Why can't people just do as these threads ask and pick ONE - their BEST.

I was gonna pick one, but looked at some of the rolling lists above and thought I'd save myself the hassle.

BananaCologne said:

you're right, but it's also my bad.....I asked for lists as well!

Anyway, 'Aerial' is mine!

:

Honorable mention goes to:



Although it wasn't released this year, I found it this year and it's one of my most listened to CDs of 2005.

So far, these are my top picks:

Charlie Peacock - Love Press Ex Curio


Lewis Taylor - Stoned


Chocolate Genius - Black Yankee Rock


Kate Bush - Aerial


Meshell Ndegeocello/Sprit Music Jamia - Dance of the Infidel


Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up


Soulive - Breakout




...

Right, here's my moment of indulgence. The top 25 for 2005. Feel free to disagree wildly or add your lists.

First a few thoughts...

Of 2005, I feel overall its been very much a year of remarkable debuts or a triumphant year for breakthrough new acts, with underwhelming/dire follow-ups from key/reliable/big bands.

Not least Coldplay (who could have ventured into the world of experimentalism but chose a well-worn path), Mercury Rev (who simply failed to deliver), Doves/Elbow (who produced cold replicas of previous efforts), Franz Ferdinand (went sickeningly OTT).

I also feel 2005 was the second coming of the 'white-boy with guitars', last seen around 95-97, only this time many went under the pretense they boasted an added intellectualism. With Franz leading the charge it resulted in caricatures, offshoots, copyists and extremes under the guise of blazing wearing, skinny tie-adorned, drain-pipe jean-bearing boys with shit haircuts and even shitter music.

There were however many positives, the aforementioned debuts (Bloc Party, Go! Team and Arcade Fire), excellent 'second' albums (Mars Volta and Oceansize) and of course 2005 was a great year for the soloist giving birth to three incredible pop stars - M.I.A, Antony Hegarty and James Murphy, plus amazing works by Devendra Banhart, Scout Niblett, Conor Oberst and Kanye West.

Anyways, without further ado, my top 25 of 2005:


1) LCD Soundsystem: LCD Soundsystem. A landmark of dance/rock innovation and originality.


2) Arcade Fire: Funeral. Death never sounded this alive.


3) Antony & The Johnsons: I Am A Bird Now. Music's new voice is born.


4) Sigur Ros: Takk... The world's most unique band just got even more magical.


5) Oceansize: Everyone Into Position. Colossal ideas from Britain's finest new band.


6) Mars Volta: Frances The Mute. Conceptual genius from planet prog.


7) Bloc Party: Silent Alarm. Non-stop bombastic grooves.


8 ) The Go! Team: Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Party, party, party.


9) M.I.A.: Arular. Aggro-sociological punk paste to freak your mind.


10) System of a Down: Mesmerize. Operatic metal - but good.


11) Devendra Banhart: Cripple Crow. The wizard of whimsy plugs in and drops a bombshell.


12) Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake Its Morning. Dylan for the Noughties? Maybe, just maybe.


13) Oasis: Don't Believe The Truth. Still got it. The sound of the summer.


14) Kanye West: Late Registration. Effortless and vital, the man to save the hip hop stratesphere.


15) Pure Reason Revolution: Cautionary Tales For The Brave. A mini opus that wears its Floydian soul of its sleeves.


16) Engineers: Engineers. Blissful harmonies and cloudbursting sonics.


17) M83: Before The Dawn Heals Us. A cinematic headrush of electronic wonder.


18 ) Patrick Wolf: Wind In The Wires. Problem child plays beautiful but menacing bohemian folk.


19) My Morning Jacket: Z. Shorter, snappier blizzards of alt-rock from Kentucky's finest.


20) Jaga Jazzist: What We Must. Soaring melodies and Volta-like time signatures from 11-piece Scando wierdos.


21) The Dears: No Cities Left. Indie music just found a new bandleader.


22) Four Tet: Everything Ecstatic. Chaos in a box.


23) Beck: Guero. The enchanting wizard of rhythm finds his muse.


24) Scout Niblett: Kidnapped By Neptune. Steve Albini-produced lo-fi bluster with a song about Pom Poms.


25) Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom: The Days Of Mars. Ambient eletronica from the years on form label (DFA).
[Edited 12/5/05 16:01pm]

Nice list, Funkster.

I dunno what my extended list would be like. Maybe something like this:

1. Kate Bush, Aerial

2. The Decemberists, Picaresque

3. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois

4. Sinead O'Connor, Collaborations

5. Princess Superstar, My Machine

6. Out Hud, Let Us Never Speak Of It Again

7. Beck, Guero

8. Saint Etienne, Tales From Turnpike House

9. Nouvelle Vague, s/t

10. Brian Eno, Another Day On Earth

11. Paul McCartney, Chaos & Creation in the Backyard

12. LCD Soundsystem, s/t

13. Gorillaz, Demon Days

14. New Order, Waiting for the Siren's Call

15. Sigur Ros, Takk


...and I know I'm leaving out some faves...

Merci beaucoup.

Both Decemberists and Sufjan would have been contenders had I been able to afford them both in time. The list has been on 'our' site for a week now and Picaresque/Illinois were only slammed on my jukebox over the last few days.

Add to this may also have been Kill Me Tomorrow and Quintron & Miss Pussycat - both of which I picked up this weekend at All Tomorrow's Parties, both of which are showing glimmers of aceness.

Out Hud is one I've looked at a lot too.

What is Nouvelle Vague like? Is this all covers?

My album of the year is:



Sananda Maitreya "Angels and Vampires Vol. 1"





http://www.sanandamaitrey...talogo.php
[Edited 12/5/05 18:07pm]

emilio319 said:

i still need to listen to that...i still need to get my copy. i think i was put off by that damn ugly cover with the apple.

My album of the year is:



Sananda Maitreya "Angels and Vampires Vol. 1"





http://www.sanandamaitrey...talogo.php
[Edited 12/5/05 18:07pm]

u2 - how to dismantle an atomic bomb

Still American Life was more powerful and visceral.

my top five (because, come on, there's not just one "album of the year") in no particular order:

tori amos - the beekeeper

u2 - how to dismantle an atomic bomb

sufjan stevens - come on feel the illinoise!

madonna - confessions on a dance floor

wolf parade - apologies to the queen mary

if fiona had released extraordinary machine as it was originally produced it would have made my list. unfortunately for me, the version handed out was watered down and far more accessible. good for radio but bad for me. all of the quirks that made it special were taken out in favor of a record that sounds more like tidal.

I didn't hear anyone mention Stevie Wonder's long anticipated comeback with A Time 2 Love. I mean, wasn't it good to see an old friend back? Although I think we shouldn't have waited over 10 years for a studio album like this to be released, it was in my book, an incredible album. I only wish it could've been promoted a little better. But that's another album that would've gotten my pick for Album Of The Year.