Dan, I didn’t HATE you in high school. How sensitive you are!! One little comment in one of your classes and you’ll never forgive me….let’s set the record straight for the world: Dan Washburn, I think you’re a talented, interesting, and entirely loveable human being. REALLY! Heather : )
I’ve been reading your blog for over a year now, since before moving to Shanghai this past summer, and I always enjoy it. Reading this post made me wonder, though: where do you get your hands on all this music here in Shanghai? I have a couple of places that I check for this kind of stuff (most notably 2046 up near Wujiaochang), but feel like I’d be hard pressed to find a lot of the stuff you have listed here. Any suggestions?
nice blog. will be coming more often to read. btw, ashamed to say that i have not heard of any of your top 2004 albums! hahaha, guess i rely to much on our local radio stations. will download some of your music links later. cheers!
On Jan 6, 2005 12:42 AM, ck said:
Hey Dan - this is a really cool list!
I liked the Hummingbird song from Wilco.
Here’s a shout out for the Modfather-Paul Weller.
I’m a big fan of his music too.
Nice album list. I’ve got about 80% of your top 25. Extra special cheers to The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Iron And Wine, Blonde Redhead, Pedro The Lion, The Walkmen, and Brian Wilson’s sublime SMiLE. Your website is very impressive as is your photography. I’m on my way to Beijing so hopefully I will have stories to share soon….
well done list. its nice to see my favorites near the top for once.
On Jan 9, 2005 11:04 PM, Matt Seigal said:
Your list looks very very good. I especially like Devendra Banhart and Sufjan Stevens.
I would also put Joanna Newsom and PJ Harvey in that list. I know they get a special mention. I haven’t yet heard the Neko Case record.
I love Sonic Youth, but think their last two albums have been a little disappointing.
I’m teaching IT in the British school for at least two years and came from Bristol in the UK. I was very spiled with music. The live music scene in Bristol is better than anywhere I have ever lived. It’s probably as good as New York or Montreal in terms of cross pollination between genres.
My favourite Bristol albums were Mooz’s ‘My Property’ and Big Joan’s ‘Insects and Engines’. They both mix noise, indie and drum and bass in really cool ways.
I have a very soft spot for Caroline Martin. She’s become a good friend and played my leaving party in England. She is an amazing singer who writes very beautiful and sad songs. Think Cat Power, but much more English. She makes the Moonpix album sound quite jolly. Anyway, her first album was released at the end of last year and her song “The Singer” made it to number 3 on John Peel’s Festive 50. The album is called “I had a hundred more reasons to stay by the fire”. It’s released on her own Small-Dog label. It’s easily the best album from last year in my honest opinion, butI am biased. Her website is: www.small-dog.co.uk
You should DJ at the Tang-Hui
I’m looking forward to DJ Krush followed by Blood Shock on Saturday night and Shanghai’s very very good noise band called Marrow on Sunday at Harley’s in Xuijahui.
Get in touch if you want to swap music. Your website is very cool.
On Jan 10, 2005 7:03 PM, Ming said:
Thank you for your recommandation. From all the samples from the list. I like Arcade fire and Of Montreal the most.
Arcade fire reminds me of my all time fave band, Eyeless in Gaza (early) from 25 years ago, very punkish and energetic. Try Eyeless’ ” Others” and “knives become air”
The Arcade fire song “N#3 power out” is very similar to UT’s “fire in Philly” from the big black, sonic youth’s label compilation. http://www.dementlieu.com/~obik/bigblack/discog/va_totalwar.html
If you like power out, you will love fire in Philly. Listen to them live in John Peel session long time ago.
On Jan 10, 2005 7:28 PM, Ming said:
…Forget to mention, love the screaming vocal of the Arcade fire , very John Lydon (sex pistols, PIL) and Martyn Bates (EIG). The violin arrangements reminds me of the debut album of the Waterboys. It’s a great jam, definitely going to buy this CD.
“I would also put Joanna Newsom and PJ Harvey in that list. I know they get a special mention.”
Well, I wouldn’t say they get special mention. The albums listed as “also considered” are just every other album I listened to in 2004 but didn’t like enough to include in the top-35. I should have clarified that.
Couldn’t get into the PJ Harvey — I tried — and I can only take Joanna Newsom in small doses.
I will definitely try to check out your recommendations. Thanks for that. And you are the second person to mention Tang Hui to me. Guess I should give that place a look.
Send me an email and I can help you find this music in Shanghai … well, kind of.
dan @ danwashburn.com
Dan
On Mar 5, 2005 7:36 AM, Anonymous said:
Dan,
I’d be curious to find out what you think of the news The Mars Volta Album (Frances the Mute). It’s definitely much different than anything else on your top 25, but I’m totally obsessed with it right now.
If you give it a shot, be sure you listen to it at least two times before concluding whether you love/hate it. Oh, and as a disclaimer, quite a bit of it is sung in Spanish.
On Mar 11, 2005 4:25 AM, Jonathan said:
Did Modest Mouse really play on the OC. That is just strange. well, I guess they deserve the cash after years of not hitting the bug time
On Mar 15, 2005 11:02 AM, booboojeebies said:
No mention of American Idiot?
On Jul 17, 2005 9:31 AM, Faye said:
Wow, great list. A good handful are all relatively well known, but you really opened my eyes to a lot of great artists. Kudos.
Looks like a pretty good best of for the year, if you restrict yourself to the indie band of the spectrum. I’d be interested in hearing about where to get good music too, I’m arriving in Shanghai on Monday and will NEED to know where to get my regular hit of music.
22 Comments
Dan, I didn’t HATE you in high school. How sensitive you are!! One little comment in one of your classes and you’ll never forgive me….let’s set the record straight for the world: Dan Washburn, I think you’re a talented, interesting, and entirely loveable human being. REALLY! Heather : )
nice blog! :)
Dan,
I’ve been reading your blog for over a year now, since before moving to Shanghai this past summer, and I always enjoy it. Reading this post made me wonder, though: where do you get your hands on all this music here in Shanghai? I have a couple of places that I check for this kind of stuff (most notably 2046 up near Wujiaochang), but feel like I’d be hard pressed to find a lot of the stuff you have listed here. Any suggestions?
nice blog. will be coming more often to read. btw, ashamed to say that i have not heard of any of your top 2004 albums! hahaha, guess i rely to much on our local radio stations. will download some of your music links later. cheers!
Hey Dan - this is a really cool list!
I liked the Hummingbird song from Wilco.
Here’s a shout out for the Modfather-Paul Weller.
I’m a big fan of his music too.
www.paulweller.com
-some audio/video on website-
Curtis
Nice album list. I’ve got about 80% of your top 25. Extra special cheers to The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Iron And Wine, Blonde Redhead, Pedro The Lion, The Walkmen, and Brian Wilson’s sublime SMiLE. Your website is very impressive as is your photography. I’m on my way to Beijing so hopefully I will have stories to share soon….
Jeff
china.qoolio.org
well done list. its nice to see my favorites near the top for once.
Your list looks very very good. I especially like Devendra Banhart and Sufjan Stevens.
I would also put Joanna Newsom and PJ Harvey in that list. I know they get a special mention. I haven’t yet heard the Neko Case record.
I love Sonic Youth, but think their last two albums have been a little disappointing.
I’m teaching IT in the British school for at least two years and came from Bristol in the UK. I was very spiled with music. The live music scene in Bristol is better than anywhere I have ever lived. It’s probably as good as New York or Montreal in terms of cross pollination between genres.
My favourite Bristol albums were Mooz’s ‘My Property’ and Big Joan’s ‘Insects and Engines’. They both mix noise, indie and drum and bass in really cool ways.
I have a very soft spot for Caroline Martin. She’s become a good friend and played my leaving party in England. She is an amazing singer who writes very beautiful and sad songs. Think Cat Power, but much more English. She makes the Moonpix album sound quite jolly. Anyway, her first album was released at the end of last year and her song “The Singer” made it to number 3 on John Peel’s Festive 50. The album is called “I had a hundred more reasons to stay by the fire”. It’s released on her own Small-Dog label. It’s easily the best album from last year in my honest opinion, butI am biased. Her website is: www.small-dog.co.uk
You should DJ at the Tang-Hui
I’m looking forward to DJ Krush followed by Blood Shock on Saturday night and Shanghai’s very very good noise band called Marrow on Sunday at Harley’s in Xuijahui.
Get in touch if you want to swap music. Your website is very cool.
Thank you for your recommandation. From all the samples from the list. I like Arcade fire and Of Montreal the most.
Arcade fire reminds me of my all time fave band, Eyeless in Gaza (early) from 25 years ago, very punkish and energetic. Try Eyeless’ ” Others” and “knives become air”
The Arcade fire song “N#3 power out” is very similar to UT’s “fire in Philly” from the big black, sonic youth’s label compilation. http://www.dementlieu.com/~obik/bigblack/discog/va_totalwar.html
If you like power out, you will love fire in Philly. Listen to them live in John Peel session long time ago.
…Forget to mention, love the screaming vocal of the Arcade fire , very John Lydon (sex pistols, PIL) and Martyn Bates (EIG). The violin arrangements reminds me of the debut album of the Waterboys. It’s a great jam, definitely going to buy this CD.
Hey. I live in Shanghai too. Good taste in music!
Matt,
“I would also put Joanna Newsom and PJ Harvey in that list. I know they get a special mention.”
Well, I wouldn’t say they get special mention. The albums listed as “also considered” are just every other album I listened to in 2004 but didn’t like enough to include in the top-35. I should have clarified that.
Couldn’t get into the PJ Harvey — I tried — and I can only take Joanna Newsom in small doses.
I will definitely try to check out your recommendations. Thanks for that. And you are the second person to mention Tang Hui to me. Guess I should give that place a look.
Dan
Ming,
Thanks for your suggestions, too!
Dan
no Chinese music worthy of making the list?
chengb02,
No.
Dan
Josh,
Sorry I forgot to respond.
Send me an email and I can help you find this music in Shanghai … well, kind of.
dan @ danwashburn.com
Dan
Dan,
I’d be curious to find out what you think of the news The Mars Volta Album (Frances the Mute). It’s definitely much different than anything else on your top 25, but I’m totally obsessed with it right now.
If you give it a shot, be sure you listen to it at least two times before concluding whether you love/hate it. Oh, and as a disclaimer, quite a bit of it is sung in Spanish.
Did Modest Mouse really play on the OC. That is just strange. well, I guess they deserve the cash after years of not hitting the bug time
No mention of American Idiot?
Wow, great list. A good handful are all relatively well known, but you really opened my eyes to a lot of great artists. Kudos.
Interesting thoughts.
Looks like a pretty good best of for the year, if you restrict yourself to the indie band of the spectrum. I’d be interested in hearing about where to get good music too, I’m arriving in Shanghai on Monday and will NEED to know where to get my regular hit of music.