Best albums of 2004

It's a concept album about witches & sounds like nothing else I've ever heard. It's one of my favorite fall/winter albums, perfect for Halloween and late nights, and it solidified Liars spot as my favorite current band.
Favorite song: "Flow My Tears the Spider Said" (or whichever song I'm listening to)

Favorite song: "Crimes" (or whichever song I'm listening to)

Favorite lyrics: "Teen Heat"
I wanna tell you about the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse.
C'mon and watch him spread his legs and birth another diva yeah.
Prommageddon pit, smash hit. Prommageddon, chart topper.
Your song is gold like the color of piss [x2]

The Fifth Horseman stuffs the radio (oh oh oh..oh oh)
with singles until it's sick to it's stomach. (oh oh oh..oh oh)
He scouts the dumpsters for a cobweb guitar
to polish into a superstar,
finds the gurgle of a skeleton without love,
and turns it into a commercial.

Prommageddon pit, smash hit. Prommageddon, chart topper.
Your song is gold like the color of piss [x2]
He shaves his sideburns into dollar signs,
he mingles with the band, his mustache made of vines.

A hot tub stuffed with gorgeous ass? (We want it!)
Bronzed lips? Mouth full of cash? (We need it!)
A sizzling tan? Life of the party? (We want it!)
A full-length mirror for every inch of your body? (We need it!)

And when he steals your teen heat
it sounds a lot like...

So store your songs here in the Prommageddon pit
because the kids are spoiled rich
and they don't know shit from shit.

Favorite song: "Leaf" (or whichever song I'm listening to)

Favorite song: "Secret Message"

Their first album with then-new lead singer Greg Puciato finally helped me find my way into The Dillinger Escape Plan's music. Because he has more vocal range than original vocalist Dmitri (who just screamed through every song), that allowed Dillinger to expand their range of sounds and influences to create a far more interesting album than their debut. And everything they've released from then to now has been very rewarding.
Favorite song: "Phone Home"

Favorite song: "War All the Time" ("This Song Brought to You By a Falling Bomb" ranks 2nd)

If you bought & loved their debut, this one's just as great.
Favorite song: "Shreds of Boa"

My introduction to mclusky after seeing them perform live in support of it. Shortly after, they broke up & went on to form 2 other bands (Future of the Left and Shooting at Unarmed Men). Were Future of the Left not carrying on their sound & spirit I'd really miss mclusky.
Favorite song: "forget about him i'm mint"

Favorite song: "Surrender (A Second to Think)"

Favorite song: "Dying with Decent Music"

One of the most under-appreciated albums of the 00s.
Favorite song: "Act Right"

Favorite song: "Ghost of Corporate Future"

Favorite song: "The Creature" ("The Cockroach" ranks a close 2nd)

As you may be aware, almost all of the music on this album is done with human voices, which makes for a unique listening experience. Apparently most people dislike Medúlla, but I love it for its originality (not to mention the fact that Mike Patton and Rahzel are present on a few tracks)
Favorite song: "Where Is the Line"

Favorite song: "Aqua Dementia"

Favorite song: "You, Me and a Knife"

(Not the best sound quality, but I went with this one because I was at this show. In fact, they asked the audience for requests & I'm the one who requested this song.)

APC's covers album provided the perfect soundtrack to the year Bush won re-election, and was the first to feature vocals from guitarist/songwriter Billy Howerdel. Their version of "When the Levee Breaks" is the sole weak spot (IMO), but they made every song on here their own rather than simply recording faithful versions (which requires no real talent).
Favorite song: "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?"