20 for 04
Yes, we know. The planet is drowning in "Best Of" lists and TV shows with lame-quipping C-level celebs. Stay tuned for the 100 Most Awesome Moments Of VH-1's Most Awesome Moments Shows! Pop will eat itself, indeed. So why another list? The goal was simply to say, these are 20 records we loved. These are the artists we told friends about when they asked, "What do you like?" "What's new?" or, "Dude, can I burn that DFA comp from you?" Before you send hate mail, yes, we realize that Franz Ferdinand is not on this list. Are we saying that Mastodon or Nick Cave is really "better" than Franz Ferdinand? First, it's not a contest. Secondly, yes.
Agree or disagree, here's hoping you'll find something in this list that makes you want to seek out something new. Nothing would make us happier. No, seriously, nothing would make us happier. We're quite miserable.
CHRISTOPHER WEINGARTEN
#10 cLOUDDEAD - Ten
People get readymade! Dada-hop trio cLOUDDEAD (R.I.P) made a sonic situationist manifesto, collaging the found-sound of 1950's Wilcox-Gay Recordio discs, the crackle of scratchy yard sale record samples, field recordings of crack-addict tantrums, little sister singalongs and homemade instruments galore. They painted them into catchy pop songs and the result recalls Negativeland, Boards Of Canada, Tortoise, William S. Burroughs and Flying Saucer Attack… But some folks just call it hip-hop.
The Complete List
01.TV On The Radio - Deperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch And Go)
02.The Arcade Fire - Funeral (Merge)
03.Mastodon - Leviathan (Relapse)
04. Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum (Beggars Banquet)
05.Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender (Drag City)
06.Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/ The Lyre Of Orpheus (Anti)
07.Kayne West - The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella-Def Jam)
08.Liars - They Were Wrong, So We Drowned (Mute)
09.Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News (Epic)
10. cLOUDDEAD - Ten (Mush)
11.Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Shake The Sheets (Lookout!)
12.PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her (Island)
13.Eyvind Kang - Virginal Co Ordinates (Ipecac)
14.Madvillain - Madvillainy (Stones Throw)
15.Animal Collective - Sung Tongs (FatCat)
16.Interpol - Antics (Matador)
17.Adem - Homesongs (Domino)
18.Blonde Redhead - Misery Is A Butterfly (4AD)
19.Prince Po - The Slickness (Lex)
20.Secret Machines - Now Here Is Nowhere (Reprise)