LIST-O-RAMA: The Best Songs of 2004
With the end of the year rapidly approaching, I thought I would pretend to be a big fancy professional music writer. It would be redundant of me to join the chorus hailing
The College Dropout, American Idiot and
The Grey Album, as these terrific records were the only albums of any real substance this year. Since 2004 was all about the iTunization of the RIAA, it's far more interesting to break things down by individual song. So without further ado, here's yet another year-end best-of list:
20. "Lucifer"- Jay-Z
19. "I Don't Wanna Know" - Mario Winans
18. "The Sound of Settling" - Death Cab for Cutie
17. "Ch-Check It Out" - The Beastie Boys
16. "Wanna Get to Know You" - G-Unit feat. Joe
15. "Mosh" - Eminem
14. "Dirt off Your Shoulder" - Jay-Z
13. "Float On" - Modest Mouse
12. "Mad World" - Gary Jules
11. "Flap Your Wings" - Nelly
10. "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
9. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
8. "Through The Wire" - Kanye West
7. "Miracle Drug" - U2
6. "Confessions, Pt. 2" - Usher
5. "If I Ain't Got You" - Alicia Keys
After hearing "You Don't Know My Name," the stale first single off her second album, I groaned as I feared that Alicia Keys was just becoming yet another entry into the glut of mundane female R&B singers. But this second single just swept me off my feet with its classic soul and powerful chorus. I always love it when the piano is used in pop music, and here it's implemented perfectly. And as a final bonus: Method Man plays her knucklehead boyfriend in the video! Truly inspired casting.
4. "Evil" - Interpol
I discovered this excellent band this year and this track off of
Antics is one of those songs that gives you hope for the future of rock. Like "PDA," from their first album, "Evil" is smooth, haunting and invigorating all at the same time.
3. "Spaceship" - Kanye West
The College Dropout has already produced about five singles, but I can't understand why the best song on the album hasn't gotten its due. Kanye has the best ear for samples of any producer in rap, and here he picks an obscure Marvin Gaye track and makes it his own. Who would have thought a track about hating your job at The Gap would have so much weight to it?
2. "Encore" - Danger Mouse/Jay-Z/The Beatles
The Grey Album got a lot of publicity for its novelty and its flouting of copyright laws. But it's also the best album I've heard this year. Jay-Z's "Encore" becomes blistering rock n' roll when it's put to a loop of
The White Album's "Glass Onion" and "Savoy Truffle." With a runtime of just over two minutes, this song leaves you wanting more in every sense of the phrase. With "Encore," Danger Mouse shows that mash-ups have eye-opening creative potential, rather than just curiosity factor.
1. "Maps" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I can't remember ever being this transfixed by a rock single. It's a beautiful song that's unlike any other song that you would consider "beautiful." I've heard a lot of writers refer to it as a ballad, but to me it feels like an anthem, despite the fact that its about yearning for love. The best part about "Maps"? It feels new every time I hear it. It's the most-played song on my iPod and I still get chills when I hear that opening guitar siren. A classic.
