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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Thursday, March 28

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Fuel

amyc / December 12, 2005 1:13 PM

I don't buy a lot of new stuff these days, but I listened to the following all the time this year:

-The Mountain Goats, Sunset Tree
-White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan
-Decemberists, Picaresque
-Sleater-Kinney, The Woods

and "No One Takes Your Freedom," an incredible mashup of The Beatles' "For No One" with the Scissor Sisters, George Michael, and Aretha Franklin (no, seriously). It's catchy!

Spence / December 12, 2005 1:32 PM

I thought tit was a weak year for releases, but here are ten albums I enjoyed this year:

-Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
-Broken Social Scene: S/T
-The Go! Team - Thunder Lightning Strike*
-Boards Of Canada: Campfire Headphase
-Stars: Set Yourself On Fire*
-Sleater Kinney: The Woods
-The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
-Iron & Wine: Woman King EP
-Spoon: Gimme Fiction
-Andrew Bird: Mysterious Production of Eggs

*Available as an import in 2004, released stateside 2005.

Veronica / December 12, 2005 1:34 PM

I'd say the music that I heard while standing directly under Bono during the Vertigo show. Best music, best sight, Best. Experience. Ever.

kristen / December 12, 2005 1:57 PM

Arcade Fire "Funeral", hands down. I know it was released in 2004, but I only got into it in 2005, and I cannot stop listening to it. I saw them open for U2 in Montreal a few weeks ago, and it made the fantastic U2 show even more fantastic. It's an album that will suck you in slowly, and then you will not be able to shake it. It's an addiction.

And I second Veronica's nomination, as standing directly under Bono myself at several Vertigo shows definitely ranks as the Best Thing Ever.

Emerson Dameron / December 12, 2005 2:00 PM

Much of it came via the magnificient WFMU and its blog.

TOP TEN RECORDS (semi-particular order, no reissues, no comps):
1. SUN CITY GIRLS - Uncle Jim's Superstars of Greenwich Meantime
2. AKRON/FAMLY - s/t
3. KALLIKAK FAMILY - May 23 2007
4. SMOG - A River Ain't Too Much To Love
5. WOODEN WAND & THE VANISHING VOICE - Buck Dharma
6. OLD TIME RELIJUN - 2012
7. SOUND DIRECTIONS - The Funky Side of Life
8. TEOTIHUACAN - s/t
9. JONATHAN KANE - February
10. SUN CITY GIRLS - Montreal Pop

Kevin / December 12, 2005 2:02 PM

King's X - Ogre Tones
Son Volt - Okemah And The Melody Of Riot
Three Man - Three Man (holy shit, they rock my face off)
Frank Zappa - Everything Is Healing Nicely

Big Purp Sippa / December 12, 2005 2:03 PM

A weak year for releases? It would seem as though Spence has a blind spot for the Houston rap scene, which is having its Best Year Ever. Consider these classic releases, all from 2005:
Mike Jones “Who Is Mike Jones?”
Paul Wall “The People’s Champ”
Slim Thug “Already Platinum”
Bun B “Trill”
Chamillionaire “The Sound of Revenge”

And it doesn’t stop there. Lil Flip is set to release his new album “I Need Mine” in February, DJ Michael Watts producing a screwed remix of nearly every release this year, and Paul Wall has an upcoming project with two members of the band The Transplants. If you consider Mike Jones’ guest appearances with the Ying Yang Twins (another amazing 2005 release “United States of Atlanta”) and Missy Elliott (BOYYYYY SCOUTS), as well as the amazing news that Bun B’s collaborator in UGK, Pimp C, was paroled just two weeks ago, you cannot possibly ignore the POWER coming out of Houston right now! This is trill news indeed. My advice to Spence and all other Gapersblockers is to powe up some that purple stuff, keep tippin and get your head nodding to some of that down south music. Oh and RIP to DJ Screw.

Other great southern releases this year:
BG “Heart of the Streets” (still holding it down for flood-ravaged New Orleans)
David Banner “Certified” (fun fact: David Banner’s tour bus, loaded up with water, food and supplies purchased from Mr. Crunk’s own resources, actually arrived in New Orleans ahead of most federal aid dispatches. He is a resident of Mississippi)
Mannie Fresh “The Mind of Mannie Fresh” (the Cash Money beatsmith left the label this year but not before releasing this jewel, which is almost a concept album about Mannie Fresh himself! And also his mind)
Big Boi Presents “Got Purp? Vol. 2” (on that kryptonite)
Lil Wayne “Tha Carter II”
Also I believe T.I. released an album this year

Lethal Trill / December 12, 2005 2:11 PM

Yeah, Spence, clear up that blind spot! Sufjan Stevens is just riding Pimp C's coattails.

Spence / December 12, 2005 2:17 PM

Big Purp Sippa,

Although your knowledge of the "Da Dirty South" hip-hop scene is nothing short of impressive, I tend to stay away from self-indulgent overplayed crap. I'd much rather listen to MF Doom, Dangermouse, Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Quasimoto.

dan / December 12, 2005 2:22 PM

Art Brut! Top of the Pops!

eep / December 12, 2005 2:29 PM

It came out at the very tail end of 2004, so I'm counting it as an early 2005 release—John Legend's Get Lifted. I love this disc, absolutely cannot get enough of it.

My other favorite has to be Intensive Care by Robbie Williams. He makes just plain good pop music, and no one in this country pays attention. I will never understand why he's never made it big in the US.

Two other good ones...

Haughty Melodic by Mike Doughty. I love this album. It's everything I love about Soul Coughing, but softer. Great stuff all the way through.

The Gifted Program by The Divorce. They're what I wanted The Killers to be, but with a more rock, less pop slant.

Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple. Proving once again that no matter how odd the girl may or may not be, she makes damn good music.

Guero by Beck. This is the first Beck album I've ever bought. I heard it once and knew I had to listen to it again and again.

jen / December 12, 2005 2:30 PM

in a somewhat particular order:

sufjan stevens - illinois
boards of canada - the campfire headphase
andrew bird - mysterious production of eggs
maximo park - a certain trigger
jens lekman - oh you're so silent jens
clap your hands say yeah - s/t
caribou - milk of human kindness
jamie lidell - multiply
m.i.a. - arular
decemberists - picaresque
edan - beauty and the beat
broken social scene - s/t
broadcast - tender buttons


biggest disappointments of the year:

dangermouse
fiery furnaces
nada surf
spoon

eep / December 12, 2005 2:30 PM

Er, make that FOUR other good ones.

Erica / December 12, 2005 2:40 PM

Dangerdom
New Black
Against Me!
Arcade Fire
Killers (the album is pretty good)
M.I.A. until it I heard it on a Honda commercial.
Queen of the Stone Age
Black Eyed Peas' Monkey Business was fun over the summer.
Tegan and Sara rocked my summer, too.
I'm looking forward to listening to the new Darkness album tonight.



Erica / December 12, 2005 2:45 PM

A duh, I meant Dangerdoom. Jen, Disappointment? I think it's pretty groovin. I dunno. It's silly for the most part, but it's good chill music.

At any rate, I hope 2006 is a better year for music in general. This year kinda sucked. Pop music seems to be at an all-time low.

julie / December 12, 2005 3:03 PM

no particular order

low 'the great destroyer'
christine fellows 'paper anniversary'
iron and wine & calexico 'in the reins'
rogue wave 'descended like vultures'
the hold steady 'separation sunday'
greg macpherson 'night flares'
fruit bats 'spelled in bones'
fembots 'the city'
dirty three 'cinder'
the constantines 'tournament of hearts'
lcd soundsystem 'lcd soundsystem'

hench / December 12, 2005 3:17 PM

no particular order, favorites from this year include:

lcd soundsystem 'lcd soundsystem'
ladytron 'witching hour'
eagles of death metal 'peace love death metal'
art brut 'bang bang rock & roll'
queens of the stone age 'lullabies to paralyze'
system of a down 'mesmerize'

(shameless but honest self-promotion):

hench 'glittering prizes and endless compromises'

Brian / December 12, 2005 3:24 PM

Don't Stop Believin'

Steve / December 12, 2005 3:37 PM

I still haven't written up my official top 10, but I know that these seven albums will be on it:
-- Editors, The Back Room
-- Bloc Party, Silent Alarm
-- Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better
-- Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock 'n' Roll
-- The Ponys, Celebration Castle
-- Portastatic, Bright Ideas
-- Babyshambles, Down in Albion

Candidates for the much-coveted final three slots include Bright Eyes (Digital Ash, nyah nyah), Broken Social Scene, Chemical Brothers, The City on Film, The Living Things, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Kaiser Chiefs, New Order, Ric Ocasek, Kanye West, The Raveonettes, Sufjan Stevens, The Tears, and Peter Bjorn and John.

Raised eyebrows (a precursor to the gas face) go out to LCD Soundsystem, Moby, Stevie Malkmus of Amnesia, Idlewild, M83, and The Mobius Band (the full-length, anyway; their 2005 EP is decent).

David / December 12, 2005 4:44 PM

I can't believe I'm the first (well, second if you count Steve's endorsement above) to offer up the hometown breadwinner, Kanye West. Amazing album, front to back. 'Nuff said.

Naz / December 12, 2005 5:37 PM

Not in any particular order

1) Tristeza - A Colores. When I heard that Tristeza was coming back to tour I wondered whether Jimmy LaVelle (of The Album Leaf) had returned to the fold after doing his solo thing and touring with Sigur Ros. He didn't and Tristeza hasn't suffered without him -- in fact, this is their most solid release to date.

2) ISIS - Panopticon. Heavy instrumental-like epics.

3) Common - Be. I haven't heard Kanye's newest but I really dug Common's album, short and sweet.

4) Obfusc - Wrought From The Walls. Joseph Burke's quiet but glitchy soundscapes are not only accesible but catchy as well. This and the folliwng, Soft, maybe the best two releases you might not have heard yet.

5) Soft - Soft EP. Madchester all over again, done New York style. I miss the Manchester britpop scene and Soft bring it back but keep it true, despite being from NY. Listen to "Droppin'".

6) Pela - All in Time. Pela's been described as "U2 meets Modest Mouse" and that is probably the first cross-description of a band that rings very true.

7) I Am Robot and Proud. I came across IARAP online and was taken in by their electronic charms.

8) Russian Circles - EP. Instrumental rock, akin to Pelican, ISIS. But they're local and they rock. From the former remnants of dakota/dakota.

9) Veda - The Weight of An Empty Room. I love female vocalists who can really belt out a tune but retain a fragileness and mood in their voice. Veda does this (and yes they're a band) and they do it well. Reminiscent of Denali.

10) Masta Killa - No Said Date. Another from the Wu-tang Clan. Not really a fan of much out of the Wu-Tang camp but Masta Killa's super strong beats and music showcase his style and make this album for me.

Brittany Julious / December 12, 2005 6:25 PM

I loved the albums from Broken Social Scene and Brazilian Girls. Those definitely were on repeat.

Stephen / December 12, 2005 6:59 PM

My top 10 albums of 2005, in order:

1. M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
2. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
3. Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
4. Quasimoto - The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
5. Patrick Wolf - Wind in the Wires
6. My Morning Jacket - Z
7. Minus the Bear - Menos el Oso
8. Hanne Hukkelberg - Little Things
9. Radar Bros. - The Fallen Leaf Pages
10. Stars - Set Yourself on Fire

Cindy / December 12, 2005 10:31 PM

Low: "The Great Destroyer"
Favorite Saints: "Southern Gentleman EP"
Sufjan Stevens: "Illinois"
My Morning Jacket: "Z"
New Pornographers: "Twin Cinema"

gordon / December 12, 2005 11:01 PM

Here are some top plays

Sam Prekop 'Who's your new Professor'
Boards of Canada 'the Campfire Headphase'
Books 'Lost & Safe'
Colleen 'the Golden Morning Breaks'
Japan 'Adolescent Sex' reissue
Daniel Lanois 'Belladona'
Jo Jena 'Rhythm & Drones'
Monolake 'Polygon Cities'
Nurse w/ Wound 'Shipwreck Radio vol. 1'
White Magic 'Through the Sun Door'
Chris Watson 'Weather Report'
Fiery Furnaces 'E.P.'

Wish I had more money and more time for more music...

oh, and one last thing: Why does Illinois have to sound so much like Michigan??

Virginia / December 12, 2005 11:41 PM

I must admit that I am still partial to the Smashing Pumpkins, so naturally I am obsessed with Corgan's solo album: it's distinct, but still has many traces of Pumpkins in it.

The Illinois album is pretty sweet, too.

Oh, and someone introduced me to Sondre Lerche, who holds the #1 and #2 spots on my Top 25 Most Played list on iTunes.

nicoschelseagirl / December 13, 2005 12:55 AM

bright eyes! i'm mushy and the video for 'first day of my life' reeled me in -- tears resulted. but otherwise: bright eyes, M.I.A., dolly parton, corralie clement, old joao gilberto, and lisa ono, and julieta venegas are on top of my list. i guess that makes it 7 instead of 5.

B! / December 13, 2005 8:11 AM

Most played 'singles' (?) of the year-

Probably Wouldn't Be This Way- LeAnn Rimes
Shake It Off (Remix)-Mariah Carey
fhqwhgads (Everybody to the Limit)-Strong Bad
My Everything-Lars Blek Ft. Action Biker
Burning Photographs-Ryan Adams
When I Get Where I'm Going w/Dolly Parton-Brad Paisley
Twenty Years And Two Husbands Ago-Lee Ann Womack
House of Jupiter (Riley York edit)-Casey Stratton
Stand On The Word (Larry Levan Mix)-Celestial Choir
Big City Life-Mattafix
Shut Up-Lil' Kim
Cool (Richard X Remix)-Gwen Stefani
Give It w/Kurt Wagner (Full Club Version)-X-Press 2

Lennie Briscoe / December 13, 2005 8:18 AM

Gapersblock clowns it once again with the end of year lists. I could have told you what 3/4 of the albums on here would have been without even taking a second thought. Total no-brainer but I am one of the finest detectives of modern times. Big ups to Big Purp for holding down a genre other than Pitchfork. Once again, Hot New Country is left by the wayside. Allow Lennie Briscoe to clue you in:

Toby Keith – "Honkytonk University"
Gretchen Wilson – "All Jacked Up"
Brooks & Dunn – "Hillbilly Deluxe"
Larry The Cable Guy – "The Right To Bear Arms"
Trace Adkins – "Songs About Me"
Brad Paisley – "Time Well Wasted"
Miranda Lambert – "Kerosene"
Lee Ann Womack – "There’s More Where That Came From"
Trisha Yearwood – "Jasper County"
Gary Allen – "Tough All Over"

Hard to rank these from 1 to 10 but if I had to encourage three albums for all ya'll to get, you can't go wrong with the Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, and Brad Paisley.

Stay up...

M. Blavatsky / December 13, 2005 9:46 AM

I am getting a PSYCHIC MESSAGE from BEYOND...It is telling me that the Houston rap guy and the new country guy are LINKED...They are in fact THE SAME PERSON...ooooooOOOOOOOOOoooooo

Still, one must admit he/they have a point. I hope it helps that my favorite CD this year was a two-year-old remaster of a 21-year-old punk album from Finland ("On You" by Smack if yer interested). *shrug*

Craig / December 13, 2005 10:15 AM

"...A genre other than Pitchfork."
Quote of the year-- well played.

I liked lots of stuff that you liked, but only a handful of albums had me obsessed:

Airborn Audio filled in for APC.
Caribou acted like Can and I loved it.
Cut Copy made me move my ass and I kept them on repeat for weeks.
Deadbeat crafted a heavy slab of dub.
Edan created some amazing psychadelic hip hop.
Four Tet dropped more genius beats, but one-upped himself with the Madvillian remixes.
Mahjongg was the local band that sounded like more than a local band.
Maximo Park was the Brit-pop-punk guilty pleasure.
Sigur Ros was a beautiful tranquilizer.

I discovered Solvent, Battles, Lusine, and Soulwax in 2005 and my life was happier for it.

Redneck woman / December 13, 2005 11:11 AM

Gretchen Wilson's "All Jacked Up" has really helped me to release my inner redneck. The album has such strong song writing, for example, take a look at the introspective lyrics of "Skoal ring" :

[i]Don't need no diamond ring
Don't want a bunch of bling bling
The only thing I really need
Is a man with a skoal ring
Don't have to be wined and dined
We can stay home every night
I can do without anything
Except a man with a skoal ring [/i]

That is really touching. I can feel her pain. Album of the year.

jp / December 13, 2005 11:16 AM

I can tell you that Big Purp and Lennie Briscoe are not one and the same -- in fact they are mortal enemies and killed my father.

In any case, here's my favorite record of 05:
Out Hud, "Let Us Never Speak of It Again"

holden / December 13, 2005 11:28 AM

I love Tegan & Sara's "So Jealous".
"Walk the Line" soundtrack
Gorillaz
Bright Eyes

oh, and cd of '06...Jordis!

Joel / December 13, 2005 11:30 AM

Best album of 2005?

Sufan Stevens' "Illinoise", hands down.

bran / December 13, 2005 11:40 AM

Some of the best:

Alana Davis, "Surrender Dorothy"
Andrew Bird, "The Mysterious Production of Eggs"
The New Pornographers, "Twin Cinema"
Spoon, "Gimme Fiction"
Stars, "Set Yourself on Fire"

What I missed (shame on me!):

Art Brut
SoulWax
Sufjan Stevens

Big Disappoitments:

Beck
The White Stripes

Biggest Surprise because I thought it was going to suck but, after a few listens (and one utterly amazing concert), it turned out to be pretty good:

Nine Inch Nails, "With Teeth"

Biggest Pathetic Fucking Asshole Sellouts:

Green Day - How can you make a surprisingly brilliant record criticizing willfully vapid and ignorant suburban culture one year and then utterly whore yourself and the record to the very culture you were criticizing the next and expect to retain any shred of credibility and relevancy for it?

ray underhill / December 13, 2005 11:56 AM

Eva Destruction & Her Big Band

honorable mention to the new constantines record for not going overboard like too many bands do when they start to get a following (see broken social scene) and as always the new lucero rocks!

Herbie / December 13, 2005 12:03 PM

Sufjan Stevens is soooooooooo overrated.

Lady / December 13, 2005 12:10 PM

I liked "Illinoise" better when it was called MICHIGAN.

Love love love the Suf Stv but jeeez that's the same album.

from my coffice / December 13, 2005 12:19 PM

The best music I've heard this year does not specifically mean the best music that was released this year, so bear that in mind. Here were my favorites of Oh Five:

Pylon / The Bush Tetras / ESG / Julieta Venegas / anything Tropicalia (thanks MCA) / "Trapped in the Closet" / The Rogers Sisters / Surferosa / Tamion 12 Inch / Gonzales / Midnight Star.

Go forth and sample.

Mr. Stevens / December 13, 2005 12:21 PM

WRONG:

The glockenspeil is used much more liberally in Illinois than in Michigan.

p / December 13, 2005 12:29 PM

gogol bordello- hands down best group out. also weezy f. baby- the carter II.

Lennie Briscoe / December 13, 2005 12:29 PM

Sufjan Stevens is soooooooooo overrated.

By gum, Herbie will make Detective yet. Keep up the good work, Rookie!

Herbie has done his homework and as you can see, it doesn't take one of NYC's greatest detectives to figure this one out. A sampling of Sufjan's "brilliance":

Cannot conversations cull united nations?
If you got the patience, celebrate the ancients
Cannot all creation call it celebration?
Or united nation. Put it to your head.

Now I'm no musical genius but I'll take Gretchen's heartful laments on the side effects of chewing tobacco over Sufjan's straight-up bullshit. Perhaps Big Purp has some insights.

Now I am off to find jp's father's REAL killer. Let's roll!

Redneck woman / December 13, 2005 12:37 PM

I'm with Lenny y'all. I'll take a redneck and chewing tobacco anyday over anything that requires the use of my brain.

jenny / December 13, 2005 12:43 PM

the ponys and the new pornographers made me one happy broad this year.

Steve / December 13, 2005 1:11 PM

I'm cool with country, but western sucks. And all this noize Lenny Briscuit is talking is Western with a capital Dubya.

P.S. Backlash is boring; I'd far rather lash.

girlwithaspirin / December 13, 2005 1:17 PM

Top 12 in no particular order:

*The Evens - S/T (Favorite by a longshot. Check 'em out if you're an old Fugazi fan.)
*Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
*Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
*Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic
*The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
*Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
*The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
*Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
*The National - Alligator
*John Vanderslice - Pixel Revolt
*Broken Social Scene - S/T

And...
*Arcade Fire - Funeral (Obsessed non-stop from 2004 straight through 2005.)

Andrew / December 13, 2005 1:31 PM

"Gapersblock clowns it once again with the end of year lists."

I'd just like to point out that these are mostly readers' lists, so if there's a lack of variety it's because GB readers of other tastes aren't speaking up. Kudos to you, Lennie and Big Purp, for bringing some different perspectives.

I haven't picked up a ton of albums this year (mostly downloading single songs and/or receiving mixes from friends) but here are a couple standouts:
- Andrew Bird, Mysterious Production of Eggs
- Spoon, Gimme Fiction
- Ani DiFranco, Knuckle Down
- m.i.a., arular

Lennie Briscoe / December 13, 2005 1:34 PM

Close, Steve, but no badge this time around. Looks like its back to the Academy with you.

Nice work pigeon-holing an entire genre of music whilst tossing a personal javlin in my general direction. Its times like these that remind me why I'm glad I flunked out of barber school.

Spence / December 13, 2005 1:41 PM

"...A genre other than Pitchfork."


I'd have to say that pigeon-holing one genre is better than pigeon-holing several genres.

Mark / December 13, 2005 2:48 PM

usually wait till Feb to make my final list (so i can use xmas money on stuff i've been wanitng to get), but my top 10 as of now:

1. Rumbleseat -- Rumbleseat is Dead
2. The Decemberists -- Picaresque
3. Tiger Bear Wolf -- S/T
4. Magnolia Electric Co. -- Trials & Errors
5. Des Ark -- Loose Lips Sink Ships
6. Common -- Be
7. Sleater Kinney -- The Woods
8. Fiya -- Better Days
9. Low -- The Great Destroyer
10. North Lincoln -- Truth is a Menace

Also enjoyed The Evens, Cassette, Constantines (though it's no where near as good as their 1st 2), 1/2 of the new Against Me, Magnolia Electric Co's other 2 releases, and Iron & Wine's 2 releases.

Still would like to hear 2005 releases by MIA, Great Lake Swimmers, Damien Jurado, Sun Kil Moon, Kind of Like Spitting (x2), Grabass CHarlestons, the Everybody Fields, New Pornographers, and Kanye West

Ken / December 13, 2005 2:58 PM

Lessee...

- The John Butler Trio
- Matisyahu (Hassidic Reggae!?)
- Jean Luc Ponty, Bela Fleck and Stanley Clarke as Trio! w/ the CSO
- Charlie Hunter

Jason / December 13, 2005 4:34 PM

Most Precious Blood - Merciless

Drowningman - Don't Push Us When We're Hot
Curl Up and Die - The One Above All, the End of All That Is

Mister C / December 13, 2005 5:27 PM

I haven't heard a lot of this year's crop (especially the mighty Sufjan) but: The New Pornographers, Sleater-Kinney, Deerhoof, Minus The Bear, the Decemberists, Sigur Ros, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Death Cab For Cutie were all tremendous (If the new Mountain Goats is nearly as good as previous Mountain Goatery then it is as well).

The new Beck, White Stripes, Wolf Parade, and Franz Ferdinand were OK (I need to listen to them all some more).

I'm glad I wasn't the only one dissappointed by Spoon. They are such a great band and I had so hoped their new release would be "the monster indie hit that briefly breaks the stranglehold of corporate hegemony and opens the door for all the other great overlooked bands" (a la Nevermind) but Gimme Fiction was just so damn tepid in a totally wine bar way.

Loved the Fiery Furnaces EP but Rehearsing My Choir left me nonplussed. I absolutely love the concept, but the fact that Grandma sounds like the spawn of Bea Arthur and Cookie Monster is just killing it for me. It's definitely "Capital A" Art though, and I can tell I'll warm up to it as the years pass. They can definitely put out the poppiest most accessible music in the world after this and no one will ever be able to call them sellouts.

But for me the best disc this year was the Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane Live at Carnegie Hall. It had been sitting undiscovered in a box in the Voice of America archives for almost 50 years and was just released. Coltrane and Monk (during the legendary 5 Spot period) in full glory with perfect sound! Simply amazing stuff.

sky / December 13, 2005 5:38 PM

Ray LaMontagne

Kanye West.

I'd do them both.

Kevin / December 13, 2005 5:50 PM

Perhaps I'm just that pathetic, perhaps I've just been working too much. I don't know. But as I sat down to figure this list of mine out, I realized everything on it was from previous years. OhmygodhowdidImakeitthroughanentireyearwithouthearinganynewmusicI'mturningintomyparents.

Maureen / December 13, 2005 8:19 PM

Well, here are four:

1. Lighters Up - Lil Kim (What a damn good song. If this is what staring down the prison walls does for a girl, I say send her back again and again)
2. One Thing - Amerie
3. I may hate myself in the morning - LeeAnn Womack
4. The Corner - Common

Maureen / December 13, 2005 8:33 PM

Also, that Snoop Dogg song where he clucks his tongue. "Drop it Like It's Hot?"
Was that out this year or last year?

jima / December 13, 2005 10:00 PM

Jason Forrest, Shamelessly Exciting. You can keep your Decemberists and your Mountain Goats and your Illinoizes; give me a song with a big fat greasy hook built up from samples of "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts any day.

dan / December 14, 2005 9:35 AM

I've still got British Sea Power's "Open Season" on heavy rotation, and it's been out since March. There's a lot going on there, I think. Plus, it features the best love song to an Antarctic ice shelf ever recorded.

As far as Sufjan is concerned >> Yeah it's a bit over-hyped, but it's still a better album than most released this year.

davin / December 14, 2005 10:22 AM

can't we split these questions into best shows and best albums etc? i feel like this is all getting a bit confused.

best shows -

wolf parade
sigur ros
sufjan
animal collective
and i have a soft spot in my heart for the go team at intonation when they brought those kids up on stage.

Leelah / December 14, 2005 12:07 PM

I've been stuck on these... but I'll go with (in alphabetical order)

--Alkaline Trio "Crimson"
--Bloc Party "Silent Alarm"
--the National "Alligator
--Waco Brothers "Freedom and Weep"
--the Wedding Present "Take Fountain"

I also liked the Hold Steady, Maximo Park and Stars. my favorite albums that i got this year, but which came out last year were the Arcade Fire and Green Day.

I gave that Sufjan Stevens record away. I wanted to like it because the concept is so fantastic, but it bored the crap out of me.

Bree / December 21, 2005 10:49 AM

The Kallikak Family "May 23rd 2007"
Animal Collective "Feels"
"Children of Nuggets" box set
The Notes & Scratches "uh-oh"

Paul / December 26, 2005 11:21 PM

1. My Morning Jacket “Z”
2. Wilco “Kicking Television”
3. Helicopters “How to Fake Fall Asleep”
4. Kanye West “Late Registration”
5. Redwalls “de nova”
6. Fiona Apple “Extraordinary”
7. John Legend “Get Lifted”
8. Sufjan Stevens “Illinois”
9. White Stripes “Get Behind Me Satan”
10. Aimee Mann “ Forgotten Arm ”

Matt.T. / January 3, 2006 11:22 AM

11 Albums That Helped Get Me Thru a Shit-tastic 2005
(in no particular order...)

- Witchcraft "Firewood"
- Nada Surf "The Weight Is A Gift"
- Jesu "s/t"
- DangerDoom "The Mouse and the Mask"
- The Juan MacLean "Less Than Human"
- DMBQ "The Essential Sounds From the Far East"
- Broadcast "Tender Buttons"
- The Drift "Noumena"
- Pharaoh Overlord "3"
- Caribou "The Milk of Human Kindness"
- Black Mountain "s/t"

* The Bloc Party and Edan records were pretty great, too...

missnicole / January 3, 2006 7:31 PM

these were my favorites for 2005--although not all were neccesarily created in '05. i seem to consistently be a late bloomer...

sufjan (all of it)
bright eyes (i'm wide awake...)
nouvelle vague
morcheeba (parts of the process)
death cab (photo album)
great lake swimmers
get up kids (on a wire)
earlimart (treble and tremble)
chinup chinup
carissa's wierd (i before e)

i also enjoyed okkervil river, charlie parker, band of horses, fruit bats, mountain goats, and magnetic fields.

and i thought music was in a slump...

tungston langdon / January 12, 2006 12:02 PM

dangerdoom
Kallikak family 'may 23rd 2007' (their debut 'vineland social maturity scale' was on my 2004 best of list too!)
gang gang dance
mt. eerie
totally awesome

Unknown DJ / January 19, 2006 6:34 AM

Hi,my favourite groups are :

Audioslave-Doesn‚t remind me
Deepdish-Say hello
Gorillaz,of course...

NissaRichardson / March 30, 2006 11:38 AM

I like Neyo stay

Vanessa-Rae Thomas / April 19, 2006 3:13 AM

"When I Get Where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley/Dolly Parton is the best song I've heard all year!!!!!! It makes me think that life aint so bad afterall, cause when you are called to go, you are going to a way better place than here. What better 'obituary' to leave to your loved ones than that! Not only that...........what a way to live each day that you have life, looking to the skies above, instead of at the turmoil that is taking place on the earth. Remind yourself with this song everyday, life is short, but who cares, cause when we get to where we are going, there will be no sad tears. We will only cry happy tears. You know that feeling...........so why not cry them today,............ AS YOU WILL EVENTUALLY........'happy tears'.

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