Welcome to part 3 of our continuing journey down musical memory lane, as I revisit songs and albums that, for me, personified the decade that is just about to wrap up. We’ve already seen the first 4 years in our previous two installments. Now, welcome back to 2004.
2004 ended up being a breakthrough year for several artist. American Idol season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson released her second disc, the aptly titled Breakaway, scored with 3 top 10 singles, and proved herself outside of the view of Simon Cowell’s grumpy scowl. Montreal’s Arcade Fire and Scotland’s Franz Ferdinand broke out with a one/two punch of the most brilliant debut albums in years and brought indie back to the mainstream, while Las Vegas’ The Killers took us back to the 80’s with their glitzy-retro sensibilities. Emerging from New York and bringing disco/glam/gay sensationalism back to the radio was Scissor Sisters, fronted by the charismatic Jake Shears and the always sexy Ana Matronic. And indie darlings Modest Mouse crossed over to mainstream popularity with their effervescent single Float On.
The best singles of 2004
Alanis Morissette- Everything
Annie- Chewing Gum
Arcade Fire- Rebellion(Lies)
Bloc Party- Banquet
Cut Copy- Saturdays
Death from Above 1979- Black History Month
The Delays- Long Time Coming
Dirty Sanchez- Fucking on the Dancefloor
Elbow- Grace Under Pressure
Fountains of Wayne- Stacey’s Mom
Franz Ferdinand- Take Me Out
The Go! Team- Ladyflash
I Am the World Trade Center- Future Sightings
Interpol- Not Even Jail
Jem-Wish I
Jurgen Paape- So Weit Wie Noch Nie
Keane- Everybody’s Changing
Kelly Clarkson- Since U Been Gone, Breakaway
The Killers- All These Things That I’ve Done
Kylie Minogue- I Believe In You
Modest Mouse- Float On
Morissey- First of the Gang to Die
Scissor Sisters- Laura
Stars- Ageless Beauty
Starsailor- Silence is Easy
The 10 best Albums of 2004
Arcade Fire, Funeral
Franz Ferdinand, S/T
The Go! Team, Thunder Lightening Strikes
Interpol, Antics
Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway
The Killers, Hot Fuss
Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Scissor Sisters, S/T
Starsailor, Silence is Easy
VHS or Beta, Night on Fire
Rants of The Misanthrope and other musings 