Top Five of 2005
Greetings music fans. Once again in honor of one of my favorite movies it's time for the 2005 Top Five Albums of the Year. What movie you say? Why High Fidelity of course with John Cusack and Jack Black. Perhaps you have seen it? If not, rent it today.
Anyway, what a great year for the tunes. Real-rock continued to prevail and goatee-metal-date-rape rap has seemed to disappear for good. (In other words, Fred Durts must be crying in agreeance).
On a personal note, I was able to see some fantastic concerts at a few local venues. My Morning Jacket was the stand out show at the Showbox and Wilco was amazing at the Paramount. Also, Pearl Jam dragged us all out to the Gorge and rocked like it was 1993 again. I can only wish I could see all the weeknight shows that come through town, but alas, I am a tired teacher M-F and 11:00 PM starting times just don't work for me.
So I guess it's time for the Top Five. Perhaps you need a little assistance compiling your list? KEXP has a nice drop down list that alphabetically lists this year albums. Browsing through that list and/or looking at your ITunes list organized by the year released might help as well.
My Top Five
1. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-Howl
Out of all the CD's I bought this year, this is the one I listened to the most. I would have never thought BRMC would succeed at doing a bluesy acoustic album filled with slide guitar and harmonica, but it works on every song. I'm listening to Aint No Easy Way as I am typing this and it must be the 50th time I have heard it and I am not even close to sick of it.
2. My Morning Jacket-Z
At first I was shocked to hear people compare this to OK Computer (my favorite non-Beatles album of all time), however after more and more listens I can see the comparison to hold water. The Layers of guitar and reverbed/echoed voice are very similiar.It Beats For You is the Paranoid Android of Z. This record will stay on my IPOD Shuffle for many more months.
3. Band of Bees (also called "Bees")-Free the Bees
I've already said this before, but it's kind of like Beta Band meets up with early the Kinks early Pink Floyd at a psychedelic jam session. The music sounds familiar and yet fresh at the same time.
4. The Go! Team-Thunder, Lighting, Strike
It's hard to explain this to anyone and have it make any sense, but here goes. Pretend your at a club watching a band that has Linus from the Peanuts on piano, a DJ programming beats and samples from 70's cop shows and cartoons, a drummer that specializes in snazzy jazz riffs, the Blues Brothers horn section, and a crew of school yard jump rope girls belting and chanting rhymes. Can you visualize that? Now imagine how it sounds. Still not working for you? All I can say is give it a shot, it's worth your $12.
5. The White Stripes-Get Behind Me Satan
This is their Led Zeppelin III. An album that showcases the piano and acoustic guitar much more so than anything electric. Still, while the album doesn't full on ROCK like their previous three, Jack White is still my hero for writing simple and fascinating songs. "If you think that a kiss is all in the lips, then you've got it all wrong man. And If you think that our dance was all in the hips, oh well, then do the twist."
Song of the Year:
LCD Soundsystem-Daft Punk is Playing at My House
Best NW Album:
Tea For Julie-Division
So what do you think? What is your Top Five?
Click on Comments, login as anonymous, type your Top Five and hit return.
P.S. I took HAD off my lists due to my obvious bias.
20 comments:
My Top 5:
1. Gimme Fiction > Spoon (Merge)
2. Pixel Revolt > John Vanderslice (Barsuk)
3. Hold a Match for a Gasoline World > Luke Temple (Mill Pond)
4. Illinois > Sufjan Stevens (Asthmatic Kitty)
5. Ultimatum EP > The Long Winters (Barsuk)
matt Garman
Spoon was my number 6. I Summon You was my second favorite song of the year.
Great pick guys.
1) Sufjan Stevens ? ?Illinois?
2) M. Ward ? ?Transistor Radio?
3) Bob Dylan ? ?No Direction Home ? the Soundtrack?
4) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah ? ?Clap Your Hands Say Yeah?
5) My Morning Jacket ? ?Z?
Honorable mention: White Stripes, Spoon, Cloud Cult, Mountain Goats? all put
out excellent albums in 05.
Chris W
1. The Bravery-The Bravery
2. Gwen Stefani-Love, Angel, Music, Baby
3. Kanye West-Late Registration
4. Gorillaz-Demon Days
5. Spoon-Gimme Fiction
Cari B
1. Clap your hands say yeah
2. Silversun Pickups - pikul
3. Laura Veirs - year of meteors
4. The White Stripes - get behind me satan
5. Th Ruby Doe - Always with wings
matt cory
Trent already posted this once for me, but I thought I'd add some comments.
1) Sufjan Stevens - Illinois. This is a really huge album. It's folky, but huge folky. Also, it's an album, not a collection of singles. It's not the B side of Abbey Road or anything, but it holds together.
2) M. Ward - Transistor Radio. I guess I like folk music. M. Ward's voice would sound good singing just about anything.
3) Bob Dylan - No Direction Home; the Soundtrack. More folk music. The best collection of pre-electric Dylan I've heard.
4) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Did you like The Arcade Fire / Funeral? You'll like this too.
5) My Morning Jacket - Z. This appeals to the Deadhead in me. Everyone seems to like a different aspect of this album. The common theme, though, is everyone likes it.
Honorable mention: White Stripes, Spoon, Cloud Cult, Mountain Goats... all put
out excellent albums in 05.
Megan J Top 5
1. Beck - Guero
2. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
3. Niel Young - Prarie Wind
4. Gorillaz - Demon Days
5. Kanye West - Late Registration
Brian's Top 5
1) Math and Physics Club -- Movie Ending Romance, EP
2) Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
3) Tom Brosseau -- What I Mean To Say Is Goodbye
4) Franz Ferdinand -- You Could Have It So Much Better
5) PAGE FRANCE -- Hello Dear Wind
Not the happiest of music, but damn if it is not soulful, melodic, fun (at times) entertainment.
To Brian:
I have the Math and Physics Club, Bright Eyes, and Franz discs. All great choices. I'll have to check out the others.
To everyone else: I obviously need to get the Sufjan Stevens disc. I sampled it a couple of months ago, but never purchased it. Now I will.
Death Cab and Ruby Doe were also in my top ten...
Rachizzle says...This is going to be long- Sorry!
1.) Madonna- Confessions on a Dance Floor
It makes me want to boogey like there's no tomorrow. I imagine myself doing wild turns and strutting my stuff. Sometimes "I attempt to do it when noone is looking! Bring on the disco!
2.) Band of Bees- Free The Bees
I love that 50/60s sound. I bought a Beetle Convertible in June and this disc hasn't left my car. It sounds amazing with the top down. My cars favorite song to play is the Chicken Payback. It's kind of like the One Eyed Purple People Eater but way cooler. I Love You is so sweet and I can listen to Hourglass over and over again. Actually this disc is in the running for first place.
3.) Spoon- Gimme Fiction
Love it! It is the best when you're home alone. Crank it up and rock out. I Turn My Camera on is the coolest song.
4.) My Morning Jacket- Z
The whole thing is great! The concert was awesome!
5.) Brazilian Girls and LCD Soundsystem are going to have to tie for 5th. Don't Stop is my favorite song of the year. I've been known to listen to it at least 5 times in a row. I love how "frenchy" the album is. The mellow tunes are great.
LCD rocks my world- Disco Infiltrator- fo shure!
I'd also like to give a shout out to HAD for Action Figures Fault- I can't stop singing it. it pops into my head all the time-She was a foxy rock star icon- love that part. The banjos good too!
Really enjoyed the Kaiser Chiefs and BRMC, Franz, Death Cab, bloc Party and Raveonettes.
Still listening to Kings of Leon from last year. They're my favorite band right now.
Thanks for reading!
Rachelle
hey Brian--Love depressing lyrics-- and also gruff,imperfect voices. Can relate to both a little too much.
An honorable mention to my fave band--Wilco. I missed them at the Paramount but they were mesmerizing at Sasquatch.
(And might I add a presumptuous tip for Jeff Tweedy--A hairbrush is a worthwhile investment.)
barbara.
(Changed my nomiker.)
FYI, Jeff Tweedy's playing solo at the Moore on February 2. I've seen him solo, and it's really quite impressive. Pre-sale tickets went on sale yesterday (I got mine) but they go on sale through the usual outlets tomorrow. It's general admission, anyway.
- Wine Man
Top Five (in an order known only to me):
A. Bruce Springsteen - Devils and Dust
2. The Go! Team - S/T
P. Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock and Roll
TT. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - S/T
ZZZ. My Morning Jacket - Z
Also Ran: The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang, Amadou & Mariam - Dimanche a Bamanko, Kayne West - Late Registration, The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan, M.I.A. - Arular, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl, Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
Oops. Go Team isn't self-titled. it's Thunder Lightning Strike. But you probably guessed that from Trent's post.
Dirk:
"My little brother just discovered rock-n-roll...My little brother just discovered rock-n-roll"
The song of my summer. Love ART BRUT.
Wine Man,
I also saw that Tweedy was doing a solo show and I might attend. I don't know my schedule right now, but if I get tickets I will surely let you know.
pgc here. I promised my friend babs aka skunk that I would post here...
My Top 5:
Superwolf - Blood Embrace - Will Oldham, in his many guises, has made a lot of good music over the years. This might be the best work he has ever done. Music with a lot of open space. The title track is one of my favorite songs of the year.
Richard Hawley - Coles Corner - Three and a half records into his solo career Richard Hawley is finally getting the press he deserves (at least in the UK). A beautiful record deeply rooted in the early days of rock and roll but very connected to the modern world. Hawley's been on a roll lately - he produced on of my fave records from 2004, A Girl Called Eddy's wonderful debut.
Chocolate Genius - Black Yankee Rock - Another great record from my favorite live performer. I can't understand why he doesn't get more attention.
Pernice Brothers - Discover a Lovelier You - they haven't made anything close to a bad record but I felt like they've been coasting a bit. Not on this one - just a great pop/rock record.
Laura Veirs - Year of the Meteors - I just love the way this sounds. Wish she'd come and play here...
other faves:
Danger Doom - The Mouse and The Mask
Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust
Electrelane - Axes
Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken.
Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
The Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart
The Wedding Present - Take Fountain
Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations - Ugly Love probably my favorite song of the year.
and I'm sure I've forgotten other things I really liked...
And 3 great reissues:
Robert Wyatt and Friends - Theatre Royal Drury Lane 8th September 1974 - technically not a reissue but certainly not new music. Amazing archive recording of Wyatt's only solo concert.
Bill Fay - Time of the Resurrection - The past few years have seen some amazing late 60's/early 70's rediscoveries - this is one of the best.
Oscillons from the Anti-Sun - Stereolab - I don't consider myself a big Stereolab fan, I only have a few of their many records - this collection of singles, eps, etc is great fun.
stuff looking forward to in 2006 - Sparklehorse, Cat Power, Neko Case
And what is the point of sharing these lists if not to comment on other's choices - right? In light of that I have to admit that I am a little bewildered at how highly regarded the new My Morning Jacket record is (not just here but on lost of year end lists). I don't think it is a bad record but I do think it is a big disappointment. I don't think any song on Z is as good as the best tunes on their earlier records. The older records are way too long but the high points are much higher than anything on Z. And damn, I just hated the cover art. At least the new record is short... And the charms of The Go! Team are mostly lost on me. Some fun songs yes, but to my ears that doesn't make for a good record. And it sounds like crap - and not good cool primitive Billy Childish kind of crap - just crap. In the days when I collected 45's I could see how a Go! Team 45 might be a good thing... oh well.
Boy PGC I couldn't disagree with you more about My Morning Jacket. I have all their other records (love em), but this record shows growth in not only their ability to construct an actual song instead of riffs and solos, but they also jump genres a time or two as well.Some people like bands that don't change or experiment, but I am just the opposite. I will take a Radiohead, Wilco, Sonic Youth, or Check Your Head/Ill Communicaiton Beastie Boy record any day of the week based on experimentation alone. In my mind MMJ is heading the right direction.
As far the as the GO TEAM goes, I could care less about production values. It gets me through my workouts via my IPOD and it takes me back to one specific point in my life: Atari 2600!!!
I would like to add how much I agree with you about Neko Case's live record. It is simply fantastic and it's too bad more people didn't get a chance to hear it. Also, the EELS and Stereolab are also two of my personal favorites who cannot make a bad record.
Thanks for commenting and bringing some new ideas to the site.
ps wine man, just teasing as regards the nomiker. hope i didn't offend.
It is just too hard to keep track of these things... I realize I left off one of my absolute favorites of the year, Fiery Furnaces EP. Most everything released prior to 2005 but it works as a whole and I listened to it more than practically any other new release this year - definitely in my top 5.
Also worth adding to the honorable mention list Deerhoof - Runners Four, Slow Dazzle - The View from the Floor, American Music Club - Love Songs for Patriots, and Micah P. Hinson's debut.
And on the reissue list - Scritti Politti - Early
And I totally fucked up the Bill Fay title, it is Time of the Last Persecution - oops!
As for Trent's comments - I clearly did not connect at all with Go!Team but your comment about how they bring you back to your Atari 2600 days was perfect. I think the associative power of music is a key factor in why we might fall in love with a song or record - it's all in the ear of the beholder, blah blah blah. And to clear up one thing about MMJ - I don't think I said anything about not wanting bands to change or experiment. Z might be MMJ's best record. It is much more disciplined and focused than the earlier, way too long, records. I just don't think anything on Z is as good as say, Lowdown, from At Dawn.
And as for Sufjan - I like everything I've heard from it I just haven't felt like buying it. I'll likely get around to it.
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