As usual, there was plenty of music to choose from in 2004. With the help of having a record label, being a DJ, and having a wonderful set of friends and acquiaintences, I heard and was introduced to a load of music that has been meaningful to me–beautiful, and sometimes deep.

The following is my music/shout out list–I’ll try as much as possible to recall who or what introduced me to the wonderful piece of music. Some of this may be a song, some of it may be an entire album (which worked very well as a single song — not many of these now days in these single-driven times). Some may not have even been originally published in 2004–some earlier, some unreleased. Each of them were Heavily Rotated in 2004. None are in order. The following is a list of 7 musics (cut from 10) that one would perhaps be better off hearing. ;-)

• 
  Zero 7 - Simple Things (from the album Simple Things). I first heard this song flipping through *Sirius Radio*, and upon finding the “Chill” station. It was on some lovliness–added to my favorites. When i finally heard the entire track, i knew why i’d fallen in love at first listen. This is the quintessential chill out vocal mix. I don’t even really know what is being sung about, but he had me at “e-v’ryyy dayyyy…” man this came out ages ago…i’m slow.
• Dert - Fledgling - I knew when Dert annouced he’d be doing an instrumental joint, that it would be on. Fledgling doesn’t disappoint. He calls it a “beat tape” on the cover–of course it’s better than that. When i did the mixtapes for Uprok, I was able to get hit with a gang of instrumentals of the albums he’s produced–those alone were my fix until this bomb dropped. I’m jealous of guys who can work on something practically “in the basement” and have their albums come out sounding so lovely as this. If you and I are in agreement about “Simple Things”, you will have superlatives for Fledgling. Just check the other CD Baby reviews! the fact that so many had taken the time to even say something about the album lets you know what’s up.
• Muse–Absolution. I’ve not listened to much radiohead (was i supposed to?) — so miss me with the comparisons. Around the same time, both my boys *jae choi* and *jackson* introduced me to this band… *Jackson* introduced me by telling me to be very quiet in the vehicle while he put in a CD containing the song “Ruled by Secrecy”. I must have played it off like I wasn’t feeling it, ‘cos he kept looking at me and making excuses as to why he liked it–in my mind i was wetting my pants–it’d been a long time since i’d heard rock music that i *really* enjoyed. Melodic electronically rockalicious. The vocalist has one of the lovliest male voices i’ve heard on rock tracks (Doug Pinnick of course is my #1). This album restored my interest in such music, and while it’s not on my list, allowed me to warm up to *Jae* introducing me to Aveo’s Battery.
• DJ DB- The Secret Art of Science. This album has been in heavy rotation by myself for the past 2 or 3 *years*. I bought this completely due to boredom one night when i worked out in Kansas City. I had no idea that I would purchase the best Drum and Bass mix CD that existed. I’m a moderate fan of the “hard stuff”; however my favorites are Roni Size’s first double CD, and the Progression Sessions series. I’m always a fan of anything melodic with heavy breakbeats–and DJ DB hits us up with plenty of that on this one. I can’t imagine any Hip Hop True Schooler not having this album in their all time top 100.
• "PUTS: The Bomb Combo" - from
  Om 100: Celebration of 100th Release Om Records. I found this after (re)joining emusic, and doing some searching on two of my favorite beatmakers of all times Thes One and Double K, aka the People Under The Stairs. Om records apparently included an “exclusive” by the duo on this compilation. It brings tears to my eyes that in the year 2004, there are hip hop groups that still appreciate and purvey the lost art of completely sampled hip hop. The drums snap like no other on this track, and the lyrics speak volumes on my thoughts on much of the rap music that gets played on air (although admittedly–people seem to be doing it much better, and Kanye is helping the mainstream warm up to sampled music in the 2000s.
• The Remnant - Anthem of a Life. I remember when i was over my boy *Josh*’s crib/the Sphere Store. I remember seeing this album from Atlanta’s The Remnant, and remembering all the praise it had been getting from several hip hoppers, and also hearing the track “Nervs” (finally) on the sphere mp3 site, but shying away, mainly because of the dark, somewhat confusing looking album cover. Let me digress. Music artists take note::the cover *does* matter when selling your product. Point 2: it *is* product.
  Okay. I already had known the psychadelic neck breaker “Nervs” was fresh–it sounded even more fresh in the ride–the entire rest of the album (about 45 minutes–definitely having me fiending for more) is a listener from start to finish. It’s rare these days to have an album that you can listen to from back to front–this one is it. It sounded as if the music of Organized Noize in their heyday had been resurrected and given some oomph. Score another one for independent hip hop. Lesson learned–don’t judge a book by the cover, or a group by their name (of which their music is far more original than–I really wish they’d consider changing their name to avoid confusion)
• Flynn–In Like Flynn. I really can’t say much more than what I’ve already said about this, and what John Book said (although I’ve had this in my list even before seeing the Book list) — and i’ve even found out recently that my least favorite song on the album (”Push it Away”) is loved by quite a few others, so hey it’s a home run. I still remember when *Flynn* hit me up with the original disk of 26 tracks of potentials–there were a few i would have liked to be on this album, but we’ll catch up later, hopefully. :)

Coming Soon: Pigeon John…Sings the Blues!” I decided not to add to the list since its not released–that wouldn’t be fair to you guys. However, this album is a great piece of hip hop history. Pigeon John never ceases to surprise–pleasantly as well as with a “he said what?” He’s always coming from within, however. Beatwise–i find it more enjoyable than the other two albums he has done, and lyrically he continues past the path of “I’m a goofball” to some real stuff that many other believers want to say but are too scurred of peers to express the fact that they encounter the same life situations as the others on the planet. I believe this one will be the last release before his future Quannum releases (congratulations, my man).

update 2:35p.m. I realize, after reviewing my review, i had omitted an important album that burned out my ipod: *9th Wonder - “Black is Back”* (Remix of Jay-Z’s “The Black Album”. This is the album that made me pay attention to anything that Jay-Z said (can you say “99 problems” and “December 4th”?). It made me realize that Jay-Z has some legitimate things to say, and delivers it very well. 9th Wonder flips Jay-Z tracks the way they should have. When i hear the original “Black Album” I kind of understand why many of the tracks were picked (commercial/widespread appeal), however, Black is Back is soulful, cohesive, and authentic.

Here’s to another 365 of good listening.

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