The Countdown To My Absolute Favorites of 2004
by Tim Anderl
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10. Pelican – Australasia (Hydrahead)
9. Brian Wilson – Smile (Nonesuch)
8. Sounds Like Violence – The Pistol EP (Deep Elm)
7. Twelve Tribes – The Rebirth of Tragedy (Ferret)
6. The Walkmen – Bows And Arrows (Record Collection)
5. Death From Above 1979 – You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine (Vice)
4. Mastodon – Leviathan (Relapse)
3. Kanye West – College Dropout (Rocafella)
2. The Arcade Fire – Funeral (Merge)
1. Dangermouse – The Gray Album (Self-released)

(Writer’s Note: Not sure all these came out in 2004 proper. That doesn’t change the fact that these were my favorites this year.)

Honorable Mentions of 2004 (In no particular order):
Behold The Arctopus -- Arctopocalypse Now... Warmageddon Later- 3"CD (Epicene Sound Systems)
Joe Anderl – Purple Hearts and The Typesetter (Bettawreckonize Media)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Shake The Sheets (Lookout!)
Mastema / Yes, Collapse Split 2x3" CDR (Epicene Sound Systems)
Various Artists – Old Enough 2 Know Better (Merge)
Dalek – Absence (Ipecac Recordings) (Writers Note: Left out of top ten only because the street date is 2005.)
My Chemical Romance – Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge
Communique– Poison Arrows (Lookout!)
The Icarus Line – Penance Soiree (Buddyhead)
Wrangler Brutes – Zulu (Kill Rock Stars)
Kill Me Tomorrow -- The Garbage Man and The Prostitute (GSL)
Unearth – The Oncoming Storm (Metal Blade)
Slowdive – Catch The Breeze (Sanctuary)
Isis – Panopticon (Ipecac Recordings)
Panicsville – Perverse (Liquid Death/Hello Pussy Records)
Various Artists – Record Of Shadows Infinite (Crucial Blast)
Various Artists – African Underground Hip Hop 1 Senegal (Nomadic Wax)
Taking Back Sunday – Where You Want To Be (Victory)
The Cure – Three Imaginary Boys (Rhino)
Ben Kweller – On My Way
Bjork – Medulla
Flogging Molly – Within A Mile Of Home (Sideonedummy)
Morrissey – You Are The Quarry (Attack)

My Best Moments in Live Rock 2004:
Denovo and Tiara at Elbo’s
Apollo Up, The Whole Fantastic World at Elbo’s
Wolf Colonel, The Rabbits at Elbo’s
The Dream Is Dead, The Red Affair, Yes, Collapse!, Joe Anderl at Elbo’s
Jimmy Eat World, Gratitude at Newport
The Jealous Sound at Elbo’s
The Black Keys, The Heartless Bastards, Thee Shams at Southgate House
The Wrens, Mates of State at Little Brother’s
Joe Anderl, Tom Foolery and The Mistakes, Arch Villains, Denovo, and Southeast Engine at Elbo’s
Warped Tour 2004
HoliDayton at Elbo’s
Ryan Gelatin’s B-day Extravaganza at Elbo’s
Not Much More Than Music Fest at El Diablo Lounge
Twelve Tribes at Al Rosa Villa
Lion Fever in Columbus

Most Intense Performance of 2004:
Prurient at Not Much More Than Music Fest

Favorite Dayton Venue of 2004:
Elbo’s The Bar

Best Labels of 2004:
Epicene Sound Systems, Cold Sweat, Bettawreckonize Media, Hello Pussy/Liquid Death and Lujo Records

Biggest Comeback of 2004:
The Pixies

Best Break-ups of 2004:
Creed/Phish tie

Favorite Webzine (after this one) of 2004: Tie between Splendid, Delusions of Adequacy, and Buddyhead

Best Sucker Punches of 2004:
Glenn Danzig and Story of The Year getting knocked the fug out.

Biggest Train Wrecks of 2004:
The Libertines and their crackhead singer
Courtney Love and her, uh, problems
Ashley Simpson and her square dancing
Janet Jackson and her wardrobe malfunction
Billy Corgan and his poetry

My Biggest Disappointments of 2004:
Break ups:
Sense Field, The Anniversary, Guided By Voices, Party of Helicopters, Mr. Bungle, Denali, Ultimate Fakebook, The Stereo, Give Up The Ghost, Garrison, Cursive, The Ghost, The Libertines, Onelinedrawing, Beta Band, Selfmademan, Forget Cassettes (at least the version with Doni.)

Deaths:
Dimebag, ODB, John Peel, Kirsten Malone, Robert Quine, Johnny Ramone, Ray Charles

Who I predict will be blowing up in 2005:
The Arcade Fire, Captain of Industry, Twelve Tribes, Southeast Engine, Joe Anderl, Surcease, Death From Above 1979, Gratitude, Pitty Sing, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Heartless Bastards, Mouth Of The Architect, Yes, Collapse!, Lion Fever, Radio Berlin, Thunderbirds Are Now!, Baroness, Bloc Party, Stars, Spoon

Looking Forward To New Albums By in 2005:
Gratitude, Pitty Sing, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Hot Hot Heat, The Fire Theft, The Heartless Bastards, Andrew WK, The Wrens, Big Business, Lucero, Southeast Engine, Radio Berlin (?), …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Bright Eyes, High on Fire, The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, The Pernice Brothers, Anberlin, Nine Inch Nails, Baroness, The Locust, Thunderbirds Are Now!, Captain of Industry, Guns and Roses (Chinese Democracy?), Stars, Spoon, Crooked Fingers, Genghis Tron

Most Anticipated Tour of 2005: Envy