Deviating from normal format means it’s one of those BEST OF types of columns, things I’m sure you have already seen all over Inside Pulse and will continue to see until, well, February, if many of the staff members keep with their punctuality records.
Unfortunately for the website, I rather dislike lists and compilations. I can’t rank a pop album alongside an obscure metal album; they simply don’t compare well. While I did contribute my list of Top Ten Metal Albums of 2004, that’s still such a small piece of the entire picture. Hell, I think I even disagree with my own list.
Instead, here’s some babble about the albums of 2004 that didn’t disappoint.
U2: How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
There’s no secret about how much I loved this album. It caught me completely off-guard, actually. It wasn’t until the 5th or 6th listen that all of its lyrical heaviness and musical wittiness actually caught my ear and hypnotized me. It’s a fabulous rock album and quite likely one which I would consider the best of their career to date. Disagree all you like; it’s your loss.
Dry Kill Logic: The Dead and Dreaming
It started as just another metal album that I threw into rotation. Suddenly, I found it being one of the only albums in rotation. These guys need at least as much of an audience as Killswitch Engage, another lovely metal band of similar ilk to release an album this year, and certainly they deserve more fanfare than Lamb of God.
Before the Dawn: 4:17 am
This was another out of nowhere surprise for me. I had never heard of them whatsoever, and suddenly, I absolutely cannot stop playing the album. I still have tracks in my playlist. I have been doing my best to spread the word about this masterpiece. It’s doomy without becoming dirgeful, and with just the right amount of modern metal spirit mixed in. Find it.
Scissor Sisters
Ever get the urge to listen to something for no real reason other than to hear it? That’s what I did with Scissor Sisters. Who would have guessed that it would be so awesome? Stupid Gwen Stefani keeps getting props for releasing a truly awful pop album; while Scissor Sisters did get critical acclaim as well, I still feel like they have been washed over. This was the fun pop album of 2004.
Slipknot: Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
Yes, I’m in Iowa. I wasn’t a big Slipknot fan prior to this album, however. Yes, it’s much more commercial-sounding than its predecessors, but I don’t care. The point is that it’s a fantastic album which just happens to be by Slipknot, regardless of what they have done before. The reactions I have gotten from non-metal fans to “Vermillion Part 2” has been unreal. Quite simply, there has been no better time to set aside your pretenses.
Megadeth: The System Has Failed
I always thought of Megadeth as I did Metallica, even with the same historic nature of their back catalog: four excellent albums, one commercial smash, then it all went downhill. The difference is, Megadeth is actually back with a vengeance, returning to their roots while updating their sound. Dave Mustaine might have a big mouth, but he definitely showed up his former bandmates on this baby.
Bjork: Medulla
Everything this lovely Icelandic princess touches turns to gold. Undoubtedly, this was one weird album, yet nicely pleasing to the ears. I have utterly worshipped her for too many years to not completely respect her artistic vision.
Hanzel und Gretyl: Scheissmessiah!
While it took me ages to actually get a hold of this album, it was worth the wait. Hooray for angry german-language music — indeed, this was the year for angry Germans in my universe — as these industrial monsters were forgiven for any elusiveness. It was also pleasant to hear a much more laid-back album than some of their previous heavy works.
Martyr AD: On Earth As It Is In Hell
Yet another album that fell into my lap without warning. I truly believe that 2004 has only made me more excited to try new and different bands without any sort of recommendation or idea as to what in the world I’m getting myself into. They’re on one godawful label, but try not to let that distract you.
Auf Der Maur
Miss Melissa has always been an interesting sort, as one can’t help but wonder who on earth would ever join Courtney Love in a band, willingly. On her own, it’s obvious; she’s one weird gal. Rightfully, this isn’t the greatest album I have heard, but it’s completely catchy and obscenely strange. She can only barely sing, but that only adds to the charm. It’s worth more than one spin, that’s for sure.
Rammstein: Reise Reise
Continuing more trends of the year than I could ever list, Rammstein deviated more toward the mainstream on this release; rather than be all-out horrifyingly scary German style, this album is wonderfully out of character at times and lends some of the most pleasant sounds I have heard all year. Catch “Moskau” if you can.
Shadows Fall: The War Within
These guys have been busy reinventing American metal for some time now, if only by taking it to European roots. Still, that’s no reason to complain, when the best of US hardcore meshes with old school death and power metal to create something that doesn’t immediately sound palletable, yet grows on you like a fungus. I wanted to hate this album, but I ended up loving every last drop.
Chroma Key: Graveyard Mountain Home
Eternally sad ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore finally released his third succession with this completely bizarre offering. The entire premise is that he took one of those old ’50s films about teenagers growing up, and he created an entire soundtrack for it. At times outright disturbing and at other times fun and plucky, it’s just so different from anything in existence that I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it.
Probot
Oh, to be Dave Grohl and have this much fun with artists you adore. This album screams “fun” more than any of the garbage spat by Andrew WK ever did, at least in the world of metalheads. While it plays like a compilation disc due to it being nothing more than endless collaborations, that’s what makes it so endearing. Without the guests, it would be a throwaway album. With all of the variety, it’s a reminder why we cherish the artists that we do.
Buckethead: Population Override
I have yet to go on a complete tirade about how much I adore the man with the KFC bucket and white mask. I have a difficult time not drooling all over everything he touches, to be honest. However, this was quite sincerely his best effort to date; two parts avant-garde, three parts grinding metal crunchiness. I have never heard an instrumentalist who was so adept at making songs without lyrics that are instantly memorable.
Oomph!: Wahrheit Oder Pflicht
Rounding out the list is yet more angry Germans. They have actually mellowed quite a bit from their older days, although continuing in the goth-industrial metal theme they began a few years back on Plastik. This was also their first entirely German-language album, which is pleasant considering their english language songs were always more amusing than good (see “Hello My Name Is Cancer”).
…and probably more.
Bad in 2004: Eminem. Lindsay Lohan. Gwen Stefani. And I don’t care about the rest of the universe, I can’t stand Franz Ferdinand. If someone would care to explain that crap to me, I’ll consider giving it a second listen. Maybe. Actually, I need more than an explanation: I need gifts.
And thank goodness this column is done, although I have no clue how to end it properly.
–gloomchen
