It’s that time of the year where people do their end of year lists. The problem with this is that it’s hard to really know or understand the cultural significance of something until time has passed a little. If you look at best picture winners in the past you’ll find a collection of “what was that movie” compared to the nominees that are still significant these years later.
This isn’t looking at these films and albums in lens of “this was the most important release of this year” or “this made the biggest impact”. More so this is a list of 10 Albums and 10 Movies that were overlooked, forgotten, wrongfully disliked or are simply worth rewatching/relistening to when looked at through the lens of nostalgia.
Top 10 Albums of 2004
10. Wilco: A Ghost is Born
I’ve always had mixed feelings on Wilco. I was first introduced to them via Beavis & Butthead and got really into their first album (A.M.) which was a fun Alt-Country album. As they got more and more Indie I didn’t enjoy them as much. I still think they’re a good bad and understand why critics love them, but the music just never connected with me. A Ghost is Born is the exception. It features some of Tweedy’s catchiest material in years as well as some of his best guitar work. The closing song “The Late Greats” might be the catchiest (as well as most fun) song Wilco has ever recorded.
9. I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business
I liked the Early November, but I was never a super fan. I thought I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business’ self-titled release however is a strong contender for the best thing Drive Thru Records ever put out. It’s such a weird little project of sounds and genres that it’s hard to not get caught up in it’s immediately infectious sounds. “The Best Happiness Money Can Buy” is easily one of the top 10 catchiest songs of the 2000’s.
8. Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama: There will be a Light
Every once and a while I pop a CD into my car and right away I know I’m in for a real experience. That’s the case for Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama more than any other album on this list I only vaguely know of Ben Harper but this past year I heard a friend perform Well, Well, Well off this album and wanted to hear the original. I was rewarded with 11 beautiful gospel tracks including the heartbreaking “Mother Pray” and the catchy “Church on Time”
7. Brazil: A Hostage and the Meaning of Life
Brazil was a mostly blind buy for me. They covered a Police song on the Punk Goes 80’s comp that I thought was decent enough and when I saw their CD at a used CD store I figured what the hell. I didn’t expect what came out of my speakers. I assumed I’d hear some form of pop punk, I did not plan for a sound that can only be described as a melting pot of Coheed & Cambria, The Blood Brothers and 60’s Garage rock. The band immediately became one of my favorites by the end of the opening track “A Hostage”.
6. The Polyphonic Spree: Together We’re Heavy
I remember the day Polyphonic Spree was unleashed on the word. Their catchy hit Light & Day was unavoidable and immediately with their gowns and positivity we as a cultural just assumed they were a cult. They probably are (or were) but that didn’t stop me from drinking the Kool-Aid that is their music. Their debut album was filled with great songs as well as lots of filler. Their follow-up however is the best album they’ve ever released. Each song is packed with so much variety and gorgeously upbeat lyrics that it’s been difficult to not love every second it’s been on. If you only know the band as a one-hit wonder I highly recommend checking out songs like “Hold Me Now”, “Diamonds” and “Two Thousand Places” off this record.
5. The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come for Free
The Streets will always be one of my favorite bands. All Five of their released appeared on my Top 10 albums list of their respected released year and three of them are in the Top Five. While Original Pirate Material painted a picture of life in London, A Grand Don’t Come for Free is a story presented in hip-hop. What’s great about this record is that you can listen to all 11 tracks at random and they work as individual tracks but when listened front to back it still tells a very clear story that’s easy to follow. While it’s definitely not my favorite Streets album A Grand Don’t Come for Free was one of the most impressively different releases of 2004.
4. The Avett Brothers: Mignonette
Much like the previous mentioned Streets the Avett Brothers have a pretty impressive output of perfection. They release roughly an album a year and have made my top 10 for basically every single year. Over the years Avett Brothers transformed from a country/bluegrass trio into more of an indie rock album. Mignonette is basically that perfect transition album between the two sounds. If you’ve never heard Avett Brothers this is a really great starter album.
3. Tom Waits: Real Gone
Let’s talk 2014 real quick. 2014 was the year I got into Tom Waits. This was actually the first album I heard by him ($1 at a yard sale). I was immediately hooked and bought 4 other Tom Waits releases this year. The 2000’s saw a weird thing in Waits music. It’s still the funky blues/rock with his signature raspy voice but this album has a heavy hip-hop influence in it. Specifically record scratches and Wait’s own unique style of beat-boxing. The opening track “Top of the Hill” will get stuck in your head instantly. You’ve been warned.
2. Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous
When I first heard Rilo Kiley all I knew about the band was that it was the girl from The Wizard and the Rat from Boy Meets World. Thankfully the band turned out to be insanely talented. The name of this record comes from the band’s desire to try something new and be “more adventurous” in their sounds. What they uncovered was the winning combination of sounds that they needed. Equal parts indie rock and 60’s rock the album is full great lyrics, interesting music and a beautiful perspective on themes like break ups (“Portions For Foxes”) and death (“Ripchord”).
1. Modest Mouse: Good News for People who Love Bad News
Not only is this my album of 2004 but I think it’s Modest Mouse’s best release. Now I know that there’s a bunch of Modest Mouse fans out there losing their shit right now because the “earlier stuff was better” or their last album “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank was such a massive improvement on this one”. Well those people can write their own list but Good News for People who Love Bad News was the band doing their unique sound while finding a way to make it accessible. Their single “Float On” was unavoidable in 2004 and I have fond memories of driving home from work with a group of co-workers just rocking out to this album front and back over and over again. Each year I find a new song that I obsess over. Issac Brock’s lyrics are humorous, cynical but still weirdly upbeat in a way that he’s never written before or again. Be it songs about death like “Ocean Breathes Salty” (For your sake I hope there’s really a heaven or hell but I won’t hold my breathe, you wasted life why wouldn’t you waste death) or the shockingly poppy “The View” (If it takes shit to make bliss then I feel pretty blissfully). This is that perfect mainstream album with indie cred that sums up what 2004 was in music.
Top 10 Movies of 2004:
10. The Incredibles
After 10 years it seems like Pixar is finally considering doing a sequel to what most of the world knows is their best film. What makes The Incredibles so special is that it works as both a commentary on Super Hero movies while still being a great super-hero movie. It also preaches the message that “not everyone is special” in a way that kids of all ages can appreciate. Pixar’s winning blend of comedy and drama has kept it going as one of the best film studios for the last two decades and The Incredibles exemplifies every reason that they deserve the longevity that they’re blessed with.
9. Team America: World Police
With the release of the controversial (and overrated) The Interview it’s interesting to reflect on the fact that 10 years ago we were making fun of North Korea in the form of a Ronery Puppet. 10 Years from now The Interview will be remembered as a controversial film that’s mostly filled with offensively unfunny jokes and Team America will still be an incredible satire on America and Terrorism.
8. Mean Girls
If you had told me that Mean Girls would become one of my all time favorite movies when it was released I’d have called you insane. I put the movie off for a long time. My friend Colin would always talk about the movie and referred to it as “Heathers-lite”. Finally I decided to rent it and was blown away by how quickly I fell in love with it. I think it’s safe to say that this will always been seen as Lindsay Lohen’s peak.
7. I <3 Huckabees
This is without competition the strangest movie of 2004. While it doesn’t have as many weird visuals as Eternal Sunshine, nor the unique style of Wes Anderson it has one of the strangest plot-lines I’ve ever seen. It’s one of those films that requires multiple viewings. Sadly this film will always be tainted by a very public meltdown that you can find on youtube pretty easily.
6. Sideways
If I recall correctly this was the Indie darling of 2004. I got around to watching it my freshmen year of collect when it was originally released on DVD. I wanted to see it because I loved Paul Giamatti. I bought the book and read it over a two day period than rented it and watched the movie. It’s one of those rare “as good if not better than the book” movies with solid performances from everyone involved. Paul Giamatti manages to make us like Miles even when he’s doing awful things like visiting his parents just to steal money from them, or allowing his friend to lie and cheat on his fiancée. Sideways is one of those movies where you know it simply can’t end well while simultaneously hoping it does.
5. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
For years I’ve heard people call this the worst Wes Anderson film. First off, that’s not true, the correct answer is Darjeeling Limited. Secondly, while it’s not as perfect as Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums I’ve always really loved the way this film looks. Anderson’s unique way to blend cinema with plays has always been impressive. This film contained some interesting stop-motion and great music throughout. If you’ve been writing this movie off or don’t remember it being as good as your other Anderson favorites I definitely recommend giving it a rewatch.
4. The Girl Next Door
I didn’t expect to like this movie at all. Instead of just liking it I loved it. As far as I’m concerned this was the last great Teen Flick. It does everything you want to see in a Teen Flick. It depicts high school in a semi-realistic light, it throws in ridiculous and over the top situations and it addresses genuine high school fears. What I like about this film over many other teen flicks is that genuine fear isn’t “I’m not popular” or “this girl doesn’t like me” but “What am I supposed to do with my future”. Every actor brings their A game, the comedy works and the drama surprisingly works as well (a real rarity for teen flicks).
3. Shaun of the Dead
For years I’ve said the Return of the Living Dead is the greatest Zombie movie ever made. I still believe this but Shaun of the Dead is the only movie to give it a run for it’s money. I remember walking into a movie theater and seeing the theater cardboard cut out promotion for this movie and being very curious about it. I never got around to seeing it until a year later when it was released on DVD but I instantly fell in love with it. This was the first film I’d ever seen where the first 45 minutes is all set up to the next 45 minutes of punchlines. It helps that those first 45 minutes are also very funny. The first (and best) Zom-Rom-Com is a probably the most culturally significant release in 2004.
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
There are few films that had a better trailer than Eternal Sunshine. The fake infomercial told you absolutely nothing about what you were about to watch, so obviously I couldn’t wait to see it. What I got was a film that is one of the most visually compelling experiences ever created. The best part of this movie is that I get a different story from it every time. It’s one of those pictures so leveled with metaphor and symbolism and messages that it’s impossible to not get something new out of it each time you watch it.
1. Garden State
I don’t doubt that people will argue with me about this number 1. Certainly many of the previous titles listed have had a larger cultural significance. One could even argue that Garden State isn’t THAT great a movie. Some would even say it doesn’t belong on a top 10 at all. Well to those people I say Fuck You this is my list. There are few films that have meant more to me than Garden State. It’s one of those films that I saw at the exact right moment in life. Every single time I watch it I’m transported back to that time. It’s the movie I watch when I have writers block, it’s the movie that I watch when I’m depressed, it’s the movie I watch when I just want to hear great music. It took all my power not to put the soundtrack on the best music of 2004 list. There are going to be hundreds of people who will talk shit on this movie, but I’ll never be one of them.