Top 10 Albums 2004
The choices in these lists are in no particular order.


Ways And Means
Paul Kelly
“A double album from the prolific one. This man will be compared to Banjo Paterson in 20 years for being one of this countries truly amazing storytellers.”

Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
Nick Cave
“Blixa left a big hole in The Bad Seeds which was noticeable on Nocturama. Not any more, The Bad Seeds are back and this monstrosity is definitely a thing of beauty.”

Spit Polish
Tim Rogers And The Temperance Union
“What a shambolic collection of songs from the great Tim Rogers. Not his
best work but better than most.”

Escape From Tomorrow Today
The City Lights
“Real rock band from Sydney with soul and heart brimming from every orifice.”

Mach Schau
Hoodoo Gurus
“Incredibly underrated collection of hard rocking tunes from a band that all Australians should feel proud to have as part of our landscape.”

Let’s Bottle Bohemia
The Thrills
“Irish band that sounds like they are from California. Just great songs
recorded brilliantly.”

Everyone Is Here
The Finn Brothers
“In the same way The Beatles fill your head with melodies. The Finn Brothers at their best can write a hook inside a hook's hook in their sleep.”

Final Straw
Snow Patrol
“Glasgow’s finest absolutely nail it. If you like this, track down the
Reindeer Section. Same singer/songwriter and even better songs.”

How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb
U2
“For the 25th year in a row. They win the trophy for most consistent
performer.”

From A Basement On The Hill
Elliott Smith
“Like all of his records, the sadness of the lyrics are masked by the joy of
the tunes and the harmonies. Nonetheless this is a signpost to a very sad
ending. A fond farewell indeed.”
Graham Ashton
Capitol Records/EMI


Good News For People Who Like Bad News
Modest Mouse
“Great album and my fave album title of the year.”

Desperate Youth Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
“This was in the car and got played non-stop.”

The Milk Eyed Mender
Joanna Newsom
‘Beautiful.”

A Song Is A City
Eskimo Joe
“Worked on this album all year – the guys are great and deserve loads of success.”

A Ghost Is Born
Wilco
“Ahhh Wilco.”

Dallas Crane
“These guys should be bigger then Jet.”

Together We Are Heavy
The Polyphonic Spree
“Happy happy music - can't wait to see them at The Big Day Out.”

Spit Polish
Tim Rogers And The Temperance Union
“Tim is a fantastic songwriter.”

Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
“Been a fan for forever and this latest album did not disappoint.”

Real Gone
Tom Waits
“Growlllllllllllll.”
Carolyn Berry
Festival Mushroom Records


Lock-Sport-Krock
Nikola Sarcevic
“Millencolin frontman proves a fine singer songwriter.”

Your Are The Quarry
Morrissey
“The Smiths frontman dishes out his finest solo albums since Viva Hate and Your Arsenal.”

Future Kings Of Spain
“Dublin four-piece with no plans for regicide. Instead, you get agitated guitars and subtly crafty melodies to catch you unaware.”

Virgin Puerisqu
The Gin Club
”Channels the sea shanties of the First Fleet and the dirt-kicking dances of the Gold Rush era, whilst recalling everything from Weddings Parties Anything to Neil Young and Palace Brothers."

Charlie Mars
“Mississippi singer/songwriter that’s a cross between Richard Ashcroft and Joseph Arthur.”   

Little By Little
Andrew Morris
“Superbly crafted balladry from local troubadour with a tip of the hat to Neil Young.”

The Overture And The Underscore
Sarah Blasko
“The Sydney singer/songwriter with a icicle-melting voice delivers an album full of lightness and shade.”

A Monster In The Soul
International Karate
“Lush treatments and abstract sounds from Melbourne.”

22-20s
“British blues pretenders prove themselves worthy with an album that’s a real grower.”

On Night
Holly Throsby
“Fragile, dark yet oddly life-affirming simplicity from Sydney’s latest singing sensation.”
Matt Connors
Time Off


Dios
Dios (Malos)
“Saw them in NY and left me speechless, brilliant in a Brian Wilson sort a way.”

No Cities Left
The Dears
“Album only explains half the story, wait till you see'm live.”

Crossed Lines
78 Saab
“Big call I know, Australian album of the year for me.”

You Forgot It In People
The Broken Social Scene
“Swirls around like good music should.”

Funeral
The Arcade Fire
“Intense and enlightening.”

Bows And Arrows
The Walkmen
“The Rat would be up for song of the year with me.”

Seven Swans
Sufgan Stevens
“When you've got to take a little time out.”

The Power Out
Electrelane
“On Parade, no better song to get you out a bed.”

Venus Traps Fly
Machine Translations
“Brilliant album by one of our best songwriters, love Flown and Scretch.”

Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus
Nick Cave
“Just when you start to loose a bit of interest, he comes up with this. What records! Loving it more and more...Easy Money and O Children.”
Grant Gilles
Liberation Records


A Ghost Is Born
Wilco
“What you get when you put band disputes, addictions, sad country and great rock all on the same record, Tweedy again shows he's miles ahead of the pack.”

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
“A bunch of Texans in New York and they almost let you see the lights. One for prog rockers and Peter Gabriel fans.”

Abattoir Blues/The Lyre OF Orpheus
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
”Admit it, he is the king, 2 slabs of shear Cave brilliance. I am a fan you
know!”

Rubber Factory
The Black Keys
”White boys showing all how to sound black and doing it all so well.”

Bubblegum
Mark Lannegan
“Showing where all the skills came from in his previous band, Queens Of The Stone Age. What was the name of that other guy in that band?”

That Much Further West
Lucero
“Punk boys from LA turned country who rekindle the true spirits of country's long gone wild boys.”

Crossed Lines
78 Saab
“Best of a top list of Australian releases for 2004. Watch out Idols, there's real talent out there and it's coming to get you.”

Antics
Interpol
“Must be something in the water in New York. Interpol’s second album, as good as the first, can't wait for the third.”

Difference Between You And Me....
Mclusky
“Wales wild boys again offer more great rock sing a longs, sadly the band didn't make it through 2004.”

Stomp On Tripwires
The Cops
“Rock meets retro meets disco meets rock meets pubs meets Aussie meets footy meets beer and fun.”
Simon Homer
Skinnys


Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Modest Mouse
“Years in the making and their best yet.”

Now Here Is Nowhere
Secret Machines
“How can one miss with the ingredients in this sonic stew?”

Awcmon/Noyoucmon
Lambchop
“Luxuriously longwinded and indulgent in the best possible way.”

A Ghost Is Born
Wilco
“Moments of stark beauty and effervescent experimentation.”

It’s All About You
Tortoise
“Drifting in and out of fashion, this is my favourite chill-out album of the year.”

Bubblegum
Mark Lanegan
“Who said years of whisky and cigarettes were necessarily bad for your voice?”

Hot Fuss
The Killers
“Closet collection of guilty pleasures.”

Winchester Cathedral
Clinic
“Came to this late in the year and now can’t leave it alone.”

Let’s Bottle Bohemia
The Thrills
“A fine slab of porch rock.”

A Sphere in The Heart Of Silence
John Frusciante / Josh Klinghoffer
“Relaxed and virtuosic.”
Rob Hudson
modmove.com


Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
“Dark, angular, arty, itchy and implosive. Like waking up hungover to the apocalypse.”

Louden Up Now
!!!
“Propulsive sax, cowbells and apoplectic expletives. What else do you need?”

Winchester Cathedral
Clinic
“As craggy as it is compelling.”

Devin Dazzle And The Neon Fever
Felix Da Housecat
“Housecat’s piece de resistance and the only concept album you can dance to.”

Misery Is A Butterfly
Blonde Redhead
“As beautiful as a turn-of-the-century consumptive.”

Franz Ferdinand
“People! Lots of them! Liking music that’s actually good. A rare, wonderful thing.”

Antics
Interpol
“The way out is through.”

I
Magnetic Fields
“Who else but a narcissistic, New York genius could release an albumful of song titles beginning with ‘I’? Where the slighted go to drink, commiserate, and foster new obsessions.”

I Com
Miss Kitten
“Teutonic, electro pop of the highest order.”

Scissor Sisters
“Hand me my amyl.”
Kate Scott
Rave Magazine


Nino Rojo
Devendra Banhart
“Sparse cosmic folk. Dippy, surreal and irresistible!”

Smile
Brian Wilson
“The great lost Beach Boys album becomes a triumphant reality. Inspired strangeness and utter, mad beauty from beginning to end.”

Bright Like Neon Love
Cut Copy
“Electro-pop masterpiece Pt. 1. Early Human League meets the Best Night Out You Ever Had.”

Devin Dazzle And The Neon Fever
Felix Da Housecat
“Electro-pop masterpiece Pt. 2. Bubblegum girly vocals, the smell of hair spray, the sound of carefree times. The Shangri-Las joining New Order, anyone?”

Fly Or Die
N*E*R*D
“...in which producers to the stars come into their own as a scorching rock ‘n funk outfit.”

Awcmom/Noyoucmon
Lambchop
“Kurt Wagner unleashes the spirits of Sinatra and Serge Gainsbourg onto his many-numbered country/soul collective. The results are too good to fit onto just one album!”

Winchester Cathedral
Clinic
“Like the first Roxy Music album. Underwater. In a dream.”

Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Modest Mouse
“Schizoid American art rock. A frazzled, melodic masterpiece.”

Thunder, Lightning, Strike
The Go! Team
“Chaotic, almost Spectoresque collision of samples, beats and cheerleaders! Bouncy, deranged and deliriously life-affirming.”

Scissor Sisters
“We’re gonna take your mama out tonight, we’re gonna show her what it’s all about, get her all jacked up on cheap champagne and let the good times all roll out. Party album of the year!”
Matt Thrower
Rave Magazine


Joni Lightning
“Ex-Motor Ace player Dave Ong goes one better with this instinctive, ever-interesting rock-pop pastiche. A gutsy, inventive, singular work of excellence. Love it.”

Choose Your Own Adventure
Trinkets
“Though this Brisbane four-piece released this gem in late 2003 - I have listened to this sublime record all year, so it makes the cut. Instrumental heaven - violin, bass, guitar, drums & cello. One of my favourite records of the last few years.”

Crossed Lines
78 Saab
“Triumphant record from Sydney four-piece packed so chock-full of potential singles that the mind boggles. Moreish guitar pop rock, great singer. All killer no filler - indeed!”

Dios (Malos)
“Young Californian debutants with a summer-cruising-in-a-car pop feeling. Includes a Neil Young cover and a homage to the Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds. Grand.“

Young Forever
Aberfeldy
“Where to start? Is songwriter Riley Briggs the new Paul McCartney? Time will tell! Cute tweeness is bolstered by sweet regret and unabashed invention.”

Fly or Die
N.E.R.D
“The Neptunes lads extend themselves comfortably with this one. More of a rock album this time proving Chad and Pharrel are leaders not followers. Great stuff.”

The Calling
Hilltop Hoods
“A heap of great, top shelf hip hop has come out of Australia lately. Hilltop Hoods stand out because they have the complete package. The writing is great, delivery is top notch, the vocals are great, and the beats are excellent. Many an Aussie release has great beats but lack consistency in the lyrical/vocal department. Fantastic record.

Venus Traps Fly
Machine Translations
“J Walker is one of the most interesting musicians getting around at the moment. His left of centre approach is refreshing. The name - Machine Translations - is so perfect for what he does. Expect more of the
good stuff from this fella. Watch out for his burgeoning production work.”

I Can See It All Tonight
M Craft
“Martin Craft is an Aussie now living in London who took a few years to sculpt this gem. His old mate J Walker guests with remote collaboration. This record went very well for him in the U.K.”
Pat Whyte
Scene Magazine


Dear Friends And Enemies
Big Heavy Stuff
“Released early in the year and it’s still in my stacker.”

Desperate Youth Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
“Can’t wait for their next record. Nothing else sounded like it all year.”

Now Here Is Nowhere
The Secret Machines
“Bit o’ Zep, bit o’ Floyd. What’s not to like?”

Contraband
Velvet Revolver
“Could have been the shite of the year but it’s a mofo.”

A Song Is A City
Eskimo Joe
“You can’t get them outta your head either.”

Hot Fuss
The Killers
“Reminded me of all those bands I wouldn’t let myself like in the 80’s.”

Inches
Les Savy Fav
“Took a few listens but it was worth it.”

Destroy Rock And Roll
Mylo
“Almost made me dance.”

Real Gone
Tom Waits
“He’ll rarely let you down and takes you to places where you’re not sure you wanna go.”

13 In My 31
My Red Cell
“One of the best debuts of the year.”
Costa Zouliou
Triple J Radio

Click here to check out our 2004 top ten gig lists