Here is your guitar guide's entirely subjective alphabetical list of the greatest CDs made in 2004. Honourable mentions go to Brian Wilson's Smile, Green Day's American Idiot, William Shatner/Ben Folds' Has Been, Evis Costello's Delivery Man, Elliot Smith's From a House on a Hill.
1. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
The September 2004 release of Funeral, by this Montreal-based band, was met with overwhelming praise from indie-music lovers (and indie-music bloggers) worldwide. Funeral hasn't left my CD player for a month.
2. Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama - There Will Be a Light
Although I find much of Ben Harper's work to be overly self-indulgent, There Will Be a Light is noticably leaner. It's a wonder how The Blind Boys of Alabama, after almost 70 years, still sound great in a "modern" musical setting. Very funky throughout.
3. Citizen Cope - Clarence Greenwood Recordings
You may recognize Citzen Cope as the artist who recorded "Sideways" - the only listenable track on Santana's Shaman (although the song was nearly ruined by Santana's excessive guitar work). "Sideways" also appears on this album, with much more muted Santana noodling. This is a terrific record, encompassing many different sounds and styles.4. Mark Knopfler - Shangri La
This is Knopfler's most focused effort in a number of years. Although the guitarist is as mellow as ever here, there are some fiery moments, and the songwriting is strong throughout. Fans of Dire Straits who mourn the demise of the band may be pleasantly surprised. And, of course, the recording is filled with Knopfler's trademark restrained, tasty guitar work.5. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Like Bad News
It's not my favourite Modest Mouse record (some of the "tribute" tracks to The Talking Heads, etc., come dangerously close to sounding like stylistic rip-offs), but it's worth talking about if only because it brought the band from a decade of obscurity to the world of MTV and FM radio. I wonder if they've started wishing for another decade of obscurity.6. Old 97's - Drag it Up
An amazing record from a band I discovered in 2004! Not sure why The Old 97's don't get more airplay or media attention - the band rocks hard, organically integrating elements of country music (not in some contrived hipster alt-country way). Drag it Up is required listening.7. Josh Rouse - Smooth Sounds of...
i would liked to have voted for 1972, because i didn't hear it until this year, but it's a 2003 recording, so this still great live recording gets my vote. Rouse consistently writes blue-eyed soul songs with great hooks.8. The Thrills - Let's Bottle Bohemia
I don't think Let's Bottle Bohemia stands up favorably to their debut release So Much For the City but it's still an enjoyable listen. Although the band hails from Ireland, their sound recalls vintage Beach Boys - filled with catchy hooks, and thick harmonies. A great summer record.9. Tom Waits - Real Gone
Getting close to 60 years of age, Tom Waits is still experimenting with new sounds. There are a few mis-steps on Real Gone, but even when he fails, it's a fascinating listen (and points for pushing the envelope, right?) "How's It Going to End?" is one of my favorite tracks of the year.10. Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Trying to create a follow-up to one of the most talked about recordings of the last decade (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) must have proved a daunting task for Jeff Tweedy and his crew. While some have whined that A Ghost is Born is "no Foxtrot", it's a great album in it's own right.YOUR favourite albums of 2004?
Think these choices are crazy? Tell the world what your favourite CDs of 2004 were, on the Guitar Forum.
