BigYawn.net

Welcome to the first part of our year end wrap-up. Today we present you our top 50 CDs of 2004. This list was compiled by our editors and writers, and we feel it shows the level of diversity of our staff. The second part of our year end wrap-up, including our other awards and the Year in Music column will appear on Thursday January 13th. We will return with new content on Monday January 24th. In the meantime, feel free to check out our normal home page where we will add some additional 2004 reviews this week, including a number of show reviews. Thanks so much for 2004, we look forward to great times in '05! Enjoy...

What is it with bands and their asian frontwomen? They are everywhere these days, but few do it better than this up and coming band from NYC. Their self-titled debut jumps all over the map in terms of styles, but still manages to keep it all deep dark and cool. The vocals of Yuki Chikudate are brilliantly sad and energizing both at the same time. Walking on the Moon was the best song no one heard this year.

S/T
Asobi Seksu

The brilliance behind Statistics is, quite plainly, Denver Dalley, who also co-fronts Desaparecidos, the side-project of Bright Eyes whiz kid Connor Oberst's. And Lord knows, when you work with Oberst, no matter what your role, you're still working for Oberst. But in the case of Dalley, who is the main songwriter for Desaparecidos -- and I would argue the superior one -- this is a grave injustice. Despite residing in Omaha , Dalley made the spectacular decision to go with Jadetree as opposed to hometown Saddle Creek. The Delaware-based label may get Statistics unfairly labeled 'emo,' but better that than being labeled Connor's bitch.

Leave Your Name
Statistics

Generalizing that the Drive-By Truckers (DBT) are a country music band does a great disservice to one of the finest Rock and Roll bands around. Blindly discriminating against this group based on how they look and talk will only cause you to overlook some of the best and most visceral music being created today. There are, unquestionably, country music influences to be found throughout The Dirty South . But that's a symptom of the rock 'n' roll bug that can be traced all the way back in history through artists such as the Rolling Stones , the Allman Brothers , Elvis Presley , The Band , Johnny Cash , Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters . Each incorporated elements of country and blues into their palette - yet each developed a unique and diverse sound that was often genre busting. The Drive-By Truckers are a band in this mold. They've taken the best of what country music and southern rock has to offer and they've crafted their own unique style that no longer fits within these limiting categories.

The Dirty South
Drive By Truckers

These are not the folky twins you remember growing up with. The twins have spawned an album full of pop hooks, electronic buzzes and memorable moments. Forget all the preconceptions, we know, we had them too. This album kicks ass and is truly one of the unheralded releases of 2004. Their debut single Waling with a Ghost back them up by being one of the better tracks of the year, and that just gets us started.

So Jealous
Tegan and Sara

The strength of Sam Beam is in the storytelling, and Our Endless Numbered Days is packed full of it. Although the sparse subtleties have been glossed over with Brian Deck's production and the presence of a backing band, the intimacy is still retained. This may not be Iron and Wine's strongest release, but it continues a long story to be told in many chapters.

Our Endless Summer Days
Iron and Wine

Just listen to the swelling pulse of "The Antlers of the Midnight Sun." Utrillo Kushner's merciless beating of his drum kit leads everyone else to let loose, resulting in the most exhausting track on the album. " Whiskey River " continues the trend, adding what might be the mightiest low-end of the decade, if not the century; Ben Flashman has definitely done his homework on how to shake bowls and destroy eardrums. As with so many Comets on Fire tracks, just as the sonic fury gets too much to handle, they slow it down, giving you a moment to catch your breath before kicking you in the gut with another round of punishment. As a collective, the band strives to each have their own musical voice, which, with a lesser band, would be a disaster. Here, though, they're able to show their chops without pushing the others out of the way. In fact, without such a strong group playing their asses off, the overall effect would be somewhat lacking. Thankfully, they never pull any punches, and the results are overwhelmingly, breathtakingly RAWK.

Blue Cathedral
Comets on Fire

Hailing from Los Angeles, post-punk trio Moving Units distinguish themselves from other noise art rock bands by appreciating the wealth of a beat you can dance to. The tunes off of their long-awaited first LP Dangerous Dreams are electric, rapacious and unforgiving, infused with everything from new wave to punk to rock n' roll. Their sound is raw guitar dance punk and heavy bass riffs, electrified by vocalist Blake Miller's rhythmic howls of urban obscenities.

Dangerous Dreams
Moving Units

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it is hard not to smile when listening to this cuddly group. By far their most accessible output to date, Song Tongs challenges us unlike very few pop albums ever have. That's right, we called it pop.

Sung Tongs
Animal Collective

Steady as they go, Sonic Youth continue to remain relevant in a world that continues to need them. With an overflow of relics putting out albums this year, it should come as no surprise that two of our favorites, Sonic Youth and David Byrne come from the same mold, albeit different stylistic ways of getting there. Here's hoping for another 20 years for both of them.

Sonic Nurse
Sonic Youth

Who says an EP can't be one of the best albums of the year? 3:16, The 9 th Edition puts Murs on the map as one of the true up and comer emcees, and 9 th Wonder solidifies himself as one of the best producers around. It is only ten songs deep, but it is hard hitting from beginning to end, with no filler. That's more than you can say about most full length albums.

3:16, the 9th Edition
Murs

!!!'s infectious single "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (A True Story)" distilled funk, punk, and disco taking indie dance floors by storm. It also raised impossible expectations for the band's sophomore full- length. Louden Up Now delivered with track after track of sweaty foot-stompers and cool grooves. The discontented, but delightfully vague politicism of tracks like "Pardon My Freedom" and "Shit Scheisse Merde" reminds us what the "punk" in "dance-punk" is all about.

Louden Up Now
!!!

Adam Richman left college at the George Washington University after his freshman year to pursue his dream of being a rock star and getting his musical voice heard. I bet most of us can think of half a dozen people we know personally who have similar stories, but what's really amazing is that Adam Richman is really doing it ... and it's paying off. After independently releasing his debut album Two in 2001 and tirelessly touring colleges nationwide for the last three years, Richman is finally seeing his dream come true. After releasing his latest independent album Patience & Science, in which he plays every instrument, sings every vocal track, and produced and recorded everything himself, the world is finally starting to take notice of this young new musical star. He has recently signed on with OR Records and they have re-released a number of tracks from Richman's latest album as The Patience EP, which is the precursor for Richman's upcoming full-length major label debut, to be released sometime early this year.

The Patience EP
Adam Richman

Similar to the short stories that intersect into a larger theme, think Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes, Jesse Malin manages to weave aspects of his hometown into each song on his second solo release The Heat. With NYC as the backdrop, songs such as "Silver Manhattan," "Arrested," and "Since You're in Love" come off as more than just tales of love gone sour; they seem to capture a specific place and time. Malin writes songs where the perception can be either first-person or maybe the bartender recounting to the people who sat at the bar. He also produced the album where influences heard include artists such as Neil Young and The Replacements, apropos given Tommy Stinson's backing vocals on "Hotel Columbia."

The Heat
Jesse Malin

Fusing pop, blues, rock, and country sounds, Two Way Monologue is the perfect soundtrack that tells the story of being a normal, everyday guy going through normal, everyday experiences - but somehow Sondre Lerche turns it all into something spectacular. I highly recommend this album for anyone and everyone looking for some excellent music hiding just under the radar.

Two Way Monologue
Sondre Lerche

The sophmore release from Brooklyn-based Hem, Eveningland is an oasis of comfort amidst our list. This time, with a bigger budget to support their lush orchestral arrangements, the album offers a countrypolitan-inspired sound that even your parents could love, or use to lull your baby sister to sleep. As uncool as that might sound, Hem is truly rebellious as only a group of people doing what they love to do, regardless of fads and fashions, can be. Fortunately for us, the listeners, the songs are uniformly beautiful, and Sally Ellyson's gorgeous, soothing voice makes everything seem ok for 53 minutes.

Eveningland
Hem

The lone DC band to grace this list (assuming you don't count Ted Leo), Beauty Pill accomplished something no other local band did this year: they entered our consciousness. Unlike Q and Not U, Washington Social Club, Measles Mumps Rubella and the like, Beauty Pill don't take huge chances with their sound. That is not to say they don't stretch themselves, as the songwriting on The Unsustainable Lifestyle is miles ahead of where they were coming from. No, this is the CD you'll remember long after she breaks up with you, and there are very few of those in our lives.

The Unsustainable Lifestyle
Beauty Pill

Not really the sort of ambient soundscapes constructed by DJ Shadow, nor the cut & paste dance floor freakouts akin to Fatboy Slim, it is difficult to categorize the music of RJD2-- the brainchild of Jon Krohn. Instrumental hip-hop sounds like an oxymoron and merely referring to him as a producer seems like an insult. Maybe we could go with "rocktronic," but really -- it just doesn't matter that much how it is defined. Other than to say RJD2's second album, Since We Last Spoke is a unique, energetic blend of big beats, rock samples, well placed horns and scattered vocals. A welcomed addition the musical landscape in any year.

Since Last We Spoke
RJD2

Retro has ruled the indie landscape in the first half of this decade, and Ambulance Ltd is yet another example of such. A blues-garage mix collection of 11 original songs (and one Velvet Underground cover) make up LP, the best album Gomez never released. While the bands name takes some getting used to (apparently the Ltd is silent), their tracks are immediately catchy, from the hook-heavy "Stay Tuned" to the blues-inspired "Primitive (The Way I Treat You)," and allowed the band to spend much of 2004 touring with the likes of Stellastarr* and The Killers. 2005 would be well served if the rest of the retro movement discovered the ability to put out releases like LP.

LP
Ambulance Ltd.

The music industry differs greatly from Hollywood in that the best music is not always released at the end of the year. Zero 7's sophomore release didn't get the press it deserved, and that is likely due to it's following Simple Things, which likely couldn't be topped. While Simple Things was the CD to make love to, When it Falls is the CD to wake up and snuggle to.

When it Falls
Zero 7

The Tipping Point should have been the follow up to Things Fall Apart . Phrenology was an interesting album with some definite highlights, but most of its praise was due to the lack of appreciate for Things Fall Apart . The Tipping Point is very complete. There is a song that got heavy rotation, a reggae song, a fast song, and a slow song, and nothing on the album ever sounds forced. This album pushes the Roots into the elite status of hip hop greats.

The Tipping Point
The Roots

Directors are using music to frame movies more and more, and first time writer/director Zach Braff chose what was once described as a BY writer's wet-dream to accompany his debut, Garden State. The Shins, Thievery Corporation, Iron and Wine (covering the Postal Service no less) and that incredibly dreamy movie ender by Frou Frou might have made this the soundtrack of the year. It certainly was tops on our list.

Garden State OST
Various Artists

Whatever you want to call this Boston based duo -- and there are lots of possibilities -- their style of cabaret punk is truly adventurous, and we mean that in a good way. Their live show is rumored to be even more impressive, though we can't seem to find anyone at BigYawn who's seen it. Maybe we're not as cool as we thought. You owe it to yourself to try something different in '05. Now's your chance.

S/T
Dresden Dolls

Unlike 2Pac, it seems that with the exception of some sort of greatest hits comp or box set (or possibly both) there will be no other music written by Elliott Smith for us to listen to, and that is a shame. But Smith absolutely goes out on a high note. We will forever have questions as to where Smith's state of mind was during the recording of this album, but we will never question where his genius was. We will always be able to sit back and listen to it.

From a Basement on a Hill
Elliott Smith

This is the soundtrack of our youth, or at least those of us who grew up with Alf and Knight Rider. Leading the new wave of bands who use everything from 80's sitcoms to Atari games as bits of music The Go! Team has put out an album full of so much energy it makes us quake just thinking about it. Listen at your own risk, as you will be compelled to get up and dance. And for some of us, that is not always a good thing.

Thunder, Lightning Strike
The Go! Team

Nick Cave is back with the simultaneous release of two albums that tie together the major two modes of his discography: messy (in a good way) rocker and moody balladeer. Bringing in the London Community Gospel Choir to accentuate his obsession with theology and to juxtapose against his violent lyrics, the songs are tighter (no 15 minute narratives like Murder Ballad's "O'Malley's Bar"), and as a result, all the more effective.

Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave and the Badseeds

Who said the blues can't be played at your favorite indie club? The Keys blend of bluesy rock is a refreshing burst of air to the stale garage rock environment we currently find ourselves in. And "10 am Automatic" is one hell of a rocking song that may just find itself on a certain 2004 best of playlist.

Rubber Factory
The Black Keys

The album hits you like the musical equivalent of a Chris Ware comic: familiar, even innocent, forms drawing you into a bleak vision of the world, all the more intense for the lack of drama in the presentation. You can see yourself playing this disk on a long drive alone, over and over, each cycle providing a reliable 40 minutes of slow, steady rhythm for sustaining a constant light pressure on the pedal, as you leave behind something you suspect you didn't appreciate and head toward something you just might dread. It's like a cruise control set on "muse." This is both to say that the music is compelling, and that you might want to be have something to do while you wait for it to get to the point. These 11 tracks refuse to pause, or hurry, for anything, even their own considerable lyrical cleverness.

Achilles Heal
Pedro the Lion

Everyone came into Bows & Arrows , the Walkmen's second album, expecting the typical sophomore slump. Some clamored that it didn't contain the haunting piano that its predecessor possessed, or that the guitar and vocals were too up-front. It's for these reasons that Bows & Arrows became a bona fide success. The in-your-face mentality of "The Rat," among the timid songs such as the title track ("Bows & Arrows") helped track the progress of The Walkmen: a band tied to their past but unafraid to explore the vast ocean of sounds and music in front of them. The message was darker, murkier and hard to ignore. This was a band growing before our eyes, and we could do nothing but strap ourselves in and go for the ride.

Bows and Arrows
The Walkmen

Metal you can shake your hips to while you bang your head? This two man bass and drums outfit pioneers uncharted territory in the world of danceable music. Death From Above 1979 pummels its way into your heart and shakes things up from the inside out. You're a Woman, I'm a Machine is as fierce and sweet as 2004 deserved.

You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Death From Above 1979

Poor David Byrne. In 2004, a year in which every artist with 15+ years of experience being in our musical consciousness seems to release a disk that's ravaged with critical acclaim, David Byrne's Grown Backwards registers a zero on the buzz meter. He's no doubt grown accustomed to taking a backseat to his contemporaries like David Bowie and while his career path has followed a pattern set out by Morrissey , he's never received the adoration or the cult following of his modern-day doppelganger. So, he's probably taking the virtual overlooking his latest LP has received in stride. It's a shame though, since it's probably his best release in a decade.

Grown Backwards
David Byrne

Seven Swans absolutely brims with passion. Each song is achingly personal and brilliantly accessible. Sufjan Stevens has thrown open a window to his spirituality; and he managed to do it without being crass or preachy. But what ultimately gives this album staying power is its rich beauty. From plucked banjo to swelling choir, Seven Swans is exuberant to the ears.

Seven Swans
Sufjan Stevens

Reviews for albums by bands with unpronounceable names consisting of strange electronic music rarely contain the words pop sensibilities, heartwarming vocals, or acoustic guitar. However, 2004 saw the third release by Xiu Xiu Fabulous Muscles garnered just such quotations. Of course, on the other hand, most reviews also made mention of front man Jamie Stewart's generally frightening lyrics and theatrical vocal performances. Certainly one of the most love-or-hate disks of any year, Fabulous Muscles inclusion in our top 50 certainly speaks to the fact that, as far as BigYawn is concerned, we were part of the contingency that exclaimed in true Xiu Xiu fashion "I luv the record. Oh! "

Fabulous Muscles
Xiu Xiu

2004 needed a Ted Leo and the Pharmacists album. Leo just has a way of capturing the times and packaging them into perfect little pop songs. He also has the uncanny ability to wield bigger concepts (and bigger words) than most other songwriters around without bogging down the buoyant quality of his tunes. Shake the Sheets for the New Year, but keep this album safely tucked in your CD player.

Shake the Sheets
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Hot off the buzz that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot continued to garner, Wilco dared to be different once again creating a masterpiece that harkens to the days of yore while charting a new course in the presentation of rock, as we know it. A Ghost is Born may not be the album most fans had hoped for, but its simplicity among complicated rhythms and orgasmic crescendos makes it a compelling listen nonetheless. Jeff Tweedy continued down the path less traveled, showcasing how far his guitar ideologies have progressed from the days of Uncle Tupelo. The rest of the band also came to play on this record, becoming the core of Tweedy's vision instead of simple translators and background musicians. The album is raw, sarcastic and gritty; something the gloss and pomp of YHF buried at times. When their peers decided to play if safe or rode on the coattails of indie pop, Wilco took on nonconformity head-on, mixing fun ditties with moody rock deftly.

A Ghost is Born
Wilco

The brother and sister duo of Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger have created a modern day rock opera. Blueberry Boat takes the archetype that Pete Townshend explored decades ago, and disassembles it with their own brand of storytelling and gonzo rock. The idiosyncrasies offer joy and excitement, while deterring even the harshest of critics from wanting to turn away from this album or pan it as an uneven set. Each song dances on a wave of electronic foreplay, steady beats and balls to the wall guitar. It's impossible to describe the album with one word or phrase, and for that reason alone, Blueberry Boat will stand the test of time and remain a light for those who continue to be befuddled by the direction of music experimentation.

Blueberry Boast
Fiery Furnaces

Earlimart picked the wrong year to put out an Elliott Smith album. Not because it's not good -- it's better in fact, than Smith's post-humous release -- but because it didn't get the attention it rightfully deserved. There is a ton of emotion on this album -- it was known to make a more than a few BY staffers weep uncontrollably. Earlimart finally got it, they've reached the elusive point in a band's career where they've found their sound. You should own From a Basement On a Hill, no doubt about it. But you should play this CD more.

Treble and Tremble
Earlimart

Bubblegum plays like an eclectic blend of all the tones, textures and styles that Lanegan has pursued throughout his acclaimed career. There are psychedelic songs ("Can't Come Down," "Head") that would fit perfectly onto an earlier Screaming Trees record like Uncle Anesthesia. There are acoustic compositions ("Morning Glory Wine," "Strange Religion") that continue the leaning Lanegan explored on his solo records. And there are hard driving rock songs ("Sideways in Reverse," "Driving Death Valley Blues") that would complement the arena rock aspirations on the final Screaming Trees record -- Dust. On the surface, the stylistic diversity creates a bit of a challenging listen. But ultimately it works. It works because the entire record is held together with more of a theme than a tone -- a theme of unrelenting darkness. The record is the equivalent of a complex piece of art which is composed of 15 canvases -- all different, yet all related. Each piece just a variation on the shade of black; each song joining in an evocative soundscape.

Bubblegum
Mark Lanegan Band

Moz came back to a ton of success this year, and not just from his devoted LA latino-teen-fanbase. His shtick is getting a bit old, but he can still write a good tune. Whether this is a jumpstart for another phase of his career, or simply a highlight of the back-side of a career is yet to be seen, but either way this is one hell of a catchy record. We're still holding out for the Smiths' reunion.

You are the Quarry
Morrissey

To the Five Boroughs brought the Beastie Boys out of their six-year hibernation, and pays homage to the sparser beats that they first established on Licensed to Ill. The three MC's rely on their classic rap tradeoffs, with the lyrics focusing on politics and random pop culture references. While initial listens may seem sparse and bare, the strong bass and infectious beats soon win the listener over. In short, the Beastie Boys return to the basics results in a raw album that expose their true talents.

To the Five Boroughs
Beastie Boys

"Disconnect the Dots" is one hell of a pop song. It's full of analogy synths, clever handclaps and sunny harmonies. The lyrics make absolutely no sense to me, but that doesn't matter. It is more that Kevin Barnes has come up with syllables that flow along with the music. Leading off with such strength can damn an entire album. What a relief it was to like the second song! "Lysergic Bliss" is full of guitar licks that manage to be both jangly and twangy. On top of that there's an a capella section that leads into a Doors-like "Riders on the Storm" keyboard part. I don't know how Barnes keeps it up. There's high fructose corn syrup pouring out of my speakers and it's only the first two songs. While this is just a sampling of Satanic Panic in the Attic, it goes to show how encapsulating Of Montreal's pop music is. Many of the songs range from twangy guitar to pitch bending synthesizers. Somehow they manage to pull that off in the same songs. There's got to be something any casual music fan would like on here, even if it's only the first song.

Satanic Panic in the Attic
Of Montreal

On to the The Top Ten --------->