That's one I should've heard this year, but haven't and probably won't by year-end. I will say that if it's anything similiar to Panda Bear then I'm glad I haven't heard it.

Getting a load from BMG in before Christmas, so that'll change things somewhat. But my current top 10 is in the year-end list thread.

Others simmering near the top; Green Day, The Frames, Neko Case, The Veils, Oh My God, Franz Ferdinand, Lil Jon, Nellie McKay...

Did anyone check out Crystal Method "Legion of Boom? I got it back in March and listen to it rarely, but there are a couple good tracks IMO. I'm not sure if it'll make my list yet. Anyway, I haven't heard anyone talk about it at all this year. Just curious.

i completely forgot about 'em. i loved listening to this album for a couple weeks earlier this year. i think they'll be a top 20 bubble band.

their zaniness reminds me of the unicorns, but a little more scatterbrained and not as catchy. Poor description/comparison, but that's my main impression. i've liked 'em more than i did on first listen, but they'll probably remain in the lower half of my 2004 bounty come the 31st.

Oceansize was 2004 for the US and wasn’t even exposed. The record companies really need to get their shit together. Elbow (witch will make it on my list), Muse, Athlete, Coral, Snow Patrol and Cooper Temple Clause are all this year (US) but feel last year. King of Leon is out but not in the US and is an American band. The UK gets Mercury Rev next month but has been delayed for the US and they wonder why people are file sharing.

This year is going to be tough and the best album might have come to me this last weekend, finally. I am in a mad dash to hear and discover those last few good records. I have only heard Fiery Furnaces once and yet to hear Junior Boys, Autolux, Furtureheads and the Bees. Still waiting to see if TV on the Radio, Wilco or Animal Collective will hit me. I need all the time I can get and will still be making adjustment until the deadline. My personal list will probably (bee) 75 this year.

np: Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles

Parts of Sonic Youth, 'Sonic Nurse' really grew on me to during the last month.

Yup. I'll list my favorites in tiers:

- Sufjan Stevens, Madvillain
- Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse, Jerry Springer: The Opera, Franz Ferdinand, DJ Shadow (live)
- Brad Mehldau, Les Savy Fav, Elliott Smith, Drive-By Truckers, cLOUDDEAD
- Wilco, Streets, Eternal Sunshine OST, Loretta Lynn, Devendra Banhart, Interpol, Hives, Mark Lanegan Band, Jimmy Eat World
- Kanye West, Air, Nellie McKay, Gomez, Arcade Fire, John Vanderslice, Bad Religion, Old 97s, Black Keys

Arcade Fire is at the top of my list.

Nothing else had nearly as much of an impact.

All I know is it will be submitted promptly on Dec. 15th because I'm sick of thinking about it.

In fact, I'm trying to not even really read any of the posts in these threads because I don't want to be influenced. Maybe not so much as what makes the list, but as far as the rankings.

It isn't much like the Panda Bear album, actually. It has much more in the way of identifiable songs and lyrics, and it's denser and more polished. It has much more of a pop appeal, and is a much more accomplished record I think.

It's still my #1 of the year.

Right on. The Panda Bear is a bit too avante garde for me. It's alienating and you have to be in a certain mood, at a certain time of day, during the right lunar phase to enjoy it....during high tide.

I thought it was boring, not catchy, and not anywhere near as good as Vegas. It doesn't even sound like them to me. Too many crappy guests make it sound crappy. I was really disappointed by it.

Oh shit, NO YOU DIDN'T. Ish/Goner..... back me up on this. That 2nd bolded statement just made my heart sink. The Unicorns are a bunch of pretentious little smart-ass twats who are about as good as two 11-year- olds from South Dakota playing keyboards locked on Shit mode.
Animal Collective actually made a unique record and have been making distinct-sounding records since their inception. They are contributing to the musical spectrum while The Unicorns are just hamming it up meta-ironic hipster-style and are the biggest frauds this side of Ashley Simpson.

I'm holding out for any late additions I may get for Christmas, but I believe I pretty much know what my top 20 looks like. Though, realizing Powderfinger's disc Vulture Street was recently released in the US, I may have to listen to that again (haven't thought about it in a while as I received it last year from an Aussie friend) and possibly a little rearranging.

the Animal Collective is the second best of the year. The Panda Bear record is actually similar in some ways--vocal as instrument/acoustic guitar coupling, but I suppose one might have to be more in the mood for it than AC as Panda Bear's is a little less busy, a little less structured, and a little less varied. But I certainly like it.

BUMP! What happened?

I totally forgot about that cd, maybe because my ex still has it, GRRRR. Anyway, I wasn't that impressed with it- didn't move me like Vegas did.


I've attempted to make a top 20 list and it really is difficult to rank them all- and I'm sure by the time Christmas comes I'll be getting more releases that I still haven't heard yet.

So far, I've been impressed with local bands: Autolux & Midnight Movies

Arcade Fire I didn't like at first, but it totally hit me after a few listens. !!! is a fun album. Also digging Pinback. These will be in my top 20... somewhere in there. Blonde Redhead is my #1.

And I don't "get" the Libertines album. I dig 'em a lot, but on this album, there's only like 3-4 songs I REALLY like. Not digging the Zutons album either... so if anyone wants to trade the Libertines & Zutons, PM me!

Also not impressed with: Moving Units, the Faint, Radio 4 (I had WAY high expectations for this- it's good, but not like a Gotham-good)

Hmm, I know there's more but I'm work so I can't remember what else there is as of the moment. I'm going to re-listen to all my '04 releases so I can rank my list.