Albums of the Year.
Here are my picks for Best Albums of 2005. To see more, check out my full Best of 2005!
10. Razorlight – Up All Night
10. Ladytron - Witching Hour
Tie
Razorlight’s debut was a nice one, but it couldn’t get them to the top this year. Ladytron finally put out a record that justified their potential.
9. Longwave - There's a Fire
Steve Schlitz and Co broke out of their mold enough to make a consistently engaging and forward-thinking piece of art. I miss the swirlier stuff, but still enjoyed this quite a bit.
8. Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
Not as consistent as their past few albums, but the first half contains some of their strongest-ever material.
7. Doves - Some Cities
This one took me quite a while to warm up to, but I finally got it. First single “Black and White Town” was a misleading but refreshing stomper.
6. Stellastarr - Harmonies for the Haunted
This oddly attractive band expanded on the strengths of their debut album and brought us a terrific record of glam-rock brilliance.
5. Nada Surf - The Weight is a Gift
These guys continue to impress as one of the most underrated groups in the US. Power pop just doesn’t get much better.
4. Coldplay – X & Y
They might be a bit pretentious and may be getting a bit too big for their pants, but Coldplay can still write a damn fine tune. X & Y is larger than life.
3. Pitty Sing - S/T
If you can get over the goofy band name (it’s a cat from a short story), you’ll realize that this New York new-wavy foursome released one of the best debuts of ’05.
2. Editors - The Back Room
These Brit newcomers, much like Interpol, channel early 80’s gothrock with fresh noisepop twists. It’s a bit of Idaho and This Picture with a lot of 80’s Factory bands (like the Railway Children) thrown in for good measure. Once this one sinks in it’s impossible to put it down.
1. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Was there any doubt? Silent Alarm was heads and tails above everything else this year. Simply a tour de force of fresh, energetic Britrock played with skill and ferocity. If you haven’t picked this up yet, what are you waiting for??
posted by Shawn @ 11:50 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Excellent list. Nothing on there that would make me scream, "What?!? Are you crazy?", so you continue to be a voice of music authority in my book. Disappointed to see you didn't include LCD Soundsystem, Maximo Park, or Franz Ferdinand in there, but hey, I guess I'll just have to put out my own list.
Pretty reasonable for a Shawn list. Though it's definitely lacking...balls?
Howzabout the new Darkness album? It's got balls AND it's totally 80's!!!
Well Shawn, our year-end lists only have one album in common (DCFC) but your picks are quite respectable all the same. I promise not to hold a grudge against you because you shut out the Stars. Not for very long, anyway.
Hey gang, glad there were mostly positive comments. :)
I actually do have both Franz F and Stars in my "honorable mentions" on the full listing page, so I've got that going for me. Sorry Joe, can't get with that Max Park...I gave it a try, but I couldn't get past the feeling that it was just "generic Britpop". And I haven't yet heard the new Darkness, believe it or not. I'm sure it's ball-tastic!
GENERIC BRITPOP!?!? Ouch, that was a low blow. Mark my words young man, you will apologize for those remarks in a few years. Granted, the production might be a bit rough (it's a first album), but the emotional force of the songs is better than anything I've heard in a long time, even Bloc Party. Put down your NME and quit drooling over the trendy band o' the moment. *cheap shot*
Next thing your going to tell me is that Television were a bunch of no talent hacks. Garsh!
Okay, okay, britpop sure, generic maybe (but with potential), but I'm a sucker for an album full of love songs. Good love songs. ;)
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