MONICA TAN

Archive for December, 2004

Best releases of 2004

In blog on December 15, 2004 at 12:32 am

I thought I’d write up a list of 2004 releases I managed to get my hands on and highlight my favourites. It’s kind of scary how long the list is, especially considering there’s also a bunch of 2003 releases which I didn’t acquire until 2004 that won’t be found here (eg. The Postal Service’s “Give Up” – damn I love that album, and Kashmir’s “Zitilites”…so good).

Yeah OK, so not all of the CDs on this list were actually bought per se, coming into my possession through *alternative* means. Nevertheless I spent my fair share in the music stores. And what with my wishlist (bottom left of the screen) the year’s not over yet.

It’s a bit scary revealing this list. Kind of like showing your diary. Musical taste is so revelatory of what you’re like as a person. While I like to imagine I’m open to many genres and dabble in a bit of everything, maybe you disagree. Would love to read your list (feel free to post in comments)…

A Touch of Class Sucks, Air – Talkie Walkie, Alter Ego – Transphormer, Beastie Boys – To the 5 Boroughs, Beta Band – Heroes to Zeroes, Black Grass – Black Grass, Bloc Party – Bloc Party EP, Black Wire – Attack, Attack, Attack (EP), Blockhead – Music By Cavelight, Blonde Redhead – Misery is a Butterfly, Cocorosie – La Maison De Mon Reve, Colder – Again, Cut Copy – Bright Like Neon Love, Danger Mouse – The Grey Album, Dappled Cities Fly – A Smile, Detroit Grand Pubahs – Galactic Ass Creatures From Uranus, Dogs Die In Hot Cars – I Love You Cause I Have To, Doppler Shift – Clan Analogue, Eagles of Death Metal – Peace, Love and Death Metal, Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand, Freestylers – Raw as Fuck, Gomez – Split the Difference, Holy Soul – Love Has Left the City Limits (EP), Keane – Hopes and Fears, Magnet – On Your Side, Miss Kittin – I Com, Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News, Moodymann – Black Mahogani, Mylo – Destroy Rock and Roll, N.E.R.D – Fly or Die, Nubreed – The Original, Phoenix – Alphabetical, Prodigy – Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, Radioactive Man – Radioactive Man, Red Riders – Red Riders (EP), Rocket Science – Eternal Holiday, Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters, Spiderbait – Tonight Alright, The Bees – Free the Bees, The Bumblebeez – Red Printz EP, The Crystal Method – Legion of Boom, The Killers – Hot Fuss, The New Year – The End is Near, The Stands – All Years Leaving, The Strokes – Room On Fire, The Thrills – Let’s Bottle Bohemia, The Zutons – Who Killed The Zutons, Trans Am – Liberation, Von Bondies – Pawn Shoppe Heart, Wilco – A Ghost Is Born, Wolfmother – Wolfmother (EP), Young Heart Attack – Mouthful of Love, Zero 7 – When It Falls.

It was really hard to bold the ones that I did – because I basically loved all of those albums/eps in that list. But I will say… I don’t want to hear Float On by Modest Mouse anymore, unless it’s a cover (eg. that Ben Lee one). Ditto for any Scissor Sisters songs. And I don’t want to hear Drop the Motherfucking Pressure unless it’s a remix (a good remix, a remix I haven’t heard a million times.) And absolutely no Franz Ferdinand. Talk about a great CD ruined with overplay. I need to not hear it for like two years, and then when I hear it I can fall in love all over again.

Other people’s lists:
Top 100 Editors’ Picks at Amazon
Triple J’s Best Albums of the Year
NME Recordings of 2004
Q Magazines Top 50 of 2004
Boudist’s best of
Levins’ top 50

Social calender: holy crap it’s December!

In blog on December 2, 2004 at 12:40 am

December

2nd Thursday // Mel’s 21st
3rd Friday // Jonathan’s 21st
3rd Friday // Captain Comatose (Live) and Damien Lazarus @ Moulin Rouge
4th Saturday // We Love…Sydney
4th Saturday // Kenny Larkin @ Bohem
5th Sunday // FBi Xmas Party @ Spectrum Free 5pm
5th Sunday // Wolfmother @ Club Mojo, Hotel Bondi (Homebake Rock Rec. party) w/- die! die! die! (nz)
7th Tuesday // UTS Design Graduates 2004 Exhibition 7.30pm
8th Wednesday // UTS Media Arts Project Screenings 6pm
8th Wednesday // Z-trip + Lifesavas @ Metro Doors open 8pm
9th Thursday // Malente @ Funkstrust $15
9th Thursday – 12th Sunday // Resfest @ Dendy Opera Quays + The Studio (My favourite “film” festival of the year!)
11th Saturday // Kylie’s 21st
12th Sunday // Evermore @ Hotel Bondi
14th + 15th Tuesday + Wednesday // Young Heart Attack @ Spectrum $24
16th Thursday // The Unicorns @ Spectrum $28
16th Thursday // Beef feat. Dave Slade, #51, N-Zed… @ Kinselas Middle Bar 9pm
16th Thursday // Strut feat. Illya, John Glover, Ben Morris, John Devecchis, Glen Coates, Sam Serene, + guests @ Soho 9pm Free (241 cocktails before 11pm, $5 house spirits after.)
17th Friday // Kel’s Housewarming party.
18th Saturday // Recordstore and Susie Q’s First Birthday @ Susie Qs 8pm
19th Sunday // Switchblade Sister Party feat. Wolfmother, Red Riders, Spod, The Cops, The Pictures, The Casinos, The Tranquilzers, Sway, Midnight Juggernauts, Snap! Crakk!!, Black Panda and the Phillips Sisters @ The Metro
19th Sunday // Vibewire Christmas party
19th Sunday // Dimanche @ Moulin Rouge feat. DJ’s: Phil Smart (Opening Night), Rackus, Jesse, RifRaf, Panayotis, Marcotix. DJ’s on Rotation: Trent Anthony, Ben Morris, Christian, Jo Dee & Trent Cooper.
22nd Wednesday // ‘Shop This’ Xmas @ Tabootique
26th Sunday // A Late Night Shuffle @ The Gaelic Club