Decade - Favorite Records of the Zips, Pt 5 - 2004

Favorites from 2004 here, while they're all very good records from many of the usual suspects (Neko, DBT, Wilco), I'm thinking that 2004 won't end up supplying the best music of the decade. But hey, '04 did bring a posthumous record from Elliott Smith, a great live document from the über-talented Ms. Neko Case, a great return from S.F. indie legends American Music Club and a stunning debut from a Quebecois band...

The Arcade Fire - Funeral
My favorite '04 release came, from all places, Quebec. A very theatrical-sounding indie rock record with some very 80s-like cues thrown in. Brooding, highly literate and highly-recommended.

A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder

American Music Club - Love Songs For Patriots

The Black Keys - Rubber Factory

Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South

Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill

Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken

Rogue Wave - Out Of The Shadow

TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes

Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
Okay, halfway done with the list while a little over halfway done with the month. More to come...