An Autobiographical Account of Music I Listened to in 2004

2004 was quite a year. More underwhelming than years previous, but very satisfying in many other ways. I was really disappointed with the state of music – popular music – this year. You got your Ashley Simpsons, your Lindsay Lohans, your Hillary Duffs, and frankly I could give a flying fuck about Britney’s latest marriage (hey that's why i quit alloy).

You also have people jumping on band-wagons, faster than you can say "Arcade Fire." But you know what? There were some sparkling moments that tickled my fancy and made me feel like there is hope in the future of that beloved genre we call "indie rock." These songs didn’t necessarily come out in 2004, but they defined my year, so pay attention.

[PS: I don't believe in illegal downloading, so I am not going to upload any tracks, unless any of the bands listed below write to me and say it's cool. Most of the time, you can just go to their website and see if they have any for download. Explore, explore, explore! I implore you.]

"Wake Up" -- The Arcade Fire – Funeral
Speaking of The Arcade Fire, who can deny the power in the opening lines of this song: "Something filled up my heart with nothing. Someone told me not to cry." There is such a vulnerability emanating from Win’s voice, and then the band chimes in with their uplifting, rejoicing chorus. The build is overwhelming. It strikes this chord inside of me, and I am left speechless. i will never forget seeing this band explode in the mercury lounge. it was one of those singular moments that stand out in my memory because the impression they left was enormous. bands don't usually blow me away live, the way the arcade fire did during cmj. that will be a moment in many people's top lists i'm sure! i was dancing like a fool up front, with my jaw open and drooling the entire time.
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"It's Getting Late" -- Sam Champion – Slow Rewind
This is the perfect song for lonely people. Or rather, people frustrated with their crushes or lovers. I had to ask Noah for the lyrics so that I could sing it over and over again as my heart broke into a million pieces. I printed them and carried it around in my pocket for like a week. I'd take it out every once in a while and feel sad. "Though the reason’s strange, and it’s getting late, I know you'll never change."
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"Sacred Heart" -- Cass McCombs – Prefection
The first time I heard this song, it was from Daniel's mouth. He was singing the hook, and I was like, "WHAT IS THAT SONG?" Eventually I heard the real deal coming from his iPod, and instantly fell in love. This is easily one of my favorite songs to date. It is extremely reminiscent of The Smiths with its whimsy and shimmering guitar parts. The song makes my heart swoon with its romance and the way Cass makes his voice glide up and down, likes doves on a gentle wind. i love cass so much i think i saw him perform like 3 times during sxsw this past year. then i saw him open for iron & wine at maxwell's in new jersey. though he's much more rock than romance live, he's still a favorite. now he's situated in london, and i want him to come back to the states and sing this song live, goddamnit!
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"Elephant Woman" -- Blonde Redhead – Misery is a Butterfly
I heard this song as a demo before the album came out. This doesn't make me special. It just makes me severely lucky because I couldn't stop listening to that song on repeat for a month afterwards. I would walk around New York in the cold wind, bleary eyed and despondent. I had just broken up with Keith, and was feeling depressed and lonely. Kazu's voice was echoing my heart. i think i started crying during the bowery ballroom show i went to. it was far superior to their performance at siren festival, though it was nice of them to reprise the spot they lost a couple years prior because Kazu had that equestrian accident she talks about in this song.
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"Lonely As Can Be" -- The Concretes – The Concretes
There is something undeniably compelling about the soft, honey voice of Victoria Bergsman. She makes me think that she knows all about sadness and disappointment. It's a beautiful depression that draws me into her world, and keeps me listening time after time. i didn't see this band live this year, but from what i hear, they are best left recorded.
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"Telephone Wires" -- Mirah – You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This
More than any other female singer-songwriter around today, Mirah is tops in my book for capturing the aches and breaks of love, and all in a glorious, stripped down lo-fi sound. I could listen to this entire album for hours at a time, but this particular song always makes me catch my breath and sing along. Even on the subway.
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"Leaf House" -- Animal Collective – Sung Tongs
Meow. Kitties! Meow. Kitties! This song is unreal and that is why I adore it.
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"I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me" -- Asobi Seksu – Asobi Seksu
C'mon, you can’t beat that title. Even if you don't know Japanese. Yuki has a way of emoting like a true Velocity Girl.
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"Your Summer Dress" -- Dirty on Purpose – Demos
This year, I really fell in love with Joe's strange, yet intriguing high-pitched voice. Yes, he often gets mistaken for Erika – because what guy has a voice that high? But the quirky tone and amazing lilt in his vocals makes this song one of my favorite Dirty on Purpose songs to date.
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"The Pony Song" -- Au Revoir Simone – Demos
I'm a big supporter of lovely lady melodies, and I think my prayers were answered when Au Revoir Simone formed and created music that flowed with warm, complementary vocals and keyboards, keyboards, keyboards and some drum machine. Such simplicity often equals magic. "And the moon came down to greet us. It was warm and made of flowers."
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"Murder" -- The Big Sleep – Demos
I begged Danny for some preliminary recordings of their new songs. I was such a fan of The Big Sleep's live shows, that I just needed that shit on my iPod. My wish was merrily granted, and I became a big fan of this song. Sonya's vocals remind me of the pretty and low tone of Justine Frischmann. The guitar lines are catchy and fast-paced. The drums push the song into overdrive. And it's beautiful how it culminates into a beautiful wash of sound. Beautiful. Did I mention it was beautiful?
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"Mistakes & Regrets" – And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead -- Old Enough 2 Know Better: 15 Years of Merge Records
This was a big year for me and the Trail of Dead. I saw them break their instruments two nights in a row. They were crazy. They were "punk" or whatever. But this is one song that made them tops in my eyes because it is so raw and visceral. "If you forget how to feel, reach inside your chest. Is there a heart beating? Is there just emptiness?"
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"Up All Night" -- The Double – Demo
I think I almost fell over in my seat when I first listened to this song. It was so dark and defiant, building slowly into an epic masterpiece complete with strings, distortion and one fierce vocal melody. I wanted the song to build even more – and I hear there is a longer version that isn't released yet. If you have it, please send it to me. I need that in my life. seeing them live is a totally other experience. they change the songs, and it's like they are a different band. so far i prefer the recorded experience, which simply astonishes me.
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"What’s In It For Me?" – The Walkmen – Bows & Arrows
This song is like a delicate love song, so marred and twisted with hurt that the words seem to tremble from Hamilton's lips, shivering and shaking into an unabashedly open and vulnerable confession. seeing them headline webster hall was a trip. and i'll never forget the night i showed up at their sxsw showcase, and peter gave me this look like, what the fuck are you doing in austin? classic!
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"Waxing Incomplete" – The Winter Pageant – Demos
Byron's vocals are whispery warnings, hovering above the swirling and intoxicating guitar lines. Their music is for those who have been kicked down to the ground. I've described them before like a more emotional and fuller Elliott Smith, if you can even imagine such a thing existing. Here it is. this band truly comes alive during shows, and there is this ethereal quality that transfers magnificently from their recording to their live shows.
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"Room Full of You" – Swearing At Motorists – This Flag Signals Goodbye
When I saw this band at SXSW, I went to the merch table after the show and bought four of their albums. And I was not disappointed. Their songs are short and to the point with no fucking BS. They are fragments of time, and this song is one of my choice picks from the collection of S@M songs I own. There is this inherent resignation in their music. Like they've sort of given up all hope and are just floating along in life. This song is no exception. "I'm all jacked up and driving too fast, and I can't seem to think past the past."
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"All In Time" – Pela – Demos
Very fucking earnest. People either love 'em or hate 'em. I am on the side of love, and it's mostly because of this song, though "Latitudes" is still one of my faves. So pretty, so energetic, so wonderful. I also like any band that'll belt out Neutral Milk Hotel with a bunch of peeps in the basement of Mercury Lounge. C'mon, try it.
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"Such Great Heights" -- Iron & Wine – Such Great Heights EP
No one else can seemingly whisper a song like Sam Beam. The gentle nuances in his voice are wonderfully acoustic and simply astonishing. When I heard this Postal Service cover, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. He turned the upbeat song into a more poignant commentary on the search for love in an impossible and distant world. when i saw iron & wine at maxwell's this year, i was mesmerized with sam beam. he has this magnetism that is pure and untarnished. i kinda see why he became a school teacher.
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"This Mystic Decade" – Hot Snakes – Audit In Progress
It took me a while to get into Hot Snakes. Anna was always raving about them. And one day, I got the tracks and ended up fucking adoring them. I was going through a real "Why Does It Hurt" phase, but have since grown into "This Mystic Decade." It's an anthem of sorts, but Rick Froberg has a way of making me run around in flames. seeing them at north six and bowery this year made my year not as weepy and wimpy as it was for most of the year.
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"Surgical Focus" – Guided By Voices – Human Amusements At Hourly Rates
No one can touch Bob Pollard's melodies. That guy is king at bending his voice into all sorts of infectious, catchy hooks. Where do they all come from? they didn't play this song at the gbv show i went to (the last night at irving), but they did play many other hits. that show by the hudson river pier was pretty crazy too. bob pollard really can play for hours and hours! and everyone seems to eat it up! including me!
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"One More Time" – French Kicks – The Trial of the Century
The overload of rollercoaster keyboards on this track is magical. It sparkles and smiles into a mellifluous (big word!) mix of wonder and fascination. Nick has one sweet voice, but this song brought French Kicks to the next level. They keep getting better and better. Why aren't they more famous? What is wrong with you people? i saw this band this year play at bloomingdales. that was the weirdest experience ever, but that is how much i love this band. i will stand among overpriced clothing, sipping cheap beer from wine glasses and rock out to this amazing track.
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"Put It On You" – The Fever – Red Bedroom
All I have to say is A-fucking-MEN. Shout it out! seeing the fever headline bowery ballroom this year was quite cool. they played the entire album in order. who does that? the fucking fever do. in this song, geremy jasper stretches his vocal range to include more emotion than usual. the party hardy element is only faintly there, replaced mostly by some raw screaming power that comes from the pit of his stomach. you know that place in your gut that shakes uncontrollably when you are sobbing your eyes out? that's where he seems to be drawing his emotion in this song.
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"Oh When" – All Night Radio – Spirit Stereo Frequency
I love the spirit of All Night Radio. They were like these big funky hippies that created out of this world music that spiraled into swirlies. Formed by members of Beachwood Sparks, I easily fell for their whimsical mix of fantasy and higher states of bliss. Too bad they are already broken up. seeing them at sxsw and then mercury lounge was a trip. plus i love any band who has a lead singer named farmer dave. hell yeah.
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"My Weakness" – A Place To Bury Strangers – Demos
There is something so rebellious and carefree in the loud distortion that often comes across as fuzzed out poetry. The vocals are understated, a nice contrast to the full force that emanates from the guitar, bass and drums. Fierce but wonderfully romantic in an unexpectedly way – no sap. i saw them several times this year (and my ears are still recovering, if you ask me). but yo, it was totally worth it.
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"Our Summer of Teenage Lust" – Knife Skills – Get Home Safe
I think of this song as the story of my lost high school daze. The daze I wish I had. And my favorite line: "I had two letters in the pockets of my jacket, crippled up with the syllabus bleeding." did you know that i have never ever missed a knife skills show? i can't say that about many other bands... in fact, i can't say that about any other band at all.
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"Theendisthebeginningistheend" – Other Passengers – Demos
OK, I don't know what the fuck this song is called, but that is the title that is in my iPod, so I'm gonna go with it. Dark and despondent. Love Billy's voice. The drawn out syllables could be mistaken for drunkenness (go Billy!), but I think the slurring adds to the poetic and dramatic nature of this band. i think one of my favorite performances of them was the night i DJ'd at the hook in red hook. we were all wasted that night, and they just rocked that house. honorable mention: the time they played vicious. that was pretty sweet too.
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