| Best New Releases: |
| 1 |
 |
Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a
Butterfly [4AD/Beggars]
Amazingly dense layers of guitars meet
dramatically mournful keyboards and delicately shredded vocals in Blonde
Redheads latest release. Heart-breakingly beautiful.
Buy This Album |
| 2 |
 |
Midnight Movies - Midnight Movies [Emperor
Norton]
Aneurism shmaneurism. Nico didnt die in 1988! Shes leading
a secret life as a member of this burgeoning three-piece. The music reflects
an early version of The Cure, had they formed a decade earlier during the
Summer of Love, while the vocals are pure femme fatale.
Buy This Album |
| 3 |
 |
Bjork - Medulla
[Elektra]
Exceedingly conceptual
without frustrating its listener, Bjork has a way of making Medulla a
surprisingly digestible treat. Amazing.
Buy This Album |
| 4 |
 |
Luna - Rendezvous [Jetset]
As Luna takes its last few breaths, its headed in the
direction of a Dean-and-Britta side project. Although not nearly as
adventurous or rocking as previous Luna albums, Dean Wareham and company
sing their swan song, and it is beautiful.
Buy This Album |
| 5 |
 |
Nancy Sinatra - Nancy Sinatra [Sanctuary]
Ms. Sinatra hasnt been this hot since Nancy in London.
On this years self-titled release, she covers Morrissey and collaborates
with Jarvis Cocker. Could she get any more hip?
Buy This Album |
| 6 |
 |
Mission of Burma - OnOffOn [Matador]
Nearly as relevant and as punk as 1981s Signals, Calls,
and Marches, the boys are back at it. A welcome return from a seminal
band.
Buy This Album |
| 7 |
 |
Deerhoof - Milk Man [Kill
Rock Stars]
A veritable recipe for both scary-as-hell AND cute = Deerhoof
+ conceptual album about the illustrations of Ken Kagami. Deerhoof prove
that art-noise and Japanese pop make a versatile concoction.
Buy This Album |
| 8 |
 |
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her [Island]
Ms. Harvey reaches back to the roots she cast on To Bring
You My Love, and the results are startlingly raw and beautiful all at
once.
Buy This Album |
| 9 |
 |
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born [Nonesuch]
Sometimes I pretend to hate what I
detestingly refer to as hippie jam bands. After coming to terms with the
fact that Wilco is occasionally a hippie jam band, I am learning to
embrace new things. Thank you, Wilco, for broadening my horizons.
Buy This Album |
| 10 |
NO
COVER ART AVAILABLE |
Matson Jones - Matson Jones [self-released]
Two cellos + One upright bass + One ferocious set of drums =
Rocknroll.
Buy This Album
|
Honorable Mentions: |
| |
 |
The Cure
- The Cure [Geffen]
Buy This Album |
| |
 |
Macha -
Forget Tomorrow [JetSet]
Buy This Album |
| |
 |
Slim Cessna's Auto Club
- The Bloody Tenant
Truth and Peace [Alternative Tentacles]
Buy This Album |
| |
 |
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart
[Virgin]
Buy This Album |
| |
 |
U2
- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb [Interscope]
Buy This Album |
Best Reissues/Special Editions: |
| |
Morrissey
- You Are the
Quarry (Deluxe Edition) [Attack] |
| |
Galaxie 500 -
Uncollected [Rykodisct] |
| |
The Cure -
Three Imaginary Boys (Deluxe Edition)
[Rhino] |
| Best Indie Rock Dance Song to
Appear on an EP: |
| |
Belle & Sebastian
- "Your Cover's
Blown" from the Books EP
[Rough Trade] |
| Best Box
Set: |
| |
Various Artists
-
Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the '80s Underground
[Rhino] |
| Best Live
Shows: |
| |
The Cure in Denver, CO - 8/17/04 |
| |
Belle & Sebastian in Denver, CO - 5/9/04 |
| |
Blonde Redhead in Denver, CO - 11/27/04 |
| |
Magnetic Fields in Boulder, CO - 11/13/04 |
| |
Wilco in Denver, CO - 11/6/04 |
