Top Albums of 2004

[Ilph]

Well, since everyone else is putting out their ubiquitous top lists of 2004, what are some of your top albums of 2004?

Here's mine in no particular order:

Pat Green - Lucky Ones
Alan Jackson - Who I Am
David Lee Murphy - Trying to Get There
Julie Roberts - Julie Roberts
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Brad Paisley - Mud on the Tires
The Notorious Cherry Bombs - The Notorious Cherry Bombs

Honorable Mention:
Gretchen Wilson - Here for the Party (due to the fact that I still can't stand "Redneck Woman" or "Here for the Party" but the rest of the album more than makes up for it)

[meisinger]

1. Patty Griffin Impossible Dream
2. Ray Charles Genius Loves Company
3. Brian Wilson Smile
4. Steve Earle The Revolution Starts Now
5. Malford Milligan Band Rides Again
6. The Notorious Cherry Bombs The Notorious Cherry Bombs
7. The Finn Brothers Everyone Is Here
8. Mindy Smith One Moment More
9. Ray Wilson Next Big Thing
10. Chris Robinson This Magnificent Distance

[Pencil Thin (inactive)]

Well, since everyone else is putting out their ubiquitous top lists of 2004, what are some of your top albums of 2004?

Here's mine in no particular order:

Pat Green - Lucky Ones
Alan Jackson - Who I Am
David Lee Murphy - Trying to Get There
Julie Roberts - Julie Roberts
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Brad Paisley - Mud on the Tires
The Notorious Cherry Bombs - The Notorious Cherry Bombs

Nice calls Ilph! I especially have to agree with you on Brad Paisley and Pat Green . I would have to add these others to my list:

-Jimmy Buffett -LTC (obvious)
-Maroon5 - Songs About Jane
-Harry Connick Jr. - Only You

[Ilph]

Thanks, Pencil Thin. Brad and Pat's albums are the two that I'm always listening to. Easily, two of the best country albums of the year.

[Pencil Thin (inactive)]

Thanks, Pencil Thin. Brad and Pat's albums are the two that I'm always listening to. Easily, two of the best country albums of the year.

'Mud On The Tires' should have won country album of the year...hands down

[Ilph]

Thanks, Pencil Thin. Brad and Pat's albums are the two that I'm always listening to. Easily, two of the best country albums of the year.

'Mud On The Tires' should have won country album of the year...hands down

Yeah, it is ten times the album "When the Sun Goes Down" is. Brad Paisley is grossly underappreciated.

[Jahfin]

Well, since everyone else is putting out their ubiquitous top lists of 2004, what are some of your top albums of 2004?

Here's my list from a thread I started here a month or so ago. By the way, Lucinda's Car Wheels On A Gravel Road actually came out in 1998. She didn't have a new album out in 2004 but has a live one scheduled for release this year. After seeing her perform at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2003 I can't wait to hear it.

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... light=2004

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.

[Tiki Bar]

7. Southern Culture on the Skids-"Mojo Box"
New SCOTS record = Instant Party. Just put this on and watch the hip shimmyin' commence.

Did you write this? You don't seem like the party type!

[msu#1]

Thanks, Pencil Thin. Brad and Pat's albums are the two that I'm always listening to. Easily, two of the best country albums of the year.

'Mud On The Tires' should have won country album of the year...hands down

Yeah, it is ten times the album "When the Sun Goes Down" is. Brad Paisley is grossly underappreciated.

No way.....Paisley is good, I think he's the best country guitarist out there-took the crown from Vince but WTSGD is all Killer, No Filler

[PHBeerman]

7. Southern Culture on the Skids-"Mojo Box"
New SCOTS record = Instant Party. Just put this on and watch the hip shimmyin' commence.

Did you write this? You don't seem like the party type!

I don't know if I want to see Jah shimmyin' his hips.

[iuparrothead]

7. Southern Culture on the Skids-"Mojo Box"
New SCOTS record = Instant Party. Just put this on and watch the hip shimmyin' commence.

Did you write this? You don't seem like the party type!

I don't know if I want to see Jah shimmyin' his hips.

SPEW!!!

[Ilph]

By the way, Lucinda's Car Wheels On A Gravel Road actually came out in 1998. She didn't have a new album out in 2004 but has a live one scheduled for release this year. After seeing her perform at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2003 I can't wait to hear it.

Thanks for the FYI. It was new to me in 2004, so I'm counting it on my list!

[Ilph]

Thanks, Pencil Thin. Brad and Pat's albums are the two that I'm always listening to. Easily, two of the best country albums of the year.

'Mud On The Tires' should have won country album of the year...hands down

Yeah, it is ten times the album "When the Sun Goes Down" is. Brad Paisley is grossly underappreciated.

No way.....Paisley is good, I think he's the best country guitarist out there-took the crown from Vince but WTSGD is all Killer, No Filler

The title track is a filler