The Best Albums of 2004

This page last updated on December 14, 2004.

The Top Albums of 2004

1) Brian Wilson - Smile

2) David Byrne - Grown Backwards

3) R.E.M. - Around the Sun

4) Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue

5) Sam Phillips - A Boot and a Shoe

6) Morrissey - You Are the Quarry

7) U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

8) Elvis Costello - The Delivery Man

9) John Cale - Hobosapiens

10) Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts...Now

Significant Box Sets, Reissues, Live Albums, and other Specialty Packages

1) Grateful Dead - The Grateful Dead Movie

2) Grateful Dead - Rockin' the Rhein

3) Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks, Volume 31

4) Bob Dylan - Concert at Philharmonic Hall

5) Jerry Garcia Band - After Midnight, Kean College, 2/28/80

6) Miles Davis - Seven Steps: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis, 1963–1964

7) Ray Charles - Ô-Genio: Live in Brazil, 1963

8) Grateful Dead - Beyond Description [1973-1989]

9) Thelonious Monk - Monk 'Round the World

10) The Beatles - The Capitol Albums, Volume 1

The Best of the Rest

These releases may not be the cream of the crop for 2004, but each
is remarkable in its own right — be they intriguing debuts,
welcome returns, fond farewells, brilliant tributes, stunning leaps
forward, or just good efforts from consistently creative artists.

Alison Krauss + Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways

Badly Drawn Boy - One Plus One Is One

Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys - Live at Mechanics Hall

Jeff Buckley - Grace: Legacy Edition

The Clash - London Calling: 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition

Donovan - Beat Café

Duke Ellington - Masterpieces by Ellington/Ellington Uptown/Festival Session/Blues in Orbit/Piano in the Background/Piano in the Foreground

Jay Farrar - Stone, Steel, & Bright Lights

John Fogerty - Deja Vu All Over Again

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Walking with Giants

Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions

Jerry Garcia & the Merl Saunders Band - Pure Jerry: Keystone Berkeley, 9/1/04*

Eliza Gilkyson - Land of Milk and Honey

Gomez - Split the Difference

George Harrison - The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992

The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me

Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith - Yo Miles! Sky Garden

Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La

Jim Lauderdale - Headed for the Hills

The Legends - Up Against The Legends

Los Lobos - The Ride

Branford Marsalis - Coltrane's A Love Supreme - Live in Amsterdam

Nellie McKay - Get Away from Me

John Mellencamp - Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits

Joni Mitchell - Dreamland

Ollabelle - Ollabelle

Po' Girl - Vagabond Lullabies

The Polyphonic Spree - Together We're Heavy

Justin Roberts - Way Out

Santana - Santana: Legacy Edition

Tommy Stinson - Village Gorilla Head

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - Oh, My Girl

Various Artists - Live Aid

Tom Waits - Real Gone

Bob Weir - Weir Here: The Best of Bob Weir

Kenny White - Symphony in 16 Bars

*Note: This item would have ranked in our Top 10
listing of Significant Box Sets, Reissues, Live Albums,
and other Specialty Packages. However, it was released
in late December, after our list was compiled.

Copyright © 2004 The Music Box