2004 Albums Reviewed

It was a slow start to the year. The first real must buy of 2004 was the Fifty Foot Wave EP in May. Taking up where the wonderful 'Throwing Muses' left off Kristin Hersh's new band has delivered something of a more straightforward rock record. Relatively speaking. Perhaps one more great song short of being a great record, the best bits are the slightly more warped songs. 'Clara Bow' and 'Long Painting' alongside 'Dog Days', are the songs that make this an essential purchase but it's difficult to see this record winning KH many new fans. But the new songs 'showcased' on the Live In Seattle boot are killer. Fifty Foot Wave are getting better.

Also out in May but something I only caught up with in October after seeing them live at T in the Park, the Golden Virgins 'Songs of Praise' has to be LP of the year. Eclectic to say the least ranging from the New Wave-ish 'I Am A Camera' through the garage rush of 'Renaissance Kid' to the countrified ballads such as "We'll Never be Friends", there simply isn't a bad song on the record. Add in some obsessed lyrics (key words, loss, alcohol, sex and betrayal) and an opening line of "Well f*** you love and fare thee well" and you have an essential purchase. The best kept secret in UK rock just now, don't let it stay that way and make these guys stars.

The singles certainly made Hope of the States 'The Lost Riots' a much anticipated album. And the band deliver in some style. Representing the more accessible side of the band (think A sides of the singles rather than the more experimental B's), 'Riots' is superb. Instrumental opener 'The Black Amnesias' has been a highlight of the live show and is the same on record. Re-recorded versions of 'Black Dollar Bills' (probably better than the original) and 'Enemies/Friends' (much of a muchness) are included and there's plenty more where those came from. '66 Sleepers to Summer', 'Goodhorsehymn' and '1776' (as well as 'hidden' track 'Crack-Up at the Race Riots') are my favourites and only the slightly dreary piano ballads 'Don't Go To Pieces' and 'Me Ves Y Sufres' let the side down a little. The singles are all worth buying too as they showcase the more experimental side of the band (and I still think 'Static In the Cities' from the 'Enemies/Friends' single is their best song). Highly recommended.

September brought a trio of much anticipated LPs from The Delgados, Interpol and REM. And it's fair to say that all disappointed to some degree. The Delagdos' 'Universal Audio' marked the ditching of the last 2 records' orchestral maneouvres in favour of a lighter more simple approach, which wasn't the problem. "I Fought The Angels", "Is This All I Came For?", "Get Action!". the single "Everybody Come Down" - there's a whole host of good songs. In truth it's a really good record, it just lacks a couple of great tracks to make it a classic. But worth checking out.

A much bigger disappointment was REM's "Around the Sun". An introspective record wasn't what I was expecting after the 2 "new" singles for "In Time" and reports of the angry attitude but any anger here is confined to the lyrical. There's actually a lot of good songs on here but put together they don't work for me as a whole. After 'Reveal' this could be the confirmation of REM descending quietly into middle age.

Interpol's 'Antics' is a bit of a grower but the spongy production makes the whole record a bit samey. Taken individually the songs are fine but somehow the sum is less than the parts. It sounds like they've shaved off the more interesting parts and for me have lost something as a consequence. It's difficult to see them regaining that spark of creativity if they continue their inexorable commercial growth. But then they are only following the lead of many of the 80's bands that so often are quoted as inspiring them. Having said all that it's a lot better than I'm making it sound.

With "Sonic Nurse", Sonic Youth continue the return to making coherent rock records started on "Murray Street." "Nurse" may be their most consistent record in a decade with Kim writing her best songs in some time. It's certainly their most straightforward record in a while but has it's weirder moments, the 'weird' highlight without a doubt being Lee's spooky 'Paper Cup Exit'. It's Thurston who provides the more mainstream efforts although once again there's a degree of restraint on show in songs like 'Stones' and 'New Hampshire' which makes the sections when they really cut loose all the more exciting. But the standard is very high all round and the tunes gain even more live. That they're still going and are still vital is something to be treasured.

More LPs to follow soon