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Fake Train's Top Songs of 2004 Mix-tape
by Fake Train
I decided to make a mix-tape of the songs I enjoyed and listened to the most in 2004. The following list is it. 90 minutes, two sides, one tape. Yeah, it definitely takes more time than throwin' a bunch of mp3s onto a CD, but the whole process of creating a mix-tape is a cool one nonetheless. It's got to have flow, and sitting down, sifting through numerous records, and recording those songs one at a time is a fun process. If you would like to send in a mix-tape of your favorite songs from 2004, I'll post it here, and I'll send you a copy of mine, besides, that's the whole point, to swap tapes and hopefully discover new bands and songs that you may not have heard before. Enjoy!
SIDE 1
1. Across Five Aprils "Answers in the Eyes" off Living the Moment
Driving, melodic punk-hardcore, "Answers in the Eyes" is a rock-solid tune that couldn't start off a mix-tape any better.
2. Despistado "Can I Please Have an Order of Girl with a Side of Confused" off The Emergency Response EP
Despistado definitely contains an At the Drive-In vibe. Jangly rock with some attitude, this track claws and scrapes, but its appeal will only bring you closer.
3. Pedro the Lion "Start Without Me" off Achilles Heel
David Bazan has one of the most soothing voices in indie-rock. "Start Without Me" is upbeat (well, for Pedro the Lion) and memorably sweet, it may just be my favorite Pedro song to date.
4. Amanda Woodward "La Decadence De La Decadence" off La Decadence De La Decadence
Amanda Woodward is from Caen, France, and they play some of the most potent driving punk-rock around. I was lucky enough to catch this outfit live, and the performance was probably one of the more memorable shows from this past year.
5. Sonic Youth "Unmade Bed" off Sonic Nurse
I've always favored Thurston's vocals over Kim's, especially when it comes to the softer, more melodic Sonic Youth songs. "Unmade Bed" might be one of the most beautiful tracks to come out from the Sonic Youth camp (though, there are many).
6. Further Seems Forever "Make It A Part" & "All Rise" off Hide Nothing
Yes, there are two songs on here from Hide Nothing, but when you listen to the album, both songs go together so well (they are even placed side by side on Hide Nothing) that I'm wondering why they weren't combined into one song. There's no denying the Sensefield comparisons, especially when it comes to Jon Bunch's vocals, but these two tracks are two of the most beautiful songs written by Further Seems Forever, and it's apparent that the group has finally found their voice.
7. Björk "Desired Constellation" off Medúlla
Such an amazing voice...and with her new innovative album, she allows her vocals to stand well on their own, literally. The track contains hardly any instrumentation, except a faint ambient pulsation in the background.
8. The Sleeping "If Your Heart Was Broken.You Would Be Dead" off Believe What We Tell You
I don't think this track would be the ideal song to represent The Sleeping, but it's one that will leave you stunned after listening. The track slowly builds. Clanging glasses and beer bottles are heard in the background, with a growing flux of conversation brewing below the music. Female vocals start chanting the song title over and over, while the music keeps building until the instrumentations rise and crash down with a pummeling hardcore breakdown and stinging guitar lead that paralyzes the senses. The female vocals become more insistent, more direct. Male vocals akin to Sean Ingram of Coalesce join in: "If your heart was broken, you'd be dead." It's an invigorating emotional release that gives me chills with every listen.
9. Jimmy Eat World "Nothingwrong" off Futures
Honestly, Futures isn't one of my favorite Jimmy Eat World albums, but the powerful "Nothingwrong" hit me hard.
10. Helmet "Unwound" off Size Matters
"Smart" and "Crashing Foreign Cars" were definitely the heavier tracks off the album, but the moderately paced Aftertaste-esque "Unwound" really stood out for me. I still feel Page can write a commanding song, and "Unwound" is proof.
SIDE 2
1. Stop It!! "Remove Your Teeth" off Self Made Maps
I think it's safe to say that I listened to this track the most out of all songs this year. Unfortunately, Stop It!! are no longer together, and I'm still kicking myself for not seeing them live. Dark, melodic punk-rock, "Remove Your Teeth" is a moody affair.
2. Mary Celeste "Tapestries Etc." off Our Guernica
The first track off Our Guernica snares your ear's attention without warning. Containing a similar feel to that of the herky-jerky dynamics of Q and Not U, "Tapestries Etc." is a dance-rock gem. Trust me, this will make the most uptight scenester uncross his/her arms and let loose.
3. Eniac "We Did Things" off Oh?
Hamburg, Germany's Eniac's gritty, driving punk-rock will make you do things.
4. Le Tigre "Seconds" off This Island
I heart Kathleen Hanna. I love her raw delivery, and "Seconds" really encapsulates that emotional aggressiveness that was so apparent in her past group Bikini Kill.
5. Martyr AD "Bring Out Your Dead" off On Earth As It Is In Hell
Aggressive Swedish influenced metal with just enough melodic garnish, "Bring Out Your Dead" is one of the more exciting heavy-hitters my ears were lucky enough to get bruised by this year.
6. Nevea Tears "No One Ever Shuts Up" off Do I Have to Tell You Why I Love You
"No One Ever Shuts Up" starts out with an atmospheric synth intro that quickly summersaults into discordant melodic hardcore, with sweet female vocals coming to the fore midway through the track: "As you touch the waters edge it rippled through my heart, it's drifting away," and then finishing with crushing breakdowns that are felt well after the song ends.
7. Hot Cross "Throw Collars to the Wind" off Fair Trades & Farewell
Hot Cross's "Throw Collars to the Wind" will make your insides burn. Members have been in such bands as Saetia, You And I, Joshua Fit For Battle, and The Now, so you know how lively this track is.
8. Voice In the Wire "Knives" off Signals In Transmission
From the ashes of Pittsburgh's Teddy Duchamp's Army rises Voice In the Wire. Melodic Steel City punk-rock never sounded any better.
9. Dead Prez "Radio Freq" off RBG
"Turn off the radio. Turn off that bullshit." This is one beat-infectious track, off one of the best rap albums of 2004.
10. Arsis "The Face of My Innocence" off Celebration of Guilt
Unbelievable that Arsis contains only two members. For any past metal fan, if "The Face of My Innocence" doesn't reclaim your faith in true metal, I don't know what will. Slayer.Slayer who?
11. Isis "So Did We" off Panopticon
Like listening to a slowly increasing heartbeat, "So Did We" is an epic track like no other, and the perfect closer to this mix-tape.
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