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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "David Bash" <bashpop@earthlink.net> |
| Subject | My Favorite Albums Of 2004 (Long) |
| Date | Mon, 17 Jan 2005 08:57:09 -0800 |
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Hi Everyone,
Here are my lists of favorite albums of 2004. As is my usual custom, I’ve
broken this down into several categories, as I’m just not comfortable
ranking unlike entities on one list…
Contemporary Categories
I. Top 125 Albums: I could extend this list at least by another 75 and still
say that I thought every album on the list was a good one, but it had gotten
to the point where I had a difficult time distinguishing between 126-200,
let alone between 126-127...
With all the albums I did rate, God knows I’ve probably still missed a few
from my collection that should be here. Oh well, without further ado…
1. The Grip Weeds-Giant On The Beach (Rainbow Quartz)
2. The Embrooks-Yellow Glass Perspections (Munster) Gracies, Francesc!
3. Brian Wilson-Smile (Nonesuch) Had Brian circa '66 been singing, Smile
would have easily finished #1
4. Bronco Bullfrog-Oak Apple Day (Rock Indiana)
5. Raquel’s Boys-Music For The Girl You Love (Jam)
6. Magic Christian-Magic Christian (Repeat)
7. Lolas-Something You Oughta Know (Jam)
8. The Gurus-The Gurus (Rainbow Quartz)
9. The Bees-Free The Bees (Virgin)
10. Edward Rogers-Sunday Fables (Not Lame)
11. Tripsitter-California Son (Self-Released)
12. Silver Sunshine-Silver Sunshine (Empyrean)
13. The Uncle Devil Show-A Terrible Beauty (Compass)
14. Green Day-American Idiot (Reprise)
15. The American Professionals-Fakin’ It (Ethic)
16. Eugene Edwards-My Favorite Revolution (Tallboy)
17. Honeydogs-10,000 Years (United Musicians)
18. The Montgomerys-Unnatural Selection (Self-Released)
19. Jamie Hoover & Bill Lloyd-Paparazzi (Paisley Pop)
20. The Well Wishers-Twenty Four Seven (Not Lame)
21. Kevin Tihista’s Red Terror-Wake Up Captain (Parasol)
22. Saucy Monky-Turbulence (OliveoiL)
23. Jackdaw4-Gramophone Logic (369 Music)
24. Rob Smith-Better World Tomorrow (Wizzard In Vinyl)
25. Tim Reid-Any Given Day (Popboomerang/Jam)
26. Tegan And Sara-So Jealous (Vapor)
27. Hindu Rodeo-Nalladaloobr (Saylesound)
28. Dogs Die In Hot Cars-Please Describe Yourself (V2)
29. Tears For Fears-Everybody Loves A Happy Ending (NewDoor)
30. The Vestals-The Vestals (Warming House)
31. Fluid Ounces-The Whole Shebang (Vacant Cage)
32. Lisa Mychols-Sweet Sinsations (Rev-ola)
33. Ed James-Big Time (Jealousy/Jam)
34. The Lackloves-The Beat And The Time (Rainbow Quartz)
35. Cliff Hillis-Better Living Through Compression (Tallboy)
36. Bowling For Soup-A Hangover You Don’t Deserve (Zomba)
37. The Davenports-Hi Tech Lowlife (Mother West)
38. Marc Danzeisen-Absorbent (Self-Released)
39. Static Halo-Save It For The Ages (Earthling)
40. The Beatcombers-Jolly What!? (Value Tone)
41. Earlimart-Treble & Tremble (Palm)
42. Paste-Sequel (Dead Frog)
43. Digby-Falling Up (Label X)
44. Arthur Yoria-I’ll Be Here Awake (Self-Released)
45. David Grahame-Eric (Dog Turner)
46. The Bobbleheads-Automatic Fun (PopPop)
47. Michael Carpenter-Rolling Ball (Not Lame)
48. Sweet Apple Pie-Between The Lines (Not Lame)
49. Blankety Blank-Is This Your Pill? (Something To Snack On)
50. The Pillbugs-Happy Birthday (Proverus)
51. Daniel Saturn-Still That Same Refrain (Vladivostock)
52. Doug Powell-Day For Night (Parasol)
53. A.C. Newman-The Slow Wonder (Matador)
54. The Maharajas-Unrelated Statements (Self-Released)
55. The Ringles-Take A Ride (Jam)
56. Epic-Sunshine State (Revolver)
57. Lazy Susan-Never Better (Self-Released)
58. Fooling April-Every Good Boy Does Fine (Kool Kat)
59. Red Planet-We Know How It Goes (Gearhead)
60. Bowman-Living To Breathe (Self-Released)
61. Junebug-Second (Planet 8)
62. Bill Lloyd-Back To Even (New Boss Sounds)
63. The Breetles-Don’t Smile (Shuss/No Fault)
64. Sensory Lullaby-A Legend In Our Spare Time (Self-Released)
65. The Swift-Today (Flicker)
66. The Zinedines-Take Me Take Me (Rainbow Quartz)
67. Bang Sugar Bang-Thwak Thwak Go Crazy!! (War Room)
68. Stratocruiser-Suburban Contemporary (Zip)
69. Barry Holdship-Ruff Trax (Bad Axe)
70. Junebug-First (Planet 8)
71. The Breakup Society-James At 35 (Get Hip)
72. Rusty Anderson-Undressing Underwater (Oxide)
73. John Hoskinson-Miscellaneous Heathen (Kaopeoths)
74. Stephen Lawrenson-Every Summer (Paisley Pop)
75. Missile-Welcome To The End Of My Rope (Pop-e)
76. Chagall-SoundLight (Seven Thunders Music)
77. Stimulator-Stimulator (Stimulator)
78. Seth Swirsky-Instant Pleasure (Julian’s Dad/EMI)
79. The Telepathic Butterflies-Songs From A Second Wave (Rainbow Quartz)
80. Adam Marsland-You Don’t Know Me (Karma Frog)
81. The Shadow Kabinet-Hark! (Self-Released)
82. The Argument-Recess Serenade (Self-Released)
83. The Shimshaws-Subcutaneous (Suspect Pigeon)
84. Imaginary Bill-Breaking The Ground Loop (Sportin’)
85. The Superficials-Everybody’s Girl (Daylight Basement)
86. RockFour-Nationwide (Rainbow Quartz)
87. The Melismatics-New Infection (Susstones)
88. Brian Wilson-Gettin’ In Over My Head (Brimel/Rhino)
89. Mello Cads-Gentle Explosion (Manzoku Music)
90. The Contrast-Fade Back In (Rainbow Quartz)
91. The Shamus Twins-The Shamus Twins (Shamusongs)
92. Andrew -What’s It All About? (Avebury)
93. Steve Barton-Charm Offensive (Self-Released)
94. Suzy & Los Quattro- Suzy & Los Quattro (Wizzard In Vinyl)
95. The Monolith-Here Comes The Monolith (Fortune)
96. The Dollyrots-Eat My Heart Out (Panic Button)
97. The Queue-Fall Out (Self-Released)
98. Lund Bros.-Tangents (Self-Released)
99. Kenny Howes-Lady Friend (YEAH!)
100. Dolour-New Old Friends (Made In Mexico)
101. Dada-How To Be Found (Blue Cave)
102. The Channel-The Channel (C-Side)
103. The RBIs-The RBIs (Crazy Creek)
104. Carrots-…All It Takes Is A Little Confidence! (Grabaciones En El Mar)
105. Gingersol-Eastern (Idea Prone)
106. Brainpool-Junk: A Rock Opera (Junk Musik)
107. The Shivers-Move All You Wanna (Self-Released)
108. Rock E. Rollins-The Post Modern Adventures Of 21st Century Rock N Roll
Boy (Self-Released)
109. Keane-Hopes And Fears (Interscope)
110. Crazy Moon Plan-Crazy Moon Plan (Self-Released)
111. Elliott Smith-From A Basement On The Hill (Anti)
112. Mark Lane-Golden State Of Mind (Orange Deuce)
113. The Jellybricks-Power This (Kool Kat)
114. The Owsley Sunshine-Another Kind Of Summer (Start A Riot)
115. The Daytraders-The Daytraders (20/20)
116. The Sight Seers-Now We’re In The Sun (Pear Innel/Morphius)
117. The Mumbles-Huh?! (Colorado Music)
118. Tan Sleeve-Bad From Both Sides (Bus Stop)
119. Guided By Voices-Half Smiles Of The Decomposed (Matador)
120. The Loves-Love (The Track & Field Organisation)
121. Farrah-Me Too (Rock Indiana)
122. Gingersol-Eastern (Idea Prone)
123. Velvet Crush-Stereo Blues (Action Musik)
124. Deluxe Leisure King-15 Minutes Of Shame (Self-Released)
125. The Porcupines-Eeenie Meenie Meinee Mojo! (Maize)
II. Top 10 EPs (I’m sure I missed some here; EPs are really difficult for me
to keep track of…)
1. BC Camplight-EP (Self-Released)
2. Barry O’Brien-Spark (Self-Released)
3. Jason Falkner-Bliss Descending (Wreckchord)
4. Gail George-Follow Your Bliss (Better Late Than Never)
5. Butch Berry Band-Ex Girlfriend (Self-Released)
6. The Fictions-Le Traitor (Autumn Rocket)
7. Lisa Mychols-In This City (Wizzard In Vinyl)
8. J.R. And The Randogs-All The Danger (Bink!)
9. The Dollyrots-The Dollyrots (Self-Released)
10. Spiraling-Challenging Stage (Briz Musik)
III. Top 5 Compilations-Single Artist
1. Cloud Eleven-Terrestrial Ballet (Jam)
2. Jeffrey Foskett-Stars In The Sand (The Pop Collective)
3. Alan Boyd-Channel Surfing (Boyd Productions)
4. Jeremy-Lost & Found (Jam)
5. Jamie Hoover-Jamie Hooever (Loaded Goat)
IV. Top 7 Compilations-Various Artists
1. International Pop Overthrow Volume 7 (Not Lame)
2. West Of Eden: A California Collection (Zip)
3. Shake Yer Popboomerang 2 (Pop Boomerang)
4. Pop Scene From Perth, Western Australia (Zip)
5. Hey! It’s A Teenacide Pajama Party! (Teenacide)
6. The Sensitive Guy’s Guide To Groovy Music (Paisley Pop)
7. A Bucketfull Of Possibilities (Bucketfull Of Brains)
V. Top 4 Tribute Discs
1. What A Concept!: A Salute To Teenage Fanclub (Not Lame)
2. It Was 40 Years Ago Today: A Tribute To The Beatles (Bullseye)
3. Forty One Sixty: The Songs Of The Shambles (USA/Earthling-Blindspot)
4. Who’s Not Forgotten: FDR’s Tribute To The Who (Face Down)
VI. Top Soundtrack
Mayor Of The Sunset Strip (Shout Factory)
VII. Top 4 Recent Discoveries, Not From 2004
1. Edmund’s Crown-Collected (Self-Released, 2002)
2. The Sexies-Smiling Politely (Sexysongs, 2002)
3. David Brookings-The End Of An Error (Self-Released, 2003)
4. Zach Ziskin-Real As The Memory (Z Boy, 2002)
VIII. 2005 Releases I’ve Heard and Like A Lot (In Alphabetical Order)
The Anderson Council-The Fall Parade
Brendan Benson-The Alternative To Love
Champagne-Ready, Steady, Go!
Cheese-Enlarge Your Johnson
Feebacks-My Own Revolution
The General Store-Mountain Rescue
Peter Lacey-Songs From A Loft
The Now People-The Last Great 20th Century Love Affair
The Mockers-The Lonesome Death Of Electric Campfire
Montana-Starsign: Tarantula
The Orchid Highway-(No Title Yet)
Rick Royale & The Collection-At The End Of Sunset
Silver Sun-Disappear Here
Spill-Breakup Songs For Beginners
Kyle Vincent-Don’t You Know
Tribute Disc:
The Cars-Substitution Mass Confusion
Reissue Categories
There are still some reissues I haven’t heard which would probably rank, but
there’s only so much time and $$…ok, mainly $$; I’ll always somehow find the
time. :-)
I. Top 50 Proper Albums
For this category, only the following albums qualify:
a. those that are on CD for the first time
b. those that had been previously issued, but are now out of print or
difficult to find
c. those in whose current issue have lots of bonus tracks, or some other
unique feature
With the above in mind, while quality is the major factor in determining the
rankings, other factors such as number and type of bonus tracks, as well as
liner notes, etc…do come into play.
1. The Kinks-Are The Village Green Preservation Society: Deluxe Edition
(Sanctuary)
2. Bergen White-For Women Only (Rev-ola)
3. The Troggs-Cellophane (Repertoire)
4. The Carnival-The Carnival (Rev-ola)
5. The Posies-15th Anniversary Failure (Houston Party)
6. Fleetwood Mac-Rumours (Warner Brothers)
7. Fleetwood Mac-Fleetwood Mac (Reprise)
8. The Robbs-The Robbs (Collector’s Choice)
9. Cream-Disreali Gears: Deluxe Edition (Polydor)
10. Stealers Wheel-Ferguslie Park (Lemon)
11. The Troggs-Hip Hip Hooray (Repertoire)
12. Fleetwood Mac-Tusk (Warner Brothers)
13. Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart-I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite! (Hip-O
Select)
14. The Collectors-Grass And Wild Strawberries (Collector’s Choice)
15. Elton John-Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
16. The Records-Crashes (On The Beach)
17. Direct Hits-The House Of Secrets (Blaamm!)
18. The Grass Roots-Leaving It All Behind (Hip-O Select)
19. Kara’s Flowers-The Fourth World (Rhino)
20. The Pandoras-Stop Pretending (Rhino Handmade)
21. Neil Innes & The World-Lucky Planet (Acadia)
22. Joe & Bing-Daybreak (Rev-ola)
23. The Free Design-You Could Be Born Again (Light In The Attic)
24. Tranquility-Tranquility (Rock & Groove/Sony)
25. Rockpile-Seconds Of Pleasure (Legacy)
26. Bay City Rollers-Rollin’ (BMG)
27. John Howard-Technicolour Biography (RPM)
28. David Ruffin-David (Hip-O Select)
29. Sparkle*jets UK-In, Through, and Beyond: Special Expanded Edition (Crab
Apple)
30. Rick Springfield-Mission Magic! (Master Classics)
31. The Pandamonium-The Unreleased Album (Radioactive)
32. Wayne Fontana-Wayne One (BGO)
33. Rockin’ Horse-Yes It Is (Rev-ola)
34. The Checkmates LTD-Love Is All We Have To Give (Hip-O Select)
35. Dada-Puzzle (EMI)
36. Steam-Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (Repertoire)
37. Sandie Shaw-Reviewing The Situation (EMI)
38. The Cheepskates-Remember (Music Maniac)
39. Lindisfarne-Fog On The Tyne (EMI)
40. The Troggs-Trogglodynamite (Repertoire)
41. Dada-El Subliminoso (EMI)
42. Blues Magoos-Electric Comic Book (Repertoire)
43. The Free Design-Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love (Light In The Attic)
44. Jake Holmes-The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes (Radioactive)
45. The Feminine Complex-Livin’ Love (Rev-ola)
46. Fotheringay-Fotheringay (Fledgling)
47. Bay City Rollers-Wouldn’t You Like It? (BMG)
48. Twin Engine-Twin Engine (Rev-ola)
49. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich-If No One Sang (Repertoire)
50. Dada-American Highway Flower (EMI)
II. Top 5 Two-Fers: Proper Albums
1. Tir Na Nog-A Tear And A Smile/Strong In The Sun (BGO)
2. Earth Opera-Earth Opera/The Great American Eagle Tragedy (Elektra)
3. Brinsley Schwarz-Silver Pistol/Please Don’t Ever Change (BGO)
4. David Essex-David Essex/Out On The Street (Edsel)
5. Jim & Jean-Changes/People World (Collector’s Choice)
III. Top 40 Compilations, Single Artist
1. The Maisonettes-Heartache Avenue (Cherry Red)
2. 10CC-The Complete UK Recordings (Varese Sarabande)
3. Duncan Browne-Journey: The Anthology 1967-1993 (Sanctuary)
4. From Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours To The Flying Machine: Flight Recorder
(Sanctuary)
5. The Kitchen Cinq-The Kitchen Cinq (Northshore Soundworks)
6. Starry Eyed & Laughing-That Was Now And This Is Then (Aurora)
7. The Chi Lites-The Complete Chi Lites On Brunswick Records, Volume 1
(Edsel)
8. The Marmalade-BBC Sessions (Sanctuary)
9. The Action-Uptight And Outasight (Circle)
10. Chris von Sneidern-Headful Of Words: The Best Of CVS, Volume 1
(Innerstate)
11. The Symbols-The Best Part Of The Symbols: The President Recordings
1966-1968 (President)
12. Blue Ash-Around Again: A Collection Of Rarities From The Vault 1972-’79
(Not Lame)
13. John Carter-Studio Projects 1969-82 (Rev-ola)
14. The Birdwatchers-The Birdwatchers (Northshore Soundworks)
15. The Smithereens-From Jersey It Came!: The Smithereens Anthology
(Capitol)
16. Pilot-A’s, B’s & Rarities (EMI)
17. Rick Price & Mike Sheridan-This To Clarify: The Gemini Anthology
(President)
18. The Gremlins-The Coming Generation: The Complete Recordings 1965-68
(Rev-ola)
19. Keith-Ain’t Gonna Lie (RPM)
20. Penny Arkade-Not In The Freeze (Sundazed)
21. The Mice-For Almost Ever Scooter (Scat)
22. Barry Blue-Dancin’ (On A Saturday Night)…Best Of (Sanctuary)
23. The Everpresent Fullness-Fine And Dandy: The Complete Recordings
(Rev-ola)
24. Simon Dupree And The Big Sound-Part Of My Past: The Anthology (EMI)
25. Yes-The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection (Rhino)
26. The Ugly’s –The Complete Ugly’s: The Quiet Explosion (Sanctuary)
27. Cleaners From Venus-Living With Victoria Gray: The Very Best Of (Cherry
Red)
28. The Thanes-Evolver (Rev-ola)
29. Buzzcocks-The Complete Singles Anthology (EMI)
30. The Searchers-BBC Sessions (Sanctuary)
31. The 23rd Turnoff-The Dream Of Michelangelo: The Legendary ‘66/’67
Recordings (RPM)
32. The Donkeys-Television Anarchy (Detour)
33. Evie Sands-Northern Soul: The Early Years…And More (Self-Released)
34. Sandy Salisbury-Everything For You: Vol. 1 (Sound City)
35. X-The Best Make The Music Go Bang! (Rhino/Elektra)
36. Kelly’s Heels-Dig In! (Popboomerang)
37. Barbara Ruskin-A Little Of This: The Barbara Ruskin Songbook (President)
38. The Mojo Men-There Goes My Mind (Sundazed)
39. The Fifth Order-Bonfire!: The Return Of The Fifth Order (Break-A-Way)
40. The Loot-Singles A’s And B’s (Radioactive)
IV. Top 25 Compilations, Various Artists
1. Come To The Sunshine: Soft Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults (Rhino
Handmade)
2. Sometimes I Wonder: The Psychedelic Pop Sound Of President (President)
3. Out Of Nowhere: The White Whale Story 2 (Rev-ola)
4. Hallucinations: Psychedelic Nuggets From The WEA Vaults (Rhino Handmade)
5. Nederbeat: Best Album Tracks 1 (Hunter Music/Universal)
6. Nederbeat: Best Album Tracks 2 (Hunter Music/Universal)
7. Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk ‘N’ Glam Terrace Stompers (RPM)
8. The British Invasion: 1963-1967 (Hip-O)
9. Music From And Inspired By Easy Rider: Deluxe Edition (Hip-O)
10. Under The Silent Tree: Psychedelic Pstones IV (Sanctuary)
11. Round The Gum Tree: The British Bubblegum Explosion! (Sanctuary)
12. The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Clothes On!: The Beserkley Story
(Sanctuary)
13. We Love The Pirates: Charting The Big ‘L’ Fab 40 (Sanctuary)
14. Once Upon A Time In Wigan: 24 Classic Soul Hits (Kent)
15. Pychedelic States: Illinois In The 60s Vol. 1 (Gear Fab)
16. Gather In The Mushrooms: The British Acid Folk Underground 1968-1974
(Sanctuary)
17. Boy Trouble: Garpax Girls (Ace)
18. Garage Beat ’66: Like What, Me Worry?! (Sundazed)
19. Garage Beat ’66: Chicks Are For Kids! (Sundazed)
20. Footprints In The Snow: An Anthology Of The British Singer Songwriter
Genre 1965-1974 (Sanctuary)
21. What Does A Girl Do?: Femme Pop From The President Vaults (President)
22. Psychedelic States: Texas In The 60s Vol. 1 (Gear Fab)
23. Garage Beat ’66: Feeling Zero… (Sundazed)
24. Girls Go Zonk!! (RPM)
25. Le Beat Bespoke: 25 Tailor Made Cuts (Sanctuary)
V. Top Soundtrack
The Direct Hits-Blow Up (Blaamm!)
VI. Top 3 Demo Discs
1. Fuzzy Warbles Volume 5 (Ape)
2. Fuzzy Warbles Volume 6 (Ape)
3. Bill Fay-From The Bottom Of An Old Grandfather Clock (Wooden Hill)
VII: Top Compilation Series
1. Piccadilly Sunshine: UK Pop-Sike & Other Flavours Vol. 1-5
VIII: Top 2 Bootleg Comps
1. Curt Boettcher-The Complete Singles Collection (Salamander Music)
2. Clap Your Hands Stamp Your Feet!: More Junk Shop Glam! (No Label)
IX: Top 10 Box Sets: Single Artist
1. Del Shannon-Home And Away: The Complete Recordings 1960-1970 (Bear
Family)
2. The Mamas & The Papas-Complete Anthology (Universal Music)
3. The Beatles-The Capitol Albums Volume 1 (Capitol)
4. Al Green-The Immortal Soul Of Al Green (The Right Stuff)
5. Sandy Denny-A Boxful Of Treasures (Fledg’ling Nest)
6. George Harrison-The Dark Horse Years: 1976-1992 (Capitol/Dark Horse)
7. Gilbert O’Sullivan-Caricature: The Box (Rhino Handmade)
8. The Shadows-Capitol Singles As and Bs: 1959-1980 (EMI)
9. Sandie Shaw-Nothing Comes Easy (EMI)
10. Faces-Five Guys Walk Into A Bar… (Rhino)
X: Top Box Set: Various Artists
Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The ‘80s Underground (Rhino)
XI. Best “LP Only” Releases
1. Los Shakers-Rompan Todo!!! (Electro Harmonix)
2. Guided By Voices-Bee Thousand: The Director’s Cut (Scat)
XII: Reissues From 2005 I’ve Heard And Like A Lot
Fotomaker-Fotomaker
Fotomaker-Vis A Vis
Raspberries-Raspberries
Raspberries-Fresh
Wanderlust-Lust And Found
If loving this many albums is wrong, I don’t want to be right!
--
Pop Ruled In 2004!!!!!
Take Care,
David
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