My top 100 of 2004!

[Panda]

With commentary!!

These are top 100 singles (CD, vinyl, download) of 2004. I wrote it all myself except the bit in the middle where my mummy helped me.

Here are numbers 100-91:

100. Killers - All These Things That I've Done
Debut for a US band who really made it big this year. I've never quite understood the hype surrounding them, but this was a great track nonetheless.

99. MIA - Galang
One of the year's oddities. A British-born girl from a Sri Lankan family, the release date for this was delayed and delayed and then it was ignored en mass when it was finally released.

98. Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird
A welcome return for Neil Hannon, who carried on the Divine Comedy name despite having to offload the rest of his band. This track features guest vocals from Lauren Laverne.

97. Elbow - Grace Under Pressure
Elbow make the top 100 for the 4th consecutive year. Out of the acts in this year's chart, only Super Furry Animals have more.

96. Vines - Ride
The first single from their second album, which didn't seem to go down as well as the first for some reason.

95. Alfie - No Need
A band you don't hear much about, which is a shame because they have some cracking songs. Perhaps the singer's voice holds them back a bit...

94. Incubus - Talk Shows On Mute
Their debut in my chart, surprisingly, though 'Drive' should have made the chart a few years ago.

93. The Duke Spirit - Dark Is Light Enough
Another debut act and one I don't know too much about.

92. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Rise Of The Eagles
Their first appearance in the chart, despite releasing several singles before this year. A band that keeps improving.

91. Fiery Furnaces - Tropical Ice-Land
Would've been higher were it not for the flatulent downturn the song takes in the second half. I'm hoping that's not the last time I use the word 'flatulent' in this countdown.

[Sofie]

#91 'Single again' is better imo. Still, it's a good song.

#100 also never really get the hype with them.

#98, explain?

#95, don't remember this at all. 'People' is a good sogn though.

[Panda]

Sofie said:

#98, explain?

Basically, he couldn't afford to carry on paying the rest of his band so he let them go and went solo. He kept the name 'Divine Comedy' though, rather than record as Neil Hannon.

[Panda]

90-81:

90. Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
First big shock? This is Keane's first and only entry in the chart. 'Bedshaped' missed out by one place, whilst 'Everybody's Changing' also came close. They have some nice songs but I often find them a bit...dull...

89. HAL - Worry About The Wind
Thankfully not the same band who did that crappy single with Gillian Anderson a few years back. They released this then disappeared for the rest of the year. One to watch out for in 2005.

88. Walkmen - The Rat
Another American band that seemed to come out of nowhere this year. Mrs. Hamster really liked this one.

87. Bloc Party - Helicopter
Broke through purely on hype but then produced some great tracks to justify it, this being one of them.

86. Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die
He's been away so long, this is his first year in my chart! For those of you who read the Planet Sound reviews on Teletext, I think this will be their #1 of the year, but as they're journalists, their opinion counts for nothing.

85. TV On The Radio - New Health Rock
Winners of the Shortlist prize in the States, it's about time they got some attention over here, too.

84. Slipknot - Duality
Much maligned, this lot actually produce some decent tunes when they want to.

83. Embrace - Gravity
Embrace returned with a song given to them by Chris Martin. It helped them back towards the early peaks they'd struggled to reach since their commercial suicide second album (which I rather liked. Anyone remember 'Yeah You'?).

82. Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
A case of death by radio/TV for this one. Was played far too much and got annoying.

81. Charlatans - Try Again Today
A band that just keeps on going, through thick and thin, although age seems to mean an automatic decline in sales, these days.

[TheThorne]

Here are numbers 100-91:

100. Killers - All These Things That I've Done

will be high in my year end list

98. Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird

ok song

96. Vines - Ride


made by top 100

95. Alfie - No Need

I charted it this year but its not that memorbale for me.

94. Incubus - Talk Shows On Mute

brilliant song


92. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Rise Of The Eagles

They are good but they always get up irritating me

[Panda]

80-71:

80. Adem - Ringing In My Ear
Solo effort from the bass player from Fridge. He looks a bit like Zane Lowe but I won't hold it against him.

79. Golden Virgins - Renaissance Kid
Another band to look out for in 2005. This was a very uptempo, catchy effort, something we haven't had much of this year.

78. Kasabian - Club Foot
One of the breakthrough acts of the year. I like their songs without ever really loving them. This was the pick of their singles.

77. Minus - Angel In Disguise
Barking mad effort from an Icelandic rock band. What more could you want?

76. Phoenix - Run Run Run
Something of a rarity - a French act that isn't Air. Many have said this is what Air would sound like if they decided to abandon the electronic stuff and go down a more "indie" route.

75. The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across The Land
Second song in the chart for them. On this one, the singer reminds me of Louise Wener.

74. Biffy Clyro - My Recovery Injection
They usually release about 6 singles per year and usually 1 of them will be good. This year, it was this one.

73. Joy Zipper - Out Of The Sun
One of the weaker tracks from one of the albums of the year, 'American Whip'.

72. Razorlight - Golden Touch
Another band where I don't quite understand why they've been so successful. I certainly wouldn't have expected them to get a top 10 hit this time last year.

71. Dears - We Can Have It
1 of 8 vinyl-only singles in this year's chart. A very talented Canadian band who deserve to make it big. Reminiscent of the Smiths.

[Panda]

70-61:

70. Graham Coxon - Spectacular
First of a hat-trick of entries in this year's chart for the ex-Blur guitarist. Despite having released a number of solo albums, this is his first year in the chart.

69. Madrugada - Majesty
Another song that took absolutely ages to come out. I believe this song is quite different from their other stuff. 1 of 3 Norwegian acts in this year's chart.

68. Grandaddy - Nature Anthem
Another vinyl-only one. Amazingly this is third Grandaddy song in a row to be #68 in the chart.

67. Gomez - Sweet Virginia
Why does no-one seem to like Gomez anymore? They still as good as they were when they arrived on the scene in 1998.

66. Modest Mouse - Float On
This lot have been around for ages, apparently, but this was the first time they'd done something interesting.

65. Bloc Party - Little Thoughts
A second appearance for Bloc Party, whose lead singer I have affectionately named "Ugo Ehiogu".

64. The Glitterati - Here Comes A Close Up
The sleeve had a topless woman on the cover but that made no difference to it entering the chart. I'm not sure whether to expect better things from this band.

63. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control
7" single released purely for the purpose of promoting their DVD, rather than the 'Fever To Tell' album which is now as old as the hills.

62. Hope Of The States - Nehemiah
A great debut album from this band who had to try and overcome the suicide of their guitarist. Hope Of The States have the potential to be massive.

61. Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
Was #30 in last year's chart. Re-released and slightly re-mixed this year, hence the lower chart position.

[Panda]

60. Peaches & Iggy Pop - Kick It
What foul mouths these two have. This song was taken from Peaches' album 'Fatherf*cker'.

59. Dears - Lost In The Plot
Second entry for the Dears. Another band to look out for in 2005.

58. The Prodigy - Girls
First single from their long-awaited 4th album and a return to a more electronic sound.

57. Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give A F*ck (Live)
23-minute live version of a classic.

56. Zutons - You Will You Won't
Chart debut for the mad Scousers. A good band but this was the only song to make the chart.

55. Air - Surfing On A Rocket
Another vinyl single, this one a 12", which may well be a first for my chart. Another excellent piece of work from the French duo.

54. Shins - So Says I
The video has penguins which should mean automatic qualification anyway, but it's a good song with a retro feel about it. It's a good retro feel, though.

53. Graham Coxon - Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery
Mr. Coxon is back with Coffee & TV Part 2.

52. Joy Zipper - Baby You Should Know
Another entry for Joy Zipper from an album where the best tracks weren't singles.

51. Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
They finally got round to doing another album after university courses, solo albums and Royksopp. A welcome return.

[Panda]

Agh, f*ck this for a game of soldiers, this backwards countdown thing is annoying. Here's the full chart:

1. Mansun - Slipping Away
2. Hope Of The States - The Red The White The Black The Blue
3. Thirteen Senses - Thru The Glass
4. Delays - Nearer Than Heaven
5. Graham Coxon - Freakin' Out
6. MASS - Testify
7. Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
8. Charlotte Hatherley - Kim Wilde
9. Morrissey - Irish Blood English Heart
10. Strokes - Reptilia
11. The Beta Band - Assessment
12. Kill Kenada - Massachusetts Murder Medallions
13. Belle And Sebastian - Wrapped Up In Books
14. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
15. Ordinary Boys - Week In Week Out
16. Sluts Of Trust - Leave You Wanting More
17. Belle And Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
18. Maximo Park - The Coast Is Always Changing
19. Delays - Long Time Coming
20. Snow Patrol - Spitting Games
21. Pixies - Bam Thwok
22. Engineers - Come In Out Of The Rain
23. Cathy Davey - Clean And Neat
24. Interpol - Slow Hands
25. Air - Cherry Blossom Girls
26. Secret Machines - Nowhere Again
27. The Mars Volta - Televators
28. Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love
29. TV On The Radio - Staring At The Sun
30. Dresden Dolls - Coin-Operated Boy
31. Boxer Rebellion - In Pursuit
32. Super Furry Animals - Slow Life
33. Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism
34. Charlatans - Up At The Lake
35. Stills - Lola Stars And Stripes
36. Magnet/Gemma Hayes - Lay Lady Lay
37. Auf Der Maur - Followed The Waves
38. They Might Be Giants - Experimental Film
39. Gomez - Silence
40. Ash - Clones
41. Soulwax - Any Minute Now
42. Snow Patrol - Chocolate
43. 22-20s - Shoot Your Gun
44. Razorlight - Stumble & Fall
45. Snow Patrol - Run
46. Stands - Here She Comes Again
47. PJ Harvey - The Letter
48. Brian Wilson - Good Vibrations
49. Vines - Winning Days
50. I Monster - Hey Mrs.
51. Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
52. Joy Zipper - Baby You Should Know
53. Graham Coxon - Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery
54. Shins - So Says I
55. Air - Surfing On A Rocket
56. Zutons - You Will You Won't
57. Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give A f*** (Live)
58. The Prodigy - Girls
59. Dears - Lost In The Plot
60. Peaches/Iggy Pop - Kick It
61. Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
62. Hope Of The States - Nehemiah
63. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control
64. The Glitterati - Here Comes A Close Up
65. Bloc Party - Little Thoughts
66. Modest Mouse - Float On
67. Gomez - Sweet Virginia
68. Grandaddy - Nature Anthem
69. Madrugada - Majesty
70. Graham Coxon - Spectacular
71. Dears - We Can Have It
72. Razorlight - Golden Touch
73. Joy Zipper - Out Of The Sun
74. Biffy Clyro - My Recovery Injection
75. The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across The Land
76. Phoenix - Run Run Run
77. Minus - Angel In Disguise
78. Kasabian - Club Foot
79. Golden Virgins - Renaissance Kid
80. Adem - Ringing In My Ear
81. Charlatans - Try Again Today
82. Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
83. Embrace - Gravity
84. Slipknot - Duality
85. TV On The Radio - New Health Rock
86. Morrissey - Irish Blood English Heart
87. Bloc Party - Helicopter
88. Walkmen - The Rat
89. HAL - Worry About The Wind
90. Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
91. Fiery Furnaces - Tropical Ice-Land
92. Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Rise Of The Eagles
93. The Duke Spirit - Dark Is Light Enough
94. Incubus - Talk Shows On Mute
95. Alfie - No Need
96. Vines - Ride
97. Elbow - Grace Under Pressure
98. Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird
99. MIA - Galang
100. Killers - All These Things That I've Done

[Panda]

ANALYSIS-SIR!

Mansun take the #1 spot with 'Slipping Away' It's the first time a vinyl-only single has topped the chart and also the first time a song that was released after a band split up has been #1. It's the 5th year in a row a British act has been #1.

Past #1's:
1995: Chemical Brothers - Leave Home
1996: Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life
1997: Radiohead - Paranoid Android
1998: Ultrasound - Stay Young
1999: The Living End - Prisoner Of Society
2000: Llama Farmers - Snow White
2001: Elbow - Any Day Now
2002: Cooper Temple Clause - Film-Maker
2003: Radiohead - There There

For the first time, no act has more than one song in the top 10. Previously, the sequence had gone like this:
1995: Radiohead - Just, Fake Plastic Trees (2 & 9); Massive Attack - Karmacoma, Protection (8 & 10)
1996: Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life, Everything Must Go, Australia (1, 5 & 10); Prodigy - Breathe, Firestarter (3 & 6)
1997: Blur - Song 2 & MOR (2 & 9)
1998: Dandy Warhols - Every Day Should Be A Holiday, Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth (4 & 7)
1999: Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl, Let Forever Be (6 & 7)
2000: Doves - The Cedar Room, The Man Who Told Everything (2 & 7)
2001: Elbow - Any Day Now, Powder Blue (1 & 2)
2002: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Whatever Happened To My Rock & Roll, Spread Your Love (9 & 10)
2003: Blur - Out Of Time, Crazy Beat (5 & 10)


Last year's #1 act Radiohead, didn't release a single in 2004. It's the 4th time the previous year's #1 didn't defend their title.

Past follow-ups by #1 acts:
1996: Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun (#20)
1997: Manic Street Preachers (no song in chart)
1998: Radiohead - No Surprises (#22)
1999: Ultrasound - Floodlit World (#62)
2000: The Living End (no song in chart)
2001: Llama Farmers (no song in chart)
2002: Elbow - Asleep In The Back (#16)
2003: Cooper Temple Clause - Promises Promises (#33)


Graham Coxon and Snow Patrol have the most songs in this year's chart with 3. Several acts have 2: Hope Of The States, Delays, Morrissey, Belle And Sebastian, Franz Ferdinand, Air, TV On The Radio, Dresden Dolls, Super Furry Animals, Charlatans, Gomez, Razorlight, Vines, Joy Zipper, Dears, Bloc Party, The Duke Spirit

The Following acts make their chart debuts this year:
Thirteen Senses, Graham Coxon*, Charlotte Hatherley**, Morrissey, Kill Kenada, Franz Ferdinand, Ordinary Boys, Sluts Of Trust, Maximo Park, Pixies, Engineers, Cathy Davey, Interpol, Secret Machines, Concretes, TV On The Radio, Dresden Dolls, Boxer Rebellion, Stills, Magnet, Auf Der Maur***, They Might Be Giants, 22-20s, Razorlight, Stands, Brian Wilson, I Monster, Joy Zipper, Shins, Zutons, Dears, Peaches, The Glitterati, Bloc Party, Modest Mouse, Madrugada, The Duke Spirit, Phoenix, Minus, Kasabian, Golden Virgins, Adem, Walkmen, HAL, Keane, Fiery Furnaces, Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Incubus, MIA, Killers

* Graham Coxon had 11 hits as part of Blur
** Charlotte Hatherley has had 8 hits as part of Ash, including 'Clones'
*** Melissa Auf Der Maur had 2 hits as part of Hole


3 songs from last year's chart are in the chart again this year:
Delays - Nearer Than Heaven (#6 last year, #4 this year)
Snow Patrol - Spitting Games (#29 last year, #20 this year)
Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound (#30 last year, #61 this year)
Also, 'The Man Don't Give A f***' by Super Furry Animals is in the chart for a second time. Originally #18 in 1996, the live version released this year was #57.

There were a record number (8) of vinyl-only entries in this year's chart:
Mansun - Slipping Away
Graham Coxon - Freakin' Out (later re-released on CD)
Maximo Park - The Coast Is Always Changing
Engineers - Come In Out Of The Rain (later released as part of a 6-track mini album)
Air - Surfing On A Rocket (12" single)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control
Grandaddy - Nature Anthem
Dears - We Can Have It

There were also 7 exclusively downloadable singles in this year's chart:
Charlotte Hatherley - Kim Wilde
Pixies - Bam Thwok
Dresden Dolls - Coin-Operated Boy
Super Furry Animals - Slow Life
Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism
They Might Be Giants - Experimental Film
Ash - Clones

Those by Charlotte Hatherley, Dresden Dolls and Super Furry Animals were available for free. The Pixies' track was only available through iTunes. Those by They Might Be Giants* and Ash were available to buy on the bands' websites.

(* Pretty much every They Might Be Giants track is available to buy as a download on their website.)


Consecutive years on chart for acts in this year's top 100:
9: Super Furry Animals; 4: Elbow; 3: MASS

Returning after a long absence:
1996: Iggy Pop; 1997: The Prodigy; 1998: Mansun; 2000: Beta Band, Soulwax, PJ Harvey; 2001: Strokes, Air, Charlatans, Kings Of Convenience, Embrace, Slipknot, Divine Comedy


Different nationalities in this year's chart:
UK (many), USA (many), Ireland (Cathy Davey, Gemma Hayes), France (Air, Phoenix), Sweden (Concretes), Canada (Stills, Auf Der Maur, Dears, Peaches), Belgium (Soulwax), Australia (Vines), Norway (Magnet, Kings Of Convenience, Madrugada), Denmark (Raveonettes), Iceland (Minus), Sri Lanka (MIA)

12 acts with the most songs in all the top 100s:
1. Super Furry Animals (18); 2. Blur (14); 3= Manic Street Preachers, Ash (13); 5= Radiohead, Supergrass (12); 7. Charlatans (11); 8= Bluetones, Chemical Brothers (10); 10= Ooberman, Travis, Gomez (9)

[dandyhighwayman]

I've never heard your #1!!!

[dandyhighwayman]

These are the ones that have made my end of year 100 - I'm afraid it's not quite as eclectic as yours!

4. Delays - Nearer Than Heaven
9. Morrissey - Irish Blood English Heart
10. Strokes - Reptilia
14. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
20. Snow Patrol - Spitting Games
24. Interpol - Slow Hands
37. Auf Der Maur - Followed The Waves
42. Snow Patrol - Chocolate
45. Snow Patrol - Run
58. The Prodigy - Girls
66. Modest Mouse - Float On
82. Franz Ferdinand - Matinee
86. Morrissey - Irish Blood English Heart
90. Keane - Somewhere Only We Know
98. Divine Comedy - Come Home Billy Bird
100. Killers - All These Things That I've Done


I really like your charts, just wish I knew more from them

[TheThorne]

misterhamster said:

90-81:

90. Keane - Somewhere Only We Know

Its gonna be somewhere in my top 5 of the year

89. HAL - Worry About The Wind

dont kno wthis

88. Walkmen - The Rat

great song just doesnt quite make my top 200


87. Bloc Party - Helicopter
Broke through purely on hype but then produced some great tracks to justify it, this being one of them.

totally agree


86. Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die

made almost the position position in my list

85. TV On The Radio - New Health Rock


great song but not top 200 material 4 me

84. Slipknot - Duality

you are right this is good


83. Embrace - Gravity
Embrace returned with a song given to them by Chris Martin. It helped them back towards the early peaks they'd struggled to reach since their commercial suicide second album (which I rather liked. Anyone remember 'Yeah You'?).


nope but I loved the 1st album and the new one.

82. Franz Ferdinand - Matinee


Other way round 4 me, I didnt like it at 1st then it grew on me


81. Charlatans - Try Again Today

yeh I think this could be their last album

[TheThorne]

80. Adem - Ringing In My Ear

79. Golden Virgins - Renaissance Kid


dont know these

78. Kasabian - Club Foot
One of the breakthrough acts of the year. I like their songs without ever really loving them.

yep agree


77. Minus - Angel In Disguise


dont know this

76. Phoenix - Run Run Run
Something of a rarity - a French act that isn't Air. Many have said this is what Air would sound like if they decided to abandon the electronic stuff and go down a more "indie" route.


again agree

75. The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across The Land

aint heard

74. Biffy Clyro - My Recovery Injection
They usually release about 6 singles per year and usually 1 of them will be good. This year, it was this one.

I usually like all of them


73. Joy Zipper - Out Of The Sun

nuthin special


72. Razorlight - Golden Touch
Another band where I don't quite understand why they've been so successful. I certainly wouldn't have expected them to get a top 10 hit this time last year.


its good tho

71. Dears - We Can Have It
1 of 8 vinyl-only singles in this year's chart. A very talented Canadian band who deserve to make it big. Reminiscent of the Smiths.

The album is brilliant

[TheThorne]

misterhamster said:

70-61:

70. Graham Coxon - Spectacular

great stuff


69. Madrugada - Majesty

I love this the only song in my top 200 that I dont own


68. Grandaddy - Nature Anthem
Another vinyl-only one. Amazingly this is third Grandaddy song in a row to be #68 in the chart.


didnt excite me

67. Gomez - Sweet Virginia
Why does no-one seem to like Gomez anymore? They still as good as they were when they arrived on the scene in 1998.


coz they aint as good?

66. Modest Mouse - Float On
This lot have been around for ages, apparently, but this was the first time they'd done something interesting.

absolutely love this its in my top 5


65. Bloc Party - Little Thoughts
A second appearance for Bloc Party, whose lead singer I have affectionately named "Ugo Ehiogu".

hurrah

64. The Glitterati - Here Comes A Close Up


bought this but didnt play it much

63. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Y Control

lik ethis

62. Hope Of The States - Nehemiah
A great debut album from this band who had to try and overcome the suicide of their guitarist. Hope Of The States have the potential to be massive.

hope so hehe they have a song in my top 5 as well


61. Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
Was #30 in last year's chart. Re-released and slightly re-mixed this year, hence the lower chart position.

yep thats wot i did 2

[TheThorne]

60. Peaches & Iggy Pop - Kick It


didnt like this

59. Dears - Lost In The Plot
Second entry for the Dears. Another band to look out for in 2005.

brilliant


58. The Prodigy - Girls
First single from their long-awaited 4th album and a return to a more electronic sound.

as is this


57. Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give A F*ck (Live)
23-minute live version of a classic.

totally

56. Zutons - You Will You Won't
Chart debut for the mad Scousers. A good band but this was the only song to make the chart.


they had other hits in my chart but this was bu far the biggest.

55. Air - Surfing On A Rocket

its alright

54. Shins - So Says I
The video has penguins which should mean automatic qualification anyway, but it's a good song with a retro feel about it. It's a good retro feel, though.

just getting into them now, bit late


53. Graham Coxon - Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery
Mr. Coxon is back with Coffee & TV Part 2.

hehe


52. Joy Zipper - Baby You Should Know

better than the other 1 but still not great

51. Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You

its ok

[Panda]

Thanks for the replies so far, gentlemen. Are you going to do the top 50, Thorney?