Sonic Outpost

I am digging into the past to find my top 5 albums of a given year. 2004 was a great year for indie music. It was also a year that a number of bands (Animal Collective and Of Montreal) released some music that hinted at some great albums to come. This is a list of the albums I found to be the most compelling listens.

5. Libertines - Libertines

This was a tough one. Art Brut and the Killers had great debut albums, but I keep coming back to this album. The self-titled album was produced by Mick Jones of The Clash and you can definitely hear his influence.  The band was quickly destroyed by strong personalities and drugs, but not before they release this statement record. It makes the case that all other British rock groups are pretenders. 

4. Interpol - Antics

Yes, they sound a lot like Joy Division, but is that a bad thing? While their previous album may have their best song, this album is their best album; solid start to finish.

3. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

Angular dance music makes a comeback after a 2 decade absence. So many great songs on this album.

2. TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

An incredible pastiche of sounds integrated into a compelling rock album. Songs Dreams and Staring at the Sun among the best songs of the decade.

1. Arcade Fire - Funeral

I have never heard an album of songs that translate the emotion of catharsis so well. Music that is driven by the spirit that will completely pull in the listener from the first notes of the first song.