Music - 2004

So this blog is kinda defunct now. So hold yr horses while I get ready to serve up somethin REAL NICE.

Here are the best singles of the year in no order.
If your favorite track isn't up here, tell me about it in the comments section.

Hip-Hop

Federation - Hyphy

Federation - Hyphy (Remix)

Federation - Go Dumb

Slim Thug, T.I. and Bun-B - Three Kings

Slim Thug, Mike Jones and Paul Wall - Still Tippin'

Beanie Sigel - Feel it in the Air

T.I. - Rubberband Man

T.I. - Bring 'Em Out

50 Cent - Disco Inferno

Lloyd Banks - I'm So Fly

Lloyd Banks - On Fire

Nas - Thief's Theme

Nas - Bridging the Gap

Tone Tone - I Ain't Playin Witcha

Jay-Z - 99 Problems

De La Soul - Shopping Bags

Madvillain - All Caps

Jay-Z/Linkin Park - Numb/Encore

Usher, Ludacris, Lil Jon - Yeah!

Ying Yang Twins - What's Happen'n

Ying Yang Twins - Salt Shaker

Lil Jon - What You Gon' Do

Lil Jon feat. Ice Cube - Role Call

Lil Wayne - Go DJ

BG - I Want it You Got It

Jim Jones - Crunk Musik

3-6 Mafia - Who Gives a … Where You From

Ja Rule feat. Fat Joe and Jadakiss - New York

Jadakiss - Why (Remix)

Jadakiss - The Champ is Here

Terror Squad - Lean Back

J-Kwon - Tipsy

J-Kwon - Hood Hop

Mobb Deep - Got It Twisted

Trick Daddy - Let's Go

GM Grimm - Dancing

Twista - Overnight Celebrity

Kanye West - New Workout Plan

Kanye West - Jesus Walks

Kanye West - All Falls Down

Missy Elliott - I'm Really Hot

G-Unit - Wanna Get To Know You

Young Buck - Shorty Wanna Ride

Lil Flip - Game Over

Dead Prez - Hell Yeah (Remix)

Cee Lo - I'll Be Around

Vast Aire - Look Ma, No Hands

Ghostface - Tush

Young Gunz - No Better Love

Young Gunz - Friday Night

Mannie Fresh - Real Big

Twista - Slow Jamz (Collipark Remix)

Twista - Slow Jamz

Juvenile - Nolia Clap

Juvenile - Nolia Clap (Remix)

Crime Mob - Knuck if you Buck

Lil Scrappy - No Problem

Lil Scrappy - Headbussa

Trillville - Neva Eva

Trillville feat. Twista - Neva Eva (Remix)

Trillville - Get Some Crunk in yo System

Petey Pablo - Freek-A-Leek

Perceptionists - Memorial Day

8ball and mjg - You Don't Want Drama

8ball and mjg - Straight Cadillac Pimpin

Memphis Bleek - Just Blaze, Bleek and Free

Method Man - Whats Happening

Lil Wayne - BM Jr.

Memphis Bleek - Everything's a Go

Comp - Harder

David Banner - Crank It Up

Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder

Ma$e - Breathe, Stretch, Shake

Ma$e - Welcome Back

Fabolous - Breathe

Pitbull - Dammit Man

Fat Joe feat. Mase, Eminem, Lil Jon - Lean Back (remix)

Ghostface - Run

Snoop Dogg - Drop it Like It's Hot

Bubba Sparxxx - Back in the Mud

Jim Jones - Certified Gangsta

Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - In My Life

Kanye West F/ Common & Mase - Jesus Walks (Remix)

Lil Boosie feat. Young Bleed and Mr. Magic - I Smoke I Drank

Masta Ace - Good Ol' Love

Murs - H-U-S-T-L-E

Obie Trice - The Set Up

RJD2 - Exotic Talk

Sage Francis ft. Brother Ali and Slug – Doomage

Shawnna - Shake That Shit

Yung One ft. DMX, Lil Flip & David Banner – Tear It Up

Cam'ron - Get Em Girls

T.I. - Doin My Job

Game - Fresh '83

Yung Wun feat. David Banner - Walk it, Talk it

Sage Francis - Slow Down Ghandi

GM Grimm - My Love

Geto Boys - Yes Yes Y'all

Big Tymers - No Love

Lil Wyte - I Sho Will

Slim Thug - Like a Boss

The Diplomats - S.A.N.T.A.N.A.

Cam'ron - Down and Out

DJ Green Lantern f. Mos Def and Immortal Technique - Bin Laden

Pop

Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You

Phoenix - Everything is Everything

Kylie - Chocolate

Annie - Chewing Gum

Rachel Stevens - Some Girls

Ashlee Simpson - LaLa

Natasha Bedingfield - These Words

Girls Aloud - The Show

Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For (JLQ Remix)

Britney Spears - Toxic

Annie - Heartbeat

Girls Aloud - Love Machine

Richard X feat. Javine - You Used To

Dance

Rex the Dog - Frequency

Rex the Dog - Prototype

Kelis - Trick Me (Bjaxx Remix)

Kylie - I Believe in You (Skylark Remix)

Chromeo - Needy Girl

LCD Soundsystem - Yeah

M Mayer - X

Ada - Lovelace

Scsi-9 - Autumn Love

Kaito - Soul of Heart

Justus Köhncke - Frei/Hot Love

Alan Braxe and Fred Falke - Rubicon

Justus Köhncke - Timecode

The Knife - Heartbeats

The Knife - Heartbeats (Rex the Dog Remix)

Black Leotard Front - Casual Friday

Jacques Lu Cont ft. Ce’Cile - Na Na Na Na

Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb

Kylie - I Believe in You

Covenent - Bullet (Le Dust Sucker Remix)

Freeform Five - Strangest Things (Freeform Reform Dub)

Alter Ego - Rocker

James Holden - A Break in the Clouds

Black Strobe - Abwehr Disco

Basement Jaxx - Good Luck

Basement Jaxx - Plug It In

Undo and Vicknoise - Happy Monday

Audion - Kisses

Grime

Kano - P's and Q's

Kano ft. Wonder - What Have You Done

Lethal B - Forward Riddim

Wiley - Wot Do You Call It

Wiley - Pies

The Streets feat Kano - Fit But You Know It (Remix)

Dizzee Rascal - Stand Up Tall

Lady Sovereign - Ch-Ching

Ruff Sqwad - Raw 2 The Core

Jammer - Destruction

Estelle - 1980

Riko and Target - Chosen One

Lady Sovereign - Shhh!

R&B

Ciara - Goodies

Keyshia Cole - I've Changed My Mind

Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl

Brandy - Who is She 2 You

Tweet feat. Missy - Turn off the Lights

Ciara feat. Missy - 1, 2 Step

Mario - Let Me Love You

Alicia Keys - You Don't Know My Name (Reggae Remix)

Mya feat. Chingy - Fallen (Zone 4 Remix)

Kelis - Trick Me

Destiny's Child - Lose My Breath

Paula Campbell - Take You Home

R Kelly - Happy People

Christina Milan - Dip It Low

Sleepy Brown ft. Outkast-I Can't Wait

Rock/Indie

Love Is All - Make Out Fall Out Make Up

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control

Juan MacLean - Give Me Every Little Thing

Ratatat - Seventeen Years

Soulwax - Miserable Girl

The Go! Team - The Power is On

Soulwax - NY Excuse

Modest Mouse - Float On

Dykehouse - Chain Smoking

CocoRosie - By Your Side

Feist - Mushaboom

Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama Out

Fox and Wolf - Youth Alcoholic

TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun

Maroon 5 - This Love

The Concretes - Chico (Avalanches Remix)

!!! - Hello? Is This Thing On

Morrissey - Irish Blood, English Heart

Dancehall/Soca

Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On

Vybz Kartel - Picture This (Blackout Riddim)

Nina Sky ft. Vybz Kartel - Move Ya Body (Coolie Riddim)

Tanya Stephens - Can't Breathe

H20 Phlo - A Little Closer

Beenie Man - King of the Dancehall

Ce'Cile - Hot Like We (Red Alert Riddim)

Dawg E Slaughter - Trample (Trample Riddim)

Chico - Wrapped Up (Bush Fire Riddim)

TOK - Moneymaker (Phantom Riddim)

Mr. Vegas feat. Irishman - Never Leave You Lonely

TOK - Gal Yuh A Lead (Wanted Riddim)

Tanya Stephens - Female Pimping (Katana Riddim)

Vybz Kartel - Faggot Correction (Stepz Riddim)

Ce'Cile - That Thing (Ice Riddim)

Ce'Cile - When We Are Seen (Military Riddim)

Ce'Cile - Wine and Dine (Spanish Fly Riddim)

Chico - No Change (Bubble Up Riddim)

TOK - Inna Mi Bed (Military Riddim)

Elephant Man - Sweet Me (Bubble Up Riddim)

Bling Dawg - Yeah, Yeah (Bubble Up Riddim)

Bounty Killer - It's OK (Drop Leaf Riddim)

Vybz Kartel - Real Man (Middle East Riddim)

Other

MIA - Galang

MIA - Sunshowers

Big & Rich - Save a Horse

Saul Williams - Grippo

Big & Rich - Real World

Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman

OMFG never judge a book by its cover

or the look by the lover and most of ALL do NOT judge U.S.E. (United States of Electronica) by their horrible name! Thanks to Matos I decided to give this album a shot - and you can give it a shot for free too, the entire thing is free here. Just click on the link and look at the bottom-right corner for "U.S.E. album." Vocoders!!! This is like what I imagine R Kelly's album this year was like - insuppressible joy, except on speed.

Top Twenty singles, 2004.
This is the list I submitted to Stylus for the end-of-the-year singles list; I'd be surprised if more than 25% of it makes the final top 40. Probably fewer. There's definitely stuff I'd switch around on it now. But I'll make a better singles list soon and post it.

1. Brandy - Who is She 2 U
2. Slim Thug feat. Bun B and T.I. - Three Kings
3. T.I. - Rubber Band Man
4. Nina Sky f. Vybz Kartel - Move Ya Body (Remix)
5. Lil Wayne - Go DJ
6. Ying Yang Twins - What's Happenin'
7. Trillville ft. Twista - Neva Eva (Remix)
8. Usher - yeah!
9. Justus K - Frei/Hot Love
10. Slim Thug, Mike Jones and Paul Wall - Still Tippin'
11. Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl
12. Ghostface Killah ft. Missy Elliot - Tush
13. Crime Mob - Knuck if you Buck
14. Vybz Kartel - Picture This
15. Ce'cile - Hot Like We
16. Lil Scrappy - No Problem
17. H20 Phlo - A Little Closer
18. Tanya Stephens - Can't Breathe
19. Jay-Z - 99 Problems
20. Gwen Stefani - What Are You Waiting For (Jacques Le Cont Remix)

So much to discuss.

It has been a good year.
Erick, Sergio and I compiled a list of 2004's best hip-hop singles, but check it regularly cuz we add songs in the comments section - Click here for the list. Feel free to add your own contributions to the comments section too.

Still have to hear MM Food and the new Destiny's Child album! Snoop has a new album coming out and I'm really looking forward to it too. Teedra Moses, Stina Nordenstam, oh my!

I should mention - Trick Daddy's album is great, possibly top twenty. I like this Swishahouse mixtape Full Time Hustler ok, its a bit predictable though. Pitbull's album is cool. I need to hear the Teedra Moses album but it sounds really promising. The Junior Boys was an album I was up and down on for a while but I really don't ever feel compelled to listen to it these days so I don't think its going to finish very high on my final list.

The MIA/Diplo mixtape Piracy funds Terrorism is really good, but the way everyone on ILM was going on about it, I thought it would be fucking AMAZING but really its just EXACTLY what I expected - which is to say, really great, but not shockingly so. I wanted to be stunned, but was merely extremely pleased. Heh.

Also - saw Coppershot, the Ja. DJ team last night. Got really drunk. When they dropped some B-More club i practically lost my mind. Hearing "Never Scared" and "Knuck if you Buck" was also a highlight. The speakers in The Underground are pretty shitty and unfortunately that didn't work to Vybz Kartel's advantage on "Picture This" which is one of my favorite songs of the year. It sounded kind of crummy on the soundsystem there though. Grimey stuff like "Knuck if you Buck" came across really well.

Til next time...

Boredoms - "Seadrum"

This is intense and climactic and beautiful. Sorta similar to Can in structure and sorta like Steve Reich in its mystical, purely beautiful tone, yet more explosive than either artist. The classic Coltrane quartet comes to mind in the way everything builds mantra-like. This song is very very good.

Michael Mayer - Touch
This album is wonderful; only one track has vocals, but it's all rather accessible and not too micro. The title track has Rocky-style pianos. It builds like a motherfucker. Get it.

"Go DJ" by Lil Wayne is good.

Erick (of "We Eat So Many Shrimp" fame) and I are compiling a list of 2004's hip-hop singles. It'll be up soon.