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 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} | |