yes, the Jet record is fantastic! what a solid album, glad I put off buying it since the recent UK rerelease included a bonus DVD with:

Disc: 2
1. Last Chance (Live at the Astoria)
2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (Live at the Astoria)
3. Cold Hard Bitch (Live at the Astoria)
4. Get Me Otta Here (Live at the Astoria)
5. That’s Alright Mama (Live at the Astoria)

So far:

Twenty-Something (Jamie Cullum)
Spine (They Might Be Giants)
I (Magnetic Fields)
Grown Backwards (David Byrne)

Wow, it's tough to come up with 10 from 2004 without my collection in front of me. Here they are though, in no particular order:

Jump, Little Children – Between the Dim and the Dark
Keane – Hopes and Fears
Muse – Absolution
The Walkmen – Bows & Arrows
Elbow – Cast of Thousands
The Frames – Set List
Sondre Lerche – Two Way Monologue
The Veils – The Runaway Found
Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
Magnetic Fields - I

Ash - Meltdown
A.C. Newman (of New Pornographers) - The Slow Wonder
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
The Walkmen - Bows & Arrows
Keane - Hopes and Fears
Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic
Air - Talkie Walkie

Moodymann - Black Mahogani
The Rotating Assembly - Natural Aspirations
James Cotton - The Dancing Box
Junior Boys - Last Exit
DKD - Future Rage
Pantha Du Prince - Diamond Daze
Wiley - Treddin' on Thin Ice
Superpitcher - Here Comes Love
Robag Wruhme - Wuzzelbud 'KK'
Kerrier District - Kerrier District

Lots of good stuff I found out about this year. In no order.

Donavon Frankenreiter - ST
The Beautiful Girls - Learn Yourself
Mason Jennings - Use Your Voice
Modest Mouse - Good News...

I'm sure I'll think of more but those 4 all would probably make my top 10.

The Beautiful Girls - Learn Yourself
Mason Jennings - Use Your Voice
Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue
The Damnwells - Bastards of the Beat
The Honeydogs - 10,000 Years
Matt Sharp - Matt Sharp
Ryan Adams - Love is Hell

WTF??? Someone else has heard of them?

Since he listed Mason Jennings right below, I'm guessing that's where the connection is. That's the only reason I've heard of them - b/c Mason has vocals on one of their songs.

I know, I only know of them because they opened for Mason but both of their CDs are awesome & no one I've ever talked to has heard of them. Not too many people know about Mason though & his stuff is some of the best ever.

1. avoid one thing - chopstick bridge
2. incubus - a crow left of the murder
3. the (international) noise conspiracy - armed love
4. beastie boys - to the 5 boroughs
5. sultans - shipwrecked
6. blood for blood - serenity
7. probot - s/t
8. refused - EP compilation cd
9. reverend horton heat - revival
10. dave matthews band - the gorge (6 disc box set)

by the end of the year i anticipate adding Social Distortion, NIN, Tool (?), Green Day, Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards, Street Dogs, Ducky Boys, Ramallah (?), Sinners & Saints (?), and hopefully a few surprises. should be a good second half.

Just a minor update to my original list due to a recent purchase of mine:
1. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
2. Allison Moorer - The Duel
3. The Magnetic Fields - i
4. Auf der Maur - Auf der Maur
5. Patti Smith - Trampin'
6. Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me
7. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
8. They Might Be Giants - Indestructable Object (EP)
9. Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin
10. Tortoise- It is All Around You

hey thanks for all the input here guys.. went on a little CD shopping spree yesterday and bought:

- TV on the Radio
- The Concretes
- Modest Mouse
- Banco de Gaia
- Electrelane

(non 2004 albums):
- The Rapture
- Hidden Camera

ordered:
- Echobelly

Amazon.co.uk order:
- Razorlight
- The Open

really want the new BEES album, but am assuming a US release is imminent.

I just bought the New Year's The End is Near (ex-Bedhead frontmen, Matt & Bubba Kadane) and it's really good! My top 10 list is all messed up. Really, I don't think that I could fill out a full list. The only albums that I love right now = Animal Collective, Kno, and Devendra Banhart.

I don't really have a top ten, but..

Pink-Try This
Franz Ferdinand
Blink 182

Well I have only bought 2 albums this year so here goes...

1. Ayreon - The Human Equation
2. Tesla - Into the Now

and others I bought this year, but came out last year (gotta beef up that list)

3. Frameshift - Unweaving the Rainbow
4. Opeth - Damnation
5. O.S.I. - Office of Strategic Influence

top 10 and comments
 

1. Tilly and the Wall - Wild Like Children
2. Pink Grease - This is for Real
3. Marked Men - On the Outside
4. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
5. Julia Vorontsova - From St. Petersburg with Love
6. Thermals - ****in' A
7. The Shakes - Delguto Del Pop
8. The Homosexuals - Astral Glamor
9. Kill Me Tommorrow - Garbageman and the Prostitute
10. The Girls - The Girls

I think the Magnetic Fields album is a bloody joke and is probably one of the worst albums of the year. Also, that Tortoise album is pretty medicore and don't get me started about that Deerhoof record, it is C+ at max. I do enjoy the new Bad Religion record probably the most enjoyable in quite a while. I like that Sultans record probably will be in my top 50 but thought that Rev. Horton Heat album was better than their last but still not that good. I like Joanna Newsom but I usually get in the same mood with that Julia Vorontsova album but I prefer that one over it. I think that Franz album is overhyped but it still is rather satisfying.

Surprised nobody mentioned:

Stereolab - Margerine Eclipse

One of their best (If not the best)

Beastie Boys
The Streets
Rush
Junior Boys
Modest Mouse
Wilco
M83 (not really an 04 record)

That's all I've purchased and it's all good.

yeah yeah, Usher -Confessions

fallow, you nailed the sound of this recording. I also received a promo copy of this and find it a good listen.

Yes, I first heard about The Beautiful Girls when they opened up for Mason in Minneapolis. I was very impressed and bought both their CDs at the show and then ordered both their EPs. Great Stuff. In addition, Mason Jennings' music is AMAZING!!!

I'm not sure about a top 10 but Kanye West is by far my favorite album this year