Subhumans' Time Flies... But Aeroplanes Crash... I liked this better than the previous Subhumans EP. A bit more variety. They even try to stretch their talents with a piano number.

Let's Active's Afoot... if there's one thing I've learned from this crazy, stupid project of mine it's that I'm a fussy listener when it comes to jangle pop. I absolutely love jangle pop. At least I thought I did. Apparently, I don't have much time for second tier jangle pop. I can imagine more loyal fans of the genre getting more out of this EP than I did. Let's Active were Mitch Easter's band. Easter did production on R.E.M.'s Murmur and Reckoning albums and was gunning for a similar sound. He gets there at times, but vocally he's no Michael Stipe.

The Alarm's The Alarm... The Alarm do this interesting Bob Dylan meets punk & new wave thing on this EP that they didn't really do their debut LP, which was more of a Big Music record. Interesting is always good.

Armored Saint's Armored Saint... some people claim that this group was America's answer to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. If that's the case, it's a pretty half-arsed answer. The guitar work is good, and they have a good rhythm section, but they were never getting anywhere with the vocals. IIRC, the lead singer went on to sing for Anthrax.

Savage Grace's The Dominatress... another LA metal band trying to copy the European sound. Sexy album cover notwithstanding, this is a fairly weak imitation of Euro metal. The vocals are better than Armored Saint, but when you consider what other groups were doing in different parts of America, they probably would have been better off trying to do their own thing.

The Body Electric's Presentation and Reality... another forgotten New Zealand record. This was Wellington group trying to go full tit with a new wave, post-punk, synth pop sound. Not bad, but personally when I listen to a New Zealand record I want to hear something Kiwi from it, not some dude trying to sound like he's on Top of the Pops.

Overkill's Power in Black... Overkill are one of my favorite metal bands from the 80s. This EP was a demo. It sounds like a demo, especially under headphones, but the energy is there.

L.S.D.'s Destroy... perhaps not the best hardcore EP to come out of Japan, but I liked the barreling sound. It actually reminded me of Japanese speed metal. 

The Style Council's À Paris... I've got to admit that Long Hot Summer is growing on me as a single. The rest of the EP is decent as well. If their debut LP had been a bit stronger they might have weathered some of the criticism better. Or perhaps not since Weller as a God in many people's eyes. 

Favorite albums of 2004

#5 – Eleven Hundred Springs - Bandwagon

This is the third album on my 2004 list by artists I found through either Pandora or Spotify. For my musician friends, I get it...those services don't pay what they should. But, on the other hand, I've found a lot of musicians and been to concerts and bought music from a whole lot of artists I'd have never heard of if not for streaming services.

Eleven Hundred Springs is a Texas band (Dallas based, I think) that have never really moved beyond the Lone Star state to speak of. But I like this album a fair bit and have just generally liked their work. It's pretty traditional country music coming out in an era where the genre was moving in to a terrible period of dudebro country. No, the writing isn't brilliant, but it's fun without being incredibly cringe. And I'm a sucker for an ode to T-Bird, even though I haven't drunk it since high school.

Continuing my exploration of YouTube algorithm recommendations - and to dispel the impression that I'm only clicking on links with images of unclothed women - here's Soul Makossa (1973) by the Lafayette Afro-Rock Band:


I had heard of them before, and I'm pretty sure I've listened to some of their other material, but never any of the tracks on this album. And they are very good. Hopefully I'll find the time to revisit this as well.

Favorite albums of 2004

#4 – Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now

This is a protest album almost from snap to whistle. So, if you don't like Earle's politics, just move on...there's nothing you want to see here. This is really a more focused follow-up to his 2002 album Jerusalem where Earle began to explore his feelings about the way post-9/11 America was reacting. I say almost from snap to whistle because "I Thought You Should Know" definitely sticks out here. It's a good song, but thematically it doesn't track. But otherwise this is a focused protest against the jingoism of post 9/11 America. Who knew it would only get worse?

Not all the songs work perfectly. "Condi, Condi," yeah...you know who it is about...doesn't quite work as Earle probably shouldn't plan on making a living at reggae. But the title track, "Rich Man's War," and "F the CC" absolutely hit the mark. I don't remember anyone else even coming close to this level of protest songwriting at the time.  

I didn't put "F the CC" on here as it's very much not family friendly.  But it's my favorite track on the album.  

I like both albums a fair bit.  The Revolution Starts Now is just more focused on what it's doing than Jerusalem.  But then I'm a pretty big fan of Steve Earle in general...and he puts on a darn fine live show.  

That track "Thunderbird Will Do Just Fine" is funny...enjoyable stuff. I too have fun memories drinking T-Bird when I was underage. Wouldn't touch the stuff now though.




I really like Steve Earle, but I only know (and own) his albums Guitar Town (1986) and Copperhead Road (1988) -- both of which are great. Those two tracks sound very much like business as usual for Earle, although his voice sounds a little bit more world-weary than the late '80s. Great snare drum sound on that track "The Revolution Starts Now" too.

As for Earle's politics, I've always basically agreed with any of the sentiments he's expressed on the albums I'm familiar with.

More favourite albums of 2004...



#4 - Eye to the Telescope by KT Tunstall




Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall had toiled away for years on the Edinburgh indie rock scene with limited success before finally signing to independent label Relentless as a solo artist in the early 2000s. The label sat on her for a few years though, unsure of how to market her. They finally released her debut album Eye to the Telescope in 2004 and it shot up the British charts, spawning a number of hit singles, and eventually going 5x Platinum in the UK and Ireland.

It's a very accomplished debut album, with tight, modern-sounding production and catchy songs. Tunstall's folky, bluesy compositions, beguiling voice and the album's polished production combine to create something that is perhaps best described as adult alternative music. Though the production is a little too slick for my usual tastes, it's the strength of the material that makes the album so appealing for me. Standout tracks include "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree", "Silent Sea", "Other Side of the World", and "Suddenly I See".

Here's the video for the album's lead single "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree", which is still the best thing that Tunstall's ever done IMHO…