THANKS ’04 THE SONGS
The year in music may have begun with that now infamous “wardrobe malfunc tion,” but 2004 also brought countless more moments we’d rather remember ó from concerts planned (Devo) and impromptu (U2) to welcome comebacks (Morrissey, Prince) and the long-awaited re-emergence of the master himself, Dylan.
* Devo and Suicide: When pop-punk band Devo reunited at Central Park SummerStage in its full glory of flowerpot hats/energy domes and yellow jumpsuits, the rains miraculously held out until after the evening’s last note.
Ripping up guitars, the musicians of Devo ably displayed their relevance and their influence in today’s rock world.
Flashback night continued with original synth-pop duo Suicide at the Knitting Factory.
* U2: All Manhattan was abuzz as the Irish rockers lit up Seventh Avenue on a flatbed truck, performing songs from their new album all the way to DUMBO, where they gave fans a free show ó beneath the Brooklyn Bridge.
* Morrissey at the Apollo: The middle-aged Brit pop diva poured out his latest tunes as well as the old crowd-pleasers.
And the so-called mope rocker was happy! Thus were we.
* “The Grey Album”: Deejay/producer Danger Mouse mixed Jay-Z’s “Black Album” with The Beatles’ “White Album” to create an Internet phenomenon and let the world know just exactly what a “mash up” is.
* Dig! and Brian Jonestown Massacre:
Rock-umentary “Dig!” followed the rivalry between Brian Jonestown Massacre’s fierce frontman, Anton Newcombe, and the Dandy Warhols’ Courtney Taylor-Taylor.
With newly generated interest in the band, BJM performed several hypnotic New York shows to re-emphasize its brilliant psych-garage ’60s rock and de-emphasize the violent, unstable images of the film.
* Guided by Voices at Irving Plaza:
The last GBV New York show ever was a mosh pit full of warm-hearted, 30-something indie rockers and the jovial, smashed Robert Pollard bashing Brian Wilson and singing his heart out.
* Prince comeback: Through his online fan club, his purple magistrate offered tix to a late-night show after his Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction as well as an intimate concert to celebrate the release of “Musicology.”
Live, the funk-pop master delivered, wowing crowds at six sold-out New York area shows.
* Jay-Z’s “99 Problems”:
Mark Romanek (who shot Johnny Cash’s poignant “Hurt” video) did the “99 Problems” video in gritty black and white for a reality tour of Brooklyn, Jigga’s hometown.
City living catches up with Jay-Z at the end, when he gets shot ó a chilling nod to his alleged retirement.
* Scotland, “the new Sweden”: The success of Franz Ferdinand refocused the spotlight on bands from Glasgow. Such Scottish bands as Dogs Die in Hot Cars, the Delgados and Snow Patrol, have been breaking out. It’s not all about Belle & Sebastian anymore.
* Bob Dylan: After years of the silent treatment, Dylan won’t shut up ó and we don’t want him to.
The legendary songwriter, who dismisses the label the “voice of a generation,” penned “Chronicles,” the first installment of his autobiography, and appeared on “60 Minutes.”
Despite Ed Bradley’s lame questions, Dylan managed to come up with zany and fascinating answers.
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