This year was even more difficult than last year. More of my favorite albums were from 2004 than I realized. I gave up on favorite movies, because I felt I hadn’t seen enough to make a good claim. Garden State, Shrek 2, and Eternal Sunshine would likely show up, though. I know there were some great country, rap, other genre songs but since I never bought any albums or such, I decided to leave them out for the most part. So here are my picks. Feel free to post your own in the comments.

Albums

After much debate, The Walkmen’s Bows + Arrows earned my pick for best album. Vocals sold this album. I mean, this guy, he goes from sad to angry to hopeful and his voice just instantly pulls me to those different emotions. More importantly is how the music compliments him. I love the variety of instruments and sounds. Each song gets its own flavor…the organ in what’s in it for me sets the slow, wtf is happening feel and then you get some upbeat piano in new year’s eve, and xylophone gives this lovely whimsical feel to thinking of a dream i had. The songs are all so different and drag you along on this tale. It’s like a series of film shorts. The album’s just amazing overall. It was the variety and emotion that beat out the other albums.

I gave HM to albums I hadn’t fully heard but thought deserved a place on the list, so here are my other ranked picks:


Bows + Arrows
The Walkmen


Hot Fuss
The Killers


Heroes to Zeroes
The Beta Band


How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
U2


Legion of Boom
The Crystal Method


Feels Like Home
Norah Jones


Impossible Dream
Patty Griffin

Honorable Mention

  • Antics Interpol
  • Cast of Thousands Elbow
  • Encore Eminem

Songs

I’ll admit that I know absolutely nothing about this band…nothing. I randomly heard the song on my Launch player one day and wrote it down as a cool song. When I actually really listened to the lyrics, I was floored. It wasn’t just a nice catchy song, it’s a fucking anthem. It’s got this driving beat that echos the repeated words. It’s an amazing song with interesting vocals, and dammit it has saxophones! Completely random pick, I know, but it’s amazing.

I think all my picks for best song are pretty varied. They’re all quality though. I avoided duping songs that were on my best album list. Otherwise, I coud have never narrowed it down this far. Here’s the rest:

Honorable Mention

  • Chocolate
    Snow Patrol
  • Imagine
    A Perfect Circle
  • Mockingbird
    Eminem

Compilations

Perfect Harmony was, hands down, the best compilation. Of course, it had 2 CDs worth of music. The CD cover is pretty weak, and Aimee Mann is on the album and had a cool photo. Thus, the random photo. Anyway, this album has everyone from Garbage to Massive Attack to Doves. It has so many of the fantastic singer/songwriters like Norah Jones and Beth Gibbons. There are a few names I didn’t know prior but they’re all still wonderful. It’s the perfect “chill” album. I think Kristofer Astroem’s Mr. Bojangles is probably the hidden gem in the set.

My other top picks for best compilation basically stick to the same type of music as Perfect Harmony, except Battlefield Vietnam is just a great classic rock collection.


Perfect Harmony


Garden State soundtrack


Music from the OC: Mix 2


Shrek 2 soundtrack


Battlefield Vietnam soundtrack


Wicker Park soundtrack

And that’s it ladies & gents. I hope you enjoy some of the tracks. I know at least one person who is bound to disagree completely but he’ll get over it. He can post his own list :)