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Best of 2004

© Chad Bowar

The pop charts of 2004 ran the gamut of styles and genres, although there were a few themes that came to the forefront. Songs "featuring" someone were huge in 2004. About 20% of the Top 100 singles of the year fit that bill. Female pop singers were also popular this year, with artists like Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson, Jessica Simpson, JoJo, Beyonce, Avril Lavigne, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson all having big hits. Thankfully the boy bands are still dead, although rumors of reunions in 2005 could bring them back on a limited basis. Here are one critic's picks of the best singles and albums released in 2004.

Top 20 Singles of 2004
1. "Yeah" - Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil' Jon
2. "On The Way Down" - Ryan Cabrera
3. "Vertigo" - U2
4. "Heaven" - Los Lonely Boys
5. "Lean Back" - Terror Squad
6. "Broken" - Seether featuring Amy Lee
7. "The Reason" - Hoobastank
8. "It's My Life" - No Doubt
9. "Over And Over" - Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
10. "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" - Jet
11. "One Thing" - Finger Eleven
12. "Ocean Avenue" - Yellowcard
13. "I Don't Want To Be" - Gavin DeGraw
14. "Fall To Pieces" - Velvet Revolver
15. "Roses" - Outkast
16. "This Love" - Maroon 5
17. "Meant To Live" - Switchfoot
18. "Hey Mama" - Black Eyed Peas
19. "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" - The Darkness
20. "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson

Best Albums Of 2004

10. R.E.M. - Around The Sun
This album has taken a critical beating, but I think it's an excellent release. You have to remember that a band that's been together for 25 years will mature and evolve. Michael Stipe's lyrics are better than ever, and R.E.M., although more mellow since drummer Bill Berry left, are still the jangly alt-rock gods we grew up with.

9. Green Day - American Idiot
A punk rock band trying to do a rock opera reeks of pretension and seems destined for failure, but Green Day pulled it off. Billie Joe Armstrong and the crew manage to weave grand themes with intimate character portraits. It's an album that works both as a group of individual songs and as the grand rock opera all tied together with one concept.

8. Flogging Molly - Within A Mile Of Home
Traditional Irish music mixed with punk rock sung by the former lead singer of the '80s metal band Fastway. This album is packed with anthemic sing-along choruses, traditional songs and beautiful ballads. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll drink heavily. If you've ever wanted to mosh to fiddles and accordions, you must get this CD.

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