Best Albums of 2005

50. The Spill Canvas
One Fell Swoop

One of the catchiest albums of year. Once the stale lyrics come pounding through, much is unfortunately lost.

49. Caribou
The Milk of Human Kindness

Something you've probably never heard before, but you might just like this brand of electronic.

48. The Clientele
Strange Geometry

Inspiring and heartbreaking pop/rock.


47. The Chemical Brothers
Push the Button

Every song on this album is dancable and solid. A very catchy album that covers a lot of ground. Some of the songs will make you loose your mind.

46. The Mars Volta
Frances the Mute

Explosive and ecletic. More complicated than their previous work. Unfortunately the filler prevents this album from being better than just good.

45. The Eels
Blinking Lights and Other Revelations

The best work by The Eels in years. This album celebrates life in all its complexity. Quite a long album (double-disc), but worth the time in your stereo.

44. Isolee
We Are Monster

A more mellow lounge/electronic album. Impressive and fun.

43. Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene

They added a lot more members and instruments to the mix for this album. Sometimes unfocused and odd and othertimes catchy and intelligent. A hard album to get into right away, but worth the wait. I particularly enjoy the song "Bandwitch".

42. Thievery Corporation
The Cosmic Gate

A fun lounge album with a ton of high-class guest appearances. They are still maintaining their same sound, but doing so it a much more focused effort.

41. Death Cab For Cutie
Plans

If I had never heard Death Cab before this album, then I would have thought this is a solid record, but its impossible to ignore the potential of this band when they have previously released one of the best rock records of the decade. They keep the song-writing and lyrics simple and unfortunately their lyrics were always a strength of this band.

40. Nada Surf
The Weight is a Gift

Nada Surf is having the same problem as Death Cab. I would have loved this album more if it hadn't been released after Let Go. Let Go was spectacular, but this record got dulled down by routine patterns and poor lyrics. The first half of the record carries the weight and is the gift. "Do It Again" should have been the radio-single, not "Always Love".

39. Hidden in Plain View
Life in Dreaming

The best emo record of the year. Their style will be replicated by many. Unfortunately, Drive-Thru Records is no longer supported by a major label, so HIPV will never receive the press they deserve.

38. The Books
Lost and Safe

Electronic mayhem. This is what I wanted the new Prefuse 73 album to sound like; creative and bold. Lost and Safe is fantastic.

37. Sleater-Kinney
The Woods

Straight up raw punk rock. This album is meant to be played at high volumes. They've changes their style, but they still know how to tear it up.

36. Audion
Suckfish

Audion has done a remarkable job at sending you off into a magical cocaine inspired world where all you want to do is move your body. This Suckfish-world sets up a distinct futuristic musical mood that some people would call sex-music or pure adrenaline. This baby will be rolling in your cd player for a while.

35. Panic! At the Disco
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

Add disco breakdowns to Fall Out Boy's patented pop-punk style and you have Panic! At the Disco. As soon as Panic! can create a full-album of catchy tunes they will become the next MTV icon.

34. Franz Ferdinand
You Could Have It So Much Better

Who doesn't know Franz Ferdinand? Every song on this album could be a radio single. Such an improvement from the last album.

33. Shpongle
Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost

This is one of the most bizare albums I have ever heard. Literally every minute of this album is a new experience. Electronic psyc-rock from another dimension.

32. The Lucksmiths
Warmer Corners

Simply amazing optimistic pop-rock to cheer you up on a shitty day. This album really should ahve received more attention than it did.

31. Common
Be

Kanye did an amazing job producing this album. Passionate slow jams with a few radio-friendly rap anthems. And guess what...John Mayer makes a guest appearance on this album.

30. The New Pornographers
Twin Cinema

A much more complicated rock album than thier previous work.

29. Super Fury Animals
Love Kraft

I can see this album being loved by anyone who enjoys rock. Its basically intelligent and crafty Phish.

28. Sigur Ros
Takk

You either hate them or love them. The Iclandic band is back with another experimental emotional journey. I was stoked to hear how great this album was because their last EP sounded like children playing with a broken music box.

27. Fiona Apple
Extraordinary Machine

I picked up this album recently and I got angry that I hadn't given it a listen sooner. Passionate alternative rock from a marvelous singer-songwriter.

26. Prefuse 73
Prefuse 73 Reads the Books EP

Prefuse 73 are one of my favorite electronic bands. Their full-lengh this year was poor because they made too many guest appearances. This EP, however, is just them. Great guys...let's keep it that way. The best song off this EP is "Pagina Dos". Imaginative and inspiring.

25. The Stars
Set Yourself On Fire

The Stars are better than the Postal Service. Ben Gibbard needs to stop messing around with Death Cab and take some lessons from these guys. Electronic love songs with spectacular production.

24. Devendra Banhart
Cripple Crow

Folk-rock usually sucks, but Devendra Banhart is phenomenal. He knows how to use the guitar as an insturment and a voice. The songs on this album are more technical and catchier than his previous work. , not to mention the cultural element portrayed here. What I love about this album is Devendra's ability to slow down a song to a beautiful melody and allow the listener to enage in a mental reflection.

23. Jack Johnson
In Between Dreams

This is the best album of the summer. Nothing has really changed from his previous work, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Simply a great pop album that everyone can enjoy.

22. M83
Before the Dawn Heals Us

If you don't like experimental music you should stop reading now and skip to the next album. For the rest of us, Before the Dawn Heals Us is a moonlit philosophical trip. Sublime and often frightening at times. Not quite as good as their previous release, but still gorgeous and titantic.

21. LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem

James Murphy is god. No, serriously, he is. Its like new wave meets 70s meets 80s meets The Cure meets a disco ball meets Bill Gates. You can dance to these groovy club beats like its pay day. Intelligent and focused.

20. The Fiery Furnaces
The Fiery Furnaces EP

The Fiery Furnaces should not have released two albums this year. This EP came out early in the year and basically built up my expectations for an excellent follow up to Blueberry Boat. So they released Rehearsing My Choir and it was one of the worst albums I heard all year. Fortunately I am still a fan for the sole reason of this EP. Check out the songs "Here Comes the Summer" or "Evergreen" and you will soon know why. Pianos, guitars, and computers. Enough said.

19. Bloc Party
Silent Alarm

Silent Alarm is the album that I have dreamt about; a brit-pop album where I can actually understand the singer. The hooks fire at you one by one, often slowing you down to take you for a brief sentimental journey. By far one of the best radio-friendly albums ("Banquet" being an mazing single) released this year...but it deserves all of the credit because it truly is a great release. Bloc Party is a varisty squad that can definately compete with all the Franz Ferdinand ripp-offs. The only complaint I have about this album is that some of the tracks seem like filler. Instead of making a 13 track album that is good, they should have made a 10 track album that was supurb.

18. System of a Down
Mezmerize

System is out of control and extremely pissed. Blow some coke, turn up the volume, and start a mosh pit with your friends because Mezmerize is going to give you a head-ache if you aren't ready to rock. These rockers are the only metal band in the mainstream that are still doing something original. Now that that horrible rap-rock phase has passed, the true metal bands can shine. As soon as the media stops associating System with all the goth-drama metal-head bullshit, people will start to take this band more serriously. The hypocracy is that songs like "Violent Pornography" try to explain to their fans that they need to turn off the TV and think for themselves...if their fans were smart, this statement would turn them off from System of a Down.

17. The Game
The Documentary

The hype was huge and the album is huge. Even if you don't know this album by name, I'm sure you've heard at least one of his songs blarring at a frat house or on the radio. It's ganster rap without being too ganster. One of the best rap albums of the year.

16. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap You Hands Say Yeah

What an odd band name, right? Speed up Coldplay and give the singer some talent and then you'll end up with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. So Pitchfork Media praised this album way too much, but its still a great release. An indie-rock album that is great for driving with the windows down and the stereo blaring. The production is what stands out the most on this album. I don't think they purposely made this album sound extremely raw, it was probably because they had no money...give it a careful listen and you'll see what I mean. Definately an album for a more mature/older audience. It takes a while to get into, but it is worth the wait.

15. Kanye West
Late Registration

Kanye is one of the most dynamic rappers in the mainstream...actually he is the most dynamic rapper in the mainstream. This sophmoore album proves that he's going to be around for a while (he could be the next Jay-Z). Delving into political topics and historical problems, Kanye has significantly matured from his last album. "Addiction" is one of the best rap songs of the year and [i]Late Registration[/I is the best rap album of the year.

14. Beck
Guero

Why did so many people hate this album this year...its remarkable. Sure its nothing new or inventive, but you can't ignore the fact that all of these songs (except the last track) are catchy, hip, and fun. This is Beck, don't expect more.

13. Stephen Malkmus
Face the Truth

Hmmm...this is a very difficult album to describe. So its rock and electronic I guess, but that seems a little too vague. You'll find everything from groggy dead-beat raps and smooth piano rock hits to Beach Boy jams and 70's pop anthems. It slows down and speeds up too many times for me to make a fare judgement of when to listen to this album. So my advice, listen to it all the time.

12. Gatsby's American Dream
Volcano

Gatsby's American Dream have always been my favorite pop-punk for five reasons: there song writing is not sappy like most other pop-punk bands, they give the finger to traditional song formats, they use the most unique production in the industry, they know how to make an album and not just a song, and there name is amazing. GAD returns with Volcano, there best record yet. While they finally decided to use chorus in some of there songs on this album, their originality remains. The album depicts images of a volcano that come to represent human creativity, emotion, and eagerness to find more in life. Keeping with their literature related past and band name, they are sure to include a song that makes references to "Lord of the Flies". Regardless of whether or not you like or dislike pop/rock, you will love this album...it's too catchy and intelligent to be ignored this year.

11. Wolf Parade
Apologies to the Queen Mary

Do you like Modest Mouse? Well then you'll love Wolf Parade. Although their EP that came out earlier in the year was hardly decent, this album climbed my lastfm charts to become one of the most played albums for me all year. So they sound like Modest Mouse, big deal...but the have the potential to surpass Modest Mouse in this style of prog-indie rock. The song-writing on this album is phenomenal, but not too complex to be pop songs. The songs almost seem out of tune, but to the degree that it brilliantly captures the raw unproduced sound of a soon-to-be musical giant.

10. M.I.A.
Arular

Arular is this year's best dance album. Put this on at a party and see the room turn into a wave of chaotic ravers and booty-shaking sorority girls (those who don't dance most likely don't have a pulse). It's infectious, playful, political, and sexy. M.I.A. objectifies herself as a woman by claiming that she's sexy and wants to fuck the living hell out of you. And that my friends is what makes spectacular dance music.

09. Bright Eyes
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Yes, it's depressing music. Yes, it's suicidal music. And Yes, everytime I listen to Bright Eyes I can't help but feel sorry for the guy. But guess what...that's his goal! Bright Eyes has always been music that can't simply be background music; it's music you actually need to sit down and listen to. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is far superior to his other release this year, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn. By adding the lyrics of Emmylou Harris to several songs, Connor manages to a capture the country vibe that is somewhat distant from his Mid-western self. You will find more quotes from this album in music fan's AIM profiles than any other album this year. The last track on this album, "Road to Joy", is by far one of the best songs of the year.

08. The Decemberists
Picaresque

Picaresque is a literate and mellifluous rock album that is complemented by a sublime orchestra. The album feels like you are listening to theatre, but with much more emotion and audacity. These Shakespearian melodies are certainly not tragedies; they are triumphs of creativity and imagination.

07. Vitalic
OK Cowboy

Once OK Cowboy grabs you, you can't let go. Its like an acid pounding head rush of kinetic tehno. Your body will rock out to this exhilarating french electronica like a small boy hyped up on caffeine.

06. Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs

The first that popped into my head when I heard this album was, "since when was whistling cool?" and "how can whistling sound so good?!" The master song-writer, Andrew Bird, raises the bar for 2005 with his charming vocals and pop rhyming technique. While most of the songs are very pop/rock oriented, he manages to include a progressive style that we might hear from jam bands like Phish and OAR. This is an album that anyone can love and everyone should buy.

05. Okkervil River
Black Sheep Boy

You most likely won't like this album the first time you hear it, but give it a few listens and I guarentee you will uncover a beautiful musical gem. The emotion builds more and more with each listen. What stands out about this album is its ability to capture themes of lonliness and depression and channel them into a somber depiction of an outcast Black Sheep Boy. The black sheep expresses his physcological state in a series of well-crafted rock songs. The vocals have John Nolan of Straylight Run written all over them, and the music stirs up feelings of Bright Eyes. Will Sheff's strained vocals allow the listener to feel the raw emotion pouring out of each track. Although a somewhat depressing album, the slight sense of optimism distances this album from being a whinny emo album. Conceptually wonderful.

04. The Go! Team
Thunder, Lightning, Strike

Ok, so this album was released last year, but it was only offered as an import untl now. I'm not too down with paying import prices, so I didn't hear this album until this year. Although two b-sides were added to the US version of this album, the intensity and talent still remain. There are harmonious dance beats, brash political statements, and child-like lullabies. Basically they combine every instrument you can possibly imagine to make a stew of electronic ingenuity. The Go! Team are one of the most inovative bands in electronica today.

03. My Morning Jacket
Z

Who would've thought that a bunch of Kentucky stoners would be hailed as the American version of Radiohead. Critics have called this album the next OK Computer because of its collision of styles. There's plenty of rock and roll and traditional indie vibes, but My Morning Jacket manages to weave Zero 7-esque breakdowns and pop-punk guitar riffs into the mix. Simply amazing.

02. Sufjan Stevens
Illinois

One of the most ambitious albums I have ever heard from a singer/song-writer. Sufjan Stevens continues his quest of writing an album for each of the 50 states by bringing us Illinois. This time, songs about Superman, Lincoln, and Wayne Gracy Jr. imprint the folk-rock style we have come to love. Sophisticated, passionate, and quaint.

01. Spoon
Gimme Fiction

This album probably won't be everyone's top choice of the year, but for some reason Gimme Fiction kept making it back into my cd player. Spoon does a remarkable job at piano/guitar driven pop-rock while still maintaining a sense of originally. I argue that this album is better than KIll the Moonlight mainly because it represents a piece of art as a whole album rather than several stellar singles. This is Spoon at their prime. Every song on this album is a hit.


A few albums that didn't quite make the list:

Say Anything - ...Was a Real Boy
Edan - Beauty and the Beat
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Brazillian Girls - Brazillian Girls
Prefuse 73 - Surrounded By Silence
Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Zion I - True and Livin'
Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic
DJ Kosi - Kosi Comes Around
Minus the Bear - Menos El Oso
Days Away - Mapping an Invisible World
Various Artists - Polica! A Tribute to the Police
DangerDoom - The Mouse & The Mask
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Remixed
Gym Class Heroes - The Papercut Chronicles
Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes EP
Saosin - Warped Tour EP
Blackalicious - The Craft
Wilco - Kicking Television: Live In Chicago
Armor For Sleep - What To Do When You Are Dead
Coldplay - X&Y

Biggest Disapointments
The Fiery Furnaces - Rehearsing My Choir
Fall Out Boy - From Under the Cork Tree
Over It - Silverstrand
Dave Mathews - Stand Up
Oasis - Don't Believe the Truth
311 - Don't Tread on Me
Missy Elliot - The Cookbook
Mae - The Everglow
The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Tiger and the Duke
Stereophonics - Language. Sex. Violence. Other
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Origin Vol. 1
Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Buring Star IV
Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman