2004 in British Music

The Story of 2004

The indie landfill era began, but at the top, it was magnificent. Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut was the year's defining album – 'Take Me Out' with its stop-start riff was the sound of indie-rock becoming danceable again. The band won the Mercury Prize and sold millions. Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut was glam-disco perfection, 'Comfortably Numb' and 'Take Your Mama' making them the year's most surprising success. Keane's 'Hopes and Fears' was piano-driven indie for the Radio 2 crowd, 'Somewhere Only We Know' a massive hit. The Libertines' second album was being recorded amid chaos, Pete Doherty's drug addiction worsening. Razorlight were emerging, the Kooks were forming, and the British indie scene was becoming the dominant force in guitar music. The Killers' 'Hot Fuss' was huge, though they were American. Grime was growing – Skepta, Wiley and Kano were building the scene. Dizzee Rascal's 'Showtime' was solid. Arctic Monkeys formed in Sheffield, playing their first shows and using the internet to build a following in a way that would change everything. 2004 was indie's imperial year, but the seeds of a new revolution were being sown online.