Another lost gem from 2004, though Annie ended up on a lot of lists last year and will likely end up on a couple more this year; Anniemal was an import-only release until halfway through 2005. Most everything there is to say about this album, consequently, has already been said: the Norwegian Kylie who’s managed to beat the pop diva at her own game (witness the popularity of Anniemal versus Kylie’s own Body Language). She’s another beneficiary of the internet hype machine, garnering attention from mp3blogs everywhere and Pitchfork, to name just one major outlet. Most important, though, is the music: when she’s at her best, like on “Heartbeat,” Annie is pitch-perfect on every level. “Heartbeat” is an effortlessly seductive europop concoction, one the rest of the world hasn’t seen since—well, since “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” at least. There are no annoying multi-octave vocal histronics here, no glitzy beats-heavy production team, no special guests or lavish instrumental arrangements. Anniemal is everything that’s great about pop and dance music, without gimmickery or needless ornamentation. It’s pop, pure and simple. No wonder everyone loved it.