A few early favorites:

Purely Pop:
Eugene Edwards, My Favorite Revolution
The April Skies, Breathe
Cliff Hillis, Better Living Through Compression
Tim Lee, No Discretion
The Saving Graces, Outside Guiding Lights
Jamie Hoover/Bill Lloyd, Paparazzi
The Jellybricks, Power This

And two or three that aren't strictly pop but are still dead good:
Franz Ferdinand, s/t
The Streets, A Grand Don't Come for Free
Dizzee Rascal, Boy in Da Corner/Showtime
Isidore, s/t

And, of course, my all-time favorite new release of 2004 -- Milkshake Jones,
s/t (Paisley Pop).

If I can't pick my own band's release, what good are these lists??? :)

john.