Best Of

Two thousand and four was a year when you had to really pay attention to find the best music. Most of the stuff coming out of the major labels was eminently forgettable, with a handful of bright shiny exceptions. In one of those soul-numbing developments that seem to characterize the modern music scene, bands as good as Semisonic, Fastball and the Jayhawks found themselves on hiatus or playing clubs again, even as every belly-button-baring Britney wannabe and her sister got herself an album or two on the Target racks (please, God, tell me there aren't any more Simpson sisters... please?).…

This was the first year that I really realized that good music still exists, and didn't die out in 1976. It was a treat for me to discover new artists that impact me as much as my favorite older artists. It's ironic then, that the top spot in my list is occupied by one of the great minds of pop pretty much last seen 40 years ago. So, without further adieu, the list of my ten favorite albums to come out in 2004. 10. Maroon 5 -- Songs about JaneGee, the first album and I'm already off to a bad…

10. Rig The Jig -- Passing ThroughIrish acoustic rockers Rig The Jig blew my speakers off with a tasty mix of traditional Irish music and American roots music. Where else could you hear a jig segue neatly into Leonard Cohen or Arlo Guthrie? This stuff is too cool. 9. Alan Parsons -- A Valid PathThe jury's still out from the fans; some love the longtime progressive rock producer's first foray into electronica, some just aren't sure. Put me in the love column; produced clear as crystal and performed magnificently, this is music that will both touch your mind and move…

I have something shocking to admit, my faithful friends and audience, I, Alexander de Lar -- I mean Riley McDonald -- have not been as avid a music listener as I have led you to believe, at least, not for CDs of this year. As a matter of fact, I did not totally get into listening to releases from 2003 until the dying days of October. By early November I had started the blueprints for what was originally to be The Top Ten CDs of 2003 Extravaganza. Unfortunately, by the time I had delved into the hordes of pop and…

This was the toughest one of these I have ever done. There was a lot of good stuff sent to yours truly this year; so much so that I've arbitrarily handed out five honorable mention CDs as well that I want to make sure you hear about once more. Without further ado, here's Duke's Completely Opinionated Top Ten Of 2003:10. That's How I Walk -- Stephen Fearing Canadian folk-blues artist Fearing brought us a punchy, complex, and well-written CD in his Rounder Records debut. The singer-songwriter is not dead, folks. 9. Terra Firma -- Acoustic Syndicate Steve "Big Daddy" McMurry…

Been a busy year for yours truly, with some new ventures and a lot more work. But I still had time to listen to a lot of music. Some of it was bad, most of it was average -- and some of it was wonderful, proving once again that the Internet has brought us more musical diversity. Without further ado, here are 2002's Top Ten CDs: 10. Shana Morrison -- 7 Wishes The daughter of Van Morrison proves she has some pipes and some talent of her own on this outstanding pop release. 9. T. Thorn Coyle -- Give Us…

1987. 1992. 1997. 2002. These years kicked the music world in the ass. Each came after years of music business complacency. It started rather calmly last spring. Chemical Brothers released their excellent CD Come with Us. At that time, it may not have been an 'album of the year' contender. But still, the album would be an easy Top-10 selection at the end of the year, right? I mean, unless 10 other albums came along to boot it out of the list. But, how likely would that be? Wilco *wam* Beck *Biff* Blackalicious *Ka-Pow!* Flaming Lips *Zap* And it keeps…

It's hard to call 2002 a great year for music when we had no new music all year from bands ranging from old warhorses U2 to exciting newcomer Michelle Branch, and major talents like The Jayhawks and Shawn Mullins found themselves cut loose by their labels. And the best thing I can say about the whole boy-band-Britney-American Idol circus is that it appears the record-buying public may finally (praise the god of your choice) be losing its taste for pre-packaged "singers" with better asses than voices. Nonetheless, it was a solid, perhaps even promising year, especially for female artists. Since…