Spin South's Year in Music

Instead of a "top ten albums of the year" post, I've put together a list of albums that I listened to alot in 2004. The only rule is that they had to relatively new to me last year. drumroll:

Greetings from the Great State of Michigan -Sufjan Stevens-
The soundtrack to the first few months of 2004. Out of town horns, strummed banjos, and amazingly simply songs. Listen to the banjo playing boy scout here.

United -Phoenix-
In 1984, I got a stereo for Christmas. I also got headphones and a stack of blank cassettes. I used to stay up late recording top 40 radio and make mix tapes of my favorite hits. This record is like one of those tapes.

Chutes Too Narrow -The Shins-
A bit behind the curve here, but glad I got to the party anyway. Almost left off the list because of some bad scene Isaac told me about in Garden State, but that's not their fault. I like the Cure, too.

Starry Gazey Pie -The Bees-
Acoustic 12 string guitar, upright bass, drums, Juno 60. Add a really great songwriter and former Red Chuck bookselling cohort and you've got the beautiful debut album from the Bees. A bunch of mp3s here.

Blessed -The Gleaners-
Easily the best record to come out of Barry Poynter's studio since Massacre. Three free mp3s and a video here.

A Boot and a Shoe -Sam Phillips-
A break-up record. One time I joked to a friend that Indy and I were going as Sam and T-Bone for Halloween. He replied "You do that everyday." The joke's not so funny anymore. So much for the Boondogs 45 with a Sam cover on one side and T-Bone on the flip side.

Future Perfect -Autolux-
It looks like they'll be in Dallas with the Secret Machines in February. Who's going with me?

So Jealous-Tegan And Sara-
Just under the wire. Got this one the last week of December and haven't stopped listening. No less than three people of asked "They're lesbians together?" when I give the annoying background story on the band. Low res. mp3s and things here.

One more thing: I think it's worth noting what's not on the list: new records from Los Lobos, Elvis Costello, The Finn Brothers. What gives?