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| From | Randall J Paske <rpaske@kc.rr.com> |
| Subject | Top 20 for 2004 |
| Date | Sat, 15 Jan 2005 23:58:03 -0600 |
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I got my list together. It follows.
Randy
--
My Top 20 Albums of 2004
1. The Spazzys - Aloha! Go Bananas
I didn't have this as my number 1 at first, but as I reviewed my top few
albums, I realized that this is it. This album makes me happy like nothing
else I heard this year. The Spazzys are an Australian female punk-pop trio
who blend the Ramones with '60s girl-group pop for a brilliantly infectious
debut album. The Ramones influence is all over this: they appropriate lines
like "gabba gabba hey," pay homage to "Blitzkrieg Bop" on "Paco Doesn't
Love Me," and even have a song called "I Wanna Cut My Hair Like Marky
Ramone." Their guitar sound is total Ramones; so are their smart/stupid
lyrics and sense of humor. But they're so great at it that the album is
better than all but the classic early Ramones albums. From the girl-group
side of things, we get shamelessly catchy song structures, abundant harmony
vocals, handclaps, and a fucking awesome cover of "My Boyfriend's Back."
This album won't win points for originality, but it doesn't need to. It's
overflowing with charm. The only other Ramones-inspired band I've heard
that I've loved nearly this much is Sweet Baby, and the Spazzys are far
more consistent. Records are hardly ever this much fun from beginning to end.
2. Mission of Burma - OnOffOn
Rare is the band that comes back after over 20 years apart without
embarrassment. For a band to come back with an album this vital is almost
unheard of. Simply astonishing.
3. Sam Phillips - A Boot and a Shoe
To my ears, this is her best work since 1994's "Martinis and Bikinis."
Though far more spare than that Beatlesque classic, its intimacy hits the
spot emotionally and has a handful of brilliant tunes.
4. The Futureheads - The Futureheads
Not only do they take after XTC, they take after my favorite era of XTC:
circa "Black Sea." They also have an unbelievable flair for vocal hooks.
Great debut.
5. The Sound - The BBC Recordings
Yes, none of this was recorded more recently than 1985, but none of it was
ever released until this year. You can't reissue something if it's never
been issued. After years of reading about this band in "The Big Takeover,"
I decided to buy this new release and was knocked flat. The earlier
recordings on this collection are the most vital, but it's all great,
beating bands like Joy Division and the Chameleons at their own game (and
stomping all over contemporary followers like Interpol). I can't believe it
took me this long to hear them.
6. Laurie & John - Arabella
Laurie & John are the Stirratt twins, he of Wilco and the Autumn Defense,
and she formerly of Blue Mountain. This album blends the classic gentle pop
of the Autumn Defense with a bit of the rural sound of Blue Mountain.
Between this and the two Autumn Defense records, my estimation of John
Stirratt has climbed to great heights. (Not to neglect Laurie, who wrote
and sings lead on some of the best songs here.)
7. Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken
This is not your average live album. First of all, it features the golden
pipes of Neko Case. That's enough right there, but it also only reprises
two songs from her other releases. Otherwise we get new songs and covers,
which give us a little more to chew on until her next studio album.
8. A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
The lead New Pornographer goes solo with a sublimely hook-filled record
that's a real grower.
9. The Pernice Brothers - Nobody's Watching/Nobody's Listening
Unlike Neko Case's live album, this simply features live renditions of
previously released material. It still took over my CD player for longer
than I could have expected. I still haven't watched all of the accompanying
DVD.
10. Guided By Voices - Half-Smiles of the Decomposed
GBV's swan song charts the lowest on my top 20 list of any proper GBV
record since I started making lists--the production is flat and it needs a
few more memorable songs. But it's still a GBV record, and that still beats
almost everything else, in my book.
11. Visqueen - Sunset on Dateland
This Seattle trio's rocking second album outdoes their debut. Great hooks,
crunchy tunes, loud guitars, and powerhouse vocals from frontwoman Rachel
Flotard. For rocking out to.
12. John Wesley Harding - Adam's Apple
A typically stellar collection of folk-pop (sometimes slightly bent) from
an underrated songwriter and performer.
13. The Language of Flowers - Songs About You
This Irish quintet's debut full-length is like the Primitives meets
Heavenly. Or maybe it's like Lush meets Tiger Trap. In any case, it's
totally charming indie-pop with appealing female vocals and occasional
bursts of noise.
14. Denise James - It's Not Enough to Love
Great, dreamy '60s-inspired pop tunes that aren't slavishly retro.
15. The Dears - No Cities Left
This was released in the Dears' native Canada in 2003, but I didn't pick it
up until this year's domestic issue. No Cities Left is emotional and
dramatic, and sometimes over the top, like some of the British pop it's
clearly inspired by. But I can wallow in depression for a while.
16. Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt
Swedish psych-pop (*sung* in Swedish) that hits like RockFour or the
Soundtrack of Our Lives at their best and most powerful, and often like
lost tracks from the second "Nuggets" box set.
17. The Legends - Up Against the Legends
Supremely catchy Swedish pop. This is the guy from Club 8 (a mellower
outfit sort of like Ivy) on a buzzier trip. There are touches of the
Primitives, the Raveonettes, and the Jesus and Mary Chain here. This stuff
will get stuck in your head.
18. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
It's safe to say this album wouldn't have made my list if I hadn't seen
this band live. Though I liked the record before that, it suddenly made a
lot more sense after I saw them--they made me a believer. Smart, sharp,
melodic punk.
19. American Music Club - Love Songs for Patriots
Back in fine form after a long layoff. I've got to be in the (downbeat)
mood for it, but AMC really is the best outlet for Mark Eitzel's songs.
20. Doug Gillard - Salamander
GBV axeman Gillard's first full-length solo album is a definite grower. I
wasn't all that impressed at first, but it worked its way in. His earlier
"Malamute Jute" EP was more immediate, but this is more substantial.
A few other favorites (in alphabetical order):
Augie March - Strange Bird
Autolux - Future Perfect
The Belles - Idle Acres
The Breakup Society - James at 35
The Delgados - Universal Audio
The Dollyrots - Eat My Heart Out
The Finn Brothers - Everyone Is Here
A Girl Called Eddy - A Girl Called Eddy
Darren Hanlon - Little Chills
Adam Marsland - You Don't Know Me
Perfect - Once, Twice, Three Times a Maybe
The Soviettes - LP II
Tobin Sprout - Live at the Horseshoe Tavern
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
. . . and more. Including Franz Ferdinand.
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