nancy Sinatra: Burnin’ Down the Spark
45. Scissor Sisters: Laura
46. Miguel Ángel Villanueva: Todos vamos perdidos
47. Sufjan Stevens: All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands
48. Nancy Sinatra: Ain't No Easy Way
49. Miguel Ángel Villanueva: Desde que no estás
50. Lambchop: I Hate Candy
51. La Costa Brava: Adoro a las pijas de mi ciudad
52. Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter: Oh, My Girl
53. The Hidden Cameras: The Fear Is on
54. Antònia Font: Robot
55. L-Kan: Todo por placer
56. Lambchop: Timothy B. Schmidt
57. The Hidden Cameras: Doot Doot Ploot
58. Lambchop: Something's Going on
59. Lambchop: Under A Dream of a Lie
60. Tom Waits: Sins of My Father

Albums

As I said, 2004 is a minor/decent year in Nicolas' musical universe. Only 1 album in my top 200, 2 in my top 300 but a lot of solid records and possible growers (like Arcade Fire, but my apprciation of it is like a yo-yo, it went from 3rd to 12th and then back to third after another listening, see my RYM review).
This month I had time to look carefully at everyone's list and found interesting things (OCMS thanks to John, and Zélia Duncan, whose album I wish I had more time to listen to, thanks DanM)

1. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free (#116 overall)
2. The Black Keys - Rubber Factory (#256 overall)
3. Arcade Fire - Funeral
4. Old Crow Medicine Show - O.C.M.S.
5. Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South
6. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
7. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/Lyre Of Orpheus
8. Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill
9. Bombes 2 Bal - Danse avec ta grand-mère
10. Kanye West - The College Dropout
11. Ba Cissoko - Sabolan
12. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
13. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
14. Björk - Medulla
15. Morrissey - You Are The Quarry
16. Bobby Rush - Folkfunk
17. The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends
18. The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me
19. Daniel Darc - Crève Cœur
20. Madvillain - Madvillainy

21. Brian Wilson - Smile
22. Youssou N'Dour - Egypt
23. Manu Chao - Sibérie m'était contée…
24. Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama - There Will Be A Light
25. Tom Waits - Real Gone
26. Feist - Let It Die
27. Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
28. Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
29. Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
30. Zélia Duncan - Eu Me Transformo En otros
31. The Cure - The Cure
32. Tinariwen - Amassakoul
33. Blanche - If We Can't Trust The Doctors
34. Jolie Holland - Escondida
35. The Zutons - Who Killed The Zutons ?
36. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
37. Carl Hancock Rux - Apothecary RX
38. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
39. The Libertines - s/t
40. Midlake - Bamnan and Silvercock
41. Interpol - Antics
42. Dr. John - N'awlinz : Dis, Dat or D'udda
43. J.J. Cale - To Tulsa and Back
44. Gretchen Wilson - Here For The Party
45. Ron Sexsmith - Retriever

songs

Good year for songs. Some great songs from "minor" albums IMO (Morrissey, Divine Comedy, Wilco). Especially Wilco. The first song is great, but i found the rest very disappointing (and it was not my first listen), the worst being the noise song in the end (WTF ? what's the fucking point for such a great band to add this on their album ? Prove they can do something else than alt country ? Gain the critics' appraise ? Sound smart ? I'm still wondering)

1 . The Streets - Empty Cans
2 . Daniel Darc - Psaume 23
3 . Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die
4 . Bombes 2 Bal - La Voiture
5 . The Streets - Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
6 . Kekele - Ba Kristo
7 . The Divine Comedy - Our Mutual Friend
8 . Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Nature Boy
9 . Sanseverino - Les Sénégalaises
10 . Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
11 . Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - There She Goes, My Beautiful World
12 . The Cure - Before Three
13 . Bombes 2 Bal - Tu m'embêtes
14 . Wilco - At Least That's What You Said
15 . Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
16 . J.J. Cale - Blues for Mama
17 . Ba Cissoko - Taouyah
18 . Drive-by Truckers - Carl Perkins' Cadillac
19 . Kanye West - Last Call
20 . The Black Keys - Girl Is On My Mind


21 . Modest Mouse - Float On
22 . Old Crow Medicine Show - Tell It To Me
23 . Elliott Smith - Memory Lane
24 . LCD Soundsystem - Yeah
25 . The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
26 . Jolie Holland - Sascha
27 . Manu Chao - Petite blonde du bd Brune
28 . Loretta Lynn - Family Tree
29 . Tom Waits - Make It Rain
30 . Björk - Vökuró


31 . The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
32 . Youssou N'Dour - Mahdiyu Laye
33 . Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1
34 . Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
35 . Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama - Wicked Man
36 . Bloc Party - Banquet
37 . Florent Marchet - Levallois
38 . Bobby Rush - Chicken Heads-Refried
39 . Old Crow Medicine Show - Big Time In The Jungle
40 . Nas - Reason


41 . Feist - Gatekeeper
42 . The Streets - Fit But You Know It
43 . Antibalas - Who Is This America Dem Speak of Today?
44 . Dr. John & Randy Newman - I Ate Up The Apple Tree
45 . The Roots - Don't say Nuthin'
46 . The Hold Steady - Most People Are DJs
47 . Ba Cissoko - Maïmouna
48 . John Legend - Ordinary People
49 . Miossec - Brest
50 . Loretta Lynn - Little Red Shoes

I realize I haven't submitted my songs list!

1. Annie - "Heartbeat"
2. Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
3. Morrissey - "I Have Forgiven Jesus"
4. Arcade Fire - "In the Backseat"
5. Annie - "Come Together"
6. Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For"
7. LCD Soundsystem - "Yeah"
8. Arcade Fire - "Rebellion (Lies)"
9. Franz Ferdinand - "Auf Achse"
10. U2 - "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
11. Modest Mouse - "Float On"
12. Kylie Minogue - "I Believe in You"
13. Björk - "Desired Constellation"
14. !!! - "Pardon My Freedom"
15. Annie - "Me Plus One"
16. Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)"
17. Prince - "Musicology"
18. Morrissey - "Come Back to Camden"
19. Morrissey - "First of the Gang to Die"
20. Franz Ferdinand - "Michael"
21. Janet Jackson - "R n B Junkie"
22. Morrissey - "The World Is Full of Crashing Bores"
23. Snoop Doggy Dogg - "Let's Get Blown"
24. Rachel Stevens - "Some Girls"
25. Janet Jackson - "Spending Time with You"
26. Franz Ferdinand - "Come on Home"
27. Kylie Minogue - "Giving You Up"
28. PJ Harvey - "Shame"
29. Prince - "A Million Days"
30. Annie - "Kiss Me"
31. Annie - "No Easy Love"
32. The Cure - "alt.end"
33. Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"
34. Annie - "Anniemal"
35. Franz Ferdinand - "Jacqueline"
36. Morrissey - "Irish Blood, English Heart"
37. Annie - "Helpless Fool for Love"
38. Björk - "Where Is the Line"
39. Bumblebeez 81 - "Pony Ride"
40. Björk - "Oceania"
41. The Cure - "The Promise"
42. Kylie Minogue - "I Know"
43. Death from Above 1979 - "Little Girl"
44. Janet Jackson - "I Want You"
45. Sufjan Stevens - "Seven Swans"
46. Annie - "Chewing Gum"
47. Nina Sky - "Move Ya Body"
48. Morrissey - "I Like You"
49. Prince - "Cinnamon Girl"
50. Franz Ferdinand - "Tell Her Tonight"
51. The Cure - "Going Nowhere"
52. Kylie Minogue - "Loving You"
53. Annie - "Happy without You"
54. Chromeo - "You're So Gangsta"
55. Interpol - "Narc"
56. Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)"
57. Björk - "Vokuro"
58. My Chemical Romance - "Helena"
59. Gwen Stefani - "Crash"
60. Janet Jackson - "SloLove"
61. Interpol - "Evil"
62. Morrissey - "You Know I Couldn't Last"
63. Gwen Stefani - "Serious"
64. Prince - "Dear Mr. Man"
65. Gwen Stefani - "Cool"
66. LCD Soundsystem - "Disco Infiltrator"
67. Interpol - "Slow Hands"
68. !!! - "Shit, Scheise, Merde"
69. Chromeo - "Rage"
70. Björk - "Pleasure Is All Mine"

Last day to vote!

Albums
1 . Arcade Fire - Funeral
2 . Interpol - Antics
3 . And the Lefthanded – In the Kingdom of Shadows
4 . TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
5 . Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
6 . Wojciech – Ystävät, toverit
7 . Joanna Newsom - The Milk Eyed Mender
8 . Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
9 . Cut Copy – Bright Like Neon Love
10 . Uusi Fantasia – Top Ten
11 . Branded Women – Velvet Hours Stolen Moments
12 . Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt
13 . The Beta Band - Heroes to Zeros
14 . Killers - Hot Fuss
15 . The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike
16 . Veils - The Runaway Found
17 . Stina Nordenstam - The World Is Saved
18 . Death from Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
19 . The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends
20 . Blue Nile - High

Songs
1 . Arcade Fire - Wake Up
2 . Animal Collective – Leaf House
3 . Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear
4 . Divine Comedy – Our Mutual Friend
5 . Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
6 . Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
7 . Arcade Fire - In the Backseat
8 . The Veils – Lavinia
9 . Husky Rescue – New Lights of Tomorrow
10 . Gwen Stefani – Cool
11 . Air – Alone in Kyoto
12 . Regina Spektor - Us
13 . Killers – Mr. Brightside
14 . Kanye West - Spaceship (feat. GLC & Consequence)
15 . Uusi Fantasia – Takaisin 2002
16 . Boys of Scandinavia – Worse Than a Girl
17 . Laika and the Cosmonauts – N.Y. '79
18 . Johnny Boy : You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve
19 . Stina Nordenstam – Get on with Your Life
20 . Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights

Songs

1. Vertigo - U2
2. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
3. Heartbeat - Annie
4. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day
5. Galang - M.I.A.
6. Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
7. Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
8. Jesus Walks - Kanye West
9. Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
10. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
11. Float On - Modest Mouse
12. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
13. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
14. Hope There's Someone - Antony & The Johnsons
15. Yeah (Crass Version) - LCD Soundsystem
16. Helicopter - Bloc Party
17. American Idiot - Green Day
18. Dry Your Eyes - The Streets
19. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Arcade Fire
20. The Rat - The Walkmen

Albums
1. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb - U2
2. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
3. Funeral - Arcade Fire
4. American Idiot - Green Day
5. Hot Fuss - The Killers
6. The College Dropout - Kanye West
7. A Grand Don't Come for Free - The Streets
8. A Ghost Is Born - Wilco
9. The Libertines - The Libertines
10. Madvillainy - Madvillain

Albums:

1. Arcade Fire – Funeral
2. Kanye West – The College Dropout
3. Zélia Duncan - Eu me Transformo em Outras
4. Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
6. Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose
7. Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters
8. Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days
9. Brian Wilson – Smile
10. The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free
11. The Killers – Hot Fuss
12. The Go! Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike
13. Elliott Smith – From a Basement on the Hill
14. Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
15. Madvillain – Madvillainy
16. Old Crow Medicine Show – O.C.M.S.
17. Adriana Calcanhotto – Adriana Partimpim
18. Max Richter – The Blue Notebooks
19. Jolie Holland – Escondida
20. Gonzales – Solo Piano
21. Deportivo – Parmi eux
22. TV on the Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
23. Rilo Kiley – More Adventurous
24. Josele Santiago - Las golondrinas etcétera
25. Manu Chao - Sibérie m'était contéee ...à tous les pécheurs du fleuve Amour...
26. Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now
27. The Von Bondies – Pawn Shoppe Heart
28. Tom Waits – Real Gone
29. Björk - Medúlla
30. Modest Mouse – Good News for People Who Love Bad News

Albums:
1 . Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill
2 . The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
3 . Arcade Fire - Funeral
4 . Morrissey - You Are the Quarry
5 . The Walkmen - Bows & Arrows
6 . The Libertines - The Libertines
7 . The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
8 . Ghost - Hypnotic Underworld
9 . Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
10 . Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
11 . Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
12 . Eux Autres - Hell Is Eux Autres
13 . Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
14 . TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
15 . Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt
16 . Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
17 . Danger Mouse - The Grey Album
18 . Kanye West - The College Dropout
19 . Mad Action - …And Begin
20 . Air - Talkie Walkie

Songs:
1 . Elliott Smith - King's Crossing
2 . The Walkmen - Thinking Of A Dream I Had
3 . Mad Action - Wheel
4 . Fiery Furnaces - Chris Michaels
5 . The Walkmen - The Rat
6 . The Go! Team - Huddle Formation
7 . Belle & Sebastian - Jonathan David
8 . Elliott Smith - Coast To Coast
9 . Arcade Fire - Wake Up
10 . The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket
11 . Elliott Smith - Shooting Stars
12 . Eux Autres - The Other Girls
13 . Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
14 . Ghost - Piper
15 . Ghost - Hazy Paradise
16 . Elliott Smith - A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free
17 . Dungen - Det du tänker idag är du i morgon
18 . Danger Mouse - 99 Problems
19 . TV On The Radio - Staring At The Sun
20 . Wilco - At Least That's What You Said

Thanks!

1. N*E*R*D – Fly Or Die
2. Wilco – A Ghost Is Born
3. The Go! Team – Thunder, Lightning Strike
4. Ray LaMontagne – Trouble
5. Delays – Faded Seaside Glamour
6. Secret Machines – Now Here Is Nowhere
7. Arcade Fire – Funeral
8. The Killers – Hot Fuss
9. 22-20s – 22-20s
10. Franz – Ferdinand – s/t
11. TV On The Radio – Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
12. Auf Der Maur – s/t
13. The Libertines – s/t
14. Nick Cave – Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
15. Interpol – Antics
16. The Zutons – Who Killed...
17. Mark Lanegan – Bubblegum
18. Scissor Sisters – s/t
19. Badly Drawn Boy – One Plus One Is One
20. Danger Mouse – The Grey Album
21. Jesse Malin – The Heat
22. Animal Collective – Sung Tongs
23. Califone – Heron King Blues
24. Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose
25. Dungen – Ta Det Lugnt
26. Kasabian – s/t
27. Mos Def – The New Danger
28. Sufjan Stevens – Seven Swans
29. Martha Wainwright – s/t
30. !!! – Louden Up Now
31. Selfish Cunt – No Wicked Heart Shall Prosper
32. Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
33. Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing In The Hands
34. The Dears – No Cities Left
35. Kevin Tihista’s Red Terror – Wake Up Captain
36. Bjork – Medulla
37. Fennesz – Venice
38. Morrissey – You Are The Quarry
39. Annie – Anniemal
40. The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free
41. The Hives – Tyrannosaurus Hives
42. Dios – s/t
43. Laura Veirs – Carbon Glacier
44. Sonic Youth – Sonic Nurse
45. Elliott Smith – From A Basement On The Hill
46. Kings Of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak
47. Engineers – Folly
48. The Von Bondies – Pawn Shoppe Heart
49. Ariel Pink – The Doldrums
50. Phoenix – Alphabetical
51. The Futureheads – s/t
52. Devendra Banhart – Nino Rojo
53. Of Montreal – Satanic Panic In The Attic
54. Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby
55. The Beta Band – Heroes To Zeros
56. Tom Waits – Real Gone
57. Hope Of The States – The Lost Riots
58. The Czars – Goodbye
59. The Radio Dept. – Lesser Matters
60. Colder – Again
61. PJ Harvey – Uh Huh Her
62. Keane – Hopes And Fears
63. Goldie Lookin’ Chain – Greatest Hits
64. Autolux – Future Perfect
65. Blanche – If We Can’t Trust The Doctors
66. Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days
67. Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News
68. Espers – s/t
69. American Music Club – Love Songs For Patriots
70. Jim White – Drill A Hole....
71. The Beastie Boys – To The 5 Boroughs
72. Dizzee Rascal – Showtime
73. Junior Boys – So This Is Goodbye
74. Brian Wilson – Smile
75. The Bees – Free The Bees
76. Ash – Meltdown
77. Paul Westerberg – Folker
78. Green Day – American Idiot
79. Micah P Hinson - &The Gospel Of Progress
80. Amplifier – s/t
81. The Thrills – Let’s Bottle Bohemia
82. The Polyphonic Spree – Together We’re Heavy
83. U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
84. Air – Talkie Walkie
85. Comets On Fire – Blue Cathedral
86. Drive-By Truckers – The Dirty South
87. The Walkmen – Bows + Arrows
88. Rufus Wainwright – Want Two
89. The Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat
90. Dead Meadow – Feathers
91. Ikara Colt – Modern Apprentice
92. Kanye West – The College Graduate
93. Kelis – Tasty
94. Graham Coxon – Happiness In Magazines
95. Madvillain – Madvillainy
96. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Greatest Palace Music
97. Giant Sand – Is All Over The Map
98. Lambchop – Aw C’mon/No You C’mon
99. Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now
100. Mylo – Destroy Rock & Roll

Albums

1 | Arcade Fire | Funeral
2 | TV On the Radio | Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
3 | Elliott Smith | From a Basement on a Hill
4 | Madvillain | Madvillainy
5 | Fiery Furnaces | Blueberry Boat
6 | Bark Psychosis | Codename: Dustsucker
7 | Stereolab | Margerine Eclipse
8 | Air | Talkie Walkie
9 | Devendra Banhart | Rejoicing in the Hands
10 | Reigning Sound | Too Much Guitar
11 | Tom Waits | Real Gone
12 | The Go! Team | Thunder, Lightning, Strike
13 | Magma | K.A.
14 | The Beta Band | Heroes to Zeros
15 | Comets on Fire | Blue Cathedral
16 | Franz Ferdinand | Franz Ferdinand
17 | Annie | Anniemal
18 | Blonde Redhead | Misery is a Butterfly
19 | Liars | They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
20 | Tortoise | It's All Around You


Listening to Funeral definitely isn't the same as it was when I first heard it, but I'd be lying if I said I've listened to and enjoyed any `04 album more.

I actually think this year stacks up pretty well against the first few years of the decade when I compare my lists side-by-side. That Bark Psychosis album is such a gem; I can't say I'm surprised that no one else voted for it but I'm sure nj's a fan. Eleswhere Stereolab, Air, and Tom Waits give underappreciated late-career efforts, and Magma even releases a comeback album!

Wish I could have gotten around to Joanna Newsom, Fennesz, and Max Richter. Biggest disappointments were Wilco and Walkmen, though both will be appearing on my songs list.

Songs

1 | Elliott Smith | King's Crossing
2 | Arcade Fire | Wake Up
3 | Madvillain | ALL CAPS
4 | Walkmen | The Rat
5 | Franz Ferdinand | Take Me Out
6 | Annie | Heartbeat
7 | Fiery Furnaces | Blueberry Boat
8 | Arcade Fire | Rebellion (Lies)
9 | The Beta Band | Assessment
10 | Bark Psychosis | The Black Meat
11 | Animal Collective | Leaf House
12 | Madvillain | Strange Ways
13 | Air | Surfing on a Rocket
14 | Nick Cave | There She Goes, My Beautiful World
15 | Modest Mouse | Float On
16 | Blonde Redhead | Elephant Woman
17 | Arcade Fire | Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
18 | TV On the Radio | Dreams
19 | The Beta Band | Easy
20 | Fiery Furnaces | Quay Cur
21 | Tom Waits | Sins of My Father
22 | Comets on Fire | The Bee and the Cracking Egg
23 | Stars | Your Ex-Lover is Dead
24 | TV On the Radio | The Wrong Way
25 | Death From Above 1979 | Romantic Rights
26 | Tortoise | It's All Around You
27 | Stereolab | Vonal Declosion
28 | Killers | Mr. Brightside
29 | Wilco | Spiders (Kidsmoke)
30 | Elliott Smith | A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity To Be Free

Albums:

1. Arcade Fire - Funeral
2. Kanye West - The College Dropout
3. Danger Mouse - The Grey Album
4. Elliot Smith - From a Basement on a Hill
5. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
6. The Bad Plus - Give
7. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
8. Bjork - Medulla
9. The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy
10. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
11. Cee-Lo Green - Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine
12. The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike
13. Cake - Pressure Chief
14. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
15. PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
16. Green Day - American Idiot
17. The Black Keys - Rubber Factory
18. Norah Jones - Feels Like Home
19. The Beta Band - Heroes to Zeros
20. Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch


Songs

1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
2. Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
3. The Killers - Mr. Brightside
4. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
5. Elliot Smith - A Fond Farewell
6. The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
7. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
8. Kanye West - All Falls Down
9. The Bad Plus - Velouria
10. Elliot Smith - Don't Go Down
11. Franz Ferdinand - The Dark of the Matinee
12. Danger Mouse - What More Can I Say
13. Representative Ball - She's a Pony
14. The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12 (Hold Me Now)
15. Bjork - Triumph of a Heart
16. Norah Jones - Sunrise
17. Beck - Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime
18. Kanye West - Family Business
19. The Walkmen - The Rat
20. The Go! Team - The Power Is On
21. The Streets - Blinded by the Lights
22. Sonic Youth - Unmade Bed
23. Green Day - Holiday
24. Loretta Lynn - Mrs. Leroy Brown
25. Cake - End of the Movie
26. Kanye West - End of the Movie

Voting is closed. I'll send the results as soon as possible (within a minutes).

On the last day Elliott Smith came almost from nowhere and took the sixth place. I thought Anniemal was for sure in finals but then something happened. It got only 18 points from the last 20 voters (and from those antonius gave 14 points). I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't put TV on the Radio to my #2. In 2004 Antics and In the Kingdom of Shadows were for sure better albums to me but I have listened both of them only few times after that year.

Albums
Rank . Artist – Album - Score - Voters - Average/voter
1 . Arcade Fire - Funeral - 1353 - 33 - 41
2 . Kanye West - The College Dropout - 669 - 25 - 26,76
3 . Franz Ferdinand - 594 - 27 - 22
4 . Brian Wilson - Smile - 500 - 17 - 29,41
5 . Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus - 363 - 17 - 21,35
6 . Elliott Smith - From a Basement on the Hill - 320 - 13 - 24,62
7 . The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike - 316 - 15 - 21,07
8 . The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free - 295 - 13 - 22,69
9 . Wilco - A Ghost Is Born - 273 - 13 - 21
10 . Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News - 265 - 12 - 22,08

11 . TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes - 257 - 16 - 16,06
12 . Morrissey - You Are the Quarry - 249 - 13 - 19,15
13 . Madvillain - Madvillainy - 242 - 14 - 17,29
14 . Killers - Hot Fuss - 240 - 11 - 21,82
15 . Annie - Anniemal - 230 - 12 - 19,17
16 . Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose - 221 - 11 - 20,09
17 . Interpol - Antics - 190 - 12 - 15,83
18 . Joanna Newsom - The Milk Eyed Mender - 183 - 9 - 20,33
19 . The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat - 160 - 5 - 32
20 . Green Day - American Idiot - 138 - 7 - 19,71
21 . Black Keys - Rubber Factory - 129 - 5 - 25,8
22 . Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans - 115 - 7 - 16,43
23 . Animal Collective - Sung Tongs - 104 - 7 - 14,86
24 . Libertines - 95 - 9 - 10,56
25 . Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South - 89 - 4 - 22,25
25 . Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt - 89 - 5 - 17,8


Kings Crossing got two #1 votes from last three voters. Close but no cigar.
Three Arcade Fire songs in top 4 is quite a achievement.

Songs

Rank . Artist – Song - Score (Voters, Average/voter)
1 . Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out - 561 ( 21 , 26,71 )
2 . Arcade Fire - Wake Up - 506 ( 15 , 33,73 )
3 . Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) - 501 ( 21 , 23,86 )
4 . Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - 419 ( 20 , 20,95 )
5 . Annie - Heartbeat - 327 ( 12 , 27,25 )
6 . Kanye West - Jesus Walks - 302 ( 13 , 23,23 )
7 . Modest Mouse - Float On - 219 ( 13 , 16,85 )
8 . Morrissey- First of the Gang to Die - 209 ( 10 , 20,9 )
9 . Bloc Party - Banquet - 205 ( 9 , 22,78 )
10 . The Walkmen - The Rat - 191 ( 10 , 19,1 )

11 . Elliott Smith - King's Crossing - 170 ( 4 , 42,5 )
12 . Killers - Mr. Brightside - 148 ( 7 , 21,14 )
13 . Kelly Clarkson Since U Been Gone - 135 ( 5 , 27 )
14 . The Streets- Dry Your Eyes - 129 ( 7 , 18,43 )
15 . M.I.A.- Galang - 125 ( 7 , 17,86 )
16 . Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #2 (Laika) - 123 ( 5 , 24,6 )
17 . Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - There She Goes, My Beautiful World - 119 ( 6 , 19,83 )
18 . Kanye West - Spaceship (feat. GLC & Consequence) - 104 ( 5 , 20,8 )
19 . Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - 100 ( 6 , 16,67 )
20 . U2 - Vertigo - 96 ( 6 , 16 )
21 . Interpol - Evil - 92 ( 6 , 15,33 )
22 . Loretta Lynn and Jack White, Portland, Oregon - 91 ( 3 , 30,33 )
23 . Sia - Breathe Me - 89 ( 3 , 29,67 )
24 . Animal Collective - Leaf house - 88 ( 4 , 22 )
25 . Elliott Smith - Twilight - 76 ( 3 , 25,33 )

Another disappointment for me is the Tom Waits. I never could really appreciate this record. Just because Ribot is back doesn't mean he's got the right to fuck up the recording.
No, I couldn't find any good song in this album, except maybe "Make It Rain". Add to this an experimental-too dirty sound, a charicature of what he did in the past. The thing worked perfectly on "Bone Machine" because the songs were there.

2004 is not a great year, but 2005 will be for me. Antony, Sufjan, Bright Eyes, Toumani & Ali, Sharon Jones, Katerine, etc... : avalanche of great albums to come

Gah! The Streets, a highly uneven Wilco album, and bleepin' Modest Mouse keep out TVOTR, Madvillain, and Annie. Why why why???

I agree with you except of course for the Streets. To me this guy is a great songwriter. I love albums that tell stories (A day in the life of a geezer), and I like his brand of electro-garage-rap.

I can't believe Loretta Lynn and TVOTR didn't make it.

Is Smile really a 2004 album? *shrug*

I'd like, in principle, to be able to do a huge amount of listening to these polls, but I'm already doing a huge amount of 2011 listening, not to mention listening and film watching for other games, so I'm not going to make extra effort for this game to hear albums that have no chance of qualifying anyway.

Now, if we did a followup poll that excluded albums that qualified for the finals in this one, that'd be a different story.

I've found that in most cases, if I don't really enjoy something critically acclaimed, I can at least see where the critic is coming from and respect the work.

The most notable exception to this is "Since U Been Gone", which is quite possibly one of the worst songs I have ever heard. Poorly done commercial pop rock at its worst.

well I was part of the reason for that and proud of it putting Modest Mouse as my #1 and the deservingly outranking TVOTR who I still think is ranked far too high.

I have no right to complain because I, uh, forgot to vote, but that mediocre Wilco album and that awful Modest Mouse album over Madvillainy is pretty lame. I thought Madvillainy was self-evidently great. it may take a few listens for one to realize just how freaking brilliant it is, but it's there. I guess it isn't.

Good thing Morrissey made it! Just kidding. Indie vagina domination will make a very boringg final poll.