Something I always look forward to is a new music release from a favorite band. One of my primary sources for new releases is the All Music Guide New Release page, which has a free, solid and to the point weekly newsletter (sign up here). Billboard is a great source for seeing what is coming out in the coming weeks. Simply go to their New Releases page to see what is coming up by week. Of course Amazon is also a great resource for seeing what is coming out as well. There are thousands of Internet resources for music but that is not new information. At one point in the nineties I considered putting together a comprehensive music review website where I would document my thoughts on new music, incorporating a rating system or something. That never happened, but I did create a web site where I would highlight my favorite CDs of each year and had ten or so years documented. Why perform such a tedious exercise? Probably because music is one of my favorite things to think about and having a "Best of" each year was my personal way of paying tribute to the music I enjoyed the most that particular year. Music makes up the soundtrack of your life and if you listen to music as much as I do, it has a profound impact on your very being.
This year I've been thinking about my "Best of 2005". The year is not over so it can't be official until December 27 (the last Tuesday of the Year). However, I've documented this century to date, beginning with the year 2000. I'm not getting caught up in the debate about when the century begins so let's just say I'm starting with 2000 and forget the century thing. I completely understand that nobody cares what my favorite releases are on a given year but since this is my contribution to the Internet, it doesn't matter. That's why blogging is so cool anyway, right? Since 2005 is not over, I'll start with 2004 and post a new year each week.
I'm going to stick to a "top ten" format just to have some boundaries. I'll have one called out as my favorite and the others will round out the top ten. Titles in one position higher than another are not necessarily more highly rated but titles higher on the list are generally higher rated than those on the bottom, so anything in the top five is more highly rated than the bottom few. Whatever, here we go.
2004 was a fair year overall, but not great.
Best of 2004: Interpol - Antics
- Interpol - Antics
- Silver Mountain Reveries - Pretty Little Lightning Paw
- Therapy - Never Apologize Never Explain
- Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
- Clutch - Blast Tyrant
- Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
- Soulfly - Prophecy
- Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First
- Probot - Probot
- Monster Magnet - Monolithic Baby
2004 had some great surprises. First of all, Interpol's "Antics" is a follow up to their very good debut release, which is among my favorites of 2002. This CD is just so good from beginning to end. It has tremendous lasting power in terms of repeat listens. Silver Mountain Reveries is a basically the same as A Silver Mount Zion. This collection of unique artists led my Efrim Menuck is a post-rock band from Canada. Their stuff is not for everyone since it lacks the pop and rock formula that appeals to most. Lot's of quiet moments, strings and vocals that you'll either get used to and eventually appreciate or hate and think is a bad joke. Their music has really grown on me since their first release in 2000, regularly giving me chills. This particular release is short but solid. A Silver Mount Zion is a spin-off of Godspeed You Black Emperor, another Canadian band with many of the same band members, only larger and completely instrumental.
Therapy's latest, only released in parts of Europe, was a big surprise to me. I've been a fan since around 1991 and have followed them along some great titles and others that were a little weak. But this latest effort surpasses their past several and turned out to be a favorite of mine recently, making me a big fan again. Sonic Youth and Clutch both had solid releases, keeping me excited about what they are doing. Eagles of Death Metal is a new band that spun off of Queens of the Stone Age. It's fun, no, it's really fun. I didn't take it seriously at first but now I love it and am looking forward to a follow up this next year. Another side project making the list is a Dave Grohl project called Probot. He does it all on this CD and invites his metal heroes in this highly entertaining collaborative effort. I'd definitely get a follow up although I doubt there will be one. Soulfly's release, Prophecy, was better than their last and showed some growth I wasn't expecting. This, and arguably Probot, are the two metal records that made it on the list, which is not too bad. Bad Religion continues to release good music and their latest was above par. Squeaking onto the list is Monster Magnet. Their latest is not a good as past efforts but still worth a listen as a fan. A few of the songs are just great, making it worthwhile for sure.
So that's it. I'll be looking at 2003 next week.