Favorite Albums of 2004

Here’s the big list. You’ve probably seen all of the important year-end lists and whatnot, but I always feel obligated to add my two cents. So here it is.

I’m finding myself a little at odds with an actual numerical ”Top Ten,” because I can’t decide on my favorite album and there’s a few more than ten. I know, I’m horrible. Anyway, here goes:

Wilco-A Ghost Is Born (in ten years will be recognized as the classic that it already is)

Arcade Fire- Funeral (saw them live…WOW)

Green Day- American Idiot (why all the press?)

The Bigger Lovers- This Affair Never Happened (very nice power pop)

The Hold Steady- Almost Killed Me (balls to the wall midwestern rock)

Elliot Smith- From A Basement On A Hill (makes you want to cry)

TV On The Radio- Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes (awesome for a party, try it!)

The Black Keys- Rubber Factory (two white guys from Akron make the best blues album of the year? yup.)

The Secret Machines- Now Here Is Nowhere (Pink Floyd and Led Zepplin date Tool)

A.C. Newman- The Slow Wonder (perfect pop, and it’s Canadian!)

The Fiery Furnaces-Blueberry Boat (weird, very weird and good, very good)

The Good Life- Album of the Year (is it? maybe.)

The Helio Sequence- Love and Distance (I haven’t even heard all of it yet and I put it here anyway)

Iron and Wine- Our Endless Numbered Days (beautifully hushed)

Modest Mouse- Good News For People Who Love Bad News (am I on a bandwagon, yes…had I actually heard of them before this year, yes)

Once again, I know that is way more than ten and that it isn’t in any particular order. Feel free to tell me that I’m an idiot for picking this album or that album, but if you do, please have the common courtesy to post your top ten afterwards!