# Best Albums of 2004 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995 "2004-11-28T15:13:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/21 "2004-11-29T04:49:29Z")
I listened to _Furnace_ by The Arcade Fire today, and it is probably going to have to make the list. Perhaps the best thing I can say about it is that I can’t think of much to compare it to. Oh, and since I seem to be the lone dissenter on _Smile_, here’s another one that I found disappointing–_Medulla_ by Bjork. She is probably the only artist that I listen to who I like less the weirder she gets. I like the concept here of being almost entirely made from the human voice, but nothing about the album really sticks in my head; all it really made me want to do was put in _Vespertine_. **Freejooky** –thanks for reminding me of the Lambchop albums, which I had forgotten about. (When you mentioned them I thought they were 2003 releases, but nope, they came out in February.) By chance, have you every seen The Magnetic Fields live? They’re (He’s?) playing in Durham next weekend (about an hour away), and I like what I’ve heard (particularly _69 Love Songs_) but I’m not a huge fan. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/22 "2004-11-29T05:41:33Z")
**Patty Griffin** “Impossible Dream” -She can’t put out a bad album. **Rilo Kiley** “More Adventurous”- It’s more poppy than their previous stuff, but great. **Ray LaMontagne** “Trouble”- An immediate and accessible classic. **John Wesley Harding** “Adam’s Apple”- This was almost released last year as “The Man With No Shadow” but the label folded. Literate, intelligent and punchy. **Tom Baxter** “Feather and Stone” **The Blue Nile** “High” **William Shatner** “Has Been” **Jill Sobule** “Underdog Victorious” **Alison Krauss and Union Station** -Lonely Runs Both Ways (Would be perfect except for when AK isn’t lead vocals). **Indigo Girls** “All That We Let In” **Norah Jones** “Feels Like Home” **Badly Drawn Boy** “One Plus One is One” **Dick Brave and the Backbeats** “Dick This!” Rockabilly covers of Pink, Little Richard, and George Michael. **Elton John** “Peachtree Road” Wonderful return to his ol’ style. **Gisli** “How about that” I’m sure I’m missing a bunch… ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/23 "2004-11-29T05:46:07Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > **Joanna Newsom** - “the milk-eyed mender” - Man, I was put off by this record for so long - a young girl playing harp and singing in an affected “weird granny” voice. But beyond those superficialities is an incredibly talented young songwriter in the tradition of Kevin Coyne or Syd Barrett. Oh, tell me about it… I’m only half way there. I don’t seem to have the patience for her voca…well, whatever it is she’s doing with her voice. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/24 "2004-11-29T05:50:30Z")
Here are the top 5 best reviewed albums of the year, from [Metacritic](http://www.metacritic.com/music/): 1. Smile - Brian Wilson 2. Van Lear Rose - Loretta Lynn 3. The Name of this band is Talking Heads - Talking Heads 4. Madvillain - Madvillainy 5. Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner ---
**Author:** ![Milkman\_Dan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Milkman\_Dan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milkman_Dan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/25 "2004-11-29T07:04:45Z")
**The Arcade Fire** - Funeral **Brian Wilson** - Smile **Fiery Furnaces** - Blueberry Boat **Elliot Smith** - From a Basement on a Hill ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/26 "2004-11-29T07:10:25Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Oh, tell me about it… I’m only half way there. I don’t seem to have the patience for her voca…well, whatever it is she’s doing with her voice. Trust me, I hated it for months after my wife brought it home. I still kind of hate her voice, but what turns me on to the record is how unconventional it is, even if it’s a completely contrived “kooky” schtick to set her apart from any given other female folkie. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/27 "2004-11-29T07:13:35Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > 1. Madvillain - Madvillainy Easily the most disappointing record of the year. Madlib and MF Doom are both incredibly talented on their own; both Quasimoto’s “the unseen” and MF Doom’s “Operation: Doomsday” are two of my favorite rap records of all time. Even stranger, their aesthetics seemed like they would compliment each other - the lo-fi, weed-obsessed, leftfield clever rhymes - but the record is an absolute disaster. To add insult to injury, I remember hearing word of this collab as far back as '01 - we waited three years for _this_? ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/28 "2004-11-29T07:18:15Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > 1. Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner Huh? I was sure this came out in 2003. [#12 on Pitchfork’s Best of 2003](http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2003/index4.shtml) Plus, many of the reviews displayed on metacritic are from [2003](http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/rascaldizzee/boyindacorner/). Colour me confused… 😕 Is it a difference in US and UK release dates? ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/29 "2004-11-29T07:19:33Z")
Nevermind. Straight from metacritic: Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal 1 disc RELEASED 20 January 2004 GENRE(S) Rap, Electronic **Original UK release 21 July 2003 on XL.** Oops…it’s late. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/30 "2004-11-29T12:53:32Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > **Alison Krauss and Union Station** -Lonely Runs Both Ways (Would be perfect except for when AK isn’t lead vocals). I dunno, I like Dan Tyminski’s voice a lot. And their instrumentals are great; I think I like “Unionhouse Branch” as much as “Chocataw Hayride.” I just wish they didn’t insist on doing such miserable songs. I haven’t heard a lot of albums actually from this year, but of the ones I have heard: **AKUS** : Lonely Runs Both Ways **Neko Case** : The Tigers Have Spoken (if only because it’s the first of her records I’ve heard, and _Blacklisted_ is just awesome) **Loretta Lynn** : Van Lear Rose ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/31 "2004-11-29T13:05:59Z")
My personal list. Not based on anything but my taste and what I like 😉 1. **Air** - _Talkie Walkie_ 2. \*\*Assemblage 23 \*\* - _Storm_ 3. **Stereolab** - _Margarine Eclipse_ 4. **Bjork** - _Medulla_ 5. \*\*Modest Mouse \*\* - _Good News For People Who Love Bad News_ ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/32 "2004-11-29T13:39:01Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > That was a decade ago, and the music was indeed rudimentary and off-putting. “Hello, Mannequin,” some 10 albums and EP’s later, is an evolution. Check out the song “Disloyalist Party” [here](http://www.purevolume.com/JoyElectric) if you’re curious to hear something from the recent record - it knocked me on my ass! Cool, I’ll check it out. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/33 "2004-11-29T14:06:11Z")
I’ll add **Marjorie Fair** - Self Help Serenade, and **Handsome Boy Modeling School** - White People. Other than that, Franz Ferdinand & Stereolab were good; I haven’t heard _Smile_ yet. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/34 "2004-11-29T14:52:10Z")
Well, since I’ve bought exactly one album this year, **Descendants** _Cool To Be You_ wins my 2004 album of the year award by default. ---
**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/35 "2004-11-29T14:54:57Z")
Here’s my review of the 10th anniversary reissue of Jeff Buckley’s [_Grace_](http://www.wttsfm.com/buckleylegacy.htm). It was wonderful in 1994, and maybe more so now. Second on Madeline Peyroux’s [_Careless Love_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002NRRAG/qid=1101739960/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-9606907-4269726). Having to wait eight years between albums wasn’t so hot, but this will probably be the next album-to-have for a lot of people next year. Great musicians on this, too, with k.d. lang’s bassist David Piltch and session guitarist Dean Parks hiding among the band, and Joni Mitchell’s ex-husband and former bass player Larry Klein at the helm. My favorite song for the upcoming holiday is her version of “This Is Heaven To Me,” which closes the album. Rufus Wainwright’s [_Want Two_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000654ZDC/qid=1101739872/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-9606907-4269726) is one I’m still exploring, but I like it a lot. It’s a little more of a torchy, understated vocal-and-piano-with-orchestra album than the last two (read: less rock-driven), but there are some spine-tingling moments throughout. “Crumb By Crumb” and “Peach Trees” are my faves, but the finale of “Old Whore’s Diet” may top everything. “The Art Teacher” is nice if you’re in Indianapolis, as he references J.M.W. Turner in the lyrics, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art has a lot of Turner in their collection (of course, that’s probably me personalizing the album more than anything, but it’s still a sweet lost-love song). I also love the first half of the new Court And Spark album, [_Witch Season_](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o26cmp9k9ffo~T1). Any band that can use the sound of their producer kicking a piano as artistic inspiration for a song like “Steeplechasing” is okay in my book. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/36 "2004-11-29T14:55:32Z")
Nick Cave & Bad Seeds - Abbatoir Blues/Lyre of Orpheus The Auf der Maur album Tom Waits - Real Gone The Music - Welcome to the North Tortoise - It’s all around You Everything else i’ve grabbed this year has been old school stuff. ---
**Author:** ![iggy\_popov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@iggy\_popov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iggy_popov)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/37 "2004-11-29T18:45:52Z")
I’ll second Franz Ferdinand and The Hives(I’m going to see both of them in six days) The Clash-London Calling Legacy Edition Beastie Boys-To the 5 Burroughs ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/38 "2004-12-16T06:45:27Z")
Patty Griffin – Impossible Dream James McMurtry & Heartless Bastards – Live in Aught-Three Nellie McKay – Get Away From Me k.d. lang – Hymns of the 49th Parallel Kate Rusby – Underneath the Stars Jonatha Brooke – Back in the Circus Julia Fordham – That’s Life Joss Stone – Mind, Body & Soul Josh Ritter – Hello Starling Damien Rice – B-Sides Hey, **stpauler** , can I come by and rifle through your record collection?\* \*I’ll skip by the Joanna Newsom, though. Man, I really wanted to like her. Dammit, I _should_ like her. But she sounds like Jennifer Tilly on helium. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/39 "2004-12-16T12:27:18Z")
These are the three best albums of 2004: **The Blood Brothers - Crimes The Arcade Fire - Funeral Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles** This thread is over. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995/40 "2004-12-16T13:42:53Z")
I’m not too surprised no one mentioned **The Cardigans**. Nevertheless, _Long Gone Before Daylight_ is an amazing album. It’s a huge step forward from _Gran Turismo_, and a night and day difference from the _Lovefool_ days. If the only song you can think of by the Cardies is _Lovefool_ check out some of their new stuff. It’s hard to describe - kind of an Aimee Mann feel with a slight alt-country twang thrown in. Hmmm, ok maybe that doesn’t describe it at all. Regardess, check it out. Especially “Live and Learn” and “Communication.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-albums-of-2004/276995.md?page=3)