The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 2004
A year in music reviewby Rob Todd | 12.15.2004
"Another year over..." as John Lennon sang, as we near the end of the year of our Lord (not Lennon, the other one) 2004.
So what do we make of it? What can we say, musically, about the year that has passed?
For one, we may be seeing the dying embers of the pop-punk movement. Mainstays like Blink 182 and Good Charlotte release more mature, less high school-sounding records, but still managed to annoy. Second, hip-hop got creative (and less bling-bling) with acts like Outkast and Black Eyed Peas.
We also saw music artists give their industry -- and humanity -- a few black eyes, as well. There was "Nipple-gate" at the Superbowl, Britney's on-again, off-again marriages, and let us not forget Ashlee Simpson’s SNL hoedown.
Hence, the Good, the Bad, and the not-so-pretty (Ugly) of 2004. Read on, and reminisce.
The Good
This year, we got all kinds of good ol' fashion rock-and/or-roll, in various forms, coming back on the scene in a major way. Staples like U2 and REM returned with high-quality discs, and newcomers like Franz Ferdinand and Velvet Revolver made a splash in a crowded pond. And, what happens when you put two musical styles in a blender and press "puree"? You get Jay-Z and Linkin Park's novel album/concert, Collision Course.
The retro, 80s-revival that started with bands like The Strokes continued on, the shining example being Interpol's Antics. A methodical, hypnotic album that some thought did not live up to the first -- Antics offered its own statement.
Other bands followed in similar style and substance. Snow Patrol and Keane, while not mainstream hits, got plenty of critical attention, and sold a few albums along the way. The Shins made a living off of movie soundtracks, while the jump-on-the-bed bop that Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse offered kept things upbeat and fun.
In the whips and chains world of hard rock, Ministry and Rammstein released some heavy-hitting discs, Ministry's following a trend of musicians rallying against the Bush administration (to no avail). Even some of the pop-punk bands got involved in politics, as did classic artists like Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, and (sure, we can say they're classic now) Pearl Jam. A Perfect Circle released a spooky album full of anti-war, anti-administration songs. Heck, even Eminem made an effort to unseat the president with “Mosh.” And let's not forget Green Day's outstanding "comeback" album, American Idiot.
Also of note: Elliott Smith's From a Basement on a Hill; the return of Prince; Ashlee Simpson was exposed as the fake she is (see "Ugly" section); there's news of a new Nine Inch Nails album. Sorry, that's cheating. But we did, technically, hear about it this year.
All in all, there was plenty to get excited about in 2004. It wasn't a breakthrough year - no big movement was created. But hey, at least boy bands are gone, right?
The Bad
As for the not-so-good? Well, there was that too. For instance, the late-90s big, nü-metal scene still put out their fare share of material. Godsmack had an all-acoustic CD, Korn released another new album, and Drowning Pool (dead former-lead singer notwithstanding) gave us something else to listen to….Ugh. Were you hoping (and, perhaps, praying) that Creed had finally bit the dust after lead singer/Jesus Christ superstar Scott Stapp left? Sorry to disappoint, but those other guys in Creed decided that they were talented enough to carry on as Alter Bridge, with a new lead singer in Myles Kennedy. But guess what? It still sounds like Creed.
Hoobastank finally got out of the shadow of their Incubus-sounding selves and released a bestseller with The Reason, an album that spawned this year's high school graduation song of the same name. And sure, it was good back in April/May for that purpose. As the year went on, however, it kept playing and playing. Any song that overplayed deserves to be filed under the "Bad" category. Sorry, graduates.
While the Beastie Boy's To the 5 Burroughs was another bestseller, it failed to capture the imagination of the nation like earlier efforts from the Brooklyn boys. The videos were funny, especially watching a Sasquatch kidnap the band, then beat them in basketball. But what have you heard beyond "Ch-Check it Out"? Not much.
Finally, will someone please take Avril Lavigne and give her a mature, honest album instead of the whining drivel we keep hearing from our little Canadian. Not even Our Lady's Peace's Raine Maida's lyrical help could help her latest album become something other than a corporate-penned schlock.
The Ugly
And then there was the disgusting and depraved of the music biz - The Ugly.
Early on in 2004, we had Janet Jackson and boytoy Justin Timberlake flashing the breast seen 'round the world. And it wasn't that pretty of a breast, on closer inspection. Aesthetics aside, "Nipplegate" at the Superbowl in early February led to a crackdown on television programming by the FCC, causing a five-minute delay in all live programming, just in case something naughty happens again. Maybe they should just let U2 perform at every Superbowl halftime show. 2002's performance was one to remember. So was this year's, just not in a good way.
Britney Spears found her catalogue good and deep enough to want to release a greatest hits package. Is she for real? Not even her half-naked self on the cover can save this album. Meanwhile, everyone else thought releasing a greatest hits album was a way to make some extra money. Maybe there should be a certain time limit bands reach before releasing the moldy oldies. Ten years? Twenty? Something other than the five it took for our dear Britney.
Sadly, this "Ugly" section must also include the death of one of hard rock's great guitar players, “Dimebag” Darrell. Dimebag's new band, Damageplan, came under attack from a rabid Pantera fan in Columbus, Ohio in early December. The fan shot and killed Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott, ending the career of one of thrash metal's true talents. He will be missed. So will Ray Charles.
Courtney Love attempted a comeback. 'Nuff said.
Ashlee Simpson, Jessica's not-as-hot younger sister, made a fool of herself when she highlighted the creation of her debut disc on a reality show. Then she goofed on Saturday Night Live and decided to start dancing as is a hoedown were commonplace on SNL. When will pure talent, not manufactured pop stars (see Avril Lavigne), reign supreme?
But then it's always been this way, hasn't it? Shucks.
So long, 2004, what does 2005 have in store for us? Check your "Upcoming Releases" section for details, plug in your headphones, and headbang like nobody's watching.
And, for goodness sake, make sure your wardrobe doesn't malfunction.
