The Top Fifty Favorite Songs Of 2004 - Pt.3

This is getting good.

30. “Nearer Than Heaven” by The Delays
The Delays give us the prettiest song of 2004. While this is prototypical brit-pop, the chorus transcends sub-genre and soars (courtesy of Greg Gilbert’s unique and amazing vocals). All Music Guide describes the band’s sound, “… rather like the Hollies meeting the La's ...” that’s just about right. On this track, they are undeniably sublime.

29. “Remember Me” by The Zutons
These Liverpool bands have a thing for the Gram Parsons/Byrds/late60s/California brand of country & western. While there isn’t much new going on here, the addition of sax, various percussive elements, and a really hot melody tweak the song just enough. The lyrics tell a tale that makes me chuckle: the singer’s best friend has a new girlfriend and he’s so in love, his friendship is in jeopardy (he doesn’t even go out drinking with the boys!). The singer avows that no matter what happens, he’s gonna be there for his love-struck pal. “Remember me when she leaves you, and you come and knock on my door/Well, I can nurse your broken heart, ‘cause that’s what friends are for” … awwwww.

28. “Sweet Dreams” by On The Speakers
When Ian Sefchick left Creeper Lagoon, I sincerely hoped that he would surface again. Here he is fronting On The Speakers – from the songs here it’s obvious that he was the creative force behind much of Creeper’s sound. “Sweet Dreams” is from their debut self-titled EP and picks up where Creeper left off on Take Back The Universe and Give Me Yesterday: huge guitars, arena rock power chords, giant instrumental passages, stick-in-yer-head melody, big hook; it’s all here.

27. “Decent Days And Nights” by The Futureheads
Two-minutes and thirty-one seconds of nervous energy, severe tension, unexpected release, jarring changes epitomize this incredible single by Sunderland’s The Futureheads. For me, nearly any song from their self-titled record could be on this list, but this is the song that I kept singing in my head. This is the song that forces me to break into spastic Ian Curtis dance moves regardless of where I am: in the car, at work, walking down the street, in the shower; danger zones.

26. “Perfect Weapon” by Communiqué
This is the point in the countdown where all the songs are just hits. Communiqué really is a power pop band, but with this weird amalgamation of 21st Century-post-post-punk-trendy and Triple AAA modern rock. This track has a driving backbeat, an absolute sick hook, and smoking chorus. Uh huh, Communiqué, you do have the perfect weapon!

25. “Pass It On” by The Coral
Like The Zutons’ “Remember Me”, this track exudes that California-sunshine-country sound, but “Pass It On” is infused with a hint of melancholy. A lovely minor-key acoustic guitar riff opens the song (and then continues throughout), keys and electric guitar come in and James Skelly’s top-notch vocal performance/melody take over. “Pass It On” is earnest and laid-back; a wonderful tune about moving past the disaffection of life, “When it’s done/And all of this is gone/Just find a feeling, pass it on.”

24. “On The Table” by A.C. Newman
Our second New Pornographer on the list, A.C. “Carl” Newman also released his first solo record, The Slow Wonder, in 2004. I’m sure you can guess that this sounds like a New Pornographers’ song, but there’s no need to go down that road. Newman continues to dominate as a songwriter – “On The Table” is melodically spectacular, great changes, the hooks are there (of course, they are!), and lyrically, clever and poignant. I love how he chose to have the piano drive the song, functioning like a lead guitar (he would do this again on TSW, but with a cello on “The Town Halo”).

23. “Here She Comes Again” by The Stands
The Stands may be paying royalties to The La’s (who isn’t being “influenced” by The La’s these days?), but I don’t care. When derivative (this is more than homage) is done this well, it matters not … well, maybe a little. Maybe a lot. Seriously, I made fun of this song so much, but every single time I heard it, but I found myself singing at the top of my lungs, jamming it hardcore.

22. “How Lester Lost His Wife” by Of Montreal
Of Montreal is known for quirky arrangements plastered with odd changes and songs-within-the-song, so the weirdness of “How Lester Lost His Wife” shouldn’t come as a surprise. Absurdity never made so much sense. Freaky hooks, hurdy-gurdy organ riffs, big muff distortion, echo chambered vocals, toy xylophone licks, [breath!] fit together like one-two-three. It’s like gourmet pop music or abstract expressionist realist pop or hell; just listen and you’ll know that it’s just hot.

21. “The Power Is On” by The Go! Team
Unbridled energy, indie hipster cheerleading, hip-hop/funk beats, classic 80s electronica, American indie rock – this is the music of The Go! Team. I don’t actually own this record, as it’s an import only, and I hate paying the massive $25-$30 price, so I went to their label’s, Memphis Industries, website where I could stream a few tracks. I fell in love with this song, jamming it for weeks. It clicks on so many levels (from the beats to the instrumentation to the performance) it just moves and makes even the most jaded discerning music listener believe in the power of music.