Frank's Top 15 Albums of 2004

Ok so here you go - My Top 15 Albums of 2004. Feedback always welcome. Hope you enjoy it. In the next few days I will post my Top 50 Tracks for 2004.

Frank


1) Kanye West – The College Dropout
This was long anticipated and well worth the money. This is one of the most creative and genre blending albums to come out in a long time. Finally a heartfelt rap album that isn’t talking about niggas, ho’s and chedda. Although there are a few references to Jacob the Jeweler.
2) Keane – Hopes and Fears
One of the surprise albums of the year. This band made an amazing album that gives Coldplay a run for their money. If their second album has a hit like “Clocks,” the world will understand the hype.
3) Rachael Yamagata – Happenstance
This girl is my fill for Fiona Apple while she tries to get her 3rd album released from the wretched record label. Lots of piano, lots of feeling, lots of talent. Sometimes you just get lucky buying a promo EP on a whim.
4) Snow Patrol – Final Straw
I got “Run” as a free download on iTunes. This album is obviously my favorite one of the year from this Irish band. They rock, makes me remember what rock is really like.
5) Jem – Finally Woken
Again, free iTunes download, turns into a great album. British chick rock over electro hip-hop beats. Sound odd? Yeap! So great!
6) Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown
My favorite Christian rock album of the year. This album goes to many musical places. An album that can stay on repeat.
7) Jamie Cullum – Twentysomething
My weakness for pianos comes again, and its not over. This reinvention of “Frontin’,” makes this a must buy all alone. Neo-jazz rock for the 21st Century.
8) The Killers – Hot Fuss
Electro-rock rocks my radio with this one. Expecting a flop, much like the Modest Mouse album. But It held through to make it to my favorites. The album isn’t necessarily an album, but a collection of very good singles.
9) Zero 7 – When It Falls
Did anyone get their 1st album? No one listened when I praised it did you? Go back and get it! And get this as a follow up. The 1st album “Simple Things,” was groundbreaking, this one doesn’t do anything new, but you can’t expect a band to break new ground and then do it again so quickly.
10) Shrek 2 – Soundtrack
Ok – I know. It’s a soundtrack. Counting Crows “Accidentally in Love” and Frou Frou’s “Holding Out For a Hero” makes this cd great. Oh right there’s like 12 other tracks that keep you entertained till the Shrek karaoke finale.
11) Jill Scott – Beautifully Human – Words and Sounds, Vol. 2
A nice follow up to her first album. This album is not as good as her past ones, however it manages to do something amazing. There are a few tracks that bring you so far back you would think they belong on a Motown compilation. Amazing production by DJ Jazzy Jeff.
12) Utada – Exodus
I have to thank the woman for this one. She heard the a remix of “Devil Inside” and told me about it. It was instantly one of my favorite tracks. This is the 1st of 2 albums I did not buy. The album from this Japanese woman reminds me who’s in charge of electronic companies.
13) Sia – Colour the Small One
The second album that I did not buy. This one sounds a lot like the Zero 7 album with downtempo beats that take chillout to a new level. Sia has a voice that is amazing and the track “breathe me” makes me melt.
14) Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters
They do a great job of bringing back a sound that many thought (including me) should be left alone to die. The upbeat Elton John mid-70s sound. The only thing more weird on this album is the upbeat “Stayin’ Alive”-esque cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.”
15) John Legend – Get Lifted
I bought this album today. The single “Used to Love U” is a current favorite of mine. I believe this will be an influential album for 2005. It’s already had 3 spins in the car. He’s being called the male Alicia Keys. Kanye West also produced it, which obviously got my attention.

Goodbye Chistmas...

well its been a crazy couple of weeks...to say the least... my uncle's wake and funeral - work - and of course Christmas. It all ended up pretty good. Got some fun gifts and gave some good ones too. In particular a photo-calender book i made for the fiancee. So it was a light christmas, and ended with a white one. But all in all - a good christmas. I hope everyone else had a good one too.

Oh well on the 18th I was down in Philly to DJ again, the fiancee and ms. biscuit came down to have fun, which we all did. Had some good sushi, and this tapioca ice drink. Very odd, very fun, very not for winter. Oh and we had a wonderful fire drill sunday morning, that was great. But Pure was great, and we had lots of fun.

So aside from that - I was able to do lots of returning yesterday at the P-burg mall in NJ. Yes its the last exit in NJ, yes its small. however, it has an H&M and it is never crowded. and i mean never. We showed up 1 hr before closing, and returned to Gap, Bath and Body works, Victoria's secret, Sears, and a sports store - and had about 1/2 hr to shop. And that was the day after christmas!!!!! So that rocked...

Had some dinner, went to the movies - saw "closer" which was good - however pulled up some old emotions and feelings.

Today I saw Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - which I must say was a pretty good movie. Very creepy, dark, left it open for a sequel, very cool. Jim Carey doing a good job. But i must say the girl (http://www.emily-browning.org/) did a great job in this.

Well thats it for now. hope everyone enjoyed their holiday.

Frank

wow

i just wrote a blog that was really long - and i went to spell check it and it's gone. I'm sure you'll hear what I have to say at some point. Lots of craziness this week. Glad I just wanted another hour of my life so the blog could dissappear.

Frank

fun with vinyl

I read in New York Press - that you can make bowls from vinyl records. Which is definitely kinda cool. So I did make about 6 of them. Kinda fun.

Its one of those nights I haven't had in a long time. A lot of stuff getting thrown around my head - and being really tired - and not enough sleep.

Lots of stuff falling right around the holidays. People passing away, bad situations, and my own shit - just getting to me. So it's frustrating as things are good, other things suck. I guess yesterday was a really good day, and today had to balance that out. Tomorrow's a new day - a long one again - but a good one I hope.

Its getting hard for me to worry so much about money, but I know what my end goal wants to be like. Its taxing (no pun intended) to think about every purchase. Like I didn't buy a soda for lunch today cuz it would save me $2. Which is kinda crazy, but at the same time if I don't buy a soda 50 times, thats $100. And I know there's some ski trips coming up that I will not miss. So I'll sacrifice other things. Like a diet soda.

Time to put the rest of my clothes away.

Go here http://egmsurvivor.1up.com/ and vote for anyone except Kris Randazzo.

Frank

Bubble fun

be sure to click the link - hours of fun.

today was a long long day - but a really good one. One that reminded me of a lot of things, that I may have been neglecting. First - i grabbed some cds - I've been neglecting some of my old rock stuff - Nine Inch Nails & Smashing Pumpkins in particular. I was very late to my meeting due to rain and the traffic on the NJ Turnpike, but the meeting was suprisingly good. It was on racism - which are normally pretty boring. But this was the best one i've ever heard. Talking about how race plays a role in therapy and things like that. But giving concrete examples, not just generalizations.

I had lunch with DJ Billy - who I haven't seen in months. It was great to catch up and talk about good stuff, despite him having 2 cracked ribs from a fall he took in LA. The dangers of being a DJ.

After I got on the ferry - (this is kinda where I think fate takes place) i needed to use the bathroom, and there isn't one in the terminal, so i waited till i got on the boat. I took a trip around the boat and then back again to find it. When I passed, Warren, one of the people that spoke about racism at the seminar. We talked for the rest of the ride about family therapy, racism and the world. It was really cool.

All of these things today reminded me of some of the goals I have, things I want to pursue now and things I want to pursue when I'm married and afterwards.

Kind of a refreshing day to some extent, but now its time for my body to refresh. In bed. Nite all

Frank

PS - December 18, 2004 - Pure in Philly