10
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Graham Coxon - Freakin' Out
He used to be the cool one in Blur, you know. Then he went solo and turned into a punk. And became even cooler. Then he started doing interviews and instead of doing the Jo Whiley-embarrassed-teenager-mumbling-down-at-their-pumps bit, decided to become the new Dale Winton - "Ooooooooo fancy! You cheeky monkey!". Lost a few cool points there, I can tell you. Nonetheless, this is a belter, played with the sort of energy that would jumpstart a goodly few Keane records. Now, anyone up to the job of chairing the conciliation talks between him and Blur?
Jason M
No of votes: 15, Score:
96, Highest vote: 1st
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9
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Keane - Everybody's Changing
There's no doubt that Coldplay made it easier for Keane to emerge, choirboy vocals, energetic piano and melodic tunes. "Everybody's Changing" rattles along without ever coming off the rails but still getting you to the finish in comfort. Shame about the uninspired video though.
Paul M
No of votes: 16, Score:
78, Highest vote: 2nd
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8
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The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
'Can't Stand Me Now' - track one, album two - showed us the beginning of the end. The Libertines were once the saviours of rock and roll, whose new material, legendary spats and explosive on-stage energy was adored by fans and journalists alike. It was seductive to view the band with affectionate,
uncritical eyes like those given to fans of American wrestling - things would work out in the end, even if Pete was about to smack Carl upside the head with a discarded megaphone. Could we really expect the difficult second album to seethe, spit and rock like the first, no matter how good Mick Jones told us it was? We could, though the wit was now slightly wrier and the spite often directed against each other rather than out, against the world. 'Can't Stand Me Now' is the kitchen sink drama of a couple admitting it's over. Their next single - 'What Became Of The Likely Lads' - is the album's last listed offering and completes the sound of the most promising musical partnership in years shrugging their shoulders, recognising the waste but never quite taking personal responsibility. Those campaigning for a better world should pray that The Libertines' records have a little more needle time in 2005. And their arms a little less.
Danny G
No of votes: 16, Score:
93, Highest vote: 1st
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7
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Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama
'Exuberant' 'Genius', 'the best performers of 2004': just some of the epithets being bandied about with regard to these uber-camp New York popsters. And it is this Elton-esque ditty which best seems to capture the free-fall energy which has surrounded the band for most of the last year. Take Your Mama is a joyous, catchy song, the lyrics of which make sense to someone I'm sure. I am not that person (although I suspect the song may bear more than a passing acquaintance with the theme of coming out), but I find that it makes no difference to my enjoyment of this candy-floss, sweetly subversive piece of pop. It manages that almost unheard of feat of remaining hugely likable despite being played almost non-stop in all clothes/record/butchers shops since time immemorial.* It may even one day impel me to take my frail, elderly mother out on the town for some cheap champagne and a pop at a couple of go-go dancers. But only if she's paying.
*Apparently not to be found playing in the US Supermarket Walmart however, which, although it will happily sell assault rifles won't sell/play the Scissor Sister's 'offensive' eponymous album.
Nelson
No of votes: 17, Score:
85, Highest vote: 2nd
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6
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Green Day - American Idiot
A definite return to form for the northern Californian Green Day boys, with a song more along the lines of their "Kerplunk" and "Dookie" releases. The lyrical content hits wonderfully at the atypical mid western American and seems to capture the mood of the world towards the "American Idiot" that insisted on voting in Bush. This song is the opening and title track of their newest release that sets the whole ball rolling for and excellent album. For all you MTV heads out there the song is also ably backed by a fantastic video, where Tre beats his drums somewhat akin to Animal the Muppet and Mike and Billy Joe strut their stuff with an excellent swagger.
Emyr I
No of votes: 17, Score:
97, Highest vote: 1st
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5
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Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
I first heard Green Day when I was crashed on a friend's floor just after they'd got married. All I wanted was for the long haired geezer with the metaller
T-shirt on to "turn that f***ing noise off!" So imagine my surprise when the subtle, haunting almost ballad, Boulevard of Broken Dreams turned out to be sung by the same lot. The lyrics of alienation and isolation might be a little cliched but the raspy vocals cutting cleanly through the acoustic guitars are anything but. More pop-rock than punk it may be, but this is still a classic.
Karen G
No of votes: 17, Score:
97, Highest vote: 1st
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4
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The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
This was the moment that Mike Skinner finally made the jump from critically acclaimed original pirate material to bonafide pop star. You can't help listening and responding emotionally to the song's awkward break-up conversation, particularly if you can remember being on either side of the moment. Until you put yourself back there, 'Dry Your Eyes' can seem twee and it can take time to get past the clichés in the chorus; but don't underestimate how good a reporter of real human conversation, as well as the human condition, Skinner is. Hell, if all chavs were this eloquent then fireworks sellers would have some enchanting tête-à-têtes with their clientele, teenage pregnancy rates would be down and the pavement outside of your corner shop would be known as 'the new Bloomsbury'. This review is o-o-over.
Danny G
No of votes: 19, Score:
101, Highest vote: 1st
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3
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Maroon 5 - This Love
Ooh, this was close. (He's referring to what were his preferences above this one - Jason M). This just lost out on the 'played too often' factor but it still sounds brilliant. You just know that, despite having had other fairly big hits already, this is the only one of their songs that will be played in 5 or 10 years time. A bit like 'Sit Down' by James, only this IS actually their best song.
Andrew S
No of votes: 19, Score:
119, Highest vote: 1st
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2
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Britney Spears - Toxic
At the beginning of 2004 people were starting to talk about Britney being finished. She'd been reduced bawling her eyes out on talk shows, getting married for the weekend, and snogging Madonna, all apparently to get back at Justin. Her single with Madge was one of the most disappointing collaborations in the history of pop. Britney looked all washed up. A disaster area. Then she released this. This slice of pop genius, easily her best single since 'Baby One More Time', with a video of such high octane sexiness, it blew all the memories of tear-stained wimpy Britney into the distant past. One of the first singles to sound like it was made for the 21st Century. Totally infectious, utterly irresistable, completely unforgettable. Toxic is simply one of the best pop songs ever made.
Derek K
No of votes: 22, Score:
127, Highest vote: 1st
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1
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Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
There have been a good many stratospheric rises to fame in 2004, but none quite so as Franz Ferdinand. And you have to go back to the end of 2003 to see the lighting of the blue touchpaper. So, amidst lots of hoo-hah about The Darkness vs that Tears For Fears song done in depressing style that December, came frequent spins of a song that often had the first 50 seconds omitted, because it didn't follow the stomping anthem that it leads into (note to radio stations - play ALL the song please). From that moment on, guitar based-indie was put back on the map (and let's not forget, this is on indie label Domino records), with its batteries fully recharged and sights firmly set on the playlists of radio stations across the country. For this and the whole electrifying album that accompanies it, Alex Kapranos and co, I salute you.
Jason M
No of votes: 33, Score:
204, Highest vote: 1st
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A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Paul M, Kat H, Andrew S, Isaac H, P Shoo, Jon B, Liza H, Derek K, Harley R, Karen G, Spencer G, Emyr I, Greg B, Claire J, Lisa G, Nelson, Veronica M, Kaz, Talia K, Emi H