The Editorials
Top 5 Albums of 2004
Written by Jeff Krasky
As we roll into the start of 2005 it is time for our annual look back at the five top albums of last year. 2004 was the year when alt-country continued to boom. The genre is still being ignored commercially but there were a number of fantastic albums from that group of artists and they have dominated the top 5 chart this year. In the mainstream not much has changed. It was another year of a lot of vanilla lightweight pop music. That wouldn’t be a problem if it was good lightweight pop but it isn’t. The quality of complete albums in the mainstream seems to continue to spiral as record labels and artists look for a few hit singles and then fill the rest of the album up with anything they can get their hands on.
Even with the troubled state of country music at the moment there have been a number of fantastic albums released in 2004. The albums on this list show a trend. Most of the really great albums released in country music today on smaller record labels and are the kinds of albums that the giants in radio would like you to ignore. Don't fall into that trap and you'll find that there are still artists out there making refreshing and distinct country music for us all to enjoy.
And now for the top 5 albums of 2004...
#1 Allison Moorer The Duel
Sugarhill Records
Buy It From Amazon!
What do you get when you cross a soulful country singer with a top notch rock band? You get Allison Moorer’s new album The Duel. Allison has created a real masterpiece here. The album opens with the crunchy guitar riffs of “I Ain’t Giving Up On You”, a song which would make Sheryl Crow jealous. This album is absolutely loaded with great songs such as “Baby Dreamer”, “One on the House”, “Once Upon a Time She Said”, and “All Aboard”. What really makes this album stand out is the fact that even with all the loud electric guitars and rock influences this album still rings true as a country album. Allison could sing anything and make it country and she does so again here. Moorer has one of the best voices in the business and has delivered the best album of this year.
#2 Patty Griffin Impossible Dream
ATO Records
Buy It From Amazon!
Does Patty Griffin know how to miss? Every album she releases is well written, well played, and delivered with masterful vocal performances. Impossible Dream is a heavy and challenging record that is yet again different from anything she’s recorded before it. It's the kind of record that only a true artist would dare make. We’ve seen Patty successfully do the solo acoustic thing, we’ve seen her rock out, we’ve seen her play country, we’ve seen her play folk and she’s a force to be reckoned with in anything she does. From “Top of the World” to “Love Throws a Line” you can’t go wrong here. This is a truly haunting album and worthy of a spot in any music lovers collection.
#3 Tift Merritt Tambourine
Lost Highway Records
Buy It From Amazon!
Who saw this one coming? Tift Merritt’s first album was a subtle acoustic based record that really won a lot of people over, including myself. When I heard that Tambourine was nearing release the last thing I thought I would hear is this album. From the alt-country infused “Stray Paper”, the funk filled “Your Love Made a U-Turn”, and the soulful “Good Hearted Man” Tift covers more musical ground than any country release I’ve heard this year. If Tift keeps turning out albums of this quality people aren’t going to be able to ignore her for long.
#4 Lori McKenna Bittertown
Signature Sound Records
Buy It From Amazon!
Most reading this will probably say Lori who? If you’re one of those readers then it is time that you introduce yourself to this incredibly talented singer songwriter. Lori has just come off of releasing The Kitchen Tapes which was a solo acoustic record recorded in her kitchen on a little MiniDisc player and you could tell she was hitting her stride. Now with Bittertown, her most accessible album to date she really drives it home. Lori’s songs are looks at moments of small town life (she still lives in the town she was born in) and they’re so fresh sounding. Some tracks to take a listen to include “Bible Song”, “Mr. Sunshine”, “Pour”, and “Lone Star”. Those are just the start of the great tunes found on this record and Lori has catapulted herself onto the top 5 list. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us.
#5 Julie Roberts Julie Roberts
Mercury Records
Buy It From Amazon!
Julie is the only mainstream artist to make the list this year. Other artists and record labels would be wise to take cues from this talented young singer. You all know the big hit “Break Down Here” but that’s just the start of the great things on this record. One listen to “Wake Up Older” and you’ll know that Julie is the best of the new breed of country artists. It has been a long time since someone has belted out such a heartbreaker. She hammers out a cover of Suzy Bogguss’s “No Way Out” with such a sassy attitude that you can’t help but be won over. What makes Julie different? Part of it is the song selection, part of it is the more stripped down album production but most of it is her voice. She’s got one of those distinctive, instantly identifiable voices that country needs so badly right now. Expect great things from Ms. Roberts.
Share your thoughts on to the message board!