Another year, another $365. (Don’t I wish.) So that was 2005: occasionally brilliant, but otherwise a bit of an underachiever. Compared to last year, it was a lot harder to pick albums I genuinely, wholeheartedly liked. In fact, if you put the 2004 and 2005 lists together, I think most of the top ten would be dominated by 2004 releases. I know what you’re going to tell me, though: “hey, I didn’t see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah / Sufjan Stevens / Antony and the Johnsons / Franz Ferdinand / etc. on your list!” Perhaps one day I’ll get around to listening to all of those albums (except Clap Your Hands Say Yeah; yes, there is a singer more annoying than the love child of Raine Maida and Billy Corgan, and guess what band he fronts!). But probably not.
[the best of the year]
Handsomeboy Technique - Adelie Land
Saint Etienne - Tales from Turnpike House
Mary Timony - Ex-Hex
50 Foot Wave - Golden Ocean
Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Joel Plaskett - La De Da
Petra Haden - Sings The Who Sell Out
Bullette - The Secrets
Ivy - In The Clear
[the honourable mentions]
Dressy Bessy - Electrified
Dirty Three - Cinder
Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
Goldfrapp - Supernature
Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
[the disappointments]
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Gemma Hayes - The Roads Don’t Love You
Need New Body - Where’s Black Ben?
Ladytron - The Witching Hour
Caribou - The Milk Of Human Kindness
6 Responses
I’m glad you didn’t list Sufjan. He’s not offensive, but the hype on that guy on mp3 blogs is overdone. Way overdone. I could say, “hey, I didn’t see Coldplay on your list.” But I know it is asking too much to think that people could admit publicly that the a band as popular as they are released a pretty good album in 2005. I’m not even a big fan, but it was solid work. Plus, they are young. I expect better things for them in future, if the band doesn’t implode for one reason or another.
eric, January 4th, 2006 at 11:24 amglad to see the Broken Social Scene record made your honourable mentions! did you change your mind about it after your last post on it?
Happy New Year!
matt, January 4th, 2006 at 3:10 pmI haven’t heard the new Coldplay album, so I can’t comment. I remember liking one or two of their songs, but not nearly enough to warrant picking up an album.
As for Broken Social Scene, they were always an honourable mention. I did go back and forth on the album for a while before I finalized the list, though (as I did with Extraordinary Machine). I’m noticing that I’m remembering more of the album’s songs as of late, though, so maybe that’s a good sign.
Wesley, January 5th, 2006 at 7:24 pmNice to see Handsomeboy Technique in the number one slot. I think it was your site that introduced me to this fine act. I was able to get a copy of the whole disc from a friend is Sweden, and yes, it’s an amazing album. Not sure if it will get a U.S. release, but I never thought that the similar sounding Go! Team would be domestically released. Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for 2006!
ion, January 9th, 2006 at 1:27 amThank you! In addition to new BULLETTE songs, I am working on a new project which hopefully will be on your best of 2006 list. I’m playing drums and singing and Rob is playing guitar and singing - we are The Sky Drops - http://www.theskydrops.com .
Monika Bullette, January 20th, 2006 at 12:22 pmBest, Monika Bullette
hello:
you might want to check these cats out -
http://www.layaboutband.com/music.html
-p.s.
P. Staley, February 2nd, 2006 at 6:21 pm