On my website we each made a compilation with our favourite songs of 2004, and in the next few days we will be posting a top 10. I did mine on Amazon.com because it was the easiest way.

Top Albums of 2004

And here is the songs I picked for my compilation.

Tracklist:

1. Musicology - Prince: I have been a huge fan of Prince for a long time. It was somewhat validating to see him back in the mainstream earlier this year. I picked this track for a variety of reasons, but mostly I couldn't think of a better way to open an album. Just a great funk track, with some awesome guitar and wicked vocals. If you are listening to N.E.R.D. and loving it you should listen to Prince and hear what N.E.R.D wishes they sounded like.

2. The Wrong Way - TV On The Radio: My favourite song off one of my favourite albums on the year. More than anything the sax on this track stands out to me, gives it a really acid jazz kinda sound that I always love. This song and TV On The Radio in general had one of the most original sounds of the year.

3. Los Angeles Is Burning - Bad Religion: I don't own this cd, but I heard this song on the punk show and was hooked. I really like the lyrics, and the message of the video and everything altogether with the song. My personal favourite punk song of 2004.

4. Songs to Sing When I'm Lonely - John Frusciante: There was a shitload of music released by John Frusciante this year. He released an EP per month for the last 5 months or so. But this song is off his only LP. As always with John Frusciante the guitar is first class, but more so on this song the vocals are also top notch. Very melodic, and almost hypnotic. Great usage of backup vocals, and layering to create a really neat sound. Probably the catchiest song he has ever created and just a pleasure on your ears.

5. Bukowski - Modest Mouse: Modest Mouse is one of my favourite bands. As you will see this album has been extremely well received by the people of Two Way Monologues. Personally, I don't rate it as highly as I do their earlier work. But this song sounds more true to their older sound. The more disjointed and spontaneous sounding Modest Mouse is. I far prefer that over their more polished sound (see "Float on"). But this song has the chanting Modest Mouse sound that I love, and the trademark twangy guitar and some biting lyrics. My pick for best song of the disc, but as you will see in the other lists you can see it more than one way.

6. Loving The Alien - Velvet Revolver: The Velvet Revolver album was a big disappointment to me. I got it as soon as it came out, and was so excited to hear it. I have always adored Weiland's voice and I figured the fusions of sound was guaranteed to be good. But in general the album is stale and the songs go on too long. Not this song. A David Bowie cover done fantastically. The guitar is toned down a bit, and it allows Weiland to really take it away. Despite all the drugs one of the best voices in rock today, Weilland steals the show on this tune and it is a shining light on an otherwise disappointing debut.

7. Counting Down The Hours - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists: Ted Leo pops up again on the website. This to me is the most obsessively catchy song that came out this year. I almost have to avoid listening to it so often as to avoid never having anything else stuck in my head. The highlight of this great song is the chorus. CAUTION: Only listen to this song if you are willing to deal with having it in your head the next few days. Be warned.

8. Jesus Walks - Kanye West: I feel obligated to state that I was listening to Kanye West before almost anybody was, and the album on the whole is fucking phenomenal. The album deserves all of it's praise, and if any rap album had to be as over played as this one was I am happy it was Kanye who got the airplay. This album is top 10 all time as far as Hip-hop is concerned. So with all that said "Jesus Walks" is the cream of the crop of this album. A song I believe will stand the test of time, awesome lyrics and a great beat. This is cutting edge hip hop, something you don't see a lot of anymore.

9. Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Green Day: On an album that Green Day re-established themselves as being truly punk, the least punk song on the album makes my list. This is a great song though, and I predicted it as a single after my second listen. It is no coincidence that some of Green Day's most memorable moments are when they put out a softer song with really pretty vocals. What is more punk than releasing a song like this and losing no credibility whatsoever?

10. Spongebob and Patrick Confront The Pyschic Wall of Energy - Flaming Lips: Dude I would have never thought I was going to put a song from the Sponge Bob soundtrack on here. But the Flaming Lips are great, and make some of the most bizarre and fucked up pop/alternative music around. This song is sickingly catchy, and the background filled with bubbles, whistles, and all sorts of random shit is really a trip. But as bizarre as it, it is still totally accessible and catchy to the masses. The Flaming Lips are one of only a few band that can do that.

11. I Only Want You - Eagles of Death Metal: The best song I found from Much Wedge all year. I am still shocked that this song never became a massive hit. If you haven't heard this do yourself a favour and download the song. The best way to describe the sound is think of Queens of the Stone Age turned into a band that you can dance to, and then add a far more poppier vocalist. The result is a truly original sound, and the funniest album of the year. This isn't the only good song on the album, but in my opinion it is the best.

12. Could Well Be In - The Streets: Another band I found on the Wedge. This song is my favourite on the album, mostly because of the lyrics like ----> "I saw this thing on my tv the other week, said that if she played with her hair she's probably keen. She is playing with her hair well regularly, so I reckon I could well be in".

13. The Lengths - The Black Keys: Another band I have Much Wedge to thank for being in my collection. "Rubber Factory" is a great album with all sorts of fantastic songs. But the stripped back twanged out blues track "The Lengths" is my favourite. I don't have any proof of this but I bet they close out a lot of shows playing this track as an encore. It has that sound. This song tugs on the heart strings a bit, but in a good way.

14. Jumbo Jet Headache - Limblifter: I would put serious money on this being the last Limblifter record something that troubles me dearly. But at least they went out with a bang. I could have picked any song on this album. The chorus and the vocal gymnastics on this song in particular makes it stand out as one of the best. Pirate this song, but if you like it then buy the album! Save this amazing Canadian band.

15. Stumble & Fall - Razorlight: If you know me you likely have heard one of my tirades about the mass overplay and over praise of Franz Ferdinand. This whole concept that they are the saviours of music, and that their album is so much better than anything that came out in 2004 is tired and untrue. With a big wad of money and the exposure Franz got Razorlight could have been just as big. The album is better, and this song is one of the best. Very similar in sound to what Franz is doing except without being over produced, and fine tuned into a money making machine. Razorlight is starting to get a bit of attention, watch out for a BOOM from Razorlight in 2005.

16. Money Worries (Featuring Vernon Maytone) - Bedouin Soundclash: First listen of the album I loved this song, and I still do. Seriously reggae influences on this song, and the addition of Vernon Maytone's elderly wise voice combined with the trademark Bedouin vibe is music at its finest. Plus.... this past year has made the lyrics about worrying about money ring just a bit more true to me. Which always helps.

17. Black Betty - Spiderbait: A truly bizarre song to do a cover of but a truly unique cover resulted from it. This is one of those test out your sound systems song. With a heavy hillbilly guitar line throughout, and some pounding bass and drums this is likely the heaviest and yet the most playful song on the album. The heavily distorted vocals, with the hickish guitar track has me rocking it steady everytime. Can't speak of the album though, haven't heard it.

18. A Fond Farewell - Elliot Smith: In 2004 we lost one of the best singer/songwriters of our generation. Though he never surfaced to the mainstream, those who know about good music always knew how talented Elliot was. On his last album many of the songs are somewhat eerie when knowing his eventual fate. This song was a great way to end the album, and to pay tribute to one of my favourite musicians of all time. Some of the most impressive lyrics I have ever heard, and every song was delicately crafted to perfection. This is no exception.

In fact I dedicate this entire 2004 best of CD To Elliot Smith. "This is not goodbye, it is just a fond farewell to a friend".

This is a good an thoughtful post, Twowaymonologues. We do, however, already have a topic devoted to 2004 singles. How about reposting this over there?

Thanks!

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