It seems like music is the only form of media that I really consume with any kind of passion. Seriously, I've seen maybe 10 new movies this year. And that doesn't make for a very good top 10 list. Likewise for books and TV shows. Although, I think I will say a word or two about video games, but that's for later. Right now, we get to talk about music! Sweet, wonderful music.

What can I say about music in 2004... It was really, really good! There seemed to be a real resurgence 80's influence. I'm not necessarily just talking about new wave clones, although the synth was a key player in a lot of this years best releases (No Exit by Junior Boys). No, a lot new material was basically an extension of the whole post-punk scene. Listen to the Futureheads and Franz Ferdinand and tell me you don't hear echoes of Joy Division, et al.

As significant as the 80's influence is, some of 2004's best releases have absolutely nothing to do with it. I guess you could say William Basinksi's The Disintegration Loops echoes Brian Eno, but Basinski's stuff drones its way somewhere between tape loop composition and "found" music and in the process ends up being one of the most amazing recordings of the year.

So, here's my top ten list, in very approximate ascending order.

• Ratatat by Ratatat. A little bit electronic. A little bit rock and roll. And there's a slight hip-hop aesthetic too (Abstract hip-hop of course. No idiotic MCs here, thankfully). This is some really fun, really excellent music. When I first posted about it, I really had no clue how to describe it. In fact, that description is probably totally wrong. Well, I'm no closer to being able to nail this stuff down with obscure references and similes. But listen to it anyway!
• Now Here Is Nowhere by The Secret Machines. I missed this one on Pitchfork, but managed to catch it on MTV2 of all places. Now Here is a stellar bit of rock music. There's definitely a Led Zeppelin influence here. Pounding percussion, indie vocals, and instrumentation that just sounds... huge. An amazing record.
• Virthulegu forsetar by Jóhann Jóhannsson. Why do "minimalist" songs always end up being an0 hour long? Virthulegu is an hour-long composition that basically revolves around this three-note sequence. Sounds boring, but the end result is really cool. There's an epic, almost "fantasy" feel to it. I think it actually qualifies as enchanting. Definitely worth a listen for the open-minded.
• Ta Det Lugnt by Dungen. Swedish psych-rock? Yeah, it's good. These guys put together some really amazing (and in some places very weird) music, but it's a terrific listen... even if I still have no idea what the lyrics say.
• The Futureheads by The Futureheads. That felt redundant. Nevertheless, this album is great. From the "doo doo doo" that opens the album on "Le Garage", the Scottish-accent-infused robot love song that is "Robot", and the unmatched pop goodness of "Decent Days and Nights", this is an outstanding disc. Mmm. Post-punk revivalism.
• The Slow Wonder by A.C. Newman. A.C. Newman is Carl Newman, frontman for the New Pronographers, in thinly-veiled disguise. Well, not really. The Slow Wonder is an absolute gem of indie pop/rock goodness. It's quite simply one of the most enjoyable records of the year.
• 010 by Ulysses. Lo-fi! In a world of ultra-smooth production, there's something quaint, even appealing, about the lo-fi sound. Recorded in mono around a single mike, Ulysses combines their synth-synth-guitar-drums take on neo-psychedelic indie rock with great songwriting and solid lyrics. Definitely the best album of the year from a band out of Lexington, KY, 010 definitely deserves a listen.
• Fuckin A by The Thermals. This album just did not get anough respect from the critics. The songs are short. And there just aren't enough of them. But Fuckin A is a concentrated dose of excellent (if straightforward) songwriting and fantastically accessible rock music. Go listen to it.
• The Disintegration Loops by William Basinski. This album requires a bit of a back story. Basinski was doing an analog-to-digital transfer of some old tape loop compositions he had done a long time ago. However, the tapes basically start disintegrating in the process. The result is a series of striking recordings where these beautiful, minimalist soundscapes decompose over the course of an hour into nothingness. I listened to this when I felt like my own life was disintegrating, so maybe I'm just sentimental. In any event, this is easily one of the most brilliant recordings of 2004.
• Funeral by The Arcade Fire. Well-deserved critical success. A rarity. But Funeral is a superb bit of indie rock. The songwriting and instrumentation are, more or less, flawless. These Québecois artistes have managed to put together an album that adeptly captures the strife and loneliness of the transition to adulthood. Another sentimental favorite? Probably, but this disc still deserves every bit of the snooty critical fawning it's received since it came out in September.

Edit!

Added Now Here Is Nowhere by The Secret Machines to the list at #9. This knocks Modest Mouse's album off the list, but for posterity, here's that entry:

• Good News for People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse. I love Modest Mouse. And I was thrilled to see them attain a bit of mainstream success in 2004. Good News is an enjoyable album, and even manages to be a fine addition to the Mouse catalog.