Music - Top 10 CDs of 2004

**ROCKSTAR** · 12-15-2004, 07:24 PM

Quote:

The Mouths That Roared

Forget about sales, forget about hype, forget about controversy. Check out 2004's true top 10

By Lorraine Ali
Newsweek

Dec. 13 issue - There's been a wealth of music to celebrate this year, though we had to scour albums from San Francisco to Senegal to find it. Here's a list of contenders who should find their way to your heart, or at least your CD player.

1. Kanye West, 'College Dropout'
West's phenomenal "Jesus Walks" is '04's best single, and "College Dropout" its most original hip-hop CD. The megasuccessful producer raps about everything but the usual BET/MTV fare. Yes, he's an egomaniac—for good reason.

2. Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones, 'The Original Jam Sessions 1969' and 'The New Mixes Vol. 1'
Outkast's most bizarre efforts seem tame compared with these vintage jams. The instrumentals, which Cosby helped produce for his shows, are funky, experimental and at times hilarious. The new mixes are by varied producers, including Cornershop.

3.Green Day, 'American Idiot'
Forget ironic indie throwbacks like Franz Ferdinand—former MTV sellouts Green Day made the most daring rock album of the year. This punk-rock opera is bombastic and destructive, dreamy and delicate. The lyrics? Brilliant. Who knew that you could love your little brother's favorite band this much?

4.Youssou N'Dour, 'Egypt'
The Senegalese superstar makes an album about his Muslim faith. His vocals, which weave and dip atop Afro and Arabic melodies, are awe-inspiring. If N'Dour meant to show us that his Islam is a thing of beauty, he certainly made his case.

5. Interpol, 'Antics'
So maybe this is an '80s retro record, but at least Interpol chose to pilfer from that decade's most talented New Wavers and punks. If you love Joy Division and Gang of Four, this is the closest you'll get to the golden days of mope rock.

6. N.E.R.D., 'Fly or Die'
The Neptunes took a break from producing hit songs and gave their dweeby alter ego a whirl. The result: prog rock for the Tupac generation. Warped electro effects, acid-rock guitar and catchy boom-car bass are the best examples yet of why it's hip to be square.

7.Madeleine Peyroux, 'Careless Love'
She sounds a lot like Billie Holiday, and that's a good thing. Peyroux, her smooth voice slightly dusty and rife with melancholy, sings standards with the smoky vibe of a true jazz club.

8. Beenie Man, 'Back to Basics'
The dance-hall star crosses over to the urban crowd by combining his Jamaican roots with hip-hop. The talented toaster gets down and dirty, winning the award for the most creative tales about "gettin' bizzee."

9.Bjork, 'Medulla'
It's a cappella, uses a human beat box for percussion and showcases Inuit throat singers. Bjork is still our favorite weirdo.

10. Loretta Lynn, 'Van Lear Rose'
Country music's First Lady sings about her mama ("the rose"), the coal mine her daddy worked in (Van Lear) and many more Loretta-esque tales. Producer Jack White did away with the slick production, so when you look at Lynn you really are lookin' at country.

© 2004 Newsweek, Inc.

I don't own any of those CDs but I was wondering who here agrees. I've been wanting to buy "American Idiot" (of course!) but first I need to have some money to spend.

LUSH · 12-15-2004, 08:03 PM

Quite eclectic....doesn't look anything like what my personal top ten would be, but that's my own taste. As much as I love Interpol I wouldn't place Antics on my list....Bjork and Loretta Lynn definately deserve to be there though.

Butterflyz · 12-15-2004, 10:43 PM

Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, No, No, No, Yes.

Some of those I haven't even heard of,

Fair_Maiden · 12-15-2004, 10:47 PM

The only one that I like (out of the ones I've heard of

) is Green Day.

I'm trying to figure out what this list was based upon....

**ROCKSTAR** · 12-15-2004, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fair_Maiden

I'm trying to figure out what this list was based upon....

My same reason for posting it here on the board. Cause I couldn't make much sense out of it from my POV.

I mean, where's U2? -- Technically it is a 2004 release and this is not the Grammy's with the admissible dates, etc.

a n d i · 12-16-2004, 03:24 AM

the only one i have off of that list is anticsinterpol which is amazing.

i didn't buy a whole lot of new releases this year, i don't think. most of the albums i got were older ones from the 60s or 80s.

babybluejune · 12-16-2004, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fair_Maiden
The only one that I like (out of the ones I've heard of ) is Green Day.

I'm trying to figure out what this list was based upon....

Tell me about it! I have heard of the Kanye West album but I don't own it! I adore Green Day so I can see why American Idiot is on there. That song is always in my head! And Loretta Lynn's was good to....but the rest I haven't ever really heard of...Oh I have neard of N.E.R.D...

germ881 · 12-16-2004, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Kanye West, 'College Dropout'
N.E.R.D., 'Fly or Die'

I agree with these two albums...I don't know about the other ones.

Scooby_Doo · 12-16-2004, 08:34 PM

Where is Keane?

*Ledi* · 12-16-2004, 08:44 PM

None of those CD's deserve to be on that list. Meh.

alli balli · 12-16-2004, 09:51 PM

I haven't listened to any of them.

My top ten list would be...hmm. I don't know if I even have 10. But it would include:

Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Hot Fuss - the Killers
The Libertines - the Libertines
Hopes & Fears - Keane

Jadiee · 12-16-2004, 10:51 PM

>_> Im suprised theyre on the list, but I have Youssou N'Dour - 'Egypt' and Bjork -'Medulla' I actually like both of em and im glad theyre both up on a top 10 list - But i can think of other albums that I think should be on that list. But then again, I'm biased, im no Beenie Man fan

**lost lullaby** · 12-16-2004, 11:59 PM

So, is Green Day's "American Idiot" that good? I've been wanting to buy that CD for a while...

babybluejune · 12-17-2004, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lost lullaby
So, is Green Day's "American Idiot" that good? I've been wanting to buy that CD for a while...

Love it!! Love it,love it,love it! But that just my opinion...

sleep2dream · 12-17-2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by germ881
I agree with these two albums...I don't know about the other ones.

Word, 'The College Dropout' is the best album i've heard all year (i've heard ALOT trust me) its a breath of fresh air for hip-hop. I mean i know heavy-metel guys who feel Kayne. It's a rap album that even non-rap fans can enjoy.

And i LOVE N.E.R.D, even though i dont think Fly or Die was as good as there last cd (in search off..) it is still better then half the s^it out there, if you havent heard of them YOU MUST DL at least song by them NOW! I mean theres something for everyone its Hip-hop/rock/funk/pop, and AMAZING

some of my other favs:

The Streets : A grand don't come for free (White-boy rapper with a REALLY thick british accent, bitching about his girlfriend and broken TV..whats not to love?)

Joss Stone: Mind, Body and Soul (her voice is so f-ing good, she could sing the phone book and i would think its brillant)

John Mayer: Heavier Things (again with the voice, and have you heard 'daughters?!' i mean its just an awesome CD)

....thats all i can think off for now.....

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