“Best Of 2005″ Preview

by Logan

As many of you probably know by now, I’m rarely more than a good nudge away from talking way more about music than anyone probably wants to hear. Dallin’s last post being that nudge, here we go. "Best Of" lists are like crack for me — a good, cheap, wildly addictive fix.

In that light, I thought it would be a good time to discuss what we’ve been listening to this year. I’ve gotten a ton, but I’m dying to hear what everyone else likes so I can get it while there’s still time to include it in my 2005 listening. There will be a good bit of overlap with Dallin’s similar post from July, but I didn’t get a chance to comment there, so this will serve that purpose too. Here’s what I’ve liked, with a quick and dirty temporary ranking (other than the broad categories, I haven’t ranked any albums specifically) with a sentence or two description:

The Best of the Best:

  • Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now: I love the intimacy and immediacy of his voice. His list of guest artists is impressive, too.
  • The Decemberists, Picaresque: I’m a believer. It took me a few listens, but I think these guys are great.
  • Gogol Bordello, Gypsy Punks: The album title says it all.
  • The Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree: This was the first album of theirs I’ve heard. Like Antony, there’s a certain familiarity that comes the very first time you listen.
  • System of a Down, Mesmerize: Another great album from these guys. I love how they make statements with the actual music as much as the lyrics.
  • The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan: True, it’s not as amazing as the last couple albums, but the fact that it’s a bit different doesn’t mean it isn’t very, very good. There’s some wonderful stuff here.

Very Good:

  • Beck, Guero: You know, not the best Beck album ever, but really fun. (And bringing Jack White in to play bass on "Go It Alone" is exactly the kind of thing that wins me over.)
  • Bloc Party, Silent Alarm: People who love these guys love these guys. Personally, whenever I listen to the album I’m floored by the skill of the rhythm section, but when it’s over I’m never tempted to press repeat.
  • Ry Cooder, Chavez Ravine: A great telling of the story of Chavez Ravine.
  • Ani DiFranco, Knuckle Down: Ani’s always been an incredible guitar player. Here, she tones down the angst just enough that it’s easier to get into.
  • Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better: Just like their first album, this one is growing on me. I don’t think it’s quite as good, though.
  • Great Lakes Myth Society, Great Lakes Myth Society: I picked this one up after reading a gushing review somewhere. My first listen left me unimpressed, but I recently got it out again and found myself enjoying nearly every track.
  • The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday: For some reason, the combination of vocals and accompaniment — although both fairly benign on their own — I found somehow abrasively difficult to listen to. But strangely appealing, too, much like the subject matter. I love when the music makes me feel the same way as the lyrics do.
  • Iron and Wine, Woman King EP and In The Reins (with Calexico): That rascally Sam Beam — trying to release two albums with a combined 13 tracks on the same year. I don’t think I can justify giving him full credit for two albums, even if they’re both good (although I do like Woman King better), so I’ll combine them here.
  • LCD Soundsystem, LCD Soundsystem: Fun, fun stuff. The best part of this album, though, is that it comes with a second CD with their prior singles. I like that better than the new material, and it’s nice to have them all in one place.
  • Low, The Great Destroyer: It’s hard to put my finger on what it is about Low that I like, but I really like ‘em.
  • Queens of the Stone Age, Lullabies to Paralyze: Cerebral stoner metal, if you can believe it. Whenever I listen to the songs I discover more subtle musical twists they put in for specific effects. Very impressive.
  • Spoon, Gimme Fiction: I just discovered Spoon, but I think they may become one of my favorite bands.
  • The Suicide Machines, War Profiteering is Killing Us All: A ferocious blast of ska-infused punk.

Good:

  • Alkaline Trio, Crimson: Mildly interesting punk-pop.
  • Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Production of Eggs: Some very good songs, but not quite enough to win me over, since this isn’t exactly my kind of music.
  • Annie, Anniemal: Nice electro-pop. A bit edgier than Dido, but not much.
  • Audioslave, Out of Exile: This album is enjoyable. I just keep thinking this band is less than the sum of its parts. A charismatic frontman and one of the best guitarists around should be able to do more.
  • The Bravery, The Bravery: Some good stuff here. A little too close to their influences — it sounds like the Killers with U2’s the Edge playing lead quitar and produced by Gordon Raphael (the Strokes).
  • Brazilian Girls, Brazilian Girls: Fun dance music in lots of different languages with some understated double entendres.
  • The Chemical Brothers, Push the Button: I admit that I’m no electronica connoisseur, but this just hasn’t wowed me. There are some good songs, though.
  • Eels, Blinking Lights and Other Revelations: This double album — like so many others — would have been immeasruably better had it been trimmed down to a single disc.
  • Gorillaz, Demon Days: A nice little collective. The roster of members and guests is outstanding. I wish they’d reach a little higher with the talent they have.
  • Heavy Trash, Heavy Trash: A real garagey sound; it’s fun the first few times, but I lose interest the more I hear it.
  • Josh Rouse, Nashville: Nice, easy singer/songwriter fare.
  • Louis XIV, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept: Here’s a band that should stick to singles. I heard "Louis XIV" and "God Killed the Queen" on the radio and was in love. I picked up the album and now even those two songs irritate me.
  • Stephen Malkmus, Face the Truth: I get the feeling that there’s something to this guy that I don’t fully comprehend. Maybe I should learn more about Pavement and their infuence on indie music.
  • The Mars Volta, Frances the Mute: Another absolutely impressive album, but too heavy to justify the effort required to really understand it.
  • The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema: I don’t know what it is. I love Carl Newman, and I like Neko Case a lot, but throwing them (and others) into a supergroup numbs it into a mush for me.
  • Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins: A nice little album with a very Canadian sound (if that means anything to anyone but me). I hear they’re great live, but I haven’t had the privilege yet.
  • Weezer, Make Believe: One of those "if you like the band already, you’ll be happy with this album, but it won’t win any new fans" albums.
  • Yerba Buena, Island Life: I wish I knew more about dance/club music, but I like this Latin/Urban mix. It doesn’t hurt that the guest artists include John Leguizamo and members of Gogol Bordello.

Didn’t Grab Me:

  • Archer Prewitt, Wildeness
  • Architecture in Helsinki, In Case We Die
  • The Go-Betweens, Oceans Apart
  • The High Dials, War of the Wakening Phantoms
  • M.Ward, Transistor Radio
  • Okkervil River, Black Sheep Boy
  • The Orange Peels, Circling the Sun
  • Pernice Brothers, Discover a Lovelier You
  • Theivery Corporation, The Cosmic Game

Still Haven’t Decided:

  • Danger Doom, The Mouse and the Mask
  • Devendra Banhart, Cripple Crow
  • The Ponys, Celebration Castle
  • Portostatic, Bright Ideas
  • Xiu Xiu, La Foret

Disappointments:

  • Coldplay, X&Y
  • Sleater-Kinney, The Woods
  • Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise

Albums I Haven’t Heard But Would Like To:

  • Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
  • Death Cab For Cutie, Plans
  • Depeche Mode, Playing the Angel
  • M.I.A., Arular
  • My Morning Jacket, Z
  • Opeth, Ghost Reveries
  • Kanye West, Late Registration

Albums Whose Release I’m Still Anticipating:

  • System of a Down, Hypnotize
  • Fiery Furnaces, Rehearsing My Choir

Wow. That’s a much longer list than what I realized it would be. (No wonder it took so long.) A word about my ‘disappointments’ — that’s just a place holder right now for ‘albums I don’t like as much as everyone else seems to’. By the time I finalize this list, I’m sure they’ll have a better standing.

But anyway, I love few things as much as talking music. Let’s get it started.

30 Comments

  1. I have more new music this year than ever before–usually I buy music used so I’m behind on new releases. But I’ve been keeping up this year more.

    Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

    Opeth - Ghost Reveries: These guys are brilliant. That’s all I can say.

    Low - The Great Destroyer: I love Low because of how their songs build. This album is more accessible than earlier stuff because it’s not as slow. Oh, and the harmonies. The harmonies.

    Magnolia Electric Co - What Comes After the Blues: I think I like Jason Molina’s band stuff better than his solo stuff (Songs: Ohia), although I love both. This album is very Neil-Youngish, and I love it every note.

    Yob - The Unreal Never Lived: Some of the best doom metal being made.

    Witchcraft - Firewood: I’m a little undecided on this. It sounds exactly like Black Sabbath to me, but a friend said no, it sounds exactly like Pentagram. I’ve never heard Pentagram.

    Sufjan Stevens - Illinois: Only recently listened to this and it’s a keeper.

    Red Sparowes - At the Soundless Dawn: Like Isis without the screamed vocals. No vocals at all, actually. Excellent live band too.

    New Model Army - Carnival: A personal fave of mine, the new album is good.

    High on Fire - Blessed Black Wings: Some of the best doom metal being made. Bless them.

    Hellacopters - Rock’n'Roll is Dead: I love everything the Hellacopters have done, and I’m so in love with the singer’s voice, it’s kinda pathetic.

    Genghis Tron - Cloak of Love: What an interesting, crazy mix of stuff this is. As I’ve read them described: “Genghis Tron take the brutality of grind, the subtlety of ambient electronic music, bubblegum pop beats, and the calculation and diversity of mathcore, and mesh it all into songs no more than 3:06 long.”

    Decemberists - Picaresque: Can’t get over how much I love this band.

    Daft Punk - Human After All: It’s the robot voice, it’s irresistable.

    Comment by Susan M — October 25, 2005 @ 1:24 pm

  2. I haven’t thought about lists, but the 2005 release that gets the most play in my house, by far, is the Mountain Goats’ The Sunset Tree. In the car, it’s Sleater-Kinney’s The Woods.

    Comment by Greg — October 25, 2005 @ 1:59 pm

  3. You’ve been busy this year Logan - keep it up!

    A few comments. Spoon’s Gimme Fiction, is the album I have listened to most this year. Whether or not that makes it the best album this year is another question, but certainly it’s way up there imho. I love Britt Daniel’s vocals.

    Wolf Parade’s Apologies to the Queen Mary, while over hyped by the usual suspects, is a very strong album, especially if you like the quirky-spastic indie-pop (which I do). Perhaps they are this year’s Arcade Fire(whom I still really love - I’m dying to see them live).

    The new My Morning Jacket album is very, very strong. Haven’t put together a list yet, but they’d be top ten. It’s just the right mix of guitar-crunch and spacey atmospherics that have marked the growth of other bands. Don’t know much about their other albums, but indications are that it’s a great leap forward from their previous albums.

    Sufjan has dropped a few notches, but still top ten.

    Logan - Why was Sleater Kinney disappointing to you? Were you looking for a more “pop” effort? That album has actually grown on me since it’s release. I think it’s fantastic.

    I guess now is as good a time as any to start with the lists since the rest of 2005 looks pretty bleak (Where are you Built to Spill?!) The only project that looks interesting is SunKil Moon’s Modest Mouse covers album. That oughtta be weird.

    Comment by Dallin I — October 25, 2005 @ 2:28 pm

  4. I was actually working on a post about Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon), although I don’t have the new album of MM covers yet.

    I think this year ruled for new releases. I haven’t heard MMJ’s latest, but I love It Still Moves. I’m afraid the new one might be too big of a departure from it. Anyone know?

    Comment by Susan M — October 25, 2005 @ 3:13 pm

  5. Sheesh, Susan. Whenever I start feeling like I’m getting a decent idea of what’s out there you show up with a list of lots of people I’ve never heard of! But it’s good to have new recommendations. Thanks.

    Dallin, I love Spoon myself. You’re right about the vocals. There’s something cool but not “too cool” about them. My Morning Jacket really should be high on my to-get list. I passed over it last time I was at the record store (it was only $9.99, too), but everyone is saying such good things about it. I’m hesitant to pull the trigger on Wolf Parade, too. I’m not really into “quirky-spastic indie pop.” I’ll probably find some way to at least hear it once, though.

    I don’t know about Sleater-Kinney. I guess I was expecting something else. Maybe poppier. This is my first SK album (keep in mind — and Greg will vouch for me — last year at this time my Best Since 2000 list included U2 and Gavin DeGraw), so I don’t know if that has anything to with it. It’s just hard for me to get into it. I put it in and am listening to it now. Maybe it’ll grow on me.

    And I don’t mean for this to be the final word on our 2005 lists. I just wanted to see what’s out there in anticipation. Maybe it’s too hard to do one without the other, but I hope we can do this again when the year’s over. You’re right, though, about there not being much more to look forward to. Especially since the Strokes album got pushed into early next year. But that means I can spend the rest of the year catching up on what I’ve missed!

    Comment by Logan — October 25, 2005 @ 3:33 pm

  6. Susan, SKM’s cover album comes out next week.

    Also, does anyone have the Fiona Apple album? I’m trying to decide if the hype is deserved or if everyone is just trying to relive Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

    Comment by Logan — October 25, 2005 @ 3:35 pm

  7. Wow. I just picked up the new Depeche Mode. It’s good. It’s a little different, but I still liked it. I just barely ripped it to my computer, though, so I need another listen through to make a better assessment.

    I heard bits and pieces of Fiona’s new one - enough that I will probably get it, though. It didn’t sound as bad as the second one (although I doubt it will be as good as her first).

    My favorite new album this year was Betchadupa’s Aiming for your Head. Although it may of been release late last year. I’m not sure!

    Other notables: I like Franz Ferdinand, but not as much as the first one. Paul Weller’s new one is great, but I’m completely unbiased. The White Stripes “Satan” is great. Love it. Love it. Love it. But I love them, so…

    Comment by gabby — October 25, 2005 @ 4:01 pm

  8. Thanks for your comments, gabby. Finally, another Stripes lover! I feel like I’m a lone voice crying in the wilderness at this blog. I love the album and the band, too.

    I’m also happy to hear your thoughts on Depeche Mode. The reviews have been surprisingly good, and my wife loves ‘em, so I’ll probably pick it up.

    Thanks for the tidbit on Fiona, too.

    Comment by Logan — October 25, 2005 @ 4:12 pm

  9. My husband & I joke that instead of the wiggles, our kids will know the White Stripes! I know my sister’s kids (7, 9) routinely ask to listen to Hello Operator, so…

    Comment by gabby — October 25, 2005 @ 4:19 pm

  10. My 4-year-old son’s favorite song right now is the WS’s “The Hardest Button to Button.”

    Comment by Greg — October 25, 2005 @ 4:40 pm

  11. That’s a great song Greg! And one that is oft quoted around our house (esp while getting ready for church - “This IS the hardest button to button”)

    Comment by gabby — October 25, 2005 @ 5:02 pm

  12. I’m excited to hear that, gappy and Greg. Now that I think about it, I can see how kids might really like the White Stripes. I’m excited to get my own kids on the bandwagon (when I have them).

    Comment by Logan — October 25, 2005 @ 5:34 pm

  13. By the way, I’m happy to take requests for the radio.blog.

    Comment by Logan — October 25, 2005 @ 5:36 pm

  14. Uh, sorry to call you “gappy,” gabby.

    Comment by Logan — October 25, 2005 @ 5:37 pm

  15. I’ve been called worse - I promise!

    My (current) favorite Stripes song is Cold, Cold Night (Elephant being my favorite disc). Just a sexy song.

    Comment by gabby — October 25, 2005 @ 6:13 pm

  16. Oh yeah- another that I forgot to mention. . .

    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Anyone have their album? New York-based and -influenced, — seems right up my alley. Critics are even saying things like ‘it’s better than the usual over-hyped band.’ Kind of funny. But I haven’t picked it up yet.

    Comment by Logan — October 26, 2005 @ 7:39 am

  17. I’ve got a copy of it, and it sounds too much like the Talking Heads to me. I’d rather just listen to them. I can send some songs your way if like.

    Comment by Susan M — October 26, 2005 @ 10:06 am

  18. Geez, Logan, you sure know how to make someone feel like they need to play catch up! Hopefully you’ll be in town for Christmas or something…

    Comment by Bob Caswell — October 26, 2005 @ 10:15 am

  19. The Clap Your Hands … is good but way overrated. I agree with Susan - Still, probably worth a listen (not a buy though). I think it’s a band worth following for their potential.

    Logan - check your email - i’m sending some Wolf Parade and MMJ to you.

    Susan - I think there’s just enough of the guitar heroics in there (that are ostensibly MMJ’s MO) to satisfy if that’s what you’re looking for. I can think of at least 4 real rawk numbers - the others incorporate keyboards and atmospherics a bit more. Everything gets tied together, of course, by the really great vocals, though I think in some cases they are overproduced. I’d say get the album - it’s probably not TOO far removed from previous efforts to be enjoyed, though I can’t say that definitively. I don’t know much about It Still Moves, but I take it that that album was a more rock effort.

    Comment by Dallin I — October 26, 2005 @ 11:15 am

  20. I put up the Wolf Parade song.

    And thanks for the heads up about Clap Your Hands. I found somewhere I could get a few tracks, so don’t worry about it, Susan.

    Comment by Logan — October 26, 2005 @ 11:32 am

  21. Logan, you’re just trying to bait me with that crack on Sufjan Stevens, but I’m not buying it!!!

    Comment by Supergenius — October 26, 2005 @ 12:06 pm

  22. I’ve been listening to the Devendra Banhart album, and I’m enjoying it. I try to be pretty careful with my verdicts, though, so it’ll take a few more spins before I rule.

    And Steve, I don’t know what you’re talking about. What crack?

    Comment by Logan — October 27, 2005 @ 10:00 pm

  23. Probably my favorite album from this year:
    We Will Become Like Birds, Erin McKeown.
    You can stream the entire album at her website right now.

    I also own these already-mentioned albums:
    Knuckle Down, Ani DiFranco
    Woman King, Iron & Wine
    The Woods, Sleater-Kinney
    I think I’d also call Knuckle Down and Woman King “very good” but I’m still undecided on The Woods.

    I hope to buy soon:
    In the Reins, Iron & Wine w/ Calexico
    Extraordinary Machine, Fiona Apple
    Pixel Revolt, John Vanderslice
    The Beekeeper, Tori Amos

    It’s funny that you ask about Extraordinary Machine because I just decided to buy it today when I heard the title track on the radio. That was enough to convince me. (I hope I’m not misled. I’m glad gabby likes what she’s heard too.) Right now I have The Beekeeper checked out from the library and I have listened to it once. I wasn’t blown away but I like it well enough to own it. I went to a John Vanderslice show this month. He’s awesome. I missed the Iron&Wine/Calexico show though. :(
    I want to listen to:
    Plans, Death Cab for Cutie
    Picaresque, The Decemberists
    I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, Bright Eyes
    The Great Destroyer, Low
    Digital Ashes in a Digital Urn, Bright Eyes

    I’m on the waiting list to check out Plans. I have all the other DCfC albums but I’m not sure yet about this one. I do like “I Will Follow You into the Dark” but I’m not impressed with “Soul Meets Body.” I want to listen to the rest of the album before deciding. Has anyone listened to either of the new Bright Eyes albums?

    Comment by Heather P. — October 28, 2005 @ 3:45 am

  24. Probably my favorite album from this year:
    We Will Become Like Birds, Erin McKeown.
    You can stream the entire album at her website right now.

    I also own these already-mentioned albums:
    Knuckle Down, Ani DiFranco
    Woman King, Iron & Wine
    The Woods, Sleater-Kinney
    I think I’d also call Knuckle Down and Woman King “very good” but I’m still undecided on The Woods.

    I hope to buy soon:
    In the Reins, Iron & Wine w/ Calexico
    Extraordinary Machine, Fiona Apple
    Pixel Revolt, John Vanderslice
    The Beekeeper, Tori Amos

    It’s funny that you ask about Extraordinary Machine because I just decided to buy it today when I heard the title track on the radio. That was enough to convince me. (I hope I’m not misled. I’m glad gabby likes what she’s heard too.) Right now I have The Beekeeper checked out from the library and I have listened to it once. I wasn’t blown away but I like it well enough to own it. I went to a John Vanderslice show this month. He’s awesome. Check him out too. Lots of MP3s at his website. I missed the Iron&Wine/Calexico show here though. :(
    I want to listen to:
    Plans, Death Cab for Cutie
    Picaresque, The Decemberists
    I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, Bright Eyes
    The Great Destroyer, Low
    Digital Ashes in a Digital Urn, Bright Eyes

    I’m on the waiting list to check out Plans. I have all the other DCfC albums but I’m not sure yet about this one. I do like “I Will Follow You into the Dark” but I’m not impressed with “Soul Meets Body.” I want to listen to the rest of the album before deciding. Has anyone listened to either of the new Bright Eyes albums?

    Comment by Heather P. — October 28, 2005 @ 3:48 am

  25. Heather -

    Let us know what you think of the entire Fiona.

    Comment by gabby — October 28, 2005 @ 10:41 am

  26. Sorry for the double posting of my comment last night. gabby, I will let you know what I think. (But I had also better say that I even like When the Pawn . . . I love “Paper Bag.”)

    Also, I would like to stand and publicly acknowledge that Susan rocks. (Seriously, I’m standing as I type.) (Okay, not really.) That is all.

    Comment by Heather P. — October 28, 2005 @ 3:31 pm

  27. That’s something I think we can all stand for.

    Comment by Logan — October 28, 2005 @ 6:29 pm

  28. Aw, thanks guys.

    Comment by Susan M — October 28, 2005 @ 8:20 pm

  29. How could I forget!! I also want to buy the new Sigur Ros album, Takk. I heard it yesterday at a friend’s and it is amazing. So amazing.

    Comment by Heather P. — October 31, 2005 @ 2:07 pm

  30. Logan wrote: “Stephen Malkmus, Face the Truth: I get the feeling that there’s something to this guy that I don’t fully comprehend. Maybe I should learn more about Pavement and their infuence on indie music.”

    Yes. Pavement put out some of the absolute best music of the 1990s. Start with _Slanted and Enchanted_ and _Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain_. Try to get your hands on the “Watery, Domestic” EP, too.

    Comment by Greg — October 31, 2005 @ 5:31 pm