2004 – When I look back on the last decade and check out which years placed the most numbers of times on my top 100 albums of the 00’s list, I find that 2004 placed by far the least amount of times. Though it is probably one of the weaker years of the decade it still remains pivotal. Two of the most important artists of the new millennium dropped their debut albums in ’04, Kanye West with “College Dropout” and Arcade Fire with “Funeral”. ’04 was also the year Facebook started and the Apple iTunes store really took off (at least in my house), where picking and choosing individual tracks rather than full albums became de rigueur again. There were both positive and negative impacts as a result. Music fans began to focus even more on immediate gratification. Albums and songs were no longer allowed as much time to become “growers”, therefore many great bands and albums went lost in the shuffle. However, because music became so easy to sample, more people heard music than ever before and stopped being confined so much to one or two genres. A person liking indie rock, metal, dance pop, folk music & punk became the norm and that is a great thing.

The early oughts fascination with garage-rock began to wane and “dancepunk” grew in its wake. Though not many of the best albums of ’04 would fall in this category, indie groups like Futureheads, Phoenix and especially Franz Ferdinand were playing a much more danceable variety of rock music. Franz’s self-titled debut was one of the year’s better albums and their signature song “Take Me Out” actually became a runaway hit, even crossing over to the pop charts. Even less likely, northwest group Modest Mouse scored a pop hit of their own with “Float On”. Their ’04 album “Good News For People Who Love Bad News” was by far their best selling album and one of their better ones as well. NYC hype band Interpol released their second album. Though very solid it didn’t quite reach the heights of their first and signaled that the group might be running out of gas a bit. Elsewhere in NYC, the Walkmen released “Bows + Arrows” featuring their signature song as well “The Rat”. TV On the Radio’s debut full length “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes” came out to much critical love, kick-starting one of the best and most interesting careers going on in modern rock music. Underground Williamsburg band Les Savy Fav, who really pioneered dance punk in the late 90’s, released their compilation of 7 inch record called “Inches”. It featured 6 new songs from ’04 and is one of the best albums of the year. NYC’s hip LCD Soundsystem wouldn’t debut their first full album until the following year, but their single “Yeah!” was one of the defining singles of the dance underground and helped further bridge the gap between indi-rock/dance punk and club music.

The Norwegian artist Annie released her debut “Anniemal” and though it didn’t garner tons of sales, it became a huge favorite amongst indie fans and became a huge marker, as her music was pure Euro-pop, rather than the IDM or techno that had been championed by indie fans for some time. It had more in common with Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears or Rachel Stevens than Underworld, Aphex Twin and Autechre. Pop music had some additional crossovers in ’04 as well. Gwen Stefan’s debut solo album “Love Angel Music Baby” was a huge selling pop album with a number of radio hits- “Holla back Girl” & “What Are You Waiting For” were two of the best ones. In R&B new artist Ciara had a trip of great singles “Oh”, “Goodies”, & “1,2 Step”. Christina Milian’s “Dip It Love”, Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body”, and Usher’s “Yeah!” were some other great R&C club smashes from ’04.

The year in rap, despite Kanye’s great aforementioned “College Dropout”, was mostly about great singles rather than great full lengths, though Ghostface Killah dropped the very decent “Pretty Toney Album” and Cam’ron’s “Purple Haze” was a cult smash and helped further Harlem’s Dipset crew phenomenon. Also Los Angeles rapper Madvillain released his greatest album “Madvillain”, one of the great hip hop albums of the decade and one of the toughest to classify. Great rap singles of ’04 include “Jadakiss “Why”, Juvenile “Slow Motion”, T.I.’s “Bring Em Out”, Cee-Lo “I’ll Be Around”, Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot”, Fabolous “Breathe”, Twista “Slow Jamz” & J-Kwon “Tipsy”. Nearly all of those tracks came off of comparably weak albums.

U.K. rap was becoming a bigger deal as well. White English rapper The Streets released the follow-up to his great debut “A Grand Don’t Come For Free”, which was a concept album built around his every day real life experiences and finding and losing both money, friends & a girl. Though the important U.K. grime compilation “Run the Road” wouldn’t drop until the winter of ’05 many of the best artists on it released great stuff in ’04 including grime’s biggest star Dizzee Rascal with his 2nd album “Showtime”, Kano’s debut “Home Sweet Home” & the teenage Lady Sovereign with her “Vertically Challenged EP”. Though not a U.K. rapper, ’04 also saw M.I.A. release her “Piracy Funds Terrorism” album with the DJ Diplo. It would create a huge underground buzz and set the tone for her commercial album debut in ’05.

Most of the biggest and best rock albums of ’04 were in the indie-rock vein but there were a few exceptions. Former pop punkers Green Day release their huge rock opera “American Idiot”, which captured the tone to the head up of the presidential ’04 election quite well. “Idiot” had quite a long shelf life and was one of the bigger mainstream rock records of the decade and three or four tracks still receive tons of airplay on rock radio. The biggest band in the world U2 released “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” and while it wasn’t one of their better albums it was their last good one thus far and made a big splash among mainstream listeners as well. The third huge commercial rock record was “Hot Fuss” by the Killers, which has more than a handful of great radio jams. Back in ’04 they were marketed as a dance-punk group. Despite their excellent debut, the group became increasingly disappointing as the decade wore on and I still find “Hot Fuss” their only worthwhile release.

Some other worthwhile mentions are the Hold Steady’s debut “Almost Killed Me”, the Fiery Furnaces excellent indie-prog opus “Blueberry Boat”, the great metal group Mastodon’s “Leviathon”, which put them on the map outside the insular metal community, the Drive-By Truckers underrated “Dirty South” album and the surprisingly inspired collaboration between White Stripe Jack White and country legend Loretta Lynn “Van Lear Rose”. Also ’04 was the year that Brian Wilson finally released “Smile”- the most famous unreleased album of all-time. Sure it was a solo album with a different backing group than the Beach Boys, but it came out surprisingly great.

Another scene worthy of mention, which came to fruition in ’04 was the freak-folk movement, which became one of the more influential sub genres on the indie scene in the 00’s. It was a throwback to the quiet folk music of the mid-late 60’s mixed with that same era’s psychedelic-rock. It mirrored much of that sixties music in both tone and values. Some of the biggest artists of that genre released some great albums in ’04 including “Rejoicing In the Hands” by Devendra Banhart, “Milk-Eyed Mender” by Joanna Newsom, “Sung Tongs” by Animal Collective and “Our Endless Numbered Days” by Iron & Wine.

ARCADE FIRE- FUNERAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Funeral – Arcade Fire
Buy Funeral Amazon

 

 

 

 

FUTUREHEADS- FUTUREHEADS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The Futureheads – The Futureheads
Buy The Futureheads Amazon

 

 

 

 

MODEST MOUSE- GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Good News for People Who Love Bad News – Modest Mouse
Buy Good News For People Who Love Bad News [Explicit]Amazon

 

 

 

THE STREETS- A GRAND DON’T COME FOR FREE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy A Grand Don’t Come for Free (Bonus Track Version) – The Streets
Buy A Grand Don’t Come For FreeAmazon

 

 

 

 

MADVILLAIN- MADVILLAINY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Madvillainy – Madvillain
Buy Madvillainy [Explicit] Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

OF MONTREAL- SATANIC PANIC IN THE ATTIC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Satanic Panic In the Attic – of Montreal
Buy Satanic Panic In The AtticAmazon

 

 

 

 

TV ON THE RADIO- DESPERATE YOUTH, BLOOD THIRSTY BABES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes – TV On the Radio
Buy Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty BabesAmazon

 

 

 

 

 

ANNIE- ANNIEMAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Anniemal – Annie
Buy Anniemal – US Version Amazon
 

 

 

MASTODON- LEVIATHON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Leviathan – Mastodon
Buy Leviathan Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

KANYE WEST- COLLEGE DROPOUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The College Dropout – Kanye West
Buy The College Dropout (Explicit)Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

MISSION OF BURMA- ONOFFON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy ONoffON – Mission of Burma
Buy ONoffON Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

INTERPOL- ANTICS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Antics – Interpol
Buy Antics Amazon

 

 

 

 

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS- THE DIRTY SOUTH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The Dirty South – Drive-By Truckers
Buy The Dirty South Amazon

 

 

 

 

THE WALKMEN- BOWS + ARROWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Bows + Arrows – The Walkmen
Buy Bows + Arrows (DMD Album)Amazon

 

 

 

 

SONIC YOUTH- SONIC NURSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Sonic Nurse – Sonic Youth
Buy Sonic Nurse Amazon

 

 

 

 

DEVENDRA BANHART- REJOICING IN THE HANDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Rejoicing In the Hands – Devendra Banhart
Buy Rejoicing In the Hands Amazon

 

 

 

JOANNA NEWSOM- MILK-EYED MENDER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The Milk-Eyed Mender – Joanna Newsom
Buy The Milk-Eyed Mender Amazon

 

 

 

FRANZ FERDINAND- FRANZ FERDINAND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
Buy Franz Ferdinand Amazon

 

 

 

THE BLACK KEYS- RUBBER FACTORY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Rubber Factory – The Black Keys
Buy Rubber Factory Amazon

 

 

 

 

IRON & WINE- OUR ENDLESS, NUMBERED DAYS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Our Endless Numbered Days – Iron & Wine
Buy Our Endless Numbered DaysAmazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** BONUS COMP LES SAVY FAV- INCHES **6 SONGS ON COMP WERE NEW 2004 RELEASES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Inches – Les Savy Fav
Buy Inches Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 1 (5/14/05)

1.  Modest Mouse- The World at Large

Buy The World At Large – Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Buy The World At Large Amazon

2.  Franz Ferdinand- Take Me Out

Buy Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand (Special Edition Version)
Buy Take Me Out Amazon

3.  Interpol- Evil

Buy Evil – Antics
Buy Evil Amazon

4.  Drive-By Truckers- Where the Devil Don’t Stay

Buy Where the Devil Don’t Stay – The Dirty South
Buy Where The Devil Don’t Stay Amazon

5.  The Walkmen- Little House of Savages

Buy Little House of Savages – Bows + Arrows
Buy Little House Of Savages Amazon

6.  M.I.A.- Galang (Single Version)

Buy Galang – Arular
Buy Galang [Explicit] Amazon

7.  Annie- Chewing Gum

Buy Chewing Gum (Vocal Mix) – Anniemal
Buy Chewing Gum (Vocal mix) Amazon

8.  Lady Sovereign- Cha Ching (Cheque 1, 2 Remix)

Buy Ch Ching (Cheque 1-2 Remix) – Vertically Challenged
*Track not available via Amazon

9.  Dizzee Rascal- Stand Up Tall

Buy Stand Up Tall – Showtime
Buy Stand Up Tall Amazon

10.  TV On the Radio- Staring At the Sun

Buy Staring At the Sun – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
Buy Staring at the Sun Amazon

11.  Madvillain (Featuring Lord Quas)- America’s Most Blunted

Buy America’s Most Blunted – Madvillainy
Buy America’s Most Blunted [Explicit] Amazon

12.  Scissor Sisters- Take Your Mama

Buy Take Your Mama – Scissor Sisters (Bonus Track)
Buy Take Your Mama Amazon

13.  Les Savy Fav- The Sweat Descends

Buy The Sweat Descends – Inches
Buy The Sweat Descends Amazon

14.  The Black Keys- 10am Automatic

Buy 10. A.M. Automatic – Rubber Factory
Buy 10 A.M. Automatic Amazon

15.  Morrissey- The First of the Gang to Die

Buy The First of the Gang to Die – You Are the Quarry
Buy First of The Gang to Die Amazon

16.  Arcade Fire- Rebellion (Lies)

Buy Rebellion (Lies) – Funeral
Buy Rebellion (Lies) Amazon

17. Kelly Clarkson- Since U Been Gone

18.  A.C. Newman- On the Table

Buy On the Table – The Slow Wonder
Buy On The Table Amazon

19.  The Futureheads- Decent Days and Knights

Buy Decent Days and Nights – The Futureheads
Buy Decent Days And Nights Amazon

20.  Kanye West- Through the Wire

Buy Through the Wire – The College Dropout
Buy Through The Wire (Album Version (Explicit)) Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 2 (5/15/05)

1.  Arcade Fire- Neightborhood #1 (Tunnels)

Buy Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) – Funeral
Buy Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) Amazon

2.  Modest Mouse- Float On

Buy Float On – Float On – Single
Buy Float On Amazon

3.  Loretta Lynn (Feat. Jack White)- Portland, Ore

Buy Portland, Oregon – Van Lear Rose
Buy Portland Oregon Amazon

4.  A.C. Newman- Drink to Me, Babe

Buy Then Drink to Be Me, Babe – The Slow Wonder
Buy Drink To Be Me, Babe, Then Amazon

5.  Fiery Furnaces- Straight Street

Buy Straight Street – Blueberry Boat
Buy Straight Street Amazon

6.  Ciara- 1, 2 Step

Buy One, Two Step (feat. Missy Elliott) – Goodies
Buy One, Two Step Amazon

7.  The Streets- Fit But You Know It

Buy Fit But You Know It – A Grand Don’t Come for Free
Buy Fit But You Know It Amazon

8.  LCD Soundsystem- Yeah (Crass Version)

Buy Yeah (Crass Version) – LCD Soundsystem
Buy Yeah (Crass Version) Amazon

9.  Annie- My Heartbeat

Buy Heartbeat – Heartbeat – Single
Buy Heartbeat Amazon

10.  Les Savy Fav- We’ll Make a Lover Out of You

Buy We”ll Make a Lover of You – Inches
Buy We’ll Make a Lover of You Amazon

11.  Ted Leo & the Phamracists-Me & Mia

Buy Me and Mia – Shake the Sheets
Buy Me and Mia Amazon

12.  Bjork- Triumph of a Heart

Buy Triuimph of a Heart – Medulla
Buy Triumph of a Heart (Album Version) Amazon

13.  Madvillain- Accordion

Buy Accordian – Madvillainy
Buy Accordian [Explicit] Amazon

14.  Riko & Target- Chosen One

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

15.  The Futureheads- First Day

Buy First Day – The Futureheads
Buy First Day Amazon

16.  Franz Ferdinand- Jacqueline

Buy Jacqueline – Franz Ferdinand (Special Edition Version)
Buy Jacqueline Amazon

17.  The Walkmen- The Rat

Buy The Rat – Bows + Arrows
Buy The Rat Amazon

18.  The Hives- No Pun Intended

Buy No Pun Intended – Tyrannosaurus Hives
Buy No Pun Intended Amazon

19.  Magnetic Fields- I Don’t Believe You

Buy I Don’t Believe You – I
Buy I Don’t Believe You Amazon

20.  Brian Wilson- Surf’s Up

BuySurf’s Up – Smile
BuySurf’s Up Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 3 (12/3/05)

1.  U2- Vertigo

Buy Vertigo – How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Buy Vertigo Amazon

2.  Les Savy Fav- Hold Onto Your Genre

Buy Hold On to Your Genre – Inches
Buy Hold On To Your Genre Amazon

3.  Kanye West- All Falls Down

Buy All Falls Down – Def Jam Recordings 25, Vol. 14 – Best of the Best
Buy All Falls Down (Album Version (Explicit)) [feat. Syleena Johnson] Amazon

4.  Ghostface Killah (Feat. Trife)- Biscuits

Buy Biscuits (feat. Trife) – The Pretty Toney Album
Buy Biscuits [Explicit] Amazon

5.  Cee-Lo- I’ll Be Around

Buy I’ll Be Around (Radio Mix) [feat. Timbaland] – Cee-Lo Green… Is the Soul Machine
Buy I’ll Be Around (Radio Mix) Amazon

6.  The Libertines- Music When the Lights Go Out

Buy Music When the Lights Go Out – The Libertines
Buy Music When The Lights Go Out Amazon

7.  Sonic Youth- Pattern Recognition

Buy Pattern Recognition – Sonic Nurse
Buy Pattern Recognition Amazon

8.  The Streets- Blinded By the Lights

Buy Blinded By the Lights – A Grand Don’t Come for Free
Buy Blinded By The Lights Amazon

9.  Kano- P’s & Q’s

Buy P’s and Q’s – Home Sweet Home
Buy P’s and Q’s – album version Amazon

10.  Secret Machines- Nowhere Again

Buy Nowhere Again – Now Here Is Nowhere
Buy Nowhere Again (Album Version) Amazon

11.  Arcade Fire- Wake Up

Buy Wake Up – Funeral
Buy Wake Up Amazon

12.  Modest Mouse- One Chance

Buy One Chance – Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Buy One Chance Amazon

13.  Iron & Wine- Naked As We Came

Buy Naked As We Came – Our Endless Numbered Days
Buy Naked As We Came Amazon

14.  Devendra Banhart- The Body Breaks

Buy The Body Breaks – Rejoicing In the Hands
Buy The Body Breaks Amazon

15.  The Black Keys- The Lengths

Buy The Lengths – Rubber Factory
Buy The Lengths Amazon

16.  Drive-By Truckers- Puttin’ People On the Moon

Buy Puttin’ People On the Moon – The Dirty South
Buy Puttin’ People On The Moon Amazon

17.  Mission Of Burma- The Enthusiast

Buy The Enthusiast – ONoffON
Buy The Enthusiast Amazon

18.  Interpol- Slow Hands

Buy Slow Hands – Slow Hands
Buy Slow Hands Amazon

19.  Franz Ferdinand- The Dark of the Matinee

Buy The Dark of the Matinée – Franz Ferdinand (Special Edition Version)
Buy The Dark Of The Matinée Amazon

20.  Madvillain (Feat. Viktor Vaughn)- Fancy Clown

Buy Fancy Clown – Madvillainy
BuyFancy Clown [Explicit] Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 4 (12/4/05)

1.  Green Day- American Idiot

Buy American Idiot – American Idiot
Buy American Idiot [Explicit] Amazon

2.  TV On the Radio- Bomb Yourself

Buy Bomb Yourself – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
Buy Bomb Yourself Amazon

3.  Arcade Fire- Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)

Buy Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) – Funeral
Buy Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) Amazon

4.  Sonic Youth- Peace Attack

Buy Peace Attack – Sonic Nurse
Buy Peace Attack Amazon

5.  Eminem- Mosh

Buy Mosh – Encore (Deluxe Version)
Buy Mosh [Explicit] Amazon

6.  Kanye West- We Don’t Care

Buy We Don’t Care – The College Dropout
Buy We Don’t Care (Album Version (Explicit)) Amazon

7.  Dizzee Rascal- Dream

Buy Dream – Showtime
Buy Dream Amazon

8.  Air- Cherry Blossom Girl

Buy Cherry Blossom Girl (Radio Mix) – Cherry Blossom Girl – EP
Buy Cherry Blossom Girl Amazon

9.  Iron & Wine- Sunset Soon Forgotten

Buy Sunset Soon Forgotten – Our Endless Numbered Days
Buy Sunset Soon Forgotten Amazon

10.  Modest Mouse- Ocean Breathes Salty

Buy Ocean Breathes Salty – Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Buy Ocean Breathes Salty Amazon

11.  Morrissey- Irish Blood, English Heart

Buy Irish Blood, English Heart – You Are the Quarry
Buy Irish Blood, English Heart Amazon

12.  PJ Harvey- The Life & Death of Mr. Bad Mouth

Buy The Life and Death of Mr. Badmouth – Uh Huh Her (U.S. Version)
Buy The Life And Death Of Mr. Badmouth [Explicit] Amazon

13.  Nellie McKay- David

Buy David – Get Away from Me
Buy David Amazon

14.  Fiery Furnaces- Spaniolated

Buy Spaniolated – Blueberry Boat
Buy Spaniolated Amazon

15.  The Killers- Mr. Brightside

Buy Mr. Brightside – Hot Fuss
Buy Mr. Brightside (Album Version) Amazon

16.  Interpol- C’Mere

Buy C’mere – Antics
Buy C’mere Amazon

17.  The Libertines- The Ha Ha Wall

Buy The Ha Ha Wall – The Libertines
Buy The Ha Ha Wall Amazon

18.  The Hives- A Little More for Little You

Buy A Little More for Little You – Tyrannosaurus Hives
Buy A Little More For Little You Amazon

19.  Ghostface Killah (Feat. Jadakiss)- Run

Buy Run (feat. Jadakiss) – The Pretty Toney Album
Buy Run [Explicit]  Amazon

20.  Devendra Banhart- This Beard Is for Siobhan

Buy This Beard Is for Siobhán – Rejoicing In the Hands
Buy This Beard Is For Siobhan Amazon

21.  Loretta Lynn- Miss Being Mrs.

Buy Miss Being Mrs. – Van Lear Rose
Buy Miss Being Mrs. Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 5 (4/17/09)

1.  Les Savy Fav- Meet Me in the Dollar Bin

Buy Meet Me In the Dollar Bin – Inches
Buy Meet Me In The Dollar Bin Amazon

2.  Franz Ferdinand- Darts of Pleasure

Buy Darts of Pleasure – Franz Ferdinand (Special Edition Version)
Buy Darts Of Pleasure Amazon

3.  The Futureheads- Hounds of Love

Buy Hounds of Love (New Mix) – The Futureheads
Buy Hounds of Love (new mix) Amazon

4.  T.I.- Bring Em Out

Buy Bring Em Out – Urban Legend
Buy Bring Em Out (Explicit Album Version) [Explicit] Amazon

5.  Snoop Dogg & Pharrell- Drop It Likes It’s Hot

Buy Drop it like it’s hot (feat. Pharell Williams) – The Dog In Me
Buy Drop It Like It’s Hot (Album Version (Explicit)) [feat. Pharrell Williams] Amazon

6.  Christina Milian- Dip It Low

Buy Dip It Low – It’s About Time
Buy Dip It Low Amazon

7.  Annie- Greatest Hit

Buy Greatest Hit – Anniemal
Buy Greatest Hit Amazon

8.  Feist- Inside and Out

Buy Inside and Out – Let It Die
Buy Inside And Out (Album Version) Amazon

9.  The Concretes- You Can’t Hurry Love

Buy You Can’t Hurry Love – The Concretes
Buy You Can’t Hurry Love Amazon

10.  Of Montreal- Disconnect the Dots

Buy Dis-connect the Dots (LP Version) – Satanic Panic In the Attic
Buy Disconnect The Dots (LP Version) Amazon

11.  Belle & Sebastian- Your Cover’s Blown

Buy Your Cover’s Blown – Books – EP
Buy Your Cover’s Blown Amazon

12.  Interpol- Narc

Buy Narc – Antics
Buy Narc Amazon

13.  Johnny Boy- You Are the Generation Who Bought the Most Shoes and You GEt What You Deserve

Buy You Are The Generaion That Bought More Shoes – Johnny Boy
Buy You Are The Generaion That Bought More Shoes Amazon

14.  Sufjan Stevens- All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands

Buy All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands – Seven Swans
Buy All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands Amazon

15.  Iron & Wine- Passing Afternoon

Buy Passing Afternoon – Our Endless Numbered Days
Buy Passing Afternoon Amazon

16.  Animal Collective- Leaf House

Buy Leaf House – Sung Tongs
Buy Leaf House Amazon

17.  Jens Lekman- A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill

Buy A Sweet Summernight On Hammer Hill – You Are the Light – EP
Buy A Sweet Summernight on Hammer Hill Amazon

18.  Drive-By Truckers- Lookout Mountain

Buy Lookout Mountain – The Dirty South
Buy Lookout Mountain Amazon

19.  Arcade Fire- Crown of Love

Buy Crown of Love – Funeral
Buy Crown of Love Amazon

20.  Kanye West- Jesus Walks

Buy Jesus Walks – Def Jam 25, Vol. 1: DJ Bring That Back (2008-1997)
Buy Jesus Walks (Album Version (Explicit)) Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 6 (4/18/09)

1.  Mission Of Burma- The Set-Up

Buy The Set Up – ONoffON
Buy The Setup Amazon

2.  The Hold Steady- The Swish

Buy The Swish – Almost Killed Me
Buy The Swish Amazon

3.  Ghostface Killah- Beat the Clock

Buy Beat the Clock – The Pretty Toney Album
Buy Beat The Clock [Explicit] Amazon

4.  The Von Bondies- C’mon C’mon

Buy C’mon C’mon – C’mon, C’mon – Single
Buy C’mon C’mon (Album Version) Amazon

5.  Fabolous- Breathe

Buy Breathe – Real Talk
Buy Breathe (Explicit Album Version) Amazon

6.  Kanye West- Spaceship

Buy Spaceship – The College Dropout
Buy Spaceship (Album Version (Explicit)) [feat. GLC, Consequence] Amazon

7.  McLusky- She Will Only Bring You Happiness

Buy She Will Only Bring You Happiness – She Will Only Bring You Happiness – EP
Buy She Will Only Bring You Happiness Amazon

8.  TV On the Radio- Poppy

Buy Poppy – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
Buy Poppy Amazon

9.  Wilco- Handshake Drugs

Buy Handshake Drugs – A Ghost Is Born (Tour Edition)
Buy Handshake Drugs Amazon

10.  Modest Mouse- The Good Times Are Killing Me

Buy The Good Times Are Killing Me – Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Buy The Good Times Are Killing Me [Explicit] Amazon

11.  The Ponys- Let’s Kill Ourselves

Buy Let’s Kill Ourselves – Laced With Romance
Buy Lets Kill Ourselves Amazon

12.  Fiery Furnaces- Tropical-Iceland (EP Version)

Buy Tropical Iceland – EP
Buy Tropical Iceland Amazon

13.  Arcade Fire- Neighborhood #3 (Laika)

Buy Neighborhood #2 (Laika) – Funeral
Buy Neighborhood #2 (Laika) Amazon

14.  Joanna Newsom- The Sprout & the Bean

Buy Sprout and the Bean – The Milk-Eyed Mender
Buy Sprout and the Bean Amazon

15.  Jens Lekman- You Are the Light (By Which I Travel Into This & That)

Buy You Are the Light (By Which I Travel Into This and That) – When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog
Buy You Are The Light Amazon

16.  Kylie Minogue- I Believe In You

Buy I Believe In You – Boombox
Buy I Believe in You Amazon

17.  Estelle- 1980

Buy 1980 – Good Times 4
Buy 1980 Amazon

18.  The Streets- Dry Your Eyes

Buy Dry Your Eyes – A Grand Don’t Come for Free (Bonus Track Version)
Buy Dry Your Eyes Amazon

19.  Madvillain- Rhinestone Cowboy

Buy Rhinestone Cowboy – Madvillainy
Buy Rhinestone Cowboy [Explicit] Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 7 (8/17/13)

1.  Twista (Feat. Kanye West & Jay-Z)- Slow Jamz

Buy Slow Jamz – Kamikaze
Buy Slow Jamz (Feat. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx) (Explicit Album Version)Amazon

2.  Ciara (Feat. Ludacris)- Oh!

Buy Oh (feat. Ludacris) – Goodies
Buy Oh Amazon

3.  M.I.A.- MIA

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

4. Turbulence- Notorious (Original 7″ Mix)

5.  Usher (Feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris)- Yeah!

Buy Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris) – Confessions
Buy Yeah! Amazon

6.  J-Kwon- Tipsy

Buy Tipsy (Club Mix) – Hood Hop
Buy Tipsy (Club Mix) [Explicit]Amazon

7.  Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds- Get Ready For Love

Buy Get Ready for Love – Abattoir Blues / Lyre of Orpheus
Buy Get Ready for Love Amazon

8.  Franz Ferdinand- Michael

Buy Michael – Franz Ferdinand
Buy Michael Amazon

9.  Phoenix- Everything is Everything

Buy Everything Is Everything – Alphabetical
Buy Everything Is Everything Amazon

10.  Of Montreal- Spike the Senses

Buy Spike the Senses (LP Version) – Satanic Panic In the Attic
Buy Spike The Senses (LP Version)Amazon

11.  Stereolab- Vonal Declusion

Buy Vonal Declosion – Margerine Eclipse
Buy Vonal Declosion (2006 Remastered Album Version)Amazon

12.  Air- Run

Buy Run – Talkie Walkie
Buy Run Amazon

13.  Alan Braxe & Fred Falke- Rubicon

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

14.  Madvillain- Figaro

Buy Figaro – Madvillainy
Buy Figaro [Explicit] Amazon

15.  The Walkmen- Thinking Of a Dream I Had

Buy Thinking of a Dream I Had – Bows + Arrows
Buy Thinking Of A Dream I HadAmazon

16.  The Futureheads- Carnival Kids

Buy Carnival Kids – The Futureheads
Buy Carnival Kids Amazon

17.  The Black Keys- Till I Get My Way

Buy Till I Get My Way – Rubber Factory
Buy Till I Get My Way Amazon

18.  Mastodon- Iron Tusk

Buy Iron Tusk – Leviathan
Buy Iron Tusk Amazon

19.  Joanna Newsom- The Book of Right-On

Buy The Book of Right-On – The Milk-Eyed Mender
Buy The Book Of Right-On Amazon

20.  Devendra Banhart- A Sight to Behold

Buy It’s a Sight to Behold – Rejoicing In the Hands
Buy A Sight To Behold Amazon

21.  Elliott Smith- A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity to be Free

Buy A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free – From a Basement On the Hill
Buy A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free Amazon

Best of 2004 Volume 8 (8/17/13)

1.  Mastodon- Blood and Thunder

Buy Blood and Thunder – Leviathan
Buy Blood and Thunder Amazon

2.  Mission Of Burma- Wounded World

Buy Wounded World – ONoffON
Buy Wounded World Amazon

3.  The Hold Steady- Hostile, Mass.

Buy Hostile, Mass. – Almost Killed Me
Buy Hostile, Mass. Amazon

4.  Sonic Youth- Unmade Bed

Buy Unmade Bed – Sonic Nurse
Buy Unmade Bed Amazon

5.  The Libertines- What Became of the Likely Lads

Buy What Became of the Likely Lads – Time for Heroes – The Best of The Libertines (Bonus Track Version)
Buy What Became Of The Likely LadsAmazon

6.  The Sun- My Girlfriend’s Best Friend

Buy My Girlfriend’s Best Friend – Did Your Mother Tell You?
Buy My Girlfriend’s Best Friend (Album Version)Amazon

7.  Rilo Kiley- Portions for Foxes

Buy Portions for Foxes – More Adventurous
Buy Portions For Foxes (Album Version)Amazon

8.  Annie- Anniemal

Buy Anniemal – Anniemal
Buy Anniemal Amazon

9.  Gwen Stefani- Holla Back Girl

Buy Hollaback Girl – Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Buy Hollaback Girl (Album Version (Explicit))Amazon

10.  Rachel Stevens- Some Girls

Buy Some Girls – Come and Get It
Buy Some Girls Amazon

11.  Jason Forrest- 10 Amazing Years

*Track not available via iTunes or Amazon

12.  Cam’ron (Feat. Kanye West)- Down and Out

Buy Down and Out – Purple Haze
Buy Down And Out [Explicit]Amazon

13. Mike Jones (Feat. Slim Thug & Paul Wall)- Still Tippin’

14.  Jadakiss- Why

Buy Why? – Kiss of Death
Buy Why [Explicit] Amazon

15.  Kanye West (Feat. Mos Def, Freeway & Harlem Boys Choir)- Two Words

Buy Two Words – The College Dropout
Buy Two Words (Album Version (Explicit)) [feat. Mos Def, Freeway, The Boys Choir Of Harlem] Amazon

16.  Madvillain (Feat. Wildchild)- Hardcore Hustle

Buy Hardcore Hustle – Madvillainy
Buy Hardcore Hustle [Explicit]Amazon

17.  Iron & Wine- Fever Dream

Buy Fever Dream – Our Endless Numbered Days
Buy Fever Dream Amazon

18.  Wilco- Wishful Thinking

Buy Wishful Thinking – A Ghost Is Born (Tour Edition)
Buy Wishful Thinking Amazon

19.  Feist- Mushaboom

Buy Mushaboom – Let It Die
Buy Mushaboom (Album Version)Amazon

20.  Joanna Newsom- Peach, Plum, Pear

Buy Peach, Plum, Pear – The Milk-Eyed Mender
Buy Peach, Plum, Pear Amazon