OK...so according to Shmoo, details of the poll and the official start of it will be on December 15th. I've already began compiling my list, as I'm sure a lot of you have, so I thought it'd be fun to have discussions (hopefully individual discussions for every album) regarding the albums you'll be putting on your list and so forth. Feel free to post any questions you may have regarding the poll itself as well.

Well, I'll begin with PJ Harvey's Uh Huh Her. How well is this holding up for you guys and where do you see her album in relation to your Top 20? For me, the album is definitely Top 10 material, depending on how much I like some of my recent purchases (Son Ambulance, Earlimart, etc.). In the end, I see her between 8 and 13.

I agree, most likely top 10. But that is partly due to my not having heard everything yet - there are still many 2004 albums I'd like to hear before I start my "official" rankings. So PJ might slide lower.

i've found there's been a lot more competition in 2004, due to a combo of increased new music buying and just a raise in quality (imo). In discussing pj, thought i'd touch on a few other vets with 2004 releases.

Of the vets that i've heard a bunch from before their new 2004 stuff:

PJ Harvey - nearly as good and raw as her earlier efforts, but with the competition, probably won't crack my top 20

u2 - as good as their last album, but competition will probably keep 'em from top 20

wilco - sparse outing, making it tough to compare to other albums, but i welcome the change -- wouldn't want any of my favs to be stalled in the same sound for long; currently my #2 release of 2004

eminem - "eminem show part 2" was good, but sounds lazy and without bite; better with repeated listens, despite all the body noises, but will struggle for a top 20

modest mouse - even though not as deep conceptually as "moon & antarctica", is my current #1 of the year (and probably will remain there) because they keep hold of the off-kilter top musicianship and quirkyness i loved from "moon..."

bjork - kinda like wilco in turning another direction, going sparse, and still coming out with an album i can spin nearly on a daily basis; should nail a top 20 spot, possible top 10

beastie boys - flat & unimaginative, especially the second "half" of the cd; no evolution on the sound they've had for the past decade

rem - above review reminded me of their album; their last 3 albums, this included, have been fairly lukewarm in content & delivery, but it does beat "up"

PJ is currently number six on my Top Twenty although that might change (Morrissey is making a late charge for the Top Ten and I've yet to rate Madvillian, Death From Above 1979 and Fennesz).

uh huh her has fallen for me over the year. it is at 66 right now on my excel spreadsheet[/end dork]. there are some songs on it i really really like, but overall there are 65 albums i liked better this year.

Modest Mouse have greatly disappointed me with this album and will not make my Top 20 this year.

I'm with you on that one. I generally get bunch of CDs for Christmas and start working on my year-end mixes and lists after that. I'm really hoping I get some great stuff this year because I think 2004 has been the most disappointing year in a long time as far as my music purchases are concerned.

As of right now I see The Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse toping my list with Wilco and Elliot Smith probably in my top 5.

The Arcade Fire is a definite Top 10 for me but the closer I get to the my final list, I see them somewhere in the 6 to 9 slots.

What about some of the earlier releases like cLOUDDEAD and The Walkmen? How do they stand up for you to some of the recent releases? For me, The Walkmen are definite Top 5 material while cLOUDDEAD have dropped in recent months, probably somewhere between 6 and 14.

New artists are reigning inside my top 20 this year for some reason. Albums from Franz Ferdinand, Keane, Kanye West, Ambulance LTD, Razorlight, The Killers, a.c. newman and the libertines all should make my top 20.

For most of the year I've considered Walkmen to be one of the most overrated albums of 2004. Lately, I've been listening to it again, though, and it's grown on me a lot. I see it in my top 10, probably after 7 somewhere.

From this list...The Libertines (somewhere around 10 to 15), Keane (on the bubble, perhaps 18 to 20), Franz Ferdinand and Razorlight will not be making my Top 20.

Haven't heard the PJ, and most likely won't. Just does not interest me.

I see the Walkmen right now at anywhere from 3 to 5, depending on where Secret Machines and Kanye end up.

I'd say my #1 and 2 are locked: Loretta Lynn and DBT, after that, it really depends on how I'm feeling that day.

Loretta Lynn was another disappointment for me. Definitely won't make my Top 20.

Currently, my #1 and 2 are Blonde Redhead and The Walkmen, but that may change cause I'm really loving the new Son Ambulance, so we'll see. It also depends on what I do with the Scissor Sisters. Guilty pleasure or not, this album has really gotten me thru some tough times this year.

I'm really losing my enthusiasm for making and talking about year-end lists lately. I feel like I have a decent handle on what's out there (though I still need to hear DBT, Lhasa, Ike Reilly, Bark Psychosis, and maybe a few others), and my top 10-20 has gotten really muddy.

I'm seriously doubting that I'm gonna come across any more 2004 releases that really excite me until next year. That's usually how it goes.

Modest Mouse should just crack my 20, mainly due to one song.

Modest Mouse is my LEAST favourite release this year. Currently 47 out of 47.

The Walkmen are 13th although they may fall slightly and cLOUDEAD are out of the picture at 31.

walkmen & clouddead are both on the low end of my list, walkmen near last, somewhere just above icarus line & oceansize i think.

i've got clouddead at 78 and walkmen at 101 at the moment.

i think oceansize was '03.

I *think* everyone knows what my # 1 pick will be, so I'll leave that out, but there are some albums that have moved down my list since being released: Modest Mouse being one.

Albums I'm still evaluating: Les Savy Fav, Pinback, DFA1979, Interpol, Arcade Fire. I'm not sure if Bjork will make my top 20 as I've only listened to the record 5 times and don't have any reason to go back to it right now.

Albums I need to go back to: Animal Collective, Liars, Oneida, Wilco, Drive-By Truckers.

I've been wanting to know something..... whatever happened to the support for The Veils on this board? That record might not make my top 20 due to it being somewhat samey as the rest of the Brit-rock pack, but a lot of people liked that record when it came out.

Does anyone think a re-issue like The Name of this Band is the Talking Heads is eligible? If so, it would make my top 10.

I don't know if this year was more disappointing than others - there are a lot more albums that have interested me than there have been in years prior. But overall, there just haven't been any earth-shaking, blow-me-away releases this year. I've got no idea what my #1 is going to be... and that has never been the case so late in the year.

(finally getting) high speed internet has allowed me to hear probably twice as many '04 releases than any other year.

The Veils will be high on my list. The album is still very good to these ears. I'd like to say Top 5 but Top 10 is more realistic.

I think PJ Harvey 'Uh Huh Her' is a very strong album. I've had it since it came out and it really hasn't slipped much at all. I see it around the 7 or 8 slot in my year-end list. cLOUDDEAD 'Ten' has grown stronger for me if anything. I started out rarely listening to it, but now it's in full rotation every week. I see it in the top 10 as well...although I'm not sure where yet. I heard the blonde redhead album over Thanksgiving and I've gotta say I was very disappointed...I don't own it and even if I did I doubt it would make the list. The very first album I bought in 2004 was AIR 'Talkie Walkie' and it's been my favorite throughout most of the year. I think it's been underrated and forgotten here since it was released so long ago. The Walkmen 'Bows & Arrows' has got me puzzled. I'll listen to it and appreciate it sometimes and other times I think it sucks. I imagine it'll make it somewhere between the 15-30 slots as of now, there was a time when I didn't think it would make the list at all.

Any thoughts on Animal Collective? Every time I listen to this album it rises one slot in my Top 20. Who knows though where it'll fit on my list? This one has me a bit perplexed. What do you think?

Wow, a thread all about me. Or something I've done. Or, well, albums from this year.

I'm surprised to see so much support for the new PJ Harvey. I was very disappointed by it. Probably the worst of her five albums and a huge let down after Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea which was awesome.