Here's a personal short list of new and interesting music from 2004.
Smile - Brian Wilson
What can you say when one of pop music's boy geniuses takes the 30-year old ruins of his most daring work and, note by note, reconstructs and releases it? Perhaps simply that it was worth the wait.
Life for Rent - Dido
I take a special interest in sophomore albums. They let us see what the artist is capable of producing, under pressure, without recourse to the playlist that got them signed in the first place. In Dido's case, we get a second helping of the tuneful mellowness of her debut, with no noticeable losses in either hummability or lyrical wit.
The College Dropout - Kanye West
It's no surprise to find the most daring, satirical, funny, sincere, original music of the year coming from hip hop (see last year's Outkast double-album). What's surprising is to find it all on this single-disk debut.
Songs About Jane - Maroon 5
Maroon 5 have surely sold their souls for this back-to-back rack of hooks. The album spawned more pop singles than any other last year. Not bad for a start, and if they work a little more on their harmonies they might be worth listening to for many years to come.
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - U2
Just like any child of the Eighties, I find myself tickled that U2 is the hot new band for today's teens. Just check out the iTunes sales of their e-single Vertigo, off the new album; watch their iPod television ad; or ask your local high schooler their opinion about debt forgiveness for African nations (hint: Bono), and you'll see what I mean.
Encore - Eminem
Eminem is one of the singular forces of our pop culture - if you don't already both love him and hate him then you just haven't been paying attention. His new album makes this list mainly for one song, Mosh, which was recorded and rushed to market (with animated video) just before the election. Many of us have wondered where the stirring protest music of this generation would come from. Well, folks - here it is.
Los Lonely Boys
A Latino / Country Western band out of Los Angeles, they earn a spot with their local color, breadth of styles, and fearless mix of genres.
Ray - Ray Charles
The soundtrack of the year is an easy pick. Erica and I saw Ray Charles in concert at the Hollywood Bowl two summers ago, and he seemed absolutely unstoppable. He wasn't though, of course; so goodbye, Ray, and thanks for sharing.
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3 comments:
No Coldplay? Modest Mouse?
U2 is, at best, producing music that isn't horrible. Kind of like Toyota produces cars that aren't too bad. They aren't industry shaking, but they get you from point A to point B. At worst U2 is a band that has stuck around to bleed their fans dry before they fade away. There are two reasons to believe this:
1. At a U2 concert at the LA coloseum, Bono stopped at one spot to point back at the large screen and arches and yelled "do you like that? You paid for it!" like he was laughing at us for paying $70 for the tickets. He was right.
2. When asked to describe the sound of "The Fly" in the early 90s, Bono replied "That's the sound of 4 men chopping down the Joshua Tree" (an album that could be described as the height of U2's career). He said it in a way that revealed that he wasn't happy with the way U2 sounds. For one reason or another, he continues to make music because of contractual obligations, or whatever.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the comments. I will definitely look up those two albums. I confess to finding the U2 and Dido palpably less exciting than the rest, but I have been listening to and enjoying them anyway, so there you go. Coldplay was on the list last year so this year gets a bye.
I stand corrected. Coldplay had a 2003 release. They will have another in 2005. In addition to Modest Mouse, The Killers are a great 80s throwback band (very techno-pop).
It did occur to me that DJ Danger Mouse should have made it to the list as interesting music. Very boundry pushing in the realm of IP rights.
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