This was a brilliant year for British independent music. Piracy was taking
off and the music industry started to feel the effects, however it didn't stop
the artists. Many of the albums listed here (including the fringe albums) are
still regarded as excellent albums. They have stood the test of time and are
purchased even to this day. The fringe albums are stunning albums, they just
failed to make the top 10, so let’s take a look at those shall we.
Jóhann Jóhannsson - Virðulegu forsetar
Kasabian - Kasabian
Sufjan Stevens – Seven Swans
Madvillain - Madvillainy
Brian Wilson - Smile
10. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Sneaking in at number 10 is the post-punk debut album by Franz Ferdinand.
The Scottish rockers released a brilliant cheerful album filled to the brim of
Josef K influenced rock tracks. "Tell Her Tonight" served as the
sophisticated jam, whilst "Take Me Out" was adopted as one of the
best indie rock tracks of the year, with its excellent dynamic change towards
the final half.
9. Dizzee Rascal - Showtime
The eventual downfall of grime and Dizzee Rascal could have been predicted in 2004. Showtime was the second album Dizzee released, after his debut took the hip-hop/grime world by storm. His lyricism was on a different level when his music made it over to USA. The R&B listeners had never heard anything like this before and Dizzee sold it all with one sweet track, "Stand Up Tall".
8. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
Animal Collective were bound to pop up in this list. Sung Tongs was their
fifth album and featured the freak/psych folk music they first started with.
Sung Tongs is seen as Animal Collective's last album that's remotely folk
influenced. Even then they ventured completely out of the way with the
fantastic single "Who Could Win a Rabbit".
7. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
The Go! Team's debut album was gritty, repulsive and messy. Three ingredients
that would usually put me off listening to an album, however The Go! Team
intended this album to sound this way. The brilliant "Ladyflash" and
the symphonic "Huddle Formation" set the standard for one of the best
sample-based albums that isn't hip-hop. "Get It Together" was later
featured on cult PS3 game Little Big Planet, and "Bottle Rocket" went
on to be one of the funkiest tracks of the year.
6. Kanye West - The College Dropout
"We at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with
ourselves," says Kanye West on one of his best tracks "Jesus
Walks". The Chicago based artist released his debut album on the back of a
string of brilliantly produced albums. The College Dropout is noted for its
personal lyrical content, as opposed to the 'gangsta' hip-hop style being
released at the time.
5. The Libertines - The Libertines
Drug addiction has plagued Pete Doherty for quite some time, and after his
release from jail, The Libertines follow-up album became his life. The song
writing partnership between Doherty and Carl Barat was amazing. These tracks
are garage-rock styled, with lots of modern Pixies-esque indie rock tunes. It's
a splendid album with all the right ingredients for a highly critical British
rock album.
4. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
The sinister British readers are now shocked that The Libertines are not
number one on this list. They then participate in a chanting, 'who is Joanna
Newsom?' Well Joanna Newsom is a folk-based American artist who released
one of the best debut albums in the 00s. Newsom fused her harp playing with
delicate structures and achingly beautiful (to some) vocals.
3. DFA 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine
Death from Above 1979 can be excused for making a little bit of noise in my
room at university. The key to You're A Woman, I'm A Machine isn't it's
sophistication, but more it's loud aggressive punk. 35 minutes of the Canadian
duo is enough to blast the dance-punk/noise rock on a cold night in October.
"Romantic Rights" is arguably one of the best tracks of 2004 with its
clutched bass introduction. This is the work of a bass guitar and a drummer. In
most cases, these two would be in the back; well DFA fight from the back with
this album. It's a mind-blowingly good album and one which every punk listener
from the 90s should have in their collection.
2. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
"Oh here it is in my pocket," says Mike Skinner on the opening track of A Grand Don't Come for Free, referencing his phone he thought he lost. Skinner lost £1,000 which is a grand (just explaining for Americans). The plot is arguably the best 'rap-opera' album of all time. It's certainly one on its own. Skinner's vocal is almost poetic, as he talks over tracks as opposed to singing or rapping. The hooks are comic and fit with the structures. UK-garage reached the popular domain with Skinner's debut two years previous. AGDCFF is Skinner's magnum opus. Tracks like "Blinded By The Lights" are precursors of the lucrative and highly unique early dubstep recordings. "Fit But You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes" offer single value, and they can be selected out of the album without needing to know the plot. The moment this album reaches the listener, and fully breaks into their mind is on the finale, "Empty Cans". Skinner's downfall was represented since the albums opener; however this track is the epitome of AGDCFF. Skinner gives the listener two endings, ending the actual track on album with the preferred, glorious optimistic ending. He reconciles with his friends, finds his money and then, a light piano strikes through the heart and soul of the listener. This is The Streets, essential listening.
1. Arcade Fire - Funeral
Funeral is an album that needs no introduction. Canada's most
acclaimed indie rock/baroque pop outfit released their debut album after taking
influence from a range of sources such as Neutral Milk Hotel and The
Magnetic Fields. Win Butlers high pitched vocals worked with the mass
orchestral pieces and simplistic but ecstatic song structures. "Wake
Up" is regarded one of the best indie rock anthems of our time and
"Rebellion (Lies)" actually charted in the UK Singles Chart. Arcade
Fire started out as an independent band utilizing harmonies, the piano and
great riffs. Listening to Funeral is an experience, as avid music fans
would say. It's a consistent album with a whole range of concepts, sounds and
lyricism. It's already become somewhat of an independent modern classic indie
rock album.
