Jack

Here is my list. 2004 was a year of nothing striking me as that damn important in music. Many good, some better but no knock outs. The year in music was just treading water.

1. James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards ñ Live in Aught-Three
A cd that combines the raw edge of Crazy Horse and literate storytelling. McMurtry is an under played artist who now bills himself as a ìbeer salesmanî rather than a singer song writer. A comment on his fate touring the bars of America to make a living. A cd that stood the test of repeated listening.

2. Buddy Miller ñ Universal United House of Prayer
Not a gospel album but a meditation on the state of our world today. Miller is a superb guitar player and solid singer who feels his songs deeper than most.

3. Rilo Kiley ñ More Adventures
A nice find this year. Slower, happy, up-tempo, music-with-an-attitude pop. It's clever music for an intelligent crowd.

4. Dave Alvin ñ Ashgrove
His first album in six years and itís worth the wait. A potent blend of singer song writer material and rampaging electric blues rock (just for you Blasters fans!).

5. Allison Moorer ñ The Duel
Beautiful and sad and funny and bleak and nihilistic and honest, and the songs are perfectly constructed. Moorerís voice is just as full of hard-edged loveliness as ever.

6. Neko Case ñ The Tigers Have Spoken
It is glorious, full of high-lonesome twang and chugging, unabashed country rock. Nekoís beautiful, gutsy vocals are perfectly matched to a loose live sound and the songs are perfectly chosen.

7. U2 ñ How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Sure we all got tired of the Apple ipod hype but once you let this cd sink in youíll find all the things youíve loved (or hated) about U2. Soaring anthems, cool Edge guitar and a guy named Bono.

8. Alejandro Escovedo - Por Vida: Fan Club CD (live)
Available only from his web site this 16 track live cd was recorded at various locations and is vintage Alejandro. Itís rough, intelligent, and passionate and includes a great cover of Mott the Hoopleís Irene Wilde.

9. Luna ñ Rendezvous
One of indie rocks best-kept secrets is coming to the end of their 12-year career. Rendezvous is a record that has a distinctive laid back and hypnotic ambience punctuated by bursts of guitar swirl attack, in short everything you've ever loved about Luna.

10.The Holmes Brothers ñ Simple Truths
Their truth runs the gamut from blues and funk to country to gospel all done with roots authenticity. The truth shall set you free. Outstanding choice of covers highlights this set.

Close but not quite there ñ but then again if I look at this list one more time I could change my mind.

11. Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers- Americano
12. Prince- Musicology
13. Patti Smith- trampin
14. Tiff Merritt ñ Tambourine
15. Elvis Costello- The Delivery Man
16. Van Hunt ñ Van Hunt
17. Madeleine Peyroux ñ Careless Love
18. Alison Krauss and Union Station ñ Lonely Runs Both Ways
19. Mavis Staples ñ Have A Little Faith
20. Hound Dog Taylor ñ Release The Hound

Blues
Whiskey Store ñ Live (Thackery & Benoit)

Re-Issued / Re-Master
Faces ñ Five Guys Walk Into A BarÖ
Bob Dylan- The Bootleg Series Vol. 6
Nivana ñ With The Lights Out