POPBYTES TOP 2004 ALBUMS!

oh my gosh! i did it! please enjoy what popbytes thinks to be the cat's meow of the musical landscape of what was 2004 - so here is to another great year - and im sure 2005 will stir some treasures up - but dont count on that lady ms. lopez to break ground when she releases her latest album stupidly titled rebirth - ok jenny yr all grown up and 'reborn' with yr troll hubby - show us what you got (bitch!) - that is if you still have it some where deep down inside of you - only time will tell! so enjoy and tune into what i think to be the best - and please forgive me for any oversights - this was quite a difficult and challenging post! and tomorrow let's see if i can give you my top ten for films this year - for sure sideways is a strong numero uno...popbytes drained and needing 2005! so in no real particular order except my sub-conscious im sure was working and was semi-sneaky and partial!

	#1 Scissor Sisters {Scissor Sisters} Released May 18th whats to say? this band just rocks - hailing from ireland (correction: NEW YORK - my bad!!!) - they have put out the retro dance fun filled album we have been all waiting for - its like an odd mix of the bee-gees and something new and fresh - and lead singer hottie jake shear's antics sure keeps us on our tippy-toes - and popbytes is due to see them at the end of january (at the wiltern) when they come to l.a. - so shimmy yr ass to this smokin' band! and much love to my amazing buddy ms. gillian! xxoo! come to l.a. soon! BUY ON iTUNES
	#2 Love Angel Music Baby {Gwen Stefani} Released Nov 23rd oh her style just rules the roost! i mean i would just love to be a girl to accessorize and dress like this diva does - altho sometimes i question her music talent (check her live) all is forgiven to her overwhelming grace - pizazz - and that style she does so well - that only really gwen can pull off - and her solo debut (without no doubt bandmates) japanese/harajuku girl influenced album is just pure 'girly' pop bliss - that's the one word people have kept using to describe this album - 'girly' - and you know what? that's ok - and gwen keep on being the fashion diva you were born to be! BUY ON iTUNES
	#3 America's Sweetheart {Courtney Love} Released Feb 9th what's to say - the ups the (many) downs - the legalities of it all - oh that courtney - but ms. love still rose to the occasion and put out a truly kick-ass solo 'rock & rolling' effort after the disbanding of hole - let's just say it this way - if popbytes were to ever do drag (and mom no worries i haven't!) - i would so be courtney - hands down - love her or hate her - we are all simply fascinated - so if you haven't given a listen - i suggest you do - although the lady doth protest - the lady does not disappoint! long live courtney! BUY ON iTUNES
	#4 Medúlla {Björk} Released Aug 31st oh that crazy eccentric lady did it again - this is one smart cookie - a pure original like no other - her stripped down album utilized the human voice like no album before (or even attempted) - although she is not everyone's cup of tea - for sure the lady is an acquired taste (ask me how i acquired it - it's too wild of a story to post here! - not bad just wild! wink wink to missy carrie - long live the thought of wolf baby!) - but for sure you must (simply must) appreciate her originality - and her mind - i can't say it enough - a pure living genius & artist - who's musical work and approach will for sure carry on - can't wait to see what magic she is cooking up next... BUY ON iTUNES
	#5 Around the Sun {REM} Released Oct 5th oh michael stipe and band have been doing it well for so long - i was so obsessed with mr stipe when i was first realizing i was queer - losing my religion was oh too powerful - so the boys came back with an excellent striped down album that is enjoyable and sentimental all at the same - and their single leaving new york really got to me - i still struggle sometimes with my thoughts of nyc - but as much as i love and worship the city - things have changed - the city isnt what it was when i was there - so im safe and secure in my choice to live and love los angeles - and shit without moving to los angeles popbytes may have never existed...so REM keep on bringing it - and i so love you mr. stipe - thank you! BUY ON iTUNES
	#6 All That We Let In {Indigo Girls} Released Feb 17th this harmonic duo gal group is hands down one of my all time faves - true musicians - both amy and emily (dear friends with each other since the 6th grade) are songwriters and ladies of and from the heart & mind - and for those of you who don't know - these gals never write together - which is quite amazing - and when combined, the styles and philosophic differences of each lady take on a harmonious life of the song's own - popbytes has seen them about 18 times live (all over the country) - and everytime has been the rare treat and experience music can be - blessed i am for having had these ladies with me for quite some time - always providing the perfect answer & reflection to what may be bugging you at present - these gals are tops - and the title track all that we let in speaks volumes for where we are all at the moment - quite scary sometimes - and my beloved indigo girls nail it all down - bringing it all into keen perspective and bring it closer to fine - i love you amy and emily! much respect and thanks! BUY ON iTUNES
	#7 American Idiot {Green Day} Released Sept 21st good for these guys i say - all grown up now - these boys have produced a stirring album that has garnered mucho critical acclaim and recognition - the album plays as a full and complete journey from beginning to end - and what a great title that i think captures 2004 best - american idiot - shit we could do a whole 'academic' symposium on that term - the plus and minuses - so check out what i think to be a highly enjoyable album with a healthy dose of social commentary - and lead singer billy joe is as cute as ever! who knew these boys had it in them - rock on! BUY ON iTUNES
	#8 Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned { The Prodigy} Released Sept 14th this band came back this year and re-invented themselves - and scrapped the 'strict' techno set-up that defined them some few years ago - and came up with eclectic mix of dance and rock - with guests such as actress turned rock mistress juliette 'a little kooky' lewis (now in the band the licks) who turns in a kicking version of 'up up and away' (in her beautiful albeit fucked up balloon) - i was pleasantly surprised by this effort from a band i thought long gone - proving they too can adapt to the times and give us something to rock and dance out too! BUY ON iTUNES
	#9 Welcome to Haiti Creole 101 {Wyclef Jean} Released Sept 21st a mix of french creole - and english - this album is like a good bowl of jambalaya - altho it does grow a bit tired - i love how wyclef combined multiple traditional and modern styles - and provides a grand slam when he re-interprets the spanish ritchie valens classic la bamba (not my ritchie...not my ritchie...sorry i just had too - no disrespect intended) infusing it with a wealth of the sounds o' the islands - a true hip-hop pioneer - wyclef continues to deliver - but in the end i still question where is lauryn hill - last i heard a bit crazy - i tell you if you have accelerated acclaim and adoration for something done - it so sets one up to be scared to move an inch - i always say winning a grammy or an oscar can be thrilling but is also a huge set-up for fear of failure and disappointment (on a super random note - thank heavens hillary swank oscar winner - is back with what appears to be another dynamite performance in clint eastwood's latest directorial outing boxing drama million dollar baby...) anyways i digressed way too far - just give a listen to the sounds wyclef be stirring/mixing up for all of us! BUY ON iTUNES
	#10 Auf Der Maur {Melissa Auf Der Maur} Released Jun 1st this chick is rock & roll hot and oh sexy - and quite talented (who doesnt love a girl that can rock her heart out!) - she has been bouncing around from being part of the now defunct group hole with that crazy 'but you gotta love' courtney love - to taking part in the tail end of the often stellar and sparkling 90's hot band the smashing pumpkins (speaking of them - whatever happened? mucho potential and nada these days) and now has branched out on her own into an excursion that rocks and haunts at the same time - im sure many of you may not know who this red haired siren is but take note - ms. melissa auf der maur is one to keep your ears tuned into! BUY ON iTUNES
Honorable Mentions Gold Medal {The Donnas} Palookaville {Fatboy Slim} Uh Huh Her {PJ Harvey} Stone Love {Angie Stone} Unwritten {Natasha Bedingfield} Under My Skin {Avril Lavigne}

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