pop77:v5

[POP77 TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2004]

So here’s the criteria – these are the albums that provided the soundtrack to my year. They shook my ass, moved my heart, sparked my imagination and rocked my world. Their songs were devoured front to back and never left my iPod.

In no particular order:

Stars – Set Yourself On Fire
Radio Dept. – Lesser Matters
Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days
Sufjan Stevens – Seven Swans
Blonde Redhead – Misery Is A Butterfly
The Go Find – Miami
Death From Above 1979 – You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine
Sam Phillips – A Boot And A Shoe
Mirah – C’mon Miracle
Felix Da Housecat – Devin Dazzle And The Neon Fever
De La Soul – The Grind Date
Madvillain – Madvillainy
Rob Sonic – Telicatessen
Pit Er Pat – Emergency EP
The Arcade Fire – Funeral
Junior Boys – Last Exit
Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
The Futureheads – The Futureheads
Cocorosie – La Maison De Mon Reve
Bloc Party – Bloc Party EP
Rogue Wave – Out Of The Shadow
Oneida – Secret Wars
Feist – Let It Die
Isis – Panopticon
Smoosh – She Like Electric

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[MP3 BONUS]

“She Like Electric” by Smoosh was one the year’s most euphoric releases. More than a novelty band, sisters Asya and Chloe displayed some awesome pop skills. Here’s a taste:

[MP3] Smoosh – Massive Cure

This time of the year carries the weight of expectation, reflection and history. We warm in the presence of those we hold dear, but just as often feel a chill as we ache for those we are missing. Call it seasonal tristesse.

Yet as this year submits to the next, we are just as often filled with an optimistic sense of renewal and promise. For me, this sensation of bright lights piercing through shadow and fog often shades winter with a veneer of twilight surreality.

With a hopeful eye cast towards 2005, I offer you a collection of music for a winter’s night (avec bonus CD cover, no less).

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DOWNLOAD THE CD COVER (cmyk jpeg/1 mb/300 dpi)
(ctrl click/right click to download)

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(192 kbps mp3/108.6 mb/79 minutes) – DOWNLOAD DISABLED

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Oomingmak – Cocteau Twins
Melissa Juice – Boards of Canada
Did You See The Moon Tonight – A Girl Called Eddy
Tarnation – Max Avery Lichtenstein
Vigils and Matins – Oceanographer
It Never Entered My Mind – Miles Davis
Your Eyes Told – Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter
All of November – P:ano
Everything I Try To Do, Nothing Seems To Turn Out Right – Decemberists
Flim – The Bad Plus
The Execution of All Things – Rilo Kiley
The Past And Pending – The Shins
Byss & Abyss – Espers
In My Lady’s House – Iron & Wine
Tea Merchants – Rachel’s
Sprout and the Bean – Joanna Newsom
The Luxury Of Loneliness (Boom Bip Remix) – Her Space Holiday
Only You – Yazoo
Light of People and the Song of the Earth – Slowly Minute
An Ending (Ascent) – Brian Eno

[ No music today - we're sick ]

So I’m officially not doing that hot with this whole “liveonyourownfeedclotheshelterandtakecareofyourself” thing.

Poor eating habits + late nights + lots of stress = more colds and flues in the past 2 years than I’ve had in the previous 10. So here I find myself reaching day 6 of my flu and I’m out of groceries. Ate my last apple last night, haven’t seen meat for days and rumours have circulated that I ran out of orange juice hours ago. I’m sharing this will you all to try and explain why since I awoke today, I’ve consumed the following:

- 1 tin of tuna (in water)
- 2 tsps of Kraft peanut butter (crunchy)
- 1 fistful of President’s Choice chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

Worst time of year to get sick too. Marking to finish. Visits to make. Gifts to buy. Ale to be drank. Sushi to be devoured. P77 “Wintermix” to finish. 2004 Top 25 to publish.

So I’ll have to ask you all to sit tight for a while. I’ll have a new P77 mix up in the next day or so, and baring further unforeseen illness, more blog goodies available in the coming week.