 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Top 15 Albums of 2004
by Fake Train
|
|
 |
1. Arsis - A Celebration of Guilt (Willowtip)
HOLY MOTHER OF METAL! Arsis' A Celebration of Guilt should have been aptly titled A Celebration of Metal, for it's one of the finest metal releases I have ever heard, and the best of 2004. Heads down, goats up!
|
 |
2. Amanda Woodward - La Decadence De La Decadence (Level Plane)
The French outfit's energized emotional punk-rock is nicely captured on La Decadence De La Decadence. Live, Amanda Woodward's force is captivating. This album is essential.
|
 |
3. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (Geffen)
I thought Murray Street was good, but Sonic Nurse surpassed my expectations. It definitely leaves off where Murray Street ended, but the songs on Sonic Nurse are rich with layers and layers of guitars. A fan since high school, I admit there was a time I started to fade away from Sonic Youth around the releases of A Thousand Leaves and NYC Ghosts & Flowers, but these last two albums sparked a newfound love of the band, and Sonic Nurse is probably my favorite behind Daydream Nation and Sister.
|
 |
4. Elevator Division - Years (Second-Nature)
Somber, melodic rock that encompasses the spine-chilling reverberation of richly layered 80s guitars, slow brooding buildups, and soft-spoken vocals that are not only calming, but commanding, Years is a cool sounding release.
|
 |
5. Unearth - The Oncoming Storm (Metal Blade)
Unearth is one of few bands that mix metal and hardcore perfectly. The Oncoming Storm is the band's most potent album to date, and one that closely showcases Unearth's amazing live output, one that shouldn't be passed up.
|
 |
6. Further Seems Forever - Hide Nothing (Tooth & Nail)
The first few spins of Hide Nothing didn't have me captivated, yet the more I listened, the more I realized how great an album this was. With ex-Sensefield vocalist Jon Bunch behind the mic, Further Seems Forever have definitely found the perfect voice, and hopefully they'll break the new-singer-every-album streak and stay with Bunch for the next release.
|
 |
7. Le Tigre - This Island (Universal)
Forget that they signed to a major; This Island was spinning more times in my CD player than any of Le Tigre's albums before it. Catchy, dancey, and just a fun record to listen to, Le Tigre hooked me into an endless beat-athon from the first to the last track.
|
 |
8. The Sleeping - Believe What We Tell You (One Day Savior)
Ex-members of Skycamefalling really surprised me with an album that fully explores hardened, emotional melodic rock. The Sleeping definitely takes it to the next level on Believe What We Tell You. Now this is progress.
|
 |
9. The One Am Radio - A Name Writ In Water (Level Plane)
As with their debut, The One AM Radio succeeds in creating an evocatively beautiful low-key release that shouldn't be overlooked. The One AM Radio's music brings a sense of melancholy, but Hrishikesh Hirway has one of the most comforting voices around—gentle, engaging, and smooth. A Name Writ In Water has been an album that constantly finds its way into my stereo before I lay down to sleep at night.
|
 |
10. Robotnicka - Spectre En Vue (Bloodlink / Maloka)
I'll bet you anything that you've never heard sounds like the quirky French dance synth punk-rock outfit Robotnicka. Honestly, this may be some of the oddest rock I've heard in awhile, but it's some of the most infectious. Weird, but inventive.
|
 |
11. Converge - You Fail Me (Epitaph)
Sure, they've slowed things down a bit, but it's as much callous and abrasive as Jane Doe, yet it's an album that's easier to digest. Frenzied, loud, eerie, and uncompromising, You Fail Me doesn't disappoint. There's only one question, why on Epitaph?
|
 |
12. Voice in the Wire - Signals in Transmission (Eyeball)
I love Pittsburgh. I love good melodic punk-rock. I love the Steelers. I love Voice in the Wire. I love Signals in Transmission. Enough said.
|
 |
13. Recover - This May Be the Year I Disappear (Universal)
Overall, This May Be the Year I Disappear may not be as aggressive as their debut Rodeo & Picasso, but Recover's major label debut is so much more powerful. Recover rocks!
|
 |
14. Isis - Panopticon (Ipecac)
Isis slowly builds up walls and walls of sound, gradually, forcefully. Fans of Oceanic will no doubt be enthralled by Isis' newest offering.
|
 |
15. Dead Prez - RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta (Columbia)
Definitely one of the best rap records from '04. Perhaps not as good as Lets Get Free, but definitely solid, with fascinating beats and politically and socially conscience lyrics, RBG is worth the dough, fo' sho.' And besides, I'm all crunked out.
|
 |
Other releases of 2004 to check out:
Helmet - Size Matters (Interscope)
Okay, so Page Hamilton is the only member still carrying the Helmet torch, but Page can still write powerfully heavy songs skewered by melody. Size Matters picks up where Aftertaste left off, and this long time fan isn't disappointed.
|
 |
Mastodon - Leviathan (Relapse)
The vocals may be cleaner, and a concept album centered around the book Moby Dick may have had many fans squirm, but the end result of Leviathan is nothing short than amazing. It isn't fast, but it's heavy, and surprisingly a progressive step up from Remission.
|
 |
Björk - Medulla (Elektra)
It goes without saying that Björk has one of the most unique and beautiful voices on the planet. So an album that is limited in instrumentations, allowing Björk's voice to stand on it's own, was the perfect innovative concept. Though there is some instrumentations on Medulla, but they are minimal, low-key, and the majority is made of layers upon layers of vocals, some even supplied by the likes of Rahzel (The Roots), Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, and countless other projects), and an Icelandic choir, among others. "Desired Constellations" makes my bones shiver with every listen. Simply amazing.
|
 |
Hopesfall - A Type (Trustkill)
Hopesfall really surprised a lot of fans with A Type. I'm still trying to adjust. There's no more gut-wrenching screams, and they definitely strayed from that early Grade influence, but heck, there's no denying that A Type rocks...like hard. I definitely miss the Satellite Years Hopesfall, but A Type is a good release, so get over it.
|
 |
Blood Brothers - Crimes (V2)
Nice progression from Burn Piano Island, Burn. A little more melodic, a little more experimental, and a little more fascinating (especially those high-pitched witchy vocals). Though Crimes isn't one long spastic rocked-out fit like the Blood Brothers' previous albums, it's a good listen. My weathered ears can use a break anyways.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
