As we pass the midpoint of the year, I thought I would update my list, which is up to a baker's dozen at this point. So, in stricly alphabetical order:

Ambulance Ltd. LP
The Butchies Make Yr Life
The Candy Butchers Hang On Mike
Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand
Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose
Nellie McKay Get Away From Me
David Mead Indiana
Modest Mouse Good News For People Who Love Bad News
A.C. Newman The Slow Wonder
The Red Thread Tension Pins
Patti Smith Trampin'
The Streets A Grand Don't Come For Free
Wilco A Ghost Is Born

I don't know about anybody else, but in all I think 2004 has been a really good year to date. Most of what I've been eagerly anticipating is out. What do we have to look forward to in the latter half of the year?

Now Playing: "Free Love Overdrive" Shrimp Boat Cavale (Bar/None)

quote:

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Originally posted by LinnTate:
I don't know about anybody else, but in all I think 2004 has been a really good year to date.

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It's okay. Some of its most noteworthy albums have had enormous flaws; it's had very few albums that have been thoroughly, consistently brilliant. It's no 2002.

quote:

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Most of what I've been eagerly anticipating is out. What do we have to look forward to in the latter half of the year?

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Now that Antics has leaked, I'm looking forward to:
The Folded Palm by Frog Eyes - An oft-overlooked group with two great, weird albums under its belt, Frog Eyes are coming out with their new album The Folded Palm sometime this year. I really really liked The Golden River, so I'm waiting eagerly for this one.
The Beast and Dragon Are Adored by Spoon - Spoon are monolithic in the indie rock scene at this point, but that's because they're completely brilliant- A Series of Sneaks was fantastic, Girls Can Tell was better, and Kill the Moonlight was even better than that. Hence, anticipation.
Medulla by Bjork - Because it's rumouredly all a cappella! How cool is that!
The Libertines by the Libertines - They're melting down completely at this point, but I still want to hear the sequel to the hugely fun Up the Bracket.
Whatever they're gonna title it, if they even bother with a title at all by Sigur Ros, if they even finish it by the end of the year.

I can't think of any others off the top of my head.

quote:

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Originally posted by Vykromond:

Now that _Antics_ has leaked, I'm looking forward to:
_The Folded Palm_ by Frog Eyes - An oft-overlooked group with two great, weird albums under its belt, Frog Eyes are coming out with their new album _The Folded Palm_ sometime this year. I really really liked _The Golden River_, so I'm waiting eagerly for this one.
_The Beast and Dragon Are Adored_ by Spoon - Spoon are monolithic in the indie rock scene at this point, but that's because they're completely brilliant- _A Series of Sneaks_ was fantastic, _Girls Can Tell_ was better, and _Kill the Moonlight_ was even better than that. Hence, anticipation.
_Medulla_ by Bjork - Because it's rumouredly all a cappella! How cool is that!
_The Libertines_ by the Libertines - They're melting down completely at this point, but I still want to hear the sequel to the hugely fun _Up the Bracket_.
_Whatever they're gonna title it, if they even bother with a title at all_ by Sigur Ros, if they even finish it by the end of the year.

I can't think of any others off the top of my head.

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Most of your comments, V,are right on the button as far as I'm concerned but I don't really pay that much attention to what's coming out . I figure that that will sort itself out. Glad to hear that some of my faves will be returning. Where the hell is The Soundtrack of Our Lives?

quote:

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Originally posted by LinnTate:

Now Playing: "Free Love Overdrive" Shrimp Boat _Cavale_ (Bar/None)

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Hey LT, if you're on a Shrimp Boat kick, check out the new rarities box set on AUM Fidelity. First pressings come with a bonus (4th) disc. It's quite a worthwhile investment...

quote:

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Originally posted by Vykromond:
_Medulla_ by Bjork - Because it's rumouredly all a cappella! How cool is that!

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Very cool indeed, V. I'll be eager to hear that one as well. Is there a street date?

quote:

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Hey LT, if you're on a Shrimp Boat kick, check out the new rarities box set on AUM Fidelity. First pressings come with a bonus (4th) disc. It's quite a worthwhile investment...

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Shrimp Boat is another band I'm only just now discovering after spending, it would appear, the better part of the 90s under a rock. I found my way to them in reverse chronological order after a friend recommended The Sea and Cake. While I like TSAC plenty, I think I actually prefer Shrimp Boat right now, if you can believe it, so thanks for the tip as well.

Now Playing: "Time (Jungle)" Wax Poetic Nublu Sessions (Ultra)

My list so far, I don't think I can put an order on it as of yet, but here goes:

The Elected: Me First
Architexture in Helslinki: Fingers Crossed
The Album Leaf: In a safe Place
Erlend Oye: DJ Kicks
Blonde Redhead: Misery is a Butterfly
Camera Obscura: Underachievers...
Dios: Self Titled
Jim Guthrie: Now more than ever
Max Ritcher: The Blue Notebooks
The Polyphonic Spree: Together We're Heavy
RJD2: Since we last spoke


I know there are more, but I just can't think of em, hope the next half of 2004 is as good as the first.

In no Particular order:
Ghost- Hypnotic Underworld
Lali Puna- Faking the Books
Sonic Youth- Sonic Nurse
Streets- A Grand don't come for free
Modest Mouse- Good News...
Loretta Lynn- Van Lear Rose
Von Bondies- Pawn Shope Heart
!!!- Lounden Up Now
TV on the Radio- Bloodthirsty Babes
Felix Da Housecat- New one, I forget the title
Fennesz- New one, likewise
Wilco- A Ghost is Born

Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Kanye West - College Dropout
Franz Ferdinand - S/T
Animal Collective - Lost Tongs
M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas, and Lost Ghosts
Madvillain - Madvillainy
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born (like it, flawed though)

Still need to listen to the new Xiu Xiu album a little more...

Not a single album I'd consider mindlblowing yet. Hope that changes in the second half of this year.

In precise, particular order:

1 Razorlight * Up All Night (Vertigo UK)
2 Junior Boys * Last Exit (Kin UK)
3 Mission Of Burma * ONoffOn (Matador)
4 TV On The Radio * Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch & Go)
5 Arto Lindsay * Salt (Righteous Babe)
6 The Walkmen * Bows And Arrows (Record Collection)
7 Wilco * A Ghost Is Born (Nonesuch)
8 PJ Harvey * Uh Hu Her (Island)
9 Fennesz * Venice (Touch)
10 Franz Ferdinand (Domino)

Seems to be a lot of discussion about albums that haven't come out yet, so here's the ones I've heard:

Interpol * Antics (Matador) Sep 28
Radio 4 * Stealing Of A Nation (Astralwerks) Sep 7
Clinic * Winchester Cathedral (Domino/Universal) Aug 24
The Faint * Wet From Birth (Saddle Creek) Sep 14

I enjoy the Interpol the most, though none will be top 10 contenders.

i figure i mayas well throw my hat in the ring.even though i think it is way too early to be making lists...but it is fun none the less.
I actually sat down and thought about this one...so i tried to break it down to a few groups...like group A and group B.I guess....here goes!

First Group-in no particular order.

Lali Puna-Faking the Books
Clouddead-Ten
Sixtoo-Chewing on Glass and other Miracle Cures
DJ Signify-Sleep No More
*Extremely dark,Extremely Awesome!
Boom Bip-Corymb
Tv On The Radio-Desperate Youth...
TLS-From the Double Gone Chapel
*Incredible how these guys can change.New Sound and it sounds Great!
V/A-Zen Best of and Zen Remix
*Great Notes in the booklets and soon to be classic tunes!
Madvillain-Madvillainy
Superpitcher-Here Comes Love
Beans-Now Soon Someday EP
*Can't get enough of this guy,refreshing sounds.
Telefon Tel Aviv-Map of What is Effortless
Venetian Snares-Huge Chrome cylindar...
Patrick Wolf-Lycanthropy
Vijay Iyer & Mike Ladd-In What Language
*Ever been pissed in an airport or felt mistreated?Then this is your album!Great!

Group B-

Franz Ferdiand-S/T
Dani Siciliano-Likes
Daedelus-Of Snowdiania
*His Best solo effort,just outweighs invention.
M83-Dead Cities...
*Only because I have had it for Months on Import.Tecnically 03' release.
RJD2-Since We Last Spoke
*Great Second Album,A nice break from his "normal" and also great production style.
Circlesquare-Pre Earthquake Anthem
*Released in 02' but re-re in 04',c'mon slide guitars,atmosphere and smooth electronic beats?
Cex-Rich,White and Boring
*Mainly because it is FREE,No-Nonsense good summer rap/hiphop!Excellent!
Blockhead-Music by Cavelight
Murs-3:16
*Probabbly would be in top 10 if not so short.
Kiln-Sunbox EP
Dykehouse-Midrange
Funkstorung-Disconnected
*Not as good as ther debut.But great glitched out hip hop.
Alias-Unseen Thoughts Ep
*With Markus Acher from Notwist!!!!
Four Tet-Live in Copnhagen


Seeing that i am a 80% rap/electronic 20% indie rock fan hereis what i am looking forward to!

DJ Rels aka. Madlib
Cex EP
Four Tet EP
Fat John LP
Boards Of Canada LP
Mf Doom "Mf Food"
Amon Tobin "Solid Steel presents"
*I see theris already a review on Tiny!
Dabrye "Two/Three LP"
K-Os "Joyfull Rebellion"
Mike Ladd "Nostallgiator"
Dalek "Absence"

And has anybody heard about the collaboration between
The Notwist and themselves...i saw a little blip about t on the anticon site?
That would be insane!

I am sure i messed up on spelling or something somewhere...you dont need to tellme about it.
Thanks for Looking...or Not!

Since y'all seem to be interested about the new Bjork, I'll talk about it some more:

From bjork.com came the name of the album, and the general release time ("late August," hopefully):

quote:

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We are more than pleased to tell you that we have a name for Björk's new album and that name is:

Medulla
(noun) m&-'d&-l& (plural: medullas or medullae)
the inner or deep part of an animal or plant structure

The predictions for a release are aiming towards a late August. As for the album cover - Björk will yet again be teaming up with the team of M/M (Paris) (aka Mathias Augustyniak and Michaël Amzalag) and Inez/Vinoodh (aka Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin) for the album artwork."

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As for the a cappella, this is a little trickier. Here's an excerpt from a Pitchfork news article in April, back when this album was still called The Lake Experience:

quote:

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Here, she'll pair up with "famed" Japanese beatboxer Dokaka, who is said to have garnered "worldwide" "notoriety" for his elaborate and unique style. To date, the man has released we-don't-even-know-how-many shockingly precise a cappella renditions of time-tested favorites. Among the victims are King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man", and-- if you can guess only one-- Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

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More specifically, in an interview with i-D magazine, where she was also with the guys of Sigur Ros:

quote:

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björk: when i did my last album, i only listened to micro-beats for three years. nothing else, all my friends were really worried about me. now all i listen to are vocals, anything vocal, from yodelling to greek choirs to hip hop, just anything vocal.
jónsi: so is your record just vocals? just you and a choir?
björk: yup, i've been recording with a lot of vocal people, so i ask one person to do a bassline, another to do drums, it's been hilarious. some of it is really rubbish.
kjartan: when me and jónsi were in the studio once, we recorded a kind of barbershop quartet. i was singing the bass and the tenor, jónsi was singing the rest. it was really funny.
björk: i met this girl who lives really far north in canada in a town with only 200 people and she invented her own style of throat singing. it's supposed to be totally with no emotion, but she's like edith piaf or something, totally emotional, so i got her to do beats to quite a few songs. that was fun.

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And in an interview with W Magazine,

quote:

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"I just got really bored with instruments. I started doing everything with my voice. Then suddenly I didn't want to work with any musicians, which is a bit weird. I only wanted to work with vocalists." She was inspired, she says, by paganism, and the rather esoteric idea of returning to a universe that is entirely human -- without tools or religion or nationalities. "I wanted the record to be like muscle, blood, flesh," she says, pumping her fist. "We could be in a cave somewhere and one person would start singing, and another person would sing a beat and then the next person sing a melody, and you could just kind of be really happy in your cave. It's quite rootsy," she adds, rolling the "r" for emphasis in her native fashion.

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And a Sigur Ros note- apparently the new record is going to be spring 2005 (says so on their site!), so never mind about that.

Favorites of 2004 so far…

This list is not exhaustive, and fudges at points. In same cases, I include records released in 2003 in the UK but not released until 2004 in the US, based only on which version I picked up first. There is not particular order or method to this madness:

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers: Americano!
The Frames: Set List
Grant Lee Philips: Virginia Creeper
Wannadies: Before and After (this is really a fudge…I have the 2003 import version but didn’t listen to it until I accidentally re-bought the 2004 release!)
Lambchop: Aw, C’mon AND No, You C’mon
Paul Kelly: Ways and Means
Spiritualized: Collected Works, Volume 2 (another fudge, but whatever…)
Bigger Lovers: This Affair Never Happened…
Gingersol: Eastern
Push Stars: Paint the Town
Saw Doctors: Live in Galway
Honeydogs: 10,000 Years
Iron and Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
Ric Menck: The Ballad of… (reissue)
Tommy Keene: Drowning (rarities collection)
Franz Ferdinand: s/t
Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans
Wilco: A Ghost is Born
Marah: 20,000 Streets Under the Sky
Jesse Malin: The Heat
The Killers: Hot Fuss

Please!!

Has anybody listened to the new

Sixtoo-Chewing on Glass...

Even though sixtoo has been mostly linked to rap and hip/hop outfits like anticon and the indie rap "revolution" so to speak.I think this album would be quite enjoyable to any listener who is a fan of indie rock, post-punk,rap...straight up rock...i dont know all the categories but i know it will appeal to a much broader fanbase...sort of in the same way as "entroducing" was.Yes i did it i refrenced a dj shadow album in correspondance with another instrumental rap album...but to call it just an instrumental rap album would be doing it a dis-service.This album could be placed in many genres...and there are too many adjectives to describe it from beautifull to bleak?

I know what your saying this is just another sample based rap album with no lyrics?Yes it is sample based but almost all the instruments were performend and recorded live and manipulated afterwards.Also there is an awesome track featuring damo suzuki from can!!

The test of a great album i think is being able to play it in any situation.Like i was listening to it while i played video games...and i listened to it at work (where i did get alot of comments-mostly the good kind seeing as i work with a bunch of metalheads)It works in any situation...i only named a few.

Anyways i would like to hear what everyone else thinks about it...or if they care or not that it is even out there?or if you are planning to buy it?

Let me know?

Thanks

I appologize for mis-spellings and mis-spacings in advance i wrote it on the fly...so i am sure there are some problems!

quote:

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Originally posted by Imprezu21:
Please!!

Has anybody listened to the new

Sixtoo-Chewing on Glass...

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Before reading your post, I had never heard of this artist/album before. What you wrote about Sixtoo sounds intriguing to me. I will check this artist out.

quote:

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Before reading your post, I had never heard of this artist/album before. What you wrote about Sixtoo sounds intriguing to me. I will check this artist out.

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That is awesome...please let me know what you think after you listen to it for a while?

Casey

I'm giving the sixtoo album a first listen. the damo suzuki track is really awesome.

quote:

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Originally posted by Buck "Sweetie" McGuck:
I'm giving the sixtoo album a first listen. the damo suzuki track is really awesome.

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Cool man...yeah that track is awesome.Let me know what you think...i dont know why this album has not gotten that much hype.I find it equal to if not better than any other instrumental rap album.Even though i would not consider it rap or instrumental...but it is mostly instrumental.

Anyways...i am sure you will like it...from reading some of your other posts!

Yeah, this Sixtoo album now definitely has a place on my best of 04 list. Good recommendation.

has anybody mentioned 'The Concretes' yet? just got the cd today, its amazing. Check it out if you haven't heard, a good first song to hear is 'you can't hurry love'. Awesome.

Updated top 10:

Penelope Houston - Pale Green Girl
Abra Moore - Everything Changed
Patti Smith - Trampin'
Indigo Girls - All That We Let In
Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin
Maria Mena - White Turns Blue
Corrs - Borrowed Heaven
A.C. Newman - Slow Wonder
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose

There are many others I love. Just got the new Ashlee Simpson, and it's a guilty pleasure. If you're not a fan of pop/rock like I am, you probably won't like it. The release date for the Sarah Hudson was delayed.