40. Automato, "Automato" (Coup De Grace)
Sounds Like: The Roots jamming out with the Beastie Boys on the mic

Everything about this album feels impromptu. It feels like the band is just jamming out to some freestyle lyrics. I guess that's what gives this album it's energy and immediacy -- it's just a pick-up-and-go good time.

Automato, "Walk Into the Light"

39. Architecture In Helsinki, "Fingers Crossed" (Bar-None Records)
Sounds Like: Apples In Stereo meets Rainer Maria

^^^ Yep, that pretty much sums it up. It's an odd combination, but it might work for you. These are some gorgeous summery soundscapes, ridden by some breathy boy/girl vocals (so I guess it's more precious than impassioned like Rainer Maria, but I stand by my comparison). For the longest time I just couldn't stand the fact that none of the other songs here were as good as "The Owls Go". Then I just realized they're *different*. Then I enjoyed the album. Still, by some means, listen to "The Owls Go". Although it's on the opposite end of the spectrum from Lil' Jon, I can only describe it as crunk.

Sounds: None available =(

38. TV On the Radio, "Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes" (Touch and Go Records)
Sounds Like: Peter Gabriel, The Beta Band ... but only to a certain extent.

Yeah, Pitchfork's year-end summation of the album pretty much nailed it -- the greatest thing about this group is how different they sound from anything else out there. I mean, there are certain hipster elements the band contains, and there are certian links you can make to artists that preceeded them ... but there's no denying this group has a very fresh sound. Nice rhythms, great shelf-life, and, as everyone must mention, barber-shop-esque harmonies! Yay!

TVOTR, "Starin' at the Sun"
TVOTR, "Dreams"

37. Despistado, "The Emergency Response" (Jade Tree)
Sounds Like: Cap'n Jazz meets Wire or Q and Not U

This debut EP ran the risk of sounding incredibly cliche, but rather than sounding like a calculated move, the band plays their music with enough conviction to sound like this is what they've wanted to play all their lives. Whether or not they'll weather the deluge of similar (but not half as good) bands is anybody's guess, but at least they'll be one of the few worth remembering.

Despisidato, "A Stirstick's Prediction"

36. Of Montreal, "Satanic Panic in the Attic" (Polyvinyl)
Sounds Like: Absurdly joyous indie pop in the Elephant 6 vein

When you think of the E6 collective, you might think of Apples in Stereo, or you might think of Neutral Milk Hotel. But you don't think of Of Montreal. "Satanic Panic in the Attic" (love that title) is perhaps the best case that you should. With lovely harmonies, fantastic rhythms, and nice atmosphere, the only question is whether the record might be TOO happy for your liking.

Hey Ping =)

Of Montreal, "Disconnect the Dots"

35. Rob Sonic, "Telicatessen" (Definitive Jux)
Sounds Like: Prefuse 73, Timbaland, Diplo

On his solo debut, Rob instantly joins the aforementioned producers in the elite group of producers who can make futuristic rap that doesn't suck (sorry, Dan the Automator, you don't count). Unlike many of his epic, apocalyptic Def Jux cohorts, though, Rob's music is more often than not just good fun. It feels ahead of it's time, and it isn't weighted down in philosophy. Promising work, indeed.

Rob Sonic, "Former Future"
Rob Sonic, "Strange Hammer"
Rob Sonic, "Shoplift"

*All Def Jux Player samples

34. The Hives, "Tyrannasaurus Hives" (Interscope Records)
Sounds Like: Iggy Pop w/ hints of Devo

Who would've thunk that The Hives, who've made several great bare bones albums, would go and make their most highly-produced (by a considerable amount) album and have it turn out so good? This is no doubt because of the band's persistent playfulness and energy always shine through. In fact, the playfulness has lent a bit of a Devo flavor to the album, such as the "Jocko Homo"-ish single "Walk, Idiot, Walk". Yeah, while the first half of the album is rock-solid, the second half is kinda hit-or-miss, but you're probably just listening for your Hives quick fix, so who says you'll make it to track 7, anyways?

Sounds: None, sorry =(

33. Time Machine, "Slow Your Roll" (Glow In the Dark Records)
Sounds Like: A new Quannum act

Like so many of the year's "best" (I use the term loosely, since just about none of the year's rap could be considered classic outside of Hangar 1 rap albums, this is nothing an indie rap enthusiast hasn't heard before. Yet, as we plot wisely how to lay down our hard earned cash, there's something to say about an album that's consistent the whole way through. Plus, the aesthetic of the album is great. Though alot of the tracks have a more modern, etheral sound to them, they also sound totally vintage. A fine addition to any collection.

You can listen to the Time Machine Player here

32. Matt Pond PA, "Emblems" (Altitude Records)
Sounds Like: A more hushed, delicate Saturday Looks Good To Me?

A shimmering, delicate pop record here. I often think of music in terms of season, and this is (and was) definetely a spring record. Too happy for fall or winter, but not quite exuberantly happy enough for summer; there may be some limit to the album's appeal, but at some time, in some occassion, the album will hit you.

Sounds: Nothing from his new record, but you can find some old stuff at www.polyvinyl.com

31. Modest Mouse, "Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
Sounds Like: Well ... erm ... yunno ... Modest Mouse

Alot of people are raving about how this album was 2004's surprise hit; how shocking it was for a band like this to succeed in the mainstream. But it really shouldn't come as much a surprise - almost every Modest Mouse song is, at heart, a relatively simple song, and then they twist it a bit. This record is a bit less twisted, but in the trade-off, there's a bit of added happiness. And you can't hate a record for being happy, can you, you sad bastard? This proved to be a pretty successful combo, with much of the Modest Mouse style intact. Kudos.

Sounds: None here, but you might've heard this song called "Float On this past summer.

30. Signer, "The New Face of Smiling" (Carpark Records)
Sounds Like: An alive (yet not quite lively) Sigur Ros

Yep. The only record of it's kind I enjoy. Rather than its sleep-inducing peers, this album that is equal parts hushed and shimmering reveals gorgeous chord progressions and hooks in good time. The sleeper album of the year - pun not intended.

Videos:

Signer, "Hurricane or Sunshine?"

Signer, "I Was Dressed as the Ant, You Dressed Up as a Beehive"

29. Animal Collective, "Sung Tongs" (Fat Cat Records)
Sounds Like: (to be trite) Forest collage pop

Animal Collective finally gain critical praise and mass attention for their most accessible album to date. Not that accessibility is bad here - there's a small trade-off of weirdness for more hooks. If the forest (albeit, a slightly nuts forest) was a pop band, this is the music they'd make. For some, it may be a mere novelty, but for others, it's something almost ... spiritual?!

Animal Collective, "Slippi"

28. Sondre Lerche, "Two Way Monologues" (Astralwerks Records)
Sounds Like: Brendan Benson, Grade-A Power Pop

Any other year, I might've crowned this "Album of the Year", or at least charted it in the top 3. But unfortunately for Mr. Lerche, '04 has been a remarkable year for indie pop, with so many variations, the old standby of power pop just seems a little stale in comparison. But trends are merely temporary, while great music is forever -- and as Big Star proves, power pop has staying power. So, who knows; a decade from now, this gem might just end up the only one standing.

Sounds: Real Player Tracks:

Sondre Lerche, "Two Way Monologues"

Sondre Lerche, "On the Tower"

27. Typical Cats, "Civil Service" (Galapagos 4 Records)
Sounds Like: A Tribe Called Quest's "Peoples Instinctive Travels" meets Beastie Boys "Check Your Head"

With the Beastie Boys' new disc, Time Machine, and Typical Cats, the early 90's were alive in kicking in '04 rap. Typical Cats were perhaps the only group to make practically NO effort to sound up to date, though. I would not at all be surprised to find out that this album is really just a re-issue of a long-lost album from 1992. The flows are there in full Beastie Boys form, but the real star here may be the recording aesthetic ... alot of the album sounds like it must have been made with live instrumentation, which gives this album a real hard punch. This is one you'll want in your collection.

Sounds: A whole mess of MP3 format song samples (each about a minute or so)

Easy Cause It Is
Typical Flows
Justice Coming
Butterfly Knives
The Do

26. Pinback, "Summer In Abandon" (Touch and Go Records)
Sounds Like: Modest Mouse, Three Mile Pilot

While Modest Mouse may have been heralded as indie rock saviors for their unwillingness to fit nicely into any label or tag, it's a fact (which many of their fans either don't realize or don't want to) that the root of all their music is emo. Pinback edges off the weird a little bit and cranks up the emo a notch for this superb first Touch and Go release. Modest Mouse fans should enjoy.

Pinback, "Fortress"

25. Communique, "Poison Arrows" (Lookout! Records)

Communique, "Perfect Weapon" (go to the site and download)

24. Deerhoof, "Milking" and free live album "Bididi Badidi Boo" (Kill Rock Stars Records)
Sounds Like: Delightfully demented pop

I'll lump these two together since they both share some of the same songs. Deerhoof is headed by my future wife, Satomi Matsuzaki. The music they make is, unquestionably, pop - you know, The Beach Boys and such - but they aren't afraid to turn convention on its head. How about a metal breakdown? Or a foghorn stab? Why? Why not! And it turns out to be just as catchy as all of the standards. "Milking" is somewhat of a return to demented form after "Apple 'O", while "Bididi" is a free live disc that spans their three studio albums. Not the best track selection, but it's FREE.

Deerhoof, "Milking"

23. Owen, "The EP" (Polyvinyl Records)
Sounds Like: Something new from the Kinsellas

The Kinsella saga continues to add more twists and turns - from the fantastically spastic and influential Cap'n Jazz, to the almost-completely-polar-opposite (but still generally great) noise expirentalists Joan of Arc, to the somewhere-in-between American Football, we now find Owen, which is much like American Football but with (maybe?) shades of folk and indie rockers that preceeded them. Mike is paying tribute to those who came before him (sometimes even in words, like where he name checks Morrisey and New Order in "In the Morning, Before Work"), yet keeping up the style he ushered in nearly a decade ago.

Owen, "In the Morning, Before Work"