Best Songs of 2004

For all of 2014 (and some of 2013), I have been working on lists representing 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years ago, along with a list for this year. As it was the last time I tried this, I have discovered new artists and new songs in the interim years and, in some cases, during this process of trying to fill out a 100-song list.

Most of the songs on this particular list arrived in my life between the years of 2004 and 2007, with an increasingly small number added in the years since. A couple of these tracks even found their way into my library during my chronological listening year in 2012.

For the most part though, what you see below is an honest attempt to assess a year in time, merging the idealistic nature of a list made 10 years after the fact with the idea of what I actually loved and was into at the time. Given that it was only 10 years ago, the only thing that truly makes this different from the one I would have made then is its size.

For these year-end lists, I like to undertake the seemingly impossibly task of creating an hours-long mix. The order you see below represents that effort, which you can listen to via Spotify and my preferred outlet, Rdio. Sadly all 100 tracks aren't available, but you get the general idea. Track notes to come eventually or maybe never.

Show Grid

Float On

Modest Mouse

Good New for People Who Love Bad News

Epic
via TK library: 12/7/2004

Notes
Take Me Out

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand

Domino
via TK library: 4/27/2005

Notes
Talk Shows on Mute

Incubus

A Crow Left of the Murder

Epic
via TK library: 2/3/2004

Notes
Fortress

Pinback

Summer in Abaddon

Touch and Go
via TK library: 10/14/2008

Notes
Goods (All in Your Head)

Mates of State

All Day

Polyvinyl
via TK library: 1/7/2009

Notes
Rad

Smoosh

She Like Electric

Pattern 25
via TK library: 2/9/2009

Notes
Hollaback Girl

Gwen Stefani

Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Interscope
via TK library: 7/7/2005

Notes
Drop It Like It's Hot

Snoop Dogg

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece

Star Trak
via TK library: 7/12/2012

Notes
Sunshinin’

Cancer Rising

Sunshinin’

self-released
via TK library: 9/1/2006

Notes
All Day Love Affair

Cee-Lo Green

Cee-Lo Green… Is the Soul Machine

Arista
via TK library: 6/7/2012

Notes
1980

Estelle

The 18th Day

V2
via TK library: 7/12/2012

Notes
The Fact Is (I Need You)

Jill Scott

Beautifully Human - Words and Sounds Vol. 2

Hidden Beach
via TK library: 9/5/2008

Notes
Ordinary People

John Legend

Get Lifted

Columbia
via TK library: 4/15/2005

Notes
Why (What’s Goin On?)

The Roots

The Tipping Point

Geffen
via TK library: 12/7/2004

Notes
Sun Q

IQU

Sun Q

Sonic Boom
via TK library: 7/6/2012

Notes
Universal Traveler

Air

Talkie Walkie

Astralwerks
via TK library: 1/27/2004

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Against All Odds

The Postal Service

Wicker Park

Lakeshore Records
via TK library: 12/7/2004

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Finally Woken

Jem

It All Starts Here

ATO
via TK library: 1/27/2004

Notes
My Way Home

Citizen Cope

The Clarence Greenwood Recordings

RCA
via TK library: 12/7/2004

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Breakdown

Handsome Boy Modeling School featuring Jack Johnson

White People

Elektra
via TK library: 4/14/2005

Notes
Everyone Knows Everyone

The Helio Sequence

Love and Distance

Sub Pop
via TK library: 12/15/2005

Notes
Ladyflash

The Go! Team

Thunder, Lightning, Strike

Memphis Industries
via TK library: 6/24/2005

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Going Nowhere

Cut Copy

Bright Like Neon Love

Modular
via TK library: 10/14/2008

Notes
You Can’t Hurry Love

The Concretes

The Concretes

Astralwerks
via TK library: 5/7/2009

Notes
Me, You and Everybody

Gomez

Split the Difference

Virgin
via TK library: 10/22/2005

Notes
Spitting Games

Snow Patrol

Final Straw

Polydor
via TK library: 11/19/2009

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Slow Hands

Interpol

Antics

Matador
via TK library: 4/26/2007

Notes
Mr. Brightside

The Killers

Hot Fuss

Island
via TK library: 7/12/2012

Notes
Rebellion (Lies)

Arcade Fire

Funeral

Merge
via Laura Mason library: 2/12/2005

Notes
From Now On

Ron Sexsmith

Retriever

V2
via TK library: 9/6/2004

Notes
Looking Up in Heaven

Paul Westerberg

The Wired CD

Vagrant
via TK library: 1/16/2005

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Can’t Exist

Joseph Arthur

Our Shadows Will Remain

Vector
via TK library: 9/24/2008

Notes
The Rat

The Walkmen

Bows + Arrows

Record Collection
via TK library: 8/21/2009

Notes
Pressure Point

The Zutons

Who Killed… The Zutons?

Epic
via TK library: 9/7/2006

Notes
Hoist That Rag

Tom Waits

Real Gone

Anti-
via TK library: 4/26/2007

Notes
Better Version of Me

Fiona Apple

Extraordinary Machine

leak/bootleg
via TK library: 3/18/2005

Notes
Princess on the Porch

Josh Rouse

The Smooth Sounds of Josh Rouse

Rykodisc
via TK library: 4/15/2006

Notes
At the Beach

The Avett Brothers

Mignonette

Ramseur
via TK library: 12/1/2007

Notes
Well, Well, Well

Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama

There Will Be a Light

Virgin
via TK library: 11/11/2004

Notes
The Lengths

The Black Keys

Rubber Factory

Fat Possum
via TK library: 7/28/2007

Notes
Munky River

The Presidents of the United States of America

Love Everybody

PUSA Music
via TK library: 9/6/2004

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Song for the Orca

Travis Morrison

Travistan

Barsuk
via TK library: 9/28/2004

Notes
One More Time

French Kicks

The Trial of the Century

Star Time
via TK library: 8/2/2006

Notes
James

Maritime

Glass Floor

DeSoto
via TK library: 12/7/2004

Notes
When I Goosestep

The Shins

Wicker Park

Lakeshore Records
via TK library: 12/7/2004

Notes
Endless Shovel

Rogue Wave

Out of the Shadow

Sub Pop
via TK library: 10/22/2004

Notes
I'm a Wheel

Wilco

A Ghost Is Born

Nonesuch
via TK library: 2/19/2008

Notes
Tear Me Down

Spoon

Wig in a Box: Songs from & Inspired by Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Off Records
via TK library: 1/23/2007

Notes
On the Table

A.C. Newman

The Slow Wonder

Matador
via TK library: 8/13/2005

Notes
Portions for Foxes

Rilo Kiley

More Adventurous

Brute/Beaute
via TK library: 9/7/2006

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Walking With a Ghost

Tegan and Sara

So Jealous

Vapor
via TK library: 10/14/2008

Notes
Jigsaw

Amelia

After All

self-released
via TK library: 7/29/2004

Notes
To Destruction

Dolorean

Violence in the Snowy Fields

Yep Roc
via TK library: 12/17/2004

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The Dreaming Dead

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter

Oh, My Girl

Barsuk
via TK library: 12/7/2004

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Portland Oregon

Loretta Lynn featuring Jack White

Van Lear Rose

Interscope
via TK library: 11/23/2004

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Look Me Over

M. Ward

Duet for Guitars #2

Merge
via TK library: 7/11/2007

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Narcotic Prayer

Chris Whitley

Weed

Messenger
via TK library: 2/13/2004

Notes
Electric Love Letter

Langhorne Slim

Electric Love Letter

Narnack
via TK library: 3/18/2008

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Twilight

Elliott Smith

From a Basement on a Hill

Kill Rock Stars
via TK library: 7/23/2005

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Don’t Wait Too Long

Madeleine Peyroux

Careless Love

Rounder
via TK library: 9/21/2007

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Above Ground

Norah Jones

Feels Like Home

Blue Note
via TK library: 2/11/2004

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Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime

Beck

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Hollywood
via TK library: 2/1/2005

Notes
Mad World

Gary Jules

Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets

Universal
via TK library: 3/18/2005

Self-released in 2001.
Human Nature

David Mead

Indiana

Nettwerk
via TK library: 11/26/2008

Notes
Living Life

Eels

The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered

Gammon
via TK library: 12/18/2011

Notes
Dreams

TV on the Radio

Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes

Touch and Go
via TK library: 10/14/2008

Notes
Snooks (Progress Report)

Elbow

Cast of Thousands

V2
via TK library: 3/14/2004

Notes
Kiss of Life

Supergrass

Supergrass Is 10

Capitol
via TK library: 9/7/2006

Notes
Take Your Mama

Scissor Sisters

Scissor Sisters

Polydor
via TK library: 4/23/2005

Notes
Emerald City

United State of Electronica

U.S.E.

self-released
via TK library: 7/23/2005

Notes
Ch-Check It Out

Beastie Boys

To the 5 Boroughs

Capitol
via TK library: 4/27/2005

Notes
Jesus Walks

Kanye West

The College Dropout

Roc-a-Fella
via TK library: 1/5/2006

Notes
Public Service Announcement

Jay-Z + Danger Mouse

The Grey Album

bootleg
via TK library: 5/14/2006

Notes
Selfish

Slum Village

Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)

Capitol
via TK library: 7/12/2012

Notes
Dry Your Eyes

The Streets

A Grand Don’t Come for Free

Locked On
via TK library: 7/27/2012

Notes
Don’t Tell Me

Avril Lavigne

Under My Skin

Arista
via TK library: 8/6/2009

Notes
Since U Been Gone

Kelly Clarkson

Breakaway

RCA
via TK library: 12/31/2009

Notes
Common People

William Shatner featuring Ben Folds & Joe Jackson

Has Been

Shout! Factory
via TK library: 11/19/2009

Notes
Me and Mia

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

Shake the Sheets

Lookout!
via TK library: 7/23/2005

Notes
C’mon C’mon

The Von Bondies

Pawn Shoppe Heart

Sire
via TK library: 3/30/2008

Notes
Fall Behind Me

The Donnas

Gold Medal

Atlantic
via TK library: 5/15/2010

Notes
Miracle Drug

U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Interscope
via TK library: 11/23/2004

Notes
Around the Sun

R.E.M.

Around the Sun

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/15/2004

Notes
About Today

The National

Cherry Tree

Beggars Banquet
via TK library: 5/20/2008

Notes
Windmills

Mutual Admiration Society

Mutual Admiration Society

Sugar Hill
via TK library: 7/31/2004

Notes
When It Doesn’t Come Easy

Patty Griffin

Impossible Dream

ATO
via TK library: 7/28/2007

Notes
What You Want

John Butler Trio

Sunrise Over Sea

Atlantic
via TK library: 7/23/2005

Notes
Hold You in My Arms

Ray LaMontagne

Trouble

RCA
via TK library: 11/23/2004

Notes
The Battle

Caitlin Cary featuring Ryan Adams

The Battle

Yep Roc
via TK library: 2/25/2007

Notes
Calamity Jane

Grant Lee Phillips

Virginia Creeper

Zoe
via TK library: 5/31/2004

Notes
Sinning Hands

Iron & Wine

Sinning Hands

Sub Pop
via TK library: 12/7/2004

iTunes exclusive. Eventually compiled on Around the Well
At the Hop

Devendra Banhart

Niño Rojo

Young God
via Laura Mason library: 12/13/2004

Notes
The Dress Looks Nice on You

Sufjan Stevens

Seven Swans

Sounds Familyre
via TK library: 2/21/2009

Notes
Hand on Your Heart

José González

Stay in the Shade

Imperial
via TK library: 2/6/2007

Released in the US in 2006.
Homesick

Kings of Convenience

Riot on an Empty Street

EMI
via TK library: 12/7/2004

Notes
Not for All the Love in the World

The Thrills

Let's Bottle Bohemia

Virgin
via TK library: 9/7/2006

Notes
Two Way Monologue

Sondre Lerche

Two Way Monologue

Astralwerks
via TK library: 3/9/2004

Notes
On My Way

Ben Kweller

On My Way

ATO
via TK library: 4/6/2004

Notes
Bruised

The Bens

The Bens

Attacked by Plastic
via past experience (Ben Folds, Ben Lee, Ben Kweller) library: 1/5/2004

Notes
Float On

Ben Lee

Ben Lee/Pony Up Split EP

self-released
via past experience library: 1/28/2005

Notes