Stereogum 2005 Readers Poll: Vote & Win
Who knows if it was the cancelation of the NHL season, the new Pope, or the mere existence of Arcade Fire, but 2005 was the year indie rock got bigger than ever. There were so many great albums, and at least a couple of instant classics, so we decided to open up Stereogum's end-of-year list to everyone. The three of us can't agree on a top 100, much less a top 20.
The deal: CLICK HERE (POLL'S CLOSED; TALLY, YO) to vote on Stereogum's 2005 Readers Poll and we'll randomly select a winner to receive the TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2005 as determined by your submissions. That way at least one of you won't feel guilty about downloading most of them.
You've only got one week to vote (poll closes 12/21 @ 7 EST), so get to it!
UPDATE: You will NOT be disqualified if you accidentally voted for an album from 2004. Anyone who enters is eligible to win.
Posted at 7:00 PM in Contest
-->
-->
window too small (?)
Score = 0
Chutes too narrow?
*had to*
Score = 0
This probably goes without saying, but for Album Of The Year ... it's gotta be released in '05.
Score = 0
Damn! So no K.Fed.
C'mon '06!
Score = 0
Best band name involving wolves that isn't taken yet: Gerald Ford Was Eaten by Wolves
(He was delicious.)
Score = 0
DAMN IT! I want to vote for Billy Idol!
Score = 0
top 10
super furry animals - love kraft
supergrass - road to rouen
gorillaz - demon days
the legends - public radio
oasis - don't believe the truth
doves - some cities
clap your hands say yeah - s/t
nada surf - the weight is a gift
bloc party - silent alarm
mia - arular
Score = 0
that's a pretty sweet prize, dudes.
Score = 0
The funniest thing about the poll is that in the Sufjan question both Michigan and Illinois are on the list. I think he should do 50 records just about both of those states. Imagine the indie outcry!
Score = 0
nice contest. im doing it.
Score = 0
ooops. the sufjan question was a late addition...they're gone. anyone who managed to vote for them gets a free copy of every big & rich album ever made, forever.
Score = 0
I hope I still get entered in the contest even though I accidentally voted for an album that came out in 2004. Dim-witted people get to win things sometimes too, right?
Score = 0
My 2005 favorites...
1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2. The Decemberists - Picaresque
3. Rogue Wave - Decended Like Vultures
4. Jens Lekman - Oh You're So Silent Jens
5. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning / Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
6. Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
7. The Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations
8. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
9. Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (previously released songs)
10. Sigur Ros - Takk
make a list and win an indie prize
Score = 0
This will probably change, but here is a quick top ten for the time being:
1. Animal Collective - Feels
2. New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
3. Akron/Family & Angels of Light split
4. Octopus Projecct- One Ten Hundred Thousand Million
5. Sigur Ros - Takk
6. Andrew Bird - ....and the mysterious production of eggs
7. Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
8. Black Mountain - s/t
9. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (and appendix)
10. The Decemberists - Picaresque
yeah im not too concrete on this, oh well
Score = 0
Devendra banhart.
Score = 0
My Top 10 for 2005:
1) THE NATIONAL "Alligator" (Beggars Banquet)
2) THE SPINTO BAND "Nice and Nicely Done" (Bar/None)
3) BECK "Guero" (Interscope)
4) FIONA APPLE "Extraordinary Machine" (Epic)
5) BLOC PARTY "Silent Alarm" (Vice)
6) MAXIMO PARK "A Certain Trigger" (Warp)
7) M.I.A. "Arular" (XL/Interscope)
8) WORLD LEADER PRETEND "Punches" (Warner Bros)
9) ROGUE WAVE "Descended Like Vultures" (Sub Pop)
10) GIANT DRAG "Hearts And Unicorns" (Kickball/Interscope)
Score = 0
1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2. Sigur Ros - Takk
3. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
4. Broken Social Scene - s/t
5. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
6. The Decemberists - Picaresque
7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - s/t
8. The National - Alligator
9. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
10. Spinto Band - Nice and Nicely Done
(With Rogue Wave and Spoon close behind)
Score = 0
Why isn't anyone voting for The Emancipation of Mimi? WTF?
Score = 0
Dammit, was Bloc Party 2005? I was remembering it as ass-end of '04. I'd maybe have voted for that instead of "Guero." Or maybe "Cold Roses."
Score = 0
Winning contests are always great, and 20 albums is very generous, but based on the lists given someone's gonna get stuck with Surfjan, Clap Hands, Bright Eyes, Decemberists, and Wolf Parade. Gah, stick a spoon down my throat. Doesn't anyone here listen to rock or hip hop (besides Bill, who made an effort)? Dangerdoom should be in the top 5 of every list. The Giraffes should be top 20, easy.
Score = 0
1) Wham - Make it Big
2) Centerfield - John Fogerty
3) No Jacket Required - Phil Collins
4) We Are The World - USA for Africa
5) Beverly Hills Cop - Soundtrack
6) Songs from the Big Chair - Tears for Fears
7) Reckless - Bryan Adams
8) Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
9) Miami Vice - Soundtrack
10) Heart - Heart
UPDATE: Damn - I thought we were doing 1985
Score = 0
you listed some pretty bad music from 1985. No Kate Bush wtf
Score = 0
Ah ... the point was to list ALL bad (and excruciatingly overplayed) music from 1985.
It's kind of like humor, but only in a self deprecating I-can't-believe-I-lived-through-that sort of way.
Score = 0
1. Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins
2. Field Music - Field Music
3. Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak Of It Again
4. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
5. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
6. Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo
7. New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
8. Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft
9. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
10. Supergrass - Road To Rouen
Score = 0
and now, The Truth:
1. Sigur Ros - Takk
2. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
3. Roisin Murphy - Ruby Blue
4. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
5. Xiu Xiu - La Foret
6. Deerhoof - The Runners Four
7. Animal Collective - Feels
8. Venetian Snares - Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett
9. Thee Silver Mt. Zion - Horses in the Sky
10. Vitalic - OK Cowboy
Score = 0
1. Of Montreal
2. Chad VanGaalen
3. MIA
4. Grizzly Bear
5. Blood on the Wall
6. Sigur Ros
7. Cass Mccombs
8. Hot Chip
9. Boards of Canada
10. Roisin Murphy
Score = 0
A shocking lack of Sleater-Kinney in these lists.
(Can you guess which album I went for?)
Score = 0
2005 was the year of Mariah and you all know it!
Score = 0
1. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
2. The Clientele - Strange Geometry
3. New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
4. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
5. Sam Prekop - Who's Your New Professor
6. Chad VanGaalen - Infiniheart
7. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
8. LCD Soundsystem - s/t
9. M. Ward - Transistor Radio
10. Deadly Snakes - Porcella
Score = 0
SPOON - GIMME FICTION
appalled at the lack of utensils in these lists...
fucking lame-ass Sufjan better not win.
Score = 0
Here's my list so far. New and improved with condescending tone.
Roots Manuva - Awfully Deep
Personally, I like his other stuff better, but compared to most of the crap hip-hop from this year * cough * Kanye * cough * cough, this album is sweet.
High On Fire - Blessed Black Wings
Holy fuck does this kick ass. Let me repeat that one more time for those of you in the back, h_o_l_y. f_u_c_k. does this kick ass. Step one: buy this album. Step two: shotgun a beer, or six (no, not a Stella, you pussy). Step three: prepare to get the shit kicked out of you. Here's an idea, listen to Sufjan prior to this, just to clear the palate.
Lady Sovereign - Vertically Challenged
This album is worth it just for the Adrock remix of A Little Bit of Shhh. After listening to this remix you will suddenly realize that Adrock is not the one responsible for making the Beastie Boys suck out loud. Not only does that remix kick ass, but The Battle just might be one of the coolest rap songs I've ever heard. The four mcs on that track definitely have the skills to pay the bills.
Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth
I don't know what it is about this album, it just clicks with me. When I first bought this I listened to it every day for about 3 months, driving the wifey a little nuts. My favorite song on the album has to be No More Shoes.
White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Yeah I know, it's not the most fashionable album, but shit, I likey.
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
If you haven't heard this yet, I don't know, maybe you shouldn't really be allowed to listen to music. Damn, this boy has got some chops.
Score = 0
According to Pitchfork (via rankings), top 10 of 2005 are:
1. Kanye West - Late Registration
2. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
4. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
5. Deerhoof - The Runners Four
6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - s/t
7. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
8. Animal Collective - Feels
9. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
10. Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Ehhh... left out the 'Run the Road' comp, fyi. Still no Dangerdoom.. :/
Score = 0
My TOP TOP Ten
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Animal Collective - Feels
The Decemberists - Picaresque
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins
Broken Social Scene - s/t
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - s/t
Beck - Guero
Sigur Ros - Takk
Score = 0
venetian snares and boards of canada ruled this year ^^
Score = 0
Hmm, this year wasn't that good of a year for hip hop, I agree. Personally I would have voted for Saul Williams' latest album, but alas, '04.
My own list is somewhat odd, and I'm unsure of it, my opinions changing by the moment:
LCD Soundsystem - s/t
-Yes, I've jumped on the bandwagon. I suppose I must be losing my edge.
Abandoned Pools - Armed to the Teeth
-One of those bands seemingly doomed to be forever underappreciated and unnoticed. The damn album doesn't seem to even be released in Canada yet, even. God bless the internet!
Gorillaz - Demon Days
-Even just the fact alone that they sampled Gravity Kills to make nearly an entire track. The rest of the album could have been static; the fact that it most certainly wasn't is just icing on the cake.
Scarling. - So Long, Scarecrow
-I would describe how awesome this album is, but that would require me to look up from my shoes. No, really, I can listen to this album forever. Fuzzy and modern and melodic. What genre to describe them as? Post-Goth, maybe?
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
-Okay, so the fans might often suck. But Trent Reznor most certainly doesn't, especially now that he's finally, yaknow, sober and all. Another album, like the Scarling one above, not to overlook just because all those Goth kids seem to like it; also like the above, moving definitely away from the kind of territory that the more standard mainstays of that vague genre inhabit, thank god (or satan, or whoever).
The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute
-You want a concept album? I'll show you a fuckin' concept album.
The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
-I was reluctant for a second, as originally I only liked at most two tracks. Then I started thinking about how each time I think I've heard as many songs as I'm actually going to like from the album, then I hear another one that I've listened to before but finally clicks. Seeing "The Denial Twist" on The Daily Show was one such moment. I expect by this time next year I'll probably be into the full album, so might as well pre-empt that.
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
-There are some great melodies in there, and when they need to they can actually rock in a kind of raw way (drums like the thunder of Zeus! Honestly, if anyone hasn't read the official bio for the band/album, you owe it to yourself. Even if you hate them, I don't see how you could fail to find it hilarious).
Eh, that's good enough. There are others, but I'll probably forget half of them anyways, might as well just call it quits while I'm clear that it's terribly incomplete.
Score = 0
1. Smog - A River Ain't Too Much Love
2. Antony & the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
3. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
4. Jamie Lidell - Multiply
5. The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
6. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Matt Sweeney - Superwolf
7. Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
8. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
9. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
10. My Morning Jacket - Z
Score = 0
Did anyone who ISN'T a music critic like the Sleater Kinney album?? Not being sarcastic... really. I have only seen it on Best Of lists. I don't know a single person who owns a copy. Weird.
Score = 0
I own it (Sleater Kinney) and I'm not a rock critic. It's good, but a few of the tracks are too jammy to warrant a best-of nod.
Score = 0
um, I disagree.
1. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
2. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
3. The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
4. Why? - Elephant Eyelash
5. LCD Soundsystem - s/t
6. Broken Social Scene - s/t
7. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
8. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
9. My Morning Jacket - Z
10. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Score = 0
no order
bright eyes - i'm wide awake it's morning
sufjan stevens - illinois
my morning jacket - z
danger doom - mouse and the mask
white stripes - get behind me satan
john vanderslice - pixel revolt
death cab - plans
ben harper and the blind boys at the apollo, live
go team - thunder lightning strike
life aquatic soundtrack
Score = 0
hmmm, no mention of Canadians, this could you a bundle in shipping.
Score = 0
Mine, also no order:
my morning jacket - z
go team - thunder lightning strike
13 & God The Notwist and Themselves
Common - Be
Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
Constantines - Tournament of hearts
Cut Copy - Bright Like Neon Love
The Decemeberists - Picaresque
Iron and Wine - Woman King ep
The Rosebuds - Birds Make good Neighbors
Vitalic - Ok Cowboy
Score = 0
Looking at the best of lists reminded me of what a slow/boring music year it was of let downs.
LCD was probably the second biggest let down next to Spoon. Both albums being tired / uninteresting retakes on their former moulds.
Honestly, could you really see yourself listening to a majority of these albums in 5 years?
I'll never understand sufjans popularity it's slow and boring and the upbeat songs sound like any musical melody you've ever heard.
None of them are very lasting. I was shocked when I heard devendra banharts album because of how strong the music was. It wasn't gimmicky or radically trying to do something different. It doesn't hide behind new production or anything.
After seeings wolf parade live and getting their 1st and 2nd demos their official release was also dissapointing. Where's the energy? Something was lost in that recording, you can hear it when you compare their old takes of the songs to the new.
and in conclusion, the decembrists first album was great, however 3 of the same albums later it's getting redundant.
Score = 0
Oasis please
Score = 0
I don't understand what the appeal is to Wolf Parade...
For me my top albums this year were M.I.A.'s Arular, Sufjan Steven's Illinois and Architecture In Helsinki's In Case We Die.
Score = 0
Sleater-Kinney's The Woods is the most important record that came out this year.
Score = 0
In no order...
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart
the Eels - Blinking Lights & Other Revelations
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Ok Go - Oh No
Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman
Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
the White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Open Hand - You and Me (The best album no one knows)
Rogue Wave - Descended Like Vultures
Audioslve - Out of Exile (Yeah, I said it)
Runners up: U2, Green Day (yes, both 2004, but they were strong in 2005!), the Sun, Coldplay, Beck, Idlewild, Robbers on High Street, Gorillaz, Say Anything..., Brendan Benson, BRMC, so many more... (and, unlike most, I actually liked the new Billy Corgan & Weezer albums)
Score = 0
What, nobody likes Silver Jews? Tanglewood Numbers takes some time, but it grows on you.
Score = 0
1. Animal Collective "Feels"
2. Gang Gang Dance "God's Money"
3. Deerhoof "Runners Four"
4. Edan "Beauty and the Beat"
5. Earth "Hex"
6. SunnO))) "Black One"
7. Sufjan "Illinois"
8. Hold Steady "Seperation Sunday"
9. Black Dice "Broken Ear Record"
10. No-Neck Blues Band "Qvaris"
Score = 0
Hey Devin, I'll still be listening to Sufjan in 10 years busta! I bet you're a fun guy to hang out with
Score = 0
1. Deerhoof - The Runners Four
2. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
3. Clipse - We Got It 4 Cheap Vol.2
4. Bun B - Trill
5. Hood - Outside Closer
6. Run The Road
7. Thunderbirds Are Now! - Justamustache
8. Innaway - Innaway
9. Pelican - March Into The Sea EP
10. Boards Of Canada - The Campire Headphase
Score = 0
Where is Don't Believe the truth Turn Up The Sun has more swagger then all of Sufjan records put together.
Score = 0
1. Sufjan (I almost enjoy the backlash more than the music itself.)
2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-s/t
3. Dungen-Ta Det Lugnt (This came out in 2004, but got reissued this year and that's the copy I picked up, so I'm counting it for 2005.)
4. Okkervil River-Black Sheep Boy
5. Page France-Hello, Dear Wind
6. Architecture In Helsinki-In Case We Die
7. Wolf Parade-Apologies to the Queen Mary
8. The Mountain Goats-The Sunset Tree
9. The Hold Steady-Separation Sunday
10. Silver Jews-Tanglewood Numbers
The Clientele, Spoon, Deerhoof, Jens Lekman... a lot of good music was released this year
Score = 0
...turn it up for everyone...
Score = 0
Yea, I was wondering about us Canadians, are we in the running for this?
Score = 0
Yea, I was wondering about us Canadians. are we in the running for this?
Score = 0
BOB DYLAN - BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
DAVID BOWIE - YOUNG AMERICANS
LED ZEPPELIN - PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
HORSES - PATTI SMITH
THE WHO - THE WHO BY NUMBERS
BOB MARLEY - NATTY DREAD
ELVIS - THE SUN COLLECTION
JOHN LENNON - ROCK & ROLL
CURTIS MAYFIELD - THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY
NEIL YOUNG - TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT
oh shit, wait....that's 1975
i wonder if our heroes of 2005 will stand the test of time?
Score = 0
Takk...
Thunder, Lightning, Strike
More Deep Cuts
Black Sheep Boy
Broken Social Scene
Illinois
The Woods
Pixel Revolt
Hey Hey My My Yo Yo
The Sunlandic Twins
Jesse Keller
Score = 0
New pornos twin cinema and My Morning Jacket Z
nuff said. CYHSY is whiney white people music.
Score = 0
how can you try to be sharp and name great albums from 75 and leave out the best one (born to run) ?
Score = 0
How is it that I thought Sigur Ros was at the end of 2004...good god anyways. I vote for it because Giosoli makes me dream just like I was in the video.
Here's my list.
1. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
2. Sigur Ros - Takk
3. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods
4. Wolf Party - Apologies to the Queen Mary
5. Spoon - Gimmie Fiction
6. Ok Go - Oh No
7. Sufjan Stevens - Illonoise
8. Metric - Live It Out
9. Fiona Apple - Extrodinary Machine
10. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Score = 0
Also, I apologise for my spelling.
Score = 0
1. Broken Social Scene - s/t
2. Animal Collective - Feels
3. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
4. Of Montreal - Sunlandic Twins
5. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
6. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
7. Decemberists - Picaresque
8. Fiery Furnaces - EP
9. Songs of Green Pheasant - s/t
10. Iron and Wine - Woman King
Score = 0
...love one another....
Score = 0
1. someone else likes the octopus project? cool. saw them open for trail of dead and they were kick ass.
2. i liked the billy corgan solo album too, so don't feel bad.
neither of them make my top 10 then though, but these do (in no particular order):
sleater-kinney - the woods
my morning jacket - z
queens of the stone age - lullabies to paralyze
wilco - kicking television
system of a down - mezmerize / hypnotize
black mountain - s/t
bright eyes - i'm wide awake it's morning
bloc party - silent alarm
explosions in the sky - how strange, innocence
...and you will know us by the trail of dead - worlds apart
yeah that's right...system of a down.
Score = 0
crap, i forgot m.i.a.
Score = 0
10. Gorillaz- Demon Days
9. Sigur Ros- Takk
8. DangerDoom- The Mouse and The Mask
7. M83- Before The Dawn Heals Us
6. Iron and Wine- In The Reins EP/Woman King EP
5. Bright Eyes- I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
4. Spoon- Gimme Fiction
3. The Decemberists- Picaresque
2. My Morning Jacket-Z
1. Kanye West- Late Registration
Score = 0
Trail of Dead! Damn, totally forgot that their newest one came out this year, I can't believe that, I even have the album in fuckin' vinyl for god's sake.
Score = 0
re: canadians...yes, you are in the running for this.
Score = 0
#10. Low - The Great Destroyer or The National - Alligator
#9. Madonna - Confessions on a Dancefloor or Silver Jews -Tanglewood Numbers
#8. The Decemberists - Picaresque
#7. Gorillaz - Demon Days
#6. Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
#5. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
#4. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
#3. My Morning Jacket - Z
#2. Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise
#1. Andrew Bird - Mysterious Production of Eggs
Score = 0
Seriously, y'all. Andrew Bird.
And I've given it the old college try, but still can't bring myself to give a shit about Sufjan. I'm all about mopey whiteboy singer songwriters, but he's just waaaaay boring.
Score = 0
People, there is still time to do the "Whoops!" joke for 1965 and 1995. Get crackin'!
Score = 0
5. Madonna - Postmortem
4. Sufjan - The Maine Event
3. R. Kelly - Trapped in the closet pt. 135-147
2. New Pornographers - Troublesome Discothèque
1. Jamie-Lynn Spears - Greatest Hits: Chopped and Screwed
Whoops! I thought we were doing 2015! Wakka wakka wakka.
Score = 0
What amazes me is that Stereogum and almost all good US blogs fail to talk about new UK bands until they are huge here. Then you barely talk about them but seem to love them in polls etc. Gorillaz, Bloc Party, Art Brut, Go! Team, Maximo Park, Supergrass, all dominating the lists but yet so little love. Show my little blog a bit of love and see what the UK is gonna offer next year and get on the bandwagon nice and early
http://tommyshots.blogspot.com
Score = 0
10. Bell Orchestre - Recording a Tape the Colour of Light
When all the lights of the city fade, Bell Orchestre’s music will be there. Weaving through the streets. Cutting through the fog, shadows and commercial signs of the city. Sparkling in our eyes. They are our voice. We are those who still see the beauty in the world. Hidden in corners, idiosyncrasies, and simplicity. We are those who see why darkness is an absence of colour. The colours will never breathe until we have light. And light is something we create. They realize that when you have so much colour in one place, it seems as though there is an absence of it. The trick is to focus on the details, in every niche. That's where the colour sits. Waiting to be discovered.
MP3: Throw It On a Fire
9. Jana Hunter - Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom
It’s easy to think that Jana Hunter has made her way into the hearts of freak-folk lovers because of Devendra Banhart. She and Banhart released a split LP together and Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom is the first release on Banhart’s new label, Gnomongsong. Also, Banhart seems to be the go-to guy for musical recommendations within the freak-folk genre (see: Golden Apples of the Sun). Despite the Banhart connection – and the ever popular anthromorphogenic drawing on her album – Hunter would have likely found her way to ears outside of her native Texas without his aid — even though it probably would have taken a little longer. Her lyrics are thought-provokingly dark and melodies unassumingly simple.
MP3: The New Sane Scramble
8. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
Even though this album is eighth on my list, it’s the last one that I’m reviewing. I saved this one until the end because I really can’t describe why I like it so much. It may have something to do with the fact that Caribou makes electronica sound organic. You know what? That is exactly it! And that is all I’m going to say.
MP3: Hello Hammerheads
7. Final Fantasy - Has a Good Home
The plot line for a video game based on Has a Good Home: A broken family goes their separate ways to search for truth in life while the video game-loving little brother mans the fort, so to speak, and cleans up the rubble. Battling personal demons and left-over negativity with the remaining positivity, the hero attempts to bring the family back together by staying in one place, writing songs, and then attaching the recordings to pigeons who carry them to their lost family members (note: the pigeon reference is solely based on the fact that I love pigeons and has nothing to do with Final Fantasy or any of his songs).
MP3: CN Tower
6. Buck 65 - Secret House Against the World
The first time I heard this album was at a listening station in Sam the Record Man. I wasn’t very impressed. I’ve always liked and respected Buck 65 but never could really get into his music — other than a one month obsession with Square three years ago. I always thought that he was over-hyped just because he was doing something original. Was I ever wrong. I love this album. Every. Single. Song. It is obvious why he notes Burkowski and Johnny Cash as influences — his lyrics are straight to the point and, at times, laced with poetics.
MP3: Kennedy Killed the Hat
5. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
When I made my favourite albums of 2005 (so far) list back in October, I listed this album as a disappointment. You Forgot it in People was so simple and affecting. I loved every single bit of it. When I first heard their new album I immediately thought it was overdone and that the members of Broken Social Scene were trying to be strange when they are really previous Toronto suburbanites with big dreams to be, well, weird and craft glorious pop songs. I nearly took this album to the used record store to sell. I was mad! If I’m getting rid of music, a used record store trip always constitutes anger in my life. Thankfully I didn’t sell it. When the weather was getting colder in November and I was looking for more full and insolating music in my life (see: Stars’ Set Yourself on Fire last year), Broken Social Scene found their way into my CD player and they didn’t leave for the entire month.
MP3: 7/4 (Shoreline)
4. Gang Gang Dance - God’s Money
The title God’s Money sums up the dichotomy found within Gang Gang Dance’s music. It’s music that feels like the universe conspiring between the crotch of your pants and your heart. There is a transcendent, spiritual quality to this album — an individual listening effort as you reflect on a life worth living. But there is also a very tribal, primal quality to it — ethereal, stream-of-consciousness vocals float over the instrumentation that is, at times, weaving through space and then, at other times, locked in corners, trying to beat its way through the walls.
MP3: Nomad for Love (Cannibal)
3. Animal Collective - Feels
It happens all the time. One of your favourite bands releases a new album and they do something completely different. Some fans love it and embrace the band for their departure; others hate it. I’m sure some Animal Collective fans don’t like Feels because it’s their most accessible, pop-friendly release to date. While it’s not a huge departure from Sung Tongs, there are marked differences — namely (and personally speaking) there is more of a wistfulness to Feels whereas Sung Tongs was weighted in its primal, devilish quality. For an artist like Joni Mitchell, for example, I can understand the backlash that emerged because of her strange duet-with-a-bass jazz stuff in the 80's, but you have to embrace the tangents that the Animal Collective pursue.
MP3: Grass
2. CocoRosie - Noah’s Ark
If I could only devote all my musical love to one band or artist, it would be this sister duo. Their music is so personally affecting because it maintains the simplicity of a folk song you know you’ve heard before but never have and couples it with hip-hop beats, electronica, field recordings, and the most unique vocals I have ever heard — old blues sung by a human with a cat body. Despite all the strangeness, the thing that captures me most about CocoRosie is that their music is very unaware of itself and, as a result, creates an environment or dreamlike world. Also, the themes that transpire – such as the dark side of childhood – seem to come directly from that part of ourselves that knows what’s important individually and universally — what psychologists call the unconscious.
MP3: Noah's Ark
1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Out of every single album that was due to be released this year, this was my most anticipated. It also tops my year end list. Maps are poetry and Stevens uses them as a starting point on his states project. Where Michigan – his first states album – focussed more on Stevens personal experiences within the state, Illinois captures the general realities of the state and uses them as a metaphor to critique many United States ideologies. Stevens creates music that both my grandmother and my little brother would like. Some rock star said that if you like music that your family would like then you have bad taste. Fuck him.
MP3: John Wayne Gacy Jr.
Special Mentions: Antony and the Johnsons - I am a Bird Now, Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering, M.I.A. - Arular, Akron/Family - Akron, Family, voodooEROS - The Enlightened Family, Silver Mt. Zion - Horses in the Sky, Chad VanGaalen - Infiniheart, Sigur Ros - Takk, Castanets - First Light’s Freeze, Six Organs of Admittance - School of the Flower, Mi and L’au - s/t, Patrick Wolf - Lycanthropy
Score = 0
Animal Collective.
Decemberists.
Gorillaz.
White Stripes.
Beck.
Neon Blonde.
Against Me!
Score = 0
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Beach Boys - Today!
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Temptations - Temptin' Temptations
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics!!!
Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
The Zombies - Begin Here
The Animals - Animal Tracks
oh shit, wait....that's 1965
Score = 0
1. The National -- Aligator
2. Richard Swift -- The Novelist
3. Heartless Bastards -- Stairs and Elevators
4. The Hold Steady -- Seperation Sunday
5. Devendra Banhart -- Cripple Crow
6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
7. The Boy Least Likely -- The Best Party Ever
8. MIA -- Arular
9. The White Stripes -- Get Behind Me Satan
10. Franz Ferdinand -- You Could Have It So Much Better
Score = 0
uh oh here goes, this is in a sort of order. i got into a lot of these but they're mostly fading... oh well... they are at the bottom.
1. Broken Social Scene - s/t