Let me start by saying this has been a great year in
pop music for me!  I think there were way too many
worthy releases and to list them in some kind of order
has made me a little bit crazy (ier?)  I went down the
list of 2004 releases and wrote down so many titles I
almost didn’t bother trying to do this.  But it’s my
duty as a long-standing Auditeer, it HAS to be done,
every vote counts…etc.

(I'm not putting SIlver Sun on here because their
label says official release is 2005)

Let me preface by saying that I’m now so crazed I’m
rushing this out so I may be missing some and that
thought kills me.  But it’s now or never, so here I
go:

1.Eugene Edwards “My Favorite Revolution” 
I toyed with leaving TallBoy releases off of my list
because it’s a little corny to vote for my own babies,
but in all honesty, as close as I am to this record,
as much as I’ve listened to it in the course of
mastering, sequencing, promoting, etc. etc. it NEVER
gets old for me and I am always discovering new little
details in the recording.  It’s not a complex record,
but it’s honest, and real. 

2.Cliff Hillis “Better Living Through Compression”  
(Is this where I lose all credibility as an objective
writer?)  Again, this record passed the test of being
played over and over at the house…er offices…here and
it just plain rocks.  I considered splitting number
one between this and Gene’s record, but in the end the
scales tipped ever so slightly in Gene’s favor.  

3.	Michael Carpenter “Rolling Ball” 
So prolific, but the records get better and better
with each release.  

4. John Hoskinson “Miscellaneous Heathen”  
As many have said “I Hope I Die Before You Do” might
be the best love song of 2004.  

5. The Bees “Free The Bees” 
 Recommended to me by Brian Young after he discovered
it on a trip to the UK.  Despite sounding like garage
indie pop from 1967, this is my favorite dance record
this year.

6. A.C. Newman “The Slow Wonder”  
Reminds me of a long drive up 395 last summer.  Love
the drumming on this one.

7. Fancey “S/T” 
 The 70’s details make this one work for me.

8. The Well Wishers “Twenty-Four Seven” 
Been a fan of Jeff’s stuff for YEARS!  I remember
seeing him do an instore with The Spinning
Jennies…man…mid 90s?  Anyway, was really glad to see
him continue with this new project.  “See For the
First Time” is a classic album opener.

9. The Get Up Kids “Guilt Show”
I know it’s lame to say it but I can’t believe this
isn’t on more lists!!  Damn this is good!  “Wouldn’t
Believe It” is my fave song of the year.  Why didn’t I
rate this album higher?  It does get a little samey
sounding after a while.  But still tops in its genre.

10. The Bigger Lovers “This Affair Never Happened…” 
These guys are master song-writers.  I always love a
band with multiple singers/song-writers who can
actually  mesh it all together.  Can't wait for record
number 4.

And the rest….

11.	King Radio “Are You The Sick Passenger”
SpiritHouse Records
12.	The Features “Exhibit A” Universal
13.	Futureheads “S/T” Sire
14.	Kenny Howes “Lady Friend”  Yeah! Records (another
one I’m surprised hasn’t made the cut on more lists)
15.	Alva Star “Escalator”
16.	Jellybricks “Power This”
17.	Ken Stringfellow “Soft Commands”
18.	Velvet Crush “Stereo Blues” (Second best opening
song on a cd this year)
19.	Casper and the Cookies “Oh”
20.	OH YEAH and The Killers “Hot Fuss”

I was late to the party for: Spoon, Rooney, Waltham,
The 88, The Long Winters but now I love them all.

Fave songs “Rent a Cop” Ben Folds, “Common People”
William Shatner version (really because of Joe
Jackson,) “Wouldn’t Believe It” The Get Up Kids

Just now hearing, jury is still out: Butch Walker
“Letters”, Snow Patrol, Keane

Band I'll miss the  most...ARLO.  DAMN THEM FOR
BREAKING UP SO EARLY  (but check out
http://www.yesdear.com for a decent offshoot)



=====
Anna Borg 
AIM: cakeab 
TallBoy Records 
P.O. Box 27757 
Los Angeles, CA 90027-0757 

http://www.tallboyrecords.com