What Are Your Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2004 (So Far)?
Posted: November 1, 2004 4:53 pm
2004 isn't quite up yet but I've put together a preliminary list of some of my favorites from the year up 'til now. The only other release I'm aware of that's coming out before the end of the year is U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb that may effect my list. What are you top ten 2004 releases so far? Here's what I came up with as my favorites:
1. R.E.M.-"Around The Sun"
Those still holding out hope that R.E.M. will someday return to the jingle-jangle sound that first brought them significant notice in the early 80s won't find it here. Instead you will hear an extension of the sound they found when Bill Berry left the band in the mid 90s. Word of this being an overtly political album may have also thrown some for a loop upon first listen. Yes, there's plenty of protest here but it's not of the variety that informed some of their previous works such as Welcome To The Occupation, Orange Crush or These Days. These new songs don't hit you over the head with an obvious message, they hit you in the heart, which may mean giving the album a chance to sink in before realizing just how well executed these new tunes are.
2. Tres Chicas-"Sweetwater"
Caitlin Cary (ex-Whiskeytown), Tonya Lamm (ex-Hazeldine) and Lynn Blakey (Glory Fountain) team for a record that mixes their exquisite harmonies with the best of their collaborative songwriting making for one of the years best aural feasts.
3. Drive-By Truckers-"The Dirty South"
Newest Trucker Jason Isbell (aside from his wife Shonna who took over bassist duties for Earl Hicks earlier this year) really comes to the forefront on this effort, the latest in a series of loosely themed concept albums based on what it's like to have grown up in the South and what it's like now. Not that the other two songwriters in the band (Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley) are overshadowed in the least but The Dirty South is Jason's opportunity to shine and that he does on such numbers as "Danko/Manuel" (based on the members of The Band) and "Goddamn Lonely Love".
4. Steve Earle-"The Revolution Starts…Now"
From the title you think this would be a heavy handed political offering from Mr. Earle. At times it is but mostly it's one of his most raucous rock records since El Corazon.
5. Jimmy Buffett-"License To Chill"
When I first saw the guest roster for this album I feared the worst. Please, not another guest star filled outing like have proved so successful in recent years for Willie Nelson and Carlos Santana. I quickly learned my fears were unjustified and found this to be one of the most satisfying records I've heard from Buffett in a long time. Showing his usual knack for picking songs from songwriters from Will Kimbrough to John Hiatt (who's ace slide player from the Goners guests on the album), License to Chill never lets up from start to finish. There's plenty here to please longtime fans and newer fans alike.
6. Bobby Bare, Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League-"From the End of Your Leash"
Showing more of an influence from childhood mentor Shel Silverstein than his Dad, it only takes a few listens to show the apple still doesn't fall very far from the tree.
7. Southern Culture on the Skids-"Mojo Box"
New SCOTS record = Instant Party. Just put this on and watch the hip shimmyin' commence.
8. Tift Merritt-"Tambourine"
A change of producers (the Black Crowes' George Drakoulias as opposed to Ethan Johns [son of renowned producer Glyn Johns]) and artistic growth in the direction of a more R & B inflected sound serve Tift well on the follow up to her well received Bramble Rose debut of a couple of years ago.
9. Gourds-"Blood of the Ram"
Like the Drive-By Truckers, another band with three songwriters, the Gourds expand on their past strengths here and even delve into the Celtic on at least one tune. Kevin Russell is in top form on The Lower 48 and TTT Gas (Too Tired to Give A Sh*t) which paint two very different yet equally realistic portrayals of what life is like on the road.
10. Todd Snider-"East Nashville Skyline"
Todd really comes into his own on what has to be his most fully realized record yet. It's all here: the dark humor, the not so dark humor and the tall tales that only a twisted mind like Todd's can spin.
Runners up include Toots and the Maytals' True Love and Loretta Lynn's return to form (with a little help from Jack White from the White Stripes), Van Lear Rose.
1. R.E.M.-"Around The Sun"
Those still holding out hope that R.E.M. will someday return to the jingle-jangle sound that first brought them significant notice in the early 80s won't find it here. Instead you will hear an extension of the sound they found when Bill Berry left the band in the mid 90s. Word of this being an overtly political album may have also thrown some for a loop upon first listen. Yes, there's plenty of protest here but it's not of the variety that informed some of their previous works such as Welcome To The Occupation, Orange Crush or These Days. These new songs don't hit you over the head with an obvious message, they hit you in the heart, which may mean giving the album a chance to sink in before realizing just how well executed these new tunes are.
2. Tres Chicas-"Sweetwater"
Caitlin Cary (ex-Whiskeytown), Tonya Lamm (ex-Hazeldine) and Lynn Blakey (Glory Fountain) team for a record that mixes their exquisite harmonies with the best of their collaborative songwriting making for one of the years best aural feasts.
3. Drive-By Truckers-"The Dirty South"
Newest Trucker Jason Isbell (aside from his wife Shonna who took over bassist duties for Earl Hicks earlier this year) really comes to the forefront on this effort, the latest in a series of loosely themed concept albums based on what it's like to have grown up in the South and what it's like now. Not that the other two songwriters in the band (Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley) are overshadowed in the least but The Dirty South is Jason's opportunity to shine and that he does on such numbers as "Danko/Manuel" (based on the members of The Band) and "Goddamn Lonely Love".
4. Steve Earle-"The Revolution Starts…Now"
From the title you think this would be a heavy handed political offering from Mr. Earle. At times it is but mostly it's one of his most raucous rock records since El Corazon.
5. Jimmy Buffett-"License To Chill"
When I first saw the guest roster for this album I feared the worst. Please, not another guest star filled outing like have proved so successful in recent years for Willie Nelson and Carlos Santana. I quickly learned my fears were unjustified and found this to be one of the most satisfying records I've heard from Buffett in a long time. Showing his usual knack for picking songs from songwriters from Will Kimbrough to John Hiatt (who's ace slide player from the Goners guests on the album), License to Chill never lets up from start to finish. There's plenty here to please longtime fans and newer fans alike.
6. Bobby Bare, Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League-"From the End of Your Leash"
Showing more of an influence from childhood mentor Shel Silverstein than his Dad, it only takes a few listens to show the apple still doesn't fall very far from the tree.
7. Southern Culture on the Skids-"Mojo Box"
New SCOTS record = Instant Party. Just put this on and watch the hip shimmyin' commence.
8. Tift Merritt-"Tambourine"
A change of producers (the Black Crowes' George Drakoulias as opposed to Ethan Johns [son of renowned producer Glyn Johns]) and artistic growth in the direction of a more R & B inflected sound serve Tift well on the follow up to her well received Bramble Rose debut of a couple of years ago.
9. Gourds-"Blood of the Ram"
Like the Drive-By Truckers, another band with three songwriters, the Gourds expand on their past strengths here and even delve into the Celtic on at least one tune. Kevin Russell is in top form on The Lower 48 and TTT Gas (Too Tired to Give A Sh*t) which paint two very different yet equally realistic portrayals of what life is like on the road.
10. Todd Snider-"East Nashville Skyline"
Todd really comes into his own on what has to be his most fully realized record yet. It's all here: the dark humor, the not so dark humor and the tall tales that only a twisted mind like Todd's can spin.
Runners up include Toots and the Maytals' True Love and Loretta Lynn's return to form (with a little help from Jack White from the White Stripes), Van Lear Rose.
