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December 16, 2004

2004 In Music

My postings here have fallen off some, they will return to their Normally Scheduled Levels in the new year.

Onward to the, boom-boom-boom, Best of 2004 Music List. Now this is only the full length top 10, as I couldn't possibly back track through every 12 inch & list them here...

1. Black Dice: Creature Comforts

Nothing argues better for New York's relevance then this sublime slab of vinyl. Earth noise for Feral Animists. Beaches and Canyons was good, This is Great. Creature Comforts (or as I have come to label it, Where the Wild Things Are) expertly plods through forests of sinuous noise, bubbling and popping with organic life, warm but gritty - not too thick. With it's textured meanderings and interplays, its an epic piece of the animist puzzle, spelunking between the cracks of disparate outputs without making us hoof it through requisite ironies and platitudes. Sadly, this is the last recording featuring percussionist Hisham Bharoocha, perhaps this played a factor... As MF Doof says, All that glitters isn't fish scales.


2. Fennesz: Venice

The Austrian Jimi Hendrix of lap-toppery came back this year with a much more subdued exploration of his otherworldly sonics, but oh-so-pleasing nonetheless. Warm textures with enveloping waves of boundless sound, its gaze firmly horizonless. One of the most important figures in electronic music evidenced by this stunning edition to the Fennesz lexicon. Long rule the unrivaled Touch label.


3. Animal Collective: Sung Tungs

More Feral Animists from New York. Another etch in this groups brilliant totem of earthly shaminism, with depth, color, and a decidedly brighter vocal sheen on this journey. Hand it to UK based FatCat for continuing to release top musics, bringing this sound to the much wider audience it so heartfully deserves. F'in important music. Thanks for the intro JB.


4. The Streets: A Grand Don't Come For Free

What more can be said about Mike Skinner that hasn't already? Kid put together everything on the A Grand Don't Come for Free, his sophmore effort, and has nearly topped his hugely celebrated debut. Brilliant. If you haven't watched the banned Blinded by The Lights video, its sadly accurate accompaniment to achingly beautiful song. Mmmmmashed.


5. Bochum Welt: Kissing A Robot Goodbye

Perhaps the most undercredited & underrated genius of the Richard D. James/Mike Paradinas/Tom Jenkinson/D'arcangelo school of music. It's Gianluigi Di Costanzo, and he continues to bring the amazingly deep, rich, and warm analog goodness with it's signature melodies and socking electro tinged beats. Respect is due.


6. Aphrodite's Child: 666: The Apocalypse Of

Holy Shit does this album kick ass. 70's ProgRock at its very finest. A concept album of 24 tracks, such a spectacle, you have to hear it to believe it. Originally released in 1972, it was rereleased this year, & please, all of you should indulge in this masterstroke. Perhaps the finest expression of bloated proggy genius ever.


7. Various Artists: Kompakt 100

100 releases eh Kompakt? You sexy bitch you. Chug-Chug-Chug. Kompakt asked each artist on the comp to pick their favorite track from the back catalogue and remix it. How pimp of them. Thanks Cologne, for all the wonderful music you've given us. Thanks to the visions of Wolfgang Voight, Michael Mayer, Riley Rheinhold, Mathias Schaffhäuser and others, dance music is as vital a form as ever. We owe it to that little town on the Rhine, do we ever.


8. Slowdive: Catch The Breeze

I will never love a conventional rock outfit, as much as I love Slowdive. They came right at that moment in youth where a band is forever yours. This two disc set takes songs from their 3 full lengths, & comes highly reccomended to those who don't want to track down the Creation releases - which can be difficult to find these days. My old roommate from Minneapolis, Jesse Ross, introduced me to Slowdive, and went schitzophrenic 2 years later. I want to thank him & wish him well.


9. Masta Ace: A Long Hot Summer

Skilled hip-hop that bypasses the bling, and circumnavigates the suburban backpack bunch - Masta has to be the most underrated NYC MC. An original member of the legendary Juice Crew, he's been around for quite along time, although the fickle media has kept him just under the radar. A prolific mic controller who recruits the fabulous 9th Wonder (of Little Brother), for one of the years best singles, "Good Ol Love" - and a fantastic album to boot.


10. Mr Vegas: Pull Up

Mr. Vegas, in my opinion, had the dancehall single of the year with "Pull Up", which Lil' Jon remixed late last summer (in addition to the burner of a hit "Under Mi Sensi"), all of which appear here on his big Stateside Splash via Delicious Vinyl. He's a talented singjay and a serious toaster, who manages to astonish time and again. There will be much more from this seminal Jamican talent, as dancehall continues to fatten the American pop diet. I mean, who could make crotch rockets sound so cool, but a fellow they call Mr. Vegas, Big UP!


>>Also this year: Ricardo Villalobos, John Fahey, Brian Eno, Madvillain, Death From Above 1979, Moodyman, Excepter, The Roots, The Arcade Fire, Dead Texan, Pete Rock.

Posted by jmarston at December 16, 2004 12:14 PM

Comments

Posted by: Erik at December 17, 2004 11:52 AM

Posted by: tim at August 27, 2005 08:00 AM